Skinner Middle School

Skinner Family News - October 2, 2025

Welcome to Skinner Family News for the 2025-2026 school year.

Upcoming Dates

Links: 25-26 Calendar (Calendario 25-26)

  • Oct 3          Picture Day 

  • Oct 4           Fall Festival 10-2 pm 

  • Oct 9          Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8pm (Open House style)

  • Oct 13         No School for Students or Staff - Conference Comp Day

  • Oct 14-15    Interim Assessment ELA and Math

  • Oct 15    Chipotle Fundraiser - 4-8 pm

  • Oct 16        Parent Teacher Conferences 4-8pm (Open House style)

  • Oct 23         Community Arts Night 5-7pm

  • Oct 24         No School for Students - Skinner Only PD Day #1

  • Oct 29         Skinner Cares Day

  • Oct 31         No School for Students - DPS Staff Development Day

Picture Day - Oct 3

Picture Order Forms were sent home with students last week.  Students will take pictures in their Science class. Picture Retake Day is November 14th. Order at orders.vangoghco.com/prepay School Code: 30038401

October Parent Teacher Conferences 

Conferences will be held in person on October 9th 4:00-8:00pm and October 12 from 4:00-8:00pm.  Spanish interpretation will be available. Staff will be available in various locations within the building. 

Families can meet with as many teachers as you would like, but prioritizing 2-3 teachers is a recommended strategy as conferences will be a first-come first-serve basis. We would prefer for students to attend with families. In-person meetings only, except for virtual options for Skinner Administration conferences.  Stay tuned for links to schedule conferences with the Skinner Administration. 

We are hoping families can stagger arrival time, in order to manage the influx of families during the four hour time period.  If possible, please follow these time slots.  If the time slot does not work for your families, feel free to attend at a time that is most convenient for you. It is not required for families to attend both nights, but you are welcome to. 

October 9th Families (with students) arrive during their designated timeframe (alpha last name)

  • Time Frames: 

    • Group 1 (Last Name A–F): 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

    • Group 2 (Last Name G–L): 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

    • Group 3 (Last Name M–R): 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

    • Group 4 (Last Name S–Z): 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

October 16th Families (with students) arrive during their designated timeframe (alpha last name)

  • Time Frames:

    • Group 1 (Last Name S-Z): 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

    • Group 2 (Last Name M-R): 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM

    • Group 3 (Last Name G-L): 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

    • Group 4 (Last Name A-F): 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM

If you’d like to schedule Oct 9th or Oct 16th conferences with Skinner Administration, please click links below:

  • Julie Stephens - Principal - Appointment Slots

  • Rachel Johnson - Assistant Principal - Appointment Slots 

  • Shawn Ward - Assistant Principal - Appointment Slots

  • Becca Glosser - GT/Coordinator - Appointment Slots

I-Ready Test Student Data Reports - Pick up at Conferences

I-Ready Test Student Data Reports will be available for pick-up at October Parent-Teacher Conferences between 4:00-8:00pm.  Feel free to come pick up the report, even if you will not be attending conferences. This data report will show how your child is performing at or above grade level at various Reading domains.  This will help us know their different areas of strength and opportunities for growth.  The report will also show the National Norm Percentile indicating how your child performed in relation to students in the same grade level nationwide.

New Bike Cage and Bike Racks! 

We are grateful to be a neighborhood community school - where so many kids walk or ride their bikes/scooters to school! 

Our new permanent bike cage is the most secure place to store bikes, as the fenced area is locked every morning and unlocked at dismissal. If there is not room in the bike cage, the A/C construction crew has gifted us over 10 new bike racks located in the back of the school! A reminder to have students lock up their bikes securely every day, especially if they are not secure in the bike cage. We see bikes every day that are not locked up.

bike racks

Order your Skinner Yearbook today!

Skinner partners with Treering on the annual yearbook. To purchase and customize your yearbook, use the QR code below or:

  • Go to: treering.com/validate

  • Enter your school's passcode: 1014103592642212

  • Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.

  • Soft Cover Price Before Tax $28.69

  • Hard Cover Price Before Tax $35.75

Email Ms.Bautista with any questions at L_desantos-bautista@dpsk12.net

yearbook

Fall Festival - October 4,  10 am - 2 pm

Skinner Community, Plan to join us for our epic Fall Festival!

Saturday, October 4 from 10 am – 2 pm.

Location: Skinner Fields, Gyms & Cafeteria – Enter from 41st Avenue (North side of the campus).

Food and Drinks, Games, Activities, Music, Crafts! So much fun for the whole family!

Cash only please!

Fall fest flyer

Fall Festival - Cake Walk & Cake Decorating Contest

Volunteers, Donations, and Entries Needed!!!

The Skinner PTO has stirred up a plan for the upcoming Fall Festival!

There are a few ways you can help!

1. Donate baked items for the cake walk (can be anything...store bought or homemade)

2. Volunteer to help set up, run and clean up these events the day of the festival.

CLICK HERE to sign up for cake walk donations and/or volunteer slots!

3. Enter your best decorated cake and/or cupcakes into the cake decorating contest! (Channel your inner Jacques Torres (Nailed IT!) - the competition is always tight!

CLICK HERE to enter the Cake Decorating Contest.

Cake Walk Donation Details: - You can drop cake walk baked goods donations on 10/3 during school hours in the front office or drop them on 10/4 between 9-10am in the Skinner gym.
Cake Decorating Contest Details: Cake and Cupcakes entries only. Your entry must be Fall or Halloween themed and must be hand decorated (not store-bought).

Questions? Contact Sarah Foley: foley.sem@gmail.com

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP & SEE YOU THERE!

Boys and Girls Flag Football Registration open! 

We’re excited to announce that the late fall sports registration is now open for boys and girls flag football.

Students will not be allowed to try out or participate if they have not completed registration fully and meet all academic eligibility requirements.  Students should look for tryout information in the upcoming week in their afternoon/learning family announcement slides.

Registration Resources:

  • Skinner Middle School Arbiter Registration-Boys and Girls Flag Football

  • Arbiter Sports Registration Guide for Parents

If you have any questions or need any support, please contact Assistant Principal Shawnette_Ward@dpsk12.net

DPS Girls Flag Football 101 Camp - Oct. 11

Denver Public Schools is hosting a Girls Flag Football 101 camp for female middle school students to kick off the DPS Middle School Flag Football season at All City Stadium on Saturday, October 11 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This camp will be coached by women's pro players from two teams in Colorado. The coaches from the Katz and Blaze are excited to share their knowledge and love of football with the next generation.

The camp is FREE and open to middle school girls within Denver Public Schools looking to expand their skills at their specific position or as an introduction to flag football. Please register your student(s) at the link below as we will have limited space. We will send you an email confirmation the week of the clinic to confirm your attendance. Link to Register

Your student(s) should wear athletic clothing and tennis shoes or cleats. They should bring their own water bottle that can be refilled at the stadium. We will supply flag football belts, but they can wear their own if they have one. They can also wear a mouthguard if they have one. Link to Register

Chipotle Fundraiser for Skinner Middle School

Wednesday, October 15 from 4 - 8pm at the Highlands Square Location - 32nd and Lowell Blvd - 3600 W 32nd. 25% of event sales donated to the cause!

Make it Count! Order online and pick up Chipotle for your fundraiser by using the Promo Code D9WXZ23 on the Chipotle app or Chipotle.com. Fundraiser online ordering is ONLY valid through pickup on October 15 from 4 - 8pm at the Highlands Square Location. Sorry no delivery.

Middle School Girls Lacrosse Team 

Coach Doug Busken, North High Girls LAX Head Coach, is exploring starting a middle school girls LAX team right here in our community. If your daughter (grades 5-8) is interested in trying a fast-paced, team- oriented sport - no experience or gear required - we’d love to hear from you. Interested? Please complete the survey to be added to the interest list. Let’s give our girls an opportunity to learn new skills, make friends and have fun!

Architecture and Design Camp

The Colorado Chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) is excited to invite students to Project Pipeline, an immersive Architecture and Design Camp. Learn what the design world has to offer! Camp includes snacks, supplies and a shirt. Cost: $100. Scholarships available. Please email noma.colorado@gmail.com for more information.

  • Dates: October 31 (no school this day) – November 2, 2025

  • Times: Friday & Saturday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM | Sunday, 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM

  • Location: Roth Sheppard, 3370 Walnut St. Denver, CO 80205

Denver North High School

🚀 Big dreams start at Denver North! 🎭 🎶 ⚽ 🎨 📚
North High = endless opportunities:
✨ 13 AP + 25 college-level classes
✨ 6 Career/Tech pathways
✨ Art, music, theater, sports, clubs & more
✨ A community that’s got your back
✨ Minutes from home. A world of opportunities
👉 Come tour North & see for yourself! tinyurl.com/NorthTours25-26 to sign up 

North High Info Nights 📅 Wed, Nov 5, 2025 & Wed, Jan 14, 2026 🕠 5:30–7:30 pm
Discover why North High is the right school for your family! Meet Principal German Echevarría, staff, coaches, and current students. Tour the school, ask questions, and connect with our community.
👉 All prospective families welcome — no RSVP needed. We can’t wait to meet you! 💜💛

Support Staff Needs Your Help!

Skinner's support staff team is in need of your help! We have many students who are in need of a snack on a daily basis. Please check our Amazon wishlist and consider making a donation so we are able to sustainably offer healthy snacks to our students in need.  We also have some items listed to re-stock our Skinner loaner closet for students who need a change of clothes in the day. Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community's youth!

Student Clubs

We anticipate having a limited selection of Student Clubs that will be offered during Learning Family Period 7 Advisement. Parents, if you would like to volunteer to sponsor an after-school club, please email Assistant Principal Rachel_Johnson2@dpsk12.net.

Parent Engagement/Volunteering Opportunities

Skinner PTO
The Skinner PTO is a community of parents, guardians, and staff working together to support our school and create memorable experiences for our students. You don’t have to commit to attending every monthly meeting — you can jump in on projects that excite you or bring you joy! Whether you love planning, decorating, organizing, or just lending a hand when needed, there’s a place for you. Contact PTO President Frank Coyne at
fcoyne7@gmail.com to get involved!

CSC: Collaborative School Committee - first Wednesday of every month 4:00-5:30pm

Meets with parents, admin, staff to discuss issues, impacts, and solutions for the school.

In case you missed a prior issue...

Want to see a prior issue of Skinner Family News? Links are posted on the Skinner website, click here to access.