April 8, 2019

Join us on Monday, April 15 from 7:00 - 8:30 for our next Brooks Community Meeting. We will be discussing the budget and planning for next school year.

We have been receiving messages regarding the last day of the 2018 - 2019 school year. In terms of the pdf calendar listed on http://www.op97.org/school-calendars, the board, as it does on an annual basis in accordance with state law, isn't expected to finalize the calendar for this year until one of its meetings in April. Therefore, we cannot update this calendar until then. In the interim, we will be removing the pdf from D97 site and will repost it when the final calendar for this year has been approved.

• News item - http://www.op97.org/news/1653295/update-on-the-last-day-of-school-for-2018-19
• Calendar item - http://www.op97.org/calendar/1803854/last-day-of-school-for-students-2019

The last day of school for 6th and 7th graders will be on Thursday, June 6th. The last day of school for 8th graders will be on Friday, May 31st, as graduation is on Saturday, June 1st. The last day of attendance for all grades is a full day of school, 9:00am to 3:30pm.

Students in the Eco Eagles ecology club at Brooks Middle School have set a date for a community rally and school walkout, given that a permission slip has been completed, against climate change for April 22, Earth Day, at Scoville Park from 3:10-4:30 pm. They’ve named the rally The Climate Comeback and are encouraging all community members to participate.

The community rally and school walkout are inspired by Greta Thunberg, the 15-year-old activist whose school strikes have been followed by millions of students in Europe. On March 15, over a million students around the world walked out of school to protest their government’s lack of action on climate change.

The students at Brooks are inviting all students in Oak Park and River Forest to join them at Scoville Park. They will be leaving school at 3:10 to march to the park, where there will be student speakers and performers.

The Eco Eagles are also inviting all community members who care about this issue to attend the rally.

We need parent volunteers to assist with the march. Please email lstamp@op97.org if you can join us.

If your student wishes to participate, a permission slip must be completed.

For more information, email lstamp@op97.org and follow eco_eagles on Instagram.

The service club is collecting food for the OPRF Food Pantry's Can Do Challenge.

https://www.classy.org/team/224062

We will be collecting donations between April 1st through April 30th.

Service Club is collecting travel size toiletries all year! Donations will be used to make care packages for Housing Forward. Please send any small, unopened toiletries to Ms. Walsh or Ms. Martínez. Thank you for your help!

This is some information about TWO upcoming events hosted by Oak Park and River Forest High School’s A Place for All (APA) club. All Middle School students are invited:

1. Loud & Proud on Friday, April 12th from 3:30-5:30. Come play games, eat food, and win prizes to raise money for an LGBTQ+ charity! All proceeds this year will support The Center on Halsted. RSVP to gcolamussi@oprfhs.org if your school/group will be joining us.
2. GSA Adventure Night on Friday, May 10th from 7:00-9:30 PM. Try out our rock climbing wall, high ropes course, or just enjoy some low-key board games. Pizza provided, and the event is free! RSVP to gcolamussi@oprfhs.org if your school/group will be joining us.

Planning is already underway for the next school year! The PTO is committed to enriching the experience of students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School through supporting a positive school environment, facilitating the development of positive relationships within the community, advancing school equity initiatives, and creating an environment where all students have access to school resources and opportunities. See the positions that are available and sign up here! Email any questions to gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.

TreeRing, our yearbook vendor, has a new process for ordering yearbooks. You must enter a passcode and set up an account to place an order. Please use the link provided below:

https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1014096931934358

If you are asked for a pass code, please use: 1014096931934358

Students can use this text-based (Text HOPE to 844-670-5838) resource 24 hours a day to connect with licensed mental health clinicians who can provide them with assistance or guidance on a variety of issues that include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying and abuse.

If you're would like to see the Student Announcements that are shared with students at the top of each week, you can always find them on our Brooks Home Page by clicking on the button along the left-hand side that is entitled, "Student Announcements".

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

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

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.

The Ultimate Frisbee club will start on Monday, April 8.

The club will play on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm and end on May 22.

For more information contact Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org

January – May 2019 is our 8th grade Girls on the Rise portion of the program. Attached a flyer for the upcoming session.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6gnevA1fHdWODNvNlV2MU9LQmVtdVZ3LVo2a0hXS1czX1E4/view?usp=sharing

Mondays

• Yearbook Club: Next meetings 4/8 & 4/22 in room B202 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Here is link to the entire year meeting dates schedule. Contact Ms.Turner-Reid or Ms. Pabellon with questions mturnerreid@op97.org or mpabellon@op97.org
• Math Team: 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 - meets from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in room C202. Contact Ms. Stamp with questions lstamp@op97.org
  
• Chess Club: meets from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in room B305. Contact Mr. Hausfeld with questions mhausfeld@op97.org
  

Wednesdays

• 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

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