OLHMS Update (11/18/25)

Did you know that we are will host our annual Feed 6 event next month?

We are excited to pack 50,000 meals on December 13th, taking our grand total to 400,000 meals in 10 years! If you are interested in supporting this event please reach out to Heather McCarthy, our OLHMS Media Specialist, hmccarthy@d123.org. The information is also LINKED and below.

Did you know that a special newsletter was created to celebrate our Veteran's tribute?

Our annual Veterans Day Tribute was once again a deeply moving and humbling experience, one that reminded us just how powerful it is when a school community comes together in gratitude. We could not be more proud of our scholars, staff, and the entire D123 community for uniting in such a meaningful display of respect and honor for the heroes who have served our great nation.

This event is monumental in every way, requiring tremendous time, coordination, and resources- worth every second. Through this tradition, we reaffirm the significance of our Veterans, celebrate their courage, and honor the sacrifice that protects the freedoms we cherish.

What an extraordinary day for our school and district! More importantly, what a profound privilege it is to stand together in tribute to those who have given us so much.

Check out this SPECIAL NEWSLETTER celebrating the event!

Mustang Families,

As we head into the Thanksgiving break, our hearts are full and our Mustang pride is stronger than ever. We continue to be inspired by our incredible scholars, supportive families, and dedicated staff who make OLHMS such a dynamic and caring community.

One highlight that continues to resonate throughout our halls is our recent Veterans Day Tribute, an unforgettable tradition that truly showcased the unity and character of our Mustangs. Our students demonstrated remarkable respect and gratitude as we honored the courage, sacrifice, and service of our Veterans. This meaningful event would not have been possible without the thoughtful leadership of our Veterans Day staff sponsors and coordinators, the powerful performances from our Music and Band Departments, and the exceptional efforts of our 8th Grade Ambassadors.

Our Band and Chorus Departments have also been exceptionally busy sharing their talents. From a wonderful Fall Concert to impressive representation at the ILMEA Jazz Festival, and with this weekend’s Honor Band Festival ahead, our musicians continue to make us proud. A special shoutout goes to Nora, who earned the incredible honor of being selected to the All-Illinois Junior Band—one of only eight flutists in the entire state! Congratulations, Nora!

As we wrapped up Trimester One and look ahead to a strong start to Trimester Two, please continue to remind your scholar of our Mustang Musts: Be Responsible, Be Safe, and Be Respectful.

With Thanksgiving approaching, we want to express our gratitude for YOU, our families. Your partnership, support, and trust make all the difference.

Wishing all our Mustangs a restful, joyful, and safe Thanksgiving break!

Happy Thanksgiving, and thank you for being an essential part of the OLHMS family!

Our main entrance vestibule will serve as the visitor reception and waiting area. Guests will continue to be warmly welcomed, greeted by the staff member hosting them, and escorted to their meeting location. This update is part of our continued effort to strengthen safety and streamline visitor check-in procedures.

As we continue partnering with our local safety agencies, we remain committed to refining our practices and keeping safety at the heart of all we do. Ensuring a secure environment for our students, staff, and families is always our top priority.

To support this shared goal:

• Please bring a valid driver’s license or photo ID when picking up a student during the school day.

• For everyone’s safety, visitors may not leave the main office without a staff escort.

• All students, staff, and guests are expected to wear their designated ID badges while on campus.

Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our Mustang community safe, connected, and thriving.

For current 7th or 8th grade scholars

1st Petitioning Meeting will be Monday, December 8th 7:30 AM in Cafetorium

1. Community Service Hours - minimum of 15 hours -Due April 6th.

2. Grading - A majority of A’s and B’s (Every C needs to be balanced with an “A”) during Trimesters 1-3 of the petitioning year in both Core and Encore classes. No overall “D” or “F” are allowed in any trimester.

3. Creating and maintaining a Digital Portfolio which highlights examples of the five NJHS pillars (scholarship, citizenship, leadership, character, and service) -Due February 2nd

4. Completion of a Capstone Project focusing on service on Service Learning Day April 25th

5. Regular attendance at NJHS meetings before school at 7:30 am in the cafetorium

Monday, December 8

Monday, January 12

Monday, February 2

Monday, March 9

Monday, April 13

Thursday, May 7- Mandatory Induction Ceremony Rehearsals (7:30 AM) & Ceremony (7:00 PM)

NJHS Sponsors Contact: Ms. Jen DiSalvo jdisalvo@d123.org

Mrs. Maggie Omiecinski mmomiecinski@d123.org

Mrs. Alyssa Zajack azajack@d123.org

We love having fans here to support our Mustang Athletes. Here is the LINK for our Spectator Permission Form and Code of Conduct for student spectators. Student fans unaccompanied by parents, must have an electronic or paper form on file to attend home games. Students cannot stay in the building for games unless they are part of a club or activity.

As technology continues to play a central role in our students’ daily lives, we encourage families to stay actively engaged in monitoring phone and device use. Research continues to show that excessive screen time and social media use can impact adolescents’ social and emotional health, leading to increased anxiety, disrupted sleep, and challenges with peer relationships.

We know that online interactions often extend beyond “after-school hours” and can sometimes affect students’ focus, well-being, and relationships during the school day. That’s why our partnership with families is so important. By setting healthy boundaries, fostering open conversations, and supporting positive digital habits, we can help ensure all Mustangs feel safe, connected, and ready to learn.

We’ve recently noticed elevated challenges on social media, so please take a few moments to talk with your child and check their online activity. Your ongoing support and proactiveness make a tremendous difference!

Here’s a helpful resource for families on preventing cyberbullying.

Retakes will be available for scholars in the Summative Assessment category (70%). Retake procedures for the Summative Assessment category include:

• Students will complete a reflection form, which will include the corrected test.

• Students are to ensure all classwork/homework/independent work for that unit is completed before the retake date.

• Retake dates will be established within 10 days of the graded assessment.

• Retakes will not be allowed once the trimester has completed.

• Retakes will not be completed during regular instructional time.

It is great to see so many scholars taking advantage of the opportunity to come in early or stay after school for additional time and support with academics. Please remind our scholars that this time should not be treated as a social opportunity and our school expectations of being safe, responsible and respectful should be maintained at all times. We appreciate everyone's support and partnership. Parents can check out the available times for each grade level on the student portal page!

• All parents/ guardians/ staff & students 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!

• If you are interested in supporting our school in a different capacity please reach out to our PTSA! Maybe you do not have the time to donate, but your contributions can still be made through your membership!

• Thank you to our PTSA Board members, families and scholars for joining us last night for a wonderfully informative first meeting of the year.

• Membership(Click Here) is $7.00 per student and $10.00 per adult

• PTSA Meetings are at 6:00pm monthly

• PTSA Meeting- January 12, 2026 at 6:00pm
• Reach out to Delecta Harris, our PTSA President for more information (olhmsd123ptsa@gmail.com)
  
• PTSA Facebook
  

Mrs. Field's Fundraiser orders available for pickup after dismissal TODAY!

Order Deadline: November 30th

NO ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER THE DEADLINE

All orders will be delivered the week of December 15th

NO RETURNS OR EXCHANGES