BMS | November 2023 Newsletter

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

Scan To Know More

BROOKWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL 200 GLENWOOD-LANSING ROAD GLENWOOD, IL 60425 708 758 5350 DR. MURIEL McCLAM-HOLLIMON | PRINCIPAL

WELCOME BACK!

November is here, and time is moving fast!

DROP OFF | PICK UP 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!

01

PRINCIPAL’S CORNER We 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 communication tool.

Our 2023-2024 School Year is starting off to a great start!

Would you believe we have completed Quarter One? November is here, and time is moving fast. This month, we will have Parent/Teacher Conferences on November I can be reached at the school number (708) 7585350, by email mhollimon@ brookwood167.org

9th from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. We will not have school that day, and we are hoping for 100% family participation.

Please come out to pick up report cards and meet with your student’s teachers to discuss grades and classroom projects. Our students are engaged in various activities and would like to show you their classwork in and around our building.

THANK YOU!, Families, for attending our first Parent Visit this year. We hope you enjoyed following your

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

student’s schedule and seeing our morning classes at work. THANK YOU!, Families, for also attending our Family Fun Night. We centered this fun night around Math and ELA activities and had a GREAT time.

We continue to stress that you connect with Class Dojo so that you are receiving essential messages from teachers and my office. In addition, we hope to see you at future events in the upcoming months.

The November Month will be an exciting time for ALL students. Please encourage your children to dress according to the weather and wear a jacket on cooler, rainy days. We will have Parent/Teacher Conferences, a week to bond with family and friends during the Thanksgiving Break and reset our minds so that we can continue this second quarter with amazing grades and academic growth.

We are looking forward to another awesome month of establishing routines, building relationships with our students, and watching students create friendships among their peers.

Sincerely, Dr. Muriel McClam-Hollimon | Principal

03

SAFETY FIRST Please use extreme caution when dropping off and picking up your children. The speed limit is 5 mph on school grounds. Watch for children exiting and entering vehicles.

Please yield to buses dropping off and picking up. We thank you for helping us to keep all students safe.

COMMUNICATION & INFORMATION Our teachers do an excellent job of communicating with families.

Here is how 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.

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

•

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.

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

M I S S I O N STAT E M E N T | W E B E L I E V E !

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.

•

•

In educating our children in a safe and nurturing

•

improvement in all aspects

environment with access to

of the school system

state-of-the-art technology.

•

In continuous

to foster a culture of

The school system should

excellence, accountability,

teach students to think

and integrity.

critically, enabling them to become contributing citizens in our global society.

•

In responsible stewardship of financial and physical resources.

All students are unique and should be

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

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.

05

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

Our overall vision is to improve the achievement of all students, regardless of race, socio-economic WE ARE COMMITTED TO:

status, gender, or ability levels (disabilities). We

1. Providing students with

share the accountability of student achievement

highly qualified teachers

2. Providing our staff with Professional Development

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.

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

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 home.

Please

call

the

school to report your child’s absence (708) 758-5252 (Option 1.)

05

ATTENDANCE/

I am excited to share with you that our Superintendent and Board of Education

ABSENCES/

and a set to use at home! If your child needs any additional resources or supplies

will continue to provide our students with a set of school supplies to use at school for any of their classes, please get in touch with our school office at (708) 758-

TARDIES

5350, so we can help provide them with all necessary and needed materials.

To ensure that our students are excelling academically, students 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 can earn rewards and participate in fun activities.

When your child must be absent, please inform the front office. Our absentee number is 708-758-5350.

REPORTING AN ABSENCE To report absences, please call the attendance line at (708) 757-2110, Option 1. 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) 758-5350 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.

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

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.

you,

or

contact

the

ClassDojo is actively used in

the mobile app, parents view their

school at (708) 758-5350,

90% of U.S. K-8 schools.

child’s feedback, and can message

or email, mhollimon@

directly with teachers and school

brookwood167.org.

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

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

All you will need to provide is your cell phone number or email address.

GET INVOLVED AND STAY INFORMED!

that we emailed to you or texted

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...

07

e c n re fe n o C r e h c a e /T t n re Pa Day!

Thursday, November 9

10:30 a.m.

6:30 p.m.

If you wish to discuss your child’s progress, teachers will be available during the times listed. You do not need an appointment to attend. If you would like a specific time,

ANTI-BULLY PLEDGE

don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teachers through

We make a COMMITMENT to stand

5350.

against bullying.

We will treat others with RESPECT

Class Dojo, email, or by calling the school at (708) 758-

Conferences should average about 10-15 minutes; accommodations will be made by the teacher if more

and KINDNESS.

time is needed (The last conference time can be honored

We will have the COMPASSION to

as late as 6:15 p.m.). Students are encouraged to attend

not be a bully.

with their parents!

We will have the COURAGE to not

Parents, Parent/Teacher Conferences are welcome

be a bystander.

anytime throughout the school year. We welcome and

It is our RESPONSIBILITY to help

encourage parent involvement and partnerships. We

others and to report bullying.

must work together for the success of every child.

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”

– Mark Twain

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

All Longwood 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) 758-5350. A PowerSchool app for your cellular phone makes it easy for parents to stay updated on their child’s progress.

09

PBIS | SECOND STEP second step | sel (social emotional learning) As part of our PBIS Initiative at Brookwood Middle School, our teachers have been infusing a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum into their daily routines. With a lesson focused on each week, this curriculum teaches our students important skills such as how to have empathy, emotion management, problem solving skills, friendship skills, and responsibility. The weekly focus for each lesson varies. Please talk with your child about these lessons, it will help to reinforce them at home! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s SEL teacher.

Define, teach, and routinely acknowledge family expectations.

•

Discuss how you want to live as a family and identify some “pillars” (important, building-block concepts) that represent what you value. Talk about what those pillars look and sound like in everyday routines. To help the family remember and be consistent, choose only 3-5 and create positive statements about them.

Here are a few examples:

•

•

Speak in a respectful voice.

•

Be responsible for actions.

•

Be safe; keep hands, feet, and objects to self.

Identify a couple of “hot spots” to begin. Challenging behaviors often occur within routines. Perhaps mornings or mealtimes create hot spots for the family. After discussing 1-2 ways to be Respectful, Responsible, and Safe in the morning, teach what each looks like. Have fun with it! Set up “expectation stations” for practicing the plan and assign each family member one pillar to teach to the rest.

•

Behaviors that get attention get repeated. Notice when a child does the right thing and say something about each success: “I noticed you stopped to pick up your shoes in the hallway. Thanks for putting them away and keeping the walkway safe for others.” The easiest way to change a behavior is to point out what a person does right!

•

Remember this catchy phrase, “5-and-1 gets it done” to ensure five positive interactions for each negative interaction.

When the expected behavior becomes routine, the reinforcement can fade away.

Create engaging and predictable routines.

•

Children crave structure and routine. Adults may look forward to a relaxing evening or weekend, but kids often need regular activity and engagement. Consider that either the kids are busy, or the adults are busy managing bored kids!

•

Use visuals to create predictability. A visual schedule can display major routines of the day with pictures that are drawn, real photos or cut-outs from magazines. Create the schedule together, if possible. Parents can ask a child to check the schedule – especially when moving from a preferred to non-preferred activity. It’s hard to argue with a picture!

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

CHAMPIONS | BEFORE & AFTER

DAILY BELL | SCHEDULE SCHOOL HOURS

DISMISSAL

8:30 A.M. - 3:15 P.M.

3:15 P.M.

SCHOOL

BREAKFAST

5TH GRADE CLASS 12:05 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

PROGRAM

SEL MEETING

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

6TH GRADE LUNCH 12:30 P.M. - 1:00 P.M.

1ST PERIOD

5TH PERIOD

2ND PERIOD

6TH PERIOD

3RD PERIOD

SEL MEETING

4TH PERIOD

DISMISSAL

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

8:50 A.M. - 9:45 A.M. 9:45 A.M. - 10:40 A.M

Champions is a Before & AfterSchool Care Program available to our Brookwood families. Please get in touch with Champions as soon as you can to secure your spot.

10:40 A.M. - 11:35 A.M. 5TH GRADE LUNCH 11:35 A.M. - 12:05 P.M. 6TH GRADE CLASS 11:35 A.M. - 12:30 P.M.

1:00 P.M. - 1:55 P.M. 1:55 P.M. - 2:50 P.M. 2:50 P.M. - 3:10 P.M. 3:15 P.M.

EXTRACURRICULAR

3:15 P.M. - 4:30 P.M.

Space is limited.

Champions Family Support Phone: (800) 246-2154 ChampionsHelp@kc-education.com

HEALTH TIP One precaution to help stop the spread of germs is to not share personal items.

Some of these include water bottles, lip balms, hats, hairbrushes, and EarPods. These items should only be used by the individual to whom they belong.

“WE ARE IN THE SPIRIT OF FALL”

11

The “Spirit of Fall”

ool Bring Your Parent To Sch

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

Extra Curricula Activities

MONDAY Gospel Choir Timber Talks Student Council Violin Club

TUESDAY Academic Enrichment Band (Woodwinds) Chess Club Volleyball Camp

WEDNESDAY Science Club Art Club (6th - Grade) Academic Enrichment Gospel Choir

THURSDAY Art Club (5th - Grade) Academic Enrichment Violin Club

FRIDAY Band (Brass)

13

Our 6th Grade students are participating in some sports at BJHS, come out to support our teams!

Home Game Dates Sport 11/1/23 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Basketball 11/2/23 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Basketball 11/6/23 3:30 - 5:30 Girls Basketball 11/7/23 4:15 - 6:15 Girls Basketball 11/27/23 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Basketball 12/4/23 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Basketball 12/7/23 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Basketball 12/13/23 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Basketball 1/10/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Basketball 1/11/24 4:15 - 6:15 Girls Volleyball 1/16/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Basketball 1/17/24 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Basketball 1/18/24 4:15 - 6:15 Girls Volleyball 1/22/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Volleyball 1/24/24 3:30 - 5:30 Girls Volleyball 1/25/24 3:30 - 5:30 Girls Volleyball 1/29/24 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Volleyball

Brookwood Middle School | November Newsletter

1/30/24 3:30 - 5:30 Girls Volleyball 1/31/24 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Volleyball 2/1/24 4:15 - 6:15 Girls Volleyball 2/5/24 4:15 - 6:15 Girls Volleyball 2/6/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Volleyball 2/7/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Volleyball 2/8/24 3:30 - 5:30 Girls Volleyball 2/12/24 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Volleyball 2/13/24 4:15 - 6:15 Girls Volleyball 2/21/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Volleyball 2/22/24 4:15 - 6:15 Boys Volleyball 2/28/24 3:30 - 5:30 Boys Volleyball

15 BROOKWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL 200 GLENWOOD-LANSING ROAD GLENWOOD, IL 60425 708 758 5350 DR. MURIEL McCLAM-HOLLIMON | PRINCIPAL

GO TIMBER WOLVES

Scan To Know More