Links: 24-25 Calendar (Spanish Calendar)

• Sept 19       Mandatory 8th Parent Meeting 6-7pm 

• Sept 25      GT Screener 

• Sept 27       No school for students - DPS Staff Development Day

*Please enter through Main Entrance - doors will be open at 5:45pm. At this meeting, you’ll learn more about:

• 8th grade Continuation Requirements  

• 8th grade Continuation Events

• Guest speakers from area high schools

• If you will need language interpretation, please contact lyzbe_paz@dpsk12.net (720-424-1482) by 9/17. 

• If you or your child is unable to attend, check the following week’s Skinner Family News for the slide-deck to review! 

We are pleased to inform you that our 6th and 7th grade students have been provided with protective cases for their school-issued Chromebooks. These cases are designed to ensure the longevity and protection of the devices throughout the school year.  8th grade students will receive their cases shortly, and we appreciate your patience as we work to distribute them.  To maintain the integrity of the Chromebooks, it is an expectation that the protective cases remain on the devices for the duration of the school year.  Please note the following guidelines:

• To maintain the integrity of the Chromebooks and cases we are asking that students not adhere any stickers other than the school provided nametags to their device covers.

• If a student’s Chromebook is found to be without its protective case, the student will be issued a Chromebook technology violation.

• If a student attempts to remove the cases and in the process damages the screen the student will be responsible for the repair cost of the damages.

• If a student removes or loses their Chromebook case, they will be responsible for the replacement cost of the protective case.

We greatly appreciate your support in helping us maintain and protect these valuable student learning devices.

Skinner Staff offer a wide variety of fun and engaging after school clubs for students.  Please click here to review the list. Please reach out to Club Sponsors directly if you have any questions.

Hello Skinner GT Families!

My name is Becca Glosser and I am the Gifted and Talented Program Coordinator here at Skinner Middle School. I am on campus on Wednesdays this school year and wanted to wish you a warm welcome (or welcome back)! Our program plan for this school year has been updated and posted to our website. You can read it here.

All advanced learning plans will be developed and finalized in the coming weeks for your gifted/highly gifted student. We have many enriching and engaging opportunities to offer. We hope to create meaningful goals that will challenge your student in their strength and interest area(s) while also maintaining a high level of support from staff in our community. All Advanced Learning Plans (ALPs) will be finalized by October 30th and a copy will be shared to the preferred primary email address(es) on file. Please reach out directly if you have any questions about your students identification status or strength area(s).

I also wanted to share this flyer for our 24-25 Family Series sessions. All sessions are an excellent opportunity to learn more about what it means to be gifted and talented and are open to students and their families grades 5th-12th grade.

Looking forward to another great year as a Skinner Scorpion! 

Best,
Becca Glosser
Gifted & Talented Program Coordinator
rebecca_glosser1@dpsk12.net

Since Skinner does not have an official Librarian, we rely on parent volunteers to keep our library functioning!  We’re looking for parents who are willing to volunteer their time to check out books to students, re-shelving, inventorying, and creating and maintaining a visually appealing/stimulating learning environment. Hopefully we’ll have a combination of returning and new Skinner parents willing to support our efforts! All parents will be required to complete a background check through Denver Public Schools. All volunteers will need to complete volunteer approval via the DPS Family and Community Engagement department.

No experience needed - DPS Library Services Coordinator is available to provide Skinner Library Parent Volunteers training. Please complete this survey by September 13th to express your interest.

Skinner has a loaner closet for students that are out of dress code or in need in other ways. We also stock hygiene kits for our students in need. Our Social/Emotional team has set up an Amazon wish list for the items they need for the kits and loaner closet. Please click here and order some items to stock our closet today! Thanks in advance for your generosity. 

Skinner is excited to announce that we have installed several new bike racks, both outside the 6th grade entrance and near the existing bike corral. The new bike racks are thanks to a microgrant from the Denver Community Active Living Coalition. Thank you to parent Alejandra X. Castañeda for spearheading this effort and to our incredible Facilities Manager Andrew Delgado for getting them installed. 

We love to see our students engaging in sustainable, active transportation—our current designated bike parking is bursting at the seams! It’s probably why we have noticed some students are locking up their bikes to trees near the bike corral. This could potentially cause damage to our beautiful trees and the bikes themselves when doing landscaping work. Please ask your students to only lock bikes to a bike rack or the fence. We’re working on expanding bike parking in the future. Thank you!

We are happy to announce that our Wellpower Group Facilitator, Cassandra Garcia, will be back this school year on Tuesdays to facilitate small groups for students.  This year's first semester group topics include:  

1)  Anxiety -What is it and how do I manage it?  - An interactive group where students can learn a variety of skills to use when they experience anxiety. Trying out and practicing the activities in the group sessions will give students many ideas on how to both prevent and handle their anxiety.

2)  Introduction to Mindfulness - Students will practice how to be more aware of their thoughts and feelings, and how to manage them in a healthy way. Mindfulness can help students with daily stress/ things that upset them.

3)  Girls Empowerment Group - How do I navigate my friendships? - A group that will incorporate education and skills that will build problem solving skills, healthy communication skills, confidence, and self-esteem.

In addition, there will be a Voz Y Corazon Art Club available with Cassandra and local Denver artist, Cal Duran offered after school on Tuesdays. This weekly art group was designed by young people for young people. Learn from a professional artist and receive mentor and group support. No art skills needed!

All groups are space limited so register soon! - Placement will be first registered, first served. Deadline for the groups and Voz Art Club registration is due no later than October 1st.

All groups are held at Skinner during the school day for 45 minute group sessions for 6 weeks.  (Voz Art Club is after school for one hour and will meet weekly yearlong through May 20th, 2025 ) This year, families will need to register directly with Cassandra Garcia by calling 303-300-6293 OR email her at cassandra.garcia@wellpower.org.  Family Health Insurance or Medicaid information will need to be provided so have your health card available to register. Scholarships may be available for students without health care coverage or who have Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance.

Ms. Garcia will have an information table regarding our group offerings at our Back to School Night on Thursday, 9/12/2024 so stop by for more information!!

Grief/Loss Group by Judi's House - Has your child experienced a significant death of a loved one recently or in the past?  Judi's House, located in Aurora and started by former Denver Broncos Quarterback, Brian Griese and his wife, will be offering a Grief group at Skinner this year.  We need a minimum of 6 students to start a group. The one hour, 10 week group will be held at Skinner during the school day (day/time TBD).  This group allows for education to students on the universal experience of grief and loss, and provides healthy grieving strategies and sacred time with peers who have also experienced loss, to memorialize the deceased loved one in a positive way.  There is no charge for this group.  For more information on the Grief group, contact Skinner Mental Health Team: Valerie Tomasi, Social Worker -Mon-Thursdays at 720-424-1426 or Lauren Wingender, Psychologist - Mon-Fridays at 720-424-1528.

A Skinner parent is wondering if there are other parents/guardians that might want to coordinate for walking/biking groups, carpools, or both.  She has created a form to gauge interest.  Please click here and complete by Thursday, September 5, if interested. This effort is completely volunteer parent led and Skinner MS is not involved in any coordination. 

Teachers have a whopping 13 DonorsChoose projects posted hoping to obtain classroom and project supplies for their students. Please click here to see all of the projects and consider a donation to one ore more projects today! Thank you in advance for your generosity.

Back to School = Back to Fun! Fall Programs Are Here! With the new school year underway, now is the perfect time to check out fall programs at Denver Recreation Centers. From sports and fitness to arts and culture, there is something for everyone. Don’t miss out—register today to secure your spot! Click here for more info or visit any Denver Recreation Center to enroll.

CSC: Collaborative School Committee - first Wednesday of every month 4:00-5:30 in the Skinner Library

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

• Will need 2 new Parent representatives - please submit interest by filling out this survey by September 13th. 

PTO: Parent/Teacher Organization - first Wednesday of every month 5:30-6:30, usually in the Skinner Library (Please check the Skinner calendar to confirm date.)

• Fundraising, teacher appreciation, parent volunteers. 

• Check out Skinner Website PTO for more information. 

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