HAWK HIGHLIGHTS

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Mission:

• To provide a high-quality, inclusive, and equitable education for students to grow, lead, and thrive by empowering staff, collaborating with families, and embracing our diverse community.

Vision:

• Gompers will be a collaborative community that provides a sense of belonging and high levels of achievement for all students, staff, and families.

Monday, 9/30

• Picture Day, in the AM

Tuesday, 10/1

• Hearing & Vision Screenings, by Appointment
  
• Girl's Basketball vs. Richland, 4:15p
  

Wednesday, 10/2

• Hearing & Vision Screenings, by Appointment
• Joliet Township High School Counselors Visit 8th Grade

Thursday, 10/3

• Cross Country D86 Quad Meet @ Eisenhower, 4p
  

Friday, 10/4

• Regular School activities

Click Here for All 2024-2025 Calendar Events at Gompers

This week, Gompers students achieved a 93% attendance rate. Every day your student is at school, is another day for them to succeed, achieve, connect with friends, and learn new things. Give your student every opportunity to succeed by being at school by 7:30 AM daily. Together we can achieve our goal of 95% or greater attendance rate this week.

Picture day is finally here. On Monday, 9.30.24 in the morning, all students will get their pictures taken. The images will be used for the student ID and the yearbook. Pictures will be available for families to preview and purchase. Please have your student dress their best and wear a winning smile for picture day.

We are thrilled to start our One Book - One District program by reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio starting this Monday. The book is about a boy who faces unique challenges as he attends school for the first time after being home-schooled. Due to his medical needs, he faces many challenges, overcomes fears, and learns how to navigate his emotions. Most importantly, he teaches everyone around him how kindness and acceptance mean so much to everyone. For fun activities, family readings, trivia, prizes, and more, please visit: https://sites.google.com/joliet86.org/wonder2024/welcomebienvenido.

On October 1st & 2nd, Gompers will host the Hearing and Vision screenings for students. To participate, families need to have been registered and approved by our School Nurse to be issued an appointment. If you have questions regarding the Hearing and Vision screening program, please contact Mrs. Quitman at mquitman@joliet86.org or our office at 815.727.5276.

Students can stop by the Art room for a flyer if they are interested!

PEACE POSTER - theme this year is "Peace Without Limits"

• International contest with grand prize of $5,000. 23 winners will receive $500.
• Due to Mrs. Kanive by October 28, 2024

TRANSPORTATION POSTER - theme this year is "Safety First, Safety Always"

• NATIONAL SCHOOL BUS SAFETY WEEK – October 21-25, 2025
• The goal of this poster contest is to increase student awareness of school bus safety issues. This contest not only allows for the students creativity, but provides for a learning tool via awareness of school bus safety. The contest is open to all students in grades kindergarten through 8 and has 6 divisions. Winners of the state contest will be awarded cash prizes in denominations of $75 for first place, $35 for second place and $25 for third place. The Illinois winners will be entered into the National School Bus Safety Poster Contest. The overall winning national poster is made into a printed poster, for distribution around the United States!
• Due to Mrs. Kanive by April 1, 2025

Students can stop by and visit with Mrs. Kanive to discuss further. She can help students with any questions or email her at akanive@joliet86.org

Safety is a top priority in Joliet School District 86. This week, Gompers completed a Fire Drill with the Joliet Fire Department, Hold-In-Place & Teach, and Bus Evacuations. These drills are designed to prepare our students and staff for an emergency. We value these drills as they help us improve and maximize our safety. This week, we will practice a Lockdown Drill. Thank you for supporting our students and prioritizing safety at Gompers and District 86.

If you see an assignment on Aspen with a 50%, it likely means your student did not complete it. Teachers are not entering 0% because overcoming a 0 in the grade book makes it extremely difficult for students due to how averaging works. However, 50% is still an F, but it allows students to climb out of a failing grade. Check Aspen and review the percentages. If your student has anything marked as 50%, ask them to complete the missing assignment and turn it in. Click HERE for a great article on the No Zero concept and how it supports student achievement.

Your student needs a sports physical to try out for an athletic team at Gompers. Sports physicals are valid for an entire year. The athletic season for each sport is as follows:

• Cross Country August - October (currently in session)
• Girls Basketball September - November (currently in session)
• Boys Basketball October - February
• Cheer October - February
• Wrestling December - March
• Scholastic Bowl January - May
• Boys & Girls Soccer March-May

For more details, contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Blaeser, at eblaeser@joliet86.org. For information regarding Sports Physicals, please contact our School Nurse, Mrs. Quitman, at mquitman@joliet86.org.

All students and staff are required to wear their IDs at school daily. Students need their ID to ride the bus, borrow books, attend home games, purchase items at the SOAR store, and much more. Of course, this is also a safety issue to ensure all students and staff are easily identified as belonging at Gompers. Ask your students to ensure they have their Student ID and wear it daily at school.

At Gompers Jr. High, we take bullying very seriously. Bullying at school, in the community, or on social media is never acceptable or should be taken lightly. If your child is experiencing any form of bullying, the first step is to report the incident to an Academic Advisor, Counselor, or Social Worker. The Gompers staff is here to help and ask that you report bullying as soon as you know about it. Please contact the following individuals via email or call our office to speak with them at 815.727.5276 during school hours. Your partnership is essential in helping keep all our students safe from bullying.

6th Grade

• Laura Arias, Academic Advisor, larias@Joliet86.org
• Brooke Hagadus, Social Worker, bhagadus@Joliet86.org

7th Grade

• Courtney Miller, Academic Advisor, camiller@Joliet86.org
• Maria Arroyo, Counselor, mgarroyo@Joliet86.org

8th Grade

• Dan Wikert, Academic Advisor, dwikert@Joliet86.org
• Therese Skwarczynski, Social Worker, tskwarczynski@Joliet86.org

Please visit our District website at https://www.joliet86.org/e-learning/ to learn more about our District e-learning plan. Paper e-learning packets will be sent home with your student before Parent/Teacher Conferences.

Local events are posted on our Community Events page on our website, visit

https://www.joliet86.org/students-parents/community-events/ throughout the year for details of these family-friendly activities.

STUDENT HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

A Physical Examination and required immunization records are required for all Pre-K, Kindergarten, 6th grade, and new transfer students from out of state. Forms must be turned into the school office by October 15, 2024. Students will be excluded from school beginning October 16th, 2024 if we do not receive the required information. Appointment dates past the October 15th deadline are no longer accepted by the State of Illinois. If you have any questions, please contact our school nurse. New students to the District from out of state or out of the country have 30 days from the first day of school to submit a health exam.

STUDENT HEALTH HISTORY and LIFE-THREATENING CONDITIONS

If your student has a significant health history, life threatening allergy, or special medical concern including asthma, diabetes, seizures, or other medical conditions please contact the school nurse so that we can create an Emergency Health Care Plan. A PHYSICIAN’S NOTE IS REQUIRED if your child has FOOD allergies so we can provide substitutions. It must be a DIAGNOSED allergy and not just a sensitivity.

MEDICATION AT SCHOOL

If your child must receive medication (prescription or over-the-counter) in order to be in school, you will need a "Medication Authorization Form” completed by a licensed healthcare provider or physician also signed and dated by the parent/guardian.

DIABETICS

We must have a School Diabetic Care Plan on file from your physician with medication orders (if needed) in case of emergencies and to assist and care for all diabetic students.

If you have any questions please contact the school nurse, Melissa Quitman, at mquitman@joliet86.org or at 815-727-5276

Sixth Grade

• Academic Advisor: Laura Arias - larias@joliet86.org
• Team Leader: Robert Pollard - rpollard@joliet86.org
• Social Worker: Brooke Hagadus - bhagadus@joliet86.org

Seventh Grade

• Academic Advisor: Courtney Miller - camiller@joliet86.org
• Team Leader: Jeremy Poch - jerpoch@joliet86.org
• Social Worker: Maria Arroyo - mgarroyo@joliet86.org

Eighth Grade

• Academic Advisor: Dan Wikert - dwikert@joliet86.org
• Team Leader: Jessica Pasquale - jpasquale@joliet86.org
• Social Worker: Therese Skwarczynski - tskwarczynski@joliet86.org

PE & Fine Arts Team Leader: Theresa Curry - tcurry@joliet86.org

Athletic Director: Eric Blaeser - eblaeser@joliet86.org

Nurse: Melissa Quitman - mquitman@joliet86.org

Assistant Principal: Mia Suarez - msuarez@joliet86.org

Principal: Raul Gaston - rgaston@joliet86.org

Newsletters for the week of...

• 9.30.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/c3d8x
• 9.23.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/5tbcq
• 9.16.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/s89fe
• 9.9.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/bxk8a
• 9.2.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/8snaf
• 8.26.24 https://secure.smore.com/n/0cvtb
• 8.19.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/0jn2u
• 8.12.24 - https://secure.smore.com/n/532she