![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/u/backgrounds/custom_bg-5ff5c11aef22c4d8bb9fd5ae-44b47bae1ab4.jpg)
Mustang Minutes
Gemini Middle School - November 2023
To translate this newsletter, click the "Translate" link.
Para traducir este boletín, haga clic en el enlace "Translate".
Dear Gemini Families,
Happy November!
As the first quarter has swiftly passed, we bid farewell to the memorable Fall sports season and the thrilling quest of our Fall play. But fret not, for the excitement is far from over! Our Winter sports teams are eagerly forming their rosters, and our talented band, orchestra, dance, and choir groups are diligently perfecting their notes/movements for the upcoming performances. Meanwhile, our students remain dedicated to their academic enrichment.
This month promises a plethora of exciting events, including the teacher-parent conferences. We look forward to your presence, and hope to see you there!
Your Admin team,
Lewis, Erica, Wendy, David, & Tim
Portillos Fundraiser
Pssst...head over to Portillos after the Orchestra concert~
(PS - you'll need to show this flyer to donate to Gemini or use code "portillos20" for online orders)
Get to Know Gemini
Graduation - Save the Date
This year, our 8th grade graduation will be held on May 30, 2024, 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 the size of this class and spacing issues. There will be no waitlist for tickets this year.
The event will also be live-streamed on our website, so those who cannot attend will be able to watch the event live.
Parent Teacher Conferences
Sign up today at 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.
D63 families received an email with more information - as well as instruction guides and a video - on the morning of October 23.
Parent/Guardian Guides:
Conference dates:
- Wednesday, November 8 ♦ 5-8 p.m. - Bookings will close at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, November 7
- Thursday, November 16 ♦ 5-8 p.m. - Bookings will close at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, November 15
- Friday, November 17 ♦ 8-11 a.m. / 12-3 p.m. NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS. Bookings will close at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, November 15
RULER at Gemini
Beginning this fall, the Gemini Middle School community will be learning about how we can use emotions to reach our goals. We have committed to implementing RULER, an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning developed at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. RULER is also an acronym for the skills of emotional intelligence: Recognizing emotions, Understanding emotions, Labeling emotions, Expressing emotions, and Regulating emotions. Research from the field of emotion science finds that children who understand and manage their feelings make more responsible decisions, have stronger relationships, and perform better in school.
We will be infusing RULER into all parts of our school by having school wide activities and introducing routines that build emotional awareness into all classes. In middle school, students learn about emotions and emotional intelligence within the context of their real world experiences: personally, at school, in our communities, and in our understanding of the world around us. Each lesson addresses a developmentally appropriate topic such as healthy and unhealthy relationships, conflict resolution, coping skills, and identifying personal values. Over the course of the year, I will be providing ongoing communication to you about RULER. For now, if you would like to learn more visit the RULER Family Engagement website.
Support from Student Services
Grade Level Social Workers
6th Grade: Laura Mell
7th Grade: Zoe Turner (Habla espanol)
8th Grade: Kaarin VandenBranden
Winter Coats and Accessories
Fall is here and winter is just around the corner. This means coats are coming out of storage for the season. If you need help getting a winter coat for your child, please call or email the social work team. We also have accessories like mittens, hats, etc. You can also reach out to us if you need help with access to food or other community resources.
Sports Updates
Home Game information
7th and 8th BOYS Basketball
- Nov. 13 - Wood Oaks - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 8th / 7th
- Nov. 14 - Field - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 7th / 8th
- Nov. 27 - Wilmette - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 8th / 7th
- Nov. 28 - Attea - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 7th / 8th
7th and 8th GIRLS Basketball
- Nov. 29 - Northbrook JH - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - 8th / 7th
6th Grade Basketball
- Nov. 29 - Maple - 4:30 PM (Home Mustang Gym) - order of play - Girls/ Boys
- Nov. 30 - Caruso - 4:30 PM (Home) - order of play - Girls/ Boys
Wrestling
- No cut co-ed sport
- Nov. 7 - Informational meeting - 3:35 - 4:00 PM (Learning Stairs)
- Nov. 13 - First practice - Mustang Gym
- The full calendar of home and away games can be found on our school calendar.
Student Spectators
Winter sports are gearing up and we encourage students to come and support their friends from the sidelines.
Here are a few guidelines to keep in mind for our student spectators:
- If a Gemini student is staying to watch an after school sporting event, they must report to the school cafeteria by 3:35 PM.
- If a Gemini student leaves the school grounds and they want to return for a sporting event, they MUST be accompanied by a parent (and the parent must stay the entire time).
- If a student is absent from school on the day of the sporting event (or had an early dismissal), they are not permitted to attend the Gemini sporting event.
Official Mustangs Cheer Spiritwear
If you are interested in ordering spiritwear to support our team, click here!
Performing Arts Events
We are looking forward to many wonderful Mustang performances in the coming month. For all events in the Gemini Auditorium (Mustang Gym), please enter through Door 12. Thank you for supporting our performers.
Orchestra Fall Concert
Admission is free
Wednesday, Nov. 1 - 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
Band Fall Concert
Admission is free
Thursday, Nov. 9 - 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
Choir Fall Concert
Admission is free
Tuesday, Nov. 14 - 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
Dance Concert
Admission is free
Thursday, Dec. 14 - 6:00 PM in the Gemini Auditorium
Library Updates
General Gemini Library Information
Things are in full swing at the Gemini Library! Students have been engaged in our library scavenger hunt, where classes compete against each other to answer 182 questions about our library books correctly. Many classes have also participated in our Gemini Book Bistro, sampling texts from a variety of genres. Please contact Kris Buican or Jillian Wahlers if you have any questions.
Book Fair
The week of November 6-10 will be our semi-annual Scholastic Book Fair! Students will be able to come by to purchase books and accessories during their ELA classes. We will be open during the evening of parent/teacher conferences on November 8 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM. You can also shop online beginning November 3! For more information, including setting up an eWallet for your student, please click here.
Family Reading Night
Each year, families in Illinois are encouraged on the third Thursday of November to engage in a family reading night. This year, the event will take place on Thursday, November 16. For more information, please click here.
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!
Nurse's Desk
Cold and Flu Season
Cold and flu season is underway, please see the following health office reminders:
Please keep your student home if they are experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, or a fever. Students can return to school when they have not had an episode of vomiting or diarrhea and are fever free for 24 hours without medication.
Please reach out to the school nurses with any questions or concerns regarding illness or injury.
Physicals
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
Save the date: November 15
Please join us on Wednesday, November 15 from 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM for our monthly meeting. We will meet in Gemini's Library on the 2nd floor. A remote option will be available as well. The link will be shared on the website closer to the date of the meeting.
Winter Card Contest Call for Entries
PreK-8th grade students: submit your artwork by November 2
East Maine District 63 invites all PreK-8th grade students to submit entries for the 2023 Winter Card Design Contest.
Completed artwork & signed parent/guardian release form must be submitted by Thursday, November 2, 2023 to the school office.
Entries - created at home - will be judged by a panel of school officials and teachers and the winner’s design will appear on the official D63 winter card, website, and social media sites.
Winner will attend the December 7, 2023 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
Lost & Found
Missing something?
Our lost and found pile is starting to grow. If you are missing an item, our lost and found is located at the front of the building near Door 13 as well as in the cafeteria.
Gemini Travel Club
Support the Gemini Travel Club!
The Travel Club's annual fundraiser is here once again! With your help, we can provide things like busing to and from O'Hare airport, a travel club hoodie to keep warm while out on tour, a photo book for each traveler, and even some extra excursions on the trip.
How to join?
Enrollment is open to all current 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students, but space is limited! Enroll now and travel during your 7th or 8th grade year.
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.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Celebration @ Niles Teen Center
Student Grades
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.
Breakfast and Lunch Information
Breakfast
- Breakfast is available from 8:00 - 8:20 AM each morning in our school cafeteria. Bus riders will enter Door 6 once they arrive. Car riders and walkers will enter at Door 2 or Door 13.
- Students entering the school for breakfast must purchase a breakfast. If they do not purchase a breakfast, they will be escorted back outside and will wait with everybody else.
Lunch
- We do NOT accept student lunches 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.
D63 Family Resource Center
We Care Giving Campaign
Gemini Social Media
- 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
Upcoming Events
November
1-8: We Care Donations Campaign
1: Orchestra Fall Concert
1: Gemini PTO Portillo's Fundraiser
2: Winter Card Contest deadline
4: Dia de los Muertos Celebration @ Niles Teen Center
5: Daylight Savings Ends
6-10: Book Fair
7: Co-ed Wrestling Informational Meeting
8: Parent-Teacher Conferences (Evening)
9: Band Fall Concert
10: School Improvement Day - early dismissal
14: Choir Fall Concert
15: Gemini PTO Meeting
16: Parent-Teacher Conferences (Evening)
17: Parent Teacher Conferences - no school
20-24: Thanksgiving Break - no school
December
6: Winter MAP testing window opens
8: School Improvement Day - early dismissal
14: Gemini Dance concert
25-5: Winter Break
Upcoming Sporting Events
- Check out the sports calendar on Gemini's calendar.
#hereatgemini
Email: gemini411@emsd63.org
Website: https://gemini.emsd63.org/
Location: 8955 North Greenwood Avenue, Niles, IL, USA
Phone: (847) 827-1181
Twitter: @D63Gemini
Office Hours: Monday- Friday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on days when students are in the building.