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.
On September 3 and 4, your child will be taking the NEW MAP Reading and Math assessment. This standardized test measures their reading comprehension and mathematical skills, and is administered three times throughout the year. It is a valuable tool for us to monitor their progress and identify areas of strength and where they may need additional support.
To help your child perform their best, please ensure they get adequate sleep each night and eat a nutritious breakfast before the test. Proper rest and nutrition can significantly impact their focus and concentration.
Thank you for your support.
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!
Do you need dinner before or after Open House? The PTO is sponsoring a dining fundraiser at Portillo's the same night as Open House. This will take place from 5-9 p.m. All you need to do is head over to Portillo's order your food and show this flyer and a portion of your bill will be donated back to Gemini.
Are you looking to purchase some new spirit wear? Check out the Gemini Spirit Wear Store. A portion of sales each quarter is donated back to the Gemini PTO.
They are running a 30% off sale, the details are below:
- Sale ends: September 17th
- 30% off all merchandise
- Free shipping on orders over $75
- $5 shipping on orders under $75
- No code is needed!
The Gemini PTO meets the second Tuesday of each month in the Gemini library. The meetings will start at 6 p.m. The first meeting of the year will take place on September 10.
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.
In the next couple of weeks, we will be rolling out a new program at Gemini called Student Conductor. 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.
October
24: Gemini Fall Play @ 4:30 p.m. Enter Door 12
25: Gemini Fall Play @ 7:00 p.m. Enter Door 12
26: Gemini Fall Play @ 2:00 p.m. Enter Door 12
November
6: Gemini Orchestra Concert @ 6:00 p.m. Enter Door 12
14: Gemini 7/8 grades Band Concert @ 6 p.m. Enter Door 12
20: Gemini Choir Concert @ 6:00 p.m. Enter Door 12
General Gemini Library Information
Welcome to the Gemini Library for the 2024-2025 school year! Students may check out up to five books at a time for two weeks. One book can be renewed for an additional two weeks. If students have overdue books, they may not check out anything else unless it is required by a class. We are excited to share our joy of reading with the students of Gemini, and we have many fun activities and lessons planned for this year. Please contact Kris Buican or Jillian Wahlers if you have any questions.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
This celebration of the history, culture, and contributions of Hispanic Americans is recognized from September 15-October 15. We are proud to carry a multitude of books that feature Hispanic characters and their experiences. For more information, please visit the National Hispanic Heritage Month website.
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!
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 p.m.
7th and 8th Grade Girls Volleyball - Enter Door 13 - All events held in Gold Gym
Sept 12 - Maple - 4:30 Home Same Time
Sept 13 - Field - 4:30 Home Same Time
Sept 19 - Wood Oaks- 4:30 Home Same Time
Sept 20 - NBJH - 4:30 Home Same Time
Sept 26 - Caruso - 4:30 Home Same Time
6th Grade Girls Volleyball - Unless otherwise noted Enter Door 13 - Events held in Gold Gym
Sept 24 - Field - 4:30 Home
Sept 25 - Wood Oaks - 4:30 Home
Sept 26 - Maple - 4:30 Home (Mustang Gym Door 12)
Sept 30 - Wilmette - 4:30 Home
7th and 8th Grade Co-Ed Soccer
Sept 3 - Maple - 4:30 Home - 7th then 8th
Sept 11 - Wood Oaks - 4:30 Home - 7th then 8th
Sept 13 - Springman - 4:30 Home - 8th then 7th
Sept 16 - Wilmette - 4:30 Home - 7th then 8th
Sept 18 - Attea - 4:30 Home - 7th then 8th
Sept 30 - NBJH - 4:30 Home - 7th then 8th
Cross Country
Sept 4 - Field - Home - 4:30
Sept 17 - Wood Oaks and Maple - Home - 4:30
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.
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.
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.
- 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 8-8:20 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.
- 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
#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.