Jayhawk Weekly Communication

School will resume on Tuesday, October 10. Click here to view the 2023-24 calendar >>

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and our teachers, staff and community have begun to celebrate and pay tribute to the contributions and history of Hispanic Americans. We'd love to hear how you are honoring the unique achievements, contributions and histories of Hispanic Americans this month! Tweet us (@OakPark97, using the hashtags #MyD97 and #D97Joy) to share stories and photos or email us at d97feedback@op97.org.

The Julian Book Fair is fast approaching and we need volunteers to make it happen! The book fair will be open to students and families from 9am-7:30pm on Thursday, 10/26 and 9:00am-12:15pm on Friday, 10/27.

We need your help! Please sign up to volunteer!

Teacher librarian Jamie Winchell is also looking for 1-2 lead volunteers to help with the management aspects of the book fair this year and beyond! To volunteer or if you have any questions, please email Jamie Winchell at jwinchell@op97.org.

Ms. Winchell

Teacher Librarian

Percy Julian Middle School

Julian 8th graders will go over to Oak Park and River Forest High School on Monday, October 23 for a tour. They will get a special introduction to the high school, and meet current OPRFHS students and staff! 8th Grade Parents/Guardians should click the link to fill out the permission slip for this field trip. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Fleming, the 8th Grade Student Success Coach, at kfleming@op97.org. Please complete the permission slip by Friday, October 20th.

Next week, we will have our fall School Spirit Week starting on October 16th. This is a great way for Julian students, grade level teams, and staff to show their Jayhawk pride and creativity! Here are the themes of the week:

• Monday, October 16 - ANYTHING BUT A BACKPACK DAY
• Tuesday, October 17 - DRESS LIKE A SENIOR CITIZEN DAY
• Wednesday, October 18 - STUDENTS DRESS LIKE TEACHERS
• Thursday, October 19 - FAVORITE TEAM JERSEY DAY
• Friday, October 20 - JULIAN COLORS WAR

We can't wait to see how everyone represents their grade level, sports teams, favorite seniors and teachers!

Please carefully review this District 97 message regarding allowable costumes for 10/20, as well as for 10/31 if your child will be participating in Halloween activities.

We will reach out soon about how to sign up for conferences with your child's teachers.

Middle School Math Enrichment 2024
In 2024, District 97 will be offering Math Enrichment Bridge Courses for Acceleration and Summer Math Review Courses for students in grades 5 through 7. Families should SAVE the DATE if their student is interested in participating in these courses (CLICK HERE to view the program flyer>>).

Registration information and additional details about this program will be shared with families in January.

Calculation Corner is in full swing! Please click here to review the frequently asked questions and for more details about the math help that is available to all students. Calculation Corner takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays in B104 (please note the change in location) both before school (8:00-8:50 am) and after school (3:40-4:30 pm). Students should use this Google form to sign up. Reach out to your child's math teacher with questions.

Ms. Gunnell

8th Grade Mathematics Instructor

Math Department Chair

Percy Julian Middle School

The State of Illinois requires all kindergarteners, sixth-graders and students new to our district submit a current State of Illinois school physical with up-to-date immunizations. Detailed information on the requirements can be found here under “Health Requirements.”

Please note that according to Section 27-8.1 of the School Code of Illinois, District 97 is obligated to exclude students from school beginning on Monday, Oct. 16 who have not provided proof of the required physical examinations and/or immunizations, until they are in compliance.

If you have been contacted by your school nurse that your child is missing any of the required forms/information, please submit those records directly to the health office before the October 16th deadline.

Attention all Parents & Guardians:

The Julian PTO will be hosting a weekly fundraiser to help raise money for the 8th graders' Washington, DC trip. If students and staff are interested in purchasing donuts, cash payments will be accepted. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Julian PTO or contact PTO co-president Lauren VanderBerg at lvanderberg@gmail.com. "Donuts for DC" will continue until November.

• 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 and all non-Julian students without parental supervision will NOT be allowed to attend the games. All non-Julian students 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.

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!

The state of Illinois, Office of Education, requires that any student who wishes to participate in interscholastic sports must have an Athletic Physical Examination, dated no less than one year prior to the first day of the current school year. It is mandatory that your child has their physical form completed before they will be eligible to tryout or participate in any interscholastic activity.

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.

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.

This is a friendly reminder about the Julian drop off and pick up procedures . As we approach cooler temperatures, please keep in mind the following safety procedures:

PICK UP AND DROP OFF AREAS

• Drop off and pick up for sixth graders will be on the south side of the school in the alley.
• The designated area for seventh graders is on Cuyler just off Washington Boulevard.
• Eighth graders can be picked up or dropped off on Ridgeland Avenue.

PLEASE DO NOT PICK UP OR DROP OFF STUDENTS IN EITHER THE SCHOOL’S STAFF PARKING LOT NOR IN THE BUS ZONE ON WASHINGTON BOULEVARD

Using these areas creates an unsafe situation for students. Please do not pick up or drop off students in the staff parking lot. Emergency vehicles may need access to this space.

INCLEMENT WEATHER
In cases where the weather prevents students from safely waiting outside until it is time to enter, the staff will open the doors at 8:30 a.m. and invite students to wait indoors. Seventh and eighth graders will wait in the commons, while sixth graders will wait in the area outside the auditorium. Students are not allowed to go to their classrooms or lockers early.

ENTERING EARLY (before 8:50am)
All students entering the building before the regular time must come through the main entrance doors (1W).

Students are allowed into the building in the morning, IF they have a pre-arranged meeting with a teacher. They must have a pass from that teacher.

LIBRARY MEDIA CENTER BEFORE SCHOOL
On Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, students are allowed to enter at 8 a.m. to study in the library media center. They must have their student ID and sign in both at the door and in the media center. They are to go directly to the media center, not their lockers or classrooms. And remember, the library is NOT open before school on Wednesdays due to teacher meetings andprofessional development sessions.

• GRADUATION DATE
  
The 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony will be on Friday, May 31, 2024 at 6:30pm in the OPRFHS auditorium. More details will be shared in the coming months.

• GRADUATION CAP & GOWN ORDERS

• $25 - Cap, Gown & 2024 Tassel set
• $20 - Gown & 2024 Tassel only
• $18 - Cap & 2024 Tassel only
• $10 - 2024 Tassel only

Students were given order forms during advisory classes at the beginning of September. You can also go online to make the $25 cap & gown payment.

If you only need a cap or just the gown, or simply a tassel to go with a used cap & gown, you will need to pay via cash or check with the hardcopy order form in the school office (8am - 4pm on school days).

If you need financial assistance with the purchase of the cap & gown set, please contact Ms. Jackson at ejackson@op97.org prior to the deadline. All orders, as well as requests for financial assistance, must be placed on or before Friday, October 27th.

DePaul GROUP

DePaul University, in partnership with the Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board and D97, offers school-based group services for students. This year, there are two group topics - Mindfulness and Peer Relationships. If you would like your child to be considered for participation in one of these groups, please complete this Request for Assistance Form. To learn more about the services DePaul offers in our school, click here to view their flyer.

OAK PARK TOWNSHIP

Oak Park Township offers many services for students and families including school-based individual services for students, community-based student groups, parent support groups, and more. Click here for more information about an upcoming LGBTQIA+ group they are starting. Click here for more information about parent support.

P.M. Session Spots Available - D97 Blended Early Childhood Program

There are still a handful of p.m. session spots available for early childhood blended classrooms at Whittier Elementary School for the 2023-24 school year!

District 97 is seeking students who:

• Are non-IEP students who will be between the ages of 3 and 4 years by Sept. 1, 2023;

• Demonstrate age-appropriate language and social skills;

• Are Oak Park residents;

• Are not enrolled in a preschool program.

Click here to apply to the 2023-24 Early Childhood Blended Program>>

For more information about the Early Childhood Blended Program, including please visit https://www.op97.org/teach-learn/ecblended. The program flyer can be viewed here.

If you have any questions, please contact the district's early childhood coordinator, Michele Suedbeck, at 708-524-3134.

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 support our school nurse by LEAVING A REASON when you call your child in sick from school. Our nurse follows up on every absence call when a specific reason is not provided. If your child is staying home due to reasons unrelated to COVID-19, sharing that information in the message helps the nurse determine whether a call is necessary.

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