October 29th & November 5th, 2018
Middle Matters Communication
I will not be sharing a Middle Matters communication on Sunday, November 4th. I'm taking the opportunity to visit my oldest daughter in Spain during her senior college semester study abroad. Thank you for your understanding.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me directly with any concerns or celebration!
~April
April Capuder
Principal
Thank YOU!
On behalf of the Brooks staff we'd like to say thank you to our PTO staff and our Brooks Community for the delicious staff appreciation dinner. As always, the dinner was put together beautifully and the desserts were amazing. Thank you again for taking the time to show us your appreciation. We can't thank YOU enough.
Do you want to dress up for Halloween?
Conference Feedback
Thank you for joining us on Thursday for conferences. Please provide your feedback on this survey. Your collective feedback will influence our decisions on the design for our winter conferences.
Brooks Mix It Up at Lunch
Mix It Up at Lunch Day is an international campaign that encourages students to identify, question and cross social boundaries. Students consistently identify the cafeteria as a place in their school where divisions are clearly drawn. So we ask students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch. It’s a simple act with profound implications to include in year-round efforts to promote healthy, welcoming school environments. Studies have shown that interactions across group lines can help reduce prejudice. When students interact with those who are different from them, biases and misperceptions can fall away.
Our Mix it Up at Lunch Day is Tuesday, October 30th. Students participated in two learning sessions prior to the Mix it Up Day in order to gain a clearer understanding of the why behind the day.
Assessment Re-Do/Re-Take Policy
Please find information regarding the student re-do/re-take policy in our Brooks Website.
https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014096931934358
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.
Brooks PTO News and Information
Building Executive Functioning Discussion
Join us on Thursday, November 8 at 7:00pm as Dr. Bozeday, EdD, Director of Educational Services at Rush Neurobehavioral Center and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Illinois University, leads a discussion on Executive Functioning. Executive Function skills impact student performance across all subject areas in school. What can parents do to help their children develop executive function skills?
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mLeYOFIXzIB_qIdnCXyAtnIDTnSaDCNASnwnAObGjTc/edit?usp=sharing
Join us on Friday, November 16 for an informal coffee. Gather in the Commons (the cafeteria area to the left of the front door) for an informal opportunity to connect, learn, and share information. The coffee will go from 8:30 - 9:00am, but come and go as you are able.
Joint Middle School Conversation: We invite all to stay from 9:00am to 10:00am, as we will also invite Julian families and Dr. Fitzgerald to join us at this time. We will extend our usual coffee conversation to include discussion about our Middle School students daily schedule and possible ideas to make changes to the way a student's day is schedule next year. Hope to see many middle school families there! ~ April Capuder
Clubs and Sports Information
Brooks Service Club
The 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 Basketball
Thanks for a great season!
There is a team party for the players on Monday, November 12, from 3:30 to 4:45pm.
For questions, please contact coaches:
Kina Brown - kbrown@op97.org
Tom Rocco -trocco@op97.org
Boys Basketball
- 10/29, 30, 31, 1, 2
- 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
OPEF's Super STEAM Saturday! Please join the Oak Park Education Foundation for a free fun morning of crafting, collaborating, and creating. Drive a robot, write a poem, unleash your inner artist and learn more about OPEF with great activities for kids ages 5-12. Saturday, November 3 from 10-12 at Beye School. 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
BRAVO: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA
Tickets for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA are available HERE. Performances: November 9 - 17
2018 -2019 Extra-Curricular Activities
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XvWFACDX8DRUGztoEjQDOO3gzj26D7RTcxcBlKDfMZk/edit?usp=sharing
Clubs
Mondays
- Ulmtimate Frisbee Clubs - Mondays (Cancelled on 10/29) and Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:30pm (weather permitting). Meets on the field. Contact Mr. Gillespie with questions mgillespie@op97.org
- Yearbook Club: Next meeting 10/29 in room B202 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms.Turner-Reid or Ms. Pabellon with questions mturnerreid@op97.org or mpabellon@op97.org
- RAD: Mondays 3:45pm to 5:00pm in PE Classroom. Contact Ms. Dajani with questions rdajani@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
- Ulmtimate Frisbee Clubs - Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:30pm. (weather permitting) Meets on the field. Contact Mr. Gillespie with questions mgillespie@op97.org
- 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