Welcome back, Mr. Kanwischer!
Julian Middle School welcomed back band director Tom Kanwischer on Nov. 6 after he served a four-month deployment with the U.S. Air Force. As part of the U.S. Air Forces Central Band, Mr. (MSgt) Kanwischer served as the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of the Afcent Band performance team, consisting of eight members from the Illinois Air National Guard. The Afcent Band utilizes music as a powerful tool to build and strengthen relationships with foreign partners throughout the Middle East.
During his time there, Mr. Kanwischer performed and collaborated with civilian audiences, foreign military and civilian musicians and dignitaries, students and state department employees and their families and other deployed military members and civilian contractors. His missions took him to Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.
The most meaningful part of his deployment was working with young students throughout the region. Combining traditional Arab music with our western style created some amazing fusions. Mr. Kanwischer is looking forward to sharing with his students the impact that music can have on people and that it truly is the universal language throughout the world.
We honor and recognize Mr. Kanwischer and all veterans in the District 97 community for their dedication and service!
Student IDs
Parents/Guardians,
Please encourage your child to bring the required items and helpful supplies to school each day:
- School ID
- Fully charged chromebook
- Pen/pencil and notebook
- Water bottle
These are just a few of the basics that would help minimize classroom disruption. And will assist us with having smooth transitions in the hallways and in the lunchroom. Thank you for your support.
Picture Re-Take Day - SAVE THE DATE
School picture re-takes will be done on Wednesday, December 6 in the morning. If your child was absent on for the original school picture day on November 1st, please complete this google form to sign up so we'll know who should be added to the re-take list. And please remind your child, prior to the re-take day, that they should have their picture taken.
8th Grade Corner
A message from Oak Park and River Forest High School:
Time to start thinking about the 2024-2025 school year! The Class of 2028 Incoming Freshmen Parent | Guardian Nights will be held in the OPRF Auditorium on Wednesday, December 13th and Thursday, December 14th from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. There are designated nights for each school (Julian's is on Thursday, 12/14). But if you have a conflict, you can attend on either night. New this year: the Office of Equity and Student Success will be holding a meet-mix-mingle for incoming parents/guardians from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
If you have any questions, please contact OPRFHS directly:
Dr. Julie Lam I Director of Student Learning I jlam@oprfhs.org
Kris Johnson I Director of Student Services I kjohnson@oprfhs.org
Affinity Listening Session for LGBTQ+ Families in D97
As part of the Portrait of an Oak Park 8th Grade Graduate design process, District 97 will be holding multiple listening sessions in the coming months to get feedback from staff, students, families and community members. Please join us to share your experiences and feedback as we design our Portrait!
LGBTQ+ Families - Tuesday, Nov. 28, 6 p.m.
Where: Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave.
RSVP: bit.ly/3SdXDLQ
Details: Childcare and food will be provided.
Learn More about the Portrait
For more on Portrait of an Oak Park 8th Grade Graduate, visit www.op97.org/ourportrait. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to the Portrait Design Team via Let’s Talk.
APPROPRIATE STUDENT BEHAVIOR
At Percy Julian Middle School, we strive for our students to be safe, responsible, respectful and informed when it comes to technology. We recently became aware of a social media trend or “joke” that some of our middle school students have been talking about. The trend or joke is to tell or text someone to "KYS" or "kill yourself." KYS is internet slang and a TikTok hashtag, used jokingly or self-deprecatingly when someone has done something embarrassing or foolish. The phrase "go KYS" may also be used to tease and bully people.
We want to make our families aware of this trend and ask that they discuss it with their students. If a student has heard of the “KYS”, please reinforce that these words are harmful, and discuss what your student can say or do if they hear it (e.g., be an upstander - tell your peer not to say that, or tell a trusted adult at home or school).
Thank you for your help in promoting a safe and healthy school environment and supporting the social/emotional well-being of our students. If you have any questions, please reach out to any Julian school social worker or student success coach for assistance:
Carrie Doyle - cdoyle@op97.org
6th Grade Social Worker
Nate Murawski - nmurawski@op97.org
7th Grade Social Worker
Jessie Fenske - jfenske@op97.org
8th Grade Social Worker
Sergio Torres - storres@op97.org
6th Grade Student Success Coach
Katie Trathen - ktrathen@op97.org
7th Grade Student Success Coach
Kasey Fleming - kfleming@op97.org
8th Grade Student Success Coach
Julian Sports LIVESTREAM
Do you know you can watch Julian games from the comfort of your home? You can catch the sports home games (for basketball and volleyball) in-person or you can watch online via YouTube!
Go Jayhawks!
GAME DAY EXPECTATIONS
- JULIAN STUDENTS MUST WEAR THEIR SCHOOL IDs, in order to attend the home athletic games (for basketball or volleyball). Julian students without their school IDs will be asked to leave school grounds.
- SPECTATORS All non-Julian students without parental supervision will NOT be allowed to attend the games. All non-Julian students (this includes all current OPRFHS students and former Julian graduates) without an adult to supervise them will be asked to leave school grounds.
- FOOD AND BEVERAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE GYM. Students, family members, and visitors can have water or water bottles.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding safety protocols, please contact Associate Principal, Dr. Mekita Whitfield, at mwhitfield@op97.org.
FOOD DELIVERIES ARE NOT PERMITTED FOR STUDENTS
Effective immediately, Julian Middle School will no longer accept food/beverage deliveries for students from outside food delivery services, and students are not permitted to order GrubHub, DoorDash, UberEats, etc for lunches, snacks or beverages. We have observed a number of students missing instructional time to come down to the first floor to meet delivery drivers at the front entrance or at the commons' doors. No child should be meeting a stranger at the door of the school or during their lunch/recess time outside. This is a major safety and security concern. Also, sandwiches and salads are available for purchase from the lunchroom if a student forgets their lunch at home. It can be billed to their lunch account, they do not need cash to purchase a lunch in the school lunchroom.
Parents/Guardians are welcome to drop off forgotten lunches to their children. However, students are not permitted to place orders via their chromebooks or cellphones. We appreciate your cooperation and we thank you in advance for helping to remind your student of the safety & security protocols. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact a Julian administrator.
- The fall weather is in full effect. And students will need to store their heavier jackets and coats in their lockers. Please double check with your Julian student to see if they need a lock for their school locker. You can still purchase a lock online. Or they can bring $7 cash or check to the school office anytime between 8am - 4pm. If they need to store their belongings during their PE class, they can purchase a PE lock online as well. Students are not allowed to bring bookbags and back packs to the cafeteria/commons during their lunch/recess periods. Please contact Dr. Whitfield at mwhitfield@op97,org if you have any questions regarding the lunchroom policy.
- All students are encouraged to utilize the lockers to store their belongings. Students are permitted to go to their lockers before school, during passing periods and after school. Back packs and book bags are not permitted in the commons.
SAFE AND HEALTHY SCHOOLS: Information about Student Illness
District 97 remains committed to maintaining safe and healthy schools. We continue to work in partnership with the Oak Park Department of Public Health, following guidance set by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
When should a child remain home from school?
Staying home if you are ill is essential to keep infections—including the virus that causes COVID-19— out of schools and prevent spread to others. Please visit the District 97 Health Services page for more information about when to stay home. If you have specific questions, please contact your school nurse.
COVID-19 Guidelines for 2023-24
Following IDPH guidelines, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must stay home for five days after the first day of symptoms or testing positive (Day 0). They may return to school on Day 6 if:
They are 24 hours fever free with no fever-reducing medication AND
No diarrhea or vomiting for 24 hours AND
Improvement of other symptoms.
Masks are strongly recommended around others for five days (through Day 10). Per local guidance, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should also complete Oak Park Department of Public Health's Positive at Home COVID 19 Test form.
For more information, please visit: COVID-19 Guidelines for D97 Students and Staff
ATTENDANCE LINE INFORMATION
*PLEASE GIVE THE REASON FOR YOUR STUDENT'S ABSENCE*
When calling the Julian attendance line at 708-665-3064 or leaving a message on the school office voicemail at 708-524-3040, please slowly state the following:
- Your Name
- Your Child’s First and Last Name
- Your Child’s Grade Level and Advisory Teacher
- Reason for the Absence
- Best phone number to reach you
