D63 families will receive an email with the link to sign up and more information - as well as instruction guides and a video on Wednesday, October 30th.
Conference dates:
- Wednesday, November 13 ♦ 5:00-8:00 PM
- Thursday, November 21 ♦ 5:00-8:00 PM
- Friday, November 22 ♦ 8:00-11:00 AM / 12:00-3:00 PM (NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS)
You will have the option to have your conference in-person or virtual.
General information:
To sign into Meet the Teacher, you will need:
Student's first name
Student's last name
Student's date of birth
Your first name, last name, and email address
Note: all information must match the information as it was originally entered into PowerSchool.
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.
PreK-8th grade students: submit your artwork by November 1.
East Maine District 63 invites all PreK-8th grade students to submit entries for the 2024 Winter Card Design Contest.
Completed artwork & signed parent/guardian release form must be submitted by Friday, November 1 to the school office.
- Instructions / Instrucciones
- Parent/Guardian Release Form / Formulario de consentimiento de los padres
Entries - created at home - will be judged by a panel of school and District administrators and the winner’s design will appear on the official D63 winter card, website, and social media sites.
Winner will attend the December 5 Board of Education meeting - and all Best in Show winners will be recognized at that time. All entries will be displayed at the Niles-Maine District Library in December.
Contest Rules
All artwork should be created outside of regular school hours.
Artwork must be submitted on a flat, plain white sheet of 8.5”x11” paper. There is no need to design a complete card -- just the artwork that would appear on the front.
Art must be hand-drawn and camera-ready.
Design can be vertical or horizontal and should reflect a non-religious winter theme (cardinals, birds, trees, nature, mittens, snowflakes, snowmen, etc.)
Acceptable materials: colored or graphite pencils, markers, crayons, watercolors, and paint.
The design must be usable in small (2 sq. in.) and large (up to 11 x 17 in.) formats.
Artwork can be in color, but should also be reproducible in a single color.
Place artwork and a completed parent/guardian release form in an envelope labeled “School District 63 Winter Card Contest.” Student name, school, and grade must be on the reverse side of the submission.
Questions? Email district411@emsd63.org.
Tuesday, November 12th
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, November 12th.
Location: Gemini Library or online via zoom. - Check the Gemini website the day of the meeting for the Zoom link.
Music Events
Congratulations to the cast and crew of Rotten Apples! The show was fantastic. We are looking forward to many other wonderful Mustang performances in the coming months! For all events in the Gemini Auditorium (Mustang Gym), please enter through Door 12.
6th/7th/8th Orchestra Fall Concert
Admission is free
Wednesday, November 6 @ 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
7th/8th grades Band Fall Concert
Admission is free
Thursday, November 14 @ 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
6th/7th/8th grades Choir Fall Concert
Admission is free
Wednesday, November 20 @ 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
6th grade Band Concert
Admission is free
Tuesday, December 3 @ 6pm in the Gemini Auditorium
7th/8th grades Dance Concert
Admission is free
Thursday, December 12 @ 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
Home Sports for November
If you are staying for an after-school sporting event, please report to the Cafe by 3:35 PM. You may not leave school grounds and come back without a parent accompanying you.
Basketball games normally end by 6:45 PM. Your ride must be here by 7:00 PM.
7th and 8th Grade Boys Basketball
Nov 11 - Wood Oaks - 4:30 PM - 8th then 7th
Nov 12 - Field - 4:30 PM - 8th then 7th
7th and 8th Grade Girls Basketball
Nov 18 - NBJH - 4:30 PM - 8th then 7th
Nov 19 - Wilmette- 4:30 PM - 8th then 7th
6th Grade Basketball
Nov 8 - Caruso - 4:30 PM - Boys then Girls
General Gemini Library Information
Fall happenings are in store at the library! We kicked off this year’s Reading Challenge by hosting a student interest meeting and will begin forming teams and practicing this month. We are also excited to host our book fair. Please contact Kris Buican or Jillian Wahlers if you have any questions.
We will be hosting our annual Scholastic book fair this month from November 18th through Nov 22nd. Families, there are a few ways you can help support this:
Visit our book fair website. You can preview the books and set up eWallet beginning on Oct 28 - this allows students to shop at the book fair without needing cash. Other electronic payments are also acceptable.
Online purchases from the fair can be made beginning on November 18th.
Visit us in person! We will be open to families during parent/teacher conferences on Thursday, Nov 21, from 5:00-8:00 PM and Friday, Nov 22, from 8:00-2:00 PM in the Gemini library.
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!
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.
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
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.