September 18th
Brooks News to Know
Curriculum Night on Thursday 9/14 Links to Information Shared
Curriculum Night Feedback Survey
PowerSchool and Canvas Parent Academy (6pm to 7pm event)
6th Grade Auditorium Presentation
7th Grade Auditorium Presentation
8th Grade Auditorium Presentation
Orchestra Information - Grade 6, Orchestra Information - Grade 7/8
Brooks Facebook Group
Please view posts or request to join so you can create or respond to posts!
Please be sure your background check has been completed if you'd like to volunteer to chaperone Field Trips
Bus Riders
ALL buses riders are required to show their ID to ride the bus. The bus company has been directed by the district office to not let anyone ride the bus after school without an ID.
If your student forgets or loses their ID, your student must go to the main office to acquire a daily temporary bus pass to ride the bus home.
If your student needs to replace their lost ID, the cost is $5 and they may get a replacement printed in the main office. Please note that if your student requests a reprinting of an ID at the end of the day, it will not be available for pick-up until the following school day.
Before School Help
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Everyday a Third Cold Lunch option, in additional to Salad or Sandwich ---- Pizza Kits ----- will be available.
Ordering Special Hot Lunch offerings for your Student
Please visit our website to learn how to participate in PTO Starship Lunches on Tuesdays and/or BRAVO Pizza lunches on Fridays.
GBMS Library News
Library is also open during each lunch period. Students need to request a pass from a teacher BEFORE their lunch period. This is a quiet time for reading and studying.
This year students need their Oak Park Public library card number and PIN in order to access the Oak Park Public Library Databases at school. We are recommending that they memorize it, write it down, bring it, or take a picture of it somewhere secure.
Author Visit
On September 20th author of Saving Marty, Paul Griffin, will be visiting Brooks thanks to Magic Tree Bookstore. Attached is a flyer and order form if you’d like to order a book at a discounted price.
Recognizing Staff who Make a Difference
Please Reinforce at Home
PERSONAL ELECTRONIC DEVICES (including Cell Phones)
Personal Electronic devices are not allowed out in common spaces. Teacher discretion will be used in the classrooms. Personal devices should be left on silent while in the building.
Staff will take personal electronic devices if they are seen being used in common spaces during school time in the building. Multiple infractions will require the parent to pick up the personal electronic device. As with other personal items, the school will not be responsible if the personal electronic device is stolen, lost or damaged. We strongly discourage students from bringing valuable items to school.
Bike Safety
Please remind your student to obey the rules of the road as they ride to and from school. Students need to be extra careful as they pass driveways and proceed through intersections. Please review this information with your student to ensure their safety to and from school as they ride their bikes!
Safety Walking to and from School
Please review these safety precautions with your student:
Be Careful at Crossings: Look before you step
- Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections, if possible.
- Obey traffic signals such as WALK/DON'T WALK signs.
- Don't assume vehicles will stop. Make eye contact with drivers, don't just look at the vehicle. If a driver is on a cell phone, he or she may not be paying enough attention to drive safely.
- Look left, right, and left again before crossing a street.
- Watch for turning vehicles. Make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
- Look across ALL lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before proceeding. Even if one motorist stops, do not presume drivers in other lanes can see you and will stop for you.
- Don't wear headphones or talk/text on a cell phone while crossing.
Excerpt from this website.
Crossing Washington at Dismissal
Please encourage your student to cross Washington Street with the Cross Guard at Kenilworth and Washington or at the light at Homes Ave and Washington Street. Our staff member at Clinton and Washington is there to guide students across Clinton due to the bus traffic but will not be stopping traffic to allow students to cross Washington at Clinton.
Strengthening Families - 11 week program
Here is Flyer. Program meets from 6 to 8pm at Julian Middle School starting October 3rd through December 19th.
You will Learn…- Effective Parenting Skills
- Healthy Communication
- How to Resolve Conflicts
- Stress Management Skills
- How to Set Limits
Open to families with children ages 7-17 years of age
A complete meal is provided.
Childcare and transportation is available if needed.
At no cost to families that reside in Oak Park or River Forest, proof of residency is needed.
Family Engagement Workshop
Please register for the library sessions by email at:
Register for the online course at www.edx.org/course/introductionfamily-engagement-education-harvardx-gse4x#! and complete Sections 1 and 2 before the first session on September 24. This course is free but there is an option to earn a Harvard certificate for an additional fee.
Young Filmmakers Contest
A Brooks team of young filmmakers were an honorable mention last year. Check out their video here. Ms. Laura Stamp, our sponsor of EgoEagles, will work with students during EcoEagles who are interested in creating a submission.
ORFF Ensemble
Spanish Club
Brooks & OPEF In-House VexRobotics League Pilot
The Brooks In-House League is designed for the student new to VEX Robotics with little or
no experience with ROBOTC programming or for the student who cannot commit to the long season of our Competitive Club. Students will be taught the basics of robot design and
programming. They will then work in teams to design, build and program a VEX robot to
play in our In-House League competition, Robot Rumble.
Students will meet one day a week from 3:30–5 pm and have 2 sessions to choose from:
- Fall In-House League: Tuesdays 3:30-5 pm, 10/03-12/19 (no meeting 10/31, 11/21); Robot Rumble: 12/12
- Winter In-House League: Tuesdays 3:30-5 pm, 1/09-3/13; Robot Rumble: 3/10
There is no tryout required to join the In-House League. Students interested in knowing
more about this program are invited to attend a Student Interest Meeting after school on Wednesday, September 20 in room B302. You can learn more by viewing flyer or OPEF VexRobotics website.
Student Innovation Team
Ultimate Frisbee
If you are looking to raise your competition level, the Julian club welcomes Brooks players to their meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays. Please email Mr. Seymour at aseymour@op97.org
Chess Club
EcoEagles - Meets on Tuesdays each week
Best Buddies
Next General Meeting on October 4th from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in Commons
Here is calendar of dates for all Best Buddies meetings.
Service Club
Volunteers Needed
Zero Waste - Lunchroom
Zero Waste PARENT Volunteers
If you are interested and available to help guide students in placing waste in appropriate bins to reinforce our new way of sorting our waste and to help our school reduce and recycle waste that ends up in landfills, please sign up here. We are looking for 1 volunteer for each 4th, 5th and 6th lunch period this upcoming week.
Zero Waste Student Ambassadors
We need YOU, our students, to help GBMS minimize waste that ends up in landfills! Please complete this form if you are interested in making a difference!
Get connected to PTO
PTO Information
- The link to subscribe for families is http://eepurl.com/cgOObT
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Email: acapuder@op97.org
Website: op97.org/brooks
Location: 325 S Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL, United States
Phone: (708) 524-3050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/108994473138309/
Twitter: @brooksop97