Middle Matters

If you have questions about the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me April Moriarty, Principal at amoriarty@op97.org. You can also contact my Executive Coordinator, Ms. Angel Banks, at abanks1@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our Administrative Team

April Moriarty, Principal (amoriarty@op97.org)

Dr. Denise Gildon, Associate Principal for Teaching & Learning (dgildon@op97.org)

Chasity McComb-Williams, Associate Principal for Culture, Climate, Clubs & Sports (cmccomb-williams@op97.org)

Student Success Coach Team:

6th Grade: Josh Rodgers - jrodgers@op97.org

7th Grade: Audrey Schoen - aschoen@op97.org

8th Grade: Bernard Starks - bstarks@op97.org

Social Workers:

6th Grade: Hannah Contrares - hcontrares@op97.org

7th Grade: Jennifer Olsen - jolsen@op97.org

8th Grade: Abby Robot - arobot@op97.org, Rita Cardoso - rcardoso@op97.org will be filling in while Ms. Robot is on a leave of absence

Reporting Student Absences:

Email brooksattendance@op97.org or call 708-665-3074

School Nurse and CNA:

Tracy Biggerstaff: tbiggerstaff@op97.org

Melissa Godwin: mgodwin@op97.org

Send School Health form/physicals/dental forms to: brooksnurse@op97.org

Front Office:

PowerSchool login questions, Attendance or School Fee Questions-Vashti Carter: vcarter@op97.org

Canvas login questions, Receptionist- Minerva Colbert: mcolbert@op97.org

TECH Support:

Please email: helpdesk@op97.org

Please complete claim form if your student's chromebook is damaged or lost

• No School: Monday, September 7th, 2026

• Curriculum Night: Tuesday, September 8th, 2026 from 6:00 pm to 8:15 pm

• No School: Monday, September 21st, 2026

• No School: Monday, October 12th, 2026

• Conferences: Thursday, October 22nd 4 to 8pm & Friday, October 23rd, 2026 8am to 12pm

• No Student Attendance: Friday, October 23rd, 2026

• Picture Day: Wednesday, October 28th, 2026

• End of Trimester 1: Friday, November 20th, 2026

Renaissance Star assessment is a computerized adaptive test given to students in grades K-8 that measures a child's academic growth from season to season and year to year in the areas of mathematics, reading, and language usage. In the Star system, the difficulty of the test is adjusted to the student's performance. The difficulty of each question is based on how well the student has answered all of the questions up to that point. As the student answers correctly, the questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier.

In grades 6 through 8, STAR assessments shift away from foundational skill checks and focus heavily on complex comprehension, multi-step problem solving, and preparation for high school coursework.

What Middle Schoolers Take

• STAR Reading: Focuses on literary analysis, understanding complex informational texts, evaluating arguments, determining author bias, and advanced vocabulary in context.

• STAR Math: Focuses on middle school standards such as ratios, proportions, pre-algebra concepts, basic geometry, data analysis, and multi-step word problems.

💻 Please be sure your student brings a fully charged chromebook to school. 💻

STAR Testing begins tomorrow, and we want to make sure all students are prepared to do their very best!

Please make sure your student brings their fully charged school-issued Chromebook to school tomorrow. Students will need their Chromebook throughout the testing process, and arriving with a low or dead battery can create unnecessary interruptions and delays.

Please remind your student to:

• Charge their Chromebook completely tonight.
• Bring their school-issued Chromebook to school tomorrow.
• Bring their charger to school if instructed by their teacher.
• Make sure they have everything they need before leaving home.

A fully charged Chromebook helps ensure that students can begin testing on time and remain focused without interruptions.

We appreciate your partnership in helping our students have a successful STAR Testing experience.

Please encourage your student to get a good night’s rest, eat breakfast, and arrive ready to Learn, Lead & Lift!

Thank you for your continued support

• Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
• No pass needed
• To enter, wait by the Kenilworth doors (by the main office)
• An adult will escort groups to the library at 8:00, 8:15, and 8:30. For example, if you arrive at 8:10 you will have to wait until the 8:15 group to head up. If you arrive after the 8:30 group has been escorted, you may not enter the library that day
• You will sign-in and stay in the library until the 8:50 bell
• These times are for students to quietly read, do homework, or meet as a group to study or work on a project. Students will not be permitted to play games on their chromebooks..

• Here is the Bell Schedule for SY26-27

• Please note that PE and a matching elective selection will meet on an A/B rotating Day schedule. Here is the A/B day schedule - Wednesday 8/26 is an A day, and then each school day alternates. If there is a day off from school, it is skipped, and the pattern continues the next school day.

Students should arrive at their designated entrance (see below) by 8:50 am.

• All 6th Graders should line up to enter the building at the Washington door entrance

• Non-bus riding 7th and 8th graders should line up to enter the building at the Kenilworth door entrance

• Bus riding 7th and 8th graders should line up to enter the building at the Clinton door entrance

Starting after Labor Day,

• Students who arrive after 8:57 am should enter the main entrance at Kenilworth and check in to the main office to receive a tardy pass to their first class.

• Students that do NOT have their school-issued ID when they arrive at school, should head to the commons to receive a temporary ID between 8:15am and 8:55am before going to their first period class.

Here is a link to safe walking/bike routes & drop off locations as well as Brooks Bus Routes, which will be assigned and the route denoted on the Student ID, if you live greater than 1.5 miles from Brooks.

DROP OFF & PICK UP INSTRUCTIONS:

We strongly encourage students who are able to walk or bike to school to do so rather than arriving by car. This reduces congestion around the school and makes drop off easier for the kids who do need to be driven to school.

IF ARRIVING AT SCHOOL BY CAR, ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS should be dropping students off on Kenilworth Ave. heading south, Randolph heading east or Washington heading west and then have the Brooks student exit on the passenger side of the car and then walk to their designated line-up location. Please refrain from pulling into the staff parking lot, as it is hazardous with multiple cars in motion, as well as staff members driving in for work. Additionally, please do not drop off or pick up on Clinton Avenue as that is where are school buses are parked. This is a safety and security concern, so we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Take dinner off your to-do list and support Brooks PTO!

Join us at Panera in River Forest on Wednesday, September 9 from 4–8 PM. 25% of sales will benefit Brooks PTO and help support our students and school community.

Dine in, pick up, or order delivery. For online orders, use promo code FUND4U at checkout.

Thanks for supporting Brooks!

Welcome back! School has started and our spirit wear store is now open! Our Brooks Back-to-School Sale ends on September 14th! Make sure to purchase before the deadline sneaks up on you! Help rep our school with great gear as we earn fundraising dollars!

Remember, a portion of our sales goes back to our school and supports our school store. Please reach out with any questions! Currently, there is 35% off all items & free shipping over $85. Happy Shopping!

District 97 has partnered with Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, River Forest District 90, Forest Park District 91, and local police and fire departments to establish a new, coordinated process for safely reuniting students with their families following an emergency. The districts also share the same Standard Response Protocol, which uses consistent actions and language—Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter—across our schools and communities.

Read this joint message from our superintendents to learn how the reunification process would work and what families can do now to help prepare, including reviewing their contact information and authorized emergency contacts.

District 97 remains committed to keeping our students, staff, and community safe. In recognition of SMART Week (Aug. 24-28), we are partnering with the Village of Oak Park and the Oak Park Public Health Department to highlight the critical role of secure firearm storage in preventing gun violence and accidental injuries.

Developed by the Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, SMART stands for:

• Secure all guns in your home and vehicles

• Model responsible behavior around guns

• Ask about the presence of unsecured guns in other homes

• Recognize the role of guns in suicide

• Tell your peers to Be SMART

Community members can obtain free gun locks, access tips for starting conversations with neighbors, and learn more by visiting the Village of Oak Park Safe Firearm Storage Page.

For additional tools and family guidance, visit Be SMART for Kids or contact the Oak Park Public Health Department at health@oak-park.us or 708-358-5480.

(708) 524-3058 or tbiggerstaff@op97.org

Please note that our office staff sets the phone to go to voicemail from 8:30am to 9:15am daily. Please leave a message of your student's absence at 708-665-3074 or you can email brooksattendance@op97.org. Our office staff will listen to voicemails left on the main line starting after 9:15am daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Dropping off Items at Brooks for your Student

You may drop off forgotten items for your student in the main office. Please note that we will not call into your student's classroom, as it is a disruption to the learning for other students and the teacher in the classroom. Your student should plan to stop by the main office on their way to lunch or between passing periods, if they think you may have dropped off the forgotten item for them to retrieve. We appreciate your understanding.

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2025-26 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” Our schools have been nut-safe for the past two years—helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students.

Hot lunch will be available to students who wish to participate and have a funded or an approved lunch account, starting the first day of school. If you have questions regarding your student's lunch balance, you may contact the Lunch Manager, Shetrice Baker at Sbaker2@op97.org. To make payments on student lunch accounts please visit, https://www.mymealtime.com/signin.aspx

Breakfast and hot lunch menus and other information

PTO Tuesday STARSHIP Lunch Options will be available. Sign up for Starship lunches will be coming soon!

Friday Pizza Lunch Begins SEPTEMBER 11

SIGN UP FOR FRIDAY PIZZA LUNCH

Parents - We Need Your Help! Volunteer to help serve pizza on Fridays - SIGN UP HERE!

BRAVO offers a Pizza Lunch Fundraiser every Friday for (30) Fridays from September 11 - May 21!

• Pre-Paid Dominoʼs Pizza Lunch begins serving on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11

We encourage families to send a fruit or vegetable to school with their child on Pizza Fridays. Adding fruits and vegetables to every meal increases nutritional content and helps build healthy habits for life!

PARENTS - We Need Your Help! We will be seeking parent volunteers to help distribute slices and be a part of our fun fundraiser. Friday Pizza Lunch is a fun & easy volunteer opportunity to be in and around your child's journey at Brooks and a great way to meet and get to know other Brooks parents. We canʼt do it without you!!! Please consider signing up to volunteer on our BRAVO Volunteer Page

We ask that if possible to please send your student to school with a filled water bottle. We have water bottle filling stations in the school for our students to refill their water bottles when needed.

We will be teaching, supporting and reminding students of the School Wide Expectations as we begin our school year together.

Students should go to the commons as soon as they arrive on campus (8:15am to 8:55am) when they realized they don’t have their IDs to get a temporary ID. If they come to school late (8:57am) they will go to the main office, where they will get a tardy pass and if needed lunch ticket and/or temporary ID. Students who realized that they don't have their ID upon arrival to first period will create a SmartPass to be able to get a temporary ID from the hallway monitor on the floor.

Please partner with us by encouraging your student to remember and wear their IDs each day.

Cell phones/Mobile Devices are not to be used during school hours. This includes calling parents/guardians due to illness, requesting items to be dropped off, etc.

• Students can ask a teacher to use the classroom phone or the phone in the main office, if needed.

Cell phones are to be turned off/on silent upon entering the school building, stored in the student’s locker, and not used until the dismissal bell rings.

SmartWatches will be consider a watch until it is observed that it functioning like a cell phone (ie sending or receiving text messages). If this is the case, the use of the SmartWatch will be treated with the same rules and consequences outlined in the cell phone expectations.

As shared on our school supply list, students will need USB-C wired headphones. Bluetooth headphones will not be permitted in the hallways or classrooms. If students bring their bluetooth headphones to school, they must be stored in the student's locker.

Backpacks are not permitted in classrooms and should be stored in a student's locker.

Students should visit their lockers before school, before lunch, after lunch and at the end of the day. Student lockers are near their CORE classrooms. Here is our Locker Checklist, which may be helpful to support your student in thinking through materials that need to bring with them.

If your child needs to purchase a lock at anytime during the school year, please do so online HERE. Your student's WIN teacher will receive the lock to give to your student if you've purchased one due to your student missing/losing their lock.

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 complete claim form if your student's chromebook is damaged or lost.

CLUB Information can be found in Student Announcements. This is updated weekly, as new clubs get organized and announce dates and times.

BROOKS SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY 2026

Students in grades six through eighth are welcome to join the cross country team. The Cross Country coaches for 2026 are Kimberly Beader (kbeader@op97.org), Steve Gonsur (sgonsur@op97.org), and Jen Shadoian (jshadoian@op97.org). Cross Country is a no-cut sport at the middle schools. You can visit the Cross Country website for all info.

Students need a permission slip completed and wellness/sports physical submitted before they can participate in cross country practices. The last day to complete & turn these into the coach is Friday, September 4th, 2026:

• Cross Country Permission slip

• Completed Wellness Physical with the Interscholastic Sports “yes” box checked (required for 6th grader/new student) or Sports Physical (7th & 8th grade) and turned in to the coach All students must have a copy of an updated physical to hand to the coach (Coaches do not have access to nurse's files) before practicing for the 2026-2027 cross country season.

Brooks Ultimate Frisbee Team:

Brooks' very own Ultimate Frisbee team is returning for a second season! We are VERY excited to kick off the Fall Season with a team of elite coaches and a core of experienced Brooks athletes leading the way. ALL ARE WELCOME to join this NO CUT sport!! The fall season is a great time to learn the game if you're new; it's also a great time to improve your skills if you're a veteran of the sport. The Brooks/Julian athletes have combined to win THREE State Championships during the spring season and bring multiple teams to local tournaments every year. Ultimate is based on the principles of Spirit of the Game (click here) and all athletes and coaches strive to balance a welcoming, inclusive, and competitive culture for anyone who is interested in joining us! Click here for an older hype video that shows what we do. Practices will be after-school twice a week from 3:30 pm to 5:00 pm - the exact days will be finalized in mid-August.

Students need a completed permission slip and wellness/sports physical submitted before they can participate in Ultimate Frisbee practices. The last day to complete & turn these to the coach is Friday, September 4th, 2026:

• Fall Ultimate Frisbee Sports permission slip. NOTE: a separate form will be sent in mid-August to ensure students who are interested in participating with Brooks Ultimate are properly signed up through USA Ultimate, which is necessary to play in our tournaments.

• Completed Wellness Physical with the Interscholastic Sports “yes” box checked (required for 6th grader/new student) or Sports Physical (7th & 8th grade) and turned in to the coach. All students must have a copy of an updated physical to hand to the coach (Coaches do not have access to nurse's files) before practicing for the 2026-2027 Ultimate Frisbee season.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Open gym later this week on Wednesday(9/2) and Thursday(9/3) from 3:30-4:30 and tryouts Sept 8th, 9th and 10th at 3:30-4:30.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the coaches, Brooke Sefcik, bsefcik@op97.org (Junior Varsity) and Dr. Kina Brown, kbrown@op97.org (Varsity).

VEX Robotics - Competitive Robotics: Interested in joining Brooks robotics? Fill out this information form by SEPTEMBER 11th with your parent/guardian!

Brooks Robotics Tryouts Sign Up LINK

We offer two sessions of tryouts to allow flexibility for students who have other commitments. Both sessions are the SAME and students may only register for one session. Tryouts will be held from 3:30pm - 5:00pm in room D202. Students will be required to bring their Chromebook each day and may optionally pack a peanut-free snack.

Session 1:

• Day 1 of 5 - 9/16 Wednesday

• Day 2 of 5 - 9/18 Friday

• Day 3 of 5 - 9/23 Wednesday

• Day 4 of 5 - 9/25 Friday

• Day 5 of 5 - 9/30 Wednesday

Session 2:

• Day 1 of 5 - 10/5 Monday

• Day 2 of 5 - 10/7 Wednesday

• Day 3 of 5 - 10/9 Friday

• Day 4 of 5 - 10/14 Wednesday

• Day 5 of 5 - 10/16 Friday

Yearbook Club

All are Welcome!! Starting 10/7, Yearbook will meet in D301 on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30. Bring a charged Chromebook and your creativity!! Mrs. Pabellon and Mr. Starks can’t wait to see you all!

BEAT (Brooks Earth Action Team):

Welcome Everyone!! This year Ms. Raad and Ms. Peacock will be leading our amazing BEAT students, with special visits from Ms. Stamp. We will meet Thursday, September 3rd, in room C102. We look forward to seeing familiar faces and having new individuals join us this year! If you have any questions please email Ms. Raad (Kraad@op97.org ) and Ms. Peacock (Kpeacock@op97.org)

Drama Club: Come One, Come All... It's DRAMA CLUB Time! 🎭 Join us for an hour of creativity, laughter, and nonstop fun as we:

• 🎬 Write awesome scripts

• 🎭 Act out hilarious and dramatic scenes

• 🤣 Play improv games

• 🌟 Build confidence and make new friends

📅 Starts: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
🕞 When: Every Tuesday | 3:30–4:30 PM
📍 Where: Room C109

✨ No experience? No problem! ALL are welcome to laugh, create, and let your imagination shine!

Join us in creating art that explores all cultures celebrated in our school district and beyond. All students, staff and parents are welcome to join. Mrs. Guerrero & Mrs. Dunn look forward to being in community with you all.

Star Wars Club: Meets today from 3:35-4:35 in room C404 with Mr. Syndergaard. All are welcome! Club Google Site- Has Meeting dates and other Club Information!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Beetlejuice, Jr.

7th & 8th Grade Beetlejuice Audition Info:

AUDITIONS

Monday, August 31

3:30pm-5:30pm OR 5:30pm-7:30pm

CALLBACKS

Tuesday, September 1

3:30pm-7:00pm

SIGN UP TO AUDITION!

Please make sure to read through the Beetlejuice Audition Packet Information on how and what to prepare for your audition! BEETLEJUICE AUDITION PACKET

VIDEO SUBMISSION OPTION:

Due to limited availability, you may submit a 1-minute self tape to Ms. Reynolds (treynolds@op97.org) by

MONDAY, AUGUST 24.

You MUST still fill out the entire Audition Form (please choose Video Submission for your Audition Time).

See information above!

The PTO will need adult volunteers to assist with distributing Starship lunches to all grade levels each Tuesday. More information coming soon!

Please note that to ensure the distribution process runs smoothly, we request that volunteers are able to stay for the duration of all 3 lunch periods from 10:36am - 1:03pm on any day you may sign up for. **Per D97 policy, all volunteers must complete and pass a D97 Background Check which is a quick and easy process that can be scheduled through the D97 office.**

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