★ Students are grouped with similar-aged peers, generally +/- one grade level. For example, there may be a group made up of 1st and 2nd graders.

★ Each group is assigned a color. Please help your child remember their Star Group.

★ Groups will have limited capacity to ensure safety and effectiveness of activities. 

★ Groups will remain in one space with an assigned Star Leader each afternoon.  

★ During Star Program, students have snack time, homework time, and activity time. Activities vary based on Star Teacher and day of the week. Some activities include  board games, technology, movement games, arts and crafts, creative writing, STEM, and more. 

★Remind is a program that will streamline communication for Star Team. 

★As families register for Star, you will be able to opt-in your cell phone number for Remind. Opting-in will allow parents to text the Star Table when you have arrived for pickup. 

Schedule

★ Star Program follows the CPS Attendance Calendar. Star Program is not held on Teacher Institute Days, Report Card Pick Up Day, or on days when CPS/Skinner is closed due to inclement weather or other emergencies.  Star is not held on any day that teachers are not in the building included but not limited to COVID days for classrooms or day of actions days for teachers. (Refunds are not given for these circumstances. )

★ Star Program is designed as a full-year program.  When your family receives confirmation of your child’s seat in Star Program, after school care is available to you for the whole school year. There is no prorated fee for attending less than 5 days a week.

Hours

★ Star Program runs from the end of the school day -6:15. Students may wait at the Star Table until 6:30 for pickup, but all students MUST be picked up by 6:30. 

★ Star Team realizes that occasionally, "life happens" and can cause a delay in pick-up. Please make your best attempt to have a friend or family member on your Approved Pick-Up List pick up your child in these situations. Please contact Star Program via the Remind app or call the Skinner security desk at 773-534-7790 and put in the extension: 61159  if you will be late.

★ If a child has not been picked up by 6:30, a late fee of $2 per minute will be charged.

★ Families who are late for pick up repeatedly will be removed from Star Program.

★ Star Program Registration is available here:

 Registration Links

★ Star Program seats are limited based on staffing and safety guidelines. If your child’s grade level group has reached capacity, your child will be placed on the Star Program Waitlist. You will receive an email in August informing you of your child's group.  If you are placed on the wait list you will be notified by email and another email  when/ if a seat opens up in your child’s grade level group.  Currently all groups are open and are accepting students. 

Star Program is requiring contactless payments for the 2023-24 school year.

★ Star Program tuition payments will be made online with a debit or credit card via ePay, the online payment program mandated by Chicago Public Schools.

★ Online payments are subject to taxes and fees set by EPay.

★ Student ID Number is required to pay online. Student IDs can be found on your child’s school registration paperwork or on their report card.

★ Proof of Payment (receipt) must be sent to Star Team at skinner.starprogram@gmail.com to have your account considered up to date and avoid a late fee. 

★ Payment Due Dates: 

September 11  (Full Year Payments and 1st Quarter Payments)

• • • October 20(2nd Quarter Payment)

    • December 21 (3rd Quarter Payment)

    • March 22 (4th Quarter Payment)

★ Tuition and Payment Chart- outlines totals by # of children and payment options

★ If quarterly payments are a concern for your family, please contact Star Team to create a customized payment contract.

Star Program Expectations are in place for the safety and well-being of all Skinner students, staff, and families. We want Star Program to be a safe, enjoyable environment for all students. STAR students are expected to conduct themselves as they would during a regular school day. This means listening and following directions, as well as respecting their fellow students, STAR program staff, and school property.

Star Students agree to:

★ Be kind and respectful during Star Program.

★ Follow directions.

★ Stay with their group in the hallways and WALK 

★ Come prepared to do homework, and bring a book for when finished.

★ Clean up after themselves and throw away all garbage.

★ Respect the classroom and all materials.

★ If a superstar feels lost go to the Star Table (by the front doors). 

(Sometimes, especially at the beginning of the year, young students feel “lost”. They may forget where their room is after a trip to the bathroom, etc. Please teach your child “When in doubt, go to the Star Table.” We will make sure your child is escorted back to the correct room.)

★ NEVER, EVER leave the building without an adult.

If a student is not following Star Program expectations, the following Behavior Plan will be implemented to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff.

Level One: Students who are not following Star Student Expectations will receive verbal redirection and guidance on how to make the right behavior choice.

Level Two: If the student does not redirect and correct the unacceptable behavior, the student  will be sent to the Star Table to complete a reflection and calm down. The student will return to his/her group when the reflection is completed and the students is calm.

Level Three: If the student does not calm down at the Star Table in a reasonable amount of time, is sent back to the Star Table for a second behavior problem, or has a severe behavior incident (violent toward self or others, destructive toward property, etc.) the parent(s) will be called to pick the student up immediately. The incident will be entered in the student’s Star Behavior Log.

Level Four: If the student demonstrates repetitive and/or severe behavior issues, the student will be suspended from Star Program for the safety and well being of all Star students and Star Staff. The length of suspension will range from one day to permanent, and will be determined by the Administration and Star Team. When a child is suspended from Star, families must arrange alternate child care.

Star Families are expected to:

★ Send an after school snack and drink for your child. Students MAY NOT leave the building to go to  nearby shops or food stands during Star Program. 

★ Notify Star Team of any changes to contact information.

★ Notify Star of changes in the Approved Pick-Up List.

★ Understand that Star teachers supervise Homework Time, but are unable to check every student’s homework. Families should check homework for accuracy and completion.

★ Work with the Star Team on Behavior Expectations, and understand repetitive and/or severe behavior issues will result in removal from Star Program.

★ Make Star tuition payments on time and send proof of payment to skinner.starprogram@gmail.com.

★ Make every attempt to pick up on time.

★ Inform Star Program in writing if withdrawing child from Star Program.

2023 Star Program Pick Up Procedures

★At the beginning of homework time, the Star teacher will tell the students to take out their homework. It is your child’s responsibility to get out their homework and work on it.

★ Your child should be prepared for homework period with their assignments and any supplies needed.

★Star Program does NOT guarantee the use of technology during homework hour. (There will be a set of Chromebook made available to students for homework use only.) If your child’s homework requires technology, you are welcome to send technology from home, which your child would be responsible for. 

★Star Teachers and helpers provide homework supervision and support, not individual tutoring. With the sizes of the groups and the time allotted, teachers and helpers CANNOT thoroughly check each individual student's work for accuracy. Parents should check their child’s work at home.

★If you prefer your child to NOT do their homework during STAR Program, please email us and let us know. 

Star Team Email: skinner.starprogram@gmail.com

Remind App: Sign up during Star Registration