Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• SY23-24 School Calendar
• Thank you to our PTO
• Halloween Costumes
• Picture Day - Wednesday 11/1/23 during PE/Health Class
• Student Council Fundraiser - Monday, 11/6
• Panorama Student Survey (11/8 & 11/9)
• MasteryConnect Benchmark Assessments (11/6 thru 11/17)
• Frozen - tickets on sale now with 11/17 and 11/18 performances added
• SAVE THE DATE: Middle School Math Enrichment 2024
• 8th Grade Graduation Date
• Recognizing Staff Who Make A Difference
• GBMS Yearbook Sales - 10% discount
• 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 October - 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 and Friday - B Day

• School Pictures: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 during PE/Health Class

• No School: Friday, November, 10th, 2023

• End of Trimester 1: Friday, November 17

• Report Card Date: December 8, 2023 (Trimester 1)

Thank you PTO for hosting and coordinating a Staff dinner during Family Conferences on Thursday 10/26. The food and desserts were delicious! Thank you to all of our parents/guardians who made this possible.

Please note if your student dresses up for Halloween during the school day, we do not permit masks or anything that looks like a weapon.

Our goal in District 97 is to create a positive learning environment where all students, staff and families feel a sense of belonging. In that spirit, we have put together information and resources regarding culturally-sensitive Halloween costumes. We appreciate families being proactive with their children in making thoughtful costume choices. Click here for more information >>

On Monday, November 6th the delicious and generous Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (1038 Lake St) is donating back 20% of Dine-In, Takeout & Delivery orders to support a great cause -- Brooks Middle School Student Council!

On behalf of Brooks Middle School Student Council you’re invited to join us and eat out, not only in support of the organization, but to show one of your Oak Park restaurants some love too!

We hope you can make it, and please feel free to forward this invitation to your friends and family.

Thanks in advance for your support!

~Brooks Middle School Student Council

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is committed to creating positive learning environments that are equitable, inclusive, and focused on the whole child. An important part of this work is listening and learning from our students as to how they are experiencing the culture and climate at our schools.

District 97 is working with Panorama Education, a student survey platform, to support us in administering school culture and climate surveys to our students in grades 3-8. The purpose of the survey is for students to share their perceptions on engagement, school climate, school safety, sense of belonging, and teacher-student relationships. Students will complete the online survey in school and it will take about 10 minutes to complete. Student responses are confidential.

Survey data is used to help District 97 and school teams with continuous improvement, adjusting programs and resources to meet the needs of students and to support inclusive and safe environments for everyone in the school community. Students take this survey in the fall and in the spring.

We hope to have all students participate in our spring survey that will take place between November 8th and November 9th with make-ups on November 15th. While our goal is to have 100% participation, parents/guardians may choose to not have their child participate. If you prefer your child does not participate, please complete this opt out form by November 6th at 4 p.m. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Michele Capio, Director of UDL at mcapio@op97.org.

MasteryConnect benchmark assessments are district-developed assessments that measure a student’s current proficiency in the Illinois Learning Standards for English language arts, mathematics, and science in grades 6-8.

District 97 administers MasteryConnect benchmark assessments to students three times a year towards the end of each trimester. Each assessment is one class period. No advance study or preparation is required to take the assessment. You will receive a benchmark score report after each testing period showing your student’s progress in each subject area. The benchmark assessment provides data that measures standards students should master by the end of the school year. We expect students to show progress on each benchmark assessment as standards are taught throughout the school year. The benchmark score report will include:

• Score for each assessment question

• Proficiency for each Illinois Learning Standard based on the MasteryConnect 4 Tier levels: Exceeds Proficient, Proficient, Approaching Proficient, and Not Yet

• Proficiency percentage for the overall benchmark assessment

What is MasteryConnect?

MasteryConnect is a competency-based learning platform that allows teachers to assess students’ mastery of the Illinois Learning Standards, monitor student performance, and inform instruction. Integrated standards-based reports provide real-time information about mastery of core standards. You may access the Illinois Learning Standards for English language arts, mathematics, and science below:

• English Language Arts: https://tinyurl.com/5eanzurv

• Mathematics: https://tinyurl.com/y9s7bwhw

• Science: https://tinyurl.com/4tspzpcw

The assessment administration window for Trimesters 1-3 is provided in the table below.

Assessment Administration Window

Trimester 1: Fall Benchmark

November 3 - 17, 2023

Trimester 2: Winter Benchmark

February 12 - 23, 2024

Trimester 3: Spring Benchmark

April 29 - May 9, 2024

Why Are MasteryConnect Benchmark Assessments Important?

According to the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), school districts should have curriculum based formative and summative assessments in which teachers receive timely and actionable data about students’ learning to provide immediate feedback, establish individual learning goals and monitor student progress with the Illinois Learning Standards. MasteryConnect benchmark assessments provide families with information about how their student is progressing throughout the year and allow teachers to adjust instruction based on student learning.

Thank you for partnering with us to encourage your student(s) to put forth their best effort during MasteryConnect benchmark assessment testing. If you have additional questions about these assessments, please contact me at acapuder@op97.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for Performances November 10-12 & 17-18.

GRAB YOUR TICKETS NOW TO THIS MAGICAL SHOW!

Come support our amazing 7th & 8th Graders in the cast and crew of FROZEN!

PURCHASE FROZEN TICKETS

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

With all the back-to-school chaos still whirling around, you may have yet to heard...It's an early bird sale on Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School yearbooks!

Take 10% OFF the best moments of the school year!

We'll even package them up in a beautifully bound yearbook and deliver it.

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

Click here to buy a GBMS Yearbook

The cost is $28.15 without the 10% discount.

GBMS Passcode: 1014096931934358, may be needed when purchasing.

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.

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

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.

Students will take their yearbook picture on Wednesday, November 1st during P.E./Health Class.

To prepay and order ahead of picture day, please visit this website then enter your student's information and School Event Code: 20055601

If you choose to not pay online, you can print this PDF