November 12th, 2018
NEW DATE 12/5: A Conversation about Race in the Classroom
Join us on Wednesday, December 5th at 7:00pm to 8:30pm for a discussion about race in the classroom facilitated by Marcus Croom.
Coffee with Capuder: Middle School Scheduling
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.
The conversation will be extended until 10am, where 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 scheduled next year. Hope to see many middle school families there! ~ April Capuder
"Paper Tigers" Screening
ISBE School Designation
There was an error in the communication that was sent on Friday, November 2nd. The needed changes didn't get included prior to its distribution with my being in Spain. I apologize for the error. Brooks Middle School has an underperforming designation based on the performance data for our low-income, our IEP and our African American student groups. As I stated in my previous email, I am disappointed by this designation. It serves as a critical reminder of the work that must be done and progress that must be made in order to ensure that every child has the chance to reach their full potential. Here are the slides shared during Curriculum Night that highlight our school improvement plans for this school year.
We will keep you updated on the next steps in this process and how you can contribute to our efforts. In the meantime, I want to thank you for all that you do on behalf of our school and the students we serve.
Sincerely,
April Capuder
Vision97 4ALL Dashboard
Illinois 5Essentials Survey
We are administering the Illinois 5Essentials Survey again this year to certified staff and parents/guardians from all 10 of our schools, as well as students in grades four through eight. Please click here to learn how parents/guardians can participate in this important endeavor and click here to access the parent/guardian version of the survey. Please note that school-level reports will only be generated if at least 20 percent of our parents/guardians complete the survey, which can be accessed until Friday, Jan. 18, 2019.
We need your feedback.
Poetry Slam 2018
This trimester, the 7th Grade students had the opportunity to participate in a week of spoken word poetry during his/her language arts classes. Funded by the Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF), Spoken Word is a visiting artists program that brings local poets into 6th and 7th grade District 97 classrooms as a way to deepen your child’s understanding of the language arts curriculum, present them with ways to problem solve and create new opportunities for them to excel in school.
The 7th grade worked with poet and teaching artist Christian Robinson during the month of October on this unit of learning. As part of the week-long process, students were encouraged to present their completed spoken word pieces to their peers. Each class voted students to perform at the grade wide Poetry Slam on November 7th. Our 6th Grade students will also have the opportunity to participate in a week of spoken word poetry during his/her language arts classes over the next few weeks.
Christian Robinson (Rich Robins) is a hip-hop recording artist raised in Philadelphia. He began his career as an emcee upon returning to Oak Park at the start of high school. In 2012 he was accepted into the 6th cohort of First Wave, a full–tuition hip-hop scholarship to the University of Wisconsin, Madison. As an emcee, music engineer, performing poet and teaching artist, his work is the performance narrative of a young man who has a home in both the urban and suburban communities and his art is a way to bring those two worlds together. Spoken Word is funded by the Oak Park Education Foundation, which also funds Art Start, Science Alliance, VEX Robotics, Architecture Adventure, Geared Up and BASE Camp. To learn more, please visit OPEF.org.
HERE is a link to OPEF's Flickr site and the album of photos and videos from team 7.2 and 7.3 during spoken word. HERE is a link to OPEF's Flickr site and the album of photos and videos from team 7.1.
Thanksgiving Break
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
New PTO Website
Check out the new Brooks PTO website at sites.google.com/op97.org/gbmspto (or link to it from the Brooks district site, op97.org/brooks). We aim to provide more up-to-date information than our previous site easily allowed.
Clubs and Sports Information
Basketball Home Games this week
11/14 Home Game vs. Stevenson 4p - 6p
11/15 Home Game vs. Northlake 4p - 6p
Donating gently used Soccer Uniforms, Shin Guards and Cleats
Oak Park River Forest AYSO is collecting clean, gently used soccer uniforms, shin guards and cleats and will distribute them to communities in need. Please consider donating your old soccer uniform and gear. There will be a collection box in Ms. Suerth's and Ms. Maggio's classrooms through Monday, November 12th.
Girls Volleyball
GIRLS VOLLEYBALL OPEN GYM and TRYOUT DATES
JUNIOR VARSITY (open to all 6th and 7th graders)
- OPEN GYM - Tuesday, December 4th at 7am
- TRYOUTS - Monday, December 10th at 7am AND Wednesday, December 12th at 3:30pm
VARSITY (open to all 8th graders)
- OPEN GYM - Wednesday, December 5th at 3:30pm
- TRYOUTS - Monday, December 10th at 3:30pm AND Thursday, December 13th at 3:30pm
Please be sure all forms are completed and a physical is on file. If you have any questions, please contact Coach Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org
Boys Basketball Practice Schedule
11/13 Practice -3:30pm - 5:00pm
11/16 Practice 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
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.
- November 9 & 16th at 7pm
- November 10 & 17th @ 2:30pm and 7:00pm
Clubs
Mondays
- 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
- Yearbook Club: Next meeting 11/19 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
- 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