December 17, 2018
Winter Break
Student Honor Roll
Congratulations to our academic achievers in the first trimester of the 2018–2019 school year.
Our students commitment to excellence is evident in earning this academic honor. The efforts given to academic performance here at Gwendolyn Brooks serves as an example and inspiration to so many.
You should all indeed be proud of your work! Your student will be receiving an Honor Letter and magnet during Advisory on Monday 12/18.
Trimester 1 Straight A Honor Roll (GPA: 4.0)
Trimester 1 A Honor Roll (GPA: 3.99 to 3.6)
Trimester 1 B Honor Roll (GPA: 3.59 to 3.0)
Book Club on Monday, January 14th, 2019: White Fragility
Join us for a Brook's Community Book Club! On Monday, January 14 at 7pm, we will discuss the book White Fragility: Why its So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo. Childcare will be provided.
Illinois 5Essentials Survey
We are 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. 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, which can be accessed until Friday, Jan. 18, 2019.
We have 47 families that have completed the survey to date. We appreciate your feedback.
Your Belongings Miss You!
Thank you for your help!
NAMI - Mental Health and Awareness program
NAMI Basics, a 12-week course designed specifically for parents of children who have recently been diagnosed with a mental illness. This year, the course will be held at First Presbyterian Church in River Forest, beginning Monday, 1/21.
NAMI Basics provides a comprehensive overview of symptoms a child may experience, available resources and treatments, and how to advocate for your child as they work through and recovery. The class also provides a supportive network of other parents in similar circumstances, and allows parents to learn from one another's experiences. As always, our programming remains free of charge to participants.
We welcome families at Brooks who would like to register (for free) on our eventbrite link below.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nami-basics-education-program-tickets-48931978866
Oak Park Police Department Toy & Coat Drive
This holiday season Oak Park Police, Lodge #8 and Interim Chief Reynolds would like to extend our support for our community with a holiday toy drive (in conjunction with Toys for Tots) and a winter coat drive to help those in need during Chicago's bitterly cold winter.
Community members may donate unopened toys & gently used coats. You can turn in your donations in to the Oak Park Police Department Lobby or in the Brooks Middle School Main Office drop box.
Young Filmmakers Contest
One Earth Film Festival has announced it's Young Filmmakers Contest. Students may submit a 3 to 8 minute film about one of 6 sustainability topics: energy, food, transportation, waste, water, or open space/ecosystems. They should present a problem with their topic and then a solution. Please see this website to learn more and to view a short film about the contest. Deadline is January 13, 2019.
Youth Program for Students
Glen Ellyn Area Alumnae Chapter (GEAAC) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated would like to extend an invitation to some of our free youth program for students within your school district. The three programs, EMBODI, Academy, and GEMS are only for males and females age 11-18. It occurs on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Here is a flyer for students and parents of students 11 to 18. December is the final month students can sign up for the program.
Sebrenna Graves
Public Relations Co-Chair
Glen Ellyn Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated
https://dstglenellyn.org/ Phone: 952-292-8737
Assessment Re-Do/Re-Take Policy
Please find information regarding the student re-do/re-take policy in our Brooks Website.
Recognizing Staff who Make a Difference
If you or your student would like to recognize any staff member (a teacher, a teacher assistant, social worker, librarian, front office staff, lunchroom staff, custodial staff or school administrator) please take a moment to complete this form. The staff member will receive a certificate detailing the information shared through this form.
Clubs and Sports Information
Brooks Service Club
Service Club is collecting travel size toiletries all year! Donations will be used to make care packages for Housing Forward. Please send any small, unopened toiletries to Ms. Walsh or Ms. Martínez. Thank you for your help!
Girls Volleyball
Thank you to all of the girls who came to the Volleyball tryouts this season. There should be a team list and schedule posted very soon.
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org
Boys Basketball Practice Schedule
Varsity/JV Game Schedule
- 12/17 Away Game vs. Northlake
- 12/20 Away Game vs. Unity
12/18, 19, 21 Practice -3:30pm - 5:00pm
For questions, please contact
Varsity - Darren Haus at dhaus@op97.org,
JV - Aaron Contraveos acontraveos@op97.org
OPEF Robotics News and Information
You can learn more about the event on OPEF's website or their Facebook page.
For more information about the robotics program please visit: https://www.opef.org/programs/vex-robotics/. Questions? Please contact Michele McAndrews at mvmcandrews@opef.org or Mr. Shinners at bshinners@op97.org
Clubs
Mondays
- Yearbook Club: Next meetings 12/3 & 12/17 in room B202 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Here is link to the entire year meeting dates schedule. Contact Ms.Turner-Reid or Ms. Pabellon with questions mturnerreid@op97.org or mpabellon@op97.org
- Math Team: in room B204 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Mr. Sam Kahn with questions. skahn@op97.org
- ORFF: Monday mornings 8am to 8:50am in D110 Contact Mr. Carrillo with questions fcarrillo@op97.org
- Spoken Word Club: Mondays in B205 (3:30 - 5:00 pm) with Mr. Lee and resident poet Christian Robinson. Contact Mr. Lee with questions. mlee@op97.org
- BRAVO Guitar Club & Dance Hip Hop Studio started on Monday, September 17. There is still time to sign up! Click on links above to access permission slips. These clubs are FREE to ALL Brooks Students.
Tuesdays
- EcoEalges - meets from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in room C202. Contact Ms. Stamp with questions lstamp@op97.org
- Chess Club: meets from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in room B305. Contact Mr. Hausfeld with questions mhausfeld@op97.org
Wednesdays
- Best Buddies: Here is the year long calendar that can be downloaded. Contact Ms. Beauprez with questions lbeeauprez@op97.org .
- Girls on the Rise: Meets week on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 4:45pm in room C105
- World Language Club: Every other Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30pm in C209. Contact Mr. Lagioia with questions vlagioia@op97.org
- BRAVO Dance Hip Hop Studio started on Monday, September 17. There is still time to sign up! Click on links above to access permission slips. These clubs are FREE to ALL Brooks Students.
- Rainbow Tribe: Contact Ms. Berman with questions aberman@op97.org
- Art Club: Thursdays in room D301 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms. Murray with questions. kmurray@op97.org
- Service Club: Friday mornings from 8am to 8:50am in room B209. Contact Ms. Walsh with questions swalsh@op97.org
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