BJHS | December Newsletter

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER

Students should arrive at school no earlier than 8:10 a.m. and be picked up after school no later than 3:15 P.M. If a student is being dropped off or picked up, the driver must adhere to the one-way sign at the entrance of the parking lot. Drivers must NEVER go the wrong way in the parking lot as this is unsafe for students and staff. Thank you for being so cooperative.

BROOKWOOD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL FAMILIES, THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FAMILIES THAT CAME OUT FOR OUR PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES!

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

We had a great turnout! If you missed conferences, remember that we can hold them at any time throughout the school year. It is exciting to see the joy in the faces of our jr. high school students during the holiday season. Due to the busy nature of the season, sometimes schedules and added responsibilities can cause stress. Our upcoming Winter band and choir concerts offer the opportunity to slow down and enjoy a little holiday cheer. The Winter Concert takes place on December 15th at 6:00 p.m. and will be held in the BJHS Gym beginning at 6:00 p.m. Students and staff have been working hard to showcase students’ special talents. Please come; everyone is welcome!

Jill Larson Principal jlarson@brookwood167.org

School Hours

Students’ school day is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:10 p.m.

Students should not arrive earlier than 8:10 a.m.

As always, please reach out to your child’s teachers for any questions/concerns, or if I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me and know that my door is always open. I can be reached at the school number (708) 758-5252, by email jlarson@ brookwood167.org or by cell phone at (708) 362-0115.

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

Our NJHS and Student Council students have started a food drive to help our area families in need. We always welcome and appreciate your support in all the endeavors we take on.

We are almost at 100% and are asking that every parent sign up for the Principal ClassDojo, as this is a great way for parents to stay informed about important events and information throughout the school year. Please contact the school office if you need help signing up for this awesome FREE communication tool!

I am honored to serve as your principal. On behalf of the Brookwood Jr. High School staff, have a joyous holiday season and a prosperous New Year!

Student Support Intervention (SSI)

We hold Student Support Intervention Meetings (SSI) all year long, before school at 7:45 a.m. or after school at 3:15 p.m. to schedule a meeting, please email Ms. Mitchell at rmitchell@ brookwood167.org, or call the school at (708) 758-5252.

COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION

Our teachers do an excellent job of communicating with families. Here is where you can stay informed proactively:

• School and District Website - www.brookwood167.org

• Bull Dog News - Weekly school newsletter that will be sent home on Fridays

• ClassDojo - It is essential that you sign up for the Principal’s ClassDojo. If you have not already joined, an invitation will be sent to you during the first week of school. To join, you will need either your phone number or email address.

• A phone call or an email is an efficient way to communicate with your child’s teacher. Please remember that our teachers are with students throughout the day and will return the call/email as soon as possible. At times, this may be the next school day.

If a child has any symptoms listed below, they should stay home in the morning or go home if these symptoms first occur at school.

IF MY CHILD IS SICK, WHEN SHOULD I KEEP THEM HOME?

When a child can return to school is based on the specific symptom they have.

• Fever of 100.4 or higher

• New onset of moderate to severe headache

• Shortness of breath, new cough, sore throat

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

• Abdominal pain from unknown cause

• New congestion/runny nose

• New loss of sense of taste or smell

• Fatigue from unknown cause

• Muscle or body aches

If you answer “YES” to any of the above, your child MUST stay home. Please call the school to report your child’s absence (708) 708-758-5252 (Option 1.)

ANTI-BULLY PLEDGE...

We make a COMMITMENT to stand against bullying.

We will treat others with RESPECT and KINDNESS.

We will have the COMPASSION to not be a bully.

We will have the COURAGE to not be a bystander.

It is our RESPONSIBILITY to help others and to report bullying.

ATTENDANCE

Take a look at your child’s attendance. December usually contains a winter break from school. And once your child returns in January, the school year will be about half over. This is a great time to review the first part of the year and make plans for the next. Looking at your child’s school attendance should be part of this important process. Did your child attend school every day unless they were sick or there was a family emergency?

If so, congratulations! Let them know you’re proud of their strong attendance. Help them keep up the good work for the rest of the year and beyond. Strong attendance is one predictor of success in school.

If not:

• Remind your child that regular school attendance is a priority.

• Emphasize the need for rest, nutrition, and exercise to stay healthy and stay in school.

• Consider the reasons you take your child out of school. Can you make some appointments outside school hours?

• Create consequences. Let your child know that skipping school erodes your trust in them.

IMPORTANT ATTENDANCE INFORMATION

To report absences please call the attendance line at (708) 757-2115. Please call the school before 8:30 a.m. to report your child’s absence.

Please leave the following information:

• Student’s full name with the spelling of the last name

• Reason for absence/tardy/early release

• Your name and relationship to the student

• Please call the main number (708) 758-5252 at least 45 minutes PRIOR to early dismissal.

For your student to be EXCUSED you must sign them in and out in the main office or their absence will be marked as unexcused. Official attendance will be reported every morning at 9:00 a.m. If your child joins a teacher’s classroom late, they will be marked tardy in PowerSchool, and you will be notified through the Principal’s Class dojo.

READERS ARE LEADERS

Keep Your Child Reading Over the Holiday Break!

Holiday break is not a time just for worksheets and textbooks, but your child should continue to learn. The best way is just to read a little bit every day. And that means reading more than text messages!

Here’s How:

Link movies to books. Your middle schooler, like many others, may enjoy watching movies during winter break. Encourage her to watch at least one based on a book--and read the book first. Give books for gifts. If your child will receive a gift this month, consider giving her a book or a gift card toa bookstore. Suggest this to other family members as well. Read for a purpose. Practical reading--the kind you do to learn a skill--is both fun and informative. If your child enjoys cooking, they could read a recipe and try it out. If they like gadgets, they could read the instruction manual and put one together. If they like sports, they could check out the newspaper for a look at how their favorite teams are faring.

GET INVOLVED!

Parent Involvement

Our focus this year continues to be on parent involvement. We want to create a welcoming environment for all our parents, and we want to continue this important partnership throughout the school year.

Thank you to all our parents that attended Parent Teacher Conferences on November 7th. Our next Parent Teacher Conferences are on February 8th, 2023. Attending parent–teacher conferences is one way to be involved and help your child succeed.

A Parent–Teacher Conference is a great opportunity to:

• Discuss your child’s progress

• Share your child’s strengths and needs

• Work with the teacher to help your child do well in school

Conferences focus on learning, although behavior and social concerns might be discussed. The teacher will review your child’s progress, including strengths and areas in need of improvement.

If you are unable to make it to Parent-Teacher Conferences, please contact our Assistant Principal to set up a meeting with your child’s teachers.

Ms. Mitchell

Assistant Principal (708) 758-5252 rmitchell@brookwood167.org

I am excited to share with you that for the second year in a row, our Superintendent and Board of Education have decided to provide our students with a set of school supplies to use at school and a set to use at home! If your child needs any additional resources or supplies for any of their classes, please contact our school office at (708) 758-5252, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES

POWERSCHOOL

All Brookwood teachers use an online grading system called “PowerSchool” that they update every Thursday.

We encourage you to check your child’s progress regularly. This program is confidential; therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s progress. If you need your username and password, please contact the school office at (708) 758-5252. A PowerSchool app for your cellular phone makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress.

PARENT VISITATION DAY

Parent Visitation Day

January 12th, 2023 | March 16th, 2023 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. | 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

We are also holding three (3) Parent Visitation Days this year. If you missed our first one on October 3rd, 2022, or if you would like to come back and visit us again, we would love to have you!

Please join us on January 12th, 2023, and March 16th, 2023, for our other Parent Visitation Days!

Please come out for our parent visitation days. You can follow your child’s schedule and meet their teachers. Have some light refreshments and talk with the principal. You will also be able to pick up your child’s home electronic device and home set of school supplies and sign up for ClassDojo and PowerSchool. This is a great way to connect positively with your child’s school and keep up to date about what your child is learning each day. We hope you can come!

TECHNOLOGY HELPLINE

If your child is having any technology problems connecting to their teacher’s Google Classroom, please contact our help desk at (708) 300-3553 or email our help desk

helpdesk@brookwood167.org

Please leave a detailed message with your name, child’s name, phone number, and the issue you are having with the device.

MISSION STATEMENT

Brookwood School District 167, in partnership with parents and the community, will create a learning environment in which all students excel at becoming lifelong learners and decision-makers.

WE BELIEVE

• Families shape their children’s motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their overall development.

• All students are unique and should be challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.

• In the importance of staff development opportunities based on best practices and educational research.

• In educating our children in a safe and nurturing environment with access to state-of-the-art technology.

• The school system should teach students to think critically enabling them to become contributing citizens in our global society.

• In continuous improvement in all aspects of the school system to foster a culture of excellence, Accountability, and integrity.

• In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.

VISION STATEMENT

Our overall vision is to improve the achievement of all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender, or ability levels (disabilities). We share the accountability of student achievement throughout the school. We believe in using research-based practices to achieve our goals. We promote school and community involvement because we believe that these partnerships help us meet the needs of all of our students.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO

1. Providing students with highly qualified teachers

2. Providing our staff with professional development

POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION & SUPPORTS (PBIS)

As a part of PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports), teachers, administrators, and support staff have the responsibility to TEACH positive behavior expectations to our students.

This education results in students knowing exactly what is expected of them and a framework of evidence-based behavioral supports and interventions in an integrated curriculum to enhance both the social behavior and academic atmosphere for our diverse body of students throughout the school. Lessons take place in a number of ways and in the environment for particular expectations. For example, teachers will do short lessons each week on a specific expectation, the staff on lunch duty will discuss lunchroom expectations, and on Fridays, students complete a Kahoot quiz to review the expectations they have been learning about all week. Posters or anchor charts have been created for different areas of the building to give the students and staff reminders about the expected behaviors.

While these strategies may not eliminate all problem behaviors, they create consistency, predictability, and a more positive atmosphere. They teach new skills to help children get their needs met. The solid foundation will help even if challenging behaviors persist by creating a bedrock for additional layers of support.

Here are places to seek additional information:

• Parenting with Positive Behavior Support: A Practical Guide to Resolving Your Child’s Difficult Behavior

• Home and Community Based Positive Behavior Support Facebook Page

• Home and Community PBS Website

• Parent Center Hub Positive Behavior Supports Resource Collection

• Intensive Intervention: An Overview for Parents and Families

• The Association for Positive Behavior Support

• Getting Behavior in Shape at Home

• Family Resources for Challenging Behavior

• The National Center for Pyramid Model Innovations (NCPMI) Resource Library, articles in multiple languages

STUDENT DRESS CODE

Brookwood Jr. High School believes that student dress and overall appearance should foster a positive and productive environment and should reflect pride in oneself as well as our school.

We further believe that student dress and appearance are a shared responsibility of the home and the school. The Administration will make the final judgment on the appropriateness of clothing and/or appearance and reserves the right to prohibit students from wearing any articles of clothing or other items that lead to or may foreseeably result in the disruption of, or interference with, the school environment. Please read our Parent Student Handbook for specific dress code expectations.

PAPER TUTORING | PARENT RESOURCES

• The parent & guardian’s guide to implementing Paper™ at home | Guiding caregivers in providing the unlimited support their students need.

• How Paper Supports Your Middle Schooler

FAMILY NIGHTS

• Winter Band and Choir Concert- December 15th

• Family Math Night- January 17th

• Family Black History Trivia Night- February 21st

• Family Fitness Night- March 14th

• Family Reading Night- April 18th

• Fine Arts Night-April 20th

FOOD SERVICE

New Food Service Partnership

Our Superintendent and Board of Education know how important proper nutrition affects our students’ learning. This year we will be purchasing our school breakfast and lunch from - QUEST FOOD MANAGEMENT SERVICE.

Quest Food Management Servic is passionate about food and they believe in wholesome, nutritious ingredients. That is why they are committed to using items that are healthier for both our student’s bodies and the planet.

Quest Food Management Service, provide communities with fresh, high-quality food, exceptional responsiveness, and intensely personal service.

By purchasing with the following standards in mind and preparing items so that they are as fresh as possible when served, they support local agriculture, increase nutrition, and intensify the flavor.

HONOR & HIGH HONOR ROLL

Students are given a quarterly report card at BJHS.

Students who earn an academic G.P.A. of 3.95 or higher are placed on the High Honor Roll.

If a student makes an academic grade of 3.453.94, they are placed on the Honor Roll.

Students earning those honors will be invited to a special Student Recognition Luncheon each quarter.

Parents, please check your child’s homework and planner every day!

SPORTS

Did you know?

We do not have tryouts for any of our sports teams. If your child wants to participate, they must show up for practice! Please encourage your child to get involved.

Sports Physicals

Any student planning on participating in a sport must have a current physical on file (good for one (1) year).

CLASSDOJO

What is ClassDojo?

PLEASE JOIN OUR CLASSDOJO’S AND STAY INFORMED!

It is important that you sign up for the Principal’s Class Dojo. I post important information such as if a bus is running late, important reminders regarding picture day, graduation information and other important topics.

PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY!

ClassDojo is actively used in 90% of U.S. K-8 schools.

ClassDojo is a free app that helps build amazing classroom and school communities. Teachers give feedback to students for any skill, like “Working Hard” and “Being Curious.”

From the mobile app, parents view their child’s feedback, and can message directly with teachers and school leaders.

Please join my ClassDojo so you can stay informed on what is happening at Brookwood Junior High School.

If you would like to join, please accept the invitation that we emailed to you or texted you, or contact the school at (708) 758-5252, email, jlarson@brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!

FALL SPORTS

• Cross Country

• Girls Basketball

• Boys Basketball

• Cheerleading

WINTER SPORTS

• Wrestling

• Girls Volleyball

• Boys Volleyball SPRING SPORTS

• Track

All students are welcome to join our Cross-Country Team! Athletes will compete against nine (9) other schools in our conference. After school, the first CrossCountry practice and informational meeting will occur on Wednesday, September 1st.

• Tutoring

• Student Council

• Chess

• Art Club

• S.T.E.M. Club

• Cheerleading

• Cooking Club

• Mathletes

• Speech & Debate Club

• Video Club

• Gospel Choir

• NJHS

• Drumline

• Band

• Jazz Band

• Yearbook

• Girls Basketball

• Boys Basketball

• Girls Volleyball

• Boys Volletball

• Wrestling

• Track

• Cross Country

• Keyboarding Club

• Spanish Club

DAILY BELL SCHEDULE

SCHOOL HOURS

8:30 A.M. - 3:10 P.M.

BREAKFAST

8:00 A.M. - 8:30 A.M.

SEL MEETING

8:30 A.M. - 8:50 A.M.

1ST PERIOD

8:50 A.M. - 9:45 A.M.

2ND PERIOD

9:45 A.M. - 10:40 A.M

3RD PERIOD

10:40 A.M. - 11:35 A.M.

4TH PERIOD

7TH GRADE LUNCH 11:35 A.M. - 12:05 P.M.

8TH GRADE CLASS 11:35 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

7TH GRADE CLASS 12:05 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

8TH GRADE LUNCH 12:30 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

5TH PERIOD

1:00 P.M. - 1:55 P.M.

6TH PERIOD

1:55 P.M. - 2:50 P.M.

SEL MEETING

2:50 P.M. - 3:10 P.M.

DISMISSAL

3:10 P.M.

EXTRACURRICULAR

3:10 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

SAVE THE DATE

DECEMBER

DECEMBER 1ST - DECEMBER 14TH

NWEA MAP WINTER ASSESSMENTS

DECEMBER 2ND

ADVISORY ACTIVITIES | 7TH GRADE PLC ACTIVITIES | 8TH GRADE

DECEMBER 5TH

BOYS BASKETBALL @ COLUMBIA CENTRAL | 4:15 P.M.

DECEMBER 7TH LUNCH WITH THE LAW | 11:30 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING | 7TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL @ COLIN POWELL | 4:15 P.M.

DECEMBER 12TH BOYS BASKETBALL @ HOME VS. CHMS | 4:15 P.M.

DECEMBER 13TH

FAMILY HISTORY NIGHT | 6:30 P.M. BOYS BASKETBALL @ HOME VS. OBAMA | 4:15 P.M.

DECEMBER 14TH

CONFLICT RESOLUTION TRAINING | 7TH GRADE BOYS BASKETBALL @ OBAMA | 4:15 P.M.

DECEMBER 15TH

WINTER BAND & CHOIR CONCERT | 6:00 P.M.

DECEMBER 16TH

ADVISORY ACTIVITIES | 8TH GRADE PLC ACTIVITIES | 7TH GRADE ELA FIELD TRIP TO DRURY LANE | “A CHRISTMAS CAROL”

BROOKWOOD JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL VISITORS

If you need to come into the school for any reason, for safety reasons, you will be required to wear a mask, and you will need to have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System.

Raptor® provides a line of sight as to who is always in our school. The system provides school and districtwide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors that have signed in/out of our buildings. This is important for safety reasons.