Middle Matters
Week of March 22, 2021
In This Issue
Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:
- Important Upcoming Dates
- Monday 3/22 is B day for 6th and 8th Grade Students & 7th Grade Hybrid Week from 3/22 through 3/25
- Thoughtexchange - Gathering Feedback on the District 97 Middle School Schedule
- The PTO can't exist without YOU!
- Expectations for D97 Students and Staff Who Travel Out of State
- SAVE THE DATE: D97 Virtual Summer Step Up Program
- Illinois 5Essentials Survey - seeking your feedback
- Announcing the First Annual Teacher Challenge Fundraiser! - LAST CHANCE TO DONATE
- OPEF Spoken Word Club Opportunity for Tri 3
- "Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program
- GBMS Yearbook Ordering Information
- Check out... What's happening in the Brooks Library
- Middle School Virtual Clubs Starting Days & Times & BRAVO Information
- Student Attendance - Trimester 3: How to Report Student Absences
- Technology Support: helpdesk@op97.org
- PTO News
- In case you missed it: items from previous Middle Matters (see below)
- District Information Highlights
- Community Highlights
In case you missed it:
- Current 7th Graders-Washington D. C. Trip in February 2022
- Middle School Hybrid Week Information (including A/B Day & Hybrid Week Calendar)
- Crisis Go Health Certification
- When to Stay Home From School
- A Greater Good Foundation
- STARS Program
- Morning Virtual Homework Support
- School Immunization and Physical Information
If you have questions about the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me at acapuder@op97.org. You can also contact my Executive Coordinator, Ms. Tasha Guerino, at tguerino@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.
Our administrative team is also available to help answer your questions.
Angelica Love Curriculum & Instruction AP (6th grade, Teams 7.1 & 7.2) alove@op97.org
Antione Bland Curriculum & Instruction AP (8th grade, Teams 7.3) abland@op97.org
Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org
IMPORTANT DATES
- Mar 26 - Trimester 2 Report Cards emailed to families
- Mar 29- Apr 2 - Spring Holiday No Student Attendance
- Apr 6 - No Student Attendance
7th grade Hybrid Week: Monday, March 22 through Thursday March 25
Monday 3/22 is B day for 6th and 8th Grade Students
A/B Day Calendar (including the dates of hybrid weeks)
Thoughtexchange - Gathering Feedback on the District 97 Middle School Schedule
District 97 is currently working through the logistics involved with expanding on-site instructional time for middle school students, and we want to give you an opportunity to weigh in. To gather your feedback, we're using an online research tool called Thoughtexchange. All of our voices matter, so your participation is crucial and valued.
Click here to participate: https://my.thoughtexchange.com/scroll/161049651
You'll be asked to respond to one open-ended question, consider and assign stars to some of the ideas shared by others (20 to 30 is ideal), and learn what's important to the group. You can rate as many thoughts as you’d like before moving on to discover where you can see all the thoughts sorted by the average star rating. CLICK HERE for a one-minute video that explains how Thoughtexchange works.
Your thoughts and stars are confidential. You can come back as often as you'd like to participate and, in fact, we ask that you do come back to star some of the new ideas shared since you first participated. The ratings will be shared with district and middle school administrators to provide further insight and direction on our plans moving forward
Participation will be open until Friday, March 26, at 5 p.m.
The PTO can't exist without YOU!
Do you want to have the inside scoop on what is going on at Brooks and D97? Do you want to make our school better than it ever as we transition back to a more ‘normal’ school day? NOW is the time to get involved!! We are looking to fill positions for the 2021-2022 school year and have some critical roles open! Sign up here and email gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com with any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!
Expectations for D97 Students and Staff Who Travel Out of State
Click here to view a summary of the district's expectations for students and staff.
SAVE THE DATE: D97 Virtual Summer Step Up Program
District 97 is holding a Virtual Step Up Summer Program for students in Grades 1-8 (students who are in kindergarten through seventh grade during the 2020-21 school year). The program will run July 26 through Aug. 5, 2021 (8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. OR 12 pm. - 2:30 p.m.).
Summer Step Up is designed to support any District 97 student that could benefit from revisiting grade level standards from the previous year. Additional information and sign up forms will be shared by schools in May 2021.
Illinois 5Essentials Survey
District 97 is administering the Illinois 5Essentials Survey again this year to certified staff and parents/guardians from all 10 of our schools, as well as students in grades four through eight.
The parent/guardian survey is available now. Please click here to learn how parents/guardians can participate in this important endeavor and click here to access the parent/guardian version of the survey.
Please note that school-level reports will only be generated if at least 20 percent of our parents/guardians complete the survey. Our current response rate for parents/guardians is at 5%.
Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the survey!
Announcing the First Annual Teacher Challenge Fundraiser: Last Chance to Donate!
LAST CHANCE TO DONATE!!
Get ready Brooks families! On March 22nd our teachers are ready to entertain us virtually with their fun-filled antics. The goal is to raise $500 which will be used exclusively to honor our teachers.
See Ms. Love, Mr. Contraveos, and Ms. Belmont get a pie in the face; Ms. Capuder work outside; Mr. Gillespie teach in a wig; Ms. Klein get taped to the wall; Ms. Maggio and Mr. Lee wear the eagle head to teach; Mr. Kline eat some serious wings; Ms. Joyce juggle water balloons; Ms. Marinez dress up as a meme; Mr. Andersen play the drums; and more! But this can only happen with $500 in donations! We need your contribution!
Money earned towards this event will help to provide gifts, resources and activities for the Brooks faculty. So, get ready and tell EVERYBODY that your teacher is getting a pie in the face and no one is getting in trouble!
Ohhh and guess what…it will be recorded! They can never deny these laughable sketches and anecdotes.
OPEF SPOKEN WORD CLUB IS BACK FOR TRIMESTER 3!
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program
The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth through the “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program.” Below is a list of upcoming VIRTUAL talks, which will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Eventbrite links below is requested. Once you register, a link will be emailed to you four hours prior to the start of each event.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Community Talk Flyer
- Wednesday, March 24 (6 p.m.): Understanding depression in youth and strategies for treatment and support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-depression-inyouth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-141698771841
GBMS Yearbook Online Purchase
Sharing Photos with our Yearbook Editors
A copy of the email sent to all families last week to provide consent for your student, if 12 years or younger, to create a treering account to be able to submit photos to be reviewed by our yearbook editors to potentially include in the 20-21 yearbook.
To Purchase & Customize Your 20-21 Yearbook
Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.
- Go to www.treering.com/validate
- Enter your school’s passcode: 1014096931934358
Regular Price: $26.02. *Does not include sales tax or any discounts, if applicable
Deadline: April 9th, 2021
Check out... Whats happening in the Brooks Library
The library will hold a book pickup/delivery each week according to grade level hybrid schedule.
Place books on hold via the catalog by the Monday of your grade level’s hybrid week (11:59pm). You will be notified through Canvas that your holds are ready. Upcoming Dates:
6th put holds on by March 15
7th put holds on by March 22
8th put holds on by April 5 (New)
On Thursday* of your grade level hybrid week, books will be delivered to classrooms for students who are in person, and those who are remote can pickup theirs from a cart on Kenilworth from 3:30-4:30 (same as now, but only after school). Upcoming Dates:
6th pickups/deliveries on March 18
7th pickups/deliveries on March 25
8th pickups/deliveries on April 8 (New)
RETURNS
If you are in-person, your teacher will have a place in your classroom to pile library books you would like to return - ideally near the front door
Remote students can return books to the cart on their grade-level pickup date and time
Instructions and flyers
STUDENT ATTENDANCE - Trimester 3: How to Report Student Absences
Technology Support
Technical support will be available from school and district technology staff by accessing the Help Desk through email, helpdesk@op97.org. When an email is submitted, a Help Desk ticket is created and assigned to technology staff, who will be working throughout the day to address technology concerns. Our technology team can support District 97 devices and student online programs.
Middle School Virtual Club Starting and Meeting Days/Times
Please see our virtual club offerings below. Zoom links for all club meetings can be accessed in the lunch course on your Canvas Dashboard. Contact Ms. Klein if you need help finding the links.
Crochet Club: Next Meeting is Wednesday 3:30-4:40
Please contact Ms. Rodriguez at trodriguez@op97.org with any questions.
Supplies needed- If you don’t have the supplies and cannot get them please contact me: Ms. Rodriguez (trodriguez@op97.org) I can drop off at your home
Crochet hook- different patterns require different hooks, but we can make it work if you have a hook similar to one we are using. I suggest G6 4.00mm Hook. There are hooks at the Dollar Store near Ridgeland and North Ave.
Yarn- different patterns require different yarn. We will need yarn that is not fuzzy, so a yarn that is cotton/polyester works. (They used to have some at Dollar Store but I haven’t seen it in a while). We need yarn that have clean looking strands so we can see our stitches.
Scissors
3 Safety pins- if you don’t have these no problem! We can use string
We will start crocheting a mini triceratops! There is a Canvas Class for our Crochet Club and if you did not get invited to join please email me so I can add you! Video and pattern is uploaded so you can start practicing!
Morning Vocal Ensembles: Open to Everyone!
Contact Mr. Blackman at fblackman@op97.org if you’re interested
Women's Ensemble - Tuesdays 8:00 - 8:45 am
Men's Ensemble - Thursdays 8:00 - 8:45 am
Mixed Ensemble - Fridays 8:00 - 8:45 am
Social Justice Club: We will meet every Tuesday 3:45 to 4:45pm Contact Ms. Stigger with questions (nstigger@op97.org).
Meeting ID: 830 7488 7298
Passcode: 173560
Zoom Link Below
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/83074887298?pwd=d0VDaE5QQzdpVmlxQmZYdldXbS9GQT09
Rainbow Tribe: Rainbow Tribe club will meet on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Our next meeting is Monday, March 15th! This week we will be talking about Day of Silence and planning for it virtually! Contact Ms. Berman with questions (aberman@op97.org) Students who identify as LGBTQ and/or allies are ALL WELCOME!
Math Team: Math Team will meet Mondays from 3:40 to 4:30 pm. All are welcome! Here is the ZOOM link. Contact Ms. Esther Smith (esmith3@op97.org) with questions. Our next meeting will be March 15th.
Brooks Earth Action Team (the BEAT):
Yearbook: Calling all poets, writers, artists, photographers, and more! Our next yearbook meetings will be March 16th and 23rd from 8:00 - 8:45 am. Contact Ms. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org with questions. Come be a part of our creative team, we need YOU to make this year’s yearbook like no other! Everyone is welcome. Here is the zoom link.
Morning Band Groups: Jazz Ensemble (7th and 8th graders) meets Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. Jazz Lab Band (6th graders) meets Thursdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. Ask Mr. Davis for the Zoom Link!
YEMBA: YEMBA meets on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm. Students can access the zoom link to attend the YEMBA session through the lunch course in Canvas.
YEMBA has begun supporting students with a homework hotline. Here is info about how to access the homework hotline.
Bravo Schedule
Student Sign Up Form
Leading Ladies on Broadway & Beyond! Celebrate Women’s History Month and join us as five passionate 8th graders pay tribute to iconic women. Celebrating the words and the works of these legends in LEADING LADIES ON BROADWAY & BEYOND - MARCH 25! Tickets: bravoperformingarts.anywhereseat.com
Mark your calendars for SUMMER BRAVO! More info coming soon!
If you are interested in participating in the Hour to Empower Podcast - please email: bravo@op97.org
Wish Upon A Star: Favorite Songs & Scenes of Disney - NO AUDITIONS!
All you have to do is SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE Open to All 6th-8th Graders - Rehearsals begin on Zoom April 12
PTO Weekly Commuincation
A gift for ALL Brooks students!
Due to a very generous anonymous donation, the PTO has purchased $15 Amazon gift cards for each student. If you haven't picked yours up yet, it will be included in the student materials which was distributed on Saturday, March 13th. Please see information above on how to collect your student's trimester 3 materials, including the Amazon gift card, if you hadn't previously picked up the Amazon card.
If you have any questions, please email Kristen Lee (kristenlee1@gmail.com) or Ariel Rainey (ariel.rainey@gmail.com).
Connect with the Brook’s PTO
Connect with PTO
Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto, or email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.
NEW - 6th grade families can connect on FaceBook in the Gwendolyn Brooks 6th Grade Families 2020-21' group.
Order your Brooks Spirit Wear
We are happy to announce our new Brooks Spiritwear as a PTO Fundraiser! The designs were created by one of our 7th grade students as well as Mrs. Love. All proceeds will benefit the PTO.
Spiritwear can be purchased here at the Shabby Fly website.
Please consider supporting the PTO's fundraiser!
Starship Tuesdays are back (kind of) -THIS TUESDAY!
As many of you know, Starship is a local restaurant in Forest Park that, in normal times, caters lunch for Brooks on Tuesdays. These lunches are the primary fundraiser for the PTO and fund important school programs like Teacher and Student Grants, provide scholarships for the 7th and 8th grade trips, host staff appreciation lunches and guest speakers for parent education events.
During remote schooling, Starship has agreed to partner with Brooks PTO in a slightly different way. Every Tuesday, beginning October 6, for all orders that mention Brooks PTO, Starship will donate 20% of the orders back to the Brooks PTO! Make sure you mention you are with Brooks PTO. And best of all, you can order online and they deliver!
This means you can still support a local business, support the Brooks PTO, and take time off in the kitchen! A win-win-win! Now, you can have lunch delivered to your home for everyone schooling/working from home or even have dinner delivered! Or maybe order a sandwich tray and keep fed all week! Order online at www.starshiprestaurant.com or call 708-771-301. Make sure you mention you are with Brooks PTO (online orders put ‘Brooks PTO’ in special instructions).
Middle Matters-In Case You Missed It
Current 7th Graders-Washington D. C. Trip in February 2022
If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like more information regarding the 8th grade Washington DC trip, please email Janorisè Robinson, DC Program Leader.
GBMS Remote and Hybrid Learning Resource
You will find the following information there:
- A/B DAY CALENDAR WITH HYBRID WEEKS DENOTED
- CHANGE TO REMOTE LEARNING START TIME FOR ALL STUDENTS - 9:10am Monday through Thursday; Friday start time will be 9am since all students will be remote.
- WHAT THE DAY WILL LOOK LIKE FOR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN LEARNING DURING THE HYBRID WEEK
- THE DATES OF THE FIRST HYBRID WEEK FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL
- Will each Hybrid class (in-person and remote students) work with the same teacher every Hybrid week?
- What is the process for breakfast, snacks or lunch for in-person students? Students will not be eating at school.
- SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING IN-PERSON
- SELF-CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
- STUDENT ARRIVAL PROCESS FOR HYBRID IN PERSON STUDENTS
- STUDENT DROP OFF LOCATIONS
- DISMISSAL PROCEDURES (WALKERS AND BUS RIDERS)
- WEARING MASKS
- BUSING
- TARDY PROCEDURES
- PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES WHILE IN THE CLASSROOM
- Brooks Return to Learning On-Site Safety Procedures
CrisisGo Student Health Certification Due Daily for In-Person Learners
Information about CrisisGo and resources to help families are available at https://www.op97.org/updatecenter/crisisgo.
Responding to a Positive COVID-19 Case
When to Stay Home from School
- Are feeling sick
- Have tested positive for COVID-19
- Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
- Are a close contact of a positive/probable COVID-19 case
- Have traveled for more than 24 hours out of state.
A Greater Good Foundation
The Greater Good Foundation is geared towards male students of color in 6th through 8th grade. Students will meet with mentors from A Greater Good Foundation during advisory time one day a week. All students will meet on Mondays from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm. This group will use a workshop model with the students and a sample of topics covered include: think tanks, how the brain works, goal setting, etc. More detail on the program is provided in the handout. You can still join the program!
If you have any questions or would like your student to participate, please contact Stacie Klein at sklein@op97.org.
STARS Program
Students Taking Action Regarding Success (STARS) is an affinity group for students of color in the middle school space. STARS provides a safe space where students can build connections, process difficult moments that occur in the classroom and the broader Oak Park community. Students will receive support and affirmation in a setting with other middle school aged children that share in similar experiences.
The goal of STARS is to be an outlet in implementing change in the middle after school space. STARS provides students with essential leadership skills such as: positive identity development, self-advocacy, empowerment and social awareness. The intention of STARS is to be a space where students can authentically be themselves and express themselves. Students will share their personal experiences/reflections with the goal of becoming advocates for themselves and each other. Student reflection will work in tandem with the STARS curriculum that has been developed to intricately weave together the experiences of minority students.
Our focus is for youth to develop skills of recognizing, communicating and negotiating situations they perceive as unjust in school or in the broader Oak Park Community. The ultimate plan is to create a map to solve issues that pertain to the population of students that are disproportionately being affected by the racial inequities that has created an opportunity gap in the Oak Park community.
Sidika Balogun, MSW (she/her/hers)
Program Coordinator
Email: sbalogun@yemba-inc.org
Phone:(708) 719-6702 ex: 02
Follow us on Facebook@ YembaInc
Virtual Morning Homework Support
School Physicals and Immunizations
Please be aware that The Illinois State Board of Education has provided new information to Districts regarding families who may have been listed as non- compliant due to failure to present proof of a current health examination and required immunizations.
If a family has not ensured a child’s timely compliance with health examination or immunization requirements, the child may be provided e-learning or remote instruction, provided instruction is solely by remote means and he/she does not have a physical presence on school grounds (either before, during or after school). Any child continuing to receive remote instruction during this time will not be considered in violation of Section 26-1 of the School Code and will not be subject to the penalties imposed by Section 26-10. Importantly, any such student who is permitted to attend school through an e-learning program or remote learning plan due to failure to present proof of required immunizations, and who qualifies for free and reduced meals, may continue to receive those meals in the manner that other e-learning or remote students receive meals. The Illinois State Board of Education will continue to provide updates to the field, as necessary, concerning compliance with Section 27-8.1.
To read more about this information provided by The Illinois State board of Education please click here.
Please submit following the information to the Health Office:
- A school physical (Certificate of Child Health Examination and Immunization record)
- Up-to-date immunizations (requirements for the State of Illinois can be found here).
2020 - 2021 District News and Information
D97 to Host Virtual Parent-to-Parent Circle Series
District 97 families are invited to join our upcoming Virtual Parent-to-Parent Series, which will be facilitated in partnership with the E-Team of Oak Park. Events will be held:
- Thursday, April 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The sessions are designed to build community among District 97 parents and guardians and provide support as we navigate hybrid learning. The intention is for parents/guardians to attend all three sessions to help build a consistent community, but if you cannot make the first session you may still attend the others. Please let us know your availability in the registration form so that we can plan accordingly.
The deadline to register is Tuesday, Feb. 16. To sign up, please visit https://bit.ly/D97ParentCircles.
Wanting to confirm information you've heard regarding our schools?
Oak Park District 97 is committed to providing accurate and timely information. Our new Fact Checker will be updated consistently based upon common questions and concerns to ensure you have access to the key facts that interest you most.
Text Messages from District 97
District 97 uses the notification system BrightArrow to communicate with families via email and phone calls. This year, we have started using periodic text messages to send reminders directly to parents' cell phones. In order to receive text messages, parents must opt in by texting YES to 87569. Once you have subscribed, you will receive a text confirmation.
Texts may appear from District 97 from 87569 or a phone number with a 424 area code (you may wish to save them to your contacts).
Wellness Check-in Program
The district-wide wellness check-in program, which was an initial crisis response to the pandemic, will not continue in its current format during the new Hybrid schedule. Please reach out to your school's school psychologist or social worker if you have social-emotional concerns about your child. If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please call the Thrive 24hr Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.
Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, March 23
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.
Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - March 2021
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
We know that a common experience for many families during this health crisis is the loss of jobs and income. This change in income may qualify your children for free or reduced-price meals. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the National School Lunch application as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.
Effective Student Behavior Handbook
District 97 is committed to creating a positive learning environment that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. Behavior education involves proactively teaching positive behaviors to create the conditions that make every classroom and school a positive place to learn.
The revised District 97 Effective Student Behavior Handbook is designed to provide information about policies, procedures and practices related to student behavior, and to help students and families prepare for a successful school experience. It also provides notifications required by state and federal law. Click here for our full communication about the new Effective Student Behavior Handbook >
The Help Corner will features a frequently-asked question related to services and opportunities available for District 97 students and families. We will keep a complete list of these FAQs on our district website.
District 97 has created Community Resources Page. We also encourage families to stay connected through Facebook and Twitter. Additional updates can be found at:
Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200
District 97 also has a broad network of partner organizations that provide an array of supports and services for Oak Park residents. The Community Mental Health Board and Oak Park and River Forest Townships have also put together a COVID-19 Social Services Resource Guide, which is available at https://tinyurl.com/oprfguide.
Community Resources
SUPPORT4U
SUPPORT4U is a mental health resource for our students to anonymously text licensed mental health clinicians any time of the day for assistance or guidance. Students can text for any issue; typical reasons might include social issues, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying, abuse, or any other mental health-related topic. The clinician’s goal is to steer the student to available resources in the school and community. To use, students just need to go to Support4U.live on their phone, click on the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School logo and hit send. Help is just a text away.
Thrive Services and Programs
PHONE-BASED COUNSELING
Thrive is offering phone-based counseling, 24/7 crisis intervention services, medication management and, a free Thrive Check-In phone support line (Ext. 8) to address our community’s needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Call us at (708)383-7500. Our Front Desk team is also ready to assist you Monday-Friday, 9am to 2pm, with requests for referrals or new services and to reschedule or cancel an appointment.
Mental Health Resource, "Call4Calm"
Thrive is also a proud partner of the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text “TALK” TO 552020 (or “HABLAR) for Spanish. The Illinois Call4Calm Text Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support for anyone experiencing stress and in need of a listening ear.
And we know the COVID-19 pandemic can wear on every resource—from food and shelter to our emotional bandwidth and mental health. Fortunately, the Illinois Department of Human Services has launched a support line called Call4Calm that is reachable via text. Individuals who want to speak with a mental health professional can text the word “TALK” or “HABLAR” (for Spanish speakers) to 552-020. Within 24 hours, that individual will receive a call from a mental health professional employed by a local community health center.
People can also text other terms, like “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” to the same number to receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services. Call4Calm is free, and individuals who use it can remain anonymous. We encourage you to share this resource with your students, families, and staff.