6th grade Hybrid Week: Monday, February 22 through Wednesday, February 24th
Remote Learning for all Students each 1/2 Day Scheduled for 2/25 and 2/26
All Students will be learning remotely following this remote A/B half day schedule.
Purchase your Brooks Spirit Wear Today!
Spiritwear can be purchased here at the Shabby Fly website.
Please consider supporting the PTO's fundraiser!
Quick Survey: Spring Break Travel Plans
In order to plan for Trimester 3, District 97 is seeking to understand how many students and staff members are planning to travel over Spring Break (March 29 - April 2, 2021). We are asking families and staff to complete a brief survey by Tuesday, Feb. 23, at 5 p.m. The survey is anonymous, and will be used for planning purposes only.
CLICK HERE to access the D97 Spring Break Travel survey.
As a reminder, state and local health departments advise that travel increases the risk of exposure to the coronavirus for our students, staff and community. The district's quarantine requirements are outlined below and in our Framework for Reopening Schools.
D97 Hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Clinics for Staff with D200 and Oak Park Health Department
Nearly 600 staff members from Oak Park Elementary School District 97 and Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 were vaccinated Saturday, Feb. 13 and Feb. 20th in a special clinic at OPRF. Additional clinics for local educators planned for the weeks ahead.
All District 97 staff members were offered the opportunity to be vaccinated through our partnership with the Oak Park Department of Public Health. Based on the timing of our clinics, as well as the information we have from individuals who received the vaccine elsewhere, we anticipate that the vast majority of District 97 staff will be vaccinated by mid- to late-March.
Thank you to the Village of Oak Park, the Oak Park Department of Public Health and District 200 for their partnership in providing this opportunity to staff. We also want to recognize the volunteers and school nurses from Districts 97 and 200, who administered the vaccines!
Technology Plan - ThoughtExchange
Here is a link to the ThoughtExchange that we are hoping you can take some time during the next week to provide feedback and/or respond to others thoughts. 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. This exchange will open Wednesday, February 17, through Wednesday, February 24.
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 the iLearn Advisory Committee to provide further insight and direction on the key areas identified above.
Illinois 5Essentials Survey
District 97 will be 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 online survey was developed by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research and is derived from the Five Essentials for School Success, which is an evidence-based framework that identifies five factors that can lead to important student outcomes such as improved attendance and significant gains in test scores. These five factors/essentials are:
- Effective Leaders
- Collaborative Teachers
- Involved Families
- Supportive Environment
- Ambitious Instruction
Parent Survey
The parent survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer, but the survey must be completed in one sitting and cannot be retrieved once it is submitted. If you have more than one child enrolled in a building (i.e., two students who attend the same school), you have the option of completing multiple surveys for that building. In addition, if you have children enrolled in multiple schools (i.e., a District 97 elementary school and middle school), you may participate in the survey for each school. However, only one parent/guardian per household may fill out the survey.
As with the student and teacher surveys, your identity will be kept completely confidential and your responses will not be linked to you. In addition, school-level reports will only be generated if at least 20 percent of our parents/guardians complete the survey. This percentage will be based on the total number of students enrolled at each school. Please survey can be accessed until April 2, 2021, by visiting http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/.
If we successfully meet this requirement, we will receive our reports in Spring/Summer 2021. The results will also be made available to the public via the State School Report Cards, which will be released in the fall. You can access general information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by visiting https://www.uchicagoimpact.org/our-offerings/5essentials.
Thank you for participating in this important endeavor and for your continued support of our schools and the children we serve.
Student Survey
The student survey is being administered to children in grades four through 12 throughout Illinois. School-level reports will only be generated for our district if at least 50 percent of the students respond to the survey. In order to successfully meet this requirement, Brooks middle schools will be setting aside time for students to take the survey with minimal disruption to instruction. We anticipate the survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.In order to participate in this process, students will need to log in to the survey using their student ID and birthdate. However, their participation is optional and their identities will be kept completely confidential. Teachers and administrators will never see individual responses to survey questions. They will only have access to summary level responses, such as the percentage of students who agree that homework assignments help them learn the course material.
We also want to make you aware that under the Protection of Pupil Rights Act. 20 U.S.C. Section 1232(c) (1) (A), you have the right to review a copy of the questions your child will be asked. Student survey questions are available, which can be accessed by visiting http://bit.ly/5EStudentSurvey.
If you DO NOT want your child to participate in this activity, please fill out the opt-out form no later than February 28th, 2021. We are scheduling time for students to complete the survey starting the week of March 1st, 2021.
Current 7th Graders-Washington D. C. Trip in February 2022
Great news!! We are excited to reinstate our yearly trip to Washington, D.C. for our current 7th graders who will be 8th graders. Students have missed out on so much this past year. We are confident about a successful and safe travel program for February 2022.
Janorisè Robinson provide more details about the trip at our upcoming virtual parent meetings at 6:30 PM on either:
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
OR
Tuesday, March 2, 2021
Join Zoom Meeting
https://worldstrides.zoom.us/j/85934593001?pwd=amJBYkE1a3F4VXhjeS80MldvWjRiQT09
Meeting ID: 859 3459 3001
Passcode: DC2022
We will discuss the following:
Travel Arrangements
Registration discounts
Flexible payment plans
Scholarships and Financial Aid options
- Meal accommodations
Parent Chaperones
If you have questions, please email Janorisè Robinson, DC Program Leader.
8th Grade Graduation Packet
You may make your purchases via the REVTRAK Webstore
Check out... Whats happening in the Brooks Library
NEW HYBRID SCHEDULE LIBRARY BOOK PROCEDURE!!!!
During the first three hybrid weeks: Books that were put on hold (but not picked up) for the January 28th pickup will be delivered to in-person students via their hybrid classrooms classrooms during these first three hybrid weeks
Starting the week of February 22nd, we will have a new process for each grade-level’s hybrid week!
Place books on hold via the catalog by the Monday of your grade level’s hybrid week (11:59pm). Tuesday and Wednesday those books will be pulled and prepared. You will be notified through Canvas that your holds are ready.
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).
For deliveries, Mr. Alejos will step into the classroom at a location 6 feet away from everyone and place the books on a counter unstacked with your name visible. Your teacher will instruct you to go up one at a time and get your book or grab it on your way out of the classroom.
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
Alan Gratz’s new book, Ground Zero, about 9/11, and came out on February 2nd!
On Monday, February 8th, many GBMS students participated in this powerful virtual author event.
Signed copies are still available from Anderson’s Bookshop until Monday, February 15th. Any and all can purchase a book whether or not they attended the virtual event. Use this ORDER FORM to purchase a book and support a local book store.
Any book fair items not picked up on the original distribution date will be available on November 21st along with trimester 2 materials.
Even though our official Book Fair dates ended you can still earn money for GBMS PTO all year long!
Head to https://www.abcfairs.com/ and indicate Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School in the school name box upon checkout.
Thank you to our amazing PTO!
STUDENT ATTENDANCE - Trimester 2: 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 3:30-4:40Please 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!
Auditions for New Members will take place at the beginning of March!
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
Meeting ID: 830 7488 7298
Passcode: 173560
Zoom Link Below
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/83074887298?pwd=d0VDaE5QQzdpVmlxQmZYdldXbS9GQT09
Yearbook: Calling all poets, writers, artists, photographers, and more! Our next yearbook meeting will be February 23rd and March 2nd 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.
- 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.
YEMBA has begun supporting students with a homework hotline. Here is info about how to access the homework hotline
SPECIAL OLYMPICS (NEW)
1) Virtual Sports: fitness & 1 sport (i.e. soccer skills, basketball skills, etc.) focused on each week
- 6 weeks for 1 hr Thursdays 3:30-4:30, 3/4 thru 4/15 (no practice 4/1 - spring break)
- Open to kindergarten thru 8th graders (we will split up ages)
- Unified team - includes students with and without disabilities
- virtual zoom link will be provided
2) Rhythmic Gymnastics (RG)
- 6 weeks for 1 hr Thursdays 3:30-4:30, 4/22 thru 5/27 (culminating event last day)
- female athletes only (IL rule), open to 8 yrs thru 8th grade
- Unified team - includes students with and without disabilities
- note: Special Olympics will NOT have a competition, so we will have our own!
- CLICK HERE for more info. about RG skills we will be practicing
- virtual zoom link will be provided
SIGN-UP: Please CLICK HERE to sign-up for the above 2 sports.
A gift for ALL Brooks students!
This past Saturday, February 20th, the PTO distributed the Amazon gift cards. If you were not able to pick up your student's gift card, please contact either Kristen Lee at kristenlee1@gmail.com or Ariel Rainey at ariel.rainey@gmail.com to schedule a time to do so.
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).
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
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.
Keep D97 Safe: Please Avoid Non-Essential Travel
FLYER: COVID-19 and Travel Guidance for District 97 Students and Staff >
Winter Weather Reminders
Winter is here and that means there may be times when District 97 schools close due to weather-related conditions or other emergency situations. We make every effort to keep our schools open, but circumstances beyond our control sometimes make it unsafe for our students or staff to get to school safely.
New this year: Rather than closing school on days when it would be unsafe for students and staff to get to school, we will notify our employees and students’ families that the district will have a Remote Learning Day. Because all of our students are already equipped with iPads or Chromebooks, making the temporary shift to remote learning should be fairly seamless. This also means that there will be no need to extend the school year further into summer to make up for lost days.
Whenever possible, District 97 will seek to make and communicate decisions regarding weather-related closings by approximately 8 p.m. the day before. This will include notifying stakeholders if the forecast or conditions warrant additional monitoring prior to making a final decision. If the forecast changes or conditions deteriorate after 8 p.m., we will let people know about the status of classes and/or afterschool activities no later than 5:30 a.m. the next day. Visit our Emergency School Closing Information webpage for more information.
Cold Weather Reminders
With frigid temperatures expected in the Chicago area over the next week, we also wanted to share a couple of reminders for families:
- In order to preserve our classroom pods and COVID-19 safety protocols, we will not be able to allow students to enter their buildings early in cold weather. Please arrive at the designated time and ensure that students are dressed in warm layers.
- In the event of single-digit temperatures or wind chill, students will remain indoors during the school day. Elementary students will still be provided a snack break of no more than 15 minutes, following the school safety protocols for COVID-19.
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).
