October 15th, 2018

Twitter Highlights: Week 8

Please click on the above link to see highlights from this past week. We are working to create a positive learning environment that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. No need to have a twitter account to view!

Middle School Parent/Guardian Focus Group Invitation

Dear Middle School Families,

We are currently seeking parents/guardians who have time and are interested in helping us explore and assess how our existing master schedule structures align with the district’s vision and goals. More specifically, we are looking for people to provide us with their thoughts and feedback on the following two questions during a pair of focus groups we will be holding later this month.

What does the term “positive learning environment” mean for our students and how does our current schedule support those student experiences?
What potential changes may need to be considered to better align our systems and structures to meet our vision?

This will serve as a continuation of the work that was undertaken by teachers and administrators this past spring, and included visits to other school districts to see how they are utilizing their time during the school day.

The first focus group will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 17 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Brooks Middle School. The second focus group will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 23 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Julian Middle School. While you are certainly welcome to attend both sessions, that is not required for participation. In addition, these focus groups are not school specific – i.e., parents/guardians from Brooks can take part in the session at Julian and vice versa.

If you are available to participate in this important process, please email your child’s building principal to let us know which session you plan to attend. In the meantime, we thank you for your time and attention to this matter, and for your continued support of our students, staff and schools.

Sincerely,

Mrs. April Capuder . acapuder@op97.org

Dr. Todd Fitzgerald tfitzgerald@op97.org

Student Led Portfolio Conferences on October 25th

If you haven't received the link from your child's team leader to be able to sign up for a conference, please see this google document Be sure to sign-up using the link for your child's team.

Resource for Families for Parent-Teacher Conferences

Here is a note catcher organizer that may be helpful with questions to ask your student when going through their student portfolio of work samples. Please click here for a resource list of questions that families can use to get critical information about their children during parent-teacher conferences.

PTO Staff Appreciation Dinner

The PTO will be hosting an appreciation dinner for the teachers and staff of Brooks on Oct 25th as a thank you for their hard work and dedication to our community. Dinner will be catered by Food Obsession. We are in need of drinks, dessert, and help with set-up, hosting and clean-up on the 25th and ask members of the Brooks community to please donate their time or one of the items via the Sign-up link below. Thanks so much!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090849AEAC2DAA8-brooks3

Assessment Re-Do/Re-Take Policy

Please find information regarding the student re-do/re-take policy in our Brooks Website.

http://www.op97.org/brooks/handbook

Click HERE to order a Yearbook

TreeRing, our Yearbook distributor, has discounts available to our families. If you purchase your yearbook by in October, you will receive a 10% discount and in November a 5% discount.
https://www.treering.com/purchase?PassCode=1014096931934358

District 97 News & Information

Equity Policy
In April, the District 97 Board of Education began working with its Committee for Community Engagement to collect feedback on the draft of the district's equity policy. The board's policy committee is getting ready to update the draft using the input, ideas and suggestions that were submitted by students, staff, parents/guardians and community members during the past five months. However, before that occurs, the board wants to provide the community with one more opportunity to weigh in on the draft. We would appreciate your help in using the information found at http://bit.ly/2QrJyr9 to learn more of this opportunity.

School Improvement Plans
The 2018-19 school improvement plans have been posted on the district website (http://www.op97.org/about/school-improvement-plans). Each school's plan can also be found under "Quick Links" in the left navigation of their websites.

Community Running Opportunity!

Are fall sports closing down? Is the thought of winter making you tired? Come run with us!

Starting on Oct. 28, 2018, a group of parent volunteers will be keeping kids active and running via a varied 3 mile weekly run at 8 AM each Sunday.

Everyone is welcome. Chris W, parent, running extraordinaire, will lead the kids on a varied 3 mile training session (pyramids, relays, straight running) each week. Everyone, including more helpers, parents, and siblings welcome. It is a great way to start each Sunday-Moving! The 3-miles is structured each week, but you can come and walk/run as desired.

Come out and stay moving thru winter! The organized runners will be running 3 miles/weeks, and we recommend running (or X=training) at least 2 more times/week to stay in shape. We’ll also do stretching and light core work.

We meet at OPRFHS track at 8:00 AM, and welcome anyone to run either with us or at the same time. We do not take responsibility for kids during the program, but provide a platform and structure for kids and families to come out and enjoy moving together.

To get on the weekly list, please e-mail OakParkRuns18@gmail.com. You can also drop-in. No commitment or cost, but we’d love to have you join us!

Please e-mail any questions. We hope to see you each Sunday at 8am at OPRFHS track!

Recognizing Staff who Make a Difference

If you or your student would like to recognize any staff member (a teacher, a teacher assistant, social worker, librarian, front office staff, lunchroom staff, custodial staff or school administrator) please take a moment to complete this form. The staff member will receive a certificate detailing the information shared through this form.

Brooks PTO News and Information

Diversity Council Meeting, Monday, October 15th, 7pm

The PTO Diversity Committee is holding it’s first meeting on Monday, October 15th in the Media Center from 7:00 to 8:30. We will be previewing our planned events for the year, connecting with each other and gathering ideas from the Brooks community. Come if you want to learn more, do more or just see what’s up.

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Building Executive Function Discussion

Join us on Thursday, November 8 at 7:00pm as Dr. Bozeday, EdD, Director of Educational Services at Rush Neurobehavioral Center and Adjunct Instructor at Northeastern Illinois University, leads a discussion on Executive Functioning. Executive Function skills impact student performance across all subject areas in school. What can parents do to help their children develop executive function skills?

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1mLeYOFIXzIB_qIdnCXyAtnIDTnSaDCNASnwnAObGjTc/edit?usp=sharing

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Book Fair Volunteers

We are gathering a team of enthusiastic, creative, and talented volunteers to help out at our upcoming Scholastic Book Fair, and we'd like to invite you to help out.

Please take a moment to view our sign-up sheet to see what roles interest you. Spread the word to your friends and invite them to help us have the best Book Fair ever!

Contact Tracey Wilson, tracyawilson@hotmail.com, with any questions!

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Lou Malnati's Give Back Night

Wednesday, October 17th, 2018 will be our first Dine-out Fundraiser of the year! Take a break from cooking and join us at Lou Malnati’s for our fundraiser and community building event. Tell your server that you’re there from Brooks PTO and Lou Malnati’s will contribute 20% of the bill to our school community and our students. Share with your neighbors. Take out orders and delivery orders count too (but not online).

VIEW FLYER HERE

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Young Filmmakers Contest

One Earth Film Festival has announced it's Young Filmmakers Contest. Students may submit a 3 to 8 minute film about one of 6 sustainability topics: energy, food, transportation, waste, water, or open space/ecosystems. They should present a problem with their topic and then a solution. Please see this website to learn more and to view a short film about the contest. Deadline is January 13, 2019.

https://www.oneearthfilmfest.org/contest-details/

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Community Resource Fair

The Brooks PTO Diversity Committee is hosting a community resource fair the evening of parent teacher conferences, October 25, from 5:30 - 7:30. Come check out some of the amazing student supports our community has to offer!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6gnevA1fHdWZ1h0VG9Oc1JFWXJGZzMwU2RKRDFoT0V2bUUw/view?usp=sharing

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Recycle Your Old Markers

Did you know you can now recycle used markers (including dry erase)? Brooks Middle School is participating in a year long collection of dried up markers in each classroom. Led by the Eco Eagles, students can bring their markers in to be recycled and help keep them out of landfill. Thanks for leading the way on being eco-friendly Eco Eagles!

(See attached image)

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Starship Lunches

If you have questions about Starship please email Bryn Poulton at starshipbrooks@gmail.com.

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Fund the PTO every time you shop at Amazon

When you shop at Amazon. Begin your shopping through the link here and our PTO will earn 0.5% of your total sale, at no expense to you. First time Amazon Smile shoppers will find our organization by typing Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School Parent-Teacher Organization. Thank you for your continued support.

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Brooks Spirit Wear

Brooks spirit wear can be ordered at any time by visiting www.companycasuals.com/brookseagles. Orders will be shipped to your home!

Clubs and Sports Information

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Girls Basketball

Game Schedule

FreedomMacArthur

10/15, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Home Game vs. Northlake

10/17, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Away Game vs Heritage

10/18, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

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Boys Basketball

Varsity/JV Practice

10/15, 10/16, 10/18
3:30pm - 5:00pm

For questions, please contact

Varsity - Darren Haus at dhaus@op97.org,

JV - Aaron Contraveos acontraveos@op97.org

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OPEF Robotics News and Information

OPEF's Super STEAM Saturday! Please join the Oak Park Education Foundation for a free fun morning of crafting, collaborating, and creating. Drive a robot, write a poem, unleash your inner artist and learn more about OPEF with great activities for kids ages 5-12. Saturday, November 3 from 10-12 at Beye School. You can learn more about the event on OPEF's website or their Facebook page.

For more information about the robotics program please visit: https://www.opef.org/programs/vex-robotics/. Questions? Please contact Michele McAndrews at mvmcandrews@opef.org or Mr. Shinners at bshinners@op97.org

Monster Mash Bash

All School Halloween Dance is October 19 - 6:30pm-8:30pm. Tickets are $8 until 10/17 and $10 on 10/18 & 10/19. CLICK HERE to purchase tickets.

BRAVO: Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA

Tickets for Rodgers & Hammerstein’s CINDERELLA are available HERE. Performances: November 9 - 17

2018 -2019 Extra-Curricular Activities

For more information you may view this spreadsheet. The first tab has information about Sports. The second tab contains information about Clubs organized in order of start date.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XvWFACDX8DRUGztoEjQDOO3gzj26D7RTcxcBlKDfMZk/edit?usp=sharing

Clubs

Mondays

Ulmtimate Frisbee Clubs - Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:30pm. Meets on the field. Contact Mr. Gillespie with questions mgillespie@op97.org

Yearbook Club: First meeting is on Monday, 10/1 in room B202 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms.Turner-Reid or Ms. Pabellon with questions mturnerreid@op97.org or mpabellon@op97.org
RAD: Mondays 3:45pm to 5:00pm in PE Classroom. Contact Ms. Dajani with questions rdajani@op97.org
Math Team: First meeting is on Monday, 10/1 in room B204 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Mr. Sam Kahn with questions. skahn@op97.org
ORFF: Monday mornings 8am to 8:50am in D110 Contact Mr. Carrillo with questions fcarrillo@op97.org
Spoken Word Club: Mondays in B205 (3:30 - 5:00 pm) with Mr. Lee and resident poet Christian Robinson. Contact Mr. Lee with questions. mlee@op97.org
BRAVO Guitar Club & Dance Hip Hop Studio started on Monday, September 17. There is still time to sign up! Click on links above to access permission slips. These clubs are FREE to ALL Brooks Students.

Tuesdays

EcoEalges - Tuesdays 3:30 to 4:30 pm in room C202. Contact Ms. Stamp with questions lstamp@op97.org
Chess Club: Will be on Tuesdays from 3:30pm to 4:30pm for remainder of the school year. Contact Mr. Hausfeld with questions mhausfeld@op97.org

Wednesdays

Ulmtimate Frisbee Clubs - Mondays and Wednesdays 3:30 to 4:30pm. Meets on the field. Contact Mr. Gillespie with questions mgillespie@op97.org
Best Buddies: Here is the year long calendar that can be downloaded. Contact Ms. Beauprez with questions lbeeauprez@op97.org .
Girls on the Rise: Meets week on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 4:45pm in room C105
World Language Club: Every other Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30pm in C209. Contact Mr. Lagioia with questions vlagioia@op97.org
BRAVO Dance Hip Hop Studio started on Monday, September 17. There is still time to sign up! Click on links above to access permission slips. These clubs are FREE to ALL Brooks Students.

Thursdays

Rainbow Tribe: Contact Ms. Berman with questions aberman@op97.org
Art Club: Thursdays in room D301 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms. Murray with questions. kmurray@op97.org

Fridays

Service Club: Friday mornings from 8am to 8:50am in room B209. Contact Ms. Walsh with questions swalsh@op97.org

Unified Soccer: Any questions please contact Tim McDonald tmcdonald1@op97.org

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Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School

Email: acapuder@op97.org
Website: op97.org/brooks
Location: 325 S Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL, United States
Phone: (708) 524-3050
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/108994473138309/
Twitter: @brooksop97

October 15th, 2018

Middle School Parent/Guardian Focus Group Invitation