Gemini
News
February/March 2015 Edition
Principal,
Richard Groeling
Assistant Principal,
Karen Foley
Assistant Principal,
Christopher Harmon
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 EDITION
HTTP://WWW.EMSD63.ORG/DOMAIN/9
Letter from the Principal
Dear Gemini Students and Parents:
Spring Parent Teacher Conferences are scheduled for Thursday March 26th and Friday March 27th. Thursday hours are 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and Friday’s hours are
8:00 AM to 11:30 AM. We again will use the online conference registration tool PT Conference Maker, and the sign up window opens on Monday March 9th at
9:00 AM and will close on Tuesday March 17th at 10:00 AM . Please register early to get the time you need. The URL for PT Conference Maker
is: http://www.ptconferencemaker.com/eastmaine/.
This spring Gemini students along with students across America will be taking a new set of standardized tests. The PARCC assessments will replace the ISAT tests
as the State of Illinois’s choice to measure student academic growth. The testing is more comprehensive and involves new skills both in content and in computer
skills used while taking the tests. To help students across the county, Pearson, the creator of these new assessments has created on-line tutorials available for students
and families to use to practice at home so each child can do their best on the new assessments. The following link takes you to these tutorials:
http://parcc.pearson.com
Once there, click on Test Preparation in the upper menu bar. In that tab you have three options, and the preferred order to complete is: Tutorials, then Sample Tests
and last, the Practice Tests. We are encouraging all Gemini students to spend time over the next six weeks utilizing this resource and watching the tutorials and
taking the practice tests for both English Language Arts and Math before we take any tests here at Gemini in March, 2015. Thank you all for helping us make sure
students are comfortable with the new testing format.
Our continued goal is to keep parents informed of what is happening at Gemini and to involve Gemini parents in their child’s education. This monthly newsletter
along with our Gemini web site will both help you stay connected to Gemini School. Relevant information will always be posted on our website. Schedules,
important announcements, and of course our monthly newsletter will all be online. All classroom teachers at Gemini have a web page that can also be a resource for
students and parents. Access to those teacher pages will be through our Gemini main page. You can access Gemini’s website through www.emsd63.org or directly
at http://www.emsd63.org/Domain/9
Power School Parent Portal is back in operation! All parents were sent login information for the parent portal of Power School, our on-line grade book system that
allows students and parents to view student progress in all classes daily. If you did not receive your login information for Power School, please contact the office at
Gemini and we will provide you with another letter containing that information.
Some important reminders:
Please remember that Email is a quick and convenient method of communication. I recommend utilizing email whenever you have questions for a specific teacher.
In addition, each academic team meets on a regular basis. If you would like to meet with any of your child’s teachers regarding a question or concern, please contact
those teachers using email or calling the school to schedule a time for a meeting. To access a teacher’s email or website please visit the staff directory located on the
Gemini website.
The Gemini PTO is looking for new members this year! PTO is a great way to be involved and support your child's experience at Gemini. Our meetings are
scheduled for the second Tuesday of each month . Meetings are at 7:00PM and last about 1 hour. While attending meetings is encouraged, just becoming a member
helps support our students even if you cannot attend the meetings. Membership forms are posted on the web page. The next PTO meeting is March 10th at
7:00PM in the Gemini multi-purpose Room (#109)! April’s meeting will be on April 14th at 7:00 PM.
Constant Contact is an email system which we use to keep parents and community members informed about Gemini. You can sign up to receive Constant Contact
notices from Gemini or any of our elementary schools at our website, www.emsd63.org .
As always, we encourage you to keep in touch! By working together, we can provide the best possible experience
for all Gemini students!
Sincerely,
Richard Groeling
Principal
The following students went above and beyond our expectations and displayed the highest level of First Class
behavior during the month of January.
Achievers– 7th
Achievers– 8th
All Stars
Dreamers
Prodigy
Zenith
Anami P.
Minna B.
Angela R.
Azra M.
Ami P.
Gabby M.
Igli B.
Fabian M.
Steve L.
Kevin J.
Muhammad K.
Nick W.
Gemini Student Council
Meetings occur each Tuesday morning in the Multi-Purpose Room at 7:30. Please join us.
Student Council sponsors school dances and fund raisers. Student Council is a great way for students to become involved in a variety of school and community projects.
Spring Tryout Dates
Girls Softball Tryouts
When : Monday March 23rd
Where : Blue Gym or Outside (weather pending)
Time : 2:35-4:30
Needed : Physical and Parent Consent Form on file in the
nurse's office PRIOR to tryout date. You need to have a ride
home waiting for you at 4:30.
Track and Field Practice
When: Weds April 8
Where : Gold Gym or Outside (weather pending)
Time: 2:35 - 4:00
Needed: Physical and Parent Consent Form on file in the
nurse's office PRIOR to tryout date. You need to have a ride
home waiting for you at 4:00.
Gemini Attendance
The Gemini Attendance Line: 847-827-1758 is available to parents
and guardians 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Parents and guardians of students are reminded a "Request for Student Absence" (form 7:70.E) is to be submitted to the school if you are requesting release days for your student.
Parents and guardians are required to call the Attendance Line: 847-827-1758
before the start of school the day your child will not be in school or will be in
The Spring Play is Coming!
This year, we will be producing Middle Class by Brad Slaight! The play centers around a
group of young people in a modern junior high. Incorporating an ensemble of players, the play offers insight (often humorous, often poignant) into the issues facing
young people during the complex transition from grade school to high school. Such
themes as identity, personal relations, status, expectations, and competitiveness
are central to the play.
The show dates are Friday, April 24 and Saturday, April 25.
See Ms. Martin’s web site for more information.
Open Gym
District 63's TLC program in
partnership with Maine Township
hosts after school open gym from
5pm to 8pm on Monday evenings
and 9am to 12pm on Saturday
mornings. Admission is $1.00!
Join Gemini Junior High School P.T.O.
Dear Families,
It is time once again to ask for help in supporting the PTO for our
school. The PTO is about teachers and parents working together for
the benefit of your child and Gemini School.
P.T.O. membership costs $5.00 per family for a school year’s worth of
benefits. Fill out the form below and return it to the school office.
Checks can be made payable to ‘Gemini PTO’.
Parent/Guardian Name: _______________________________________________
Address:
__________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________________________________________________
Email:
____________________________________________________________
Children’s Name(s)
Grade(s)
1st Period
__________________
______
________
__________________
______
________
_________________
______
________
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATES DIVERSITY AT MAINE EAST
Calling all Gemini students! Don’t miss the opportunity to check out your future high
school on Saturday, March 14 at District 207’s International Festival – hosted at Maine
East High School between 12 and 3 p.m.
Featuring dances, traditions, and authentic cuisine from many of the cultures represented in the District’s diverse student body, the Festival will be one of the biggest events at
Maine East this year. Gemini students, parents, and teachers are all welcome to attend;
at special information tables, future Blue Demons can explore all the cultural clubs the
high school has to offer.
Entry and exhibits are free; participants may purchase tickets for refreshments. Maine
East is located at 2601 West Dempster Street in Park Ridge; the Festival will take place
in the gym on the northeast side of the school – near the auditorium. Questions? Contact Maine East Assistant Principal Dino DiLegge at [email protected].
Measles: What You Need to Know
Measles has been in the news lately, particularly due to a recent outbreak at Disneyland. But while measles cases are growing in some states, no measles cases have
been reported in any District 63 school to-date. More than 99.9 percent of District students have been vaccinated for the disease, and we watch carefully for
any symptoms.
For your information, here’s what the Centers for Disease Control have to say about
measles:
Early symptoms generally appear about seven to 14 days after a person is infected, and include high fever; cough; runny nose; and red, watery eyes.
Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots may appear inside the
mouth.
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash of flat red spots breaks out and
fever may spike.
After a few days, the rash disappears and the fever subsides.
Please contact us if you notice these symptoms in your child. And, as always, feel
free to call our Health Office at 847.493.8505 with questions or concerns.