Face Mask Reminders (Repeat)
Wearing face masks consistently and correctly is a key strategy to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools. Below are a few important reminders for students, staff and families:
- The face covering should cover the mouth and nose at all times, including while riding a school bus. The CDC Use of Face Coverings provides helpful explanations about the use and care of face coverings.
- Bandanas, masks with valves and gaiters are not allowed in District 97 schools, as they allow for leakage of aerosolized droplets.
- District 97 expects all students and staff to bring and wear their own cloth or disposable masks whenever possible and appropriate. Anyone who forgets their reusable mask will be provided a disposable mask. If possible, students should
keep a second cloth mask with their belongings.
Share Your Thoughts on the Next D97 Superintendent! (Repeat)
Middle School Clubs Starting and Meeting Days/Times
- VEX Competitive Robotics: Vex Robotics is back with Mr. Shinners and Mrs. Rodriguez! Interested in joining? Please see Mr. Shinners after school Friday 9/24 or Monday 9/27 from 3:30-4:00 for a quick introduction and to be added to our Canvas Robotics page. Try-outs will start Tuesday 9/28 and Thursday 9/30.
- Intramural's: We are going to have an exciting start to the year with badminton. We will be improving skills in fun game play activities with our fellow students each day. Badminton has been a PE class favorite and all are welcome. We will have games next week on Monday 9/20 at 7:30 AM and our second day on Thursday 9/23 3:30 to 4:30 Schedule Link
- Best Buddies: Please look for our Q-R code to sign up or use this link. Help us get to know a little bit more about you before our meeting on October 6th at 3:30. We’ll let you know where in the next few weeks.
- Rainbow Revolution (FORMERLY Rainbow Tribe): Our next Rainbow Revolution meeting will be on Monday September 27th! We meet Mondays from 3:30-4:30pm in the library. Rainbow Revolution brings together Brooks students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community AND their Allies!! EVERYONE is welcome! Contact Ms. Berman (aberman@op97.org) if you have any questions! You can join at any time!
- Spoken Word Club: Please complete the linked form 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 October 5th 2021 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 25 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 the year goes on and as guidelines change.
Please fill out this registration (both poet and parent!) For the initial email, please put your poet's student email and include parent/guardian email later. - Math Team: Our first meeting will be Monday, September 27th from 3:30-4:40 in room B409. All mathletes welcome! Our first competition at Fenwick will be on 11/15. Email Ms. Smith with any questions at esmith3@op97.org
- BEAT: We meet every TUESDAY! Join the best club ON the planet FOR the planet! This week’s meeting is about FUNDRAISING, selling raffle tickets & planning Octoberfest! See you in Ms. Stamp’s room, C202 at 3:35!
- CHESS CLUB / Game Club: Our club meets in C 108. Time 3:30-5:00 every Tuesday! Dates might change slightly.I will let students know one week in advance of any change. First meeting: Tuesday, September 7th – May ?? Chess club / Game Club is open to all levels of experience, from first-time players to competitive players. Attendance each week is highly recommended but not required. There are no tryouts! Chess/Game Club has expanded to allow students to share and build 3D board games, play video games, play tradition board games, and of course, play Chess. I am open to video game tourneys as well as the "old fashion" Chess tourney. Checkmate!!!!!!!!!! I am looking forward to seeing you at "The Club" C-108 Be well! See Mr. Hausfeld with questions.
- Yearbook: All are welcome! If you love photography, graphic design, books, writing, or attending special events then the yearbook is for you! How do you sign up? Just come to one of our meetings. First meeting is Thursday, October 7th at 3:30-4:30 in room C309. See you there. Direct questions to Mrs. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org
- Crochet Club: We are back for more crochet time. Bring your current project or I have ideas for new projects. Newbies are welcome (I have supplies to share or bring your own)! I plan on making crochet lanyards for my mask so that it hangs on my neck when I am eating lunch! Meet Wednesday’s 3:30 -4:30 B202 Mrs. Rodriguez trodriguez@op97.org
- Art Club: This week, “Frida” will meet on Thursday at 3:30-4:30. Students in club should all have a Canvas Art Club course. Check your settings. If you still want to participate but did not get an email or Canvas invite, contact Mrs. Murray in D301 or kmurray@op97.org
- Service Club: We meet every Friday at 8:00am in room B208. Come find out more about the service projects we’ll be organizing this year. Everyone is welcome even if you didn’t come to the first few meetings!
- Extra-Curricular Choirs ***Still Accepting New Members, if you want to audition find Mr. Blackman in D105 or email him at fblackman@op97.org ****
- The Advanced Group (7th and 8th graders) meets Tuesdays and Fridays at 8am
- The Intermediate Group (all grades) meets Thursdays at 8am.
- To learn more, check out this Morning Choir Info Deck or contact Mr. Blackman at fblackman@op97.org
For more information regarding the:
The PTO can't exist without YOU!
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!
Connect with the Brook’s PTO
Connect with PTO
Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto, or email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.
Order your Brooks Spirit Wear
Support the PTO, a local black-owned business, and get awesome Brooks Spirit wear all at the same time! Brooks Spirit wear can be ordered at any time visiting the Brooks section of the Shabby Fly website. Order will be shipped to your home!
Back to School Information and COVID-19 Safety Mitigations (Repeat)
- D97 Back-to-School Plan
- Brooks Open House Information, including alternate dates for the few families that may need an alternate day/time
- First Day of School - schedule and what school supplies should be brought to school
- School Day Schedule
- Hallway and PE Lockers will not be used at this time
- Lunch Organization for Students
- Weekly SHIELD Illinois Testing information
- Arrival Process for students, including assigned entry location
- Information on where to Drop-off students, if they are driven to school
- Dismissal Process for students
- Mask Wearing expectations
- Cell Phones Away for the Day Expectations
- Busing Information
- Tardy to School Procedures
- Procedures and Routines while in the classroom
- School Supplies
- COVID-19 Contact Tracing Procedures
- Advisory and SOAR information
- How to secure Technology Help
- Who to ask if you have questions diagram
- Parent resources for Canvas, PowerSchool, Google and Securly
Qualifying for Remote Learning (Repeat)
GBMS REMOTE LEARNING FOR QUARANTINED STUDENTS ONLY
If your student is instructed to quarantine, as determined by the Oak Park Health Department, due to being positive for COVID-19 or considered a close contact, your student will have a “window into the classroom,” or passive learning for the remote learning structure. District 97 will utilize the following procedures for students participating in remote learning beginning Sept. 13:
- Your student will follow their typical class schedule each day. An email outlining where to locate the zoom link for each of their classes will be shared with the student and family.
- Teachers will be responsible for turning on only the audio during the Zoom session. If a teacher is using the whiteboard or presenting, the camera will be turned on only for that portion of the lesson.
- Students who join the class remotely will not be able to raise their hand, participate in any class discussion, or use the chat feature.
- If there are physical materials that need to be picked up, you will be notified by email that your student has materials available in the main office.
- Teachers may choose to be available to quarantined students during their personal planning period or after school and be paid at the contracted hourly rate of $35 per hour for that time. Teachers will submit a timesheet to their building principals after the quarantine period is over. Since your student has numerous teachers, teachers are letting me know if they are available to provide support either after-school or during their plan time (which if it is a core teacher would coincide with your student's elective class or if they are an elective teacher would coincide with a time your student is in a core class). Once I know if there is a teacher available, an email will be shared with you so additional support can be coordinated.
**Please note Remote Learning is only available to students who have been quarantined. Students who are sick or absent for reasons unrelated to confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, as determined by the local health department, will not be permitted to participate in remote learning. Please see our Back-to-School Plan for further details.
Rules for Bikes, Scooters and Skateboards (Repeat)
Parents / Guardians, we need your help in reminding your students that when they arrive at the school grounds using bicycles, scooters or skateboards they must be walked from the sidewalks onto the school grounds.
- NO bikes, scooters, skateboards, or other wheels may be ridden on campus grounds.
- Bicycles must be parked in the bicycle racks located in front of either the Kenilworth entrance or the Clinton Entrance and MUST be locked.
- Once students arrive at school, scooters and skateboards should be carried while you are walking too and from the entrance to the school.
- Scooters and Skateboards should be stored in the boy's lockers room. The entrance to the locker room is located in the main hallway. There will be a sign on the door notating where to enter.
District 97 is not responsible and assumes no liability for theft, damage, or loss of use to any bicycle, scooter or skateboards. All such risks are assumed by the student and family.
Certified Nursing Assistants Needed (REPEAT)
Travel Advisory Recommendations (Repeat)
That said, we ask for your renewed commitment to practicing all of the recommended mitigation protocols this weekend. The most effective way to minimize the risk of transmission is to avoid high-risk behaviors, including travel. Vaccinated or unvaccinated, we all have a responsibility to follow safety guidelines in order to reduce further spread of the virus. We are thankful for your continued commitment to keeping our schools and students safe over the holiday weekend and throughout the school year.
District 97 Now Hiring! (Repeat)
District 97 is currently hiring for key positions to support in-person learning during the 2021-22 school year!
Permanent Substitutes
District 97 has immediate openings for permanent substitute teachers. If you know anyone who is looking to work with children, earn competitive pay and give back to the community, please encourage them to apply today at: https://www.op97.org/hr/employment.
Lunch/Social Time Supervisors
To support our students and staff during the school day, we are still seeking more parents and community members to serve as lunchroom/recess supervisors during the 2021-22 school year. It's easy to apply, and your time would have a direct impact on our schools. CLICK HERE to apply!
Keep D97 Schools Allergy Safe - No Nuts Allowed (Repeat)
Please visit https://bit.ly/3j0KGTB to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips.
Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2021-22 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” The shift to include lunch was necessary as many students may be eating their lunch in spaces other than the lunchroom due to COVID-19 protocols.
We appreciate your help in adhering to this preventative measure.
School Physicals and Immunizations (Repeat)
Incoming 6th-grade students and/or any new students who have transferred into District 97, MUST have a wellness physical and dental exam dated no less than one year prior to August 25th, 2021. Your child's physical must have been performed after August 25th, 2020 . Your child may not be admitted to school without these documents. Please submit the documents by mail or in person no later than August 25, 2021 to the following:
Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School
Attn: Health Office, Nurse Nancy Radogno
325 S. Kenilworth Ave
Oak Park, IL 60302
SPORTS PHYSICALS – The State of Illinois Office of Education requires that any student who wishes to participate in interscholastic sports MUST have an Athletic Physical Examination, dated no less than one year prior to the first day of the current school year, anytime after August 25, 2020. It is MANDATORY that your child have this physical before they will be eligible to try out or participate in any interscholastic activity.
To access student health forms please visit http://www.op97.org/hr/health-requirements
**For any family having difficulty securing an appointment to get the physical completed, please email our School Nurse, Nancy Radogno, nradogno@op97.org.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE - How to Report Student Absences (Repeat)
Technology Support (Repeat)
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.
