D97 Framework for Reopening Schools
D97 Framework for Reopening Schools
On Friday we shared the District 97 Framework for Reopening Schools, which includes information about our remote and hybrid learning models, as well as the procedures that will be implemented to protect the health and safety of our students and staff. A shorter overview of our plans can be accessed here.
- D97 Board of Education Meeting: Tuesday, Oct. 13 - 7 p.m.
The District 97 administrative team will provide an update on return-to-school planning during the Oct. 13 board of education meeting. Community questions will be addressed during the town hall Oct. 19 (see below).
The meeting will be held virtually, via Zoom, and will be streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel. (Click here for meeting information.)
- Virtual Town Hall: Monday, Oct. 19 - 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
District 97 will hold a virtual town hall for the community on Monday, Oct. 19. We will spend the majority of the time answering questions submitted by parents and community members. The event will be streamed live on the district's YouTube channel.
CLICK HERE to submit your questions about the district’s Trimester 2 plans by 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14. An outside facilitator will select questions to be answered by panelists from District 97. There will also be an opportunity to submit questions during the town hall.
Health M2 Course will begin Tuesday, October 13
Please be sure to check Canvas for the Zoom class link.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Rhoades at jrhoades@op97.org
Virtual Parent Teacher Conferences
Check out... Whats happening in the Brooks Library
- First pickup will Thursday, October 15th from 8-8:45 & 3:45-4:30 outside the Commons doors near the parking lot on Kenilworth (books for this pickup need to be on hold in the catalog by Monday, October 12th, 11:59PM).
- Future pickups for trimester 1 will be on Thursday, October 29th, and Thursday, November 12th
- Instructions and flyers will be coming soon!
- October 16-26, 2020
- How Does it Work?
- Anderson’s Book Flyer
- Tuesday, October 27th Drive-through pickup from 3:45pm to 7pm
- Raffle opportunities (see QR code below)
Mock Election
- All of you will participate in the democratic process by casting a ballot in the presidential and local elections
- Voting will take place through I&S classes on October 22 & 23
- Results of our school’s election and how we compare across the state and nation will also be shared in early November
Middle School Virtual Club Starting and Meeting Days/Times
Please see our virtual club offerings below. Zoom links for all club meetings can be accessed in the lunch course on your Canvas Dashboard.
Contact Ms. Klein (skein@op97.org) if you need help finding the links.
- Women's Ensemble - Tuesdays 8:00 - 8:45 am
- Men's Ensemble - Thursdays 8:00 - 8:45 am
- Mixed Ensemble - Fridays 8:00 - 8:45 am
- Jazz Ensemble will meet on Tuesday, October 13th from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.
- Jazz Band will meet on Thursday, October 15th from 8:00 am to 8:45 am.
Technology Support
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.
Connect with the Brook’s PTO
Connect with PTO
Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto, or email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.
NEW - 6th grade families can connect on FaceBook in the 'Gwendolyn Brooks 6th Grade Families 2020-21' group.
Starship Tuesdays are back (kind of) -THIS TUESDAY!
As many of you know, Starship is a local restaurant in Forest Park that, in normal times, caters lunch for Brooks on Tuesdays. These lunches are the primary fundraiser for the PTO and fund important school programs like Teacher and Student Grants, provide scholarships for the 7th and 8th grade trips, host staff appreciation lunches and guest speakers for parent education events.
During remote schooling, Starship has agreed to partner with Brooks PTO in a slightly different way. Every Tuesday, beginning October 6, for all orders that mention Brooks PTO, Starship will donate 20% of the orders back to the Brooks PTO! Make sure you mention you are with Brooks PTO. And best of all, you can order online and they deliver!
This means you can still support a local business, support the Brooks PTO, and take time off in the kitchen! A win-win-win! Now, you can have lunch delivered to your home for everyone schooling/working from home or even have dinner delivered! Or maybe order a sandwich tray and keep fed all week! Order online at www.starshiprestaurant.com or call 708-771-301. Make sure you mention you are with Brooks PTO (online orders put ‘Brooks PTO’ in special instructions).
Donate and help the PTO continue to fund school initiatives
A $10 donation will help the PTO make Brooks even better
The PTO’s regular fund raising has been eliminated with the switch to remote schooling. However, a $10 donation from YOU can help us continue to fund grant requests from teachers to provide additional educational materials for optimal learning, providing a year end 8th-grade graduation celebration, and so much more. If you would like to contribute directly to the PTO, please follow this link. Any amount is helpful!
If you have any questions or ideas on fundraising initiates we welcome your feedback. You may email the PTO Fundraising Chair April Fleming at afleming56@yahoo.com.
Opportunity for 8th grade parents
The PTO is committed to enriching the experience of students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School and we are looking for one more 8th grade parent to be on the PTO Board! As an 8th Grade co-VP, you will help plan the 8th grade celebration (typically the 8th grade dance, but might be different this year) and a staff appreciation event. You will have a co-VP to help with all of this, so you aren’t on your own! Let us know if you are interested or have questions by emailing gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.
Order your Brooks Spirit Wear
Brooks Spirit Wear
Brooks spirit wear can be ordered at any time by visiting this website. Sizes for kids and adults! Orders will be shipped to your home!
"Food Free in Three" Reminder - Phase 3
As a reminder, this year we entered Phase 3 of the "Food Free in Three" program for school celebrations. This means that no food will be served during celebrations at our schools. Although we are in remote learning, we have heard from some parents that there has been discussion about sending baked goods to students' homes to celebrate their birthdays. Because we are in Phase 3, we are discouraging this practice for celebrations. Parents are encouraged to send non-food items, which will help ensure the safety and inclusivity of all District 97 students. More information is available at: https://www.op97.org/health-services/food-freein-three.
'Stamped' Family and Community Discussions
Stamped' Family and Community Discussions
District 97 students, families and community members are invited to participate in a three-session discussion on the book Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Attendees will join together for a presentation followed by discussions in separate breakout rooms.
In conjunction with Brooks and Julian middle schools' fall curriculum read, the sessions will follow along with the chapters being read by students and staff. Breakout sessions will be led by students from Dominican University, who will follow a peace circle format and draw on the Stamped Educator's Guide.
Events will be held:
- Tuesday, Oct. 20 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
- Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
These sessions are made possible with the support of: District 97 staff; Oak Park and River Forest School District 200; the Oak Park Public Library; the E-Team of Oak Park; and Dominican University’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) group
Orson Morrison, Psy.D.
(He/Him) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of the DePaul University Family and Community Services (FCS). He provides clinic oversight, staff training, clinical supervision, and is involved in program development and the evaluation of clinical services at FCS. Dr. Morrison’s professional interests and areas of expertise include psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and families, psychological assessment, contemplative practices, culture and identity, and working within a social justice/empowerment framework. He is also an Oak Park resident and has children at Brooks and OPRFHS. omorriso@depaul.edu
Cary Klemmer, Ph.D., MSW
Victoria Doobay, Ph.D.
(She/Her) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist at the DePaul University Family and Community Services Clinic (FCS). Victoria is interested in providing mindfulness based therapy to children, teens, and families, and working with communities to provide accessible mental health care. She is also an advocate for racial justice, works through a social justice lens, and is committed to lifelong learning. She is looking forward to working with the Oak Park community again this year! Assigned Schools: Brooks Middle School. vdoobay@depaul.edu
Lauren Trinca, LPC
Candice Martin, B.A.
is a Care Coordinator at DePaul Family and Community Services. She will be assisting families navigate, link and enroll in the various school- and community-based services and supports that are available with a particular emphasis on helping students transition into and out of middle-school. CMART230@depaul.edu
A Greater Good Foundation:
The Greater Good Foundation is geared towards male students of color in 6th through 8th grade. Students will meet with mentors from A Greater Good Foundation during advisory time one day a week. 6th & 7th graders will meet on Mondays from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm and 8th graders will meet on Wednesdays during advisory from 11:40 am to 12:20 pm. This group will use a workshop model with the students and a sample of topics covered include: think tanks, how the brain works, goal setting, etc. More detail on the program is provided in the handout. We are hoping to launch the program the week of September 28th. If you have any questions or would like your student to participate, please contact Stacie Klein at sklein@op97.org.
Virtual Breakfast with Brooks
Virtual Morning Homework Support
Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m
District 97 to Continue Providing Free Meals to All Students Every Tuesday
On Aug. 31, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will extend key waivers that allow school districts to continue serving free meals to all children into the fall months. This will ensure that all District 97 students have access to nutritious food at no cost—regardless of where they are learning or whether they qualify for free or reduced lunch.
Beginning Sept. 8, meals will be provided free of cost to any District 97 student in need. Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches. D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - October 2020
Click here for more information about food service during Trimester 1. If you have any questions, please reach out to the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.
GBMS Remote Learning Resource
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
School Physicals and Immunizations
Although District 97 is starting the 2020-21 school year with remote learning, the State of Illinois is still requiring all students entering kindergarten, 6th grade, and any students new to District 97 to turn in a current school physical (Certificate of Child Health Examination and Immunization record) with up-to-date immunizations (requirements for the State of Illinois can be found here). If you have not already provided this information when you registered your child, please email your child's records directly to our school nurse, Nancy Radogno at nradogno@op97.org.
2020 - 2021 District News and Information
Continued Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students
District 97 school psychologists and nurses have collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school this fall. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed.
To sign up or learn more about these services, please visit https://bit.ly/3m3Xece.
If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24-Hour 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.
Free/Reduced Lunch Application
We know that a common experience for many families during this health crisis is the loss of jobs and income. This change in income may qualify your children for free or reduced-price meals. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the National School Lunch application as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please email the district's food service coordinator, Carla Ellis, at cellis@op97.org.
Halloween Information for District 97 Families
Our goal in District 97 is to create a positive learning environment where all students, staff and families feel a sense of belonging. In that spirit, we have put together information and resources for regarding culturally-sensitive Halloween costumes. We appreciate families being proactive with their children in making thoughtful costume choices. Click here for more information >
Village of Oak Park: Hours for Trick-or-Treating
Official trick-or-treating hours will be 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. this year in Oak Park as public health officials offer guidelines and recommendations on how to celebrate as safely as possible with COVID-19 still present in the community. Guidelines issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention share a common theme - reducing close contact with those outside of a person's household, which officials say is essential to reducing the risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Local officials also are urging trick-or-treaters to respect the properties of those who do not wish to participate in the traditional ritual of handing out candy. More information is at www.oak-park.us/halloween.
Submit your photos for a Virtual Halloween Parade
Miss costume parades? The Oak Park Public Library misses seeing your littles all dressed up too, so they are creating their first ever Virtual Halloween Parade! And they can’t do it without your help!
- How will it work? You submit photos of kids in costume, and the library will create and share with our community a virtual slideshow “parade”—just in time for Halloween! Share your photos by October 22 >
Effective Student Behavior Handbook
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 >
District 97 is working with community partners to support the child care needs of our families and staff. We are currently partnering with three providers: Hephzibah, the Park District of Oak Park and By Discovery. Details about each program can be found here.
The district will be providing financial assistance for any student who receives free or reduced lunch for at least Trimester 1. We will discuss the possibility of additional fee coverage with the Board of Education once plans are determined for the remainder of the school year. Details are provided at the point of online registration for each child care provider.
