October 9th, 2018

Twitter Highlights: Week 7

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

Mid Term Progress Reports

Progress reports will go home to families via email on Friday, 10/12. You may also review your students grades by visiting the Powerschool parent portal.

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.

ILMEA Festival Auditions

Please be sure to congratulate the following Brooks musicians for their successful audition this past Saturday. (It will mean A LOT to them!). It was an intense day where hundreds of middle school musicians across our Chicagoland area competed to be selected to participate in the Festival Honors Chorus, Band or Orchestra ensembles. The following students were selected and will proudly represent Brooks Middle School in the upcoming ILMEA District 1 Honors Music Festival on Saturday, November 3 in New Lenox, IL.

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

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!

Thrive Counseling Center

Please click the link below for a new group at Thrive for children ages 9-13 who are struggling with anxiety. The group is FREE for residents of Oak Park & River Forest! Interested parents can contact Abby Gomez de la Casa at (708) 383-7500 ext. 414.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B6gnevA1fHdWYUFzYTg3WTJxOXlJWUZOUEc2NlIyZE9TUmZn/view?usp=sharing

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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The Great Apple Crunch

The Great Apple Crunch, taking place throughout Illinois on Thursday, October 11, encourages healthy eating and supports farm to school and other local food purchasing initiatives

throughout the region. Brooks is celebrating the Great Apple Crunch! All hot lunch orders will include a local apple on October 11 and all other students will get to sample local apples in the cafeteria that day, too.

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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

Away Game vs MacArthur

10/9, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

Home Game vs.Freedom

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

Away Game vs Stevenson

10/11, 4:00pm - 6:00pm

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Boys Basketball

Tuesday, October 9

Tryouts. 7:00am-8:45am AND 3:30pm -5:00pm

6th graders can have a separate sports physical or the school physical with the sports box checked by their doctor.

7th and 8th graders need to have a separate sports physical because they have to be given every year. The physical MUST be turned in prior to the tryout dare.

If these requirements for physicals aren't met, they cannot try out for the team.

For questions, please contact Darren Haus at dhaus@op97.org

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OPEF Robotics News and Information

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 (No meetings due to No School)

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: This wee on Tuesday from 3:30pm to 4:30pm due to Monday Holiday. 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 . The next meeting is 10/3.
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. Meeting this week on 10/3. 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: First meeting is on Thursday 10/4 in room D301 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms. Murray with questions. kmurray@op97.org

Fridays

Service Club: First meeting is Friday 9/29 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 9th, 2018