Mustang Minutes
Gemini Middle School - December 2023
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Dear Gemini Families,
The anticipation is building as we eagerly countdown the weeks to the winter break. Three weeks remain for our students to immerse themselves in engaging lessons, creative projects, and the festive atmosphere that permeates our school halls. It's a time to celebrate accomplishments, share laughter, and create special moments that hopefully will be cherished long after the winter break is over.
This December, we invite you to embrace the spirit of the season and create lasting memories with your loved ones. Take a moment to reflect on the positive experiences and milestones that have defined your child's school year so far. We look forward to seeing you in 2024!
Your Admin team,
Lewis, Erica, Wendy, David, & Tim
Get to Know Gemini
D63 Family Resource Center
We Care Giving Campaign
Maine East Class of 2028 Welcome Night
Wednesday, December 6th, 6:00pm-8:00pm
For more information about your child's transition to Maine East, please check out the Maine East Class of 2028 website.
Winter Clubs
The Winter After school club registration is now open as of Sunday, December 3rd. Free busing is available for students who register by December 17th. Clubs will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays from January 22nd through March 13th. You can register here.
Winter MAP Testing
Performing Arts Events
For all events in the Gemini Auditorium (Mustang Gym), please enter through Door 12. Thank you for supporting our performers.
Dance Concert
Admission is free
Thursday, Dec. 14 - 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
Caroling with Golf Maine Park District
Sports Updates
Home Game information
7th and 8th BOYS Basketball
- Dec. 6 - Springman - 4:15 PM (Home) - order of play - 8th / 7th
- Dec. 11 - Caruso - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 7th / 8th
- Dec. 13 - Northbrook JH - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 7th / 8th
- Dec. 20 - Maple - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 8th / 7th
7th and 8th GIRLS Basketball
- Dec. 21 - Maple - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 7th / 8th
6th Grade Basketball
- Dec. 13 - Wood Oaks - 4:30 PM (Home Mustang Gym) - order of play - Girls / Boys
- Dec. 18 - Northbrook JH - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - Boys / Girls
- Dec. 19 - Shepard - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - Girls / Boys
Wrestling
- Dec. 7 - Holmes - 4:30 (Mustang Gym)
Student Spectators
Winter sports are gearing up and we encourage students to come and support their friends from the sidelines.
Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind for our student spectators:
- If a Gemini student is staying to watch an after school sporting event, they must report to the school cafeteria by 3:35 PM.
- If a Gemini student leaves the school grounds and they want to return for a sporting event, they MUST be accompanied by a parent (and the parent must stay the entire time).
- If a student is absent from school on the day of the sporting event (or had an early dismissal), they are not permitted to attend the Gemini sporting event.
Expanded Learning Basketball League
Tryouts for District 63's Expanded Learning Basketball league will take place Dec. 5th or Dec. 9th here at Gemini. Please see the flyer below for more details. Registration is required to participate.
Library Updates
General Gemini Library Information
December marks the start of winter, and with the weather becoming colder, what a great time to curl up with a book! Students can check out up to five books at a time, and our library currently boasts just under 10,000 books, guaranteeing that there is something for everyone! Please contact Kris Buican or Jillian Wahlers if you have any questions.
Community Libraries
Our community libraries continue to provide wonderful programs for students. Please check out your local library’s teen page to see what is new!
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Save the date: December 12
Please join us on Tuesday, December 12th from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM for our monthly meeting. We will meet in Gemini's Library on the 2nd floor. A remote option will be available as well. The link will be shared on the website closer to the date of the meeting.
Support from Student Services
Grade Level Social Workers
6th Grade: Laura Mell
7th Grade: Zoe Turner (Habla espanol)
8th Grade: Kaarin VandenBranden
Winter Coats and Accessories
Winter is here! This means coats are coming out of storage for the season. If you need help getting a winter coat for your child, please call or email the social work team. We also have accessories like mittens, hats, etc. You can also reach out to us if you need help with access to food or other community resources.
RULER at Gemini
Beginning this fall, the Gemini Middle School community will be learning about how we can use emotions to reach our goals. We have committed to implementing RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER is also an acronym for the skills of emotional intelligence: Recognizing emotions, Understanding emotions, Labeling emotions, Expressing emotions, and Regulating emotions. Research from the field of emotion science finds that children who understand and manage their feelings make more responsible decisions, have stronger relationships, and perform better in school.
We will be infusing RULER into all parts of our school by having school wide activities and introducing routines that build emotional awareness into all classes. In middle school, students learn about emotions and emotional intelligence within the context of their real world experiences: personally, at school, in our communities, and in our understanding of the world around us. Each lesson addresses a developmentally appropriate topic such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, conflict resolution, coping skills, and identifying personal values. Over the course of the year, I will be providing ongoing communication to you about RULER. For now, if you would like to learn more visit the RULER Family Engagement website.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Breakfast
- Breakfast is available from 8:00 - 8:20 AM 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.
- Students entering the school for breakfast must purchase a breakfast. If they do not purchase a breakfast, they will be escorted back outside and will wait with everybody else.
Lunch
- 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.
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
Upcoming Events
December
6: Maine East class of 2028 Welcome Night
8: School Improvement Day - early dismissal
12: PTO Meeting
12-13: Winter MAP testing at Gemini
14: Gemini Dance concert
19: 8th Zeus field trip
20: 8th Athena field trip
21: 8th Poseidon field trip
25-29: Winter Break
January
1-5: Winter Break
8: School resumes
15: MLK Day, no school
12: End of 2nd quarter
17: ACCESS testing window opens
18: 8th Grade Grad Picture Day
19: School Improvement Day - early dismissal
Upcoming Sporting Events
- Check out the sports calendar on Gemini's calendar.
#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.