Mustang Minutes
Gemini Middle School - August 2023
Welcome to the 2023-2024 School Year
Dear Gemini Families,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! For those of you who are returning to Gemini, welcome back. For those families that are new to Gemini Middle School, we wish you a warm welcome! We are so excited to begin another new school year together.
Within this message, you will find important dates, reminders, and links to many valuable resources to help prepare you for the upcoming school year. Please be sure to review the D63 2023-2024 school year calendar, as well as some information about East Maine School District 63 communications. We would highly encourage you to follow the D63 Twitter account and the Gemini Twitter and Instagram accounts.
If you have questions about the upcoming school year or need assistance with registration, please get in touch with us by phone at 847-827-1181 or email at gemini411@emsd63.org. Our main office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. Please check your email frequently for updates from our school and District 63.
We look forward to seeing you soon and sharing a great school year!
Lewis Roberts, Principal
David Lee, 6th-grade Assistant Principal
Wendy Brutt, 7th-grade Assistant Principal
Erica Perelgut, 8th-grade Assistant Principal
Tim Mackin, Dean of Students
New Assistant Principal
David Lee Joins Gemini Middle School
At its July meeting, the D63 Board of Education approved the appointment of David Lee as Gemini's newest Assistant Principal. This year Mr. Lee will serve as the Assistant Principal for the 6th grade. Mr. Lee is filling the position vacated by Mr. Gariti who moved into the Assistant Principal role at Apollo School on July 1.
Since 2009, Lee has served in a number of capacities at Chicago Public Schools’ Mary E. Courtenay Language Arts Center, including Grade 6-8 Special Education Resource/Inclusion Teacher, Grade K-8 Technology Teacher, Technology Coordinator, Testing Coordinator, and teacher lead for the Instructional Leadership Team.
A graduate of DePaul University with an M.Ed. in special education, Lee recently completed a second M.Ed. - in educational leadership - at National Louis University. He holds a B.A. in history from the University of Michigan.
First Day of School
The first day of school is Thursday, August 17th.
Gemini school hours are:
8:00 - 8:20 a.m. Arrival Window
8:23 a.m. Doors close and students not in the building will need to report to the office
8:25 a.m. Start of the school day
3:25 p.m. End of the school day
Please note that for safety reasons, parents are not allowed to enter the building during drop-off. We also ask that parents DO NOT exit their cars during arrival and dismissal.
Click here to access the entire District 63 2023-2024 school year calendar.
Arrival/Dismissal Procedures - Please Review
Bus Riders: Please log into the Parent Portal to check your bus number, bus stop, and the morning and afternoon pick-up and drop-off times. Learn more about bus transportation.
Student Schedules/Grades
Student schedules will go live in PowerSchool no later than Thursday, August 10 at 3:30 p.m.
Please login to the Parent Portal before Thursday, August 17th, to view your child's schedule for the year. Please make sure your child knows their advisory teacher's name and room number, as that is where they will go when they arrive at school on Thursday. If they forget, no worries; we will have adults ready to help them.
Please Note: Students that registered this week might not have a schedule as we might be waiting on information from their prior school.
Grades
Did you know you can use the Parent Portal to check your child's grades or assignments for each class? Parents can also elect to be notified when changes are made in the grade book; this can be set up in the parent portal.
If you have forgotten your username and password, please get in touch with our main office via email or phone for support.
School Supplies & Chromebooks
Students with a District-issued Gemini Chromebook at home should bring it in on the first day of school.
Any students who are new to D63 and 6th-grade students who were not able to attend orientation will receive their Chromebooks the first week of school.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
- Students may choose to bring a lunch to school or purchase a lunch. Click here for more information on D63's food service program, paying for meals, and to see the food menu.
- Breakfast: Available from 8-8:20 a.m. each morning in our school cafeteria. Bus riders will enter Door 6 once they arrive. Car Riders and Walkers will enter at Door 2 or Door 13.
- We do not accept student lunches from food delivery services such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, etc. If food is delivered from a delivery service, we will send them away with the order. A parent or family member is the only person from whom we will accept a lunch delivery for a student.
Note from the Nurses
- Please note that the school office must have your student’s required health forms on file before the first day of school. Learn more about health requirements.
- Contact one of our Gemini School Nurses, Shubby Patel or Sara McIntyre if you have questions or need assistance.
Sports Information
Sports
Very Important Reminder: A valid physical form or the IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Exam Form (sports physical) must be turned into the nurse's office before a child can try out for a sport. These forms are good for one year.
Cell Phone Policy - Please Review
Personal electronic devices must be powered off and stored in the student’s locker during school hours. If you need to get in contact with your child, please call the school office directly.
We have two types of violations regarding cell phones and other electronic devices unintentional and intentional.
Unintentional
The student was found in possession of a personal electronic device and/or has the device on his or her body but was not using it.
- First violation: The item is taken from the student and placed in the office. The student can pick up the item in the office at the end of the day.
- Second violation: The item is taken from the student and placed in the office and the adult who confiscated the item will contact a parent.
- Third violation: The item is taken from the student and placed in the office. A parent will be contacted and must pick up the item from the office.
- Fourth violation: The item is taken from the student and placed in the office. A parent will be contacted and must pick up the item from the office. Upon entering school each day the student will need to take the item directly to the office and check it in. They will then check it back out at the end of the school day.
The student was found in possession of a personal electronic device and/or has the device on his or her body and was actively using the device. Examples of intentional use may include but are not limited to the following: calling, texting, social media use, listening to music, camera, etc.
- First violation: The item is taken from the student and placed in the office. A parent will be contacted and must pick up the item from the office.
- Second violation: The item is taken from the student and placed in the office. A parent will be contacted and must pick up the item from the office. Upon entering school each day, the student must take the item directly to the office and check it in. They will then check it back out at the end of the school day.
Fall Picture Day
Open House - September 7
Open House
At Open House, families will be able to:
- visit your child's classrooms
- meet their teachers
- tour the school
- meet other Gemini families
We hope to see you there!
Gemini Social Media
- We encourage you to follow us on our website and social media, this is a great way to stay informed.
- Gemini Website
- Gemini Twitter @D63Gemini
- Gemini Instagram @geminid63
D63 Family Resource Center
Upcoming Events
August
17: First Day of School
September
7: Open House from 6-7:30 p.m.
7: District 63 Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. at D63 Education Service Center
Upcoming Sporting Events
August
Information Meetings
21: 7/8th* grade grade Boys/Girls Soccer Information Meeting 3:35 - 4 p.m.
*Our sports conference does not offer 6th-grade soccer
22: 6-8th grade Girls Volleyball Information Meeting 3:35 - 4 p.m.
23: Cross Country Information Meeting 3:35 - 4 p.m.
Tryouts - All students MUST have an updated physical on file before they can tryout.
28-29: 7/8th grade grade Boys/Girls Soccer 3:35 - 5 p.m.
28-30: 6-8th grade Girls Volleyball 3:35 - 5 p.m.
29: Cross Country Practice Begins 7:10 - 8:05 a.m. (This is a non cut sport so there are no tryouts)
#hereatgemini
Email: gemini411@emsd63.org
Website: https://gemini.emsd63.org/
Location: 8955 North Greenwood Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-1181
Twitter: @D63Gemini
Office Hours: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on days when students are in the building.