• Monday, 5/19 A-Day, Tuesday, 5/20 B-Day, Wednesday, 5/21 A-Day, Thursday, 5/22 B-Day, and Friday, 5/23 A-Day.

• 8th Grade Graduation: Monday, June 2nd at 6:30pm at Oak Park River Forest High School

Hello Brooks Parents & Guardians! Career Exploration Day for our 8th Grade students is taking place on Wednesday, May 28, between 1:45pm and 3:30pm. We are in need of community support! The school is seeking presenters to share about their career, industry, and personal journey to students during three 20 minute sessions.

It would be amazing to have some of our parent/guardian population participate, and we hope you consider signing up to support this amazing event. You can also share the sign-up link with local friends and family members.

Questions? Please contact Lucas Osselaer at losselaer@op97.org

The PTO is looking for volunteers to help at the 8th grade dance on May 29th! Take a look at the requested volunteer list here and sign up today!

This year, our school participated in a pilot of two social science resources: HMH Social Studies and Discovery Education. These resources were evaluated and selected by social science teachers during the resource review process to create a more inclusive and culturally-responsive learning environment that fosters deeper student engagement, understanding, and application of social science concepts.

An overview of the pilot timeline is provided in the table below.

Social Science Pilot Resource Pilot Timeline

• HMH Social Studies: March 4 - April 11
• Discovery Education: April 14 - May 16

We value your partnership and want to hear from you! As we approach the conclusion of the pilot process, we invite you to complete a short survey to share your thoughts about HMH Social Studies and Discovery Education. While you may not be familiar with the specific details of each program, your perspective on how your student interacted with these resources at home and in the classroom is incredibly helpful. If you had more than one student participating, we ask that you complete a survey for each student.

The survey will close on Tuesday, May 20th. Click here to participate in the survey.

Thank you for helping us shape the future of our social science program. Your input truly makes a difference!

We want to make you aware of a concerning social media trend that has been circulating on platforms like TikTok and is beginning to surface in schools across the country. The trend encourages students to insert paper clips, pushpins, or other metal objects into the charging ports of Chromebooks in an attempt to cause sparks or a reaction. This is not only extremely dangerous, but it also causes permanent damage to the device and creates a serious safety hazard for students and staff.

Please take a moment to talk with your child about the dangers of participating in or sharing these types of challenges. Misuse of school-issued technology is taken seriously and can result in disciplinary action, as well as financial responsibility for any damages caused.

Our priority is always the safety and well-being of our students. We appreciate your partnership in helping reinforce responsible technology use and good decision-making.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Wednesday, May 28th & Thursday, May 29th - during PE/Health

CHROMEBOOK and Charger collection: If your student's chromebook is damaged or lost, please turn in this form to turn in on 5/28 or 5/29 and complete payment on RevTrack prior to these dates.

• If this is the first claim as indicated on the damaged/lost form, the fee is $0. Then all that needs to be turned in is the damaged chromebook & charger with the completed form.

The following applicable items will be distributed to your during this time, only if your student's chromebook/charger are turned in and/or paid for replacement/repairs have been submitted:

• Yearbook, If you purchased a yearbook for your student prior to 5/8 (You can still order one but will need to pay for shipping and will be sent directly to your home-see below)
• 8th Grade T-shirt, if one was ordered
• Graduation Cap, Gown and/or Tassel, any items purchased for your student in preparation for graduation
• Graduation Tickets, 4 guest tickets per graduate

8th Grade Dance - Thursday, May 29th- Can purchase $15 tickets here.

Great America Trip - Friday, May 30th

Teacher chaperoned buses will leave GBMS at 9:15am. The buses will leave the park at

5:30pm, and return to GBMS at approximately 6:30pm. Parents/guardians are responsible

for transportation home from school at the end of the day.

GRADUATION - June 2nd

Rehearsal: The 8th grade graduation rehearsal will be on June 2nd. Students will be bused from Brooks to OPRFHS and bused back to Brooks after the rehearsal.

Graduation Ceremony: 8th grade graduation will take place on June 2, 2025 from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Oak Park River Forest High School Theatre. Graduates should plan to arrive by 6:00pm in Door Entrance 5.

Tickets Information: Each family will be provided 4 guest tickets per graduate.

We’re excited to celebrate these milestones with your students and help them prepare for their next chapter. An email to only 8th grade families with graduation logistics will be shared with week prior to graduation.

Thank you for your continued support,

GBMS Administrative Team
Ms. April Capuder & Dr. Denise Gildon

https://oakpark.revtrak.net/Middle-Schools/BMS/brooks-8th-grade-activities/#/v/brooks-8th-grade-glow-crazy-dance-thursday-may-29-2025-6pm-8pm

End-of-year field trips, events and travel are a great privilege we love affording our students to celebrate their achievements. However, certain requirements must be met for a student to be considered eligible for participation in these excursions to ensure we are focused on our main priority and goal: a well-rounded and rigorous education.

• To ensure safety, students must be able to redirect behavior and follow adult directions or requests throughout the school day.

• To ensure student accountability, students should consistently demonstrate responsibility through regular class attendance and limited tardies throughout the school day.

• Student must be in good standing, in accordance to behavior expectations, as outlined in the Oak Park School District 97 Student/Family Handbook. Any student who does not adhere to the behavior expectations in the handbook may be removed from the end of year field trip, event and travel opportunity, even past the date of eligible refunds.

May 30th, 2025 End of Year Grade Level Trips

More information will be shared about the 6th and 7th grade trips by team leaders. The 8th grade Great America information is included in Middle Matters below.

6th Grade - Field Day

7th Grade - Oak Park City Chase

8th Grade - Great America

Online registration for the 2025-26 school year in District 97 is now open for all students. Complete details about the process—including residency documents, timelines and other helpful resources—are available on the district website: www.op97.org/registration.

Returning Students
Registration for returning District 97 students is open Feb. 26 through April 30, 2025. Complete details can be found at https://www.op97.org/hr/returning-student-registration.

New Students and Kindergarteners
Registration for kindergarten and new students opened Feb. 19. Please click the links below to learn more about the registration process for kindergarteners and new students.

• Kindergarten Registration
• New Students

Get Ready to Register
Visit our District 97 Registration page for everything you need to know about the process, including residency documents, timelines, and helpful resources.

Need Help?
Our registration team is here for you! Reach out anytime through Let’s Talk. We look forward to supporting you through this process!

If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), we highly encourage you to take the ISBE SPP Indicator 8 Survey to help guide our parent engagement efforts and provide the best possible service to our students.

Your responses through the survey play a vital role in shaping future initiatives and strengthening
family-school partnerships in special education.

The survey can be completed by mail or online using the unique seven-digit survey ID enclosed in a recent letter from Measurement Inc. If you did not receive a letter from Measurement Inc., or need your seven-digit survey ID, you may request it online here.

For assistance in English or Spanish, contact Measurement Inc. at ISBEParentSurvey@MeasInc.com or (877) 881-7077. You can also reach District 97 Senior Director of Student Services Donna Middleton at dmiddleton@op97.org.

The survey is open through June 30, 2025. We value your input and thank you for your participation!

Planning is underway for next year's PTO initiatives and events and we can't accomplish our goals without the enthusiastic support of you - our parent and guardian community!

There are many opportunities to share your time and talent and connect with families within our Brooks community. From board positions to event chairs to committee members - pick your passion and join us to make Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School the very best!

Take a look at the PTO Roles and Responsibilities and sign up today! Thanks in advance! Email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com with any questions.

If your family is need, please reach out to your student’s social worker to find out more!

6th Grade: Abby Berman, aberman@op97.org

7th Grade: Hannah Boudreau, hboudreau@op97.org

8th Grade: Jen Olsen, jolsen@op97.org

CLUBS & SPORTS INFORMATION -Spring 2025

CLUB Information can be found in Student Announcements. This is updated weekly, as new clubs get organized and announce dates and times.

If you have questions about Track & Field, please email our coaches, Brooke Sefcik (bsefcik@op97.org) or Jennifer Shadoian (jshadoian@op97.org).

Through strong leadership, team bonding, explosive talent, and undeniable determination - this Varsity Volleyball team has made Brooks Middle School history by entering and completing the playoffs as undefeated Champions! Congratulations!

As you know, the BRAVO Performing Arts Program is a District 97 program at Brooks MS and relies entirely on fundraising dollars for programming. We’re gearing up for our Annual Spring Fundraiser, and we need your help to make it a smash hit! Our goal is to raise $6,000 to provide student scholarships for Bravo summer camp and support year-round programming.

How can you help? Donate an item or experience for our basket raffle! Whether it’s a fun day out, a special treat, or a unique experience, every contribution makes a difference.

Click here to fill out the donation form!

Questions? Contact:

Cynthia Alfaro - cynthia.alfaro1@gmail.com
Lynn Brown - lbrown@asnr.org

Thank you for being part of our Bravo community and helping us create another unforgettable year!

Parents - we need your help! Please Sign Up to Help Out with Pizza Lunch on Fridays - pick and choose which days you want to help throughout the year - 11:25am-1:30pm

Open to current 4th Graders through current 8th Graders!

3-Week Camp - High School Musical, Jr: June 9 - June 28

[Performances - June 27 & 28]

4-Week Camp - Mean Girls, Jr: June 9 - July 3

[Performances - July 2 & 3]

Stage Crew Camp - High School Musical, Jr and Mean Girls, Jr: June 16 - July 3

[Performances - June 27 & 28 and July 2 & 3]

For More Information and to Register: BRAVOPERFORMINGARTS.ORG

Donut Days Volunteers Needed

The PTO is in need of adult volunteers to assist with distributing donuts during lunch

periods (11a - 1:30p) on Donut Days.

Please review the available slots on our Sign Up page!

Starship Lunch Volunteers Needed

We need your help! Meet new Brooks parents! Get an inside glimpse of your

middle schooler's day! The PTO will need adult volunteers to assist with distributing Starship lunches to all grade levels each Tuesday. Sign up to volunteer on Tuesdays here. You can sign up

for just one date, or as many dates as you are available! Questions about

volunteering? Email Marcella Douce at mmdouce@gmail.com.

Please note that to ensure the distribution process runs smoothly, we request that

volunteers are able to stay for the duration of all 3 lunch periods from 11:00am -

1:30pm on any day you may sign up for.

PTO Volunteer Requirements

Per D97 policy, all volunteers must complete and pass a D97 Background Check

which is a quick and easy process that can be scheduled through the D97 office and

online here.

This is a great chance to get involved inside the school, see your kid(s), and meet

other Brooks parents. Starship Lunch is an important school fundraiser supporting

many of the PTO programs, initiatives, and events, and we'd love your help to ensure

its continued success!

If you have further questions please contact our Starship coordinator, Amelia Topel

at amelia.topel@gmail.com.

More information is available here.

Your commitment to our school community is invaluable. By taking the Parent Pledge and contributing to the PTO, you’re directly investing in the success and enrichment of our children’s education.

By embracing this new initiative, we can expand our capacity to serve even more effectively. Your support enables us to provide extra resources, programs, and activities that enhance each student’s learning experience.

Together, let’s foster a thriving environment for our students to flourish. We aim to have 200 families make a $25 (or more) pledge. Join us in making a difference today!

Please note that the Brooks PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a donation receipt for tax or matching purposes will be provided.

Connect with the PTO

Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto. Watch for information in the Middle Matters Newsletter. Email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.

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

Please take a moment to review the information shared in the district’s Weekly Wrap-Up on Dec. 1 regarding winter preparedness.

The district’s emergency closing and E-Learning procedures are outlined in this brief deck; full details are posted at https://www.op97.org/communications/emergency-closings.

Hot lunch will be available to students who wish to participate and have a funded or an approved lunch account, starting the first day of school. If you have questions regarding your student's lunch balance, you may contact the Lunch Manager, Shetrice Baker at Sbaker2@op97.org. To make payments on student lunch accounts please visit, https://www.mymealtime.com/signin.aspx

Breakfast and hot lunch menus and other information

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2024-25 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” Our schools have been nut-safe for the past two years—helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students.

Attendance will be taken every day for each class period by each of your child's teacher and it will be denoted in PowerSchool. 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

Please contact the Brooks Health Office and speak with Nurse Tracy Biggerstaff if you have questions or concerns regarding your student's health.

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

Office Phone Hours

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 at 708-665-3074 or you can email brooksattendance@op97.org. Our office staff will listen to voicemails left on the main line starting after 9:15am daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

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.

All visitors will be required to check in using a government-issued ID to checkin to the Raptor System. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency.

We are confident that the Raptor Visitor Management System will significantly enhance our school's safety measures and create a more secure environment for our students and staff. We appreciate your support and cooperation in helping us implement this important system.

Click the following links to view a quick video tutorial on how to check in to your student’s school using the Raptor Visitor Management System: English | Spanish

To learn more about the Raptor Visitor Management System, please visit the Raptor Technologies website. If you have any questions, please contact your building principal or reach out to us via Let’s Talk.

Bell Schedule and A/B Rotation.

Teachers will record Behavior Information Records (BIRs) for unexpected behaviors that do not meet our school-wide expectations. If a student receives multiple BIRs, they will meet with a teacher for a remediation session to reflect on their unexpected behaviors and create a plan to meet expectations in the future. Teachers will share student reflections with parents/guardians after a remediation session is completed. This structure aims to focus on students learning social and emotional skills that will help them succeed in the future.

We have been teaching, supporting and reminding students of the School Wide Expectations.

Cell phones/Mobile Devices are not to be used during school hours. This includes calling parents/guardians due to illness, requesting items to be dropped off, etc.

• Students can ask a teacher to use the classroom phone or the phone in the main office, if needed.

Cell phones are to be turned off/on silent upon entering the school building, stored in the student’s locker, and not used until the dismissal bell rings.

Locker Checklist has been shared and posted in each student's locker during the first week of school to help them think through the items they need to take with them when they visit their locker at the start of the day, before and after lunch and at the end of the day.

If your child needs to purchase a lock at anytime during the school year, please do so online HERE. We've been working with your student's SOAR teacher to learn if your student is missing a lock and providing one to them.

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.

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. Please complete claim form if your student's chromebook is damaged or lost.

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.

If interested in joining 3v3 Tournament, please complete this permission slip for your student.

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. Angel Banks, at abanks1@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our Administrative Team

April Capuder, Principal (acapuder@op97.org)

Dr. Denise Gildon, Associate Principal for Teaching & Learning (dgildon@op97.org)

Student Success Coach Team:

6th Grade: Bernard Starks - bstarks@op97.org

7th Grade: Josh Rodgers - jrodgers@op97.org

8th Grade: Nichelle Stigger - nstigger@op97.org

Social Workers:

6th Grade: Abby Berman - aberman@op97.org

7th Grade: Hannah Boudreau - hboudreau@op97.org

8th Grade: Jennifer Olsen - jolsen@op97.org

Reporting Student Absences:

Email brooksattendance@op97.org or call 708-665-3074

School Nurse and CNA:

Tracy Biggerstaff: tbiggerstaff@op97.org

Melissa Godwin: mgodwin@op97.org

Send School Health form/physicals/dental forms to: brooksnurse@op97.org

Front Office:

PowerSchool login questions, Attendance or School Fee Questions-Vashti Carter: vcarter@op97.org

Canvas login questions, Receptionist- Minerva Colbert: mcolbert@op97.org

TECH Support:

Please email: helpdesk@op97.org

Please complete claim form if your student's chromebook is damaged or lost