The Mustang Minutes

What a week at OLHMS! There was so much to celebrate!

First, a huge shoutout to our SCM students who brought the Mustang Café to life on Friday! They stepped up, showcased their skills, and did an incredible job. It was wonderful to see our scholars taking ownership and making it happen!

Across our classrooms, we’re also seeing some exciting shifts in learning. Our teachers are creating more opportunities for small-group instruction, allowing them to connect with students in smaller settings, respond to learning needs in the moment, and meet students right where they are. It may look a little different, and at times it can feel messy—but that’s what meaningful learning and growth can look like. Every minute matters, and our teachers are making those minutes count.

We also kicked off our first couple Principal Advisory Committee (PAC) meetings of the year! Our student leaders jumped right in, sharing ideas about school culture and brainstorming team-building activities to help students connect during Advisory. Watching our students work together to bring our core values to life is one of my favorite parts of being an OLHMS Mustang.

These are the moments that make OLHMS such a special place—students stepping up, teachers creating opportunities for meaningful learning, and our school community working together to make a difference. I’m so proud to be an OLHMS Mustang!

There is no place like OLHMS!

Best,

• October 8 from 4 PM - 8 PM &
• October 9 from 1 PM - 6 PM

Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123 Family Conferences will be completely scheduled online via Qmlativ

• 6-8 families will have the opportunity to schedule conferences with their student's advisory teacher, encore staff, and specialists.

Online scheduling in open! Scheduling will close on October 5 at 11:59 PM.

As always, you can contact your school office if you have any additional questions regarding family conferences.

See more details here.

Thank you for being a valued partner in the education of the children of Oak Lawn-Hometown School District 123. Together, we share a commitment to supporting not only our students’ academic growth, but also their social-emotional well-being, which is an important priority in our district’s strategic plan.

To better understand and support our students’ needs, the district conducts social-emotional learning (SEL) screenings three times per year in grades K–8. These universal screenings allow us to identify students who may benefit from additional support and to provide positive, proactive measures that help all students succeed. In the past, teachers completed the Social-Academic-Emotional-Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS) for students in grades K–8.

This year, we transitioned to a new MTSS platform, Panorama Education, which offers SEL surveys designed to gather students’ perspectives directly. Students in grades 3–8 will complete the survey titled Student Life Skills & Well-Being Measures – About Self twice during the school year. For students in kindergarten through 2nd grade, teachers will complete the survey on their behalf. The survey includes approximately 30 questions and will take about 10 minutes to finish.

Topics include:

• Positive and challenging emotions

• Emotional regulation
  

• Self-efficacy
  

• Self-management
  

• Supportive relationships

Survey windows are scheduled as follows:

• Fall Survey: September 28 – October 2, 2026
  

• Spring Survey: April 19 – April 23, 2027
  

We encourage all students to participate, as their feedback provides valuable insights into their experiences and helps us adapt our practices to better meet their needs. Students who do not feel comfortable answering a particular question will always have the option to skip it. Panorama Education, our third-party partner, will assist in administering the surveys.

If you have any questions about the SEL survey, please contact Mrs. Laureto at mlaureto@d123.org.

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To help keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient, please review the following reminders:

Main Parking Lot Closure
For the safety of our scholars and staff, the main parking lot will be closed daily from 8:15–8:45 a.m. and 3:15–3:30 p.m.

Student Safety: Severe Weather

When severe weather makes walking to school unsafe, please drop off your student on Oak Center Drive. For the safety and efficiency of our arrival procedures, please do not drop students off on 99th Street or in the front parking lot.

Thank you for your patience, cooperation, and courtesy as we work together to keep arrival and dismissal safe and efficient for all of our Mustangs!

• We are working closely with our bus company partners and communicating with them daily to address transportation needs and delays. When the school is notified of a delay, an automated call will be sent to families on the affected route.
• Requests for 2025–2026 school-year transportation adjustments should be emailed to Mrs. Grabarek at jgrabarek@d123.org.
• Two 4:30 p.m. activity buses and two 5:00 p.m. activity buses run daily, with drop-off at D123 feeder schools.
• All Mustang Expectations—Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible—are expected and enforced on all AM and PM bus routes.
• Students who do not follow Mustang Expectations may lose their bus transportation privileges.

For the safety and security of all students, food delivery services are not permitted for students during the school day. This includes deliveries from restaurants and third-party services such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub.

Students have two lunch options:

• Bring a lunch from home, or
• Purchase a hot lunch through Winston’s Food Service.

Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and secure school environment for all of our Mustangs!

During the month of September, OLHMS will conduct a scheduled lockdown drill in partnership with the Oak Lawn Police Department. The purpose of this drill is to help students and staff practice our safety procedures in a calm, age-appropriate manner. This drill will include the following three phases:

Phase 1: Preparing and Beginning the Drill

Five minutes before the drill begins, a preparatory announcement will be made. Teachers will use this time to remind students that the activity is only a drill, review lockdown procedures, and answer questions.

After five minutes, an announcement will be made to begin the drill. Teachers and students will remain in their locked classrooms, turn off the lights, and move to their designated area of cover.

Phase 2: School Walk-Through

During an actual emergency, law enforcement officers may move through the school and assist staff and students as needed. For this drill, members of the school administration team and the School Resource Officer will walk through the hallways to confirm that established safety procedures are being followed.

Phase 3: Ending and Reviewing the Drill

An announcement will be made when the drill has ended. Teachers will then take a few minutes to review the drill with their students, answer questions, and provide reassurance before the regular school day resumes.

If you have questions about the drill, please contact the school office at 708-499-6400.

If you prefer that your child not participate, please notify me in writing. We will work with your family to make appropriate arrangements and provide alternative safety instruction.

**We will also conduct additional fire drills with OLFD and severe weather drills soon!**

• Build strong relationships with teachers and classmates
• Participate in discussions, activities, and group learning
• Receive timely feedback and support
• Stay connected to classroom learning
• Be part of the OLHMS community

Ask your Mustang, “What’s something you would have missed if you weren’t at school this week?”

Unlocking a rich, memorable school experience often happens beyond the classroom walls. Getting involved in extracurriculars helps students build lasting friendships, discover new talents, and develop essential leadership skills that set them up for future success.

Whether your child is passionate about the arts, eager to dive into video gaming, or looking to serve the community, our campus offers a vibrant community space where they can thrive. Encouraging them to join even one club can boost their academic motivation, build confidence, and make their school journey truly personal.

Check out our full list below to explore all of our offerings, and feel free to reach out directly to the club sponsor for more details or registration information!

• Membership is $7.00 per student and $10.00 per adult

• PTSA Meetings are at 6:00pm monthly

• PTSA Meeting- October 13, 2026 at 6:00pm
  
• PTSA Spirit Gear- Order information coming soon!
  
• Reach out to Amanda Stone, our PTSA President for more information
  
• PTSA Facebook

• We encourage all parents, guardians, staff members, and scholars to become part of the OLHMS PTSA! Your membership and involvement directly support opportunities, events, and experiences for our Mustangs throughout the year.
• If you are interested in supporting our school in a different capacity please reach out to our PTSA!

https://www.d123.org/schools/olhms/index

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

• PTSA McTeacher Night 5:00pm-7:00pm

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

• D123 Late Start

Thursday, October 8, 2026

• Family Conferences 4:00pm-8:00pm

Friday, October 9, 2026

• Family Conferences 1:00pm-6:00pm

Monday, October 12, 2026

• No School

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

• OLHMS PTSA @ 6:00pm

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

• Picture Retakes

Friday, October 16, 2026

• OLHMS Walk-a-Thon

OLHMS students will have the opportunity to participate in our Walk for Literacy on Friday, October 16. Students who wish to participate are asked to raise a minimum of $20 to help build libraries in Zimbabwe.

All donations and completed fundraising forms must be turned in by Wednesday, September 30, in order for students to receive a Walk for Literacy T-shirt. If your donation is made online, students must still turn in their completed form to receive a T-shirt.

Thank you for helping our students turn their love of reading into an opportunity to make a difference for children around the world!

Questions? Please contact Mrs. McCarthy at hmccarthy@d123.org.

Create your child's Book Fair eWallet so they can shop cash-free, worry-free, and independently! It's quick and easy to set up, and friends and family can contribute funds to help your child purchase even more books.

Set up your eWallet today and get ready for a great Book Fair experience!

https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bf/oaklawnhometownmiddleschool1

Oak Lawn Community High School

• The Spartan Standard

• Brother Rice Southside Running Club
• Brother Rice Open House & Shadow Day

Chicago Christian High School

De La Salle Institute

IMSA

Marist High School

• Grade School Band Night
• Marist Holiday Theater Workshop (Grades 5-8)
• Meet Marist
• Marist Fall Softball Camps
• Marist Soccer: Grade School Night!

Mother McAuley High School

Morgan Park Academy

Mt. Carmel High School

Providence Catholic High School

St. Ignatius High School

St. Laurence High School

St. Rita High School

HFS Chicago Scholars