BMS | May 2023 Newsletter

HEADLINES

CHAMPIONS BEFORE & AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

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.com

Student Safety Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures

Students 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

BROOKWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL FAMILIES,

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER

WORKING TO ACHIEVE OUR GOALS FOR 2022/2023

We are approaching the end of the 2022-2023 school year and still have many exciting activities planned for the last few weeks!

Activities for all students include a chance to participate in the onsite SkyDome Planetarium and the STEAM Museum at the end of the month. Also, we will have one more PBIS Celebration, a Field Day, and an Awards Celebration to close out the year.

During the week of May 8th, we will complete the final NWEA MAP (Measures of Academic Progress)

Assessment in Reading and Mathematics. Please remind your students to get plenty of rest, do their best, and not speed through the questions.

Interim Principals

Lena Martinez / Kathy Hatczel

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.

QueStionS or concernS, pleaSe contact uS.

Lena Ayala-Martinez

Director of Student Services

lmartinez@brookwood167.org

Kathy Hatczel

Director of Curriculum

khatczel@brookwood167.org

In addition, remind your child of the importance of keeping their feet and hands to themselves and their words to each other kindly and respectfully. We are working very hard on this as a team. Teasing and playing can quickly turn into hurt feelings and retaliation.

Students’ energy should be channeled into positive educational experiences for all. Teaching students to be responsible for their behavior is challenging at this age, and we continue to work with every student in building their social skills and confidence in themselves.

Again, we value your support and partnership in ensuring that all of our children receive high-quality education and various opportunities to learn and grow.

Attendance/Absences/Tardies

To ensure that our students excel 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 708-758-5350.

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

• Timberwood 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) 708-757-2110 (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.

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 contact the school office at 708-758-5252.

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 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.

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

BMS SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT GOALS

A Teach students how to use self-awareness and interpersonal skills to maintain positive relationships.

PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH...

C Provide students with more opportunities to improve their mental and physical health.

E

WORK COLLABORATIVELY...

Work collaboratively with parents to increase parent involvement within our school community.

Use a more standards-based approach to measure student growth and progress.

IMPLEMENT RESTORATIVE...

Implement restorative justice practices.

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 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!

FAMILY FITNESS NIGHT

held on April 25th.

Keeping up with the Zumba instructor was a challenge from start to finish, but everyone had fun!

All attendees were treated to yogurt parfaits at the end of the evening!

MATHLETES

We are beyond proud of our Mathetes from Brookwood Middle School!

The MathBowl Competition was held at Prairie State University on Thursday, April 27th.

Students participated in individual and team events against other schools in the area!

VIOLIN CLUB

A small group of dedicated students from Brookwood Middle School and Brookwood Junior High School participated in a final showcase performance of what they have accomplished in learning to play the violin.

The Violin Club program was initiated and approved by Superintendent Bethany A. Lindsay and the Brookwood 167 Board of Education, along with the South Suburban Symphony Orchestra. Under the direction of Brian Ostrega, Violin Instructor, the students met weekly throughout the school year and have shown tremendous growth in their musical skills.

LUNCHROOM EXPECTATIONS

1

BE SAFE

• Keep hands, feet, and belongings to yourself

• Eat only your food

• Stay in the same assigned seat throughout the lunch period

2 BE RESPONSIBLE

• Make sure your area is clean

• Raise your hand for any requests

• Follow lunchroom dismissal procedures

3 BE RESPECTFUL

• Use inside voice when talking

• Listen to staff instructions at all times

STUDENT DRESS CODE

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 clothing or other items that lead 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.

BROOKWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL

ZUMBA!

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.