April 5, 2020
Remote Learning Middle Matters
Dear Brooks Families,
I hope everyone is doing well and staying healthy during this very unusual time. I am including some of the communication that was shared last week. You will see a Remote Learning document from the district office, a Remote Learning Grading document for the middle schools that was sent to parents/guardians, as well as a Remote Learning Grading document for the middle schools that was sent to students. Please know that we are here to support our students and families. Feel free to contact your student’s teachers, assistant principals, or me if we can help in any way.
Sincerely,
April Capuder
Principal, Brooks Middle School
D97 Remote Learning Family Guidance
Parent/Guardian Communication Remote Learning: MS Grading Practices
Daily Student Sign-in for Remote Learning Days
Students should complete this form 1 time each day of Remote Learning to be checked into all of their classes. Thank you for making sure this is completed daily!
Attendance Line:
Please call 708-665-3074 or send an email if your student will not be participating in remote learning on a given day.
Brooks Culture and Climate:
Good day Brooks Community! We would like to create some ways for us to be connected during this time so each week we will have a theme for ways to share photos and fun about how we are continuing to build community across the digital realm.
Last week we had a Virtual Spirit Week! Thank you to all the students and staff that shared pictures each day.
This week will focus on Brooks Joy and Kindness! Below is a list of suggestions for ways to express but please do use your family’s creativity to add to it. We are still experiencing moments of joy. Kindness is always available to us, so let’s share it. If you share to social media use the hashtag #BeBrooks97. We welcome all student input for ideas to continue to connect during this time that we are physically together.
Suggestions for Ways to Express Joy and Kindness
Create something that spreads joy and happiness to people. Post a picture of yourself spreading kindness on social media and use #BeBrooks97
Examples:
Create a meme, video, or picture to share your appreciation
Make a large inspirational sign to hang in your window for the community to see.
Have sidewalk chalk? Leave inspirational messages on the ground for the community to see.
Make some beautiful chalk art, mosaic chalk art is awesome!
Send a card to a friend or family member that might need a smile.
Please contact Stacie Klein (sklein@op97.org) if you have questions or suggestions.
Looking forward to our Brooks Joy and Kindness week!
Advisory Virtual Social Emotional Learning
To ensure our students are still focusing on social and emotional skills remotely, we are taking the week to focus on what is most important for us all right now- Self Care. Brooks and Julian will challenge students to post one act of self care each day on FlipGrid so peers can see how they are spending time caring for themselves.
What is Self Care?
Self care is doing things that make you feel good! Self care is prioritizing your mental health!
How do I participate in the challenge?
Everyday upload a short video to Flip Grid to show one way you are taking care of yourself and check out ways your peers and teachers are engaging in self care.
Need some ideas of new ways to care for yourself?
Watch Cat Videos, Go for a walk, Color, Talk to a Friend, Organize your closet, Play A Board Game.
Students will find the direction in their CANVAS Messages sent on Friday 4/3 or on their teachers' canvas home pages!
Students: Want to "see" your friends & have some social time?
Brooks Media Center: Virtual Book Club
One Virtual School, One Virtual Book Club
A great opportunity for students and staff to come together! Parents, please share the opportunity with your kids to encourage them to participate in a One Virtual School, One Virtual Book Club Opportunity. HERE is a link with all the details. It's totally optional, but is an opportunity for our community of staff and students to come together.
If students are looking for ways to stay connected to reading beyond what classroom teachers are sharing, check out the GBMS Library Wakelet page! Here is the direct link: https://wke.lt/w/s/BzMWaD
The page is linked on the GBMS Library Home Page and on the Student Announcements Page in Canvas.
Virtual Coffee with Capuder: Save the Dates
If you can, please grab a cup of coffee and join the virtual meetings. The links are found below. Click on the link directly from your computer's browser window or if connecting through the Zoom app, please use the Meeting ID and Password.
This is an informal opportunity for parents to be able to connect with me directly. There isn't a set agenda. This is a time to meet other families and ask each other questions, and offer support as well as community. Please join as well if you'd like to ask questions and/or share feedback about Remote Learning!
April 24: 8:30am to 9:30am (Zoom Meeting link) ID: 821 330 881 Password: 672114
May 1: 8:30am to 9:30am (Zoom Meeting link) ID: 821 330 881 Password: 672114
We held our first Virtual Coffee with Capuder on Friday, April 3rd with about 35 participants! Thank you to all who participated. Here is the Q & A from our time together.
IT'S SUNDAY! WHO INSPIRES YOU? Recognizing Staff who Make a Difference
In an effort to celebrate our community, we would like to invite parents and students to give a shout out to member(s) of the Brooks Community who have inspired them.The staff member will receive a certificate detailing how they have made a difference to you. You can also tag your comments under #BeBrooks97 on Twitter. Please join us in celebrating the Brooks Community by completing this form.
- April 6-9: Remote Learning Days
- April 7: Board of Education Meeting (Virtual, beginning at 7 p.m.)
- April 10: District Holiday (No Remote Learning, No Work for Staff)
- April 13: Remote Learning Planning Day (No Student Instruction)
- April 14-17: Remote Learning Days
- April 17: Virtual Coffee with Capuder 8:30am to 9:30am
- April 20-23: Remote Learning Days
- April 21: Board of Education Meeting (Virtual, 7 p.m.)
- April 24: Virtual Coffee with Capuder 8:30am to 9:30am
- April 24: Remote Learning Planning Day (No Student Instruction)
- April 27-30: Remote Learning Days
- May 1 and Beyond: TBD
Each week, the Help Corner will feature a frequently-asked question related to services and opportunities available for District 97 students and families. We will keep a complete list of these FAQs on our district website.
Supporting Students and Families
During Our School Closure
District 97 has created an online hub (www.op97.org/coronavirus) for updates about COVID-19 and our school closure, as well as resources (financial, mental health, nutrition, housing, etc.) that support the well-being of our students and families. We also encourage families to stay connected through Facebook and Twitter. Additional updates can be found at:
Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200
Thank you to the incredible team of District 97 social workers and nurses who collaborated on our community resource list! Click here to view >
District 97 also has a broad network of partner organizations that provide an array of supports and services for Oak Park residents. The Community Mental Health Board and Oak Park and River Forest Townships have also put together a COVID-19 Social Services Resource Guide, which is available at https://tinyurl.com/oprfguide.