Gemini's Student Conductor is now live. Student Conductor is a tool that helps track and manage student classroom tardies, ID violations, attendance at sporting events and school activities, and other items. It is designed to make it easier for the school to keep track of your child's daily period attendance and to communicate with you about any issues associated with any of the identified target areas. Gemini is making a concerted effort to promote expectations in and outside of the classroom, and these include being on time to class and being prepared (having a Student ID).
How it works:
Tracking Tardies: When your child arrives late to a class, they will have to scan their ID at one of the seven tardy stations throughout the building. As your child scans their ID, the tardy station will print a tardy slip which (in addition to providing their admission to class), also lists their previous tardies and, if necessary, assigns them to a specific consequence associated with getting a specified number of tardies. (If they are not prepared for class and do not have an ID with them when they are tardy, they will be sent to the office to receive an ID violation as well as a tardy).
Communication: You will receive a notification each time your child is tardy to a class. If your child receives a consequence, you will be notified and might be asked to attend a meeting so we can work together to address the issue.
Consistency: The system helps ensure that all tardies and ID violations and the subsequent consequences are recorded and handled fairly and consistently.
Benefits:
Improved Attendance: By tracking tardies, we can identify patterns and work together to improve your child's attendance.
Enhanced Communication: The system helps us communicate with you about your child's attendance in a timely and efficient manner.
Fair and Consistent Treatment: All students are treated equally, ensuring a fair and just approach to tardy management and schoolwide expectations.
The purpose of using Student Conductor is to reinforce our building expectations, ensure consistent management of consequences, increase our awareness of student locations from a safety perspective, and continue to build our students' capacities to be contributing members of our Gemini community, and the community at large.
If you have any questions or concerns about the Student Conductor Tardy Management System, please don't hesitate to contact Dean Timothy Mackin. You will also receive more information about this in a subsequent email.
Tuesday, October 8th
The Gemini PTO meets the second Tuesday of each month in the Gemini library. The meetings will start at 6 p.m. This month's meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 8th.
Location: Gemini Library or online via zoom. - Check the Gemini website the day of the meeting for the Zoom link.
PTO Officers needed. We are looking for additional officers to be part of the Gemini PTO Executive Board. Responsibilities include helping guide and run PTO activities for the school year.
Tuesday, October 15th, 7:00 PM
Attention 6th, 7th, and 8th grade families: Send your Student to DC and NYC!
The Gemini Travel Club will be holding an enrollment meeting for our 2025 and 2027 spring break trips to Washington, D.C. and New York City. Enrollment is open to all current 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, but space is limited!
Meeting details:
Open to all current 6th, 7th, and 8th grade families
When - Tuesday, October 15th, 7:00 PM
Where - Gemini Middle School, Learning Stairs - Enter through Door 13
Signs will be posted
Highlights of the DC/NYC trip include:
Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum
Tour the Smithsonian campus
Catch a Broadway show
and so much more!
Click here to reserve your seats for the meeting and come learn about this amazing student travel opportunity!
For more information contact Mr. Thayer (athayer@emsd63.org) with any questions.
Wednesday, October 16th
The School Safety Drill Act requires that within the first 90 days of every academic year, we conduct at least one law enforcement lockdown drill. On Wednesday, October 16, we will be practicing a Lockdown Drill with students and staff - a routine part of every school year. During the drill, students will be trained in the ALiCE principles, participate in lockdown scenarios, and engage in a whole-class mindfulness and debrief. The whole process will last approximately 90 minutes. A Niles Police officer will be present to monitor safety protocols during the drill.
Please be assured that the lockdown drill:
Does not include any simulations that mimic an actual school shooting incident or active shooter event.
Is announced in advance to all school personnel and students before it begins.
Includes content that is age and developmentally appropriate.
Includes and involves school personnel, including school-based mental health professionals.
Includes trauma-informed approaches to address the concerns and well-being of participants.
Permits students to ask questions related to it.
If you would like to opt your child out of the drill, please fill out this form and return it to your child's Advisory teacher no later than Friday, October 11th.
Please note, the main office will be CLOSED during the drill and no visitors will be allowed to enter or leave the building during the drill.
RULER is a program designed to help students develop emotional intelligence. It stands for Recognizing, Understanding, Labeling, Expressing, and Regulating emotions.
For middle school parents, RULER can provide valuable tools to support your child's emotional well-being. Here's a brief overview:
- Understanding Emotions: RULER helps students identify and understand their own emotions, as well as those of others.
- Expressing Emotions: It teaches healthy ways to express emotions, avoiding harmful behaviors like aggression or withdrawal.
- Managing Emotions: RULER provides strategies for managing emotions effectively, such as deep breathing or positive self-talk.
By learning these skills, your child can develop better relationships, improve their academic performance, and cope with challenges more effectively.
Ensuring your children's online safety is a vital, yet complex task in today's interconnected world. Parental Control tools empower you to build a secure digital space for your child. Read the article, Navigating the Need for Parental Controls:
Discover the different categories of parental control tools
Gain valuable insights and expert tips on safeguarding your children online
Learn how active involvement in your child's digital life can foster responsible online behavior
Home Sports for September
If you are child is staying for an after-school sporting event the must report to they Cafe by 3:35 PM. They may not leave school grounds and come back without a parent accompanying them.
Volleyball games normally end by 5:45 PM. Soccer matches last an hour each. Cross Country Meets are finished by 5:30 PM. Parents need to pick-up their child no later than 6:00 PM.
7th and 8th Grade Girls Volleyball - Enter Door 13 - All events held in Gold Gym
Oct 7 - Shepard - 4:30 PM - Home - 7/8 plays at the same time
Oct 9 - 8th Grade Elite Tournament - 4:30 PM - @ Maple
Oct 9 - 7th Grade Elite Tournament - 4:30 PM - @ Wilmette
Oct 10 - 8th Grade Elite Tournament - 4:30 PM - @ Maple
6th Grade Girls Volleyball - Unless otherwise noted Enter Door 13 - Events held in Gold Gym
Oct 1 - NBJH - 4:30 PM - Home
7th and 8th Grade Co-Ed Soccer
Oct 8 - Field - 4:30 PM - Home - 8th then 7th
Oct 9 - First Round Varsity Soccer Tournament - @ Attea
Oct 10 - Final Four Varsity Soccer Tournament - @ Attea
Cross Country
Oct 1 - Notre Dame Invite - 4:30 PM - Notre Dame College Prep
Oct 12 - Harvest Hustle - 8:00 AM - Niles, IL
Oct 15 - Conference Meet - 4:30 PM - @ Wood Oaks
General Gemini Library Information
The school year has definitely been action packed at the library! All students have been through for library orientation and book checkouts. Some classes have also visited us to participate in our scavenger hunt or to learn more about our online catalog, Destiny Discover. Please contact Kris Buican or Jillian Wahlers if you have any questions.
TeenTober
TeenTober is an annual event aiming to raise awareness in libraries about services and programs geared toward teens. Ways your students can participate:
Join a book discussion group at your public library
Read biographies of their favorite athlete, musician, etc.
Read books about hobbies that interest them
Read books that they want, just for the sake of reading!
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!
A few things about Halloween at Gemini:
- We do not have school or classroom Halloween celebrations.
- Students can dress up as long as what they wear is within the dress code (hats are allowed for this day) and the costume does not have masks or accessories that impede learning.
- Whatever the student is wearing should be something they can be comfortable in for the entire day.
- Please refrain from sending your child to school with candy or treats to share with other children.
Graduation
This year, our 8th grade graduation will be held on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 6:00 PM. The ceremony will occur in the Maine West High School specialty gym. Each graduate will receive four tickets for friends/family to attend this event. The graduate does not need a ticket, but any family member attending - including babies- will need one. We realize that four tickets might not be enough for your family, but that is all we can offer due to spacing issues. There will be no waitlist for tickets.
The event will also be live-streamed on our website, so those who cannot attend will be able to watch the event live.
Personal electronic devices (including cellphones, headphones, earbuds) 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.
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.
- 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.
- This year we are going cashless, if you would like to put money on your child's meal account for breakfast, lunch, or snacks, you can do so through your PushCoin Account.
- Breakfast: Available from 8:00 - 8:20 a.m. each morning in our school cafeteria. Students who would like breakfast will enter through Door 2 and proceed to the cafeteria.
- We do not accept orders 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.
#hereatgemini
Email: gemini411@emsd63.org
Website: https://gemini.emsd63.org/
Location: 8955 North Greenwood Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-1181
Twitter: @D63Gemini
Instagram: @geminid63
Office Hours: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on days when students are in the building.