Jayhawk Weekly Communication

In recent weeks, we have seen an uptick with students making poor decisions in the student restrooms. Soap dispensers have been taken off the bathroom walls, toilet paper stuffed in large quantities in the toilet bowls, soap has been poured on the floors, etc. This type of behavior is extremely disappointing. Not only is it dangerous, it is very unhygienic. Students caught damaging school property and causing tripping hazards will have their parents/guardians notified immediately. And students will be issued consequences for their behavior. We encourage all students to respect themselves, their school building, and the Julian learning environment. We ask that parents and guardians have conversations with their students. We want all Jayhawks to be respectful, to be responsible, and to be safe during the school day.

Please contact Julian administrators or Student Success Coaches if you have any questions.

Save the Date - Conference Night will be held on Thurs, Feb 8th.

Conference sign up links were shared on Friday, January 26th. As a reminder, winter conferences will be with your child's ADVISORY TEACHER or Case Manager. Conferences will be student-led. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out to your child's teachers via email or log on to PowerSchool to check your child's Trimester 2 academic progress.

**Students will have classes from 9am - noon only on 2/8 and 2/9.

1stPlace Spiritwear is having a sale until 1/29! A percentage of the sale is donated to Julian MS! Click here to order today!

Dear Incoming Freshman Families,

As you may have heard, the high school’s calendar committee had proposed revising the 2024-2025 calendar so that the first semester would end in January, rather than right before winter break. The goal was to even out the length of the semesters, as the second semester typically is significantly longer.

As discussions about the calendar have unfolded, we want to take more time to gather feedback and explore new options. It has simply become too late in the process to change next year’s calendar.

Therefore, the 2024-2025 school calendar will remain as already approved. We will work to maximize instructional time during first semester by making only internal adjustments, such as moving various assemblies to second semester.

To see the complete list of key dates for 2024-2025, click here. Notable dates for first semester are as follows:

* Aug. 12: Institute Day for faculty and staff

* Aug. 14: Huskie Kickoff Day for freshmen

* Aug. 15: First day of classes for all students

* Dec. 18-20: First semester final exams

We will continue our research and discussions before bringing forward the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 calendars for approval at a later date.

Sincerely,

Karin Sullivan

Executive Director of Communications and Community Relations

Oak Park and River Forest High School

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Starting high school can be scary, but we are here to make the social side of that process a little bit easier. Our Future Huskie Starter Pack provides incoming freshmen students at OPRF the opportunity to show up to school on day 1 Reppin’ The Pack! As OPRF seniors, we know how hard it is to enter a school as big as ours for the first time freshman year, but we also know how exciting it can be to know you are a part of something great. We want to help every incoming freshman show their school spirit from the start, so we are providing students with gift baskets that contain all of the essential OPRF merchandise and accessory items. Shop for a Future Huskie Start Pack now!

Shop Here: Future Huskie Starter Pack

*with any questions please contact lucas.k.crossman@gmail.com*

2023-24 Julian School Calendar

BASE CAMP: SUMMER CAMP SCHOLARSHIP

The Oak Park Education Foundation offers 2 full weeks (or four half days) of summer BASE Camp for FREE for students who receive free/reduced lunch or who are experiencing a financial hardship. The scholarship application opens tomorrow, Wednesday January 17th and the application can be found here: BASE Camp Scholarship Application 2024

More information can be found at our website at Scholarships - Oak Park Education Foundation (opef.org).

Early Registration

Campers receiving scholarships are able to register early for camp. The date/time for this early registration is Wednesday, January 31st. It opens at 12pm and closes at 5pm. If you miss this period, you can still register and still use your scholarship funds but the general registration period doesn't open again until Sunday, February 4th at 2pm. There are limited spots available for each camp during this early period and more spaces will become available during regular registration.

Please contact Tara Oetting, Program Director at toetting@opef.org with questions or for more information.

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Tara Oetting
Program Director

Oak Park Education Foundation

(708) 524-3027

For families who are seeking early admission to kindergarten or first grade, the district will be hosting an information session on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements for early admission to kindergarten or first grade.

Click here to view the event flyer >>

For more information about the process for early admissions, please visit https://www.op97.org/teach-learn/acceleration/early-entrance.

Join District 97 for an Accelerated Learning Family Information Night on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brooks Middle School. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements for:

• Single-subject and whole-grade acceleration (Grades K-8)
• Middle School Math Enrichment Program (Grades 5-7)
• Summer Math Review (Grades 5-7)

Click here to view the event flyer >>

For more information about the process for single subject and whole grade acceleration, please visit https://www.op97.org/teach-learn/acceleration.

Emergency Closings and E-Learning Days

Please take a moment to review the information shared in the district’s Weekly Wrap-Up on Dec. 1 regarding winter preparedness. The district’s emergency closing and E-Learning procedures are outlined in this brief deck; full details are posted at https://www.op97.org/communications/emergency-closings.

Cold Weather Reminders for Families
District 97 believes it is important for students to have opportunities for physical activity and play time during the day—even during the cold winter months. This winter, students will be permitted to go outside for recess when the wind chill or temperature is 15 degrees or higher. The district utilizes the Wind Chill Chart developed by the National Weather Service.

• It is important that students dress in warm layers when cold temperatures are expected. Students should remember to bring hats, gloves/mittens, scarves, coats, snow pants and boots. It is recommended that families label these items with their children’s names.

• Our staff will carefully monitor students while outside and take the necessary steps to ensure students are appropriately clothed/prepared for the cold weather, watching out for signs of frostbite and other cold-related issues.

Keeping Our Schools Healthy

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.

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

*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:

1. Your Name
2. Your Child’s First and Last Name
3. Your Child’s Grade Level and Advisory Teacher
4. Reason for the Absence
5. Best phone number to reach you

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian