
Middle Matters
Week of April 8th, 2024
In This Issue
Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:
- Important Upcoming Dates
- SY23-24 School Calendar
- 8th Grade End of Year Information
- Intramurals - Soccer
- OPPL - Autism Acceptance Month Programming
- Beyond Hunger Can Do Challenge (Service Club)
- 2024 Spring In-House Robotics Starting!!
- Returning Students: Register for 2024-25 by April 19!
- BRAVO Beauty & the Beast Tickets on Sale!
- PTO Updates
- Illinois Science Assessment - 8th Grade Only
- Track & Field Practice Schedule
- βCollege for Kidsβ Spring Break Camp Opportunity for D97 Middle-Schoolers
- Save the Date: District Summer Programs
- BRAVO Summer Registrations
- OPEF BASE CAMP: SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
- OPEF STEM CAMP Information
- 2024 Good Life Race - Brooks Band Performing
- 8th Grade Graduation Picture - Proofs
- Fall School Picture Ordering Information
- Bus running late, what steps can a student or parent take?
- 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 - 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 donβt 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
IMPORTANT DATES
This Week: Monday,-A Day; Tuesday-B Day Wednesday-C Day, Thursday-A Day, Friday B Day
8th Grade Dance: Thursday, May 30th 6 to 8pm
8th Grade Great America Trip: Friday, May 31st
6th & 7th Grade End of School Year Celebrations: Friday, May 31st
8th Grade Graduation: Monday, June 3rd
Last Day of School: Tuesday, June 4th
8th Grade End of Year Information
Chromebook Collection Dates for 8th Graders ONLY
Tuesday, May 28th and Wednesday, May 29th - 8th Graders Chromebooks will be collected via the students PE/Health class. Please be sure if your student
- has a lost charger, payment is provided for replacement (revtrak or cash at time of collection)
- has a damaged, lost/Stolen Chromebook, a claim form is completed and payment is provided ,if applicable (revtrak or cash at time of collection)
8th Grade Dance - Sponsored by our Brooks PTO
Attention Parents of 8th Graders!
Get ready to celebrate a milestone with us at the 8th Grade Dance on Thursday, May 30th! We know this date might be a bit different, but it's the only one that could accommodate all our school activities. Plus, here's the upside β the next day is the epic Great America trip! Let's kick off the celebrations in style with music, dancing, and memories to last a lifetime! Don't miss out on this special evening for our graduating students! Sign up to volunteer now and let's make it a night to remember!
8th Grade End of Year Trip to Great America
The eighth grade trip to Great America will take place on Friday, May 31, 2024 RAIN OR SHINE!!
Teacher chaperoned buses will leave GBMS at 9:15am. The buses will leave the park at 5:30pm, and return to GBMS at approximately 6:30pm. Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation home from school at the end of the day.
Great America Tickets can be purchased until Friday, May 3, 2024 via REVTRAK (preferred method) or cash/check (made payable to GBMS) can be given to Ms. Colbert in the Main Office. If you need financial assistance, please contact Ms. Colbert at 708-524-7514 to see if you qualify.
Payments will not be accepted after the deadline.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Great America Grad Package
(Includes park admission, meal voucher, a side or snack, a drink, and bus transportation.)
$75.00
Great America Season Pass Holder Package
(Season Pass will be used for park admission. $10 is for bus transportation. Pass holders are responsible for their own meals, drinks, and snacks.)
$10.00
REQUIREMENTS
The permission slip must be completed to sign up for the trip successfully:
A paper permission slip is required for cash & check payments.
A paper permission slip is not needed if paying on RevTrak. Please click the permission slip link provided in RevTrak.
8th Grade Class of 2024 T-shirt
Orders are now being accepted for 8th grade graduation t-shirts. T-Shirts are in adult sizes. Graduating class names will be listed on the back of the t-shirt.
An option has been provided for students whose preferred name is not listed in PowerSchool.
Cost: $10 each (Add: $2 for size 2XL, $3 for size 3XL)
**Deadline to order a t-shirt is Friday, May 3, 2024.
No orders will be accepted after the deadline.
**No extra t-shirts will be on hand for purchase.
Preferred method of payment: RevTrak on the Brooks website.
Cash or check only accepted in the Main Office.
Payment should be given to Ms. Colbert.
For more information, please contact Ms. Colbert at 708-524-7514.
Graduation - Monday, June 3rd at OPRFHS at 6:30pm
8th Grade students will participate in Graduation Rehearsal at OPRFHS on Monday, June 3rd during the school day. Graduation will be held at OPRFHS on Monday, June 3rd from 6:30pm to approximately 7:30pm.
More information regarding graduation tickets, live streaming of graduation and logistics will be shared later this month.
Intramurals - Soccer
Brooks will be having Soccer Workouts on April 16th and April 18th. Come and participate in footwork, passing, and shooting skill building drills. Depending on the number of participants, we'll be creating intramural teams and have an internal tournament in the following weeks to come. Students should meet in the 3rd floor gym after school at 3:30 on April 16th and 18th. Please contact rbowens@op97.org with any additional questions.
OPPL - Autism Acceptance Month Programming
Beyond Hunger Can Do Challenge
Our Service Club is excited to announce that Beyond Hunger's 2024 Can Do Challenge starts NOW and runs through April 30th! We are collecting donations to help our community, while competing against other schools in the area to donate the most. We are also still holding our own in-house competition to encourage participation. The SOAR class with the most points will win a pizza lunch in the garden, date TBA, but will take place in May.
Here's how to earn points:
**Money donations (each dollar = 10 points): use this link and please include your child's SOAR Teachers name
**Bring in food!
These items are worth 8 points each: Dry black-eyed peas (1-2lb bags), Canned salmon, Brown Rice
These items are worth 5 points each: Peanut Butter, Canned Chicken Soup, Cheeriosβ Cereal, Canned Mixed Vegetables (low sodium), Tomato Paste, Bagged Rice (White or Brown), Refried and Dry Beans (Pinto and Black), Canned Pineapples, Canned peaches (in natural juice), Canned chicken (in water)
**Make a cooking video (each video = 500 points): Find a recipe on the Beyond Hunger website and make a cooking video of no longer than 2 minutes. (We will need parent/guardian permission for Beyond Hunger to use the video).
***This competition starts RIGHT NOW! Encourage your SOAR students to earn as many points as possible by Tuesday, April 30th.
As always, please contact Service Club Sponsors if you have any questions:
Susan Walsh (swalsh@op97.org) and Blanca MartΓnez (bmartinez@op97.org)
2024 Spring In-House Robotics Starting!!
The Brooks Robotics Club & OPEF are happy to announce the return of Spring In-House Robotics. The Spring session is starting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. In-house robotics is the less competitive robotics option at Brooks; it is geared toward students who are interested in exploring robotics without the pressure of the competitive robotics team. Students who may not have had any previous experience with building robots and coding will also be comfortable here. The students will work in teams to design, build and code a robot to complete a task, play a game or both!! Previous examples of which were robot soccer, road racing and obstacle courses. Space is limited to 20 students so sign up soon.
There will be a participation fee of $25 to cover the cost of consumable supplies and materials. The Spring Session is limited to the 20 students. If youβre interested, please pay for the session at Brooks Robotics In-House Registration (Spring) by Thursday, April 4, 2024. Upon confirmation of payment, a registration form will be emailed to your parents. Your parents will fill it out and youβll be ready to go. We'll begin on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, after-school in D202 and will meet on Tuesdays and Fridays weekly from 3:30 - 5:00. Spring In-House will end on May 17, 2024. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Shinners at bshinners@op97.org.
Returning Students: Register for 2024-25 by April 19!
Online registration for the 2024-25 school year in District 97 is now open for all students. Complete details about the processβincluding residency documents, timelines and other helpful resourcesβare available on the district website: www.op97.org/registration.
Returning Students
Registration for returning District 97 students will be open March 5 - April 19. Complete details can be found at https://www.op97.org/hr/returning-student-registration.
New Students and Kindergarteners
Registration for kindergarten and new students opened Feb. 22. Please click the links below to learn more about the registration process for kindergarteners and new students.In order to register your student, you must be the custodial parent/guardian and currently reside in Oak Park. Students who are registering for kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year must be at least 5 years old and must be born on or before Sept. 1, 2019.
We appreciate your partnership in preparing for a successful 2024-25 school year!
The classic story tells of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped under the spell of an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.
Performances:
May 3 and 10 at 7pm
May 4 and 11 at 2pm & 7pm
May 5 and 12 at 2pm
PURCHASE BEAUTY & THE BEAST TICKETS
And - please join us for our Be Our Guest Tea Party on Sunday, May 5! TICKETS ON SALE SOON!
PTO Updates
ππ Calling All Pizza Lovers! ππ
Attention Parents!
Craving some delicious deep-dish pizza while supporting our school?Join us for our upcoming Dine Out Fundraiser at Lou Malnati's! Mark your calendars for Wednesday April 10th and bring the whole family for a night of cheesy goodness for a great cause! Remember to mention "BROOKS" and don't miss out on the chance to enjoy amazing food while giving back to our school community! See you there!
π Join the PTO Fun! π
Hey Parents!
Want to make a real difference in your child's school experience? Join us as a PTO member for an exciting year ahead! Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer, your ideas and energy are invaluable to our school community. Together, let's create memorable events, support our teachers, and foster a vibrant learning environment for our kids! Sign up now and be part of something amazing! Click here to join.
Take the Brooks PTO Parent/Guardian Pledge
Illinois Science Assessment - 8th Grade Only
8th Grade students will be participating in the Illinois Science Assessment in their Science classes starting April 4th through April 12th.
Track & Field Practice Schedule
Practice Schedule
Our first practice will be Monday March 11th. We will follow the practice schedule below:
-No practice on the 18th or 19th
-No practice week of spring break
Practice schedule:
Monday- After school 3:30 - 4:45pm
Tuesday- After school 3:30 - 4:45pm
Wednesday- No practice-Practice on your own (coaches will provide workouts)
Thursday- After school 3:30 - 4:45pm
Friday- (Relays and Field Events only) Morning 7:45 - 8:45am
Summer Programs
βCollege for Kidsβ Spring Break Camp Opportunity for D97 Middle-Schoolers
Triton College, in partnership with District 97 and Fellowship Community Services, is hosting a βCollege for Kidsβ Spring Break Youth Camp during spring break (March 25-28, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.).
The program offers students the opportunity to choose one major and one minor area of study to focus on throughout the week. They will receive direct instruction from content experts while participating in hands-on activities. Check out the program flyer (available in English and Spanish) for more details.
Please register today! Space in the program is limited; students will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
SAVE THE DATE: District 97 Summer Programs
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
OPEF BASE CAMP: SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
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.
2024 Good Life Race - Brooks Band Performing
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!
8th Grade Graduation Picture Proofs - will arrive in a few weeks
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 School Photos taken in the Fall
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
Bus running late, what steps can you take?
Lakeview does their best to communicate with the schools in advance and then the school sends an email communication regarding the effected bus route. However, there may be times where the timing of the communication doesn't allow for this step. In this case, please call Lakeview directly to learn about the tardiness of the bus: 708.234.5555
In the future, the number for Lakeview can be found on our Bus Transportation webpage.
Cold Weather Reminders
District 97 believes it is important for students to have opportunities for physical activity and play time during the dayβeven 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 childrenβs 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.
Emergency Closings and E-Learning Days
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 districtβs 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 βE-Learning Dayβ 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.
8th Grade Graduation Date - Mark Your Calendars
Recognizing Staff Who Make A Difference
Here is the link to the form: https://forms.gle/5MZSgYchCtFYR48TA
Yearbook Sales
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.
GBMS Library-Morning Protocol
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.
BRAVO Pizza Lunch - still taking orders
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 <<
Student Lunch - No Outside Deliveries
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.
Clubs & Sports Information - Spring 2024
Livestream Sporting Events in GBMS Gym
To view, please use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDF7k7NA5zU
Volunteer Opportunities
FRIDAYS - BRAVO DOMINIOS PIZZA
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
PTO News
Come to the April PTO Meeting
Join our upcoming PTO meeting on Monday April 8 @ 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 β together, let's make a positive impact on our children's education and school experience. Virtual option available here. See you there!
Gift Cards of Appreciation!
Connect with the Brookβs PTO
Connect with PTO
Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto, or email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.