Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• Virtual Curriculum Night - Thursday 9/9, 6pm to 8pm
• Illinois SHIELD Testing - Update
• NWEA MAP TESTING
• Social Work Team
• Travel Advisory Recommendations
  
• Qualifying for Remote Learning
  
• Girls On The Rise
• Community Discussion Series - Call for Co-Facilitators
• Office Phones and Dropping off Items at Brooks (Repeat)
• Back to School Information and COVID-19 Safety Mitigations (Repeat)
• D97 NOW HIRING (Repeat)
• Middle School Clubs Meeting Days and Times (Updated weekly)
• Student Announcements (Repeat)
• From the Library (Updated weekly)
  

Highlights from GBMS PTO and District

• PTO News
• District News

Repeated Topics from Past Week's Middle Matters

• Stay Home When Sick
• Technology Update
• Water Bottle Reminder
• Allergy Safe Information
• SY21-22 School Calendar
• Mindfulness Information to Support Students Return to School
• School Physical and Immunization Information
• 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

• Tuesday, Sept 7 - A Day; Wednesday - B day; Thursday - A Day, and Friday - B Day.

• 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

This is an opportunity to learn more about what your student will be learning this year in their classes this school year. We will be emailing all the needed Zoom Links to families on Tuesday, September 8th.

We will start the evening together with our School Leadership team and IB Coordinator then you will rotate through 3 zoom meetings based on the grade level schedules pictured below.

Teams:

Learn about your student's Math, Science, Individuals & Societies and Language & Literature classes.

World Language/Design/Special Education/Reading:

Learn about your student's French, Spanish, Design (this is a class that is only one of the 3 trimesters), Special Education and/or Reading class

Electives:

Learn about your student's Performing Arts or Visual Arts and Physical Education classes:

• Performing Arts: Band, Orchestra, Chorus, or Speech/Drama/Debate

• Visual Arts: Art Foundations, Applied Arts or Fine Arts

Brooks Middle School will begin their weekly SHIELD testing on Wednesday, September 8th. Students will be tested each Wednesday. Students will be tested during their elective class period each week (PE/Health, Art, Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and SDD) as outlined below:

• 6th Grade - between 9:50am and 10:15am
• 7th Grade - between 3:00pm and 3:30pm
• 8th Grade - between 11:04am and 11:34am

Students should not eat at least 60 minutes prior to providing their saliva sample. Please keep in mind these times may be adjusted if needed.

Additional information about SHIELD testing is included below.

• About SHIELD Illinois

• District 97-SHIELD Illinois Program Notice

• Frequently Asked Questions

Our 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will be engaging in Reading and Math MAP testing during their respective Language & Literature and Math classes as outlined in the schedule below. For Testing as they do day of school, they will need:

• a charged chromebook
• filled water bottle
• growth mindset to try their best

Below are the emails of our Social Work team. Please email them if you want to learn more about how your student can connect with them.

• Abby Berman supports our 6th graders (aberman@op97.org)
• Hannah Boudreau supports our 7th graders (hboudreau@op97.org)
• Jen Olsen supports our 8th graders (jolsen@op97.org)

As a reminder, District 97 continues to follow the direction of the Oak Park Department of Public Health, per IDPH guidelines, regarding travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. The Village of Oak Park adopted the travel advisory issued by the City of Chicago and the Cook County Department of Public Health. The advisory includes recommendations; there are no current mandates. Students who quarantine by choice due to travel will not qualify for remote learning, according to the current guidance from state and local health departments.

That said, we ask for your renewed commitment to practicing all of the recommended mitigation protocols this weekend. The most effective way to minimize the risk of transmission is to avoid high-risk behaviors, including travel. Vaccinated or unvaccinated, we all have a responsibility to follow safety guidelines in order to reduce further spread of the virus. We are thankful for your continued commitment to keeping our schools and students safe over the holiday weekend and throughout the school year.

As a reminder, District 97 is following updated guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education regarding remote instruction for the 2021-22 school year. Per ISBE guidelines, remote learning must be provided only if a student is placed in quarantine by the state or local health department. A student may be placed in quarantine/remote learning for a period of 10 to 14 calendar days if they test positive for COVID-19 or have been identified as a close contact. Students who are sick or absent for reasons unrelated to confirmed or probable COVID-19 cases, as determined by the local health department, will not be permitted to participate in remote learning. Please see our Back-to-School Plan for further details.

Office Phones

Please note that our office staff sets the phone to go to voicemail from 8:30am to 9:15am daily. Please leave a message of your student's absence or you can email brooksattendance@op97.org. Our office staff will listen to voicemails to call back or direct calls as needed after 9:15am daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding. Please check out our GBMS Learning SY21-22 Information page, as your question is likely answered there.

Dropping off Items at Brooks for your Student

You may drop off forgotten items for your student in the main office. Please note that we will not call into your student's classroom, as it is a disruption to the learning for other students and the teacher in the classroom. Your student should plan to stop by the main office on their way to lunch or between passing periods, if they think you may have dropped off the forgotten item for them to retrieve. We appreciate your understanding.

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

District 97 is currently hiring for key positions to support in-person learning during the 2021-22 school year!

Permanent Substitutes
District 97 has immediate openings for permanent substitute teachers. If you know anyone who is looking to work with children, earn competitive pay and give back to the community, please encourage them to apply today at: https://www.op97.org/hr/employment.

Lunch/Social Time Supervisors
To support our students and staff during the school day, we are still seeking more parents and community members to serve as lunchroom/recess 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!

• Rainbow Tribe: Our first Rainbow Tribe meeting of the year will be on Monday September 13th! We meet Mondays from 3:30-4:30pm in the library. Rainbow Tribe brings together Brooks students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community AND their Allies!! EVERYONE is welcome! Contact Ms. Berman (aberman@op97.org) if you have any questions

• BEAT: The first meeting of the Brooks Earth Action Team will be on Tuesday, September 7. Join the best club ON the planet FOR the planet! This year’s theme is FOOD: we’ll grow it, harvest it, cook it, eat it! See you in Ms. Stamp’s room, C202 at 3:35, TUESDAY, SEPT. 7

• Morning Choirs - If you love to sing this is the place for you! We will be offering 2 extra-curricular choirs that will meet in the mornings.
  • The Advanced Group (7th and 8th graders) will meet Tuesdays and Fridays at 8am
  • The Intermediate Group (all grades welcome) will meet Thursdays at 8am.

  Auditions will take place 9/14. 9/15, or 9/16 at 8 am, students only have to show up to one of these dates. You do not need to prepare a song to audition, we will learn a song together and then audition in small groups. If you want to prepare the song ahead of time, here are audition materials but again, not required!

  
  

  To learn more, check out this Morning Choir Info Deck or contact Mr. Blackman at fblackman@op97.org

• Yearbook: All are welcome! If you love photography, graphic design, books, writing, or attending special events then the yearbook is for you! How do you sign up? Just come to one of our meetings. First meeting is Thursday, October 7th at 3:30-4:30 in room C309. See you there. Direct questions to Mrs. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org

• 7th/8th Grade Musical - ALL TOGETHER NOW! Casting on September 1 & 2. SIGN UP to Participate

• HOUR TO EMPOWER PODCAST - Open to all 6th-8th Graders. Starts Tuesday, September 14 - SIGN UP to Participate

• IMPROV CLUB - Open to all 6th-8th Graders. Starts Tuesday, September 14 - SIGN UP to Participate

• DANCE STUDIO - Open to all 6th-8th Graders. Starts Tuesday, September 14 - SIGN UP to Participate

• STAGE CREW - Open to all 6th-8th Graders. Starts Tuesday, September 21 - Orientation/Training. Crew Club meets twice a month - dates/times TBD. SIGN UP to Participate

For more information regarding the:

Brooks 2021 - 2022 Clubs

Students can find announcements in each Student's Lunch (Green) or Lunch (Yellow) course in Canvas as well as on a button along the left side of our Brooks homepage.

1. I check out library books ?

1. Periodic visits with a class

2. Classroom deliveries of books that have been placed on hold

1. Log in to your Destiny catalog account

2. Use your district username & password WITHOUT the @stu.op97.org

3. Find the book you want, click on the title, and click on “HOLD”

4. Books will be delivered to classrooms the same day or the next day depending on when the hold was placed

5. You can check to see if your hold is ready or checked out to you and on the way by checking your catalog account

3. VIDEO: HOW DO I PLACE A LIBRARY HOLD?

2. How can I return library books?

1. Return books to th bin labeled “Library Returns” located in each L&L classroom

2. Use return slots left of the library doors or on the library desk as you walk in

3. How many books am I able to check out?

1. You can have a maximum of 6 books checked out at a time.

**If you have any library books from last year (or even the year before) please remember to bring them in! You can check your library catalog account to see if you have any outstanding items!

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!

School Year 21-22 Meal Information (Repeat)

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!

NOTE: Families DO NOT need to complete the Free/Reduced Meal Application in order for their students to receive free meals. However, families seeking to qualify for school fee waivers or other state programs MUST complete the application. We encourage all families who currently qualify to take a few minutes to complete the application as soon as possible.

More information on the D97 food service program, including breakfast and lunch menus for our elementary and middle schools, is available here.

Please note that Breakfast will not be served before school. However, if a student arrives to school without breakfast, they can let their 1st period teacher know. The teacher will contact our school nurse and she will arrange for them to come to the commons to get something to eat. Students will miss some class time.

2021-22 Frequently Asked Questions for Back to School Plan (Repeat)
District 97 has created a 2021-22 FAQ page based on the top questions we have received over the past few weeks. Topics include ventilation, remote learning, vaccination and travel.

Our back-to-school plan is linked below and can also be found, along with other COVID-19 resources and information, by going to https://www.op97.org/back-to-school.

• District 97 Back-to-School Plan for 2021-22
• COVID-19 Safety Mitigation Highlights

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.

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 >

Please contact the Brooks Health Office and speak with Nurse Nancy Radogno if you have questions or concerns regarding COVID-19 and any listed symptoms.

(708) 524- 3058 or nradogno@op97.org

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.

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

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.

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.

Mr. Colucci, Brook’s teacher, is a coach for Little Huskies Wrestling. We are (He is?) looking for interested students to join the program- no prior experience is necessary. The fall session begins next week September 7th and runs through October 28th on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00- 7:30 in the OPRFHS Wrestling room. Please visit the website for more information or sign up at https://www.littlehuskieswrestling.org/. There is also a winter session that is longer. The fall session is a great way to see if you enjoy it.

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.