April 1, 2019
Honor Roll Trimester 2, 2018 -2019
Congratulations on your academic achievement for the second trimester of the 2018–2019 school year.
Your commitment to excellence is evident in earning this academic honor. The effort you have given to your Academic performance here at Gwendolyn Brooks serves as an example and inspiration to so many.
You should indeed be proud of your work!
IAR Testing Make-up testing Continues this Week
The IAR Make-up testing will take place this week: April 1 through April 5th.
If your child was absent, please have your child bring a pair of HEADPHONES.
The IAR assessments help us understand how our students are growing academically, compared to their peers across the state. The state uses this information to provide more support and resources to the schools in the greatest need and are the academic factors considered when determining the summative designation on our State School Report Card. Please see the graphic below regarding IAR assessments.
Angelica Kamysz (Team 6.1, 6.2, 6.3, 7.1, & 7.2)
Antoine Bland (Team 7.3, 8.1, 8.2, & 8.3)
The Eco Eagles visits with Jane Goodall
Math team takes 1st place
Brooks partnered with Julian to participate in the IMSA (Illinois Math and Science Academy) all day math competition. They did a full sweep of the program including first place overall.
D97 News and Information
We are still receiving messages regarding the last day of the 2018 - 2019 school year. In terms of the pdf calendar listed on http://www.op97.org/school-calendars, the board, as it does on an annual basis in accordance with state law, isn't expected to finalize the calendar for this year until one of its meetings in April. Therefore, we cannot update this calendar until then. In the interim, we will be removing the pdf from our site and will repost it when the final calendar for this year has been approved.
Yearbook Ordering
https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1014096931934358
If you are asked for a pass code, please use: 1014096931934358
Volunteer with the Brooks PTO next year
Brooks Community Meeting
Join us on Monday, April 15 from 7:00 - 8:30 for our next Brooks Community Meeting. We will be discussing the budget and planning for next school year.
Race in the Classroom
8th Grade Dance - Volunteers Needed
The days are getting longer and school days are flying by. It’s time to start planning the 8th Grade Dance on Friday 17th of May. We need your time, ideas, creativity, imagination and resources. Let’s make this process fun and easy. The more the merrier, sign up with friends. There will be adult beverages at the committee meeting! Please consider joining this committee, no contribution of your time will be too small. This cannot happen without you! We will plan on meeting soon to discuss the event! Sign up for the committee here!
D97 Summer Math - Register Today!
June 17 - July 3, 2019
Monday through Friday
Julian Middle School
8am-10am OR 10am-12pm
For incoming 6th, 7th, and 8th grade D97 students
Students will:
o Review course content from the previous school year (incoming 6th, 7th, & 8th graders) OR
o Receive the opportunity to advance to the next level of math instruction (incoming 6th, 7th, & 8th graders) *Students must pass an End-of-Course Exam following these intense, fast-paced courses.
For more information on summer math courses and registration, please visit http://bit.ly/2019D97summermath
Registration deadline - April 30, 2019
Coffee with Capuder
Student Announcements
Multicultural Festival
Middle School Hang Out & Chill Out
Are you in middle school? Stop by the Maze Branch to relax and have fun!
Where: Oak Park Public Library, Maze Branch,
845 Gunderson Ave, Oak Park, IL
Time: 4:00pm-5:30pm
Grades: 6th-8th
No registration required
Upcoming Dates and Activities:
4/3/19: Ping Pong
4/10/19: Origami
4/17/19: Slime
4/24/19: Movie Day
5/1/19: Mentos Bottle Rocket
Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply
directly or indirectly that the group's program(s), event(s) and/or service(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.
Let’s talk Middle School!
Calling all Brooks, Julian, and 5th grade families...
Let’s talk Middle School!
A special session of D97’s PTO Council
at Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland
on April 1st, 2019 from 7-8:15 pm
You are cordially invited to join us at Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland, to learn a little about what makes our middle schools tick.
General topics include:
- climate / culture,
- the transition from elementary to middle
- how the middle schools are handling matters of diversity, restorative justice, mental health, and student leadership.
Attendees include PTO leaders from our ten schools; presenters include Principals Capuder and Fitzgerald, as well as Dr. Kamm, Senior Director of Equity, and Ms. Olson, Climate & Culture Coach at both Brooks and Julian middle schools.
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
Intramural Ultimate Frisbee
The club will play on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm and end on May 22.
There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, April 3, from 3:30pm to 3:45pm, we will meet outside of the main gym. If you are unable to make the meeting , please see Mr. Gillespie
For more information contact Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org
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 on the Rise
January – May 2019 is our 8th grade Girls on the Rise portion of the program. Attached a flyer for the upcoming session.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6gnevA1fHdWODNvNlV2MU9LQmVtdVZ3LVo2a0hXS1czX1E4/view?usp=sharing
Boys Volleyball
Game Schedule
Conference week begins!
Games
4/1 - 4pm - 6pm
Home vs. Stevenson
4/3 - 4pm - 6pm
Home vs. Irving
If you have any questions, please contact Coach Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org or Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org
Track and Field
Here is the link to our Track & Field website.
Specific events each day are linked on our calendar website.
For more information, please contact Coach Dajani at rdajani@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 4/8 & 4/22 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