Middle Matters Remote Learning

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• Student Attendance - Trimester 2: How to Report Student Absences
• The IB Middle School Years Community Project
• Parent/Guardian Survey regarding Zoom Expectation - please complete by 12/15/20
• Trimester 2: Zoom Expectations and GBMS Remote Learning A/B Day Calendar
• GBMS Yearbook Information
• STARS Program
• Check out... What's happening in the Brooks Library
  
• Middle School Virtual Clubs Starting Days & Times & BRAVO Information
• Technology Support: helpdesk@op97.org
• PTO Weekly Communication
• In case you missed it: items from previous Middle Matters (see below)
• District Information Highlights
• Community Highlights

In case you missed it:

• Brooks Parent Connection Group Information
• Brooks Office will be working remotely through January 12, 2021.
• "Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program Virtual Talks
• A Greater Good Foundation
• Morning Virtual Homework Support and Virtual Breakfast with Brooks
• GBMS Remote Learning Webpage (include A/B Day calendar)
• School Immunization and Physical Information

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

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

Angelica Love Curriculum & Instruction AP (6th grade, Teams 7.1 & 7.2) alove@op97.org

Antione Bland Curriculum & Instruction AP (8th grade, Teams 7.3) abland@op97.org

Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org

• Dec 5 - OPRFHS STAR Assessment (8th grade only)
• Dec 11- Student Trimester 1 Report Cards will be emailed to Parents/Guardians
• Dec 12 - OPRFHS STAR Assessment (Make-up Date / 8th grade only)
• Dec 24 - Jan 8 - Winter Break - School will resume on Mon. Jan 11.

We will be emailing Trimester 1 Report Cards by the end of the day on Friday, December 11th.

Attendance will be taken every day for each class period by each of your child's teacher and it will be denoted in PowerSchool, including ADVISORY. Student's are expected to attend each of their classes at their scheduled time and day. If your student will be absent from remote learning, please call the attendance number 708-665-3074 or email brooksattendance@op97.org

Our 8th grade students will soon be embarking on the Community Project, which is an opportunity for students to connect what they have learned in courses to action. In their S.O.A.R. class, students will work in small groups or work independently to create a project of their choice that will have a positive impact on their community. Over the course of the project, students will show the skills they have developed over the years in all subjects and through Approaches to Learning. For more information about the Community Project, check out this video.

Zoom Cameras

As we continue into Trimester 2 engaging in school remotely, we wanted to thank all of our students and families for supporting us and each other. We know school looks and feels very differently.

Thinking about how we can continue to support each other and continue to build classroom community during Trimester 2, we are asking parents and guardians to encourage your student to engage in their classes with their cameras on, as long as any of the below or potential additional areas are not a concern for you and your child.

• Privacy: Students might be uncomfortable displaying their learning space to their peers

• Safety: Students and their family members may not want their image captured, recorded or shared.

• Equity: Students might have unreliable internet access or low bandwidth and not running video helps with connection

• Personal: Students might feel shy or anxious to be on camera

We recognize when students are concerned about any of the above, it produces additional anxiety and the student may be less able to focus on their learning. We also know that when students share their faces with their teachers and classmates, it enables teachers and students to read facial cues, which supports better communication & learning as well as contributes to building stronger classroom communities.

To help our teachers reinforce your desire for your student's learning experience, please complete this form/survey letting us know how you'd like your student to be engaging in their classes(Data gathered so far is below).Thank you for your partnership and encouraging your student to have their cameras on during class, as you feel appropriate. We are here to support your student's continued growth!

GBMS Remote Learning Helpful Information - including Tri 2 A/B Day Calendar.

Please refer to our GBMS Remote Learning webpage for information how to get technology fixed, A/B day Calendar, how to report Student absences, create parent accounts in Canvas or PowerSchool as well as who to contact if you have any questions.

To help our teachers reinforce your desire for your student's learning experience, please complete this form/survey letting us know how you'd like your student to be engaging in their classes by Tuesday, December 15th, if you haven't already completed it.

We have received 204 responses so far and hoping to have data for all of our students. The data pictured below represents responses connected to 73 of our 6th graders, 67 of our 7th graders and 64 of our 8th graders.

See more information above about Zoom Cameras. I'll be sharing this information and the survey again when we email the student Report Cards for Trimester 1 on Friday, 12/7.

Sharing Photos with our Yearbook Editors

A copy of the email sent to all families last week to provide consent for your student, if 12 years or younger, to create a treering account to be able to submit photos to be reviewed by our yearbook editors to potentially include in the 20-21 yearbook. Please complete the consent form by Friday, December 11th, 2020 for your child is 12 years old or younger, if you haven't already done so.

To Purchase & Customize Your 20-21 Yearbook

Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.

1. Go to www.treering.com/validate
2. Enter your school’s passcode: 1014096931934358

Regular Price: $26.02. *Does not include sales tax or any discounts, if applicable

Deadline: April 9th, 2021

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

www.yemba-inc.org

Email: sbalogun@yemba-inc.org

Phone:(708) 719-6702 ex: 02

Follow us on Facebook@ YembaInc

APPLICATION

From the Library:

Contactless Library Pickup

1. The next scheduled pickup for December 10th IS ON! Please make sure holds are in by Monday, December 7th so they can be prepared on Tuesday and be ready for Thursday!
2. Pickups are from 8-8:45 & 3:45-4:30 outside the Commons doors near the parking lot on Kenilworth (DON’T FORGET: books for this pickup need to be on hold in the catalog by the Monday prior to pickup @11:59PM).
3. If you have books to return, you can bring those by on December 10th as well. If you want to renew a book you have, that can be done by logging in to the catalog as well.
4. Future pickups will be determined on an on-going basis and announced here as well as via student Canvas inboxes.
5. Instructions and flyers
• VIDEO: HOW DO I PLACE A LIBRARY HOLD?
  
• VIDEO: HOW DOES ALL OF THIS WORK?
  
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  
• FLYER
  

Databases (Gale & Britannica)

• Use this url to access all of our databases and research eBooks: http://www.galepages.com/oak8130

• Outside of school the password for the Gale Databases is eagles.

• For Britannica the username is op97 and the password is learn

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 Wednesday, Dec 2 Please 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!
  

Morning Vocal Ensembles: Open to Everyone!

If you missed auditions and still want to be involved, contact Mr. Blackman at fblackman@op97.org about joining in December

• 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

Social Justice Club: Will be on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 pm (12/8, 12/15,12/22) Contact Ms. Stigger with questions (nstigger@op97.org).

• Meeting ID: 830 7488 7298

• Passcode: 173560

• Zoom Link Below

• https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/83074887298?pwd=d0VDaE5QQzdpVmlxQmZYdldXbS9GQT09

Rainbow Tribe: Rainbow Tribe club will meet on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Our next meeting is Monday, December 7. Contact Ms. Berman with questions (aberman@op97.org) Students who identify as LGBTQ and/or allies are ALL WELCOME!

Math Team: Math Team will meet Mondays from 3:40 to 4:30 pm. All are welcome! Here is the ZOOM link. Contact Ms. Esther Smith (esmith3@op97.org) with questions.

Brooks Earth Action Team (the BEAT): Our next meeting is TUESDAY, DEC. 8 when we will be writing our proclamation for the Village of Oak Park’s “Year of the Butterfly” celebration! Here’s the link to the meeting.

Yearbook: Calling all poets, writers, artists, photographers, and more! Our next two yearbook meetings will be December 8th and 15th 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.

Morning Band Groups:

Jazz Ensemble meets on Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am

Jazz Band meets on Thursdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.

YEMBA: YEMBA meets on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm. Students can access the zoom link to attend the YEMBA session through the lunch course in Canvas.

BRAVO!, the award-winning performing arts program led by Artistic Director Tina Reynolds, continues to offer a variety of opportunities for students to safely explore the performing arts during remote learning.

In October, seventh and eighth graders prepared and performed two virtual shows, and now it’s the sixth graders’ turn to take to the “stage!” Twenty-seven Brooks students are in the final stages of preparing a virtual version of Dear Edwina, JR, a heart-warming musical about the joys of growing up. Performances will be online on December 11th at 7pm, and tickets are available now at bravoperformingarts.org.

But that’s not all! Seventh and eighth grade BRAVO! kids are already hard at work on another musical theatre extravaganza—Pure Imagination features selections from Roald Dahl’s Matilda, James and the Giant Peach and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, celebrating lessons of resilience in the face of adversity. Pure Imagination will be live streamed on Friday, December 18 at 7pm. Don’t miss these two exciting, entertaining, exhilarating zoomsicals!

Outside of singing and dancing, BRAVO! has dozens of students involved in remote Set Design and a weekly Podcast Club. Advisory teachers shared the first two episodes of The Hour to Empower podcast with Brooks classes.

Hour to Empower - Bravo podcast - Conversations from Brooks students for Brooks Students and our larger community; Meets Mondays 4pm-5:30pm and Thursdays 4pm-5:30pm

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.

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.

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).

A $10 donation will help the PTO make Brooks even better

The PTO’s regular fund raising has been eliminated with the switch to remote schooling. However, a $10 donation from YOU can help us continue to fund grant requests from teachers to provide additional educational materials for optimal learning, providing a year end 8th-grade graduation celebration, and so much more. If you would like to contribute directly to the PTO, please follow this link. Any amount is helpful!

If you have any questions or ideas on fundraising initiates we welcome your feedback. You may email the PTO Fundraising Chair April Fleming at afleming56@yahoo.com.

Brooks Spirit Wear

Brooks spirit wear can be ordered at any time by visiting this website. Sizes for kids and adults! Orders will be shipped to your home!

Brooks Parent Connection Group -

If you missed our latest meeting where our topic was Navigating Canvas, please reach out for more information.

Lauren Olson (lolson@op97.org) or Stacie Klein (sklein@op97.org)

The governor announced that Region 10 on Monday, 10/26, which includes Suburban Cook County, has exceeded the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan. In order to maintain the safety and well-being of our staff, school office staff and administrators will work remotely when possible through January 12, 2021.

Please email office staff or administrators if you need anything during this time. You may also leave a voicemail message on the main school phone number.

The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth through the “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program.” Below is a list of upcoming VIRTUAL talks, which will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Eventbrite links below is requested. Once you register, a link will be emailed to you four hours prior to the start of each event.

• Wednesday, December 9: Understanding Anxiety in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-anxiety-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-124168632723

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. 6th & 7th graders will meet on Mondays from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm and 8th graders will meet on Wednesdays during advisory 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. We are hoping to launch the program the week of September 28th. If you have any questions or would like your student to participate, please contact Stacie Klein at sklein@op97.org.

FLYER and VIDEO about the program

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 8:45am, your student can join the zoom to listen to STAMPED read aloud by one of our Teacher Assistants. Your student can listen to the reading to be prepared for the lessons, activities and discussions of the book in their Language and Literature class. Students can find the zoom link in their Canvas Lunch Class for the BREAKFAST WITH BOOKS morning opportunity.

Does your student need virtual homework support? Your student can connect with our Teacher Assistants on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 8:45am for virtual homework help. Students can find the zoom link in their Canvas Lunch Class for the MORNING Homework Support!

Please visit GBMS Remote Learning page on our website for all important information related to Remote Learning.

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).

If you have not already provided this information when you registered your child, please email your child's records directly to our school nurse, Nancy Radogno at nradogno@op97.org.

Continued Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students

District 97 school psychologists and nurses have collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school this fall. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed.

To sign up or learn more about these services, please visit https://bit.ly/3m3Xece.

If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24-Hour 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.

Erin's Law Information Session for Families
District 97 will host a virtual information session on Erin's Law (Illinois Public Act 097-1147), which requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. The session, "Keeping My Family Safe," will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom. Families are invited to attend to learn more about Erin’s Law and tips for protecting their children. Erin’s Law Parent Night Details >

Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.

Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.

D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - December 2020

Free/Reduced Lunch Application

We know that a common experience for many families during this health crisis is the loss of jobs and income. This change in income may qualify your children for free or reduced-price meals. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the National School Lunch application as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.

Effective Student Behavior Handbook

District 97 is committed to creating a positive learning environment that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. Behavior education involves proactively teaching positive behaviors to create the conditions that make every classroom and school a positive place to learn.

The revised District 97 Effective Student Behavior Handbook is designed to provide information about policies, procedures and practices related to student behavior, and to help students and families prepare for a successful school experience. It also provides notifications required by state and federal law. Click here for our full communication about the new Effective Student Behavior Handbook >

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.

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.