Mustang Minutes

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Happy December, Gemini Families!

We hope you had a restful Fall break! Now that December is upon us, please take a look at the upcoming events and news for the next three weeks of school as we close out 2024.

Our winter sports teams are in full swing so please take a look at their schedules. Academically, we're focused on preparing for the upcoming NWEA Winter benchmark tests. Please encourage your child to do their best on these assessments, as they help us track student progress and identify areas for improvement.

As the weather gets colder, please remember to bundle up and stay healthy. If your child is in need of hats, gloves, or a warm coat please reach out to one of our social workers.

With deep gratitude,

Mr. Roberts, Principal

Ms. Perelgut, 6th-grade Assistant Principal

Mr. Lee. 7th-grade Assistant Principal

Mrs. Brutt, 8th-grade Assistant Principal

Mr. Mackin, Dean of Students

Each year, D63 gives back through our We Care Campaign. We will be collecting donations of food and personal hygiene items that will support our FRC Marketplace, D63’s community closet and food pantry. Donations can be dropped off at your school, District office, or the FRC.

All 8th graders and their families are invited to this welcome event for incoming freshmen. There will be a large group presentation that will be followed by opportunities to tour the building to see Fine Arts, CTE, and World Language instructional areas. Families should bring their student’s birth certificate to be copied as well as their immunization record. There will also be staff members present to speak with you about the following topics:

• Academic Department Q&A about course offerings and planning
• Student Life - extracurriculars & athletics
• Special Education Supports
• Student and Family Services

If you would like more information about the transition to Maine East, please visit the Class of 2029 page on their website.

Our December School Improvement (SIP) Day is on Tuesday, December 10th. Gemini Middle School will dismiss students at 11:25 AM and there is no lunch service on SIP Days.

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, December 10th.

Location: Gemini Library or online via zoom. - Check the Gemini website the day of the meeting for the Zoom link.

Please consider attending our Family Education night on Tuesday, December 10th from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at the FRC. The focus will be on "Communication: Adapting to Different Social Needs and Communication Styles."

Refreshments and Childcare will be provided!

All students will be taking the Winter MAP assessments on Thursday, December 12th and Friday, December 13th. Please ensure your child gets a good night's rest and arrives to school on time during these dates. If a student is absent, they will take the assessments during one of the make up sessions later in the week.

The 2024 Holiday Sale will run November 4th thru mid-December. Enjoy 25% off all merchandise with delivery guaranteed before the holidays. We have exciting new product lines and designs that will make great gifts for the entire family!

Enrollment for this year’s spring break trip (open to current 7th and 8th grade students) will be closing at the end of December and enrollment for the 2027 trip (open to current 6th grade students) is open! This is your student’s only opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. and New York City with the Gemini Travel Club. All expenses are included in the cost of the trip, minus souvenir and baggage fees, if applicable. A $99 deposit secures your traveler’s seat and goes towards the cost of the trip. Optional traveler insurance (PPP) available.

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 and museum

• White House photo opportunity

• Catch a Broadway show and so much more!

**For current 7th and 8th grade students, follow the steps below:

1. Go to School Tours of America

2. Enter trip number: A367

3. Enter departure date: 03/24/2025

4. Complete the enrollment form and your student is ready to go!

**For current 6th grade students: enrollment for your trip, taking place in spring of 2027, is open!

1. Go to School Tours of America

2. Enter trip number: B164

3. Enter departure date: 03/22/2027

Questions? Contact Mr. Thayer at athayer@emsd63.org

Congratulations to the Orchestras, 7/8 Bands and Choirs on their fantastic Fall Concerts! Check below for more exciting events. For all events in the Gemini Auditorium (Mustang Gym), please enter through Door 12.

6th grade Band Concert

Admission is free

• Tuesday, December 3 @ 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium

7th/8th grades Dance Concert

Admission is free

• Thursday, December 12 @ 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium

Musical Auditions for Lion King Jr

• Monday, January 27th - Information meeting:
• Cast and crew @ 3:30 - 4:30 PM
• Music clinic for cast @ 4:30 - 5:30 PM
• Tuesday, January 28th or Wednesday, January 29th - Auditions @3:30 - 6:00 PM

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

Dec. 11 - NBJH - 4:30 PM - 7th then 8th

Dec. 18 - Maple - 4:30 PM - 8th then 7th

7th and 8th Grade Girls Basketball

Dec. 4 - Springman - 4:15 PM - 8th then 7th

Dec. 5 - Maple - 4:30 PM - 8th then 7th

Dec. 9 - Caruso - 4:30 PM - 7th ONLY

Dec. 19 - Attea - 4:30 PM - 7th ONLY

6th Grade Basketball

Dec. 16 - NBJH - 4:30 PM - Boys then Girls

Dec. 17 - Shepard - 4:30 PM - Girls then Boys

General Gemini Library Information

Our library has been buzzing with activity! We introduced Book Bussers, in which some of our STIL and Life Skills students deliver books on hold to classrooms. Teachers and administrators have been sharing their book recommendations with students, which we have turned into fun bookmarks. As a reminder, students can have up to 5 books at a time - a great idea, especially with winter break and cold weather coming soon. Please contact Kris Buican or Jillian Wahlers if you have any questions.

Caudill Award

It is not too late to start thinking about this year’s Caudill list! Students who read at least three books on the list are eligible to vote for this year’s winner in February. We keep multiple copies of these books on hand for students who would like to participate!

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!

Niles-Maine District Library

Morton Grove Public Library

Des Plaines Public Library

Glenview Public Library

Park Ridge Public Library

Winter club sign ups will be sent out in early January.

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.

The trip to Great America will be on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. More details about the cost of the trip will be coming soon.

District 63 hosted their first webinar in their digital safety series back in November. If you missed it, here is the link to recording.

Please also check out our District online safety hub for more information and articles about how to keep your children safe online.

Be sure to check out the Expanded Learning and Family Resource website for the most up-to-date programming for the D63 community!

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.

Intentional

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.

December

3: 6th Grade Band Concert @ 6:00 PM

4: Maine East Class of 2029 Welcome Night @ 6:00 PM

5: District 63 Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00 PM

10: School Improvement Day - Early Dismissal @ 11:25 AM

10: Gemini PTO Meeting @ 6:00 PM

11: 8th Grade / Maine East Band Concert @ 7:00 PM at Maine East HS

10: Family Education Night at the FRC @ 5:30 PM

12-13: Winter MAP benchmark testing

12: Gemini Dance concert

23: Winter break begins

January

6: School resumes

8: School Improvement Day - Early Dismissal @ 11:25 AM

9: District 63 Board of Education Meeting @ 7:00 PM

14: McTeacher Night at McDonald's (7969 N. Milwaukee Ave, Niles) @ 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM

16: End of 2nd Quarter

17: 8th grade graduation picture day

20: MLK Holiday - no school

22: 6th grade Boys Volleyball Informational Meeting @ 3:35 PM - 4:00 PM

23: Report cards go home

27-29: 6th grade Boys Volleyball tryouts

Upcoming Sporting Events

All sporting events can be found on our calendar

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.