Middle Matters Remote Learning

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• Middle School Hybrid Week Information
• 8th Grade Graduation Packets
• Virtual Field Trip - Open to all students
• Student Attendance - Trimester 2: How to Report Student Absences
• GBMS Yearbook Information
• Check out... What's happening in the Brooks Library
  
• Middle School Virtual Clubs Starting Days & Times & BRAVO Information
• Technology Support: helpdesk@op97.org
• In case you missed it: items from previous Middle Matters (see below)
• District Information Highlights
• Community Highlights

In case you missed it:

• Girls on the Rise
• A Greater Good Foundation
• STARS Program
• Morning Virtual Homework Support
• GBMS Remote & Hybrid Learning Webpage (include A/B Day calendar)
• 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

• Feb 12 - Institute Day - No Student Attendance
• Feb 15 - Presidents Day - No Student Attendance
• Feb 25 - Half Day Student Attendance (A Day), Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Feb 26 - Half Day Student Attendance (B Day)

Friday, 2/5 is an A Day and all 6th grade students will follow the Remote Learning Schedule as they had done since the start of the school year.

Please visit GBMS Remote & Hybrid Learning page on our website.

You will find the following information there:

• A/B DAY CALENDAR WITH HYBRID WEEKS DENOTED
• CHANGE TO REMOTE LEARNING START TIME FOR ALL STUDENTS - 9:10am Monday through Thursday; Friday start time will be 9am since all students will be remote.
• WHAT THE DAY WILL LOOK LIKE FOR STUDENTS ENGAGED IN LEARNING DURING THE HYBRID WEEK
• THE DATES OF THE FIRST HYBRID WEEK FOR EACH GRADE LEVEL
• Will each Hybrid class (in-person and remote students) work with the same teacher every Hybrid week?
• What is the process for breakfast, snacks or lunch for in-person students? Students will not be eating at school.
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING IN-PERSON
• SELF-CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
• STUDENT ARRIVAL PROCESS FOR HYBRID IN PERSON STUDENTS
• STUDENT DROP OFF LOCATIONS
• DISMISSAL PROCEDURES (WALKERS AND BUS RIDERS)
• WEARING MASKS
• BUSING
• TARDY PROCEDURES
• PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES WHILE IN THE CLASSROOM
• Brooks Return to Learning On-Site Safety Procedures

Student Health Certification Due Daily for Hybrid Learners
Starting Monday, February 1, the CrisisGo Safety iPASS will go live. Health certifications must be completed every day before hybrid learners arrive to school. Elementary students must have their certification completed by 7:15 a.m. and middle school students must have their certification completed by 8:15 a.m. Please see the linked PDF for full details. Highlights of what you can expect are included below.

Information about CrisisGo and resources to help families are available at https://www.op97.org/updatecenter/crisisgo.

Parents who opted into hybrid learning for Trimester 2 are permitted to switch to remote learning at any time. If you requested hybrid learning for your student but wish to enroll in full-time remote learning, please contact your building principal.

Please note that we are unable to accept requests to switch from remote learning to hybrid during Trimester 2. A new enrollment form will be sent to families in February for Trimester 3.

7th Grade families please join the 7th Grade Coffee with Capuder on Friday, February 5th at 8:30am to 9:15am or 12:15pm to 1:00pm. I will be emailing the zoom link when I share the 7th Grade Hybrid Teacher Assignments later this week.

8th Grade families please join the 8th Grade Coffee with Capuder on Thursday, February 11th at 8:30am to 9:15am or 12:15pm to 1:00pm. I will be emailing the zoom link when I share the 8th Grade Hybrid Teacher Assignments week of 2/8.

A/B Day Calendar (including the dates of hybrid weeks)

GBMS Remote and Hybrid Learning Webpage

Thank you to all of our families that have provided permission for your student to attend the virtual field trip. The zoom link is shared via your student's gmail account. If your student is not able to access their @students.op97.org gmail account, please contact Brooks main office. They will be able to help you gain access to your student's gmail student account.

The virtual field trip is February 3rd, from 2:00pm to 3:30pm.

While we still are unable to share details regarding a date or a ceremony for our 8th grade students, we have made available the opportunity to purchase the 8th grade Gown, Cap & Tassel as well as the 8th grade t-shirt. We are working with the graduation photographer to plan a date in the Spring for graduation photos. You will have the option to have photos taken with the cap & gown (which must be purchased in advance) or photos taken in dress attire. We will not have the ability to lend students a cap & gown for the graduation photos. You must purchase this item in advance.

We will be sending more information home in an email to all of our 8th grade families. You may make your purchases via the REVTRAK Webstore

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

Sharing Photos with our Yearbook Editors

A copy of the email sent to all families last week to provide consent for your student, if 12 years or younger, to create a treering account to be able to submit photos to be reviewed by our yearbook editors to potentially include in the 20-21 yearbook. Please complete the consent form by Friday, December 11th, 2020 for your child is 12 years old or younger, if you haven't already done so.

To Purchase & Customize Your 20-21 Yearbook

Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.

1. Go to www.treering.com/validate
2. Enter your school’s passcode: 1014096931934358

Regular Price: $26.02. *Does not include sales tax or any discounts, if applicable

Deadline: April 9th, 2021

From the Library:

1. Contactless Library Pickup

1. The next scheduled pickup is for January 28, 2021 depending on Covid numbers Please make sure holds are in by Monday, January 25th so they can be prepared on Tuesday and be ready for Thursday!

2. Pickups are from 8-8:45 & 3:45-4:30 outside the Commons doors near the parking lot on Kenilworth (DON’T FORGET: books for this pickup need to be on hold in the catalog by the Monday prior to pickup @11:59PM).

3. If you have books to return, you can bring those by on December 10th as well. If you want to renew a book you have, that can be done by logging in to the catalog as well.

4. Future pickups will be determined on an on-going basis and announced here as well as via student Canvas inboxes.

5. Instructions and flyers

1. VIDEO: HOW DO I PLACE A LIBRARY HOLD?

2. VIDEO: HOW DOES ALL OF THIS WORK?

3. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

4. FLYER

1. Click HERE for the Winter Book Talks Presentation

2. Databases (Gale & Britannica)

• Use this url to access all of our databases and research eBooks: http://www.galepages.com/oak8130

• Outside of school the password for the Gale Databases is eagles.

• For Britannica the username is op97 and the password is learn

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.

Crochet Club: Next Meeting Wednesday, Dec 23 at NOON!

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

• Supplies needed- If you don’t have the supplies and cannot get them please contact me: Ms. Rodriguez (trodriguez@op97.org) I can drop off at your home

• Crochet hook- different patterns require different hooks, but we can make it work if you have a hook similar to one we are using. I suggest G6 4.00mm Hook. There are hooks at the Dollar Store near Ridgeland and North Ave.

• Yarn- different patterns require different yarn. We will need yarn that is not fuzzy, so a yarn that is cotton/polyester works. (They used to have some at Dollar Store but I haven’t seen it in a while). We need yarn that have clean looking strands so we can see our stitches.

• Scissors

• 3 Safety pins- if you don’t have these no problem! We can use string

• We will start crocheting a mini triceratops! There is a Canvas Class for our Crochet Club and if you did not get invited to join please email me so I can add you! Video and pattern is uploaded so you can start practicing!

Morning Vocal Ensembles: Open to Everyone!

If you missed auditions and still want to be involved, contact Mr. Blackman at fblackman@op97.org about joining

• Women's Ensemble - Tuesdays 8:00 - 8:45 am

• Men's Ensemble - Thursdays 8:00 - 8:45 am

• Mixed Ensemble - Fridays 8:00 - 8:45 am

Social Justice Club: The meetings will be on Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 pm. 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 meet on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Our next meeting is Monday, February 1st! Contact Ms. Berman with questions (aberman@op97.org) Students who identify as LGBTQ and/or allies are ALL WELCOME!

Math Team: Math Team will meet Mondays from 3:40 to 4:30 pm. All are welcome! Here is the ZOOM link. Contact Ms. Esther Smith (esmith3@op97.org) with questions. Our next meeting will be February 1st. Don’t forget, our MATHCOUNTS competition is coming up February 5th-6th!

Brooks Earth Action Team (the BEAT): Our next meeting is TUESDAY, FEB. 2, where we will meet with people from the Illinois Monarch Project!! Here’s the link to the meeting.

Yearbook: Calling all poets, writers, artists, photographers, and more! Our next yearbook meeting will be February 2nd and the 9th from 8:00 - 8:45 am. Contact Ms. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org with questions. Come be a part of our creative team, we need YOU to make this year’s yearbook like no other! Everyone is welcome. Here is the zoom link.

Morning Band Groups: Jazz Ensemble will meet on Tuesday, October 13th from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. Jazz Band will meet on Thursday, October 15th from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.

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.

BRAVO: NEW! Film Class 101 - This class will be structured as a storytelling class with an introduction to video editing and production. Students will be the director, producer, editor, and cinematographer. Starts Tuesday, February 2 and free and open to ALL Brooks Students. Sign Up: bravoperformingarts.org

• Virtual Open Mic Night is BACK! Sing a song, play an instrument...come showcase your talents on February 26! Open to all grades. Sign Up: bravoperformingarts.org

• We are continuing our Hour to Empower - Bravo podcast in January: Conversations from Brooks students for Brooks Students and our larger community; Meets Mondays & Thursdays 4pm-5:30pm - Students are encouraged and welcome to join in anytime! Email bravo@op97.org if you are interested!

• Check out our first 5 Hour to Empower Podcast Episodes HERE!

• Audition and Show Info
• Student Sign Up Form

Email bravo@op97.org with any questions!

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.

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.

As many of you know, Starship is a local restaurant in Forest Park that, in normal times, caters lunch for Brooks on Tuesdays. These lunches are the primary fundraiser for the PTO and fund important school programs like Teacher and Student Grants, provide scholarships for the 7th and 8th grade trips, host staff appreciation lunches and guest speakers for parent education events.

During remote schooling, Starship has agreed to partner with Brooks PTO in a slightly different way. Every Tuesday, beginning October 6, for all orders that mention Brooks PTO, Starship will donate 20% of the orders back to the Brooks PTO! Make sure you mention you are with Brooks PTO. And best of all, you can order online and they deliver!

This means you can still support a local business, support the Brooks PTO, and take time off in the kitchen! A win-win-win! Now, you can have lunch delivered to your home for everyone schooling/working from home or even have dinner delivered! Or maybe order a sandwich tray and keep fed all week! Order online at www.starshiprestaurant.com or call 708-771-301. Make sure you mention you are with Brooks PTO (online orders put ‘Brooks PTO’ in special instructions).

A $10 donation will help the PTO make Brooks even better

The PTO’s regular fund raising has been eliminated with the switch to remote schooling. However, a $10 donation from YOU can help us continue to fund grant requests from teachers to provide additional educational materials for optimal learning, providing a year end 8th-grade graduation celebration, and so much more. If you would like to contribute directly to the PTO, please follow this link. Any amount is helpful!

If you have any questions or ideas on fundraising initiates we welcome your feedback. You may email the PTO Fundraising Chair April Fleming at afleming56@yahoo.com.

Brooks Spirit Wear

Brooks spirit wear can be ordered at any time by visiting this website. Sizes for kids and adults! Orders will be shipped to your home!

Girls on the Rise is an essential and beneficial custom group curriculum program designed for young girls of color, ages 11 to 14. The program focuses on social, emotional learning such as self-management, relationships skills, decision-making and social awareness. Girls on the Rise allows young girls to feel empowered, gain self- understanding, improve self-esteem and feel connected with other young ladies. Participates in the group share feelings, struggles, hopes, and similarities and serve as a sounding board and or support system for one another while discussing and participating in a variety of activities geared for young girls.

We currently have openings in the 8th grade Girls on the Rise group that meets on Thursdays during advisory time. Please contact Dominique Hickman (dhickman@oakparktownship.org) or Stacie Klein (sklein@op97.org) with a completed permission slip if you are interested in your 8th grade student joining the program after the winter break when school resumes in January or if you have any question.

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

Students Taking Action Regarding Success (STARS) is an affinity group for students of color in the middle school space. STARS provides a safe space where students can build connections, process difficult moments that occur in the classroom and the broader Oak Park community. Students will receive support and affirmation in a setting with other middle school aged children that share in similar experiences.

The goal of STARS is to be an outlet in implementing change in the middle after school space. STARS provides students with essential leadership skills such as: positive identity development, self-advocacy, empowerment and social awareness. The intention of STARS is to be a space where students can authentically be themselves and express themselves. Students will share their personal experiences/reflections with the goal of becoming advocates for themselves and each other. Student reflection will work in tandem with the STARS curriculum that has been developed to intricately weave together the experiences of minority students.

Our focus is for youth to develop skills of recognizing, communicating and negotiating situations they perceive as unjust in school or in the broader Oak Park Community. The ultimate plan is to create a map to solve issues that pertain to the population of students that are disproportionately being affected by the racial inequities that has created an opportunity gap in the Oak Park community.

Sidika Balogun, MSW (she/her/hers)

Program Coordinator

www.yemba-inc.org

Email: sbalogun@yemba-inc.org

Phone:(708) 719-6702 ex: 02

Follow us on Facebook@ YembaInc

APPLICATION

Does your student need virtual homework support? Your student can connect with our Teacher Assistants on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8am to 8:45am for virtual homework help. Students can find the zoom link in their Canvas Lunch Class for the MORNING Homework Support!

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.

Information Session Recordings: Single Subject/Whole Grade Acceleration and Early Admission to Kindergarten/First Grade
Two parent information sessions were held in January to discuss acceleration opportunities in District 97. Please click the links below to view the recordings.

• Single Subject and Whole Grade Acceleration
• Early Admission to Kindergarten and First Grade

Information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program, including definitions and timelines, can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration.

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.

Child Care Scholarships Available for Families

In order to provide additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic, District 97 is offering financial assistance to qualifying families who participate in child care programs through the Park District of Oak Park and Hephzibah.

For families who currently receive free or reduced lunch, the district will continue to cover 100% of the daily program fee.

During Trimester 2, District 97 will also offer scholarships based on family income level.

• For families with incomes below $65,000 per year, the district will cover 100% of the daily program fee.
• For families with incomes between $65,000 and $99,999, the district will cover 50% of the daily program fee.

Click here for more details about the child care scholarships

D97 Meal Distribution of 2021
The next meal distribution will be Tuesday, February 2, 2021, when students are back from winter break. 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.

The distributions will be held 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 - February 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.

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.

• To celebrate your first week of hybrid, check your Canvas lunch course for the Module Brooks S.L.A.P.S (Smiles, Laughs, And Pictures to Share) and an assignment to upload pictures of you playing in the snow. The link to submit your pics is in that assignment. All pics should be uploaded by Wednesday, Feb 3rd, so we can gather them all and share them back with you on Thursday, Feb 4th. Have fun!