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May 6, 2019

May 6, 2019
Twitter Highlights: Week 35
Please click on the above link to see highlights from this past week. We are working to create a positive learning environment that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child. No need to have a twitter account to view!

Teacher Appreciation Lunch Wednesday, May 8


Please help us thank the Brooks teachers & staff for all that they do for our students by signing up to help with the 6th grade sponsored Teacher & Staff Appreciation Lunch on Wednesday, May 8th. Please go to the Sign Up Genius link here and feel free to sign up for more than one line item if you'd like. All contributions are greatly appreciated!! If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Thomas at shgt52597@aol.com.

Map Testing continues this week

Please encourage your student to put their best effort forth during our upcoming Reading and Math MAP testing window. Our teachers use this information to guide their instruction and as a school and district we monitor and make decisions related to our school improvement goals using the student outcomes from MAP testing.


Tuesday, May 7th through Thursday, May 9th will be MAP Make-up Testing

8th Grade End of Year Activities

As we approach the end of the school year, please be sure to view the upcoming end of year 8th grade activities.



  • 8th Grade T-Shirt

    • Ordering closed

    • Please contact the main office for more information. (708) 524-3050


  • 8th Grade Dance: Friday, May 17th

    • RevTrak, cash or check payable to GBMS

    • Dance attire optional

    • Deadline for ticket orders, May 10.


  • Graduation Rehearsal: Tuesday, May 28th @ OPRF

    • Please be aware, students will travel by bus to OPRF for the rehearsal. The bus will leave at 9:15 am.

    • Students will receive their graduation tickets along with their cap and gown when they return from graduation practice.


  • Great America Trip: Thursday, May 30th

    • Wear your 8th grade t-shirt (brooks wear or blue if you don’t have one)

    • RevTrak, cash or check payable to GBMS

    • Deadline for payments is May 24


  • Graduation Ceremony on Saturday, June 1st @ OPRF

    • Students should arrive @ 9:30 am to OPRFHS 201 Scoville Ave, Oak Park, IL 60302

    • Graduation ceremony begins promptly @ 10:00 am

    • Each student will receive a total of 4 graduation tickets. (students do not need a ticket)

    • A live feed of the graduation will be available beginning at 10:00am on June 1st. The YouTube Link to view the ceremony is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px01sXDacZw

Student Expectations: Be Responsible, Be Respectful and Be Ready to Learn

Please support our efforts to end the school year well. If you have a moment, please review these lunchroom and hallway expectations with your student:


Lunchroom/Social Time/Hallways Expectations:

  • Have ID with correct lunch color, move directly to your appropriate side for lunch

  • Clean up the lunch tables and floors of your food/trash

  • Pick a seat and remain in your seat

    • Throw away garbage and then remain seated in your seat

  • Wait for Lunchroom Supervisor to dismiss your table

  • Use an appropriate volume and language inside and outside

  • Pass is needed to leave the lunchroom to see a teacher or when in the halls during class time

  • Bring your jacket to be prepared to go outside for social time

  • Move directly to your appropriate location when dismissed (outside or to class)

  • Cell phones away at lunch/social time and hallways

  • Follow adult redirection

  • Keep your hands/feet to yourself (with exception when playing games outside)

OPEF Base Camp: Leadership in Training Program OPEF Base Camp: Leadership in Training Program

Madison Street Construction - Sidewalk Concerns

The Contractor will not be allowed to remove any sidewalk within the safe routes to school corridor until June 15th. This is the portion of the job between Home and Ridgeland. The sidewalk that is expected to be removed on May 6th is outside of these limits.

Teen Audiobook Summer Reading Program

This amazing program that gives us and our students access to free audiobooks that never expire is starting up once again this week.


HERE is the link directly to the website. This is the first week, and it goes for 14 weeks. Two FREE audiobooks are available every week to download and keep FOREVER. Once each week is over, two new books are available and the previous ones are no longer available. So you need to check each week and you can set up email reminders.


There are some GREAT titles offered this year, so encourage your kids to check it out!

Brooks Community Meeting

Join us on Monday, May 6 from 7:00 - 8:30 for our next Brooks Community Meeting. We will be voting on next year's PTO Board members and the budget! We will meet in the library on the third floor and free childcare is available!

Over the Counter Medication Safety Concerns Over the Counter Medication Safety Concerns

Angst - The Movie and Panelist Event on May 22nd at Brooks 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Wednesday, May 22 @ Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School Auditorium


    6:30pm - 9:00pm

    • 6:30pm come visit resource tables hosted by Oak Park Community Mental Health Partners
    • 7:00pm to 8:15pm Sow the Movie Angst
    • 8:15pm to 9:00pm Panelist Discussion



    FLYER and Link to Panelist Bios

    Volunteer with the Brooks PTO next year

    Planning is already underway for the next school year! The PTO is committed to enriching the experience of students at Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School through supporting a positive school environment, facilitating the development of positive relationships within the community, advancing school equity initiatives, and creating an environment where all students have access to school resources and opportunities. See the positions that are available and sign up here! Email any questions to gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.

    Yearbook Ordering

    TreeRing, our yearbook vendor, has a new process for ordering yearbooks. You must enter a passcode and set up an account to place an order. Please use the link provided below:


    https://www.treering.com/validate?PassCode=1014096931934358


    If you are asked for a pass code, please use: 1014096931934358

    Recognizing Staff who Make a Difference

    If you or your student would like to recognize any staff member (a teacher, a teacher assistant, social worker, librarian, front office staff, lunchroom staff, custodial staff or school administrator) please take a moment to complete this form. The staff member will receive a certificate detailing the information shared through this form.

    Assessment Re-Do/Re-Take Policy

    Please find information regarding the student re-do/re-take policy in our Brooks Website.

    http://www.op97.org/brooks/handbook

    Student Announcements

    If you're would like to see the Student Announcements that are shared with students at the top of each week, you can always find them on our Brooks Home Page by clicking on the button along the left-hand side that is entitled, "Student Announcements".

    Upcoming event hosted by Oak Park and River Forest High School

    This is some information about an upcoming event hosted by Oak Park and River Forest High School’s A Place for All (APA) club. All Middle School students are invited:

    1. GSA Adventure Night on Friday, May 10th from 7:00-9:30 PM. Try out our rock climbing wall, high ropes course, or just enjoy some low-key board games. Pizza provided, and the event is free! RSVP to gcolamussi@oprfhs.org if your school/group will be joining us.
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    8th Grade Dance - Volunteers Needed

    Calling all 6th, 7th & 8th Grade Families - Volunteers are needed to help with this fun event on May 17th 2019.


    • 8th Grade parents/guardians needed for setup (starting 1:00pm) & cleanup (9 pm);
    • 6th & 7th Grade to chaperone & run the dance (8th grade chaperones also welcome).



    Please join in making this a special evening for our graduating class of 2019!


    Questions to: Norah Scott(norahfscott@yahoo.com) or Paula O'Connor (paula.livesey@talk21.com).


    Sign up here!

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    Summer Math Registration is now closed.

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    Coffee with Capuder

    Our next meeting will take place on May 10, 8:30am. See you then!
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    WCWO Garden Kits


    WCWO will donate $8 for each kit purchased to YOUR SCHOOL. Plant pick-up is Sat. JUNE 1, 10am-2pm in the Euclid Methodist Church parking lot, 405 S Euclid in Oak Park. More plants and kits will be for sale that day.


    Each kit contains 10 plants. The Monarch & More Sun Kit and the Shade kit each cost $38, which is less than plants purchased separately. They provide all that Monarch caterpillars and adults, and bees and others need to grow up happily, plus food for birds. See the website for plant photos and growing tips and to buy other plants too.


    WCWO is a local non-profit promoting ecologically friendly landscaping and environmental education. 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 service(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.


    HOW does it work? Add a kit to your online cart on the website.

    Click on Cart, then put the name of your school in the box at lower left. After June 1, the schools will get $8 per kit. Open to parents, neighbors, or anyone! Contact westcook@outlook.com with questions.



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    Brooks Garden needs your help!

    SUPPORT THE BROOKS GARDEN!


    Spring is finally here and it’s time to enjoy the Brooks Eventide garden! We have a few ways for you to join our gardening community:


    1. VOLUNTEER! We will be building two more raised beds; a Little Free Library, as well as planting and doing general clean-up chores. We really need people with power tools and construction expertise! There’s no set schedule so we can work around when our volunteers are available! Please email lstamp@op97.org.


    2. BUY PLANTS!

    • Students in the Eco Eagles and 8.2 Science are growing three varieties of heirloom tomato plants (Amish Paste, Cherokee Purple & Sun Gold cherry), as well as zucchini, summer squash, cucumbers, basil, dill and cosmos. A limited number of these seedlings will be available the second week of May for $2 each. An order form will be coming soon.
    • Purchase native plants for YOUR garden: The West Cook Wild Ones Native Plant sale is going on, and for every Monarch kit that is purchased, $8 goes to the school of your choice (Brooks, of course!). This is a kit of 10 plants that give you an easy way to add beautiful Monarch butterfly attracting plants to your existing or new sunny garden. It will also provide nectar and pollen for native bees and other important pollinators. Information can be found at http://westcook.wildones.org/.
    • Purchase native plants for OUR garden: We would like to add native plants to the area by our beautiful mural on the southwest corner of the school and near the main entrance. Purchasing a monarch kit from the West Cook Wild Ones plant sale and donating it to our garden is an easy way for us to reach our goal.


    Please email lstamp@op97.org if you have questions or ideas for our garden!

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    Oak Park and River Forest 8th Grade Girls Golf Club

    Join us Thursday nights at the range and Sunday afternoons on the course.


    All 8th grade girls from Oak Park and River Forest are invited to join us at Fresh Meadows Golf Range, 2144 S Wolf Rd. No golf experience is necessary. First meet up is Thursday April 25th at 7:00pm. The only cost is to purchase a bucket of range balls ($8).


    Questions?

    Contact Tom Kennedy

    773 865 9563

    tkennedy@oprfhs.org


    Make friends, have fun, and learn how to play golf (both kids and adults).


    FLYER

    Clubs and Sports Information Clubs and Sports Information

    Intramural Ultimate Frisbee

    The club will play on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm and end on May 22.


    For more information contact Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org

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    Boys Volleyball

    Game Schedule

    Conference week begins!


    5/6 - 4pm - 6pm

    Home vs. MacArthur


    If you have any questions, please contact Coach Grimaldi at hgrimaldi@op97.org or Coach Gillespie at mgillespie@op97.org

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    Track and Field

    Here is the link to our Track & Field website.

    Specific events each day are linked on our calendar website.


    For more information, please contact Coach Dajani at rdajani@op97.org

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    OPEF Robotics News and Information

    You can learn more about the event on OPEF's website or their Facebook page.


    For more information about the robotics program please visit: https://www.opef.org/programs/vex-robotics/. Questions? Please contact Michele McAndrews at mvmcandrews@opef.org or Mr. Shinners at bshinners@op97.org

    Clubs

    Mondays

    • Yearbook Club: Next meetings 5/6 & 5/20 in room B202 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Here is link to the entire year meeting dates schedule. Contact Ms.Turner-Reid or Ms. Pabellon with questions mturnerreid@op97.org or mpabellon@op97.org
    • Math Team: in room B204 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Mr. Sam Kahn with questions. skahn@op97.org
    • ORFF: Monday mornings 8am to 8:50am in D110 Contact Mr. Carrillo with questions fcarrillo@op97.org
    • Spoken Word Club: Mondays in B205 (3:30 - 5:00 pm) with Mr. Lee and resident poet Christian Robinson. Contact Mr. Lee with questions. mlee@op97.org


    Tuesdays

    • EcoEalges - meets from 3:30 to 4:30 pm in room C202. Contact Ms. Stamp with questions lstamp@op97.org
    • Chess Club: meets from 3:30pm to 4:30pm in room B305. Contact Mr. Hausfeld with questions mhausfeld@op97.org


    Wednesdays

    • Best Buddies: Here is the year long calendar that can be downloaded. Contact Ms. Beauprez with questions lbeeauprez@op97.org .
    • Girls on the Rise: Meets week on Wednesdays from 3:45pm to 4:45pm in room C105
    • World Language Club: Every other Wednesday from 3:30 to 4:30pm in C209. Contact Mr. Lagioia with questions vlagioia@op97.org


    Thursdays
    • Rainbow Tribe: Contact Ms. Berman with questions aberman@op97.org
    • Art Club: Thursdays in room D301 from 3:30pm to 4:30pm. Contact Ms. Murray with questions. kmurray@op97.org


    Fridays
    • Service Club: Friday mornings from 8am to 8:50am in room B209. Contact Ms. Walsh with questions swalsh@op97.org
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    Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School

    Email: acapuder@op97.org
    Website: op97.org/brooks
    Location: 325 S Kenilworth Ave, Oak Park, IL, United States
    Phone: (708) 524-3050
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/108994473138309/
    Twitter: @brooksop97

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