Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• SY23-24 School Calendar
• 8th Grade End of Year Information: Chromebooks return, Dance, Great America, T-shirt, OPRFHS Cheerleading and Drill Team
• Yearbook Sales - Custom Page deadline April 26th
• 2024 Good Life Race - Brooks Band Performing
• Health Department: Uptick in Fifth Disease Cases in Oak Park
  
• Thrive Talks - May 9th
• OPPL - Autism Acceptance Month Programming
  
• Beyond Hunger Can Do Challenge (Service Club)
• Returning Students: Register for 2024-25 by April 19!
• BRAVO Beauty & the Beast Tickets on Sale!
• PTO NEWS - Become a member and PTO Leader for SY24-25 - your help is needed
• Save the Date: District Summer Programs
• BRAVO Summer Registrations
• OPEF BASE CAMP: SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP
  
• OPEF STEM CAMP Information
• Fall School Picture Ordering Information
• Bus running late, what steps can a student or parent take?
• 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
• 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, 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 at 6:30pm at OPRFHS Auditorium

• Last Day of School: Tuesday, June 4th

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)

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 – 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!

Payment deadline is Tuesday, May 29, 2024. Payment will not be accepted at the door.

Payment can be made via REVTRAK, or cash/check (made payable to GBMS) can be given to Ms. Colbert in the Front Office. If you need financial assistance, please contact Ms. Colbert at 708-524-7514 to see if you qualify.

Every student must have a signed permission slip.

• If paying by REVTRAK, click the link to complete the permission slip.

• Payment via cash or check, please complete the permission slip (at end of document) and submit with payment to Ms. Colbert in the Main Office.

RevTrak Link: https://oakpark.revtrak.net/Middle-Schools/BMS/brooks-8th-grade-activities/#/list

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.

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.

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.

Open Gym Sign-up: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_RqbHg47Ry0RoN1QrqCIMgjAkws5VUEzlVojRSQVpuk/viewform?edit_requested=true

Tryouts Registration: https://oprfhs.revtrak.net/rw-summer-sports-camps/#/list

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). Treering custom pages deadline is April 26th. This cannot be extended.

If you have any questions regarding the yearbook, please contact Meaghan Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org.

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!

The Oak Park Department of Public Health has been informed of an increase in Fifth disease cases in our community. Fifth disease (parvovirus B19) is a viral infection that typically presents with a red rash on the face, in addition to other symptoms. Please review the letter provided by the health department for more information.

The health department notes:

• Families should not send child(ren) to school with a rash without first being evaluated by a physician. A return to school note may be required.

• Any individuals who are pregnant should carefully review the letter, as Fifth disease can pose complications. Please contact your physician for additional guidance.

Additional information about health guidelines for District 97 students can be found at https://www.op97.org/health-services/sick-day-guidelines.

At this Thrive Talk you will be presented with a perspective that will empower you to respond to your kids and other family members in ways that foster peace, love and understanding.

We will focus on parenting strategies that will not only help your family now, but will also help our children to grow up and contribute to making this a better world.

Join us to become more of the family you want to be!

Steve Parker, LMFT is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in private practice. For over 45 years Steve has been helping families create kinder, more respectful, and loving homes. He is a clinical member and approved supervisor for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy.

Please register for this free event below. This Talk is eligible for CEU credit.

T

hank you to our host, Community Recreation Center, and sponsor, Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township.

REGISTER NOW

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, Cheerios’ 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 Martínez (bmartinez@op97.org)

Online registration for the 2024-25 school year in District 97 is now open for all students. Complete details about the process—including residency documents, timelines and other helpful resources—are 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.

• Kindergarten Registration
• 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!

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.

Your commitment to our school community is invaluable. By taking the Parent Pledge and contributing to the PTO, you're directly investing in the success and enrichment of our children's education. By embracing this new initiative, we can expand our capacity to serve even more effectively. Your support enables us to provide extra resources, programs, and activities that enhance their learning experience. Together, let's foster a thriving environment for our students to flourish. We aim to have 200 families make a $25 (or more) pledge. Join us in making a difference today by clicking this link!

Connect with PTO

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

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

SUMMER INFORMATION & REGISTRATION

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.

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

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.

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

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

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