Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• SY23-24 School Calendar
• Students Attending Basketball games at competing schools - must be with an adult
• Girls Scouts Winter Clothing Drive
• Starship Lunch ordering for 2nd half of the school year
• Picture Retakes - Wednesday, December 6th
• Community Resource: Smart Hephzibah - Math Practice.& Enrichment for 6th Graders
• Cold Weather Updates
• Emergency Closings & E-Learning Days information
• Community Resource: Bilingual support for Migrant Families
• 12/15 Maker's Fair at Julian
• 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 November - 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 Retakes: Wednesday, December 6th

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

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

GBMS Students can attend basketball games for which Brooks is the competitor at other schools as long as our students are accompanied by a parent or guardian.

SIGN UP IS OPEN FOR SECOND SEMESTER STARSHIP LUNCHES!!! This remains our largest fundraiser for the PTO, and we will be using 'Pay What You Can' again so everyone can participate!

YOU MUST SIGN UP AGAIN, EVEN IF YOUR STUDENT RECEIVED A LUNCH FIRST SEMESTER. SIGN UP DEADLINE IS TUES, DEC 19.

Sign up at https://forms.gle/MaYCqRX2MTLWxFqNA

More information can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dixoZdVW1l269LzySK6CVuGoEaJgX7PP/view?usp=drive_link

We need your help! Meet new Brooks parents! Get an inside glimpse of your middle schooler's day! Adult volunteers are needed to assist with the distribution of the lunches to all 3 grade levels. Please review the available slots for 2nd semester.

All volunteers must complete and pass the D97 Background Check. This is quick and easy. Sign up at https://www.op97.org/parents/background-checks.

ABSENT ON THE ORIGINAL PICTURE DAY & NEW STUDENTS:

To place an order, please visit our website at www.ordervgil.com. Select before picture day and enter School Code 20055602.

RETAKE STUDENTS:

If you are unhappy with your original photo, please go to the camera/location on retake day (12/6). Announcements will be made to indicate when and where students should go to retake their picture. If a picture package was purchased, please return the package to the photographer on retake day and we will print the original order with the new image. Be aware that the retake photo REPLACES the original image.

Forgot to Order the Original Photo?

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

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

Looking for extra math practice or enrichment for your student?

Have you heard of SMART Hephzibah? It's an after-school enrichment program for first- through sixth-graders! SMART has been going strong, bringing supplemental math instruction to District 97 students and is taught via Zoom by District 97 teachers.

For the winter 2024 session, which runs from Jan. 18 to Feb. 29, 2024, SMART Hephzibah is adding for the first-time instruction for sixth-graders,

All sessions are $84, and scholarships are available. For the math instruction, there are both regular and advanced options. Register by scanning the QR code!

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.

Oak Park Township Youth and Family Services Department is facilitating a bilingual support group for Migrant families.

The group will take place on Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm, starting November 15th to December 13th at the Township office (105 S. Oak Park Ave).

• We will have bilingual staff members offering support in Spanish specifically for Migrant families who are in the Oak Park and River Forest area.
• The purpose of the group would be to allow parents and adults to ask questions, receive translation services, and learn about the local resources in the area.
• We will have additional staff on site to assist with child care as well.
• Food will be provided.

Maker’s Fair: The Middle School Maker's Fair is back on December 15th at Julian. This is a great opportunity for Julian and Brooks students to sell and/or display their homemade goods. More details can be found at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1mLgEckh2X1iU5eTh5CVyeIkq68ws9o_erMcYhhS6U8A/edit

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

Please review email communication shared by AP Bowens shared on Friday 12/1.

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.