February 11th, 2019

District 97 has developed a new online Bullying and Peer Conflict Report Form that will help us improve and strengthen the culture, climate and sense of belonging in our schools. The concept and several aspects of this form were based on a reporting tool that one of our middle school students created with the help of a few administrators and his peers.

Students, staff members and families can use the form at any time to report a conflict or behavior that they feel is disruptive, hostile or makes a student feel unsafe. They can also communicate how they want the reported concern to be addressed. This may include speaking with the social worker, administrative intervention, mediation, etc. Any information shared via the form will be automatically and immediately sent to a designated school staff member for review and response. The individual at Brooks that will receive the Report Form Responses are April Capuder, Building Principal; Stacie Klein, School Culture and Climate Assistant Principal; and Lauren Olson, School Culture and Climate Coach.

While having the names of the people who complete the form and/or were involved in an incident will enable us to more effectively address a reported conflict or behavior, providing that information is not required.

The Bullying and Peer Conflict Report Form is accessible in several locations on the district's family of websites, including the drop-down menu under the section titled Students that is located in the main navigation on every page, as well as in the quick links along the left-hand side that are featured on Brooks Home Page.

We will be sharing this with our students explicitly during the school day in the coming weeks, but we wanted our families to be aware of the form and it's purpose so you can help and guide your student.

If you're would like to see the Student Announcements that are shared with students at the top of each week, you can always find them on our Brooks Home Page by clicking on the button along the left-hand side that is entitled, "Student Announcements".

Graduation photo's will take place on Monday, February 11th during the students school day. See flyer for further information. 8th Graders will be called to the auditorium throughout the morning based on the Advisory Teacher's name. 8th graders will not be changing into their PE uniform for PE on this day.

Cap and Gown orders have been extended to Friday, February 22, 2019. Orders can be placed directly on Revtrak or by cash or check in the main office.

If you have any questions, please contact our main office (708) 524-3050

Be sure to mark your calendars for 8th Grade Graduation: Saturday, June 1st at 10am at OPRFHS.

The Brooks/Julian Middle School Speech Team received 1st place AGAIN for their incredible presentations/performances. Please congratulate these students!

The Brooks Middle School Team included the following students/coach:

Coach- Ms. Gaffney

Serious Presentation

Students: Kathryn McMeyer

Coach – Ms. Manns

Oratorical Declamation

Students: Nandan Nadkarni & Nainoa Ohota

Coach- Ms. McKinney

Serious Monologue

Students: Alana Slade

Coach- Ms. Gaffney

Humorous Monologue

Students: Zekey Wells & Alex Harks

Coach-Ms. Perros

Humorous Poetry

Students: Tessa Troyer & Lily Koenig

Michael Michelotti earned a trophy for his 8th place standing in the K-9 Novice Individual standings. Joshua Lopez also earned a trophy for his 2nd place standing in the K-6 Novice Individual standings. Congratulations to both boys and thank you for representing Brooks Middle School!

Author Kevin Coval spoke with Brooks students in an assembly on Friday, February 8th. Author, Coval spoke about his work with spoken word poetry and Chicago neighborhoods.

TreeRing, our yearbook vendor, has a new process for ordering yearbooks. You must enter a passcode and set up an account to place an order. Please use the link provided below:

https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1014096931934358

If you are asked for a pass code, please use: 1014096931934358

Please find information regarding the student re-do/re-take policy in our Brooks Website.

http://www.op97.org/brooks/handbook

If you or your student 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. The staff member will receive a certificate detailing the information shared through this form.

Boys Volleyball - Open gym and Tryouts information below.

• Junior Varsity (6th/7th) OPEN GYM: February 22nd at 7:30am
• Junior Varsity (6th/7th) TRYOUTS: February 27th at 3:30pm in third floor gym and February 28th at 3:30pm
• Varsity (8th) OPEN GYM: February 21st at 7:15am
• Varsity (8th) TRYOUTS: February 21st at 3:30pm
  

Sports Physical Requirements in order to be able to Tryout for the Team:

• 6th graders can have a separate sports physical or the 6th grade school physical with the sports box checked on this form by their doctor.
  
• 7th and 8th graders need to have a separate sports physical because school physical isn't required every year but to participate in sports a sports physical is required each year.
  
• Please bring 2 copies and turn them in to 1.) Nurse/Office 2.) Coach by the dates according to when your sport begins.
• If these requirements for physicals aren't met, they cannot try out for the team.
  
• Sports Physical Form, if needed: https://campussuite-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/…/AthleticPhys…
  

Other forms needed to Tryout for the Team:

Concussion Form: https://campussuite-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/…/ConcussionFo…

Sports Permission Slip: https://campussuite-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/…/SportsPermss…

For questions, please contact Coach Grimaldi, hgrimaldi@op97.org or Coach Gillespie, mgillespie@op97.org

Service Club is collecting travel size toiletries all year! Donations will be used to make care packages for Housing Forward. Please send any small, unopened toiletries to Ms. Walsh or Ms. Martínez. Thank you for your help!

January – May 2019 is our 8th grade Girls on the Rise portion of the program. Attached a flyer for the upcoming session.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6gnevA1fHdWODNvNlV2MU9LQmVtdVZ3LVo2a0hXS1czX1E4/view?usp=sharing

Mondays

• Yearbook Club: Next meetings 2/11 & 2/25 in room B202 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Here is link to the entire year meeting dates schedule. Contact Ms.Turner-Reid or Ms. Pabellon with questions mturnerreid@op97.org or mpabellon@op97.org
• Math Team: in room B204 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Mr. Sam Kahn with questions. skahn@op97.org
• ORFF: Monday mornings 8am to 8:50am in D110 Contact Mr. Carrillo with questions fcarrillo@op97.org
• 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
• BRAVO Guitar Club & Dance Hip Hop Studio started on Monday, September 17. There is still time to sign up! Click on links above to access permission slips. These clubs are FREE to ALL Brooks Students.

Tuesdays

• EcoEalges - meets from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in room C202. Contact Ms. Stamp with questions lstamp@op97.org
  
• Chess Club: meets from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in room B305. Contact Mr. Hausfeld with questions mhausfeld@op97.org
  

Wednesdays

• Best Buddies: Here is the year long calendar that can be downloaded. Contact Ms. Beauprez with questions lbeeauprez@op97.org .
• Girls on the Rise: Meets week on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 4:45pm in room C105
• World Language Club: Every other Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30pm in C209. Contact Mr. Lagioia with questions vlagioia@op97.org
• BRAVO Dance Hip Hop Studio started on Monday, September 17. There is still time to sign up! Click on links above to access permission slips. These clubs are FREE to ALL Brooks Students.

Thursdays

• Rainbow Tribe: Contact Ms. Berman with questions aberman@op97.org
• Art Club: Thursdays in room D301 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms. Murray with questions. kmurray@op97.org

Fridays (No Meetings due no school on 2/15)

• Service Club: Friday mornings from 8am to 8:50am in room B209. Contact Ms. Walsh with questions swalsh@op97.org

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