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

• Sept 11       Back to School Night 5:30-7:30pm 

• Sept 22       No School for Students - DPS Staff Development Day

• Sept 24       Mandatory 8th Grade Meeting 6-7pm (for 8th parents/guardians and students)

• Monday - Adam Sandler Day

• Tuesday - Twin Day

• Wednesday - Pajama Day

• Thursday - Throwback Thursday

• Friday - Sports Day

Everyone loves a parade! Come out and watch the North High Homecoming Parade - Wednesday, Sept 17, 4:00 pm! Highland Park at 32nd and Federal is the best viewing location. Skinner will be participating in the parade. Bring the family and celebrate our community! 

***New Date - moving from Sept 18th to Sept 24th due to North’s Homecoming Football Game!

• We are hoping that all 8th grade parents can attend with their 8th grade students. 8th grade students are able to attend without a parent/guardian. If you are not able to attend, the slide-deck will be in that week’s Skinner Family News for review. 

• If you would like to request language interpretation for this event, call Lyzbe Paz at 720-424-1482.

At this meeting, you’ll learn more about:

• 8th grade Continuation Expectations

• 8th grade Continuation Events

• Guest Speakers from area high schools

Addressing the behavioral and social-emotional needs of our students is critical to ensuring their well-being and healthy development, their access to safe and welcoming schools, and their ability to engage with grade-level texts and tasks. Universal behavioral and emotional screening is a proactive and systematic way to determine appropriate supports for students.

In Denver Public Schools, we use the Behavioral and Emotional Screening System (BESS) to screen all students for behavioral and social-emotional risk. This screener is completed by students, teachers, and parents/caregivers at the beginning and end of each school year. The screening results will support data-driven decision-making across all tiers (levels) of supports in school buildings, in order to meet students’ needs as appropriately as possible.

Action Needed: BESS Parent/Caregiver Form - If you haven’t done so already, please take a few minutes to complete the BESS for your student. Our fall parent/caregiver screening window is open through October 31st. Please go to tinyurl.com/bessparent to complete your student’s screening today. You will need your student’s ID number and date of birth to log in.

If you'd like to learn more about the BESS and universal behavioral and emotional screening in Denver Public Schools, please review the BESS Overview for Parents/Guardians document.

Thank you so much for your participation!

For questions, reach out to: Lauren Wingender, Skinner School Psychologist lauren_wingender@dpsk12.net

Welcome/Welcome Back to the Gifted and Talented Program at Skinner Middle School. I'm excited to launch a new year of inspiring learning and growth! To keep you connected and informed, please review our very first GT specific newsletter - the Scorpion Spark: September 2025 Family Edition. It has my contact information, news about the virtual Family Gifted Educational Series, and important updates related to our GT programming plan and your student's Advanced Learning Plan. I'm excited to continue (or begin) our collaborative partnership! - Becca Glosser

Washington DC/Philadelphia Trip Info meeting is Tuesday 9/16 at 6pm in the auditorium. To RSVP to the meeting please click here: https://bit.ly/3UzUs14. The trip will take place in early June, 2026 and is open to 6th-8th graders.

Youth on Record’s 11th Annual Block Party & Youth Music Festival (aka YOR Fest) is almost here! You’re invited to one of Denver’s most vibrant community celebrations.

• Date: Sunday, September 14th, 2025 Time: 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM 

• Location: Outside at Youth on Record – 1301 W. 10th Avenue, Denver, CO 80204. Free, Family-Friendly, All-Ages Event.

• What to Expect: Powerful performances from young and emerging artists; Food trucks serving local favorites; Community vendors with resources, swag, and local goods; Free arts & crafts activities for all ages.

• VIP Experience for Youth (24 & under): Get a free YOR Fest t-shirt plus a sticker or temporary tattoo! Just pick up your VIP wristband at the entrance, YOR booth, or Resident Check-In Tent, and head to the VIP table to grab your gear.

RSVP Bonus: Pre-register now and be entered to win raffle prizes — including a Victrola record player and 2 vinyl records! Pre-Register Here

Arrupe Jesuit High School is just a 3 minute drive from Skinner MS and a great high school option for your student! Come learn more about our unique Corporate Work Study Program—where every student works one school day each week—along with other exciting opportunities at the upcoming 8th Grade Parent Meeting.

Below are important dates for you and your student to visit our campus, learn more about Arrupe, and discover if we’re the right school for your family.  

• 8th Grade Visit - Use this link for availability: 8GV Registration

• Open House - Use this link to reserve your visit: Open House Registration

• Students should be in their seats, in their first period class and ready for instruction at the beginning of the school day. 

• Students who arrive late to school must report to the main office to obtain a pass. School tardies will be considered “unexcused.” 

• If a student receives 2 or more tardies in one day, they will be assigned TAP after-school intervention the following day from 3:30-3:50.  

• Families will receive a dialer notification if their child has been assigned for transportation purposes. If a student rides a school bus, there will be an option to serve TAP during lunch. 

  If a student does not attend TAP on the assigned day, there will be additional consequences.

• Families are not able to reschedule TAP if there are conflicts after-school on the assigned day.  

Although Skinner Middle School does not have a school librarian (due to school funding), we are grateful for our amazing Skinner parents who volunteer their time in our amazing library.  If you are interested in joining the wonderful crew of parents, please email Julie_Stephens@dpsk12.net.  You will need to complete the DPS Volunteer Background Check process using this link. If you need any support, here is the guide. Please come to one of our meeting/training sessions on Monday, September 8th, either at 8:30am or 2:30pm to learn more about how you can help.  Please sign up for a meeting time here: Sign-up Genius. If you are unable to attend on September 8th, there will be other options to get trained. Thank you!

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!

Skinner families, we wanted to remind everyone that energy drinks are not allowed at school for lunch. We have noticed an increase of students drinking energy drinks before school and during lunch. We want to make sure our students have healthy lunches that support their learning. Thank you for your support!

Skinner is part of Longmont Dairy's Milk Caps for Mooola program.  Please save all Longmont Dairy caps (milk, juice, lemonade, cold brew, etc.) and turn them into the container in Skinner's main office.  Skinner's PTO will earn 5 cents per cap so save, save, save!

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.

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!

From the Fall Festival and school dances to fundraisers and special events, there will be plenty of opportunities to help out throughout the year. 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

Will need 3-5 Parent representatives - please submit interest by filling out this survey by September 12th. If you were on CSC last year, you’re welcome to serve again this year. 

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