HEADLINESSCHOOLBEFORECHAMPIONS&AFTERPROGRAMNEWSLETTER
august
Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / i Champions is a before and after school care program available to our Brookwood families. Please contact Champions as soon as possible to secure your spot. Space is limited Champions Family Support | Phone: (800) 246-2154 ChampionsHelp@kc-education.comStudents should arrive at school no earlier than 8:00 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. All walkers and car riders will enter through Door #1, The Main Entrance Thank you for being so cooperative Student Safety Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
PRINCIPAL’SCORNER
01 /Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 School Hours Students’ school day is from 8:30 a.m. until 3:10 p.m. Students should not arrive earlier than 8:00 a.m. All walkers and car riders will enter through Door #1, The Main Entrance.
LaShawn Stewart
lstewartPrincipal@brookwood167.org
FAMILIES,SCHOOLMIDDLEBROOKWOOD
I hope this has been a andsummerwonderfulforyouyourfamily.
It is hard to believe that the first day of school, August 19th, is only a few short days away. It has been a jam-packed summer at Brookwood Middle School.
Construction on the new playground is finished and will be ready for the first day of school. In addition to the new playground, we have added new teachers and staff to the building.
With the addition of the new playground, new teachers, and new staff members, Brookwood Middle School teachers and staff members will continue to provide rigorous instruction to your child(ren) using the Common Core Learning Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards. Please continue encouraging your child(ren) to do their best to make Brookwood Middle School the best Middle School.
Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 02
WELCOME TO THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION
• 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.
ToAttendance/Absences/Tardiesensurethatourstudentsexcel
• School and District Website - www.brookwood167.org
• 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.
• Timberwood News - Weekly school newsletter that will be sent home on Fridays
academically, they must attend school daily and be on time. When students are tardy, they miss valuable instruction, primarily in reading and language arts. Attendance will be tied into our school’s PBIS expectations in which students will be able to earn rewards and participate in fun activities. When your child has to be absent, please inform the front office. Our absentee number is 708-757-2110. The excitement that I have for this upcoming school year is enormous! This is because we continue to work together as a school community to get closer to the vision of Brookwood School District, which is to “Improve the achievement of all students, regardless of race, socio-economic status, gender, or ability levels (disabilities).”
Parents, please know that you are always welcome at BMS. We want to see more of you in the building during Parent/ Teach er Conferences, Family Academic Nights, and other events we host.
Our teachers do an excellent job of communicating with families. Here is where you can stay informed proactively:
03 /Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 ANTI-BULLY PLEDGE... 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) 708-757-2110 (Option 1.) 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. 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.
Ms. La Tara Hines, 5th Grade ELA Teacher Ms. Sarah Daniels, 6th Grade Science Teacher
Ms. Vivian Simmons, Librarian Mr. Quenton Anderson, MTSS Coordinator Ms. Gabrielle Jeffers, Phy. Ed. Teacher Mr. Elisha DeRamus, Phy. Ed. Teacher
Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 04 WELCOME NEW TEACHERS AND STAFF! In addition to the new playground, we have added new teachers and staff to the building. We are excited to announce that Brookwood School District 167 will provide students with a set of school supplies for school and home again this school year! Therefore, there are no school supplies lists. However, if your child needs additional resources, please get in touch with the school office at 708-758-5350. SCHOOL SUPPLIES
05 /Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 TECHNOLOGYHELPLINE All Brookwood teachers use an online grading system called “PowerSchool” that they update every Thursday. POWERSCHOOL 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 helpdesk@brookwood167.orgdesk 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) 758-5350. A PowerSchool app for your cellular phone makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress. Please join us for our annual Open House. The Open House will present an opportunity to meet your child’s teachers and get to know our staff. You will receive information about Curriculum and Instruction, visit the Book Fair, pick up your child’s “home device,” and tour the building. We look forward to seeing all parents during Open House. Tuesday, August 30th | 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. OPEN HOUSE
• All students are unique and should be challenged to the highest level of academic and artistic excellence.
WE BELIEVE • Families shape their children’s motivation, confidence, and academic success by being interested and involved in their overall development.
• In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.
• 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 the importance of staff development opportunities based on best practices and educational research.
Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 06
STATEMENTMISSION
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.
STATEMENTVISION
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
07 /Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 BMS 2022/2023 SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GOALS A Teach students how to use self-awareness and interpersonal skills to maintain positive relationships. Use a more standards-based approach to measure student growth and progress. TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO... B USE A MORE STANDARDS... C Provide students with more opportunities to improve their mental and physical health. Implement restorative justice practices. PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH... D IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE... E Work collaboratively with parents to increase parent involvement within our school community. WORK COLLABORATIVELY...
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.”
PLEASE SIGN UP TODAY!
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 Middle 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) 758-5350, email, lstewart@brookwood167.org. All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.
GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED! What is ClassDojo?
Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 08 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.
SCHOOLMIDDLEBROOKWOOD
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.
Brookwood Middle School Newsletter / Issue 001 / August 2022 / 09
