OLHMS Weekly
9-27-22
Our Family Conference structure is an essential component of building strong, 2-way learning partnerships between the classroom and home. Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Family Conferences will be completely scheduled online via Skyward. All District 123 Families are asked to schedule a maximum of 3 conferences. OLHMS families should schedule conferences with
(1) Core Teacher, (1) Encore Teacher, and (1) Family Choice.
This year families will have the opportunity to schedule In-Person, Virtual, or Telephone Conferences.
All scheduling will be completed in Skyward Family Access from September 29th through October 10th.
New this fall, families will have an opportunity to schedule conferences with an expanded set of staff members.
Families will have the opportunity to schedule in a 1-1-1 model. (1) Core Class, (1) Encore Class, and (1) Choice Option (Core, Encore, Specialist).
Mustang Families,
We have been very busy here at OLHMS! We appreciate seeing so many families this past week for our Open House and D123 Parent University! If you were unable to attend the very useful and extremely relevant D123 Parent University - Keeping Kids Safe Online, please check out the recording.
Technology and Social Media: We have had a strong uptick in reports of social media posts towards students and staff. Please monitor your children(s) use of technology and social media. It is critically important to remind our scholars that what they post, like or send in picture or in text never goes away. As mentioned during the students and parent presentations, we have reminded our scholars to take a very thoughtful approach with the use of their social media accounts because what gets liked, posted or sent cannot gain an individual's dignity in the moment or in the future based on one mistake that lasts forever online.
The SAEBRS (Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener): This is a brief, norm-referenced tool for screening all students to identify those who are potentially at risk for social-emotional behaviors (SEB). In D123, we administer this screener three times per year for students in grades K-8. This year, we will be using the screener data to plan student interventions, with a special focus on Tier 1 and Tier 2.
The fall window for administering the SAEBRS is Monday, September 26th through Friday, September 30th. This means if you are a classroom teacher teaching grades K-8, you will be completing one survey per student in your class / advisory next week (with the exception of CASE & PTP classes). It is estimated that the survey should take approximately three minutes to fill out per student. We will administer the SAEBRS again in the winter and the fall. Those dates are as follows:
Winter: Jan. 23 - Jan. 27
Spring: April 11 - April 17
SAEBRS Parent Letter - English.pdf
SAEBRS Parent Letter - Spanish.pdf
SAEBRS Parent Letter - Arabic.pdf
Course Syllabi: Please use this Link to gain additional insight into our OLHMS course offerings.
Lunch Funds: Please make sure to check Skyward Family Access for lunch and fee balances. Students are able to purchase a la carte items.
Skyward Family Access: Make sure you are checking/ logging into Skyward Family Access routinely. This is a great place to obtain supportive information such as student's courses, bus routes, student fees/ debts.
Traffic: The traffic flow on Oak Center Drive has improved. Thanks to our families who have continued to be respectful of the one way. If you have a family member dropping off student(s) please remind them of this one way pattern. We also had a crossing guard hit by a driver going the wrong way. Also, please be very mindful of your speed on Oak Center Dr.
Clubs and Activities: After school activities have begun! Please remember that our activity buses run at 4:30pm and 5:00pm. These buses will only drop students off at the nearest D123 Elementary building. Please communicate with our scholars so they know where to meet you!
Assignment Notebooks/ Student Planners: Scholars have been given student planners to assist in their organization and school preparations! Please check their assignment notebooks regularly! These notebooks/ planners are also being used to help monitor hall passes and out of classroom time for students. These have been distributed and every scholar should maintain their planner. Lost or damaged planners will need to be replaced at the expense of families!
Student Device Insurance: The student device insurance policy provides full replacement cost coverage and protects the item worldwide (on and off school grounds) for only $25/year. The policy will be transferred to any replacement device that your child may be issued. Without insurance D123 families are fully responsible for the costs associated with the repair/replacement of their student's device. Insurance coverage is for the device only and does not extend to the case or the charger. Families of students in all grade levels can sign up for this insurance program by adding the optional “Student Device Insurance” fee through Skyward Family Access. You have until September 30th to purchase device insurance every year. Additional information about the student device insurance program and deductibles can be found at: https://d123.org/about/technology/student-device-insurance/
Please view either the written or video tutorial on how to add Chromebook / iPad insurance to your student's account.
Health Examination and Immunization Requirements: There are specific requirements for students entering preschool, kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade, as well as for all new students. Visit our Health Forms & Guidelines page for more information. Please note that these vaccinations and/or health examinations are required by state law. Medical exclusions from school begin in mid October and students are not allowed to participate in sports without physicals!
Dates to Remember:
9/29/22: PTSA Open Gym (Participants must register in advance)
10/1/22: Community Shredding
10/5/22: D123 Late Start
10/10/22: No School
10/11-10/14: Scholastic Book Fair
10/13 & 10/14: Family Conferences (Virtual or In Person)
10/26/22: OLHMS High School Fair
Kindly,
Dr. McNichols
OLHMS PTSA
All staff and families are highly encouraged to join the PTSA and attend meetings. This is an incredible opportunity, partnership and fun way to support our scholar’s experience at the middle school!
Membership can be online using this link: https://olhmsptsa.memberhub.com/store
PTSA Spirit Wear- Order online by 9/22/22
PTSA Open Gym 9/29/22 (Must be registered by 9/27)
Reach out to Mrs. Shane, our PTSA President for more information (tmshane@gmail.com)
