October 16th
Brooks News to Know
Progress Check on PowerSchool
Grades for Progress Checks
Please note that this is the halfway point through the 1st trimester. Please check your student's progress on PowerSchool.
Early Dismissal for students Thursday, 10/19 and Friday 10/20
Lunch period will be skipped on our half-day schedules.
Lost and Found
Please check the Lost and Found during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, 10/19.
Parent-Teacher Conferences - Thursday 10/19 from 12:40pm to 8:00pm.
Team 6.1: Stephanie Smith at ssmith2@op97.org Team 6.2: Lary Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org Team 6.3: Lauren Brock at lbrock@op97.org Team 7.1: Darren haus at dhaus@op97.org Team 7.2: Anna Kinnaman at kinnaman@op97.org Team 7.3: Sam Kahn at skahn@op97.org Team 8.1: StephanieThomas at sthomas@op97.org Team 8.2: Laura Stamp at lstamp@op97.org Team 8.3: Katy Alejos at kalejos@op97.org
Our goal is to effectively share your student’s progress while involving students in reflection and accountability related to their work. We hope each family will be able to attend conferences as a way to foster learning and a partnership between home and school.
Scholastic Book Fair
Scholastic Book Fair is a week long reading event (October 17th through October 20th) that provides our students with a wonderful selection of engaging and affordable books for every reading level. Reading unlocks the power of information and imagination and helps children discover who they are. Please make plans to come to our Book Fair during the week of Fall Parent Teacher Conferences. Your purchase also benefits the school as Scholastic gives 55% of our sales back to Brooks. See you at the Book Fair!
Love books? Volunteering at the Book Fair is the perfect way to stay connected to your child at school and help students find the books they can't wait to read. Sign up now and get ready for a fun and rewarding volunteer experience."
Our Book Fair Homepage which links to our volunteer sign up and Online Fair:
http://www.scholastic.com/bf/gwendolynbrooksmidschool1
Direct link to volunteer sign up:
https://volunteer.scholastic.com/#/signup/83Uu17HJM
0r email paula.livesey@talk21.com to volunteer.
Youth Social Justice Conference
Youth Social Justice Conference will be held at the Oak Park Public Library on Saturday, October 21st.
The teen-led conference is from 10 am - 4:30 pm and is free and open to all teens and adults. Registration is highly recommended at the link below. Light breakfast & lunch are provided. http://oppl.evanced.info/signup/EventDetails?EventId=32624&lib=0,1,2,7,1003&backTo=Week&startDate=2017/10/17
If there are questions, please email: socialjustice@oppl.org
Author - Maggie Stiefvater
October is Anti-Bullying/Upstander Month
Monday, October 2, we will have Kindness in Chalk as our kick-off activity for October, Bullying Prevention and Awareness Month. Please visit this link to learn more about the event. Kindness in Chalk is our first event in a yearlong Anti-Bullying/Upstander campaign. Every week during the month of October we have events planned.
Here are some pictures from the Kindness in Chalk: click here to see.
October 10th - Upstander Pledge and Announce Anti-Bully/Upstander Poster Competition. Students will have until 10/23/2017 to submit an entry. Students will create a visual message to promote anti-bullying message and kindness.
- We support those who have been hurt or harmed
- We treat others with kindness
- We will be more accepting of people’s differences
- We will help include those who are left out
October 16th - Kindness Buckets: We will invite students to fill the bucket with compliments for students and staff throughout our building. We plan to deliver the drops of kindness during Spirit Week, on 10/24/2017.
October 25th - Cyberbully Assembly
Spirit Week, 10/23-10/27
Monday - Dress up as your favorite superhero (***no weapons***)
Tuesday – Wear your favorite 70’s gear and Spread Peace and Love
Wednesday – Unity Day Wear Orange
Thursday - Wear your favorite sports team attire
Friday - Brooks Spirit Day – Wear Blue and White or Brooks gear
Spirit Wear
Spirit Wear is Here!
Show your Eagles Pride with fantastic spirit wear from the GBMS PTO.
Deadline for orders is Friday, October 27, 2017.
All items are available in youth and adult sizes. Here is flyer to see what they look like.
All orders will arrive mid-November and will be distributed during lunch periods.
Two easy ways to order:
1) Online at https://brookseagles.itemorder.com/
2) Complete order form and have your child turn in, along with payment, to their Advisory Teacher
Questions: Contact Cat Phillips at kccat221@yahoo.com
Halloween, Tuesday October 31st
Please be mindful that we strongly discourage the wearing of costumes for Halloween that stereotype, demean or make fun of other people - especially of other cultures. Please talk with your students about the importance of respecting others. Students cannot wear anything that covers their face nor can they have "props" that look like a weapon.
8th Grade Transition Tour at Oak Park River Forest High School. 8th Graders will be touring the high school on Tuesday, 10/31 in the morning. Due to the visit to the high school, we recommend that 8th graders not dress up for Halloween.
Interested in ordering a Yearbook?
Ordering School Pictures
There has been some confusion regarding school pictures. Some of you have called concerned because you have not received your students photos. Unless you had pre-ordered a school photo package either by filling out and returning the package order form or purchasing a package online, your child will not have received photos. Van Gogh does not provide pre-order proofs to families. If you indeed placed an order and have not received your prints, please call 847-383-2282
Brooks Facebook Group
Please view posts or request to join so you can create or respond to posts!
Let's Talk - Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
District 97 has invested in a resource called Let’s Talk that students, faculty, staff, parents/guardians and community members can use to communicate with us about our departments and services, and share feedback on important issues and topics that will shape the future of our schools and help the children we serve realize their full potential.
Here is the direct link to Brooks Let's Talk to share your question, comment, question, concern or compliment with us. We look forward to hearing from you!
You can also access additional information about the system by visiting - http://www.op97.org/news/1443643/district-97-launches-let-s-talk-communication-system.
Recognizing Staff who Make a Difference
Thank you to those who have completed this form to recognize a GBMS staff member. All individuals receive a printed certificate highlighting your appreciation for their contributions!
Please be sure your background check has been completed if you'd like to volunteer to chaperone Field Trips
Breakfast and Lunch Menus for October
SPORTING EVENTS
Tuesday: Girls Basketball @ 4pm at GBMS
Wednesday: Girls Basketball @ 4pm at GBMS
Boys Basketball Open Gym
October 17: 7:15 – 8:30am
October 18: 7:15 – 8:30am
October 19: 7:15 – 8:30am
All participants MUST complete the following forms located in the PE Office or linked below:
Sports Physical
Boys Basketball Try-out Dates
October 20th 12:30 – 2:00pm
October 23rd 3:40 – 5:00pm
Please contact Coach Brown (kbrown@op97.org) or Coach Thigpen (tthigpen@op97.org) for any questions.
Girls Volleyball Clinic
Girls Jr. Huskie Clinic
***ANY 6th, 7th, or 8th grade girl interested in playing for BROOKS this season***
Join us for an all skills developmental clinic. The clinic will focus on specific skills of the game includingpassing, setting, attacking, serving, defense and competitive game play. The clinic will be coached by the OPRF Girls Volleyball Coaching staff and current varsity players.
When: Monday, October 16th 4:00 – 6:00pm
Where: Fieldhouse
Cost: $20 (cash)/camper
Register: Walk-in that day begins at 3:30pm
If you have any questions, please email Mr. Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org
CLUB OPPORTUNITIES (can join anytime)
Each club meets weekly, unless otherwise notated below.
- ORFF Ensemble from 8:00am to 8:50am in D104 (first meeting was on 9/18). Participation is open to all students - no audition required, but enrollment is limited to 40 students. Interested students can sign-up and pick up permission slips outside of the music room (D104). For additional information contact Mr. Carrillo - fcarrillo@op97.org. Still opportunity to join.
- Ultimate Frisbee from 3:30pm to 4:40pm in 3rd floor gym (first meeting was on 9/11). If you have any questions, please email Ms. Dajani at rdajani@op97.org or Mr. Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org.
- Math Team from 3:30-4:30 in room B204 . The club meets every other week. Students of all abilities are welcome. Next meeting is on Monday, October 16th. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Kahn at skahn@op97.org.
- ****new meeting day**** Spoken Word from 3:30pm to 5:30 pm in room B205. If you have any questions, please email Mr. Lee at mlee@op97.org (moving meeting day from Tuesdays)
Tuesdays
- EcoEagles from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in room C302 (first meeting was on 8/29). If you have any questions, please email Ms. Stamp at lstamp@op97.org.
- Chess Club from 3:30 to 4:45 in room B305 (first meeting was on 9/12). If you have any questions, please email Mr. Hausfeld at mhausfeld@op97.org.
- Vex Robotics In-House League from 3:30 to 5 pm in room B302, 10/03-12/19 (no meeting 10/31, 11/21); Robot Rumble on 12/12 . You can learn more by viewing flyer or OPEF VexRobotics website. or if you have any questions, please email Ms. Pena at tpena@op97.org
- Rainbow Tribe after school until 4:30 in 2nd floor conference room next to PE classroom. The next meeting is on Tuesday, October 23rd. Schedule and permission slip found here. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Olsen at jolsen@op97.org
Wednesdays
- Ultimate Frisbee from 3:30pm to 4:40pm in 3rd floor gym (first meeting was on 9/11). If you have any questions, please email Ms. Dajani at rdajani@op97.org or Mr. Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org.
Best Buddies Activity Meeting on Wednesday, October 18th from 3:30pm to 5:00pm in Commons. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Beauprez or Ms. Touchette. Here is calendar of dates for all Best Buddies meetings.
Thursdays (Not meeting this week due to Parent-Teacher Conferences)
- Art Club First meeting will be on Thursday, October 5th from 3:30pm to 4:45pm in room D301. If you have any questions, please email Ms. Murray at kmurray@op97.org.
- Spanish Club from 3:30 to 4:30pm in room B308 (first meeting was on 9/21). Meeting this week is on October 5th. The club meets every other week. If you have any questions please contact Mr. Lagioia at vlagioia@op97.org or Ms. Villalobos at cvillalobos@op97.org.
- Yearbook Club from 3:30 to 4:30pm in room B202. The club meets 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. The next meeting is October 26th. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Marsha Turner-Reid at mturnerreid@op97.org
Fridays
- Service Club from 8am to 8:45am in room B209 (first meeting on 9/29). If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Walsh at swalsh@op97.org or Ms. Martinez at bmartiez@op97.org . We are collecting food for the Fall Food Drive. The food drive will run from October 2nd to October 30th. Please turn in food to your advisory teacher. Prize will be given to advisory with most food items collected!
Student Innovation Team
Service Club - Fall Food Drive
BRAVO Upcoming Events
Monster Mash Bash All School Halloween Dance is October 27 from 7pm-9pm - Tickets go on sale Monday, October 2 - Click Here for more info & to purchase tickets
Volunteer for Monster Mash Bash: click here
Disneys’ The Little Mermaid Performances are November 3 - 11 - Tickets are on Sale Now!
Bravo’s Chipotle Fundraiser is Tuesday, October 17 from 4:30pm-8:30pm. Eat at the Oak Park Chipotle and fundraise money for Bravo!
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