Middle Matters

Highlights from this week's Middle Matters:

• Important Upcoming Dates
• Monday 5/3 is B day for All Students
• Middle School Schedule Information
• Remote Learning Planning Day on May 7
• 8th Grade Graduation Information
• The Hour to Empower Podcast
  
• Mandatory PCR Testing: Next test dates for ALL in-person 6th, 7th and 8th Grade students is 5/6 & 5/7
• Updated Contact Tracing Procedures - Responding to a Positive Case
• School Registration for Returning Students
• OPEF - Free Event
• Keep D97 Schools Allergy Safe - No Nuts Allowed
• GBMS Yearbook Ordering Information
  
• Check out... What's happening in the Brooks Library
  
• Middle School Virtual Clubs Starting Days & Times & BRAVO Information
• Student Attendance - Trimester 3: How to Report Student Absences
• Technology Support: helpdesk@op97.org
• PTO News
• In case you missed it: items from previous Middle Matters (see below)
• District Information Highlights
• Community Highlights

In case you missed it:

• SAVE THE DATE: D97 Virtual Summer Step Up Program
• T2 Honor Roll
• GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIPS Available for Summer Learning Opportunities at BASE CAMP!
  
• Current 7th Graders-Washington D. C. Trip in February 2022
  
• Middle School Hybrid Week Information (including A/B Day & Hybrid Week Calendar)
• Crisis Go Health Certification
• When to Stay Home From School
• A Greater Good Foundation
• STARS Program
• Morning Virtual Homework Support
• School Immunization and Physical Information

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) alove@op97.org

Antione Bland Curriculum & Instruction AP (8th grade, Teams 7.3) abland@op97.org

Stacie Klein Culture & Climate AP sklein@op97.org

• May 3 - In-person 6th Grade students are scheduled for Full Day Instruction on-site
  
• May 5 - In-person 7th & 8th Grade students are scheduled for Full Day Instruction on-site
• May 7 - No Student Attendance - Remote Planning Day

Schedule

6th Grade students

• Monday, May 3rd is a B Day.
• 6th grade in-person students for the full day will report on site for school.
• Please be sure your student arrives no earlier than 8:50am.
• Your student's advisory teacher will be at the entry location holding a sign with their name on it to make it easier for your student to find their teacher and get checked in to enter the building.
• Your student will exit the building based on the entry location of their last class's teacher on their schedule for that day (A or B).
• Friday, May 7th is a Remote Planning Day for teachers and there will be no student attendance.

7th & 8th Grade Students

• Monday, May 3rd is a B Day and Tuesday, May 4th is an A Day - which all 7th and 8th graders will be learning remotely following the schedule on our website linked above (except for our small group of extended in-person learners who will be in-person)
• Wednesday, May 5th is a B Day - which is the first full day in-person day for 7th and 8th graders.
• Friday, May 7th is a Remote Planning Day for teachers and there will be no student attendance.

If you missed the Parent Q&A, click on the recorded link below:

Q&A about Brooks MS Schedule starting 5/3 and Beyond

A/B Day Calendar

GBMS Remote and Hybrid Learning Webpage

Beginning the week of May 3, all in-person middle school students will participate in full days of instruction, Monday through Friday on-site. The middle schools will maintain the A/B schedule they have been using this year with some minor changes as shown below. Our in-person students will be changing classrooms and eating lunch at school during the day. Our remote students will be following the same schedule as our in-person students by zooming/live streaming to connect with their teachers and in-person classmates.

• Monday 5/3 and Tuesday 5/4 and beyond our in-person 6th graders will be in the building

• Wednesday 5/5 and beyond all of our in person 6th, 7th and 8th grade students will be in the building

The learning selection selected for your student for Trimester 3 will continue with this next iteration of the hybrid schedule that begins the week of 5/3.

Schedule for ALL Students starting 5/3

6th, 7th and 8th Grade Student Schedule Starting 5/3

A Day/B Day Schedule for 5/3 and Beyond

Information for Remote Students Only

Please join your advisory class zoom by 9:00am each morning. During our first week as we are fine tuning the entry process, your teacher may be starting the zoom after 9:00am and we appreciate your patience. Your teacher should be starting the advisory zoom no later than 9:10am during the week of 5/3. Your student will be able to utilize the lunch/adv & study/collaboration time each day to eat their lunch and find time to get outside (11:57am to 1:00pm). Please plan to have your student connect to their zoom class at the identified class period start time outlined above. Our remote students will continue to communicate with their teacher if they need to step away from zoom while learning from home.

Information for In-Person Students Only

Schedule

In-person students will be at Brooks every day for a full-day every week following the above A Day/B Day Schedule.

Arrival and Entry Location

An email was shared with families Sunday afternoon and can also be found on our website:

Please have your student arrive no earlier than 8:50am.

We will follow the same processes:

• Each morning by 8:15am, parent/guardians should have completed the CrisisGo Self-Certification for their middle school in-person student(s).

• If your student will not be attending in-person, please be sure to still complete the CrisisGo self-certification as the first questions asks to indicate you student’s attendance status:

• My child will not be in school today due to illness or

• My child is feeling well, but they will not be onsite today.

• Students should go to their entry location and line up by their advisory teacher (teachers will be holding signs with their name)

• Advisory Teachers will ensure students have self-certified as well as verify that the students completed the required weekly COVID-19 PCR test.

• Students will then enter the building to complete the temperature check before heading directly to their advisory classroom. We will not be using student lockers.

Classes

Students will transition in the hallways during the 3 minute passing period to each of their classes. Staff will be in the hallways during passing periods to monitor students. We will be sharing and reviewing student expectations with students the week of 5/3.

Lunch

Our School safety team has been working on plans for the safe delivery of lunch. This includes strict adherence to the ISBE/IDPH requirements that all students be spaced at least 6 feet apart while eating and be facing the same direction. Students will be eating with their advisory class.

• During Lunch students will be monitored to ensure they

• have their masks off for no more than 15 minutes

• are focused on eating and not talking while their mask is removed

• bring lunches that follow our allergy guidelines

• District 97 will continue its nut-safe expectation. The exclusion of nuts will be adhered to throughout the school day. This is an important measure to protect our students with life-threatening allergies, as the lunchroom will not be the only space used for meals while we are adhering to COVID-19 safety measures.

• receive the school lunch and/or milk for those who placed an order that morning

• Lunch spaces will be indoors with students seated at least 6 feet apart and facing the same direction

• If eating at school, your student’s assigned period to eat (11:57am to 12:27pm or 12:30pm to 1:00pm), will be shared with students on Monday, 5/3. For Remote students and students who do not eat at school, they will have from 11:57am to 1:00pm to eat.

• Cold Lunch will be available each day for your student to order through their morning advisory class, which includes a choice of a Sandwich or pizza kit as well as milk or chocolate milk. Your student will order their lunch with their advisory teacher.

Social Distancing

The District 97 Board of Education adopted a resolution authorizing classroom seating to be spaced 3 to 6 feet apart. This is aligned to the latest guidance from the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control.

At Brooks, given that each class period may vary in the number of students who are attending in person, we have set up each classroom to accommodate the largest number of students in a single class period. The social distancing will vary by class and class period with students attending a majority of their class periods with 5 to 6 feet social distancing. Any lunch spaces will have students seated 6 feet apart and facing the same direction while eating with their masks off for 15 minutes.

Weekly Mandatory Covid-19 PCR Testing

While District 97 continues to experience success with hybrid learning and its internal safety metrics, we are including this additional COVID-19 mitigation strategy through a partnership with Northshore Clinical Labs.

Weekly participation will be mandatory for all middle school students who participate in in-person learning for the duration of Trimester 3. Each Thursday or Friday, our Brooks students will participate in the COVID-19 PCR Testing in our gymnasium between 4pm and 8pm.

This is the link to schedule your student’s weekly COVID-19 PCR Test: LINK to SELECT APPOINTMENT TIME. The appointments for Thursday, April 29th and Friday, April 30th are currently available to schedule your student's appointment.

Away for the Day

Last year, we launched our Cell Phone Away for the Day expectations. As we transition to school for full days, every day, we will continue to expect students to follow these expectations below:

• Cell phones are to be turned off upon entering the school building, stored in their bags and not turned back on until the dismissal bell rings.

• Students violating these expectations will have their device taken by an adult and turned into the main office. The student can pick it up at the end of the day. If this happens 3 times, the parent/guardian of the student is required to pick it up from school and develop a plan to help the student follow the expectations.

• Possession of a cell phone is a privilege that may be forfeited by any student who fails to abide by these expectations.

• These expectations do not apply to students who have documented medical exemptions that require the use of technology to monitor health conditions.

Please support us in holding students to our cell phone expectations. Please watch this 2 minute video that supports the “Why” behind our expectations. Click on this link for additional information about keeping cell phones “Away for the Day” while in school.

District 97 will utilize its last Remote Learning Planning Day on Friday, May 7. There will be no student learning on that date.

The Illinois State Board of Education has permitted each school district to utilize up to five Remote Learning Planning Days during the 2020-21 school year. These days provide staff with additional professional learning and collaboration time in support of hybrid learning.

Graduation Information

• Sunday, June 13th at 10am at Oak Park River Forest High School Stadium
• 2 tickets will be provided per Graduate to ensure we align with the COVID-19 Social Gathering Guidelines
• Graduate Attire: Cap and Gown or Dress Attire

Caps/Gown/8th Grade T-shirt

If you ordered a Cap/Gown and/or 8th Grade T-shirt:

• In-Person Students: Caps/Gowns/8th Grade T-shirt will be delivered to your student's advisory teacher the week of May 10th so your student can bring these items home. If for any reason, your student plans to be absent this week, please select a date to arrange to pick up the items from the main office.
• Remote Students: please select a date (Wednesday, 5/12 - Friday 5/14) to pick-up your student's items from the main office during the hours of 9:30am and 4:00pm.

Graduation Picture Dates

We have arranged for graduation pictures. If you would like your student to take their graduation pictures in their Cap and Gown, you must have ordered these previously and your student must bring them with them on their scheduled picture day, as we do not have loaners and can not permit sharing of these items between students.

• In-Person Students: Monday, May 17 scheduled during the school day
• Remote Students: Wednesday, May 19th between 4pm and 7pm. A schedule will be shared with families, organized by last name next week.
• If needed, a make-up date for any students: Thursday, May 20th 4 pm to 7 pm
• We will NOT have a Retake date available

Yearbook

For families that ordered a Yearbook, please expect shipment to your home the week of June 4th.

The Hour to Empower Podcast is completely researched, written and performed by our Brooks students. Check out the full Wednesday Journal Article: https://www.oakpark.com/2021/04/27/you-have-a-voice-for-a-reason-say-brooks-students/

If you have missed any of there episode - you can find them all here: https://www.bravoperformingarts.org/classes

While District 97 continues to experience success with hybrid learning and its internal safety metrics, we are excited to launch an additional COVID-19 mitigation strategy next month through a partnership with Northshore Clinical Labs. Beginning the week of April 12, the district implemented a COVID-19 PCR Testing program for on-site students at Brooks and Julian middle schools. Weekly participation will be mandatory for all students who participate in in-person learning for the duration of Trimester 3.

All of our in-person 6th, 7th and 8th graders will need to participate in the next PCR testing date on either Thursday, May 6 or Friday, May 7 from 4 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. Here is the appointment link to select an appointment: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/gwendolyn-brooks-middle-school-covid-19-testing-tickets-148372972555

Click here for complete details about the Middle School PCR Testing Program.

Testing Overview

• On-site students will be required to complete a PCR test the week before they come to school. Families will be emailed a link to register for their student’s appointment at the student’s respective school.
  

• Both middle schools will host testing in their respective gymnasiums on Thursdays and Fridays, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  

• Students will be able to choose between two PCR tests: a nasal swab or an oral rinse. The preferred and customary PCR specimen collection method is the simple nasal swab, however the alternate option of an oral rinse is being provided for consideration.
  

• Students are required to bring their school IDs AND the consent form to their appointments.
  

• Northshore Clinical Labs will report individual results to parents via phone and email. Results will be shared with middle school principals via a secure report every Sunday so they can work in conjunction with their respective school nurses to connect with families whose students had a positive test result.

Steps for Parents of On-Site Students

• Complete the initial (one-time) PCR testing registration form prior to the first testing appointment. Click here to access the form for Brooks Middle School.

• Register your student(s) for appointments. The appointment link will be emailed to in-person families one week prior testing schedule dates.

• Complete the COVID-19 Testing Authorization and Consent Form prior to every appointment. If the form cannot be printed at home, parents/guardians should complete the form on site.
  

• If all forms are completed ahead of time, parents/guardians are not required to be present.

Important Links

• D97 Middle School PCR Testing Program

• Testing Schedule

• PCR Testing FAQ

In anticipation of our shift to full days of on-site learning, the District 97 nurses and safety and security manager have updated our contract tracing process to align with the latest guidance provided by the Illinois State Board of Education, Illinois Department of Public Health and the Oak Park Department of Public Health.

Beginning April 26, designated seating charts will be used for all classrooms to streamline and accelerate the contact tracing process when a person tests positive. This will allow nurses to focus their contact tracing investigation on those who are designated close contacts and follow the associated guidance for quarantine requirements. A close contact is defined as someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for a cumulative total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period, starting from two days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, two days before getting tested) until the time the patient is isolated.

As a result of our updated process, schools will no longer automatically quarantine entire classrooms when a positive case is identified, and will instead focus on isolating close contacts. Full classroom and/or school quarantines may still be possible depending on the outcome of contact tracing; nurses will work closely with the Oak Park Department of Public Health to determine if additional safety measures are needed.

The following communication procedures will be used for positive cases, beginning the week of April 26:

• The principal will send an email notification to all students and staff of the affected classroom that there was a participant in the class who tested positive. All new cases will then be publicly reported on the district’s COVID-19 Metrics Dashboard.
• If the participant(s) are determined to have been close contacts and/or significant exposure, they will be contacted separately by the school and told to quarantine for 14 full days from their last contact with the case. The nurse will clear those close contact participants on a case by case basis to return to school/work.

We will continue to work closely with the Oak Park Department of Public Health to take any and all measures necessary to protect the safety of our school community.

Registration will be entirely online April 26 through May 31 for returning students who are currently in kindergarten through seventh grade. The parent/guardian listed as PG1 in PowerSchool will receive an email from infosnap@is.op97.org with their student’s snapcode and instructions to register. Emails will be sent in waves beginning April 26. Returning Student Registration Information >

Note: In order to register, Oak Park renters must have a lease that covers August 31, 2021, or the student’s first day of school.

VIDEO: "The ABCs of Registration are 'D-E-F'"
CLICK HERE for a brief video that outlines the District 97 registration process!

As you begin the process, remember that the "ABCs" of registration are "D-E-F."

• D - Documents: All required documents must be scanned and ready to upload before starting registration.
• E - Early: Registration is a longer process and we ask that families register early!
• F - Finish: Registration is finished once you receive a confirmation email from the district.

While in-person fundraisers are still out of reach, the Oak Park Education Foundation is planning a virtual evening that is sure to impress. OPEF Makes Magic, featuring world class magician Dennis Watkins, is set for Friday, May 21st at 6:30pm. This is an interactive magic show like none other and is good fun for the whole family. Tickets for this event are FREE and our goal is to reach as many new families as possible. We are hoping to raise $25,000 in proceeds from raffle ticket sales and event donations to match a grant we received to expand our BASE Camp scholarships to more families now and in future summers. We hope you'll join the fun and register here!

District 97 will continue its nut-safe expectation this school year when we transition to full-day in-person learning. The exclusion of nuts will be adhered to throughout the school day. This is an important measure to protect our students with life-threatening allergies, as the lunchroom may not be the only space used for meals while we are adhering to COVID-19 safety measures.

Please check with your child's teachers for other allergy considerations in the classroom. We appreciate your help in adhering to this preventative measure.

Sharing Photos with our Yearbook Editors

A copy of the email sent to all families last week to provide consent for your student, if 12 years or younger, to create a treering account to be able to submit photos to be reviewed by our yearbook editors to potentially include in the 20-21 yearbook.

To Purchase & Customize Your 20-21 Yearbook

Must be a parent or student 13 years or older.

1. Go to www.treering.com/validate
2. Enter your school’s passcode: 1014096931934358

Regular Price: $26.02. *Does not include sales tax or any discounts, if applicable

Deadline: April 30th, 2021

HYBRID SCHEDULE LIBRARY BOOK PROCEDURE:

LIBRARY BOOK PROCEDURE

1. Holds will be pulled DAILY
   
2. Place books on hold via the catalog. You will be notified through Canvas that your holds are ready.
   
3. Books will be delivered to classrooms for in-person students. Remote students can pick-up from the box in the Kenilworth vestibule from 3:30-4:30 as soon as notified through Canvas
   
4. RETURNS:
   

1. If you are in-person, your teacher will have a place in your classroom to pile library books you would like to return - ideally near the front door

2. Remote students can return books to the box in the Kenilworth vestibule

5. New updates coming for May 3rd. Stay tuned!

6. Instructions and flyers

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

2. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Destiny Catalog Collections

1. Mr. Alejos and I are creating some topic collections in the catalog to help you browse our books.

2. We have started one with books by and about Asian Americans

3. To find it, when in the catalog, click on the three lines in the upper left hand corner and click on Collections

Click HERE for the Winter Book Talks Presentation

1. 6th Grade AnswerGarden recommendations

2. 7th Grade AnswerGarden recommendations

3. 8th Grade AnswerGarden recommendations

Databases (Gale & Britannica)

• Use this url to access all of our databases and research eBooks: http://www.galepages.com/oak8130

• Outside of school the password for the Gale Databases is eagles.

• For Britannica the username is op97 and the password is learn

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 remote learning, 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.

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 if you need help finding the links.

Crochet Club: Next Meeting is Wednesday 3:30-4:40

Please contact Ms. Rodriguez at trodriguez@op97.org with any questions.

• Supplies needed- If you don’t have the supplies and cannot get them please contact me: Ms. Rodriguez (trodriguez@op97.org) I can drop off at your home

• Crochet hook- different patterns require different hooks, but we can make it work if you have a hook similar to one we are using. I suggest G6 4.00mm Hook. There are hooks at the Dollar Store near Ridgeland and North Ave.

• Yarn- different patterns require different yarn. We will need yarn that is not fuzzy, so a yarn that is cotton/polyester works. (They used to have some at Dollar Store but I haven’t seen it in a while). We need yarn that have clean looking strands so we can see our stitches.

Morning Vocal Ensembles: Open to Everyone!

• 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

Social Justice Club: We will meet every Tuesday 3:45 to 4:45pm Contact Ms. Stigger with questions (nstigger@op97.org).

• Meeting ID: 830 7488 7298

• Passcode: 173560

• Zoom Link Below

• https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/83074887298?pwd=d0VDaE5QQzdpVmlxQmZYdldXbS9GQT09

Rainbow Tribe: Rainbow Tribe club will meet on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm. Our next meeting is Monday, May 3rd! Contact Ms. Berman with questions (aberman@op97.org) Students who identify as LGBTQ and/or allies are ALL WELCOME!

Math Team: See you next year, Mathletes! Contact Ms. Esther Smith (esmith3@op97.org) with any questions about joining our team- all are welcome!

Brooks Earth Action Team (the BEAT):

Yearbook: Calling all poets, writers, artists, photographers, and more! Our next yearbook meetings will be May 4th from 8:00 - 8:45 am. May 11th will be our last meeting, so stay tuned for details. Contact Ms. Pabellon at mpabellon@op97.org with questions. Come be a part of our creative team, we need YOU to make this year’s yearbook like no other! Everyone is welcome. Here is the zoom link.

Morning Band Groups: Jazz Ensemble (7th and 8th graders) meets Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. Jazz Lab Band (6th graders) meets Thursdays from 8:00 am to 8:45 am. Ask Mr. Davis for the Zoom Link!

YEMBA: YEMBA meets on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:00 pm. Students can access the zoom link to attend the YEMBA session through the lunch course in Canvas.

• YEMBA has begun supporting students with a homework hotline. Here is info about how to access the homework hotline.

Audition and Show Info
Student Sign Up Form

• Wish Upon A Star: Favorite Songs & Scenes of Disney - NO AUDITIONS! All you have to do is SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE Open to All 6th-8th Graders - Rehearsals begin TODAY at 4pm!
  
• Virtual Crew Club - Starts April 20! Tuesdays - 3:30pm-5pm SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE
  
• Mark your calendars for SUMMER BRAVO! FOR MORE INFO & TO REGISTER
  
• If you are interested in participating in the Hour to Empower Podcast - please email: bravo@op97.org
  

Summer Bravo Performing Arts Program

NOW OPEN to CURRENT 4th Graders to CURRENT 8th Graders!

June 14 - July 16

3-Week and 2-Week Sessions

For more info and to register: bravoperformingarts.org

Actors and Stage Crew - join us for Summer Bravo!

3-Week Session: June 14 - July 2

2-Week Session: July 5-July 16

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!

Due to a very generous anonymous donation, the PTO has purchased $15 Amazon gift cards for each student. If you haven't picked yours up yet, it will be included in the student materials which was distributed on Saturday, March 13th. Please see information above on how to collect your student's trimester 3 materials, including the Amazon gift card, if you hadn't previously picked up the Amazon card.

If you have any questions, please email Kristen Lee (kristenlee1@gmail.com) or Ariel Rainey (ariel.rainey@gmail.com).

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.

We are happy to announce our new Brooks Spiritwear as a PTO Fundraiser! The designs were created by one of our 7th grade students as well as Mrs. Love. All proceeds will benefit the PTO.

Spiritwear can be purchased here at the Shabby Fly website.

Please consider supporting the PTO's fundraiser!

District 97 is holding a Virtual Step Up Summer Program for students in Grades 1-8 (students who are in kindergarten through seventh grade during the 2020-21 school year). The program will run July 26 through Aug. 5, 2021 (8:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. OR 12 pm. - 2:30 p.m.).

Summer Step Up is designed to support any District 97 student that could benefit from revisiting grade level standards from the previous year. Additional information and sign up forms will be shared by schools in May 2021.

Does your child need some joyous and safe summer enrichment? The Oak Park Education Foundation just posted all of its plans for an in-person BASE Camp for Summer 2021. And they want to make it easier than ever to apply for scholarships after this extraordinarily tough year. Please check out all the information on these rave-worthy STEAM-focused camps at this page, including camp descriptions and details on how to access the scholarships here. There is a new process for registering for FULL SCHOLARSHIPS through an early registration, so if you qualify (via current or prior free/reduced lunch status), please send your name and contact information to BASE Camp staff via this form so they can send you access to the early registration site in advance of BASE Camp registration, which opens to the general public April 7 at 1 pm. Hope to see you this summer!

If you were unable to attend the meeting and would like more information regarding the 8th grade Washington DC trip, please email Janorisè Robinson, DC Program Leader.

Please visit GBMS Remote & Hybrid Learning page on our website.

You will find the following information there:

• A/B DAY CALENDAR
• DAILY A/B SCHEDULE FOR 5/3 through the end of the school year
• LUNCH INFORMATION, including Off Campus details
• WEEKLY COVID-19 PCR TESTING Appointment Slots link
• SELF-CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
• STUDENT ARRIVAL PROCESS FOR IN PERSON STUDENTS
• STUDENT DROP OFF LOCATIONS
• DISMISSAL PROCEDURES (WALKERS AND BUS RIDERS)
• WEARING MASKS
• BUSING
• TARDY PROCEDURES
• PROCEDURES AND ROUTINES WHILE IN THE CLASSROOM
• SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR STUDENTS ATTENDING IN-PERSON
• Brooks Return to Learning On-Site Safety Procedures

Starting Monday, February 1, the CrisisGo Safety iPASS will go live. Health certifications must be completed every day before in-person learners arrive to school. Middle school students must have their certification completed by 8:15 a.m. Please see the linked PDF for full details. Highlights of what you can expect are included below.

Information about CrisisGo and resources to help families are available at https://www.op97.org/updatecenter/crisisgo.

We ask that our entire District 97 community help keep our schools safe by adhering to our COVID-19 guidelines. This includes students/staff staying home if they:

• Are feeling sick
• Have tested positive for COVID-19
• Are waiting for a COVID-19 test result
• Are a close contact of a positive/probable COVID-19 case
• Have traveled for more than 24 hours out of state.

Click here for our "When to Stay Home" flyer >

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. All students will meet on Mondays 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. You can still join the program!

If you have any questions or would like your student to participate, please contact Stacie Klein at sklein@op97.org.

FLYER and VIDEO about the program

Please be aware that The Illinois State Board of Education has provided new information to Districts regarding families who may have been listed as non- compliant due to failure to present proof of a current health examination and required immunizations.

If a family has not ensured a child’s timely compliance with health examination or immunization requirements, the child may be provided e-learning or remote instruction, provided instruction is solely by remote means and he/she does not have a physical presence on school grounds (either before, during or after school). Any child continuing to receive remote instruction during this time will not be considered in violation of Section 26-1 of the School Code and will not be subject to the penalties imposed by Section 26-10. Importantly, any such student who is permitted to attend school through an e-learning program or remote learning plan due to failure to present proof of required immunizations, and who qualifies for free and reduced meals, may continue to receive those meals in the manner that other e-learning or remote students receive meals. The Illinois State Board of Education will continue to provide updates to the field, as necessary, concerning compliance with Section 27-8.1.

To read more about this information provided by The Illinois State board of Education please click here.

Please submit following the information to the Health Office:

• A school physical (Certificate of Child Health Examination and Immunization record)
• 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.

SAVE THE DATE: Registration for 2021-22 School Year in D97
Online registration for the 2021-22 school year in District 97 will officially launch on Monday, April 26. Please be on the lookout for an email with complete details next week. Information will also be available on the district website at https://www.op97.org/hr/student-registration.

Returning Students - Registration will be entirely online April 26 through May 31 for returning students who are currently in kindergarten through seventh grade. The parent/guardian listed as PG1 in PowerSchool will receive an email from infosnap@is.op97.org with their student’s snapcode and instructions to register. Emails will be sent in waves beginning April 26.

Note: In order to register, Oak Park renters must have a lease that covers August 31, 2021, or the student’s first day of school.

Appointments are currently available for the week of April 26 using this link:
https://registration.powerschool.com/family/gosnap.aspx?event=3548&culture=en

Additional slots will be added each week.

D97 to Host Virtual Parent-to-Parent Circle Series

District 97 families are invited to join our upcoming Virtual Parent-to-Parent Series, which will be facilitated in partnership with the E-Team of Oak Park. Events will be held:

• Thursday, April 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The sessions are designed to build community among District 97 parents and guardians and provide support as we navigate hybrid learning. The intention is for parents/guardians to attend all three sessions to help build a consistent community, but if you cannot make the first session you may still attend the others. Please let us know your availability in the registration form so that we can plan accordingly.

District 97 to Host Three Additional Parent University Sessions in April 2021
District 97 will host three new Virtual Parent University sessions in April to help families learn strategies for collaborating with school administrators, teachers and staff to support equity and student success.

The sessions will be facilitated by Reesheda Graham Washington, principal consultant of RGW Consulting and CEO of L!VE 2.0.

The events will be held April 10, April 17 and April 24. CLICK HERE to learn more and register.

The deadline to register is Tuesday, Feb. 16. To sign up, please visit https://bit.ly/D97ParentCircles.

Wanting to confirm information you've heard regarding our schools?
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

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

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.

Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, April 27th
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.

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.

D97 Breakfast/Lunch Menus - April 2021

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.

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 >

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.

The OPRF High School Booster Club will be hosting a virtual meet and greet at 7pm on Wednesday April 14th to introduce incoming Athletic Director, Nicole Ebson. Appropriate for all current OPRF families and incoming families that will be joining us in August the meeting will include a quick overview of the interactions of OPRF and the Booster Club as well as a presentation by Ms. Ebson. There will be a question and answer period at the end. Please join us in welcoming the new head of the Athletics Department. You must pre-register in order to receive a link to the event http://bit.ly/Boosters414 . For any questions, please email oprfboostermembership@gmail.com .

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.