Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• Monday 5/24 is B day for All Students
• Thank You to the GBMS PTO
  
• 8th Grade Checklist
• Brooks Graduation Information (Additional Update)
  
• 6th and 7th Grade End of Year Celebrations
• Covid-19 Vaccine Information & Post Vaccine Guidance Information
• Face Masks Still Mandatory In All D97 Schools
  
• Off Campus Lunch & Early Dismissal Procedures
• WEEKLY MANDATORY COVID-19 PCR TESTING - Appointment Slots
  
• Crisis Go Health Certification
• Finish Strong: Help Us Keep D97 Safe
• Teacher Appreciation Lunch
• School Registration for Returning Students
• Check out... What's happening in the Brooks Library
  
• Middle School Virtual Clubs Starting Days & Times & BRAVO Information
• Student Attendance - Trimester 3: How to Report Student Absences
• Technology Support: helpdesk@op97.org
• PTO News
• In case you missed it: items from previous Middle Matters (see below)
• District Information Highlights
• Community Highlights

In case you missed it:

• Middle School - NEED TO KNOW INFORMATION
• Keep D97 Schools Allergy Safe - No Nuts Allowed
• Updated Contact Tracing Procedures - Responding to a Positive Case
• GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS Available for Summer Learning Opportunities at BASE CAMP!
  
• Current 7th Graders-Washington D. C. Trip in February 2022
• When to Stay Home From School
• A Greater Good Foundation
• STARS Program
• School Immunization and Physical Information

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. Tasha Guerino, at tguerino@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

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

Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org

• May 31 - No Student Attendance - Memorial Day
  
• June 10 - Last Day of School
• June 13 - 8th Grade Graduation at OPRFHS

6th, 7th & 8th grade In person students

• Monday, May 24th is a B Day.
• Please be sure your student arrives no earlier than 8:50am.
• Your student's advisory teacher will be at the entry location holding a sign with their name on it to make it easier for your student to find their teacher and get checked in to enter the building.
• Your student will exit the building based on the entry location of their last class's teacher on their schedule for that day (A or B).

GBMS Remote and In-person Learning Schedule & A/B Day Calendar

We felt SO much love from the Gwendolyn Brooks PTO, Flowers for Dreams, & Opportunity Knocks for presenting our staff with the most beautiful flower bouquets and delicious luncheon. You all truly know how to make our Teachers and Staff feel appreciated. We can't thank you enough.

Checklist to ensure your student is able to participate in our photos, end of year celebration, and graduation, if so desired:

• GRADUATION PHOTO Google form, complete by June 2nd
  
• Select PCR Testing appointment for June 3rd or June 4th to enable your student to participate in June 8th Celebration, complete by June 2nd
• 8th Grade Lunch order for Celebration on June 8th, complete by June 4th
• Student turn in Chromebook and Charger on June 8th during celebration or June 10th in conjunction with PCR Testing.
• Select PCR Testing appointment for June 10th to enable your student to participate in Graduation on Sunday, June 13th, complete by June 9th.
• June 10th PCR TESTING the following will also be distributed:
• Pick up 2 Graduation Tickets on June 10th
• Pick up your student's diploma on June 10th, as we will provide the diploma cover during the graduation ceremony
• If needed, return any district issued technology: Chromebook/Charger
• The graduation ceremony for Brooks will be streamed live on the District 97 YouTube page. Live streaming will begin at 10 a.m. for Brooks

Graduation Photos

How to order Graduation Photos(updated): Please complete GRADUATION PHOTO Google form, so once your student participates in pictures on June 2 or 3rd, Van Gogh can email you your student's picture proofs along with directions on how to place an order if you choose to make a purchase.

If a student would like to take their graduation pictures in their Cap and Gown, they must have ordered these previously and the student must bring the cap/gown with them on their scheduled picture day, as we do not have loaners and can not permit sharing of these items between students.

• In-Person Students: Wednesday, June 2 scheduled during the school day. Students will be called down by Advisory to the commons between 9:15 and 11:30am; Students will have to bring their own Cap/Gown with them if they plan to wear them for pictures.

• Remote Students: Wednesday, June 2 (updated) between 4pm and 7pm.
  

The pictures will be taken in the commons. Please plan to line up socially distanced outside. If the weather is inclement, we will line up in the main hallway.

• Team 8.1 remote students arrive at 4pm
• Team 8.2 remote students arrive at 5pm
• Team 8.3 remote students arrive at 6pm

• Make-up date for any students, if needed: Thursday, June 3 (updated), 4 pm to 7 pm. This date will be available If your student missed the above picture opportunity. The pictures will be taken in the commons. Please plan to line up socially distanced outside. If the weather is inclement, we will line up in the main hallway. We will take pictures on a first-come, first-serve basis, as we anticipate very few students utilizing this date.

• **We will NOT have a Retake date available.
  

*Families who did not place an order for Caps/Gowns and would like the opportunity to try and purchase a set, The Economy Shop in Oak Park has a small supply of lightly used Caps/Gowns.

PCR Testing Prior to Graduation

All students participating in graduation must participate in our weekly PCR testing program. Students who do not test will not be allowed to attend the ceremony.

Students must test on Thursday, June 10 at their school between 4pm and 8pm. Sign up for appointments using this link: http://bit.ly/BrooksGraduation

Graduation Update

Eighth-grade graduation ceremonies for Brooks and Julian will both be held June 13 at Oak Park and River Forest High School. With COVID-19 restrictions easing across the state, we have received some questions about whether we can increase the number of guests who can attend our ceremonies in person. Unfortunately, based on the latest guidelines, this is not possible. While the overall capacity for outdoor venues has increased from 25% to 60%, six-foot social distancing is still required between households. Additionally, District 97 is only permitted to allow 700 guests in the bleachers. As a result, we are moving ahead with our plans to provide two tickets per student.

The graduation ceremonies for Brooks and Julian will both be streamed live on the District 97 YouTube page: https://youtu.be/S_h-AI9oVek. Live streaming will begin at 10 a.m. for Brooks and 3 p.m. for Julian.

A separate communication related to graduation procedures and processes will be shared the week of June 1st. This will include:

• Graduate drop off time and location outlined on a MAP
• Guest entrance time and location outlined on a MAP
• We will not be able to perform a graduation rehearsal and will need to work in partnership with each other to ensure our students know where to be in preparation for graduation.
• Please bring a water bottle for yourself and graduate, as the field can get very warm.

Last Day of School and Device Collection for 8th Grade - Tuesday, June 8

The last day of school for eighth-grade students only will be Tuesday, June 8 with a noon dismissal. The D97 Technology Department will be collecting district-issued devices from students on this date. If students forget their device or charger, they must drop it off at the school on Thursday, June 10 between 4pm and 8pm, when the student participates in PCR testing for graduation.

8th Grade Celebration

Brooks and Julian are planning to have outdoor celebrations for eighth-graders on Tuesday, June 8 from 9am to noon. These events will be open to all students (on-site and remote), and will be subject to the COVID-19 safety guidelines provided by state and local health departments (e.g., social distancing, face coverings, etc.).

REQUIRED PCR TESTING TO PARTICIPATE IN CELEBRATION

All students must participate in the mandatory Covid-19 PCR testing on Thursday, June 3rd or Friday, June 4th. Please select an appointment if you’d like for your remote student to participate in the outdoor celebration: Brooks PCR TESTING Appointment Slots

TRANSPORTATION FOR CELEBRATION (updated)
For remote students who qualify to ride the bus, transportation to and from school will be provided. Please look for a separate email from Ms. Colbert that will have route number and bus stop information for your remote student.

PTO SPONSORED LUNCH DURING JUNE 8TH CELEBRATION (updated)

Brooks PTO will be providing lunch for our students from Starship. Big Thank you to our Brooks PTO! Please complete this lunch selection form for your student by Friday, June 4th.

If the weather is inclement, the outdoor celebration will be cancelled and remote students should plan to join zoom at 9:10am with their 6th period teacher and learn the schedule for the morning. All 8th graders will be dismissed at noon on June 8th. Remote students will need to bring their district issued technology to PCR testing on Thursday, June 10th to not only PCR test for graduation but also to return their device.

Safety Reminders and Remote Learning Option

We want every eighth-grader to have the opportunity to attend graduation, so we are asking our school communities to be extra cautious about following COVID-19 safety guidelines over the next three weeks, particularly if you are not vaccinated.

District 97 is still obligated to follow the Oak Park Department of Public Health requirements regarding the length of quarantine for positive COVID-19 cases (currently 10 days) and individuals identified as close contacts (currently 14 days). If students are under a quarantine order on June 13, we will not be able to allow them to attend graduation.

We know that a mandatory quarantine at this point in the year would be incredibly disappointing for our eighth-grade students. If families wish to keep their children home from school to avoid this risk, they will be permitted to participate in school remotely through the end of the year. If your student will be participating remotely, please complete CrisisGo each day and select, “My child will not be in attendance on-site today for reasons unrelated to quarantine or illness.”

We understand that these safety restrictions can be challenging, especially in the context of important milestones for students. However, it’s important for the health and safety of our community that we continue to follow public health guidelines regarding COVID-19. We will do everything possible to enforce safety protocols during these last weeks of school, and we appreciate your support in doing the same at home.

We are planning to have outdoor celebrations for our 6th and 7th graders the final week of school. These events will be open to all students (on-site and remote), and will be subject to the COVID-19 safety guidelines provided by state and local health departments (e.g., social distancing, face coverings, etc.).

Mandatory COVID-19 PCR Testing

All students must participate in the mandatory Covid-19 PCR testing on Thursday, June 3rd or Friday, June 4th, including any remote students who plan to join their outdoor grade level celebration. Please select an appointment if you’d like for your remote student participate in the outdoor celebration. All in-person students already complete this on a weekly basis. Brooks Appointment Slots

June 9th (A Day) - 6th Grade Celebration

• Celebration will begin in the afternoon after lunch
• Remote students would arrive outside by 1:15pm on the field, assuming they participated in the PCR testing on June 3rd and June 4th with a negative result
• If the weather is inclement, the outdoor celebration will be cancelled and remote students will remain at home and connect via zoom at 1:00 with their 3rd period teacher and follow the indoor celebration schedule that will be shared at that time.

June 10th (B Day) - 7th Grade Celebration

• Celebration will begin in the afternoon after lunch
• Remote students would arrive outside by 1:15pm on the field, assuming they participated in the PCR testing on June 3rd and June 4th with a negative result
• If the weather is inclement, the outdoor celebration will be cancelled and remote students will remain at home and connect via zoom at 1:00 with their 8th period teacher and follow the indoor celebration schedule that will be shared at that time.

Transportation: For remote students who qualify to ride the bus, transportation at dismissal at 3:30pm will be provided on the day of the remote student's grade level celebration. Please look for a separate email from Ms. Colbert that will have route number and bus stop information for your remote student. Remote students will need to provide their own transportation to school and arrive at 1:15pm on the the day of their grade level celebration. For any in-person students, transportation has been previously shared.

As the weather is getting warmer, we ask that if possible to please send your student to school with a 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.

On May 12, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for all children age 12 and older. Click here for information about the vaccine and nearby clinics, including the Cook County Community Vaccination Program.

Parents of Oak Park students ages 12 to 15 can pre-register their children to be alerted when COVID-19 vaccine clinic appointments are available through the Oak Park Department of Public Health. Local public health officials expanded the registration criteria to include this newly eligible age category as federal officials approved the Pfizer vaccine for use in individuals 12 and older.

Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine approved for use in individuals age 17 and younger. Individuals who pre-register will be contacted by email to schedule an appointment on a first-come, first-served basis. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at the vaccination clinic.

District 97 will work with the health department to provide details about vaccine clinics once they are finalized.

Student Post Vaccine Guidance

On May 13, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced that face coverings are no longer required for individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. While this news represents an important milestone in the pandemic, the mask mandate for Illinois schools has not ended at this point.

District 97 follows the guidance of the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois State Board of Education and the Oak Park Department of Public Health. We do not have information at this point about the impact this latest development will have on schools. Until we receive further guidance, face coverings will continue to be required in all of our schools regardless of vaccination status

Completing the google form to grant permission for your student to participate in off campus lunch should not to be used as an early dismissal from school. The lunch permission google form is shared in the body of the Middle Matters email each week, where you will also find the link to this Middle Matters Newsletter.

If your student is leaving from school for the day after lunch, you must call in to the attendance manager and dismiss your student separately from the off campus lunch form. If you provide permissions for your student to go off campus for the lunch period and they do not return after the lunch period, they will be marked as an unexcused absence for the remainder of the day.

If you need further clarification, feel free to contact our attendance manager, Ms. Cater for more information. (708) 524-3050 or vcarter@op97.org

While District 97 continues to experience success with hybrid learning and its internal safety metrics, we are including this additional COVID-19 mitigation strategy through a partnership with Northshore Clinical Labs.

Weekly participation will be mandatory for all middle school students who participate in in-person learning for the duration of Trimester 3. Each Thursday or Friday, our Brooks students will participate in the COVID-19 PCR Testing in our gymnasium between 4pm and 8pm.

This is the link to schedule your student’s weekly COVID-19 PCR Test: LINK to SELECT APPOINTMENT TIME. The dates from now through the end of the year are available.

Click here for complete details about the Middle School PCR Testing Program.

Starting Monday, February 1, the CrisisGo Safety iPASS will go live. Health certifications must be completed every day before in-person learners arrive to school. Middle school students must have their certification completed by 8:15 a.m.

If your student will not be attending in-person, please be sure to still complete the CrisisGo self-certification as the first questions asks to indicate you student’s attendance status. This will greatly assistant in our entry procedures:

• My child will not be in school today due to illness or
  
• My child is feeling well, but they will not be onsite today.
  

Please see the linked PDF for full details. Information about CrisisGo and resources to help families are available at https://www.op97.org/updatecenter/crisisgo.

As COVID-19 continues to impact our community, it is critical that we remain vigilant in our efforts to keep District 97 schools safe.

The decisions we make during these next few weeks have a direct impact on our ability to maximize in-person learning for our students. Whether you are vaccinated or unvaccinated, we all have a responsibility to follow ALL safety guidelines set by state and local health departments in order to reduce potential spread of the virus.

With this in mind, please help us "Stay Safe and Finish Strong."

• If you are sick, STAY HOME.
• Wear a face mask or covering at all times while at school.
• Maintain social distancing (6 feet, as much as possible).
• Wash or sanitize your hands often.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue.

Registration will be entirely online April 26 through June 30th for returning students who are currently in kindergarten through seventh grade. The parent/guardian listed as PG1 in PowerSchool will receive an email from infosnap@is.op97.org with their student’s snapcode and instructions to register. Emails will be sent in waves beginning April 26. Returning Student Registration Information >

Note: In order to register, Oak Park renters must have a lease that covers August 31, 2021, or the student’s first day of school.

VIDEO: "The ABCs of Registration are 'D-E-F'"
CLICK HERE for a brief video that outlines the District 97 registration process!

As you begin the process, remember that the "ABCs" of registration are "D-E-F."

• D - Documents: All required documents must be scanned and ready to upload before starting registration.
• E - Early: Registration is a longer process and we ask that families register early!
• F - Finish: Registration is finished once you receive a confirmation email from the district.

HYBRID SCHEDULE LIBRARY BOOK PROCEDURE:

LIBRARY BOOK PROCEDURE

1. Holds will be pulled DAILY
   
2. Place books on hold via the catalog. You will be notified through Canvas that your holds are ready.
   
3. Books will be delivered to classrooms for in-person students. Remote students can pick-up from the box in the Kenilworth vestibule from 3:30-4:30 as soon as notified through Canvas
   
4. RETURNS:
   
1. If you are in-person, there will be a bin labeled “Library Returns” in your L&L classroom.
   
2. Remote students can return books to the library box in the Kenilworth vestibule
5. Instructions and flyers
   
• VIDEO: HOW DO I PLACE A LIBRARY HOLD?
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Student Library Access May 3 & Beyond (New)

1. To limit movement & support contact tracing, students may not come to the library individually or in small groups with a pass.
   
2. Students wanting a book should follow the hold procedure listed above and the book(s) will be delivered to them that same day or the next depending on when the hold was placed
   
3. Students can return books to the bin located in their L&L classroom

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 remote learning, 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.

Please see our virtual club offerings below. Zoom links for all club meetings can be accessed in the lunch course on your Canvas Dashboard. Contact Ms. Klein if you need help finding the links.

Spoken Word Club: OPEF SPOKEN WORD CLUB IS BACK FOR TRIMESTER 3! Nearly a year after we had to put our in-person Spoken Word club on hold, we're thrilled to invite students back for a spring season of creativity and self-expression. Please click https://www.opef.org/spoken-word-club-is-back/ to register for the Oak Park Education Foundation's Spoken Word Club 2021, hosted at the Oak Park Art League (720 Chicago Ave)! Club will meet in person every Tuesday, starting March 16 (including Spring Break week on March 30) and will be led by our poet-artist Mo Santiago and at least one other OPEF staff member or D97 teacher. We will be able to accommodate 20 poets from both middle schools to start, in socially distanced spaces inside the gallery and in the courtyard outside. Our intention is to open up more spaces as COVID guidelines (and the weather) allow.

Crochet Club: Our LAST Meeting is 5/26 Wednesday 3:30-4:30

Please contact Ms. Rodriguez at trodriguez@op97.org with any questions.

Morning Vocal Ensembles: Open to Everyone!

• Women's Ensemble - Tuesdays 4:00 - 4:45 pm

• Men's Ensemble - Thursdays 4:00 - 4:45 pm

• Mixed Ensemble - Fridays 4:00 - 4:45 pm

Social Justice Club: We will meet every Tuesday 3:45 to 4:45pm Contact Ms. Stigger with questions (nstigger@op97.org).

• Meeting ID: 830 7488 7298

• Passcode: 173560

• Zoom Link Below

• https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/83074887298?pwd=d0VDaE5QQzdpVmlxQmZYdldXbS9GQT09

Rainbow Tribe: Rainbow Tribe club will NOW MEET on Mondays from 3:40-4:40 pm.This is so that students who are in the building have time to get home and on the computer! Our next meeting is Monday, May 24th! Our friends from the library will be coming to tell us about summer programs. We will not meet on Memorial Day, so our last club meeting of the year will be Monday June 7th. Contact Ms. Berman with questions (aberman@op97.org) Students who identify as LGBTQ and/or allies are ALL WELCOME!

Math Team: See you next year, Mathletes! Contact Ms. Esther Smith (esmith3@op97.org) with any questions about joining our team- all are welcome!

Brooks Earth Action Team (the BEAT): We will be meeting IN THE GARDEN on TUESDAY!! See you at 3:40!

• Here’s the link to the meeting.

• Model United Nations is cancelled for the week of May 10.

• Are you interested in joining the Model United Nations. Please fill out this form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BttHHNtytCT4yLqmwuNTSljHryJqWKuySuq4tPDNV30/viewform?gxids=7628&edit_requested=true

• Also, Our next meeting in TBD the week of May 17.

Yearbook: You rocked the yearbook this year! Great job to all our student editors for making this year’s book a success! See you next year!!

Morning Band Groups: Jazz Ensemble (7th and 8th graders) will now meet on Tuesdays from 4-4:45pm. Jazz Lab Band (6th graders) will now meet Thursdays from 4 - 4:45pm. Ask Mr. Davis for the Zoom Link!

YEMBA: YEMBA meets on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm. Students can access the zoom link to attend the YEMBA session through the lunch course in Canvas.

• YEMBA has begun supporting students with a homework hotline. Here is info about how to access the homework hotline.

Join us WISH UPON A STAR - Virtual Performance featuring your favorite songs from Disney! Perfect for the entire family! June 4 at 7pm - Get Tickets: bravoperformingarts.anywhereseat.com

See the movie edition of the Broadway show on the big screen! In the Heights at Lake Theater on June 11 - sponsored by the Bravo Advisory Board. GET TICKETS: tinyurl.com/intheheightsmovie

NOW OPEN to CURRENT 4th Graders to CURRENT 8th Graders!

June 14 - July 16

3-Week and 2-Week Sessions

For more info and to register: bravoperformingarts.org

Do you want to have the inside scoop on what is going on at Brooks and D97? Do you want to make our school better than it ever as we transition back to a more ‘normal’ school day? NOW is the time to get involved!! We are looking to fill positions for the 2021-2022 school year and have some critical roles open! Sign up here and email gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com with any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!

Due to a very generous anonymous donation, the PTO has purchased $15 Amazon gift cards for each student. If you haven't picked yours up yet, it will be included in the student materials which was distributed on Saturday, March 13th. Please see information above on how to collect your student's trimester 3 materials, including the Amazon gift card, if you hadn't previously picked up the Amazon card.

If you have any questions, please email Kristen Lee (kristenlee1@gmail.com) or Ariel Rainey (ariel.rainey@gmail.com).

Connect with PTO

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

NEW - 6th grade families can connect on FaceBook in the Gwendolyn Brooks 6th Grade Families 2020-21' group.

We are happy to announce our new Brooks Spiritwear as a PTO Fundraiser! The designs were created by one of our 7th grade students as well as Mrs. Love. All proceeds will benefit the PTO.

Spiritwear can be purchased here at the Shabby Fly website.

Please consider supporting the PTO's fundraiser!

Dropping off/Picking up students (DO NOT USE CLINTON): Please use Randolph, Kenilworth and Washington only. Clinton is used by our buses only. We appreciate your help keeping Clinton safe for all.

Remote students - please log into your advisory zoom by 9:10am daily.

Schedule

Please find our A Day/B Day Schedule for 5/3 and Beyond and the daily schedule below. For more information, please see our website.

District 97 will continue its nut-safe expectation this school year when we transition to full-day in-person learning. The exclusion of nuts will be adhered to throughout the school day. This is an important measure to protect our students with life-threatening allergies, as the lunchroom may not be the only space used for meals while we are adhering to COVID-19 safety measures.

Please check with your child's teachers for other allergy considerations in the classroom. We appreciate your help in adhering to this preventative measure.

In anticipation of our shift to full days of on-site learning, the District 97 nurses and safety and security manager have updated our contract tracing process to align with the latest guidance provided by the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health and the Oak Park Department of Public Health.

Beginning April 26, designated seating charts will be used for all classrooms to streamline and accelerate the contact tracing process when a person tests positive. This will allow nurses to focus their contact tracing investigation on those who are designated close contacts and follow the associated guidance for quarantine requirements. A close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days before getting tested) until the time the patient is isolated.

As a result of our updated process, schools will no longer automatically quarantine entire classrooms when a positive case is identified, and will instead focus on isolating close contacts. Full classroom and/or school quarantines may still be possible depending on the outcome of contact tracing; nurses will work closely with the Oak Park Department of Public Health to determine if additional safety measures are needed.

The following communication procedures will be used for positive cases, beginning the week of April 26:

• The principal will send an email notification to all students and staff of the affected classroom that there was a participant in the class who tested positive. All new cases will then be publicly reported on the district’s COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard.
• If the participant(s) are determined to have been close contacts and/or significant exposure, they will be contacted separately by the school and told to quarantine for 14 full days from their last contact with the case. The nurse will clear those close contact participants on a case by case basis to return to school/work.

We will continue to work closely with the Oak Park Department of Public Health to take any and all measures necessary to protect the safety of our school community.

The Hour to Empower Podcast is completely researched, written and performed by our Brooks students. Check out the full Wednesday Journal Article: https://www.oakpark.com/2021/04/27/you-have-a-voice-for-a-reason-say-brooks-students/

If you have missed any of there episode - you can find them all here: https://www.bravoperformingarts.org/classes

Does your child need some joyous and safe summer enrichment? The Oak Park Education Foundation just posted all of its plans for an in-person BASE Camp for Summer 2021. And they want to make it easier than ever to apply for scholarships after this extraordinarily tough year. Please check out all the information on these rave-worthy STEAM-focused camps at this page, including camp descriptions and details on how to access the scholarships here. There is a new process for registering for FULL SCHOLARSHIPS through an early registration, so if you qualify (via current or prior free/reduced lunch status), please send your name and contact information to BASE Camp staff via this form so they can send you access to the early registration site in advance of BASE Camp registration, which opens to the general public April 7 at 1 pm. Hope to see you this summer!

If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like more information regarding the 8th grade Washington DC trip, please email Janorisè Robinson, DC Program Leader.

We ask that our entire District 97 community help keep our schools safe by adhering to our COVID-19 guidelines. This includes students/staff staying home if they:

• Are feeling sick
• Have tested positive for COVID-19
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• Are a close contact of a positive/probable COVID-19 case
• Have traveled for more than 24 hours out of state.

Click here for our "When to Stay Home" flyer >

The Greater Good Foundation is geared towards male students of color in 6th through 8th grade. Students will meet with mentors from A Greater Good Foundation during advisory time one day a week. All students will meet on Mondays from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm. This group will use a workshop model with the students and a sample of topics covered include: think tanks, how the brain works, goal setting, etc. More detail on the program is provided in the handout. You can still join the program!

If you have any questions or would like your student to participate, please contact Stacie Klein at sklein@op97.org.

FLYER and VIDEO about the program

Please be aware that The Illinois State Board of Education has provided new information to Districts regarding families who may have been listed as non- compliant due to failure to present proof of a current health examination and required immunizations.

If a family has not ensured a child’s timely compliance with health examination or immunization requirements, the child may be provided e-learning or remote instruction, provided instruction is solely by remote means and he/she does not have a physical presence on school grounds (either before, during or after school). Any child continuing to receive remote instruction during this time will not be considered in violation of Section 26-1 of the School Code and will not be subject to the penalties imposed by Section 26-10. Importantly, any such student who is permitted to attend school through an e-learning program or remote learning plan due to failure to present proof of required immunizations, and who qualifies for free and reduced meals, may continue to receive those meals in the manner that other e-learning or remote students receive meals. The Illinois State Board of Education will continue to provide updates to the field, as necessary, concerning compliance with Section 27-8.1.

To read more about this information provided by The Illinois State board of Education please click here.

Please submit following the information to the Health Office:

• A school physical (Certificate of Child Health Examination and Immunization record)
• Up-to-date immunizations (requirements for the State of Illinois can be found here).

If you have not already provided this information when you registered your child, please email your child's records directly to our school nurse, Nancy Radogno at nradogno@op97.org.

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

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

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

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.

Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, May 11
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.

Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.

D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - May 2021

Free/Reduced Lunch Application

We know that a common experience for many families during this health crisis is the loss of jobs and income. This change in income may qualify your children for free or reduced-price meals. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the National School Lunch application as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.

Effective Student Behavior Handbook

District 97 is committed to creating a positive learning environment that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. Behavior education involves proactively teaching positive behaviors to create the conditions that make every classroom and school a positive place to learn.

The revised District 97 Effective Student Behavior Handbook is designed to provide information about policies, procedures and practices related to student behavior, and to help students and families prepare for a successful school experience. It also provides notifications required by state and federal law. Click here for our full communication about the new Effective Student Behavior Handbook >

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.

• Tuesday, May 18 at 2 pm ET - LGBTQ Youth Advocate Panel: Nothing For Us, Without Us!
  A diverse panel of LGBTQ youth with lived experience in child welfare, will share their experiences, expertise, and strategies to help social workers, foster parents, congregate care and other providers better meet the needs of the sexual and gender minority youth they serve. Specific focus will be given to intersectionality and supporting youth as they navigate multiple forms of oppression.
• Wednesday, June 2 at 2 pm ET - Caring for LGBTQ Youth
  Foster parents, adoptive parents and kinship caregivers are an extremely diverse community of people with one thing in common: the desire to love, nurture and care for children and youth. This webinar provides all caregivers with foundational knowledge and resources to help them build trusting relationships with all youth with a focus on behaviors that will create safe and affirming environments for LGBTQ youth.
• Thursday, June 3 at 2 pm ET - Best Practices for Serving LGBTQ Parents
  This webinar provides an in-depth look at role-specific best practices for serving LGBTQ foster and adoptive parents. Topics include facts and myths around LGBTQ parenting, law and policy, LGBTQ parent recruitment, homestudies, and matching and placement with LGBTQ-headed families.
• Wednesday, June 9 at 1 pm ET - The Whole Family is on a Journey: Strategies for Helping Families When Their Child Comes Out

Family response is the single most important indicator of outcomes for LGBTQ youth. Family rejection correlates with every known risk factor - suicide, substance use and abuse, homelessness, family violence, truancy and cigarette smoking. Even small changes in rejecting behavior can significantly reduce these risks. Incorporating the seminal work of Dr. Caitlin Ryan, and using an intersectional lens, this webinar will focus on ways in which social workers can support families at various points in their journey.

The OPRF High School Booster Club will be hosting a virtual meet and greet at 7pm on Wednesday April 14th to introduce incoming Athletic Director, Nicole Ebson. Appropriate for all current OPRF families and incoming families that will be joining us in August the meeting will include a quick overview of the interactions of OPRF and the Booster Club as well as a presentation by Ms. Ebson. There will be a question and answer period at the end. Please join us in welcoming the new head of the Athletics Department. You must pre-register in order to receive a link to the event http://bit.ly/Boosters414 . For any questions, please email oprfboostermembership@gmail.com .

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.