OLHMS Update (5/5/26)
D123 Late Start- Tomorrow (5/6/26)!
Mustang Families,
Welcome to May! As we continue to Level Up, we want to thank our entire school community for making our annual Service Learning Day such a meaningful success on Friday, April 24th. This powerful experience reflects our commitment to developing responsible, engaged learners through service. Our three-year service model begins with our 6th-grade scholars serving the community from within our school walls, while our 7th-grade scholars stepped into leadership roles by visiting our feeder schools to lead age-appropriate literacy activities and service projects with PreK–5th grade students. Our 8th-grade scholars expanded their impact by serving throughout Oak Lawn and surrounding communities. From planning to execution, this day showcased the power of student voice, leadership, and preparation. A special thank you goes to our NJHS members for serving as outstanding role models and classroom leaders, as well as our feeder schools and local high school students for helping make this a true community-wide effort. We extend an extra special thank you to Mrs. Maggie Omiecinski for her exceptional leadership in coordinating this incredible initiative. Be sure to check out this Special Edition for more highlights!
We are also thrilled to celebrate our Jazz Band for earning a Superior Plus rating at state for the 18th consecutive year—an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects their dedication, talent, and countless hours of preparation. We look forward to another exciting week ahead with a concert this Friday and our award-winning chorus performance the following week. Yesterday, we also had the pleasure of welcoming our 4th-grade students for a special visit, where they enjoyed an outstanding performance from our talented band students and got an exciting glimpse of what awaits them as future Mustangs.
Last Thursday, we were excited to welcome our future Mustangs and their families for an incredible evening. The energy and turnout were outstanding as we introduced the next group of Mustang scholars to our school community!
And if you’re looking to keep dinner easy tomorrow, be sure to support our PTSA Eat and Earn event, a great opportunity to enjoy a meal while giving back to our school community. Thank you to our PTSA for their continued partnership and support of our students, staff, and events throughout the year.
This past Thursday, our PTSA and school showed our excitement for welcoming our future Mustangs and their families with an informative evening. The energy and turnout were outstanding as we introduced the next group of Mustang scholars to our school community!
Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are especially grateful to our PTSA and all of our families for supporting our events and showing appreciation for our staff during Teacher Appreciation Week. Together, we will continue to Level Up and finish the year strong as we prepare to celebrate our outstanding Class of 2026!
Graduation Fees are PAST DUE: The online system is now closed! If you missed the online deadline, cash and check payments can still be made in the office, also bring the signed permission slip!
Class of 2026: The LINK is the updated letter with the reminder expectations, future dates, and now graduation fees.
SELECT 123:SELECT 123: In partnership with our D123 Ed Foundation, SELECT 123 is a prestigious group of scholars who embody aspects of our D123 mission and vision. This is our fourth year to acknowledge twenty three scholars who have not only demonstrated academic excellence, service and contributed to our community- they have each modeled expressions of perseverance, drive and integrity. These 23 leaders will be featured on our “Wall of Fame” for the 2026/ 2027 school year! More than being featured on a wall, we will expect this prestigious and unique group of alumni to remain connected to D123 and provide valuable insight for years to come! Applications went live on 1/23 and have closed. Recipients will be finding out next month!
We expect and desire to have 100% of our scholars earn the opportunity to walk the stage with their graduating 2026 Class!
Dates:
May 28, 2026: 8th-Grade Trip
May 29, 2026: 8th-Grade Dance
June 2, 2026: SELECT 123 Breakfast(7:30am) & 8th-Grade Awards(9:00am)
June 2, 2026: Elementary Grad Walk(1:30pm)
June 3, 2026: 8th Grade Commencement Ceremony (7:00pm)
GRADUATION FEES:
Great America Trip* $75.00 (Tickets and Picnic Lunch)
Graduation Items $85.00 (Not Optional)(Gown, Stole, Diploma, Program, Tickets, etc.)
T-Shirt $10.00 (Not Optional)
Yearbook $30.00 (Not Optional)
TOTAL FEES $200.00
NOTE: *Students with a Season Pass:
- The Season Pass must be brought to the office before paying for the trip for verification purposes. The student must then remember to carry his/her Season Pass on the day of the trip for park admittance.
- Students with a Season Pass will only be required to pay $30.00 for the picnic lunch.
- The total amount for graduation fees for a student with a Season Pass is $155.00.
NO REFUND will be given for season passes purchased after the 8th-grade fees have been paid.
Payments for Graduation Fees can be made in the following ways:
- Credit cards online via the Skyward System will be accepted for the full amount of $200.00 and the discounted Season Pass fee of $155.00. Please log onto your Skyward account for options.
- Checks must be made payable to Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School.
- Cash must be submitted for the exact amount.
As we welcome spring and enjoy the warmer weather, we want to take a moment to remind everyone of our middle school dress expectations. While we are excited to see students taking advantage of the sunshine, it is important that clothing choices remain appropriate for the school setting. We appreciate your support in reinforcing our uniform dress standards with your child. As outlined in District 123 policy, “Clothing with holes, rips, tears, and clothing that is otherwise poorly fitting, showing skin and or undergarments may not be worn at school.” Thank you for partnering with us to ensure a positive, respectful, and focused learning environment for all students as we head into the final stretch of the school year!
We have seen an increase of gel toys like Needoh and Tech Decks coming to school and distracting the learning environment. These have also caused large messes around the building as they are breaking. We are reevaluating school issued fidgets and students with individual plans will be maintained.
We have noticed an uptick in student cell phone and smart watch usage during school hours. As a reminder, we do have very simple cell phone policy. All scholars should be turning cell phones off and leaving them locked in their lockers during the day. Smart watches will be treated the same if students are using these devices to do anything other than check the time. We have also noticed student wearing headphones, these should also be left in lockers. Students needing headphones for school use should have wired headphones.
Student are given a warning on the first offense with documentation in skyward. Students will receive consequences for subsequent violations.
Thursday, May 7- Mandatory Induction Ceremony Rehearsals (7:30 AM) & Ceremony (7:00 PM)
Community Service Hours - minimum of 15 hours -Due April 6th.
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.
Creating and maintaining a Digital Portfolio which highlights examples of the five NJHS pillars (scholarship, citizenship, leadership, character, and service) -Due February 2nd
Completion of a Capstone Project focusing on service on Service Learning Day April 25th
Regular attendance at NJHS meetings before school at 7:30 am in the cafetorium
NJHS Sponsors Contact: Ms. Jen DiSalvo jdisalvo@d123.org
Mrs. Maggie Omiecinski mmomiecinski@d123.org
Mrs. Alyssa Zajack azajack@d123.org
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:
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Please bring a valid driver’s license or photo ID when picking up a student during the school day.
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For everyone’s safety, visitors may not leave the main office without a staff escort.
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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.
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!
Membership(Click Here) is $7.00 per student and $10.00 per adult
PTSA Meetings are at 6:00pm monthly
- Reach out to Delecta Harris, our PTSA President for more information (olhmsd123ptsa@gmail.com)
- PTSA Facebook
5/4/26: Teacher Appreciation Week! 4th -Grade Visit
5/6/26: D123 Late Start, PTSA Eat and Earn
5/7/26: NJHS Induction
5/8/26: Spring Concert
5/10/26: Mother’s Day!
5/11/26: PTSA Meeting
5/14/26: Spring Chorus Concert
5/15/26: Ambassador Celebration
Thursday
May 21st
6:00 - 7:00 PM
- Free Basketball Clinics
- Friday, May 15
- 7:00 - 8:30 PM
- 5th, 6th, & 7th Grade Girls
- Click here to sign up!
- Junior High Art Exhibition
- Thursday, May 7
- 1:45 - 4:00 PM
- 5th, 6th, & 7th Grade Girls
- Sign up here to submit your art!
- Shadow days at McAuley!
- Please note, Thursday, May 7 is the last shadow day of the 2025-2026 school year. If any students are interested in shadowing McAuley this year, please encourage them to sign up for a date this week or next!
- Shadow Day Registration Form
Providence Catholic High School
