Brooks Parent Connection Group-Tuesday 11/24 at 8am
Brooks Parent Connection Group -
Come connect with other Brooks families on Tuesday, November 24th at 8:00 am to discuss Navigating Canvas to help support your student. We will briefly discuss this theme prior to opening the floor for parents to connect with and support one another.
Date: Tuesday, November 24th @ 8:00am via Zoom
Topic: Navigating Canvas
Please RSVP to Lauren Olson (lolson@op97.org) or Stacie Klein (sklein@op97.org) and the zoom link will be emailed to you.
Topic: Navigating Canvas
Health Mini 3 Begins November 30
Trimester 2 Student Materials Alternate Pick-up Date Nov. 30
The alternate pick up date for Trimester 2 student materials is scheduled for Monday, November 30. The Brooks office will be open from 8:00am to 3:00pm. You may stop in between those hours to retrieve your students materials. Please be sure to wear a mask when entering the building.
Thank you.
Check out... Whats happening in the Brooks Library
Contactless Library Pickup
Due to stricter restrictions, the next scheduled pickup has been moved to December 10th. We will reassess up-to-date Covid restrictions the week before.
Future pickups will be determined on an on-going basis and announced here as well as via student Canvas inboxes.
If you have books to return, hang on to them, and don’t worry about them being overdue. There are no fines, and we will take care of them when we can.
Pickups are from 8-8:45 & 3:45-4:30 outside the Commons doors near the parking lot on Kenilworth (books for this pickup need to be on hold in the catalog by the Monday prior to pickup @11:59PM).
If you did not pick up a book from the book fair on Oct 27th, we will have those available on the 19th as well
Instructions and flyers
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
Middle School Virtual Club Starting and Meeting Days/Times
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.
- 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!
If you missed auditions and still want to be involved, contact Mr. Blackman at fblackman@op97.org about auditions in December
- 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
Meeting ID: 830 7488 7298
Passcode: 173560
Zoom Link Below
https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/83074887298?pwd=d0VDaE5QQzdpVmlxQmZYdldXbS9GQT09
- Jazz Ensemble will meet on Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.
- Jazz Band will meet on Thursdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.
Technology Support
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 the Brook’s PTO
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.
Starship Tuesdays are back (kind of) -THIS TUESDAY!
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).
Donate and help the PTO continue to fund school initiatives
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.
Order your Brooks Spirit Wear
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!
'Stamped' Family and Community Discussions
Stamped' Family and Community Discussions
District 97 students, families and community members are invited to participate in a three-session discussion on the book Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Attendees will join together for a presentation followed by discussions in separate breakout rooms.
In conjunction with Brooks and Julian middle schools' fall curriculum read, the sessions will follow along with the chapters being read by students and staff. Breakout sessions will be led by students from Dominican University, who will follow a peace circle format and draw on the Stamped Educator's Guide.
Events will be held:
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
These sessions are made possible with the support of: District 97 staff; Oak Park and River Forest School District 200; the Oak Park Public Library; the E-Team of Oak Park; and Dominican University’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) group
A Greater Good Foundation
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. 6th & 7th graders will meet on Mondays from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm and 8th graders will meet on Wednesdays during advisory 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. We are hoping to launch the program the week of September 28th. If you have any questions or would like your student to participate, please contact Stacie Klein at sklein@op97.org.
Virtual Breakfast with Brooks
Virtual Morning Homework Support
GBMS Remote Learning Resource
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
School Physicals and Immunizations
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).
2020 - 2021 District News and Information
Continued Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students
District 97 school psychologists and nurses have collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school this fall. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed.
To sign up or learn more about these services, please visit https://bit.ly/3m3Xece.
If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24-Hour 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.
Erin's Law Information Session for Families
District 97 will host a virtual information session on Erin's Law (Illinois Public Act 097-1147), which requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented child sexual abuse program. The session, "Keeping My Family Safe," will be held Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2020, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. via Zoom. Families are invited to attend to learn more about Erin’s Law and tips for protecting their children. Erin’s Law Parent Night Details >
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.
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.
D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - November 2020
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 >
District 97 is working with community partners to support the child care needs of our families and staff. We are currently partnering with three providers: Hephzibah, the Park District of Oak Park and By Discovery. Details about each program can be found here.
The district will be providing financial assistance for any student who receives free or reduced lunch for at least Trimester 1. We will discuss the possibility of additional fee coverage with the Board of Education once plans are determined for the remainder of the school year. Details are provided at the point of online registration for each child care provider.
