BJHS | October 2023 Newsletter

WELCOME

Turning the calendar!

September flew by, and it’s hard to believe we are already turning the calendar to October. This month, we have our Parent Visitation Day. We hope you can join us on October 2nd!

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. unless they are staying for a club or activity. 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 your cooperation.

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

If you have not already signed up, we are asking that every parent sign up for the Principal’s 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!

THANK YOU TO ALL OUR FAMILIES WHO CAME OUT FOR OUR HISPANIC HERITAGE FAMILY NIGHT!

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. I am honored to serve as your Principal.

WE HAD A GREAT TIME!

Good communication between the school and home is very important to us, and we are working to provide numerous ways for this good communication to occur. To help suppress paper usage, we will continue to provide information as much as we can using digital communication.

MISSION STATEMENT | WE BELIEVE!

BROOKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 167 | MISSION STATEMENT

challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.

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

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

• 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.

Excellence... Potential... Achieve...

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

“When you’re

good at something, you’ll tell

everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.” --Walter Payton

WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

1. Providing students with highly qualified teachers

BROOKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 167 | VISION

“Whatever you want to do, if you want to be great at it, you have to love it and be able to make sacrifices for it.” --Maya Angelou

2. Providing our staff with Professional Development

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 researchbased 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.

WHEN TO KEEP YOUR CHILD HOME...

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.

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, taste or smell

• Fatigue from unknown cause

• Muscle or body aches

If you answer “YES” to any of the above, your child “MUST” stay

absence (708) 758-5252 (Option 1.)

REPORTING OF ABSENCE

Parents must call the school to report their child absent before 8:30 a.m.

The number for reporting absences is (708) 757-2115.

Official attendance will be reported every morning by 9:00 a.m.

COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION

We encourage you to do the following to help us communicate with you:

• Please ensure we have an accurate email address. If you are not receiving any Dojo messages from us, then it probably means we have incorrect information on our end.

• Please sign up for the digital tools that Brookwood School District and the school have provided.

• These include:

- Class Dojo

- Power School Parent Portal

• Please talk with your child’s teacher about Google Classroom and how it can be used as a communication tool.

• Please follow us on Facebook

• Please visit our website at www.brookwood167.org

IMPORTANT | 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 is a shared responsibility of the home and the school.

TECHNOLOGY HELPLINE

If your child is having any technology problems, please get in touch with our help desk at (708) 300-3553 or email our help desk at helpdesk@ brookwood167.org

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.

If a student fails to adhere to the dress code, we will offer students rental P.E. uniforms or sweats that they can wear.

PLEASE JOIN OUR CLASSDOJO’S AND STAY INFORMED!

ClassDojo is a global community of more than 50 million teachers and families who come together to share kids’ most important learning moments, in school and at home —through photos, videos, messages, and more.

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 JR. HIGH. 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, or cell phone, (708) 362-0115. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!

DOJO WE BELIEVE...

Kids have always learned together in physical spaces. Today, they learn in virtual spaces, too. Now that ClassDojo has connected a worldwide community of teachers, kids, and families, we’re building that virtual space for everyone...

Parent Visitation Day!

Tuesday, October 2 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

VISITORS

If you need to come into the school for any safety reasons, you must have a current Driver’s License that will be checked in our Raptor Security System. Raptor® provides a line of sight for those always in our school. The system provides school and districtwide reporting for all visitors, volunteers, and contractors signed in/out of our buildings. This is important for safety reasons.

1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Please join us and get a chance to:

• Follow your child’s schedule

• Talk with the Principal & Assistant Principal

• Pick up your child’s home computer

• Pick up your child’s home school supplies

• Purchase a planner, gym suit or Spirit wear

• Sign up for ClassDOJO

• Learn about our Naviance College & Career program

• Receive a login sheet for your child to access our school programs at home

Did You know?

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

POWERSCHOOL

At PowerSchool, we believe that for students to succeed, they need to feel connected to learning in a personal way.

All Brookwood Jr. High School 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 entirely confidential; therefore, you will need an access username and password to see your child’s progress.

If you need your username and/or password, please get in touch with 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.

All students are welcome to join our Sports Teams! Cross-Country and Girls Basketball seasons have started! Athletes will compete against nine (9) other schools in our Conference.

JOIN CLUBS & ACTIVITIES

HIGH HONOR ROLL | HONOR ROLL

Students are given a quarterly report card at BJHS. If a student earns an academic G.P.A. off 3.95 or higher, he/she is placed on the High Honor Roll.

Tutoring (Before and After School)

Student Council

NJHS (National Junior Honor Society)

Art Club

Anime Club

STEAM/ 3D Printing Club

Cooking Club

Mathletes

Speech & Debate Club

Video Club

Gospel Choir

Drumline

Music Tech Club

If a student earns an academic grade of 3.45 - 3.94, he/she is 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!

WE BELONG TO THE SOUTH SUBURBAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (SSJHSA) & THE ILLINOIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSOCIATION (IESA)

FALL SPORTS

CROSS COUNTRY

GIRLS BASKETBALL

BOYS BASKETBALL

CHEERLEADING

CHESS

WINTER SPORTS

WRESTLING

GIRLS VOLLEYBALL

BOYS VOLLEYBALL

SPRING SPORTS

TRACK

Family Hispanic Heritage Night!

Tuesday, September 19

This year’s Hispanic Heritage Night occurred at Brookwood Junior High on Tuesday, September 29, 2023. It was the school’s first in-person family night for the year. There was a great turnout of families that included parents, students, and siblings. The night kicked off with a brief discussion about the night’s activity. As families were seated, nachos and beverages were served at the tables. The families enjoyed good food and company.

When the attendees were settled in, the crowd was introduced to Loteria or Mexican Bingo. Loteria is very similar to regular bingo, except the caller calls out pictures instead of numbers in Spanish. Beans (any variety) are used for the playing pieces. When players get four (4) pictures in a row, they must call “Buenas or Loteria!”

If a player calls bIngo, he, or she wIll be dIsqualIfIed and must start over. The most intense part of the evening was the cover-all game. The first person to cover all the pictures on their card would be the winner. At the end of the evening, all winners received their own Loteria game for home.

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 the social behavior and academic atmosphere for our diverse body of students throughout the school. Lessons occur in several ways and in the environment for 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.

Underground Railroad

The Village of Glenwood has opened a monument to the Underground Railroad at a site used in the national freedom network in their village. Students in 7th & 8th grade took a walking field trip and were able to participate in the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Monday, September 18th, 2023.

Conflict Resolution Art Club Cooking Club

School Supplies

I am excited to share with you that our Superintendent and Board of Education will continue 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 get in touch with our school office at (708) 758-5252, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.