January 21, 2020
Student Led Conferences
To schedule a conference, you should have received an email last week from your child's teacher, Mr. Bland or Ms. Kamysz.
If you're unsure which of your child's teachers to contact to setup a conference for your student, please reach out to either Ms. Kamysz (akamysz@op97.org), if your student is in 6th grade or on Team 7.1 or 7.2, or Mr. Bland (abland@op97.org) if your student is on Team 7.3 or in 8th grade.
We are going to try a slightly different format from the previous Fall Conferences. Our goal is to effectively share your student’s progress while involving students in reflection and accountability related to their work. Your student should plan to attend with you. Your student may want to bring their Chromebook, if the samples of their work they'd like to share are electronic.
For Winter conferences you have the option to select a 30 minute conference or drop in during office hours.
30 minute conference format Option: You will be selecting a 30 minute conference time slot (sent to you last week). For the first 15 minutes of your conference time slot, your student will lead you through watching the screencast about IB criterion, which is used to assess some of their work in their subject areas and share their portfolio of samples of their work with you, which will highlight areas they are proud of and goals they may have set for themselves for the remainder of the school year.
- 6th GRADER Families: For the second 15 minutes of your 30 minute conference time slot, you will meet with ONE of your student’s teachers. This is the only teacher that will have a conference time with you. This teacher will be able to discuss all your student’s successes and opportunities for growth with you.
- 7th or 8th GRADER Families: For the second 15 minutes of your 30 minute conference time slot and you will meet with the team of teachers as we did in the fall. We will be scheduling 5 families per time block and teachers will rotate to each family.
OFFICE HOURS OPTION: In addition, we have scheduled the following blocks of time for office hours on all teams: 12:45-1:30 P.M and 5:45-6:30 P.M. You do not need to reserve a specific conference time since office hours are drop-in, but we would like for you to indicate which of the two times you plan on dropping in. Those links are below. Similar to if you signed up for a conference, please allow 15 minutes prior to entering office hours for your student to lead you through watching screencast about IB criterion, which is used to assess some of their work in their subject areas and share their portfolio of samples of their work with you, which will highlight areas they are proud of and goals they may have set for themselves for the remainder of the school year.
Team 6.1 (Office Hours)
Team 6.2 (Office Hours)
Team 6.3 (Office Hours)
Team 7.1 (Office Hours)
Team 7.2 (Office Hours)
Team 7.3 (Office Hours)
Team 8.1 (Office Hours)
Team 8.2 (Office Hours)
ELECTIVE TEACHER Conferences: Elective teachers and other special services staff will be in their classrooms/offices and are available for drop-in conferences during the office hours as well as throughout the day. They will be eating dinner provided by the PTO from 4:45pm to 5:30pm. The core teachers will be eating dinner provided by the PTO from 4:00pm to 4:45pm.
Thursday, Jan 30, 2020, 12:45 PM
325 South Kenilworth Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
January 30th and 31st - Noon Dismissal
Student Participation - Illinois 5Essentials Survey
Dear Parent or Guardian,
We are writing to inform you about a student survey that will be administered at your child’s school called the Illinois 5Essentials Survey during the first week in February. This is the eighth year the Illinois State Board of Education will implement this survey across the state. This survey is based on 20 years of research at the University of Chicago. It asks students about their experiences in school, giving school leaders critical student input to help develop school improvement plans. Student completion of the survey is also one of the 8 areas considered in determining a school's summative designation that is shared by the State's on the School's Report Card.
Student participants will be required to log-in using their state student ID and birth date in order to complete the survey. Students’ identities will be completely confidential. Teachers or administrators will never see individual responses to survey questions and will only receive aggregated information, such as the total percentage of students who agree homework assignments help them learn the course material.
Please be aware that under the Protection of Pupil Rights Act. 20 U.S.C. Section 1232(c) (1) (A), you have the right to review a copy of the questions asked of your student(s). Survey questions can be found on the Illinois 5Essentials website (https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois).
If you do not want your child to participate, please print and fill out THIS FORM and ask your child to return to their Individuals and Societies teacher.
Parent/Guardians participation in Illinois 5Essentials Survey
The parent/guardian survey is available now. 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 Feb. 14, 2020. Our current response rate for parents/guardians is at 10%.
8th Grade Graduation Photos & Cap & Gown Information
- Orders for Caps & Gowns can be placed online via RevTrak. Students may also submit cash payments as well as checks payable to GBMS to the main office.
- Printable Cap & Gown order form
- REVTRAK Online Payment
Graduation Photos
- Graduation Photo orders will be placed directly with Van Gogh Photography. (847) 382-2282.
- Order package information will be sent home with students approximately two weeks after the photo is taken.
- Students will receive a Proof of the photo(s) taken with the order package.
- Graduation photo retake day will be Thursday, February 27.
- Graduation Photo Flyer
Marijuana Legalization Talking Points (shared by OPRFHS)
This January as marijuana legalization takes effect in Illinois it increases student access to marijuana and decreases student perceptions that marijuana use is harmful. Yet scientific research confirms that regular use of marijuana in your teens and early 20s can physically alter their brain and cause permanent harm. These negative effects of marijuana use may not resolve by adulthood, even when marijuana use is ceased.
Parents can prevent underage marijuana use by talking with your teen about the health and safety risks of marijuana. Use our 4 talking points to have an effective conversation with your teen about marijuana legalization.
Congratulations BRAVO Students
BRAVO returned to the Junior Theater Festival for the 12th time. In the past, BRAVO has been awarded JTF’s prestigious Freddie G Outstanding Production Award for the past 10 years, and 2018 BRAVO and its director were celebrated as the world’s best middle school musical theater program. 2020 JTF BRAVO was named Outstanding Performance for Frozen Jr and brought 6500 people to their feet during the Moana showcase.
Forty-six actors and two crew members traveled from Oak Park to Atlanta, where they performed a tight 15 minutes from Frozen JR for adjudication by a panel of musical theater experts. BRAVO is also showcased Moana JR, which Disney will release to school and community theater groups immediately following JTF. It’s a serious commitment for those involved; they’ve dedicated over 100 hours of rehearsal time to prepare, while balancing the two shows with other hobbies, family time and school work.
“We approach JTF as a celebration versus a competition,” says Artistic Director Tina Reynolds. “The BRAVO bar is always very high, and our students are viewed as ambassadors of the festival, therefore we strive for excellence while leading with respect and professionalism.”
“This is BRAVO's 10th year showcasing at JTF,” continues Reynolds, “and we are honored to have been chosen to showcase Moana JR. We have had to imagine and create our four-number showcase from scratch, all while honoring island and Polynesian culture to be respectful while bringing this Disney blockbuster story to life.”
Local elementary school children and their families got a sneak peak of the two performances at a December Junior BRAVO workshop, which attracted 125 participants and raised approximately $10,000 to help pay for the JTF trip.
Save the Date: District 97 Summer Launch 2020
District 97 is excited to announce the dates for the upcoming 2020 Summer Launch Program. Summer Launch will be held June 15 through July 10, 2020 (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon). The program for Grades K-4 will be held at Holmes Elementary School, and Grades 5-7 will be held at Brooks Middle School.
Summer Launch is a summer program designed for students in kindergarten to seventh grade who are identified as needing intervention support in reading and/or mathematics during the school year and fall below the 11th percentile in reading and/or math.
Our Summer Launch Program will include Reading/Writing Workshop and Math support, in which students will be able to build upon the reading and writing strategies they have learned during the regular school year, as well as participate in math activities.
The Summer Launch program is designed to support students:
- In continuing to build their skills towards becoming strong, confident readers and writers.
- By allowing them personalized instruction in reading, writing and math.
- By supporting them in sharing their voices and helping to feel valued.
- By supporting them in building meaningful connections with their teacher and peers.
SCHOOL CULTURE AND CLIMATE TEAM UPDATE
We made our goal and celebrated with our first Student vs Staff basketball game Wednesday, 12/16. It was a blast! Thank you for all who participated, attended and cheered on the players.
Kids can continue to earn Brooks Bucks for following the posted Brooks Student Expectations. These bucks can be redeemed at the School Store along with HERO points.
Message from the Main Office
FAQ'S
- Attendance Line : 708-665-3074 or send an email
- Please note from 8:45am to 9:15am the Brooks answering service will be activated as our office staff is attending to in-house student and parent needs.
- REVTRAK Link - Payment system for Field trips, School Fees, Replacement Fees, Gym Uniforms, etc. The link can also be found on the Brooks Website under Payments in the blue menu bar.
- Bell Schedule - For those asking what time the periods take place.
Around the District with Dr. Kelley
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. We also want to hear from parents and students who would like recognize a Brooks teacher that has made an impact around diversity and inclusion. Every Sunday, selected comments will be featured in Middle Matters and 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.
Gwendolyn Brooks Class of 2020 Graduation
Please be sure to mark your calendars. We will have more information regarding graduation activities in February.
Using the Canvas Calendar as an Observer
If you are looking for one place to see when your student has assignments due, check out the Canvas Calendar. The assignments will be linked on the Canvas Calendar on the day they are due.
Click the link below for detailed directions on how to use the Canvas calendar.
Purchase your Yearbook Today!
If you do not already have an account from a previous years purchase, you will be asked to set up an account in order to make a purchase.
Brooks Purchase Code: 1014096931934358
Chromebook Repairs / Chargers
Repairs - If your student issued Chromebook is experiencing issues, please have your teacher write your student a pass to the Media Center to see the School Technician. The Technician will check in the Chromebook for repair. A repair can take anywhere from 1 to 5 days, depending on the issue. But our goal is to return the Chromebooks as soon as possible. Students can request printed copies of any assignments from their teachers during this time. When the students Chromebook is ready, the office receives it from the School Technician and the information will be listed on the daily Chromebook Spreadsheet for teachers to check. Students can ask their teachers to look at the Chromebook spreadsheet to see if their Chromebook is listed or they can stop by the main office at the start/end of day, on their way to/from PE or Lunch.
Chargers - If your student has lost their school issued charger, your may purchase a new charger online via Revtrak or by cash or check in the main office.
Replacing Chromebook - If your student is unable to locate their chromebook after retracing their steps, informing their teacher or front office staff to connect with the technology department to see if it can be located remotely in the building, please print and complete this form. If filing a claim for vandalism, fire or theft, please contact our Student Resource Officer Locke, elocke@op97.org. He will be able to help you with this. Once the form has been completed, please submit it and any required payment to the front office.
GBMS Library/Media Center
Library is also open during each lunch period starting the week of September 9th. Students need to request a pass from a teacher BEFORE their lunch period and can go to the library during the social time of their lunch period.
Breakfast, Special Hot Lunch Opportunities and Menus
Ordering Special Hot Lunch offerings for your Student
Please visit our website to learn how to participate in
- PTO Starship Lunches on Tuesdays starts 9/17.
- BRAVO PRE-ORDERED Pizza lunches starts THIS Friday, 9/13.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
- January 30 - Student-Led Conferences 12:40pm to 8pm & student noon dismissal
- January 31 - 8th grade graduation pictures/Student noon dismissal
- February 14 - 8th Grade Washington DC trip
- February 17 - No student Attendance - President's Day
- February 28 - Trimester 2 ends
PTO NEWS
Want to Donate to the PTO?
You can donate $10 or more to help pay for things like teacher grants, need-based scholarships and other enrichment activities. Please consider a matching gift donation from your employer.
Email the PTO BoardEmail gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com if you are interested or have questions!
Staff Appreciation Dinner January 30
The PTO will be hosting an appreciation dinner for the teachers and staff of Brooks on Jan 30th as a thank you for their hard work and dedication to our community. The PTO is providing a catered dinner. We are in need of drinks, dessert, and help with set-up, hosting and clean-up on the 30th and ask members of the Brooks community to please donate their time or one of the items listed below.
Items should be brought to Brooks Jan 29th or Jan 30th and can be dropped off in the school office with Tasha Guerino.
Please mark any item (dessert plate, cooler) you wish to have returned to you with your name so we can make sure it gets back to its rightful owner.
**Please remember that desserts should be nut free!
Does your 8th grader want to have an 8th grade dance? We need you!
The 8th grade dance is a great way to celebrate finishing middle school. However, it can’t happen without support from the Brooks community! The PTO is currently looking for one more 8th Grade VP. This role helps plan 8th grade dance and a winter staff appreciation dinner. There are two 8th grade VP’s, so you are working with a partner!
Coffee with Capuder
We will meet in the Peace Room.
Washington D. C. Trip
Trip Dates: Washington, DC - Friday, February 14 - Sunday, February 16, 2020 (Presidents' Day Weekend)
If you have questions, please email Janorisè Robinson at dctripbrooksjulian@gmail.com.
Brooks Spirit Wear
Brooks spirit wear can be ordered at any time by visiting this website.
Orders will be shipped to your home!
Rethinking paper towels…
What follows is from an article last week in the New York Times called “The world's northern forests”, which briefly explains what a boreal forest is and why it's important. The crux is this: reducing home use of paper towels can help protect trees. Stay tuned for alternatives to paper towels…in the meantime, next time you're reaching for the roll, see if just one paper towel could do the job… or if there’s a reusable option (kitchen cloth, hand towel, tea towel) you could use instead. 13 billion pounds of paper towels are used by Americans every year. If we could reduce that to one paper towel per person per day, we could save about half a billion paper towels. “Change is possible; it starts with us.”
from the NYT: “Boreal forests ring the globe just under the Arctic Circle, stretching across Alaska, Canada, Siberia and northern Europe. Together, they form a giant reservoir storing carbon dioxide. Boreal forests are distinct from tropical forests, which are closer to the Equator. Boreal forests lock away about 703 gigatons of carbon in woody fibers and soil, while tropical forests store about 375 gigatons. (A gigaton is hard to describe, but it's a lot.) These are tough times for forests, though. Think about the fires in Australia and the ones last year in the Amazon. Agriculture, logging and urbanization are taking a toll, too. That brings us to single-use paper products, like paper towels, especially the ones sold in North America. Their fiber is often taken from boreal forests, so reducing home use can help protect trees. In Asia, cloth towels are more common, but paper towel sales are increasing among more prosperous consumers — and marketers are taking note."
Oak Park Holiday Tree Recycling
The Village of Oak Park will collect holiday trees to recycle during the second and third weeks of January. Trees must be free of decorations & tree stands, and will be picked up at at your regular time & place for waste pickup.
https://www.oak-park.us/news/holiday-tree-collection-starts-january-6
Clubs and Sports Information
Mondays
- Math Team 3:30pm - 4:30pm in room B409. For more information contact Esther Smith at esmith3@op97.org . Open to 6 - 8 grade students.
- Orff Ensemble (Xylophone and Drumming Music Group) Monday's, 8:00-8:50 am, Rm D104. Open to all students grades 6-8. For more information contact Mr. Carrillo (fcarrillo@op97.org)
- Rainbow Tribe 3:30pm - 4:30pm in the Library! Come join students who want to be a part of creating a safe and inclusive space for our Brooks LGBTQ community. All students (those who identify and allies) are invited to join! Reach out to Ms. Berman (aberman@op97.org) or Mrs. Olsen (jolsen@op97.org) with any questions!
- 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
- Ultimate Frisbee: Currently on Winter hiatus. This recreational Frisbee Club will meet again in the Spring on Mondays and Wednesdays to play from 3:30p to 4:30p. For more information contact Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org or Coach Guerino at tguerino@op97.org - Please note practices are dependent on weather.
Tuesdays
- Yearbook Club meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesday each month. Room B202 Beginning in October and ends in April. Everyone is welcome to join GBMS Yearbook Club. We are looking for students to assist us in recording the student activities & events of the 2019-2020 school year!For more information please contact Meaghan Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org or Marsha Turner Reid at mturnerreid@op97.org
- EcoEalges - meets weekly on TUESDAYS at 3:30 in Room C202
Students who are passionate about helping the environment, gardening, saving endangered species or who just want to do interesting things outdoors should check out the ECO EAGLES, the Brooks ecology club. We have made award-winning films, gone on cool field trips, implemented fun fundraisers and raised awareness about many different issues. We are open to whatever you are interested in, so join us! For more information contact lstamp@op97.org
- Chess Club meets in room C108 from 3:30pm to 5:00pm. For more information contact Coach Hausfeld at mhausfeld@op97.org
Wednesdays
- Best Buddies: Calendar of meeting for 19-20 school year. Contact Ms. Beauprez with questions lbeeauprez@op97.org .
- Ultimate Frisbee: Currently on Winter hiatus. This recreational Frisbee Club will meet again in the Spring on Mondays and Wednesdays to play from 3:30p to 4:30p. For more information contact Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org or Coach Guerino at tguerino@op97.org - Please note practices are dependent on weather.
Art Club from 3:30-4:30 October- March in D301. Free and open to all students.
Mrs. Murray (kmurray@op97.org) will offer a variety of materials and techniques. Come when you can and be ready to explore your own ideas, work at your own pace, and make new friends in a creative environment just for artists! Art club is FREE!
- Service Club meets at 8am in room B209. We organize & promote the school's service projects such as food drives, coat drives, the holiday food and gift basket program, and more! If you have any questions, please reach out to Ms. Susan Walsh (swalsh@op97.org) or Ms. Blanca Martinez (bmartinez@op97.org).
Boys Basketball
For more information contact: Coach Darren Haus at dhaus@op97.org
Girls Volleyball Upcoming Important Dates
Practice Schedule
See Mr. Grimaldi for Practice Schedule
Game Schedule
Tue 1/21 Home vs. Unity 4pm - 6pm
Thu 1/23 home vs. Irving 4pm - 6pm
For questions contact Coach Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org
Social Justice Club
Dear Brooks Families,
District 97 believes that students play a valuable role in shaping the climate and culture of their schools. With the support of the community, we have expanded opportunities for student voice in an effort to create a more positive and welcoming learning environment for all.
In November 2019, Brooks launched a school-led Social Justice Club, which is organized around social justice standards and a student voice curriculum. The goals of the club are to continue to improve school culture, and to promote and develop leadership skills in our students.
Our Social Justice Club staff leader is our climate and culture coach, Gina Harris. She will hold open meetings for students each month that have the following areas of focus:
Establishing the foundation of the club (developing roles and expectations, establishing a sense of community)
Analyzing the school community (assets and challenges)
Conducting research and developing ideas for solutions
Implementing solutions and reflecting
Our next meeting will be held in January 2020. Details will be shared with students and families when we return from winter break. In the meantime, if you have any questions about the club, please contact Nichelle Stigger at nstigger@op97.org.
Thank you for your partnership on behalf of our students!
April Capuder
Principal
Invitation to Necessary Space
Adapted from Micky ScottBey Jones
Together we will create “necessary” space
Because there is no such thing as a “safe space”
We exist in the real world
We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds.
In this space
We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world,
We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere,
We call each other to more truth and love
We have the right to start somewhere and continue to grow.
We have the responsibility to examine what we think we know.
We will not be perfect.
This space will not be perfect.
It will always be what we wish it to be
But
It will be our necessary space together
And
We will work on it side by side
OPEF VEX Robotics
This year we are offering two cool programs for D97 middle school kids to enjoy. We look forward to another exciting VEX Robotics season at both Julian and Brooks.
- The In-House Club is designed for students with little or no experience with robotics and for students who cannot commit to the long season of our Competitive League.
- The Robotics Competitive League is an intensive program for the dedicated technology student, especially those who want to take their experience with VEX Robotics and programming to the next level.
To sign up or learn more information about our programs, visit our OPEF VEX Robotics page at https://www.opef.org/programs/vex-robotics/
Brooks in-house contact - Brian Shinners, bshinners@op97.org
Girls on the RISE -
The 8th Grade Girls group will begin meeting on January 15th, 2020.
For more information contact Dominique Hickman at dhickman@oakparktownship.org
YEMBA
Wednesdays - 3:30pm 6:30pm
Includes: Homework help, mentoring, recreation workshops, snacks, guest speakers and much more...
For more information contact:
YMBA, INC.
(773) 842-5022
email: www.yemba@yemba-inc.org
Website: www.yemba-inc.org
BRAVO Dance Studio
We are now offering 3 Sessions of Dance Studio!
Dates and Times are subject to change
2nd Session: December 2 – February 19
3rd Session: February 24 – April 15
Dance Studio Contract & Permission to Participate Form
**This club is free and open to ALL Brooks Students!
BRAVO Guitar Club
Mondays 3:30pm-5pm
Learn basic guitar chords or work on advancing your guitar skills. Beginners and Advanced guitar players welcome!
2nd Session: December 2 – February 17
3rd Session: February 24 – April 13
Contract and Permission to Participate Form
Forms must be turned in to the BRAVO Office (D103)
Information located outside the BRAVO! Office
**This club is free and open to ALL Brooks Students!
BRAVO NEW THIS YEAR: IMPROV Club & Film Club
IMPROV CLUB
Tuesdays from 3:30pm-4:45pm
September 17 - December 17
Improv (Improvisation) is a form of live theatre in which the plot, characters and dialogue of a game, scene or story are made up in the moment. Improv is spontaneous, entertaining, and fun!
**This club is free and open to ALL Brooks Students!
FILM CLUB
Thursdays – 3:30pm-4:45pm
October 3 - December 19
Learn how to write a story board, take video and edit material into a short film.
**This club is free and open to ALL Brooks Students!
Community Programs
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.
Oak Park Code Fest
The D97 Librarians are partnering with the Oak Park Public Library and Oak Park Education Foundation to bring you Code Fest 2020.
This hands-on night will show families what types of coding and programming activities are available.
It will be a fun night of coding stations where families and students can drop in and try these fun activities.
- FLYER
Parent Leadership Training Hosted by the Collaboration for Early Childhood
Attendance of Children at OPRF Sporting Events
Oak Park and River Forest High School recently implemented a new rule when attending athletic events. Effective immediately, children ages 11 and younger will not be allowed to attend athletic events at OPRF unless they are accompanied by an adult age 18 or older. Please click here for the full message from the high school.
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