Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• B.E.A.T. Sponsors Free Thrift Store
• Black History Month Celebration
• Brooks Come Together!
• Girls Volleyball Team Update
• Boys Volleyball Tryouts
• Illinois 5-Essentials Parent/Guardian Survey
  
• DePaul University Community Mental Health Talks
• ILLINOIS SHIELD TESTING (Updated Weekly)
• Calling Your Child in Sick from School (Repeat)
• Questions regarding COVID-19: Contact our School Nurse (Repeat)
• Face Mask Reminder (Repeat)
• Submit Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination After Second Dose/Booster (Repeat)
  
• Qualifying for Remote Learning (Repeat)
• District 97 Cold Reminders (Repeat)
• PTO Sponsored Anderson’s Bookshop Virtual Book Fair (Repeat)
• GBMS Yearbook Information (Repeat)
• Middle School Clubs Meeting Days and Times (Updated weekly)
• YEMBA Inc. news (Repeat)
• Student Announcements (Updated weekly)
• From the Library (Updated weekly)

Highlights from GBMS PTO

• Donation to GBMS PTO
• Connect with GBMS PTO
• Buy GBMS Spirit Wear

Highlights from District 97

Repeated Topics from Past Week's Middle Matters

• Bullying Report Form Link (Repeat)
• Live Streaming of GBMS Athletic and Music Events (Repeat)
• District 97 Adopts 5-Day Isolation/Quarantine Guidelines (Repeat)
• District 97 Weather Guidelines and E-Learning Plan for 2021-22 (Repeat)
• Spectator Opportunities (Repeat)
• GBMS Student Spectator Opportunities (Repeat)
  
• Partnership with D97 and DePaul University - Care Coordinator (Repeat)
• School Supply Reminders (Repeat)
• Water Bottle Reminder (Repeat)
• Back to School Information and COVID-19 Safety Mitigations (Repeat)
• Stay Home When Sick (Repeat)
• Social Work Team (Repeat)
• Travel Advisory Recommendations (Repeat)
• Office Phones and Dropping off Items at Brooks (Repeat)
• Allergy Safe Information (Repeat)
• School Physical and Immunization Information (Repeat)
• How to Report Student Absence (Repeat)
• Tech Support (Repeat)

Community Partner News

• OPRF Hockey Club 7th and 8th Grade Skate - February 27th
• Oak Park Education Foundation (OPEF)
• Kids Kloset at First United Church
  
• Friday Night Place
• Strengthening Families Program

• SMART LOVE FAMILY SERVICES
• NAMI
• Leyden Family Service
• THRIVE

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. Latrina Hurst, at lhurst@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our administrative team is also available to help answer your questions.

Angelica Love Curriculum & Instruction AP (6th grade, Teams 7.1 & 7.2) alove@op97.org

Antoine Bland Curriculum & Instruction AP (8th grade, Teams 7.3) abland@op97.org

Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org

• Monday, Feb 21- No School; Tuesday, Feb 22- A Day; Wednesday, Feb 23- B Day; Thursday, Feb 24- A Day; Friday, Feb 25- B Day

• Monday, February 21st - NO SCHOOL for Presidents Day

• Tuesday, Feb 22- B.E.A.T. Free Thrift Store @3:30-5:00p

• Wednesday, Feb 23- Girls Volleyball game (HOME) vs Julian @4p

• Friday, Feb 25- Black History Month Celebration

• Friday, Feb 25- Girls Volleyball game (HOME) vs Lincoln @4p

• Monday, Feb 28- Boys Volleyball tryouts @7:15a

The Brooks Earth Action Team is sponsoring a FREE THRIFT STORE at the end of FAST FASHION FEBRUARY.

• Bring in gently used clothes to donate.

• Drop them in the box in the front office.

• On February 22, come to the FREE THRIFT STORE to “shop” for new-to-you clothes! (You don’t need to donate to shop!)

Black History Month has been celebrated in the United States since the early 1900s when it began as a weeklong celebration, until in 1976 it evolved into a monthlong celebration. On February 25, 2022, Brooks students and staff will put on a school celebration that will feature a medley of music, poetry, and celebration of Black Lives from the past and now! For more information please contact Nichelle Stigger, nstigger@op97.org.

All of February, our school will be celebrating the remarkable lives, histories and contributions of the Black community. We'd love to hear how you and your family are celebrating, too! You can share your Black History Month stories, photos and videos by tweeting (@OakPark97, using the hashtags #MyD97 and #OakPark97) or emailing d97feedback@op97.org.

The JV and Varsity girls volleyball teams are off to a great start, both currently 4-0 in the conference. The girls have come a long way since tryouts, and are really coming together as a team with a tremendous amount of love and support for each other. Our home fans have also been amazing! Keep coming out and supporting us at home games.

6th and 7th grade Boys volleyball tryouts* will be held on the following days:

Monday February 28th at 7:15 am

Tuesday March 1st at 7:30 am

8th grade Boys volleyball tryouts will be held on:

Friday, March 4th at 7:15am.

Students will need a sport's physical, permission slip and concussion form. Students can get the permission slip and concussion form from Mr. Gillespie to have their parent/guardian sign. The sports physical will need to be completely filled out by a physician. For more information please see Mr. Gillepsie (mgillepsie@op97.org) or Mr. Grimaldi (lgrimaldi@op97.org).

*Students will meet outside of the main entrance.

Link to survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Please participate in the parent survey, part of the Illinois 5Essentials Survey administration. We guarantee that survey responses will never be connected to the identity of you or your child. School reports will only present aggregated information of how parents and students responded as a whole.

A parent survey report will be generated if at least 20 percent of parents respond to the survey. Our current parent response rate is 10%.

While the parent data will not be made public, the parent report will be made available to April Capuder and will enable her and the school team to make considerations based on the responses given by GBMS parents. Your participation in the parent survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Again, your identity and individual survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child. Please click on the link at the top to complete the survey.

Resiliency Skills for Anxiety, Depression and Executive Functioning DePaul University, in partnership with the Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board and D97, plan to offer a series of community talks to the D97 community as part of the Mindful Middle Schoolers & Mindfulness Matters Program.

Below is a list of upcoming talks for early 2022! Registration via the eventbrite links below is requested: https://bit.ly/DePaulTalks

Parent/Student/Staff (open to all):

March 2, 6-7 PM: Strategies to support executive functioning and self-regulation (Dr. Orson Morrison) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/256947395577

March 15, 6-7 PM: Mindfulness-based strategies and their applications in academic environments (Dr. Victoria Doobay): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/256953403547

March 16, 6-7 PM: Understanding anxiety in youth and strategies for treatment and support (Dr. Orson Morrison) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/256957235007 Dr. Orson Morrison, PsyD Dr. Victoria Doobay, Ph.D

All Students will SHIELD Test on Tuesday, 2/22 during their elective classes.

• Pilot Home Kit samples should be turned in first period on Wednesday, 2/23. Please turn in testing kits to Ms. Colbert in the Main Office upon arrival to school.

Students should not eat at least 60 minutes prior to providing their saliva sample. Please keep in mind these times may be adjusted if needed.

Only Families who student tested positive for COVID-19 will receive notification within 24 to 48 hours of the testing day.

Additional information about SHIELD testing is included below.

• About SHIELD Illinois

• District 97-SHIELD Illinois Program Notice

• Frequently Asked Questions

Please support our school nurse by LEAVING A REASON when you call your child in sick from school. Our nurse follows up on every absence call when a specific reason is not provided. If your child is staying home due to reasons unrelated to COVID-19, sharing that information in the message helps the nurse determine whether a call is necessary. When calling please slowly state:

1. Your Name
2. Your Child’s Name
3. Your Child’s Grade and Homeroom/Advisory Teacher
4. Reason for the Absence
5. Best phone number to reach you

We appreciate your assistance with this process!

Please contact the Brooks Health Office and speak with Nurse Nancy Radogno if you have questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 and any listed symptoms.

(708) 524- 3058 or nradogno@op97.org

Wearing face masks consistently and correctly is a key strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. Below are a few important reminders for students, staff and families:

• The face covering should cover the mouth and nose at all times, including while riding a school bus. The CDC Use of Face Coverings provides helpful explanations about the use and care of face coverings.
• Bandanas, masks with valves and gaiters are not allowed in District 97 schools, as they allow for leakage of aerosolized droplets.
• District 97 expects all students and staff to bring and wear their own cloth or disposable masks whenever possible and appropriate. Anyone who forgets their reusable mask will be provided a disposable mask. If possible, students should keep a second cloth mask with their belongings.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and state/local health officials, fully vaccinated individuals do not have to quarantine due to potential COVID-19 exposure as long as they are asymptomatic. Additionally, achieving a high rate of vaccination will strengthen our overall safety plan and will put the district in the best possible position to reconsider other mitigations as conditions improve in our community.

To help us reduce any unnecessary quarantines and accurately track our student vaccination rate, District 97 requests that families submit proof of vaccination for their students as soon as they have received their second dose. There are two options:

• IF YOU HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT: Fill out a brief Google Form and upload a copy of the student’s vaccination card. CLICK HERE to access the Brooks vaccine form.

• IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A GOOGLE ACCOUNT: Email a copy of your student’s vaccination card to Nurse Nancy Radogno (brooksnurse@op97.org). Please include the child’s full name and grade.

Students Who Participated in Clinics at District 97 Schools
If your student completed their vaccine series at one of the school-based clinics, a staff member should have taken a photo of their vaccination card following the second dose.

• If your child's card was documented, no further action is needed.

• If your child's card was not scanned or photographed, or if your child did not receive their second dose at a school clinic, please email a copy of the card to your school nurse.

If you have any questions, please contact Nurse Radogno. Thank you for your support and partnership in keeping our schools safe!

As a reminder, District 97 is following updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding remote instruction for the 2021-22 school year. Per ISBE guidelines, remote learning must be provided only if a student is excluded from school due to be symptomatic and awaiting COVID test results or placed in quarantine by the state or local health department. A student may be placed in quarantine/remote learning for a period of 10 calendar days if they test positive for COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact.

GBMS REMOTE LEARNING FOR EXCLUDED and QUARANTINED STUDENTS ONLY

If your student is instructed to quarantine or be excluded due to awaiting test results, as determined by the Oak Park Health Department, due to being positive for COVID-19 or considered a close contact, your student will have a “window into the classroom,” or passive learning for the remote learning structure. District 97 will utilize the following procedures for students participating in remote learning beginning Sept. 13:

• Your student will follow their regularly scheduled classes, clicking on each course in Canvas to find the class zoom link and the associated assignments.
• Teachers will be responsible for turning on only the audio during the Zoom session. If a teacher is using the whiteboard or presenting, the camera will be turned on only for that portion of the lesson.
  
• Students who join the class remotely will not be able to raise their hand, participate in any class discussion, or use the chat feature.
  
• If there are physical materials that need to be picked up, you will be notified by email that your student has materials available in the main office.
  
• Teachers may choose to be available to quarantined students during their personal planning period or after school and be paid at the contracted hourly rate of $35 per hour for that time. Teachers will submit a timesheet to their building principals after the quarantine period is over. Since your student has numerous teachers, teachers are letting me know if they are available to provide support either after-school or during their plan time (which if it is a core teacher would coincide with your student's elective class or if they are an elective teacher would coincide with a time your student is in a core class). Once I know if there is a teacher available, an email will be shared with you so additional support can be coordinated.

**Please note Remote Learning is only available to students who have been quarantined. Students who are sick or absent for reasons unrelated to confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, as determined by the local health department, will not be permitted to participate in remote learning. Please see our Back-to-School Plan for further details.

Update: Outdoor Social Time During Winter Months

With winter officially upon us, we want to share a few important updates/reminders for families:

• *NEW in 2021-22: This winter, students will be permitted to go outside for social time when the wind chill or temperature 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.

• In order to preserve our COVID-19 safety protocols, schools will not be able to allow students to enter their buildings early in cold weather. Please arrive at the designated time of 8:50am and ensure that students are dressed in warm layers.

• Visit THIS SITE to purchase books and support our PTO & school
• Check out Anderson’s FLYER!

Please have books you purchase sent to your home, and books purchased for teachers sent to the school.

Thanks for your support!

21/22 GBMS Yearbook will be developed by our Yearbook Club and printed using TreeRing.com. Interested in buying a yearbook? Use this link to get started (if needed passcode: 1014096931934358). Some other things that are great about TreeRing is that you can do the following:

• upload and share photos with the Yearbook Club Editors and the school community
• design custom pages for your own yearbook
• send and request digital signatures
• add memories to your custom pages

Questions about the yearbook? Contact Mrs. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org or TreeRing directly at (877) 755-TREE. Here's to another great year!

Lunch Color Eating First: GREEN (2/23-2/25).

Social Justice Club/Rubix Cube Club: Wednesdays and Thursdays for Social Justice Club! Both clubs meet from 3:30-4:30p. Practice for The Black History Month Celebration. For more information, contact Mrs. Stigger in room C405, or email nstigger@op97.org.

The VEX Competitive teams: Mr. Shinners and Mrs. Rodriguez are excited to have 6 teams competing in VEX. Teams, remember to look at Canvas Calendar on meeting days. We normally meet every Tuesday, Thursday- 3:30-5.

Intramurals: We are making the switch to BASKETBALL for our intramural activity. We will be improving skills in fun game play activities with our fellow students each day. This is open to anyone who is not on the Brook’s basketball team. This is open to anyone on Mondays at 3:30-4:30 and Thursdays at 3:30-4:30
Schedule Link

Best Buddies: We will meet on Wednesday, March 2nd after school until 4:30 (located in Mr. Colucci's room B105). Come join us. Also, here is an update schedule for our meetings.

Rainbow Revolution (FORMERLY Rainbow Tribe): Our next Rainbow Revolution meeting will be on Monday February 28th! We have no school on Monday the 21st so we will skip next week. We meet Mondays from 3:30-4:30pm in the library. Rainbow Revolution brings together Brooks students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community AND their Allies!! EVERYONE is welcome! Contact Ms. Berman (aberman@op97.org) if you have any questions!

SPOKEN WORD CLUB Wants YOU!

We create

We share

We perform

Please complete the linked form to register for the Oak Park Education Foundation's Spoken Word Club, hosted at the Oak Park Art League located at 720 Chicago Ave)! Club will meet there in person every Tuesday, from 4 pm to 5:30 pm and will be led by our poet-artist Mo Santiago and at least one other OPEF staff member or D97 teacher/Spoken Word Coach (Miles Lee / John Colucci). Please fill out this registration or scan the Spoken Word Club QR Code in your Language & Literature classroom

(Please note: Spoken Word Club will be meeting virtually until further notice. Please check your Google Classroom announcement from Ms. Mo for the link!)

Math Team: We meet every Monday from 3:30-4:40 in room B409. All mathletes welcome! Email Ms. Smith with any questions at esmith3@op97.org. No Practice on Monday, President’s day! Our next practices will focus on the IMSA competition, which will take place on March 12th.

BEAT: Fighting Fast Fashion Free Thrift Store Tuesday, Feb. 22nd @3:30-5:00p in the 3rd fl Gym! Please email Ms. Stamp (lstamp@op97.org) with any questions.

CHESS CLUB / Game Club: is open to all levels of experience, from first-time players to competitive players. Attendance each week is highly recommended but not required. There are no tryouts! Chess/Game Club has expanded to allow students to share and build 3D board games, play video games, play traditional board games, and of course, Chess. I am open to video game tourneys as well as the "old fashion" Chess tourney. Checkmate!!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to seeing you at "The Club!" Our next meeting is Tuesday, February 22nd from 3:30-5:00P. We meet in C-108. Be well! Please see Mr. Hausfeld or email mhausfeld@op97.org with questions.

Yearbook: All are welcome! If you love photography, graphic design, books, writing, or attending special events then the yearbook is for you! How do you sign up? Just come to one of our meetings. Members, please remember to bring any permission slips and a charged chromebook. Next meeting is Thursday, February 24th, 3:30-4:30 in room D304. See you there. Direct questions to Mrs. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org or Ms. Suerth at ssuerth@op97.org. Yearbook club meeting calendar.

Crochet Club: We meet on Wednesdays at 3:30 -4:45p in room B202. Bring your current project or I have ideas for new projects. Newbies are welcome (I have supplies to share or bring your own)! We are all here to help each other out on projects! Knitters are welcome too! For questions, please see Mrs. Rodriguez or email, trodriguez@op97.org

Service Club: Service Club meets on Fridays at 8:00am in room B208. Everyone is welcome! Please email Ms. Martinez (bmartinez@op97.org) or Ms. Walsh (swalsh@op97.org) if you have questions. If there are any cancellations for Service Club we will notify you through Canvas.

Extra-Curricular Choirs: ***If you would like to audition after winter break, contact Mr. Blackman in D105 or email him at fblackman@op97.org ****

• Downbeat (7th and 8th graders) meets Tuesdays and Fridays at 8am
  
• Fledgelings (all grades) meets Thursdays at 8am.
  

• If you’re curious about what we do/sing, check out our concert!

• Fledgeling Performance

• Downbeat Performance

• Famous former members of these groups* :Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Emma Watson, Denzel Washington, Gerald Ford, Prince, 3 of the Beatles (we don’t like to brag about which ones), LeBron James, etc. *no evidence has been collected proving these people were members of the groups but we’re, like, pretty sure they were in the groups at some point

Speech Team: We hope to see you next year and prepare for some great competition! Any questions? Please email Ms. Perros at sperros@op97.org!!!

Art Club: This week check with Mrs. Murray for meeting times this week. Students in club should all have a Canvas Art Club course. Contact Mrs. Murray with any questions in D301 or kmurray@op97.org

SkillShare Club: Have a skill to share with other students? Can you help them in another subject area? Join SkillShare club! Students can come here to help other students, and if you need help, definitely attend! We meet on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30p in room B205. See Ms. McKinney with questions, or email cmckinney@op97.org

For more information regarding the:

Brooks 2021 - 2022 Clubs

• Sign Up to Join Hour Empower Podcast! Meets Mondays & Wednesdays from 3:30pm-5pm

• Sign Up to Join Improv Club! Meets Tuesdays from 3:30pm-4:45pm
  

• Sign Up to Join Dance Studio! Meets Thursdays from 3:30pm-4:45pm
  

Register for Bravo Summer Camp TODAY!

3-Week Sessions for Actors: June 13 - July 2 AND July 5 - July 23

2-Week Sessions for Crew: June 20 - July 2 AND July 11 - July 23

**Open to Current 4th Graders - 8th Graders

Registration Deadline - March 12

Have you thought about participating in youth mentoring programs? Please check out the flyer for YEMBA, Inc. to learn more about two great programs: Mentoring Empowerment Program (MEP) and Students Taking Action Regarding Success (STARS). Families that are interested in registering their student please email Amari Wilkerson awilkerson@yemba-inc.org directly or Stacie Klein (sklein@op97.org). Both programs meet after school at Brooks.

• YEMBA Mentoring Empowerment Program meetings will begin on Wednesday, November 17th after school in the 3rd floor B-wing.

• You can attend the meeting and then take home any permission slips to be signed.

• YEMBA S.T.A.R.S. Program will begin on Thursday, January 20th after school in the 3rd floor B-wing.

Research, along with personal testimony from students of color at Percy Julian and Gwendolyn Brooks middle schools, have revealed that students of color experience stressors from racism including feelings of alienation, loneliness and disconnection. These feelings have made it difficult for students that are marginalized to bring their whole selves to the learning environment of school.

The goal of this project is for S.T.A.R.S. to be a catalyst for minority middle school youth that have been disenfranchised. S.T.A.R.S. will provide a safe space where students can build connections, process difficult moments that occur in the classroom, cafeteria and the broader Oak Park community, while receiving support and affirmation in a setting with other middle school aged children that share in similar experiences.

A major goal of S.T.A.R.S. is to be an outlet in implementing change in the middle after school space by facilitating positive identity development, that helps children to advocate for themselves as well as develop leadership and empowerment skills.

Our focus is for students to develop skills of recognizing, communicating, and negotiating situations they perceive as unjust in school or in the broader Oak Park community. STARS meets on Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 in room B305. Please invite your child to join us.

For more information, contact Amari Wilkerson at 708-719-6702 or send an email to awilkerson@yemba-inc.org.

Please click below to view the YEMBA Parent google presentation

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yWb_oxK2TE8foY_N_K1N_cNI5QTthIDkYVRf7ebhkKs/edit#slide=id.gf4fdb2177d_0_20

Students can find announcements in each Student's Lunch (Green) or Lunch (Yellow) course in Canvas as well as on a button along the left side of our Brooks homepage.

Weekly Featured Novels

• Kneel by Candace Buford. Click on the cover image below to read more about the book & an excerpt! https://www.google.com/books/edition/Kneel/K6IDEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0

How place a hold on a library book

• Log in to your Destiny catalog account
  
• Use your district username & password WITHOUT the @stu.op97.org
  
• Find the book you want, click on the title, and click on “HOLD”
  
• VIDEO: HOW DO I PLACE A LIBRARY HOLD?

Oak Park Public Library Opportunities:

• Teen Events Calendar
• Coming up in February:
• Sunday, February 27 @2:00p (Virtual): Teen Book Club: "Children of Blood & Bone" (Grades 6-12). Click here to register.

Black History Month

• Click on the image below to learn about Annie Lee Cooper, a civil right activist who fought for voting rights.
  

As the calendar year draws to a close, please consider making a donation to the Brooks PTO. Since March 2020, we have been unable to raise money to support our mission through our primary fundraiser, the weekly Starship Restaurant lunch program, because of D97 Covid-related protocols. As a result, we have had to either scale back or eliminate funding of need-based scholarships, teacher grants, and other enrichment activities.

While we continue to look for other ways to raise much-needed funds until we are able to resume the Starship lunch program, we would be appreciative of any donations in the meantime. Donations may be made on our website. Please note that the Brooks PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a donation receipt for tax or matching purposes will be provided. Thank you!

Connect with PTO

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

Support the PTO, a local black-owned business, and get awesome Brooks Spirit wear all at the same time! Brooks Spirit wear can be ordered at any time visiting the Brooks section of the Shabby Fly website. Order will be shipped to your home!

D97 Academic Acceleration (Repeat)

Similar to last year, the referral window for families seeking single subject or whole grade acceleration opens on March 1 and closes on May 15.

Please visit our D97 website for more information.

2021-22 District 97 Family Handbook (Repeat)
Click here for the updated 2021-22 District 97 Family Handbook, which contains general information about the district and its procedures. Please note that some of this information may be subject to change due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Please email d97feedback@op97.org if you have any questions.

Additionally, if you would like to request a hard copy of the handbook, please contact the school office.

School Year 21-22 Meal Information (Repeat)

Due to the ongoing pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved key waivers that allow school districts to continue serving free meals to all children. This means that all District 97 students are eligible to receive breakfast and lunch free of charge for the entire 2021-22 school year!

NOTE: Families DO NOT need to complete the Free/Reduced Meal Application in order for their students to receive free meals. However, families seeking to qualify for school fee waivers or other state programs MUST complete the application. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the application as soon as possible.

More information on the D97 food service program, including breakfast and lunch menus for our elementary and middle schools, is available here.

Please note that Breakfast will not be served before school. However, if a student arrives to school without breakfast, they can let their 1st period teacher know. The teacher will contact our school nurse and she will arrange for them to come to the commons to get something to eat. Students will miss some class time.

2021-22 Frequently Asked Questions for Back to School Plan (Repeat)
District 97 has created a 2021-22 FAQ page based on the top questions we have received over the past few weeks. Topics include ventilation, remote learning, vaccination and travel.

Our back-to-school plan is linked below and can also be found, along with other COVID-19 resources and information, by going to https://www.op97.org/back-to-school.

• District 97 Back-to-School Plan for 2021-22
• COVID-19 Safety Mitigation Highlights

District 97 has developed a comprehensive back-to-school plan to keep our students and staff healthy and safe while they learn in person five days a week. Our approach implements data-informed response measures that are aligned with the most up-to-date scientific research and best practices for K-12 schools. The plan also reflects rising concerns about the transmissibility of the Delta variant, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, and the fact that the majority of our students (Pre-K through sixth grade) are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Below is a brief overview of some, not all, of the safety mitigations that will be in place for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. New procedures are starred (*).

• Full-Day, In-Person Instruction for All Students: Per state guidance, remote learning will only be provided only if a student is placed in quarantine by the health department or if students qualify as medically fragile.
• Universal Masking: Masks will be required for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. Distanced mask breaks will be provided.
• Weekly Screening Testing: District 97 will partner with SHIELD Illinois to provide weekly testing to all students in Pre-K through eighth grade. This is a non-invasive saliva test that will be conducted on site during the school day. Testing is optional but strongly recommended. No action is necessary to participate. CLICK HERE to learn more about SHIELD testing. CLICK HERE for FAQ related to SHIELD Illinois.
• Updated Quarantine and Contact Tracing Procedures: At the direction of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or who test positive for COVID-19, must quarantine/isolate from school for a period of 10-14 school days. Students and staff may return after following the protocols outlined in our plan. As of today, quarantining is no longer required for vaccinated individuals unless they are symptomatic. The CDC and IDPH have also updated their close contact definition for classroom students, which we hope will minimize disruptions to in-person learning this year.
• Physical Distancing: We will make every effort to maintain as much distance as possible between students—at least 3 feet—in classrooms and during lunch.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting: Staff will perform regular school cleaning and disinfect all high-touch surfaces daily. The full classroom disinfection process will occur weekly.

Wanting to confirm information you've heard regarding our schools? (Repeat)

Oak Park District 97 is committed to providing accurate and timely information. Our new Fact Checker will be updated consistently based upon common questions and concerns to ensure you have access to the key facts that interest you most.

Text Messages from District 97 (Repeat)

District 97 uses the notification system BrightArrow to communicate with families via email and phone calls. This year, we have started using periodic text messages to send reminders directly to parents' cell phones. In order to receive text messages, parents must opt in by texting YES to 87569. Once you have subscribed, you will receive a text confirmation.

Texts may appear from District 97 from 87569 or a phone number with a 424 area code (you may wish to save them to your contacts).

Wellness Check-in Program (Repeat)

The district-wide wellness check-in program, which was an initial crisis response to the pandemic, will not continue in its current format during the new Hybrid schedule. Please reach out to your school's school psychologist or social worker if you have social-emotional concerns about your child. If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please call the Thrive 24hr Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.

Our school does not tolerate bullying and takes all reports of bullying seriously. Consistent with Oak Park Elementary School District Board policies; bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing individuals from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important District goals. Bullying of any type should be reported immediately.

Report Form Link

PLEASE NOTE: District 97 extends a special thank you to former Brooks Middle School student Shawn C. for building the foundation for the bullying form. We would also like to thank our middle school students and administration team for their valuable feedback.

All of our student athletic events and music performances will be live streamed on our YouTube Channel: GBMS YouTube Live Streaming Channel

For more information regarding live streaming, please click here.

As anticipated, the Illinois State Board of Education issued Revised Public Health Guidance for

Schools on Tuesday evening. The new guidance incorporates the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reduction in isolation and quarantine to 5 days for those who test positive for COVID-19 or who are close contacts to a positive case.

The Oak Park Department of Public Health officially adopted the new guidelines for schools on Thursday. As a result, District 97 will utilize the reduced isolation and quarantine times, effective immediately.

Need help determining the return date? CLICK HERE for additional guidance. If you still have additional questions, please email your school nurse.

Per state guidelines, all students and staff returning to school must wear a well-fitted mask around others for days 6 to 10, including outdoors. Masks continue to be required for all students and staff during school hours.

As we head into the winter months, we want to remind everyone of our school closing guidelines, along with our new E-Learning Plan for the 2021-22 school year. These are the guidelines we would follow if we had to close school due to inclement weather or other emergencies. CLICK HERE for details >

A limited number of GBMS students can now attend home sporting events! We have limited student admission (19 tickets per grade) due to social distancing guidelines but we will try our best to rotate who attends games if there are a number of students interested.

In order for a GBMS student to attend a game, one of the APs will be in the ticket booth stationed outside the lunch room.

• Students must pick up a ticket on the day of the game during lunch
  
• We will take down the student's name and give you a ticket to present for admission to the game.
• Student seats are marked with a blue dot on the bleachers closets to the entrance in the gym.

After reviewing best practices, discussing our safety plans with our local health department and considering student needs, we have decided to allow spectators at the following:

• Athletic games (e.g., basketball)

• BRAVO performances

• Band, orchestra and choir performances (coming in December)

All of these events will follow strict safety guidelines, including:

Athletic Events

• Student spectators (6, 7 & 8th graders) may attend indoor athletic events at Brooks, vaccinated or not, if social distancing can be maintained
• If social distancing cannot be maintained, student spectators will be required to show either proof of full vaccination or a time-stamped negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test within 48 hours of the scheduled school event.
• Masks must be worn at all times for any and all indoor activities

Performing Arts Events (BRAVO, Choral and Instrumental Concerts)

• Student and adult spectators will need to show either proof of full vaccination or a time-stamped negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test within 48 hours of the scheduled school event.

• Regardless of the event, masks must be worn at all times for any and all indoor activities.

Additionally, several extracurricular activities have been given clearance to operate onsite, including YEMBA, Vex Robotics (including mentors from OPRF) and PING (including mentors from OPRF).

We are grateful for the cooperation of our students and families, who have been doing a great job with all of our safety protocols this year. We hope to continue revisiting our mitigations as conditions improve and more of our community becomes eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. We will keep you updated on those discussions moving forward.

Tetyana Krutsik, Care Coordinator, is working with Brooks Middle School to support our families. See the below flyer to learn more about the the various ways she can support our families. You can connect with her directly via email tkrutsik@depaul.edu.

We ask that if possible to please send your student to school with a filled water bottle. There are no drinking fountains open, but we have water bottle filling stations in the school for our students to refill their water bottles when needed.

Please visit our GBMS Learning SY21-22 Information webpage, CLICK HERE.

Below are the emails of our Social Work team. Please email them if you want to learn more about how your student can connect with them.

• Abby Berman supports our 6th graders (aberman@op97.org)
• Hannah Boudreau supports our 7th graders (hboudreau@op97.org)
• Jen Olsen supports our 8th graders (jolsen@op97.org)

As a reminder, District 97 continues to follow the direction of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, per IDPH guidelines, regarding travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. The Village of Oak Park adopted the travel advisory issued by the City of Chicago and the Cook County Department of Public Health. The advisory includes recommendations; there are no current mandates. Students who quarantine by choice due to travel will not qualify for remote learning, according to the current guidance from state and local health departments.

That said, we ask for your renewed commitment to practicing all of the recommended mitigation protocols this weekend. The most effective way to minimize the risk of transmission is to avoid high-risk behaviors, including travel. Vaccinated or unvaccinated, we all have a responsibility to follow safety guidelines in order to reduce further spread of the virus. We are thankful for your continued commitment to keeping our schools and students safe over the holiday weekend and throughout the school year.

Office Phones

Please note that our office staff sets the phone to go to voicemail from 8:30am to 9:15am daily. Please leave a message of your student's absence or you can email brooksattendance@op97.org. Our office staff will listen to voicemails to call back or direct calls as needed after 9:15am daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please check out our GBMS Learning SY21-22 Information page, as your question is likely answered there.

Dropping off Items at Brooks for your Student

You may drop off forgotten items for your student in the main office. Please note that we will not call into your student's classroom, as it is a disruption to the learning for other students and the teacher in the classroom. Your student should plan to stop by the main office on their way to lunch or between passing periods, if they think you may have dropped off the forgotten item for them to retrieve. We appreciate your understanding.

Please visit https://bit.ly/3j0KGTB to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips.

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2021-22 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” The shift to include lunch was necessary as many students may be eating their lunch in spaces other than the lunchroom due to COVID-19 protocols.

We appreciate your help in adhering to this preventative measure.

Incoming 6th-grade students and/or any new students who have transferred into District 97, MUST have a wellness physical and dental exam dated no less than one year prior to August 25th, 2021. Your child's physical must have been performed after August 25th, 2020 . Your child may not be admitted to school without these documents. Please submit the documents by mail or in person no later than August 25, 2021 to the following:

Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School

Attn: Health Office, Nurse Nancy Radogno

325 S. Kenilworth Ave

Oak Park, IL 60302

SPORTS PHYSICALS – The State of Illinois Office of Education requires that any student who wishes to participate in interscholastic sports MUST have an Athletic Physical Examination, dated no less than one year prior to the first day of the current school year, anytime after August 25, 2020. It is MANDATORY that your child have this physical before they will be eligible to try out or participate in any interscholastic activity.

To access student health forms please visit http://www.op97.org/hr/health-requirements

**For any family having difficulty securing an appointment to get the physical completed, please email our School Nurse, Nancy Radogno, nradogno@op97.org.

Attendance will be taken every day for each class period by each of your child's teacher and it will be denoted in PowerSchool, including ADVISORY. Student's are expected to attend each of their classes at their scheduled time and day. If your student will be absent from school, please call the attendance number 708-665-3074 or email brooksattendance@op97.org

Technical support will be available from school and district technology staff by accessing the Help Desk through email, helpdesk@op97.org. When an email is submitted, a Help Desk ticket is created and assigned to technology staff, who will be working throughout the day to address technology concerns. Our technology team can support District 97 devices and student online programs.

The Help Corner will features a frequently-asked question related to services and opportunities available for District 97 students and families. We will keep a complete list of these FAQs on our district website.

District 97 has created Community Resources Page. We also encourage families to stay connected through Facebook and Twitter. Additional updates can be found at:

Village of Oak Park

Oak Park Township

Oak Park Public Library

Park District of Oak Park

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200

District 97 also has a broad network of partner organizations that provide an array of supports and services for Oak Park residents. The Community Mental Health Board and Oak Park and River Forest Townships have also put together a COVID-19 Social Services Resource Guide, which is available at https://tinyurl.com/oprfguide.

Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group's program(s), event(s) and/or services(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

What’s new at Oak Park Education Foundation? We are always striving to bring our programming into our D97 schools in more ways, in these changing times, in an effort to bring STEAM programs into the classrooms! Most recently, we have been able to hold our In-House Vex Robotics League program at both Julian and Brooks Middle Schools. Any return to normalcy is a relief, and we are so happy to be allowed back in D97 classrooms in any way we can be. Thank you for your support! Visit us at www.opef.org for information on all of our award winning programs!

(First United Church – 848 Lake Street, Oak Park)

Wednesdays from 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Saturdays from 9:00am to 11:00am

Enter through the west narthex door.

Come to the Kids’ Kloset to get great

cold-weather clothing

at the lowest prices possible!

Loads of winter coats!

Contact “susanzaruba@gmail.com”

If you need an alternative appointment.

SUPPORT4U is a mental health resource for our students to anonymously text licensed mental health clinicians any time of the day for assistance or guidance. Students can text for any issue; typical reasons might include social issues, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying, abuse, or any other mental health-related topic. The clinician’s goal is to steer the student to available resources in the school and community. To use, students just need to go to Support4U.live on their phone, click on the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School logo and hit send. Help is just a text away.

PHONE-BASED COUNSELING

Thrive is offering phone-based counseling, 24/7 crisis intervention services, medication management and, a free Thrive Check-In phone support line (Ext. 8) to address our community’s needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Call us at (708)383-7500. Our Front Desk team is also ready to assist you Monday-Friday, 9am to 2pm, with requests for referrals or new services and to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

Mental Health Resource, "Call4Calm"

Thrive is also a proud partner of the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text “TALK” TO 552020 (or “HABLAR) for Spanish. The Illinois Call4Calm Text Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support for anyone experiencing stress and in need of a listening ear.

And we know the COVID-19 pandemic can wear on every resource—from food and shelter to our emotional bandwidth and mental health. Fortunately, the Illinois Department of Human Services has launched a support line called Call4Calm that is reachable via text. Individuals who want to speak with a mental health professional can text the word “TALK” or “HABLAR” (for Spanish speakers) to 552-020. Within 24 hours, that individual will receive a call from a mental health professional employed by a local community health center.

People can also text other terms, like “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” to the same number to receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services. Call4Calm is free, and individuals who use it can remain anonymous. We encourage you to share this resource with your students, families, and staff.