Dear Brooks Families,

Thank you to our families for joining us for parent-teacher conferences last week. We are interested in your feedback. Please complete this short survey.

Please see our student announcements for more information about clubs and sports.

You can view this week's Middle Matters or any previous week's Middle Matters on our Brook's website.

Sincerely,

April Capuder

Principal

• Monday, October 28th B-Day; Tuesday - A Day; Wednesday - B Day; Thursday - A Day, and Friday, November 1st - B-Day

• Thursday 10/31 - Halloween

• No School: Tuesday, November 5th, 2024

• End of Trimester 1: Friday, November 15th

• Picture Day: During the period your student has PE/Health on either Thursday, 11/21 or Friday, 11/22

Halloween Costumes: Encouraging Thoughtful Choices for an Inclusive Community

Please note if your student dresses up for Halloween during the school day, we do not permit masks or anything that looks like a weapon.

Our goal in District 97 is to create a positive learning environment where all students, staff and families feel a sense of belonging. In that spirit, we have put together information and resources regarding culturally-sensitive Halloween costumes. We appreciate families being proactive with their children in making thoughtful costume choices. Click here for more information >>

Dear Brooks School Families,

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is committed to creating positive learning environments that are equitable, inclusive, and focused on the whole child. An important part of this work is listening and learning from our students as to how they are experiencing the culture and climate at our schools.

District 97 is working with Panorama Education, a student survey platform, to support us in administering school culture and climate surveys to our students in grades K-8. The purpose of the survey is for students to share their perceptions on engagement, school climate, school safety, sense of belonging, and teacher-student relationships. Students will complete the online survey in school and it will take about 10 minutes to complete. Student responses are confidential.

Survey data is used to help District 97 and school teams with continuous improvement, adjusting programs and resources to meet the needs of students and to support inclusive and safe environments for everyone in the school community. Students take this survey in the fall and in the spring.

We hope to have all students participate in our fall survey that will take place between November 4-15th. While our goal is to have 100% participation, parents/guardians may choose to not have their child participate. If you prefer your child does not participate, please complete this opt out form by October 31 at 4 p.m. If you have any questions about the survey, please contact Michele Capio, Director of UDL at mcapio@op97.org.

Sincerely,

April Capuder

Principal

Are you interested in purchasing 2024-2025 Yearbook?

Purchase Link

and Passcode: 1014096931934358

District 97 is seeking community members to serve on its new Sustainability Task Force. Members of the task force will work closely with the district to develop its first-ever sustainability plan, which is called for by the recently adopted sustainability policy.

Interested individuals who would like to be considered for membership are asked to complete a brief form. Applications will continue to be received and reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Selected applicants will be contacted directly.

Additional information about the Sustainability Task Force and Plan can be found in Policy 4:72 - Sustainability, Climate, and Environmental Justice. If you have any questions about committees or the application process, please contact Board Secretary Lonya Boose at lboose@op97.org.

Our teachers are positively reinforcing student who are following our school-wide expectations through acknowledgement with a Brooks Buck. Students can then use their Brooks Bucks to "purchase" items from our Brooks Bucks School Store, which is open every other Wednesday during lunch. Our store will be open again on Wednesday, October 16th.

In order to continue to incentivize our students, we asked them to share wishlist items they would like to see in the school store. Here is the wishlist that was created.

We are asking your support in purchasing an item from the wishlist and have it shipped directly to Brooks Middle School. We will then be able to add the item to our Brooks Store. Below are the items we currently have available, which were generated by staff during the summer. We are really hoping to get items in the Brooks Bucks Store that students have indicated that they would love to have available in the store.

We appreciate your support!

CLUBS & SPORTS INFORMATION - Fall 2024

CLUB Information can be found in Student Announcements. This is updated weekly, as new clubs get organized and announce dates and times.

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Congratulations to our Girls Varsity Team for a 12-0 season and winning the conference and to our Girls Junior Varsity team for a 11-1 season and finishing second place in the conference. sfishman-strait@op97.org (Junior Varsity) and Dr. Kina Brown, kbrown@op97.org (Varsity).

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RUVKxH7mbSH3L0zLfHl4V8iA9WcgFVyW/view?usp=sharing

CONGRATULATIONS ABBY DENNEEN

FOR PLACING 3RD

IN THE STATE CROSS COUNTRY MEET

WITH A 2 MILE TIME OF 12:01.12!!!

Parents - we need your help! Please Sign Up to Help Out with Pizza Lunch on Fridays - pick and choose which days you want to help throughout the year - 11:25am-1:30pm

Sign up to participate in Crew Club!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

TICKETS NOW ON SALE for the pilot production of Once Upon a One More Time, Jr.!

Once Upon a One More Time follows various fairy tale characters living their lives in a storybook. From Cinderella to Snow White, the show has it all. The women of the fairy tales meet on occasion to have a book club where they read each other’s stories. One day, Cinderella starts questioning if her story is truly happily ever after. After questioning her fate, she meets the Original Fairy Godmother, or OFG, who gives Cinderella a copy of The Feminine Mystique and from that point on, her life is changed. Cinderella then gathers the rest of the women from their fairy tales, and they decide to strike to ask for better treatment in their stories.

Powered by the chart-topping hits of the undisputed Princess of Pop - Britney Spears, this new musical will have you dancing in your seats!

PERFORMANCES:

November 8 at 7pm

November 9 at 2pm & 7pm

November 15 at 7pm

November 16 at 2pm & 7pm

Mark Your Calendars! 6th Grade Auditions for Alice in Wonderland, Jr. are October 28 & 30. Sign Up begins the week of October 7.

6th Graders & Parents - We would like to invite you to the 6th Grade Bravo Welcome Night next Thursday, October 10 - 5:30pm at Brooks.

Please join us next Thursday to hear more about what Bravo offers, see a snippet of a rehearsal and find out how to get involved as a student and parent. 6th Graders - if you are interested in being a part of the Alice in Wonderland, Jr. 6th grade musical or to get behind the scenes on Stage Crew - this is the perfect opportunity to get more information on auditions, what to expect, how to sign up and ask any questions you have about the process!

Mon 11/11 PTO Meeting (In-Person)

Calling all parents! Let’s talk about all things middle school. Join us from 6-7:30p in the Brooks Media Center (3rd floor) on Monday, November 11th. Don’t forget to save the date for our upcoming monthly meetings!

We are officially kicking off our fundraiser with Charleston Wrap® on October 20th and we need YOUR help!

To reach our goals and make this fundraiser a success, we need everyone to do their part. Luckily, it’s super easy!

Visit www.registercw.com to register online and support our goals by using Organization ID 28801.

We appreciate all of your support and encourage you to spread the word to your friends & family, near and far! The more people who shop, the more money we can raise for our organization!

Together, we can ensure our organization reaches its goal – and even surpasses it!

🍩 11/6 Donut Days

This tasty Krispy Kreme fundraiser kicks off November 6th and will take place every every first Wednesday from 11/6 - 4/2. Original and assorted donuts will be sold during all lunch periods the day of for $2 each (cash only).

Plan ahead and pre-order a dozen or two by using this link.

Your student can pick up the pre-order at lunch! Pre-Order Options Include:

● An original dozen for $15

● An assorted dozen for $18.

If you are interested in helping out on future Donut Days, sign up to volunteer here.

Ready for a mouthwatering meal that supports a great cause? Join us at Lou Malnati's Pizzeria (1038 Lake St) on Wednesday, November 20th between 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM and make a difference! With every order you place, 20% will be donated to Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School! Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to dine for a purpose!

Donut Days Volunteers Needed

The PTO is in need of adult volunteers to assist with distributing donuts during lunch

periods (11a - 1:30p) on Donut Days.

Please review the available slots on our Sign Up page!

Starship Lunch Volunteers Needed

We need your help! Meet new Brooks parents! Get an inside glimpse of your

middle schooler's day! The PTO will need adult volunteers to assist with distributing Starship lunches to all grade levels each Tuesday. Sign up to volunteer on Tuesdays here. You can sign up

for just one date, or as many dates as you are available! Questions about

volunteering? Email Marcella Douce at mmdouce@gmail.com.

Please note that to ensure the distribution process runs smoothly, we request that

volunteers are able to stay for the duration of all 3 lunch periods from 11:00am -

1:30pm on any day you may sign up for.

PTO Volunteer Requirements

Per D97 policy, all volunteers must complete and pass a D97 Background Check

which is a quick and easy process that can be scheduled through the D97 office and

online here.

This is a great chance to get involved inside the school, see your kid(s), and meet

other Brooks parents. Starship Lunch is an important school fundraiser supporting

many of the PTO programs, initiatives, and events, and we'd love your help to ensure

its continued success!

If you have further questions please contact our Starship coordinator, Amelia Topel

at amelia.topel@gmail.com.

More information is available here.

Your commitment to our school community is invaluable. By taking the Parent Pledge and contributing to the PTO, you’re directly investing in the success and enrichment of our children’s education.

By embracing this new initiative, we can expand our capacity to serve even more effectively. Your support enables us to provide extra resources, programs, and activities that enhance each student’s learning experience.

Together, let’s foster a thriving environment for our students to flourish. We aim to have 200 families make a $25 (or more) pledge. Join us in making a difference today!

Please note that the Brooks PTO is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization and a donation receipt for tax or matching purposes will be provided.

Connect with the PTO

Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto. Watch for information in the Middle Matters Newsletter. Email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.

Follow us on FaceBook at @gwendolynbrookspto, or email us at gwendolynbrookspto@gmail.com.

Hot lunch will be available to students who wish to participate and have a funded or an approved lunch account, starting the first day of school. If you have questions regarding your student's lunch balance, you may contact the Lunch Manager, Shetrice Baker at Sbaker2@op97.org. To make payments on student lunch accounts please visit, https://www.mymealtime.com/signin.aspx

Breakfast and hot lunch menus and other information

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2024-25 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” Our schools have been nut-safe for the past two years—helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students.

Attendance will be taken every day for each class period by each of your child's teacher and it will be denoted in PowerSchool. Student's are expected to attend each of their classes at their scheduled time and day. If your student will be absent from school, please call the attendance number 708-665-3074 or email brooksattendance@op97.org

Please contact the Brooks Health Office and speak with Nurse Tracy Biggerstaff if you have questions or concerns regarding your student's health.

(708) 524-3058 or tbiggerstaff@op97.org

Office Phone Hours

Please note that our office staff sets the phone to go to voicemail from 8:30am to 9:15am daily. Please leave a message of your student's absence at 708-665-3074 or you can email brooksattendance@op97.org. Our office staff will listen to voicemails left on the main line starting after 9:15am daily. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Dropping off Items at Brooks for your Student

You may drop off forgotten items for your student in the main office. Please note that we will not call into your student's classroom, as it is a disruption to the learning for other students and the teacher in the classroom. Your student should plan to stop by the main office on their way to lunch or between passing periods, if they think you may have dropped off the forgotten item for them to retrieve. We appreciate your understanding.

All visitors will be required to check in using a government-issued ID to checkin to the Raptor System. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded and the information is not shared with any outside agency.

We are confident that the Raptor Visitor Management System will significantly enhance our school's safety measures and create a more secure environment for our students and staff. We appreciate your support and cooperation in helping us implement this important system.

Click the following links to view a quick video tutorial on how to check in to your student’s school using the Raptor Visitor Management System: English | Spanish

To learn more about the Raptor Visitor Management System, please visit the Raptor Technologies website. If you have any questions, please contact your building principal or reach out to us via Let’s Talk.

Bell Schedule and A/B Rotation.

Teachers will record Behavior Information Records (BIRs) for unexpected behaviors that do not meet our school-wide expectations. If a student receives multiple BIRs, they will meet with a teacher for a remediation session to reflect on their unexpected behaviors and create a plan to meet expectations in the future. Teachers will share student reflections with parents/guardians after a remediation session is completed. This structure aims to focus on students learning social and emotional skills that will help them succeed in the future.

We have been teaching, supporting and reminding students of the School Wide Expectations.

Cell phones/Mobile Devices are not to be used during school hours. This includes calling parents/guardians due to illness, requesting items to be dropped off, etc.

• Students can ask a teacher to use the classroom phone or the phone in the main office, if needed.

Cell phones are to be turned off/on silent upon entering the school building, stored in the student’s locker, and not used until the dismissal bell rings.

Locker Checklist has been shared and posted in each student's locker during the first week of school to help them think through the items they need to take with them when they visit their locker at the start of the day, before and after lunch and at the end of the day.

If your child needs to purchase a lock at anytime during the school year, please do so online HERE. We've been working with your student's SOAR teacher to learn if your student is missing a lock and providing one to them.

We ask that if possible to please send your student to school with a filled water bottle. There are no drinking fountains open, but we have water bottle filling stations in the school for our students to refill their water bottles when needed.

Technical support will be available from school and district technology staff by accessing the Help Desk through email, helpdesk@op97.org. When an email is submitted, a Help Desk ticket is created and assigned to technology staff, who will be working throughout the day to address technology concerns. Our technology team can support District 97 devices and student online programs. Please complete claim form if your student's chromebook is damaged or lost.

Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group's program(s), event(s) and/or services(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

If you have questions about the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to contact me at acapuder@op97.org. You can also contact my Executive Coordinator, Ms. Angel Banks, at abanks1@op97.org or (708) 524-7636.

Our Administrative Team

April Capuder, Principal (acapuder@op97.org)

Dr. Denise Gildon, Associate Principal for Teaching & Learning (dgildon@op97.org)

Student Success Coach Team:

6th Grade: Bernard Starks - bstarks@op97.org

7th Grade: Josh Rodgers - jrodgers@op97.org

8th Grade: Nichelle Stigger - nstigger@op97.org

Social Workers:

6th Grade: Abby Berman - aberman@op97.org

7th Grade: Hannah Boudreau - hboudreau@op97.org

8th Grade: Jennifer Olsen - jolsen@op97.org

Reporting Student Absences:

Email brooksattendance@op97.org or call 708-665-3074

School Nurse and CNA:

Tracy Biggerstaff: tbiggerstaff@op97.org

Melissa Godwin: mgodwin@op97.org

Send School Health form/physicals/dental forms to: brooksnurse@op97.org

Front Office:

PowerSchool login questions, Attendance or School Fee Questions-Vashti Carter: vcarter@op97.org

Canvas login questions, Receptionist- Minerva Colbert: mcolbert@op97.org

TECH Support:

Please email: helpdesk@op97.org

Please complete claim form if your student's chromebook is damaged or lost