Mustang Minutes
Gemini Middle School - December 2021
We hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving Break. The next three weeks will be busy, exciting, and full of learning. Please encourage your child to get enough sleep, eat a healthy breakfast, and bring a water bottle so they are ready for optimal learning.
Historically, during these three weeks, we see an increase in negative behaviors from students. Please review the school expectations of being respectful, responsible, safe, and positive with your children so that we have a successful three weeks before Winter Break.
Lewis Roberts, Principal
Erica Perelgut, Brian Gariti, and Wendy Brutt, Assistant Principals
We Care 2021 Giving Campaign
Please join us as we care for our own D63 families and community members in need.
Monday, November 1 - Friday, December 10
Once again this season, D63 is offering employees and families a range of ways to support our own D63 families and the larger community in need. Take a minute to review the giving opportunities below
- Donate items to the Maine Township Food Pantry.
- Support Niles Family Services through our Virtual Goods Drive.
- Support WINGS, which provides housing, services, and support to victims of domestic violence, through its Holiday Wish List and/or Holiday Gift Card List.
- Help us create care packages for D63 Families in need.
Look for donation boxes in Gemini's foyer - as well as the District Office and the Family Resource Center. Thank you for making a difference!
After School Clubs
Important Dates:
December 13 - January 3: Winter Session Sign Up
January 10 - March 18: Winter Session
March 14 - March 28: Spring Session Sign Up
April 4 - May 27: Spring Session
Enhanced Lockdown Drill
December Sports Schedule
Winter Card Contest Winner
ExL Winter Basketball League
Attendance now on the Parent Portal
All absences are now submitted via the Parent Portal.
Formerly, parents called a school’s dedicated attendance line to report an absence on any given day of school. Moving forward, these phone lines will no longer be active and will not accept messages. Instead, they will direct parents to the Parent Portal.
All absences must be submitted on the morning of the day your child will miss school - NOT the night before. Once you log in to the Portal, you’ll choose your child’s name and navigate to a list of online forms. Select and complete the “Absence Form,” and then submit.
Submitting Vaccination Records
We are aware that many of our students have been vaccinated, and although it is not required, we strongly recommend that you upload a copy of your child’s vaccination record for our school health records. Click here for more information.
Securly for Student Safety
Our district uses Securly to keep students safe on their school-issued devices, or when logged into a Chrome web browser using their school account. We highly recommend signing up to see your child's internet activity. You can elect to receive email reports and alerts when items have been flagged. These are the same alerts our school administration receives when a concerning word or phrase is used with a school account.
Library Updates
Reading Challenge
This month, we will begin to support teams of students who would like to participate in the NMDL Reading Challenge. Teams are expected to read and study 30 books, and then compete against other middle school teams in a series of live challenges in April. Students who would like to participate in this fun program can meet with their teams to practice at the Gemini library every other week while receiving some coaching from Mrs. Buican and Mrs. Wahlers. Click here for more information!
Library Scavenger Hunts
Many of our ELA classrooms participated in a library scavenger hunt last month (and several more classes will give it a shot in the coming weeks). Students in each class worked together as a team to find the answers to 175 questions from the fiction section, non-fiction section, and Destiny (the online book catalog). Congratulations to Ms. Diliberto’s 5-6 class, Mr. Meader’s 5-6 class, and Ms. Wooster’s 9-10 class for answering all of the questions correctly. It was a great opportunity for students to learn how to navigate the library more independently while having fun.
Community Libraries
Our community libraries continue to provide wonderful programs (both in-person and virtual) for students. Please check out your local library to see what is new!
SEL Corner
If you need additional help getting a winter coat for your child, please call or email the social work team. We also have accessories like mittens, hats, etc. You can also reach out to us if you need help with access to food or other community resources. Our website has more information.
6th Grade: Emily Alexander, ealexander@emsd63.org
7th Grade: Laura Mell, lmell@emsd63.org
8th Grade: Zoe Turner, zturner@emsd63.org (Habla español)
Box Tops
Niles Teen Center
Calendar Highlights
December:
9: Band, Orchestra, and Choir Nursing Home Visits
9: Elementary Winter Orchestra and Band Concert @ 6 PM
13: Winter Clubs Registration Begins
20-31: No School - Winter Break
January:
3: Classes Resume
3: Winter Clubs Registration Ends
10: Winter Clubs Begin
13-19: Winter MAP Testing
17: No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
21: Report Cards Distributed Electronically
21: Early Dismissal - School Improvement Day
#hereatgemini
Email: gemini411@emsd63.org
Website: emsd63.org/gemini
Location: 8955 North Greenwood Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-1181
Twitter: @D63Gemini