May 6, 2019
Teacher Appreciation Lunch Wednesday, May 8
Please help us thank the Brooks teachers & staff for all that they do for our students by signing up to help with the 6th grade sponsored Teacher & Staff Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, May 8th. Please go to the Sign Up Genius link here and feel free to sign up for more than one line item if you'd like. All contributions are greatly appreciated!! If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Thomas at shgt52597@aol.com.
Map Testing continues this week
Please encourage your student to put their best effort forth during our upcoming Reading and Math MAP testing window. Our teachers use this information to guide their instruction and as a school and district we monitor and make decisions related to our school improvement goals using the student outcomes from MAP testing.
Tuesday, May 7th through Thursday, May 9th will be MAP Make-up Testing
8th Grade End of Year Activities
8th Grade T-Shirt
Ordering closed
Please contact the main office for more information. (708) 524-3050
8th Grade Dance: Friday, May 17th
RevTrak, cash or check payable to GBMS
Dance attire optional
Deadline for ticket orders, May 10.
Graduation Rehearsal: Tuesday, May 28th @ OPRF
Please be aware, students will travel by bus to OPRF for the rehearsal. The bus will leave at 9:15 am.
Students will receive their graduation tickets along with their cap and gown when they return from graduation practice.
Great America Trip: Thursday, May 30th
Wear your 8th grade t-shirt (brooks wear or blue if you don’t have one)
RevTrak, cash or check payable to GBMS
Deadline for payments is May 24
Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, June 1st @ OPRF
Students should arrive @ 9:30 am to OPRFHS 201 Scoville Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302
Graduation ceremony begins promptly @ 10:00 am
Each student will receive a total of 4 graduation tickets. (students do not need a ticket)
A live feed of the graduation will be available beginning at 10:00am on June 1st. The YouTube Link to view the ceremony is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px01sXDacZw
Student Expectations: Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be Ready to Learn
Lunchroom/Social Time/Hallways Expectations:
Have ID with correct lunch color, move directly to your appropriate side for lunch
Clean up the lunch tables and floors of your food/trash
Pick a seat and remain in your seat
Throw away garbage and then remain seated in your seat
Wait for Lunchroom Supervisor to dismiss your table
Use an appropriate volume and language inside and outside
Pass is needed to leave the lunchroom to see a teacher or when in the halls during class time
Bring your jacket to be prepared to go outside for social time
Move directly to your appropriate location when dismissed (outside or to class)
Cell phones away at lunch/social time and hallways
Follow adult redirection
Keep your hands/feet to yourself (with exception when playing games outside)
Madison Street Construction - Sidewalk Concerns
Teen Audiobook Summer Reading Program
This amazing program that gives us and our students access to free audiobooks that never expire is starting up once again this week.
HERE is the link directly to the website. This is the first week, and it goes for 14 weeks. Two FREE audiobooks are available every week to download and keep FOREVER. Once each week is over, two new books are available and the previous ones are no longer available. So you need to check each week and you can set up email reminders.
There are some GREAT titles offered this year, so encourage your kids to check it out!
Brooks Community Meeting
Join us on Monday, May 6 from 7:00 - 8:30 for our next Brooks Community Meeting. We will be voting on next year's PTO Board members and the budget! We will meet in the library on the third floor and free childcare is available!
Over the Counter Medication Safety Concerns
Angst - The Movie and Panelist Event on May 22nd at Brooks 6:30pm to 9:00pm
6:30pm - 9:00pm
- 6:30pm come visit resource tables hosted by Oak Park Community Mental Health Partners
- 7:00pm to 8:15pm Sow the Movie Angst
- 8:15pm to 9:00pm Panelist Discussion
FLYER and Link to Panelist Bios
Volunteer with the Brooks PTO next year
Yearbook Ordering
https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1014096931934358
If you are asked for a pass code, please use: 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.
Assessment Re-Do/Re-Take Policy
Please find information regarding the student re-do/re-take policy in our Brooks Website.
Student Announcements
Upcoming event hosted by Oak Park and River Forest High School
This is some information about an upcoming event hosted by Oak Park and River Forest High School’s A Place for All (APA) club. All Middle School students are invited:
- GSA Adventure Night on Friday, May 10th from 7:00-9:30 PM. Try out our rock climbing wall, high ropes course, or just enjoy some low-key board games. Pizza provided, and the event is free! RSVP to gcolamussi@oprfhs.org if your school/group will be joining us.
8th Grade Dance - Volunteers Needed
Calling all 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Families - Volunteers are needed to help with this fun event on May 17th 2019.
- 8th Grade parents/guardians needed for setup (starting 1:00pm) & cleanup (9 pm);
- 6th & 7th Grade to chaperone & run the dance (8th grade chaperones also welcome).
Please join in making this a special evening for our graduating class of 2019!
Questions to: Norah Scott(norahfscott@yahoo.com) or Paula O'Connor (paula.livesey@talk21.com).
Summer Math Registration is now closed.
Coffee with Capuder
WCWO Garden Kits
WCWO will donate $8 for each kit purchased to YOUR SCHOOL. Plant pick-up is Sat. JUNE 1, 10am-2pm in the Euclid Methodist Church parking lot, 405 S Euclid in Oak Park. More plants and kits will be for sale that day.
Each kit contains 10 plants. The Monarch & More Sun Kit and the Shade kit each cost $38, which is less than plants purchased separately. They provide all that Monarch caterpillars and adults, and bees and others need to grow up happily, plus food for birds. See the website for plant photos and growing tips and to buy other plants too.
WCWO is a local non-profit promoting ecologically friendly landscaping and environmental education. 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.
HOW does it work? Add a kit to your online cart on the website.
Click on Cart, then put the name of your school in the box at lower left. After June 1, the schools will get $8 per kit. Open to parents, neighbors, or anyone! Contact westcook@outlook.com with questions.
Brooks Garden needs your help!
SUPPORT THE BROOKS GARDEN!
Spring is finally here and it’s time to enjoy the Brooks Eventide garden! We have a few ways for you to join our gardening community:
1. VOLUNTEER! We will be building two more raised beds; a Little Free Library, as well as planting and doing general clean-up chores. We really need people with power tools and construction expertise! There’s no set schedule so we can work around when our volunteers are available! Please email lstamp@op97.org.
2. BUY PLANTS!
- Students in the Eco Eagles and 8.2 Science are growing three varieties of heirloom tomato plants (Amish Paste, Cherokee Purple & Sun Gold cherry), as well as zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, basil, dill and cosmos. A limited number of these seedlings will be available the second week of May for $2 each. An order form will be coming soon.
- Purchase native plants for YOUR garden: The West Cook Wild Ones Native Plant sale is going on, and for every Monarch kit that is purchased, $8 goes to the school of your choice (Brooks, of course!). This is a kit of 10 plants that give you an easy way to add beautiful Monarch butterfly attracting plants to your existing or new sunny garden. It will also provide nectar and pollen for native bees and other important pollinators. Information can be found at http://westcook.wildones.org/.
- Purchase native plants for OUR garden: We would like to add native plants to the area by our beautiful mural on the southwest corner of the school and near the main entrance. Purchasing a monarch kit from the West Cook Wild Ones plant sale and donating it to our garden is an easy way for us to reach our goal.
Please email lstamp@op97.org if you have questions or ideas for our garden!
Oak Park and River Forest 8th Grade Girls Golf Club
Join us Thursday nights at the range and Sunday afternoons on the course.
All 8th grade girls from Oak Park and River Forest are invited to join us at Fresh Meadows Golf Range, 2144 S Wolf Rd. No golf experience is necessary. First meet up is Thursday April 25th at 7:00pm. The only cost is to purchase a bucket of range balls ($8).
Questions?
Contact Tom Kennedy
773 865 9563
Make friends, have fun, and learn how to play golf (both kids and adults).
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.
For more information contact Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org
Boys Volleyball
Game Schedule
Conference week begins!
5/6 - 4pm - 6pm
Home vs. MacArthur
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 5/6 & 5/20 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
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
- 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