Bobcat Bulletin
Week of August 26th
Hello Bobcat Families,
November is flying by, and I am grateful to get a front row seat to see so many awesome things happening in the Bobcat Den! I love taking pictures as a reminder of all the magic happening all around us! I am always amazed at everything that happens in just one week!
We hope to see you on Tuesday at our PTA Meeting! As a reminder, each adult attending earns you a VIP lunch ticket to eat lunch with your Bobcat on a day of your choosing! We always want as many voices as possible around the table. Additionally, during my report, I always try and share elements or go deeper on items that you won't see in the Bulletin, another advantage of attending! Plus, we always have a teacher attending to bring the "T" to PTA, after all, they are the true rockstars of the magic that happens in the Den!
We also hope you will join us for our Family Learning Night! Our Academic Support Team and Special Education Team have worked hard to create a night that will leave you all WILD about learning! Plus, all our Bobcats walk away with a new goodie or two! You don't want to miss this fun night!
We hope to see you at an event this week!
Full of Bobcat Pride,
Dr. Keeley Schmid
Brookdale's Proud Principal
Schoolwide Facilitator
Hi! My name is Jeff Hopkins and I am so excited to be a part of the Brookdale team. I was a Brookdale Bobcat myself and graduated a Waubonsie Warrior in 2005. I am married to my wife Nicki for 10 years and we have two amazing kids Cal (5) and Zoe (2.5). I enjoy spending time with my family, working out, hanging out with family and friends, playing softball, watching sports, and cooking. I am excited to continue my journey as a life long learner and supporting students in my new role. I look forward to meeting the students, staff and community that I will be working in. Here’s to a great year, Bobcats!
Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Sadler have done such an awesome job bringing Makerspace alive!
Dr. Cibulka, Innovation Ambassador, leads teachers in a tech PD teaching about Securly Classroom and more!
Students work on coloring in their turkey when they have met their goals in iReady!
Our Teaching Assistants are Amazing. Always knowing when a break watching nature might be needed!
Our Kinder Bobcats at Brookdale with our FUTURE Bobcat Siblings!
Dr. Mumm and Ms. Lewis at the Bobcat Den Talking with Dr. Schmid about Assessments and Data!
Learning and Collaborating in 3W!
Dream Team kicks off November with their Monthly Team Huddle!
Learning Circles with Dr. Lane, Brookdale's School Psychologist!
Students Leading Students...Magic in the Air!
"Brookdale is the best school in the District!" We agree, Dominic! :)
Dr. Schmid teaches Cooperative Learning with Two Teacher Leaders from Steck and Brooks!
PAW Pull Pledge Leader Alert!
Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Batchedler teach 4th Grade about 3D Printers!
Sweet moment caught as two Bobcats skip into school holding hands!
Thanks to our awesome parent volunteers who make field trips possible!
Incelement Weather Update
Dear Parents/Guardians,
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we reviewed how our district responds to inclement weather. In the past, our only options were to either close schools for the day or remain open. This year, for the first time, we are adding two additional choices: a delayed opening and an early dismissal.
A delayed opening means schools will begin two hours later than normal. This option allows time for road conditions to improve and for our crews, along with local municipalities, to clear and treat roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. Schools will still dismiss at their regular times.
An early dismissal means schools will open on time but end two hours earlier than normal. For example, if your child’s school typically dismisses at 3:00 p.m., an early dismissal would mean a 1:00 p.m. release. On these days, all afternoon activities and clubs will be canceled.
We understand that any change to the school day impacts families. We encourage you to consider now who could pick up your children if an early dismissal is called, or who could be with them in the morning if we have a delayed opening and you need to leave for work. Making a plan in advance will help ensure a smooth transition if we need to use these options.
As always, our top priority is the safety of students and staff. We will make decisions as early as possible, ideally the evening before. However, changing weather may sometimes require a decision the morning of school.
These new options align our practices with those of other districts in Illinois and across the country. They also give us more flexibility than the traditional “open or closed” approach.
For more details, please visit the inclement weather webpage and the e-Learning webpage.
Sincerely,
Adrian B. Talley, Ed.D.
Superintendent
What: Math Kangaroo is a worldwide math competition consisting of challenging multiple-choice word problems. Math Kangaroo focuses on learning how to use deductive reasoning, problem-solving, and creative thinking to solve challenging math problems.
Who: Grades 2nd-5th.
Cost: The cost of the competition is $18 through December 31st. Late registration is accepted from January 1st to February 1st for $35. You will have the opportunity to order a Math Kangaroo T-shirt at a later date for an additional cost.
Competition Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 3:35-5:30.
Practices: Once students have registered, we will offer practice dates starting mid-January by grade level on Wednesday afternoons from 3:35-4:30. Dates will be announced once we have the number of students participating. Practices are not required to participate in the final competition. Students signed up after December 31st are not guaranteed a spot in the practice times.
Online Registration Directions to Register for Math Kangaroo
https://mathkangaroo.org/mks/registration/
Select on the left side: Register at proctored in-person or online center: Registration Website
You will need to create a login.
Private Center Invitation Code for Brookdale: BROOKDALE@2026math
Registration cost through December 31st: $18
Registration cost January 1st - February 1st: $35
For more information about the contest, please visit: https://mathkangaroo.org/.
If you have any questions, please email kristin_cibulka@ipsd.org.
We are so grateful to all of our Veterans who have served this great country! We are hosting a Veterans Day Assembly on November 11th for our 3rd-5th graders, and we would love the opportunity for them to hear from our Veterans in our community!
Please complete this form if you are interested in speaking at our assembly or know a Veteran that would be willing to join us!
New this year, we would love to honor Veterans connected to our Bobcats! If interested, please add to our Veteran's Day slide show!
VISION AND HEARING SCREENING
In the upcoming months, Brookdale Elementary will be conducting vision and hearing screenings. These screening tests are mandated by the Illinois Department of Public Health at specific times during a child's educational experience. If your child wears glasses, please make sure that they have them in school. Vision screening is not a substitute for a complete eye and vision evaluation by an eye doctor. Your child is not required to undergo the vision screening if there is a completed signed report on file indicating that an exam has been administered in the previous twelve months by a certified optometrist or ophthalmologist. All students in KN through 3rd grades will have their hearing screened and all second graders will have their vision screened. Nurse Jen will be working with classroom teachers to best fit into your students' routines.
*Volunteer Approval Process (Above) Required Prior to Volunteering!
Calling all enthusiastic and caring male role models (dads, grandfathers, uncles, etc)! Ignite a positive impact in your child’s educational journey through our remarkable Men of Brookdale (MOB) program.
Join in on the playground and in the lunchroom and help play games, open containers and have fun with your child and peers. Please sign up at the link below and timing is flexible. There are two sessions each day: 10:50am-12:25pm (Grades 2/3/4) and 12:15pm-1:50pm (Grades 5/1/K).
Volunteers can sign up for one or both sessions Men of Brookdale - Sign up. Dates are available a couple Friday’s each month – it’s fun, simple and rewarding! If you have any questions, email Ben Kalnicky at bkalnicky@uwalumni.com
Mark You Calendars for 11/17 to order TX Roadhouse famous bread and butter for the December holidays! Support Brookdale PTA by giving the gift of TX Roadhouse!. Scan the QR code to place your e-gfit card order / frozen bread and honey cinnamon butter orders. The fundraiser will go live on 11/17 and run through 12/1. Frozen bread and butter pre-orders must be picked up by 12/9 from 3:00 - 8:00 PM at RX Roadhouse Aurora (986 N IL Rte 59)
