Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• SY23-24 School Calendar
• Portrait of a Graduate
• 5-Essential Survey Information
• February Black History Month
• Social Media Trends and Appropriate Student Behavior
  
• Boys Volleyball open gym and try out information
• Save the Date: District Summer Programs
• BRAVO Summer Registrations - Mark your calendars for February 5th
• OPEF BASE CAMP: SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
  
• OPEF STEM CAMP Information
• Access Testing Information
• 2024 Good Life Race - Brooks Band Performing
• 8th Grade Graduation Picture - Proofs
• Fall School Picture Ordering Information
• Cold Weather Updates
• Emergency Closings & E-Learning Days information
• Community Resource: Bilingual support for Migrant Families
• SAVE THE DATE: Middle School Math Enrichment 2024
• 8th Grade Graduation Date
• Recognizing Staff Who Make A Difference
• GBMS Yearbook Sales
• GBMS Library - Morning Protocol
• BRAVO Domino Pizza (BRAVO) - still taking orders
• Student Lunches - no outside deliveries permitted
• Middle Matters-Sports, Clubs & BRAVO Information & Student Announcement Link
• PTO News for the MONTH of February - don't miss out!
• Middle Matters Repeated Topics Link
• Middle Matters Community Partner News Link

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. Angel Banks, at abanks1@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our Administrative Team

April Capuder, Principal (acapuder@op97.org)

Dr. Denise Gildon, Associate Principal for Teaching & Learning (dgildon@op97.org)

Roshaun Bowens, Associate Principal for School Culture, Climate and Sports/Clubs (rbowens@op97.org)

Student Success Coach Team:

6th Grade: Josh Rodgers - jrodgers@op97.org

7th Grade: Nichelle Stigger - nstigger@op97.org

8th Grade: Bernard Starks - bstarks@op97.org

• This Week: Monday,-A Day; Tuesday-B day; Wednesday-C Day, Thursday-A Day 1/2 day with noon dismissal and Friday B Day1/2 day with noon dismissal

• ACCESS Testing Window for our Multi-lingual students: January 17th through March 5th

• Family Conferences: Thursday, February 8th from 12:45 to 8:00pm

• Presidents Day-No School: Monday, February 19th

• End of Trimester 2: Tuesday, March 5, 2024

On behalf of the District 97 Board of Education, superintendent and district team, you are invited to join us as we design our Portrait of an Oak Park 8th Grade Graduate!

Brooks staff, families AND students are encouraged to attend a Portrait community session at our school on Monday, Feb. 26, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. During the open house, staff and families will have the opportunity to walk around, learn about our draft Portrait, and provide feedback on definitions and learning experiences. We’ll also have some kid-friendly activities for students and pizza for everyone who attends.

Anyone who is unable to attend is welcome to join one of the district’s other scheduled events in February or March! Click the links to access the Portrait of a Graduate Engagement Calendar: English | Español

For more on Portrait of an Oak Park 8th Grade Graduate, including opportunities to participate and connect, visit www.op97.org/ourportrait.

¡Sesión de aportes para el retrato de un graduado en la escuela Brooks - lunes, 26 de febrero!

En nombre de la Junta de Educación del Distrito 97, el superintendente y el equipo del distrito, ¡está invitado a unirse a nosotros mientras diseñamos nuestro retrato de un graduado de octavo grado de Oak Park!

Se anima al personal, las familias y los estudiantes de Brooks a asistir a una sesión comunitaria para el Retrato en nuestra escuela el lunes 26 de febrero de 6:30 p.m. a 8 p.m. Durante la jornada de puertas abiertas, el personal y las familias tendrán la oportunidad de caminar, conocer nuestro borrador de retrato y brindar comentarios sobre definiciones y experiencias de aprendizaje. También tendremos algunas actividades para niños para estudiantes y pizza para todos los asistentes.

¡Cualquiera que no pueda asistir puede unirse a uno de los otros eventos programados por el distrito en febrero o marzo! Haga clic en los enlaces para acceder al calendario para el Retrato de un Graduado: Inglés | Español

Para obtener más información sobre Retrato de un graduado de octavo grado de Oak Park, incluidas oportunidades para participar y conectarse, visite www.op97.org/ourportrait.

District 97 will be 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.

The online survey was developed by the University of Chicago’s Consortium on Chicago School Research and is derived from the Five Essentials for School Success, which is an evidence-based framework that identifies five factors that can lead to important student outcomes such as improved attendance and significant gains in test scores. These five factors/essentials are:

• Effective Leaders

• Collaborative Teachers

• Involved Families

• Supportive Environment

• Ambitious Instruction

Below is information about how the survey will be administered to our middle school students and parents/guardians.

Illinois 5Essentials Student Survey

The student survey is being administered to children in grades four through 12 throughout Illinois. School-level reports will only be generated for our district if at least 50 percent of the students and/or staff at Brooks and Julian respond to the survey. In order to successfully meet this requirement, both middle schools will be setting aside time for students to take the survey with minimal disruption to instruction. We anticipate the survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

In order to participate in this process, students will need to log in to the survey using their student ID and birthdate. However, their participation is optional and their identities will be kept completely confidential. Teachers and administrators will never see individual responses to survey questions. They will only have access to summary level responses, such as the percentage of students who agree that homework assignments help them learn the course material.

We also want to make you 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 your child will be asked. Student survey questions are available, which can be accessed by visiting http://bit.ly/5EStudentSurvey.

If you DO NOT want your child to participate in this activity, please fill out the attached opt-out form and ask your child to return it to the front office of his/her school no later than February 14, 2024.

Illinois 5Essentials Parent/Guardian Survey
The parent survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. You may skip questions you do not wish to answer, but the survey must be completed in one sitting and cannot be retrieved once it is submitted. If you have more than one child enrolled in a building (i.e., two students who attend the same school), you have the option of completing multiple surveys for that building. In addition, if you have children enrolled in multiple schools (i.e., a District 97 elementary school and middle school), you may participate in the survey for each school. However, only one parent/guardian per household may fill out the survey.

As with the student and teacher surveys, your identity will be kept completely confidential and your responses will not be linked to you. In addition, school-level reports will only be generated if at least 20 percent of our parents/guardians complete the survey, which can be accessed until March 31, 2024, by visiting http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/. This percentage will be based on the total number of students enrolled at each school.

If we successfully meet this requirement, we will receive our reports in Spring/Summer 2024. The results will also be made available to the public via the State School Report Cards, which will be released in the fall.

You can access general information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey by visiting https://www.uchicagoimpact.org/our-offerings/5essentials.

Thank you for participating in this important endeavor and for your continued support of our schools and the children we serve.

ILLINOIS 5ESSENTIALS SURVEY OPT-OUT

If you DO NOT want your child(ren) to participate in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, send a signed letter including the information below to the front office of your child(ren)'s school.

The deadline to turn in this letter is February 14, 2024.

PLEASE PRINT:

Child(ren)’s Name

Grade(s)

I & S Teacher(s)

My child(ren) will NOT take part in the Illinois 5Essentials Survey: Organizing Schools for Improvement.

We are excited to celebrate Black History Month by hosting a variety of events and celebrations. Here is a quick run down of the events for the remaining of the month:

Feb 12: Movie Screenings after school from 5:30 to 8:00pm. Men will view “Hush: A Documentary on Black Mental Health" and Women will view “In Our Mother’s Garden”. Guided discussion will be led by Roshaun Bowens LPC and Tamika Jackson LCPC. No sign-up required.

Feb 12: Students, come Clean your kicks with Blake Brown from 3:45 to 4:45 in C309! Bring your athletic shoes and learn to clean them to prepare for customization. Families please sign-up here for your student to participate.

Feb 13 & 14: After school “Shoe Design Workshop” led by Mr. Ivory from 3:45 to 4:45 in C309. Families please sign-up here for your student to participate.

Feb 16: Come out and celebrate our first GBMS Sneaker Ball! There will be food to purchase at the event from 5:30 to 8:00pm. Revtrak payments will be accepted through February 15th at 11:55 pm. No cash payments will be accepted on the day of the event or at the door. Purchasing a ticket serves as the permission slip for your child to attend. Students whose families have purchased a ticket must have their ID with them to be admitted to the event. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Mr. Bowens (rbowens@op97.org)

Revtrak Payment Link

Parent/Guardian Volunteers Needed for the Sneaker Ball. Please sign up here.

Feb 21: Musical History presentation during SOAR titled “The Blues: Sweet Home Chicago” presented by Chicago West Community Music Center

Feb 26: Boxing self defense workshop after school from 3:45 to 5:45pm. Families please sign-up here for your student to participate.

Feb 29: Student Led Assembly during SOAR class.

Feb 29: Soul Food Dinner and movie review of “High on a Hog” in the commons from 5:30 to 8:30pm. Families please sign-up here for you and your student to participate.

Please come out to all or as many events hosted at Brooks. If you have any questions please contact Ms. Robinzine(lrobinzine@op97.org) or Mr. Bowens (rbowens@op97.org)

This month, District 97 schools will be celebrating the remarkable lives, histories and contributions of the Black community. From assemblies and performances, to read-ins, class projects and school-wide celebrations, District 97 students will have opportunities to honor Black lives and experiences.

We'd love to hear how you and your family are celebrating Black History Month, too! You can share your stories, photos and videos by tweeting us (@OakPark97, using the hashtags #D97Joy and #OakPark97) or emailing us at d97feedback@op97.org.

Feb 16: Come out and celebrate our first GBMS Sneaker Ball! There will be food to purchase at the event from 5:30 to 8:00pm. Revtrak payments will be accepted through February 15th at 11:55 pm. No cash payments will be accepted on the day of the event or at the door. Purchasing a ticket serves as the permission slip for your child to attend. Students whose families have purchased a ticket must have their ID with them to be admitted to the event. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Mr. Bowens (rbowens@op97.org)

Revtrak Payment Link

Parent/Guardian Volunteers Needed for the Sneaker Ball. Please sign up here.

At Brooks, we strive for our students to be safe, responsible, respectful and informed when it comes to technology. We recently became aware of a social media trend or “joke” that some of our middle school students have been talking about. The trend or joke is to tell in-person or text someone to "KYS" or "kill yourself." KYS is internet slang and a TikTok hashtag, used jokingly or self-deprecatingly when someone has done something embarrassing or foolish. The phrase "go KYS" may also be used to tease and bully people, both on social media or in-person.

We want to make our families aware of this trend and ask that they discuss it with their students. If a student has heard of the “KYS”, please reinforce that these words are harmful, and discuss what your student can say or do if they read or hear it (e.g., be an upstander - tell your peer not to say that, or tell a trusted adult at home or school).

Thank you for your help in promoting a safe and healthy school environment and supporting the social/emotional well-being of our students. If you have any questions, please reach out to:

6th Grade

Josh Rodgers, Student Success Coach (jrodgers@op97.org)

Hannah Boudreau, Social Worker (hboudreau@op97.org)

7th Grade

Nichelle Stigger, Student Success Coach (nstigger@op97.org)

Jen Olsen, Social Worker (jolsen@op97.org)

8th Grade

Bernard Starks, Student Success Coach (bstarks@op97.org)

Abby Berman, Social Worker (aberman@op97.org)

Open Gym: February 22 from 3:30 to 4:30pm

Tryouts: February 28 & 29 from 7:20am to 8:40am

District 97 will be sharing its full slate of summer programming and registration details by mid-February, however we wanted to provide families with some key dates.

Programs Open to All Students

• Summer Robotics Camp: June 10-14, 2024
• Summer Music Camp: July 29 - August 2, 2024
• Middle School Math Enrichment: Bridge
  • Trimester 3: March 5 - June 4, 2024
  • Summer: June 10 - 28, 2024
• Middle School Math Enrichment: Review
  • June 10 - 28, 2024

Focused Student Programs

• Extended School Year: June 10 - July 3, 2024
• Multilingual Summer Boost: June 10 - July 3, 2024
• Middle School Explore! Program: June 10 -28, 2024

The Oak Park Education Foundation offers 2 full weeks (or four half days) of summer BASE Camp for FREE for students who receive free/reduced lunch or who are experiencing a financial hardship. The scholarship application opens tomorrow, Wednesday January 17th and the application can be found here: BASE Camp Scholarship Application 2024

More information can be found at our website at Scholarships - Oak Park Education Foundation (opef.org).

Early Registration

Campers receiving scholarships are able to register early for camp. The date/time for this early registration is Wednesday, January 31st. It opens at 12pm and closes at 5pm. If you miss this period, you can still register and still use your scholarship funds but the general registration period doesn't open again until Sunday, February 4th at 2pm. There are limited spots available for each camp during this early period and more spaces will become available during regular registration.

Please contact Tara Oetting, Programs Director at toetting@opef.org with questions or for more information.

Illinois requires that all students in kindergarten through 12th grade who have been identified as English Learners take the state’s English language proficiency test each year.

ML students participate in the state-mandated Assessment for English Language Acquisition (ACCESS) test annually. This test measures the student's ability to communicate in English for academic and social purposes within the school setting. Students are tested on their reading, writing, speaking and listening proficiencies. Families and staff members receive a yearly report on the student’s overall score for each language domain.

Students who score an overall composite score of 4.8 qualify to exit the ML program.

Join us on Sunday, April 28th at Oak Park River Forest High School for the Oak Park Runners Club 41st annual Good Life Race! This family-friendly event includes a 5K, Youth Mile (ages 12 and under), and Junior Dash (ages 6 and under). In addition to the races, there will be entertainment from the Oak Park and River Forest High School drumline, Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School Band, and Jesse White Tumblers. The 2024 Good Life Race will sell out, so register early at goodliferace.com!

In a few weeks from the Graduation picture date of 2/5, you will receive proof form of your student's pictures for you to determine what you would like to order. The information for you to order electronically will be on the Proof form. If you would like your student to retake their picture, the Proof form must be returned with $10 on the day of retakes, which will be March 6th, 2024.

Forgot to Order Photos?

Visit our website at www.ordervgil.com, click on After Picture Day and enter the School/Ticket Code: 20055602.

Please contact Van Gogh Customer Service directly with questions: 847-382-2282 x7

District 97 believes it is important for students to have opportunities for physical activity and play time during the day—even during the cold winter months. This winter, students will be permitted to go outside for recess when the temperature, with wind chill, is 15 degrees or higher. The district utilizes the Wind Chill Chart developed by the National Weather Service.

• It is important that students dress in warm layers when cold temperatures are expected. Students should remember to bring hats, gloves/mittens, scarves, coats, snow pants and boots. It is recommended that families label these items with their children’s names.
• Our staff will carefully monitor students while outside and take the necessary steps to ensure students are appropriately clothed/prepared for the cold weather, watching out for signs of frostbite and other cold-related issues.

District 97 always strives to have schools open. However, if heavy snow or extreme cold make it dangerous to travel, we may need to close schools. The district’s emergency closing procedures are outlined in this brief deck; full details are posted at https://www.op97.org/communications/emergency-closings.

In July 2021, the District 97 Board of Education approved an E-Learning Plan for students to receive instruction electronically in lieu of traditional emergency days (or inclement weather days). This means that instead of canceling school, the superintendent now has the option of calling an “E-Learning Day” where students and staff learn and work virtually at home. This provides a continuation of learning and prevents the loss of critical instructional days, particularly in our first and second trimesters.

If the superintendent decides to close buildings and hold an E-Learning Day, the information is shared through multiple channels, including email, the district website, our Facebook and X (Twitter) social media pages, and the Emergency Closings website. Staff and families are also encouraged to OPT IN to text messages from the district by texting YES to 79041 or 87569.

In 2024, District 97 will be offering Math Enrichment Bridge Courses for Acceleration and Summer Math Review Courses for students in grades 5 through 7. Families should SAVE the DATE if their student is interested in participating in these courses (CLICK HERE to view the program flyer>>).

Details below included in the flyer:

Summer Math Review Course Information to Save the Dates: Students in grades 5-7 will review grade level Illinois Learning Standards in mathematics and engage in challenging performance tasks.

Summer Session: June 10 - June 28 (M-F)

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM or 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

NO CLASSES ON JUNE 19.

Math Enrichment Bridge Course Information to Save the Dates for Acceleration: Students* in grades 5-7 will receive the opportunity to learn course content and skills to advance to the next level of math instruction.

Trimester 3 Session: March 6 - June 4 during the school day for Middle School Students (SOAR)

AND CONTINUES

Summer Session: June 10 - June 28 (M-F)

8:00 AM - 10:00 AM or 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

NO CLASSES ON JUNE 19.

*The Middle School Math Enrichment Program, which includes Summer Math Review

Courses and Bridge Courses for Acceleration is offered to students who are currently in

their grade level math course. Students who have already been accelerated in math must

go through the Single Subject Acceleration process to accelerate for a second or third time.

Registration information and additional details about the Middle School Math Enrichment program will be shared with families in January.

Brooks students will be graduating on Monday, June 3rd at 6:30 pm at Oak Park River Forest High School's Auditorium. We will hold rehearsals on Monday, June 3rd in the morning.

If you or your child 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. A Certificate to express your appreciation will be created and shared with the staff member.

Here is the link to the form: https://forms.gle/5MZSgYchCtFYR48TA

Go ahead. Check it off your to-do list.

Order link: https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014096931934358

GBMS Passcode: 1014096931934358

You can also use your TreeRing account to share photos with our Yearbook Team throughout the year as well as design your very own custom pages (first two pages are free). If you have any questions regarding the yearbook, please contact Meaghan Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org.

Starts Tuesday, September 5th

• The GBMS Library is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
• No pass needed
• To enter, wait in-between the Kenilworth doors (by the main office)
• An adult will escort groups to the library at 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30. For example, if you arrive at 8:10 you will have to wait until the 8:15 group heads up. If you arrive after the 8:30 group has been escorted, you may not enter the library that day
• You will sign-in and stay in the library until the 8:50am
• These times are for students to quietly read, do homework, or meet as a group to study or work on a project.

Domino's Pizza Lunch - (30) Fridays from September 15 - May 31

SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE IN FRIDAY PIZZA LUNCH

>> Students MUST have a Brooks Student ID EVERY FRIDAY to receive pizza <<

Parent/Guardians may drop off a lunch for their student and place it on our rack in the main office for their student to pick up on their way to lunch. We always have a sandwich or salad lunch option available for your student should they forget their lunch at home.

Please note, we can not accept deliveries for students from outside delivery services. Do not order food for your student to be delivered to the school.

To view, please use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDF7k7NA5zU

Pizza Lunch Volunteers Needed!

Looking for a fun & easy volunteer opportunity at Brooks? Pizza Lunch is a great way to touch base with your child at lunch as well as get to know new families. We rely on volunteers to help distribute food and keep this program going, so please consider donating your time. We can't do it without you!!! Sign up to volunteer on Fridays: Please Sign Up to Volunteer

Join our upcoming PTO meeting on Monday February 12 @ 6p in the Brooks Media Center for an engaging and insightful session! Discover firsthand the exciting initiatives and events we have in store for our school community. Your participation is crucial as we discuss important decisions, share updates, and gather valuable input. Connect with fellow parents, teachers, and staff, and be an integral part of shaping the future of our school. Your presence and voice matter – together, let's make a positive impact on our children's education and school experience. Virtual option available here. See you there!

Calling parents and local businesses to donate gift cards of appreciation to our staff. Drop your contribution in the front office gift card box in the front office. We will be collecting cards all year long and they will be used to celebrate the Brooks staff.

Connect with PTO

Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto, or email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.