Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• Summer Break
• GBMS Adopt-A-Garden Program
• Gwendolyn Brooks Birthday is June 7th!
• School Spirit ABC Countdown to Summer
• DePaul Talks Spring 2022
  
• SY22-23 School Registration Information
• Join the Brooks PTO! (Repeat)
• Calling Your Child in Sick from School (Repeat)
• Questions regarding COVID-19: Contact our School Nurse (Repeat)
• Student Announcements (Updated weekly)
• From the Library (Updated weekly)

Highlights from GBMS PTO

• Donation to GBMS PTO
• Connect with GBMS PTO
• Buy GBMS Spirit Wear

Highlights from District 97

Repeated Topics from Past Week's Middle Matters

• Bullying Report Form Link (Repeat)
• Live Streaming of GBMS Athletic and Music Events (Repeat)
• Partnership with D97 and DePaul University - Care Coordinator (Repeat)
• School Supply Reminders (Repeat)
• Water Bottle Reminder (Repeat)
• Stay Home When Sick (Repeat)
• Social Work Team (Repeat)
• Office Phones and Dropping off Items at Brooks (Repeat)
• Allergy Safe Information (Repeat)
• School Physical and Immunization Information (Repeat)
• Tech Support (Repeat)

Community Partner News

• Hephzibah 5K Run & Walk
• YEMBA Summer Camp
• Oak Park OWL
• OPRF Youth Football
• OPRF Summer Sports Camps - Registration Opens April 25
• OPEF BASE Camp
• Kids Unlimited Therapy Services
• EGD & Landry Foundation Basketball Tournament
• Kids Kloset at First United Church
  
• Friday Night Place
• Strengthening Families Program

• SMART LOVE FAMILY SERVICES
• NAMI
• Leyden Family Service
• THRIVE

If you have questions about the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me at acapuder@op97.org. You can also contact our Executive Coordinator, Ms. Latrina Hurst, at lhurst@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our administrative team is also available to help answer your questions.

Angelica Love Curriculum & Instruction AP (6th grade, 7th grade) alove@op97.org

Antoine Bland Curriculum & Instruction AP (8th grade) abland@op97.org

Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org

• Monday, June 6- A Day; Tuesday, June 7- B Day

• Last Day of School- June 7th

• Report Cards emailed by Friday, June 10th.

I hope everyone has a safe and relaxing summer break! Pleas look for a communication in August that will highlight information needed for the start of the 2022-2023 school year.

Let's celebrate our namesake, the great Pulitzer Prize winning poet, teacher, and author--Gwendolyn Brooks on June 7th. We will have a KONA ICE truck on site during 6th and 7th grade lunch periods to serve tasty icees and we'll have games! Please see the flyer below for more information about how to pre-order icees, or visit https://app.konaicepay.com/#//F0061282

Do you want to have an impact in the Brooks community and have the inside scoop on what is going on at Brooks and D97? NOW is the time to get involved!! We are looking to fill positions for the 2022-2023 school year and have some critical roles open! No prior PTO experience is necessary. Sign up here (also see more detailed descriptions of the roles) and email gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com with any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!

Please contact the Brooks Health Office and speak with Nurse Nancy Radogno if you have questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 and any listed symptoms.

(708) 524- 3058 or nradogno@op97.org

Masks will continue to be required in two areas in school buildings effective March 17th:

• Nurses' offices: Masks will continue to be required in school nurses' offices, which are considered healthcare settings. Disposable masks will be available if needed.
• SHIELD testing areas: SHIELD Illinois will continue to require masks in testing areas, since collection sites are technically considered healthcare facilities. This means that all students participating in weekly SHIELD testing will be required to wear masks in the collection area. The district will have disposable masks available, however, we encourage families to make sure that their students bring their own masks on their designated testing days.

As of Thursday, March 17, the decision to wear a mask at school is at the discretion of each family. Masks are now recommended, not required, in all District 97 schools, the administration building, and school buses. This change also applies to after-school activities and events. Details about this change, as well as supporting documents, are linked below.

• "Supporting the Transition to Masks Recommended, Not Required" (March 4 communication)
• FAQ - Masks Recommended, Not Required
• Resource document for families
• Summary of District 97's COVID-19 Mitigations
• "Families and COVID-19" (Centers for Disease Control)

Masks will continue to be required in two areas in school buildings:

• Nurses' offices: Masks will continue to be required in school nurses' offices, which are considered healthcare settings. Disposable masks will be available if needed.
• SHIELD testing areas: SHIELD Illinois will continue to require masks in testing areas, since collection sites are technically considered healthcare facilities. This means that all students participating in weekly SHIELD testing will be required to wear masks in the collection area. The district will have disposable masks available, however, we encourage families to make sure that their students bring their own masks on their designated testing days.

There is still time to REGISTER FOR SUMMER BRAVO! We still have spot available for our 2nd Session - July 5 - July 23. Come join the fun! **Open to Current 4th Graders - 8th Graders

• 3-Week Sessions for Actors: June 13 - July 2 AND July 5 - July 23
• 2-Week Sessions for Crew: June 20 - July 2 AND July 11 - July 23

Students can find announcements in each Student's Lunch (Green) or Lunch (Yellow) course in Canvas as well as on a button along the left side of our Brooks homepage.

As the calendar year draws to a close, please consider making a donation to the Brooks PTO. Since March 2020, we have been unable to raise money to support our mission through our primary fundraiser, the weekly Starship Restaurant lunch program, because of D97 Covid-related protocols. As a result, we have had to either scale back or eliminate funding of need-based scholarships, teacher grants, and other enrichment activities.

While we continue to look for other ways to raise much-needed funds until we are able to resume the Starship lunch program, we would be appreciative of any donations in the meantime. Donations may be made on our website. Please note that the Brooks PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a donation receipt for tax or matching purposes will be provided. Thank you!

D97 Academic Acceleration (Repeat)

Similar to last year, the referral window for families seeking single subject or whole grade acceleration opens on March 1 and closes on May 15.

Please visit our D97 website for more information.

2021-22 District 97 Family Handbook (Repeat)
Click here for the updated 2021-22 District 97 Family Handbook, which contains general information about the district and its procedures. Please note that some of this information may be subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please email d97feedback@op97.org if you have any questions.

Additionally, if you would like to request a hard copy of the handbook, please contact the school office.

School Year 21-22 Meal Information (Repeat)

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved key waivers that allow school districts to continue serving free meals to all children. This means that all District 97 students are eligible to receive breakfast and lunch free of charge for the entire 2021-22 school year!

NOTE: Families DO NOT need to complete the Free/Reduced Meal Application in order for their students to receive free meals. However, families seeking to qualify for school fee waivers or other state programs MUST complete the application. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the application as soon as possible.

More information on the D97 food service program, including breakfast and lunch menus for our elementary and middle schools, are available here.

If a student arrives to school after breakfast, they can let their teacher in their first know. The teacher will contact our school nurse and she will arrange for them to come to the commons to get something to eat. Students will miss some class time.

2021-22 Frequently Asked Questions for Back to School Plan (Repeat)
District 97 has created a 2021-22 FAQ page based on the top questions we have received over the past few weeks. Topics include ventilation, remote learning, vaccination and travel.

Our back-to-school plan is linked below and can also be found, along with other COVID-19 resources and information, by going to https://www.op97.org/back-to-school.

• District 97 Back-to-School Plan for 2021-22
• COVID-19 Safety Mitigation Highlights

District 97 has developed a comprehensive back-to-school plan to keep our students and staff healthy and safe while they learn in person five days a week. Our approach implements data-informed response measures that are aligned with the most up-to-date scientific research and best practices for K-12 schools. The plan also reflects rising concerns about the transmissibility of the Delta variant, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, and the fact that the majority of our students (Pre-K through sixth grade) are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Below is a brief overview of some, not all, of the safety mitigations that will be in place for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. New procedures are starred (*).

• Full-Day, In-Person Instruction for All Students: Per state guidance, remote learning will only be provided only if a student is placed in quarantine by the health department or if students qualify as medically fragile.
• Masking Optional: Masks will be optional for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status starting Thursday, May 17th.
• Weekly Screening Testing: District 97 will partner with SHIELD Illinois to provide weekly testing to all students in Pre-K through eighth grade. This is a non-invasive saliva test that will be conducted on site during the school day. Testing is optional but strongly recommended. No action is necessary to participate. CLICK HERE to learn more about SHIELD testing. CLICK HERE for FAQ related to SHIELD Illinois.
• Updated Quarantine and Contact Tracing Procedures: At the direction of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or who test positive for COVID-19, must quarantine/isolate from school for a period of 10-14 school days. Students and staff may return after following the protocols outlined in our plan. As of today, quarantining is no longer required for vaccinated individuals unless they are symptomatic. The CDC and IDPH have also updated their close contact definition for classroom students, which we hope will minimize disruptions to in-person learning this year.
• Physical Distancing: We will make every effort to maintain as much distance as possible between students—at least 3 feet—in classrooms and during lunch.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting: Staff will perform regular school cleaning and disinfect all high-touch surfaces daily. The full classroom disinfection process will occur weekly.

Wanting to confirm information you've heard regarding our schools? (Repeat)

Oak Park District 97 is committed to providing accurate and timely information. Our new Fact Checker will be updated consistently based upon common questions and concerns to ensure you have access to the key facts that interest you most.

Text Messages from District 97 (Repeat)

District 97 uses the notification system BrightArrow to communicate with families via email and phone calls. This year, we have started using periodic text messages to send reminders directly to parents' cell phones. In order to receive text messages, parents must opt in by texting YES to 87569. Once you have subscribed, you will receive a text confirmation.

Texts may appear from District 97 from 87569 or a phone number with a 424 area code (you may wish to save them to your contacts).

Wellness Check-in Program (Repeat)

The district-wide wellness check-in program, which was an initial crisis response to the pandemic, will not continue in its current format during the new Hybrid schedule. Please reach out to your school's school psychologist or social worker if you have social-emotional concerns about your child. If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please call the Thrive 24hr Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.

Our school does not tolerate bullying and takes all reports of bullying seriously. Consistent with Oak Park Elementary School District Board policies; bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing individuals from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important District goals. Bullying of any type should be reported immediately.

Report Form Link

PLEASE NOTE: District 97 extends a special thank you to former Brooks Middle School student Shawn C. for building the foundation for the bullying form. We would also like to thank our middle school students and administration team for their valuable feedback.

All of our student athletic events and music performances will be live streamed on our YouTube Channel: GBMS YouTube Live Streaming Channel

For more information regarding live streaming, please click here.

Tetyana Krutsik, Care Coordinator, is working with Brooks Middle School to support our families. See the below flyer to learn more about the the various ways she can support our families. You can connect with her directly via email tkrutsik@depaul.edu.

Below are the emails of our Social Work team. Please email them if you want to learn more about how your student can connect with them.

• Abby Berman supports our 6th graders (aberman@op97.org)
• Hannah Boudreau supports our 7th graders (hboudreau@op97.org)
• Jen Olsen supports our 8th graders (jolsen@op97.org)

Office Phones

Please note that our office staff sets the phone to go to voicemail from 8:30am to 9:15am daily. Please leave a message of your student's absence or you can email brooksattendance@op97.org. Our office staff will listen to voicemails to call back or direct calls as needed after 9:15am daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please check out our GBMS Learning SY21-22 Information page, as your question is likely answered there.

Dropping off Items at Brooks for your Student

You may drop off forgotten items for your student in the main office. Please note that we will not call into your student's classroom, as it is a disruption to the learning for other students and the teacher in the classroom. Your student should plan to stop by the main office on their way to lunch or between passing periods, if they think you may have dropped off the forgotten item for them to retrieve. We appreciate your understanding.

The Help Corner will features 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.

District 97 has created Community Resources Page. We also encourage families to stay connected through Facebook and Twitter. Additional updates can be found at:

Village of Oak Park

Oak Park Township

Oak Park Public Library

Park District of Oak Park

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200

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.

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 services(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

District 97 students are invited to participate in Huskie Sports Camps this summer! Registration opens Monday, April 25, at 10 a.m. CLICK HERE for the program flyer >

SUPPORT4U is a mental health resource for our students to anonymously text licensed mental health clinicians any time of the day for assistance or guidance. Students can text for any issue; typical reasons might include social issues, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying, abuse, or any other mental health-related topic. The clinician’s goal is to steer the student to available resources in the school and community. To use, students just need to go to Support4U.live on their phone, click on the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School logo and hit send. Help is just a text away.

PHONE-BASED COUNSELING

Thrive is offering phone-based counseling, 24/7 crisis intervention services, medication management and, a free Thrive Check-In phone support line (Ext. 8) to address our community’s needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Call us at (708)383-7500. Our Front Desk team is also ready to assist you Monday-Friday, 9am to 2pm, with requests for referrals or new services and to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

Mental Health Resource, "Call4Calm"

Thrive is also a proud partner of the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text “TALK” TO 552020 (or “HABLAR) for Spanish. The Illinois Call4Calm Text Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support for anyone experiencing stress and in need of a listening ear.

And we know the COVID-19 pandemic can wear on every resource—from food and shelter to our emotional bandwidth and mental health. Fortunately, the Illinois Department of Human Services has launched a support line called Call4Calm that is reachable via text. Individuals who want to speak with a mental health professional can text the word “TALK” or “HABLAR” (for Spanish speakers) to 552-020. Within 24 hours, that individual will receive a call from a mental health professional employed by a local community health center.

People can also text other terms, like “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” to the same number to receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services. Call4Calm is free, and individuals who use it can remain anonymous. We encourage you to share this resource with your students, families, and staff.