Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• GBMS Top 10 FAQ's for first weeks of school
• Brooks Open House Alternate Dates
• Back to School Information and COVID-19 Safety Mitigations (Repeat)
• Lunch/Social Time Supervisors Needed (Repeat)
• Technology Update (Repeat)
• Water Bottle Reminder (Repeat)
  
• Sports Information - Fall 2021 (Repeat)
• Middle School Clubs Meeting Days and Times (Repeat)

Highlights from GBMS PTO and District

• PTO News
• District News

Repeated Topics from Past Week's Middle Matters

• New Brooks Staff
• Allergy Safe Information
• SY21-22 School Calendar
• Mindfulness Information to Support Students Return to School
• School Registration Information
• Hephzibah Help Needed
• School Physical and Immunization Information
• When Stay Home from School
• How to Report Student Absence
• Tech Support

Community Partner News

If you have questions about the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me at acapuder@op97.org. You can also contact my Executive Coordinator, Ms. Tasha Guerino, at tguerino@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our administrative team is also available to help answer your questions.

Angelica Love Curriculum & Instruction AP (6th grade, Teams 7.1 & 7.2) will be gone on maternity leave until January 4, 2022. Denise Fernandez will be supporting our 6th grade and Team 7.1 & 7.2 during Angelica's absence. dfernandez@op97.org

Antoine Bland Curriculum & Instruction AP (8th grade, Teams 7.3) abland@op97.org

Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org

• Back to School Open House Alternate Dates: Monday 8/23 & Tuesday 8/24 9am to 2pm; 6th Graders, 7th graders who were fully remote last year and New Students can walk their schedule on Tuesday 8/24 from 2pm to 3:30pm

• First Day of School: Wednesday, August 25th from 9:00am to 3:30pm (White (A) Day)
• PTO Welcome Back Night: Wednesday, September 1st from 5:30pm to 7:30pm
• Virtual Curriculum Night: Thursday, September 9th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm

• End of Trimester 1: Friday, November 19th

• Virtual Conferences: Thursday, October 21st from 12:45pm to 8pm
  

• Trimester 1 Report Card Emailed Home: Friday, December 10th

CLICK HERE to find answers to our most frequently asked questions about the first weeks of school.

1. What class should my student go to on the first day of school? First Period - This has been changed since the initial communications
2. Does the (A) next to the numbers on my student’s schedule mean anything?
3. My Student has a Design class but is missing advisory on their schedule, is this correct?
4. What school supplies should my student bring on the first day of school?
5. What door should my student enter the school when they arrive at 8:50am?
6. Will students use Hallway or PE lockers?
7. Will students need a PE uniform or change for PE?
8. Are there any size requirements for backpacks?
9. Will school lunch be available?
10. If we missed the Open House on August 18th, is there an alternate date available

If you or your student are unable to make our Open House event on Wednesday, August 18th, students/parents can come to the main office to swap out technology, pick up student ID and busing information plus have any questions answered on

• Monday, August 23rd from 9:00am to 2:00pm
• Tuesday, August 24th from 9:00am to 2:00pm

For our new students, 6th graders or 7th grade students who were fully remote last year and missed the open house on August 18th, we will have a small window where the students only can walk their schedule on Tuesday, August 24th from 2:00pm to 3:30pm.

If for any reason, students and their families are unable to attend the Open House on August 18th or the alternate dates, students will be able to swap their technology the first week of school and their ID will also be provided at that time.

Please visit our GBMS Learning SY21-22 Information webpage, CLICK HERE. You will find details about the following on our webpage:

• D97 Back-to-School Plan
• Brooks Open House Information, including alternate dates for the few families that may need an alternate day/time
• First Day of School - schedule and what school supplies should be brought to school
• School Day Schedule
• Hallway and PE Lockers will not be used at this time
• Lunch Organization for Students
• Weekly SHIELD Illinois Testing information
• Arrival Process for students, including assigned entry location
• Information on where to Drop-off students, if they are driven to school
• Dismissal Process for students
• Mask Wearing expectations
• Cell Phones Away for the Day Expectations
• Busing Information
• Tardy to School Procedures
• Procedures and Routines while in the classroom
• School Supplies
• COVID-19 Contact Tracing Procedures
• Advisory and SOAR information
• How to secure Technology Help
• Who to ask if you have questions diagram
• Parent resources for Canvas, PowerSchool, Google and Securly

To support our students and staff during the school day, we are still seeking more parents and community members to serve as lunchroom/social time supervisors during the 2021-22 school year. It's easy to apply, and your time would have a direct impact on our schools. CLICK HERE to apply!

New Student Google Accounts (@stu.op97.org)

Quick Summary: The only change to the account is the domain @stu.op97.org from @students.op97.org. The username prior to the @ symbol will be the same as before and passwords will remain the same. Parents/Guardians will need to request access to migrate data from the previous account.

Deeper read:

Why: District 97 was a pioneer and early adopter using Google for Education accounts. In the early development of Google for Education the ability to put specific settings and features in place for students differently than staff required two separate domains. However, many things have changed and we are now able to provide a more streamlined experience for our students and staff in our main Google domain. We have been planning a merge of both our student and staff Google domains for the last two years. With specific changes to settings and the impact this change would have, we decided it was best to wait for a refresh of the Chromebooks to minimize access interruption for students. In addition, during planning we decided with feedback from various stakeholders that it would be less disruptive to students to provide new accounts and a way to migrate data if a student chose to do so. In addition, there are a few other benefits to this transition: transparency of collaboration with students and staff, consistency/efficiency with staff only needing one account, and ability to more effectively apply security to all accounts through a single domain.

What: The only change to the account is the domain @stu.op97.org from @students.op97.org. The username prior to the @ symbol will be the same as before and passwords will remain the same. In order to migrate any data/work/projects from your previous account a parent/guardian must send an email to marensdorff@op97.org requesting access to Google Takeout to be available for your child’s account. This is a change and new requirement per the terms of service/compliance with Google services.

We ask that if possible to please send your student to school with a filled water bottle. There are no drinking fountains open, but we have water bottle filling stations in the school for our students to refill their water bottles when needed.

BROOKS SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY 2021

Students in grades six through eight are welcome to join the cross country team. The Cross Country coaches for 2021 are Tom Rocco (trocco@op97.org), Lary Grimaldi (lgrimaldi@op97.org) and Kim Beader (kbeader@op97.org). Cross Country is a no-cut sport at the middle schools. Students who have all the necessary paperwork completed (sports physical-the Interscholastic Sports “yes” box needs to be checked, sports permission slip and concussion form) and turned in will be accepted onto the team through Friday, August 27th, or once the 75 available spots have been filled. All students must have a copy of an updated physical to hand to the coach (we will not have access to nurse's files) before practicing for the 2021-2022 cross country season. Please see the linked information from the coaches which outlines what is needed each practice and the calendar of practices for the month of August. Students will not be permitted to start with the team prior to all necessary paperwork being turned into the coaches.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Tryouts will be held on Thursday, August 26th and Monday, August 30th from 3:30 to 4:45 pm after school. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the coaches, Sam Fishman, sfishman@op97.org (Junior Varsity) and Dr. Kina Brown, kbrown@op97.org (Varsity). More information will be shared about the upcoming season as we get closer to the start of the school year and season. Please be sure to read the information below carefully to ensure your athlete is able to participate in tryouts. We look forward to working with your student athletes this year!

• Athletes must bring a copy of their physical to hand to the coach to participate in tryouts on August 26th from 3:30 pm to 4:45 pm. Students should meet in the main gym

• 6th graders- bring copy of school physical

• 7th & 8th graders- bring copy of sports physical (must be current within the year)

• Athletes must bring a signed copy of this sports permission slip to participate in tryouts on August 26th

• Athletes must bring a signed copy of this concussion form to participate in tryouts on August 26th

• Wear comfortable clothing and sneakers to tryouts and bring your own water bottle

At this time, Indoor spectators will not be permitted to attend practices or games. We will be providing information pertaining to other sports that will be offered as we progress through the school year allowing us to take into consideration the any and all needed safety mitigations for COVID-19.

We are planning to offer in-person clubs before and after-school. We will provide more information at the start of the school year.

The Brooks PTO and BRAVO have teamed up to present our first event in a year and half! Join us on Wednesday, September 1 from 5:30 to 7:30 in the Brooks parking lot for games, a photo booth, tik tok dance choreography, and the chance to dump a bucket of water on a teacher! There will also be an open mic sign up for anyone (including parents!) to share their talents! Parents and students are welcome; the event will be outdoors and masks are required.

We need a few volunteers to make this event fun! Sign up here!

Do you want to have the inside scoop on what is going on at Brooks and D97? Do you want to make our school better than it ever as we transition back to a more ‘normal’ school day? NOW is the time to get involved!! We are looking to fill positions for the 2021-2022 school year and have some critical roles open! Sign up here and email gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com with any questions! We look forward to hearing from you!

Connect with PTO

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

Support the PTO, a local black-owned business, and get awesome Brooks Spirit wear all at the same time! Brooks Spirit wear can be ordered at any time visiting the Brooks section of the Shabby Fly website. Order will be shipped to your home!

Free/Reduced Meal Application
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved key waivers that allow school districts to continue serving free meals to all children. This means that all District 97 students are eligible to receive breakfast and lunch free of charge for the entire 2021-22 school year.

Although students will receive free meals, parents/guardians will need to submit the 2021-22 Free and Reduced Meal Application and be approved in order to be considered for a school fee waiver and other state programs. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the application as soon as possible. Please visit https://www.op97.org/business-office/food-service for more information.

DISTRICT 97 BACK-TO-SCHOOL PLAN FOR 2021-22 (Repeat)

District 97 has developed a comprehensive back-to-school plan to keep our students and staff healthy and safe while they learn in person five days a week. Our approach implements data-informed response measures that are aligned with the most up-to-date scientific research and best practices for K-12 schools. The plan also reflects rising concerns about the transmissibility of the Delta variant, the resurgence of COVID-19 cases, and the fact that the majority of our students (Pre-K through sixth grade) are not yet eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

• District 97 Back-to-School Plan for 2021-22
• COVID-19 Safety Mitigation Highlights, including updated information about quarantining requirements

Below is a brief overview of some, not all, of the safety mitigations that will be in place for the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. New procedures are starred (*).

• Full-Day, In-Person Instruction for All Students: Per state guidance, remote learning will only be provided only if a student is placed in quarantine by the health department or if students qualify as medically fragile.
• Universal Masking: Masks will be required for all students and staff, regardless of vaccination status. Distanced mask breaks will be provided.
• Weekly Screening Testing: District 97 will partner with SHIELD Illinois to provide weekly testing to all students in Pre-K through eighth grade. This is a non-invasive saliva test that will be conducted on site during the school day. Testing is optional but strongly recommended. No action is necessary to participate. CLICK HERE to learn more about SHIELD testing. CLICK HERE for FAQ related to SHIELD Illinois.
• Updated Quarantine and Contact Tracing Procedures: At the direction of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or who test positive for COVID-19, must quarantine/isolate from school for a period of 10-14 school days. Students and staff may return after following the protocols outlined in our plan. As of today, quarantining is no longer required for vaccinated individuals unless they are symptomatic. The CDC and IDPH have also updated their close contact definition for classroom students, which we hope will minimize disruptions to in-person learning this year.
• Physical Distancing: We will make every effort to maintain as much distance as possible between students—at least 3 feet—in classrooms and during lunch.
• Cleaning and Disinfecting: Staff will perform regular school cleaning and disinfect all high-touch surfaces daily. The full classroom disinfection process will occur weekly.

Wanting to confirm information you've heard regarding our schools? (Repeat)

Oak Park District 97 is committed to providing accurate and timely information. Our new Fact Checker will be updated consistently based upon common questions and concerns to ensure you have access to the key facts that interest you most.

Text Messages from District 97 (Repeat)

District 97 uses the notification system BrightArrow to communicate with families via email and phone calls. This year, we have started using periodic text messages to send reminders directly to parents' cell phones. In order to receive text messages, parents must opt in by texting YES to 87569. Once you have subscribed, you will receive a text confirmation.

Texts may appear from District 97 from 87569 or a phone number with a 424 area code (you may wish to save them to your contacts).

Wellness Check-in Program (Repeat)

The district-wide wellness check-in program, which was an initial crisis response to the pandemic, will not continue in its current format during the new Hybrid schedule. Please reach out to your school's school psychologist or social worker if you have social-emotional concerns about your child. If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please call the Thrive 24hr Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.

Effective Student Behavior Handbook (Repeat)

District 97 is committed to creating a positive learning environment that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. Behavior education involves proactively teaching positive behaviors to create the conditions that make every classroom and school a positive place to learn.

The revised District 97 Effective Student Behavior Handbook is designed to provide information about policies, procedures and practices related to student behavior, and to help students and families prepare for a successful school experience. It also provides notifications required by state and federal law. Click here for our full communication about the new Effective Student Behavior Handbook >

6th Grade Special Education

Cameron Szymczak - Team 6.1

Laura Eggert - Team 6.3 (coming to us from Holmes Elementary School)

6th Grade Math

Melissa Barone - Team 6.3

7th Grade Special Education

TBD (1 Staff for Team 7.3)

8th Grade Math/Geometry

Caroline Delia - Team 8.3 (moved from 6th grade)

IB Coordinator

Veena Rajashekar

Math Interventionist

Yael Berenson White

Teacher Assistants

Tammy Adams

John Smith

TBD (1 staff)

Permanent Substitutes

Marcus Charles

Pedro Andrade

Mary Smith

Norma Rixter

Hallway Monitors

TBD (1 Additional staff)

Introduction Messages from Staff:

My name is Cameron Szymczak and I am thrilled to be starting my career at Brooks this Fall! I majored in Special Education at Concordia University Chicago and received an endorsement in Middle Grades Literacy. I was lucky enough to complete multiple hours of Field Experience and my Student Teaching here at Gwendolyn Brooks. Outside of school, I spend my time traveling, reading, and hanging out with my family.

Hello Brooks families, my name is Yael Berenson White. I am extremely honored to be joining the Brooks team as a math interventionist this year. I was born and raised in Northern California and recently moved to Oak Park with my spouse, who grew up here, and our two kids ages 4 and 1 1/2. I started my career as a social worker on the West Side of Chicago and have taught in Chicago Public Schools for the past seven years. I earned my Masters in Education as well as a Math Specialist Endorsement at The University of Chicago. I love teaching math because of the impact that strong and responsive math education can have on students. Outside of school I love spending time with my family, playing tennis, and traveling back to California to spend time in the redwoods. Looking forward to a fabulous year with you all!

There are a number of very exciting endeavors taking place here at Brooks. With over 300 new students walking through our doors every August, the story of Brooks Middle School changes each and every year. The next chapter in our story kicks-off on August 28th!

Hi! My name is Veena Rajashekar, and I'm honored to be the new IB Coordinator at Brooks. In my 16 year tenure in Oak Park, I taught at Beye and Lincoln, and served as the instructional coach at Lincoln. I'm an Oak Park community member and former parent. My son went through our schools from K-12 and is currently a rising 3rd year student at Ohio State. In my 20+ years in education, I've had the great fortune of teaching students in grades 2-8 in Winnetka, Northbrook, Oak Park and Japan, and worked with colleagues who've taught me so much. Looking ahead to the coming year, I'm eager and excited to get to know and work with the Brooks Leadership Team to champion and support our students, teachers and families.

My name is Melissa Barone. I am eager to join the Brooks Middle School community. I graduated from Northeastern Illinois University with a concentration in middle school math teaching and has spent the past 4 years teaching 6-8 grade math with an inquiry project-based approach. Facilitating math learning in mixed-age classrooms has contributed to my confidence in meeting all students’ learning needs. I look forward to collaborating with students, families and faculty to best support my sixth grade students as they transition into middle school this fall.

Hi Brooks families and staff. My name is Laura Eggert and I am new to 6th grade at Brooks, but not new to District 97. I spent the last 10 years at Holmes Elementary getting to know many Brooks families before they transitioned to middle school.

My husband and I have two daughters ages 3 1/2 and 5. Both are starting school again this year after doing homeschool last year. Our oldest, Lucy will start Kindergarten in Naperville this year and our youngest, Winnie will be in preschool at a local church. They are both extremely excited to make new friends!

I enjoy reading (or listening to books on my commute), eating Thai food, playing, exploring, and reading with my girls, and taking walks. I am looking forward to the new experiences and adventures of middle school!

Please visit https://bit.ly/3j0KGTB to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips.

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2021-22 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” The shift to include lunch was necessary as many students may be eating their lunch in spaces other than the lunchroom due to COVID-19 protocols.

We appreciate your help in adhering to this preventative measure.

During its regular meeting on May 25, the District 97 Board of Education approved an amended calendar for the 2021-22 school year, as well as a proposed calendar for 2022-23.

Under the new calendar, the first day of school in District 97 will be Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021. Teacher Institute Days will be held Monday, Aug. 23, and Tuesday, Aug. 24. Winter break will officially begin Dec. 20, and school will resume on January 4. The last day of school (without any emergency days) will be June 7, 2022.

Click here to access the amended 2021-22 calendar >

Here is a useful resource as your student prepares for the transition back to school.

https://www.op97.org/news/1716518/mindful-middle-schoolers-community-talk-june-14-video-recording

Returning Students

Registration for all returning District 97 students was due June 30. If you have not yet submitted your online registration, please do so immediately. Students who register late are not guaranteed to be approved by the first day of classes. Please note that only students who have completed registration and been approved by the district will be allowed to start school on Aug. 25. Emails either approving your student or requesting additional information come from InfoSnap@is.op97.org and are sent to the email listed for "Parent/Guardian 1" in our system. Please check your spam and junk folders for these emails.

New and Kindergarten Students

Parents who have a new or kindergarten student must start their registration by making an appointment at the district office. Appointments can be made by clicking here. Note: In order to make an appointment you will need to log in with your registration account, or create an account on the login page.

More Information: Registration FAQ's | Registration Required Document Lists | Registration Login Page | Registration Help Line | Request for Records | New/Kindergarten Student Appointment

Hephzibah is a valued community partner that provides vital care and services to children and families in Oak Park. Unfortunately, due to staff shortages, Hephzibah's after-school programs at Beye, Whittier and Irving school locations will not open at the start of the school year. These closings are temporary; programs will reopen as soon as sufficient staff can be hired and trained.

Hephzibah is currently recruiting Youth Development Specialists to support their programs in District 97 schools. The job description is included below, and additional information can be found at www.hephzibahhome.org. We encourage community members to apply and share the information through their networks!

Hephzibah Youth Development Specialist

Youth Development Specialists will be responsible for planning and facilitating fun activities and games for children aged 5- 11. They will be working on a team of other Youth Development Specialists in one of the Oak Park elementary schools. The staff to child ratio is 1:10.

The position hours are: Mondays and Tuesdays, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The position begins on Wednesday, Aug. 18.

Pay for this position is based on years of full-time equivalent work with children. The pay range is $14 to $15 per hour. Additionally, there is a $250 sign-on bonus, which is distributed over the first year of employment.

Incoming 6th-grade students and/or any new students who have transferred into District 97, MUST have a wellness physical and dental exam dated no less than one year prior to August 25th, 2021. Your child's physical must have been performed after August 25th, 2020 . Your child may not be admitted to school without these documents. Please submit the documents by mail or in person no later than August 25, 2021 to the following:

Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School

Attn: Health Office, Nurse Nancy Radogno

325 S. Kenilworth Ave

Oak Park, IL 60302

SPORTS PHYSICALS – The State of Illinois Office of Education requires that any student who wishes to participate in interscholastic sports MUST have an Athletic Physical Examination, dated no less than one year prior to the first day of the current school year, anytime after August 25, 2020. It is MANDATORY that your child have this physical before they will be eligible to try out or participate in any interscholastic activity.

To access student health forms please visit http://www.op97.org/hr/health-requirements

**For any family having difficulty securing an appointment to get the physical completed, please email our School Nurse, Nancy Radogno, nradogno@op97.org.

We ask that our entire District 97 community help keep our schools safe by adhering to our COVID-19 guidelines. This includes students/staff staying home if they:

• Are feeling sick
• Have tested positive for COVID-19
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• Are a close contact of a positive/probable COVID-19 case
• See CDC Flyer for further guidance

Attendance will be taken every day for each class period by each of your child's teacher and it will be denoted in PowerSchool, including ADVISORY. Student's are expected to attend each of their classes at their scheduled time and day. If your student will be absent from school, please call the attendance number 708-665-3074 or email brooksattendance@op97.org

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.

The Help Corner will features a frequently-asked question related to services and opportunities available for District 97 students and families. We will keep a complete list of these FAQs on our district website.

District 97 has created Community Resources Page. We also encourage families to stay connected through Facebook and Twitter. Additional updates can be found at:

Village of Oak Park

Oak Park Township

Oak Park Public Library

Park District of Oak Park

Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200

District 97 also has a broad network of partner organizations that provide an array of supports and services for Oak Park residents. The Community Mental Health Board and Oak Park and River Forest Townships have also put together a COVID-19 Social Services Resource Guide, which is available at https://tinyurl.com/oprfguide.

Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group's program(s), event(s) and/or services(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

SUPPORT4U is a mental health resource for our students to anonymously text licensed mental health clinicians any time of the day for assistance or guidance. Students can text for any issue; typical reasons might include social issues, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying, abuse, or any other mental health-related topic. The clinician’s goal is to steer the student to available resources in the school and community. To use, students just need to go to Support4U.live on their phone, click on the Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School logo and hit send. Help is just a text away.

PHONE-BASED COUNSELING

Thrive is offering phone-based counseling, 24/7 crisis intervention services, medication management and, a free Thrive Check-In phone support line (Ext. 8) to address our community’s needs during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Call us at (708)383-7500. Our Front Desk team is also ready to assist you Monday-Friday, 9am to 2pm, with requests for referrals or new services and to reschedule or cancel an appointment.

Mental Health Resource, "Call4Calm"

Thrive is also a proud partner of the Illinois Call4Calm Text Line Service. Text “TALK” TO 552020 (or “HABLAR) for Spanish. The Illinois Call4Calm Text Line is not a crisis hotline, but is a source of support for anyone experiencing stress and in need of a listening ear.

And we know the COVID-19 pandemic can wear on every resource—from food and shelter to our emotional bandwidth and mental health. Fortunately, the Illinois Department of Human Services has launched a support line called Call4Calm that is reachable via text. Individuals who want to speak with a mental health professional can text the word “TALK” or “HABLAR” (for Spanish speakers) to 552-020. Within 24 hours, that individual will receive a call from a mental health professional employed by a local community health center.

People can also text other terms, like “unemployment” or “food” or “shelter” to the same number to receive information on how to navigate and access supports and services. Call4Calm is free, and individuals who use it can remain anonymous. We encourage you to share this resource with your students, families, and staff.