Gemini News

Letter from the Principal

Dear Gemini Students and Parents:

The 2014-2015 school year brings some big changes in how all schools in East Maine School District will assess and grade students. With this shift to

Standards Based Grading comes standards based reporting and our report cards will have a new look and provide information about a students academic

progress in new ways.

Page two of this newsletter is a quick fact sheet to help guide parents and students in understanding our instructional and assessment shift and what this

will all look like on the report card. It is important to remind everyone that passwords for the parent portal have not yet been distributed. We will

distribute that information as soon as we are able to open the portal. Our hope is to have that tool available to parents during the month of September.

On September 9th Gemini will host a parent informational meeting to discuss the new grading process and report card. The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM

and will be held in the Gemini Multipurpose Room on the first floor. Anyone who is interested in learning more about Standards Based Grading or our

new report card is encouraged to attend. The regular PTO meeting will follow.

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.

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. This is a fun group and becoming a

member by itself helps support our students. Membership forms are posted on the web page. The next PTO meeting is September 9th at 7:00PM in the

Gemini multi-purpose Room (#109)!

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

SEPTEMBER 2014 EDITION

HTTP:// WWW.EMSD63.ORG/SUBSITE/GHS

P r i n c i p a l ,

R i c h a r d G r o e l i n g

A s s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l ,

K a r e n F o l e y

A s s i s t a n t P r i n c i p a l ,

C h r i s t o p h e r H a r m o n

September 2014 Edition

Quick facts about Standards Based Grading and Reporting for Gemini Junior High School:

All lessons have objectives connected to grade level standards. As students are assessed in each class, the grades will reflect their understanding and mastery of those specific standards taught. Grades then will be a measure of attainment of the course standards. We will also report learning behaviors separately. How each of these areas will look on the report card is shown below.

Quick information on Standards Based Grading and our new report card:

What will replace A’s, B’s, and C’s in the grade book and on report cards?

4: Mastery of Standards

Student demonstrates an expert application of grade level standards

Student performance demonstrates a thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills expected at this grade level

Student independently surpasses grade level expectations.

3: Meets Course Standards

Student demonstrates application of grade level standards

Student performance demonstrates proficient understanding of the knowledge and skills expected at this grade level

Student independently applies grade level expectations.

2: Working Towards Course Standards

Student is developing, but not demonstrating proficiency of grade level standards

Student performance demonstrates a partial understanding of the knowledge and skills expected at this grade level

Student needs assistance to apply grade level expectations.

1: Not Meeting Course Standards

Student is working below grade level standards

Student performance does not demonstrate an understanding of the knowledge or skills expected at this grade level

Student is unable to apply grade level expectations, even with assistance

How will we receive information on student behavior?

Learning behaviors are reported separate from a student’s level of performance on academic content.

For junior high students, learning behaviors will be evaluated by each teacher, for each course in which the student is enrolled. There are four indicators for learning behaviors: Attendance, Work Completion, Behavior and Participation. Students will be evaluated on three levels of performance for each learning behavior:

3: Outstanding - Student demonstrates an expert application of grade level behavioral expectations

2: Satisfactory - Student demonstrates application of grade level behavioral expectations

1: Needs improvement - Student is unable to apply grade level expectations, even with assistance of behavioral interventions

Frequently asked Questions:

How will this new report card impact grade point average and Junior National Honor Society?

Averages are not calculated when using standards based grading. Instead, student performance is reported as growth over time. How much a student learns and how the student is able to meet a standard at the end of unit of study determines the final grade. There are however specific formulas and processes that will be used to determine students’ grade points and qualification for National Junior Honor Society.

Will using a standards based grading system cause a problem for my student when he/she goes on to high school?

District 63 articulates with District 207 and Maine East on a regular basis. District 207 is aware of our shift to standards based report cards. Through our meetings with them, they have supported our work and do not anticipate any concerns as our students’ transition to high school.

All parents are welcome to come to our Standards Based Grading parent information meeting on September 9th at 7:00. That meeting will be followed by our first PTO

meeting of the year. Both meetings will take place in the Gemini Multipurpose Room on the first floor.

Library Notes:

By Kris Buican

In the Library:

Welcome to the 2014-2015 school year. We have already had all of our students come to check out the library as well as complete their MAP testing for the fall. We will be bringing back Fam-ished for Fiction again this year and our One School One book. We are also going to be adding lunch poetry slams and will be producing the Mustang Vision Magazine quarterly.

East Maine School District has upgraded our web service. To find the new library page, select Gemini from the school list. The library is listed under the “Our School” channel. Please visit our page regularly for useful information.

Famished for Fiction:

The first Famished for Fiction date is set for Tuesday September 16th. The theme for the first

Famished for Fiction is the 2015 Rebecca Caudill nominees. Students can get a pass from the library or their LA/Lit teacher. When they arrive at lunch, they can show their pass to a café supervisor, get lunch and head down to the multipurpose room. This is a great program that started with our partners from the Des Plaines Public Library and the Morton Grove Public Library. Further information is avail-able on the Gemini Library webpage, from Mrs. Buican or any LA/Lit teacher.

Rebecca Caudill Awards:

Every year, Gemini Junior High School participates in the Rebecca Caudill Young Readers Award voting. This is the only award for students in 5

th through 8

th grade in which the students from

around the state of Illinois get to choose the winner. Students need to read at least 3 of the titles by the end of January to be eligible to vote. To see the list of titles go to http://www.rcyrba.org/pdf/2015MasterList.pdf

Niles Public Library Reading Challenge

Students that are interested in participating in the Niles Public Reading Challenge will start meeting in the Gemini Library starting on Friday September 12

th. Students that are considering join-

ing can come to the informational meeting from 8:23 – 8:50. Students choose their own teams of 4-6 players.

Read to Succeed!

Fall Programs—Niles Public Library

September is National Library Card Sign-up Month! Sign-up for a new library card or renew your expired card and you could win a 4 pack of movie theater tickets! Plus…10 bonus winners will receive a $5 Superdawg gift card. Stop in with your identification and get your new card today. Or visit www.nileslibrary.org to sign up online. Teen Advisory Board Sat., Sep. 6, 12-1:30pm Join a friendly group of teens, earn service hours and share your ideas to promote library events and pro-gramming. Pizza follows each monthly meeting. Contact Mary Miller at 847-663-6618 or mmmil-ler@nileslibrary.org.

Doctor Who DIY Tues., Sept. 9, 7-8:30pm Celebrate the Doctor’s return for an eighth season with recipes, craft projects and games.

Movies in the Underground: Mean Girls Thurs., Sept. 11, 4pm Revisit popular high school movies from the not-too-distant past. Pizza will be served during “intermission.”

Talk Like A Pirate Day Fri., Sept. 19, All Day We’re celebrating Talk Like a Pirate Day by dressing as pirates, playing games, and offering lots of givea-ways. Take a fun tour of Mango Languages and learn how you can speak like a pirate and receive some pi-rate booty!

Movies in the Underground: Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Fri., Sept. 19, 4-6:30pm

Anime & Manga Club Sat., Sept. 20, 2-3:30pm Gather with fellow fans to watch and discuss anime and manga and make fandom-inspired treats and crafts.

Author Event: Cassandra Clare and Holly Black Fri., Sept. 26, 7-9pm Book one of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter Chronicles was recently made into a film. Holly Black is the author of Doll Bones, a 2014 Newbery Honor recipient, The Coldest Girl in Coldtown, and co-author of the Spiderwick Chronicles. They have joined forces to create an all new series: The Magisterium. Join us as we welcome these two mega-authors here at Niles Public Library!

This program is presented in partnership with the Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka, who will be here selling books for autographing.

Teen Henna Art Sun., Sept. 28, 2-4pm Kendra Williams, Henna Artist from Crescent Moon Henna, will provide a basic overview of the art of hen-na and create tattoos for teen participants using natural henna.

Armchair Astronomy Mon., Sept. 29, 7-8pm Join us on this cosmic sightseeing tour with “Astronomy Picture of the Day.” Behold the astonishing and magnificent marvels that inhabit our cosmic neighborhood and beyond.

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

__________________ ______ ________

__________________ ______ ________

_________________ ______ ________

North Maine Fire Department

Annual Open House

Station: 1

9301 N. Potter Road

Des Plaines, IL 60016

Saturday September 20, 2014

11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Scheduled Events / Displays

Maine Township Emergency Management Agency

North Maine’s Fire Apparatus

Cook County Sheriffs Police

Cook County 911

Mess Canteen

NICOR

“Injury Prevention” presented by: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Demonstrations

12:00 – Auto Extrication (removal of a victim from an auto accident)

3 – Turkey Fryer Safety Demonstrations (do’s and don’ts)

Children’s Activities

Home Depot’s Children’s Workshop

Hands on Fire Extinguisher Demo

Make your own buttons

Fun Giveaways & Raffle(s)

Free Hot Dogs – Lemonade – Chips

(While quantity last) Prepared and served by MESS Canteen

(Ample Parking across the Street in the Church Parking Lot, Look for the signs)