All Skinner Superstars are expected to adhere to these policies and procedures. If you have any questions, please contact the main office. Thank you for your cooperation.
A student who attends school for at least 5 hours is marked for a full day of attendance while a student who attends for 2.5 hours is marked for a half-day.
If your child is absent, please provide your teacher a note with a parent's or doctor's signature in order to receive an excused absence. This is mandatory to receive an excused absence. A phone call to our main office is strictly optional. You may receive a recorded phone call from CPS indicating that your student is absent. If you know in advance your child will be absent, please work with their teacher to make up missed time.
Late Arrival: Any student entering the building after 9:00 a.m. must stop by the front office for a tardy slip.
Early Dismissal: Any student requiring an early dismissal must stop by the front office. Parents should notify their child’s teacher in advance and call the main office 10-15 minutes before they arrive. This will give teachers and staff time to have your child ready for pick-up. Parents must come to the main door to pick up their child.
According to the CPS Promotion Policy, 3rd, 6th, and 8th grade students will NOT be promoted to the next grade level if they have more than 9 unexcused absences.
Arrival
Students should report directly to their designated waiting area(multi-purpose room, cafeteria, or gymnasium) upon entering the building. Students may not enter classrooms or roam the hallways before class.
Breakfast
If your child needs breakfast in the morning, please have them arrive early enough to ensure they have time to finish eating before teachers pick students up.
Dismissal
All kindergarten and first grade students MUST be signed out by an adult or an older sibling (with parental consent).
Students waiting to be picked up by a parent will be supervised by Skinner staff on the Adams Street side of the building until 3:55 p.m. (10 minutes after final bell). After 3:55 p.m., late pick-ups will be brought inside the vestibule and parents will be charged a $10.00 late fee. Parents MUST make arrangements to have children picked up on time, every day. We do not have staff to supervise late pick-ups. We have several after-school programs, if after-school care is needed.
Avoid a Ticket
Do not block any driveways in the community area, double-park, or block a crosswalk while dropping off or picking up your child.
Parking Lots
The parking lot at the main building is very small. Both parking lots (main and Branch) arereserved for staff only. Please do not park in the staff lot or block other cars.
Read the full Parking, Drop-Off, and Pick-Up page for specific entrance/exit doors and dismissal times.
At the beginning of the year, parents of qualified students should receive a yellow postcard with busing information from the CPS Bureau of Transportation, indicating the pick-up time and location for your child’s bus. To request a bus route for your child, please return the appropriate, completed bus form to the main office.
Visit CPS Transportation Services for more information.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, visitors to the school are limited to those that have an appointment with the office ONLY. To make an appointment, please call the main office. Anyone entering the building must be buzzed in from the main entrance. They will need to stop at the security desk to sign-in and obtain a visitor badge.
Contact security:
Main building security desk: (773) 534-7790, ext 61159
Branch security desk: (773) 534-9499
Parents must make an appointment to see a teacher.Teachers do not have time before school to meet with parents. Appointments can be made by emailing the teacher, calling the office, or sending a note to the teacher.
Cell phones must be turned off and placed in a pocket, backpack, or purse upon entry into Skinner West.
Upon arrival to homeroom classes, phones must be turned in to the homeroom teacher.
Teachers will collect cell phones and place them in bagslabeled with students’ names.
Cell phones will be locked up throughout the course of the school day.
At the end of the school day (3:45 p.m.), cell phones will be returned to students by their homeroom teachers.
If a student is tardy, the student must report to the homeroom teacher to deliver their tardy slip and cell phone.
If a teacher is absent, a team member or administrator will assist with the collection of cell phones. If this does not occur, students are to keep their cell phones turned off and kept in a pocket, purse, or backpack until they leave the school for the day.
If a student has an early dismissal, the student can go back to the homeroom teacher to pick up his/her cell phone.
Consequences
Violation of the CPS Student Code of Conduct: Acts 1-8 and 3-11:
First offense: Cell phone is confiscated by teacher and sent to the office. Parent must pick-up cell phone from the office. Student will serve a lunch detention and reflection.
Second offense: Cell phone is confiscated by the teacher and sent to the office. Parent must pick-up the cell phone. Student will receive a CPS Misconduct Report, and serve a one day, in-school suspension.
Third offense: Cellphone is confiscated by the teacher and sent to the office. Parent must pick-up the cell phone. Student will receive a CPS Misconduct Report and up to two days, out-of-school suspension
Inappropriate or blatant misuse: Any inappropriate or blatant misuse of cell phones can result in seizure of the cell phone, the cell phone being sent to the office for parent/guardian pick-up, potential cell phone privilege removal, and possible use of the CPS Code of Conduct.
Bullying WILL NOT BE TOLERATED at Skinner West. Our expectations for students:
We will not bully others.
We will try to help students who are bullied.
We will try to include students who are left out.
If we know that somebody is being bullied, we will not be silent; we will tell an adult at school or home.
If your child feels like they are being bullied or sees another student being bullied, they’re encouraged to report it immediately to their teacher. In addition, students can anonymously report bullying by dropping a note in the "BULLY BOX" located in the front office.
All students must comply with the Chicago Public Schools Acceptable Computer Use Policy.
All store-bought treats for birthdays, holidays, or special occasions may be shared during your child’s lunch period only. For more information, read CPS: Healthy Celebrations.
For all policies and procedures, please consult the Skinner West Student Handbook.