Christian's Weekly Communication

District 97 believes it is important for students to have opportunities for physical activity and play time during the day—even during the cold winter months. This winter, students will be permitted to go outside for recess when the wind chill or temperature is 15 degrees or higher. The district utilizes the Wind Chill Chart developed by the National Weather Service.

• It is important that students dress in warm layers when cold temperatures are expected. Students should remember to bring hats, gloves/mittens, scarves, coats, snow pants and boots. It is recommended that families label these items with their children’s names.
• Our staff will carefully monitor students while outside and take the necessary steps to ensure students are appropriately clothed/prepared for the cold weather, watching out for signs of frostbite and other cold-related issues.

Middle School Graduation Ceremony dates -

Brooks: Thursday, June 8th 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Rehearsal Thursday, June 8th 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

**Julian: Friday, June 9th 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m.

(Rehearsal Friday, June 9th 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.)**

The ceremonies will take place at Oak Park and River Forest High School in their auditorium. After spring break, most likely early in the month of April, we will have more logistical details (about the number of tickets per student, door entry locations, parking, etc.). In the meantime, please mark your calendar with the rehearsal and ceremony information: Julian's graduation rehearsal will take place on the last day of school, June 9, 2023 at 10am, and the Julian graduation ceremony will be held at 6:30pm on 6/9/23.

If you have questions, please contact the school office at julianinfo@op97.org or contact Mr. Lee, the 8th grade assistant principal, at wlee@op97.org. Thank you.

Parents/Guardians:

MAP testing for all students will begin next week on December 12th and 13th. Please ensure that your student(s) gets the proper rest in preparation for MAP testing. The MAP test measures how your child is performing in Math, Language Usage, and Reading. These tests are typically given three times a year and the results help teachers understand your child’s current instructional level, and how much your child has been learning and growing academically over time (for instance, from fall to spring). Teachers use the information from these tests to develop instruction that specifically addresses things your child is ready to learn or needs some extra help with. Please ensure that you speak with your student about the importance of MAP testing and how the skills assessed will help ensure proper facilitation of instruction and learning. MAP testing will take place in all the advisory classes. If you have any questions about MAP, please contact Assistant Principal William Lee (wlee@op97.org) or Assistant Principal Chemaine Carr (ccarr@op97.org).

The girls volleyball season will begin after winter break. Here is the information regarding this month's upcoming practices and tryouts for the team:

6th/7th Grade Girls' Volleyball

Location: Julian Main Gym

Open Gym - Thursday, December 15pm (3:30pm-5:00pm)

Tryouts - Monday, December 19th (3:30pm-5:30pm)

8th Grade Girls' Volleyball

Location: Julian Main Gym

*Open Gym - Friday, December 16th (7:15am-8:30am)

*Enter through gym door entrance in alley for morning only

Tryouts - Tuesday, December 20th (3:30p-5:30p)

Contact Coach Kiefer at ekiefer@op97.org if you have any questions.

CAST announces the Fall festival of plays with something for all ages! All are welcome to the Julian Auditorium but we recommend you purchase your tickets in advance by clicking on the date listed:

MISS NELSON IS MISSING

Friday, December 9 @7:30PM

Saturday, December 10 @ 3:30PM

Miss Nelson can’t control her crazy classroom because she’s just too nice. But when she disappears, her replacement is the hard-as-nails, detention-loving, recess-canceling, homework-overloading substitute teacher Viola Swamp! With the Big Test approaching, the kids suddenly realize how much they miss Miss Nelson and they’ll do anything -- including hiring a private eye -- to solve the mystery of her disappearance and bring her back.

NUMBER THE STARS

Saturday, December 10 @7:30PM

Sunday, December 11 @3:30PM
During the German occupation of Denmark in World War II, the Nazis closed down Jewish-owned businesses and began to round up the Jews for relocation to concentration camps for the final solution. Danish freedom fighters of all ages risked everything in daring, hurried attempts to rescue the entire Jewish population. In this stirring new play, young Annemarie and Kirsti Johansen face soldiers, interrogations, fierce dogs, personal danger, the loss of loved ones and their own fears as they try to help their friend Ellen Rosen escape across the ocean to Sweden and safely. Courage, faith, ingenuity and even their fledgling acting skills eventually win the day. All the drama, pathos, adventure, terror and humor that have made Number the Stars a national best seller (and winner of the Newberry Award and the American Library Association Book of the Year Award) come to life in this powerful adaptation.

For more information, check out the CAST website at castatjulian.org or contact Ms. Marshall at 708-524-7848.

Middle School Math Enrichment is coming soon!

The Oak Park Public Library has opened a new Creative Studio on the 3rd floor. In this new space, we are offering programs for all ages, including TechGirlz programs for girls in grades 5-8.

OPPL received a grant a few months ago through TechGirlz to purchase new equipment to run TechGirlz programs. Now students have the opportunity to learn and explore technology through engaging hands- on programs such as 3D printing, video production, podcasting, python programming with Edison robots, and exploring what's inside a computer.

Below are the links to register on the Oak Park Public Library website:

December 15: TechGirlz: Lights, Camera, Action: Storytelling & Video Production

December 16: TechGirlz: Explore What's Inside a Computer

January 5: TechGirlz: Snow Molds: Slicing + Dicing Using CAD

January 12: TechGirlz: Lights, Camera, Action: Storytelling & Video Production

January 16: TechGirlz: Programming Edison Robots Using Python

Feb 2: TechGirlz: 3D Printed Little Boxes: Slicing + Dicing Using CAD

Feb 10: TechGirlz: Programming Edison Robots Using Python

We continue to offer STEM programming for elementary students in the children's services area of the library and we will be offering more programs for elementary students in the Creative Studio in the coming months. Upcoming Tech Wednesday Programs for elementary students include the following:

December 14: Tech Wednesday: 3D Printing in the New Creative Studio for Grades 3-5

January 18: Tech Wednesday: Code a Robot for Grades K-2 in the Children's Department

January 18: Tech Wednesday: Code a Robot for Grades 3-5 in the Children's Department

Please let me know how I can help you throughout this school year!

Thanks and have a wonderful week!

Best,

Eileen Saam (she, her, hers)

Children's Digital Learning Librarian

Oak Park Public Library | 834 Lake St. | Oak Park, IL 60301

708.452.3447

esaam@oppl.org

8th grade Parents/Guardians,

Oak Park and River Forest High School will host a Parent Night on Wednesday, December 14 at 7pm in their auditorium. Click here for more information. **This is a parent/guardian event and students are not expected to attend.** If you have any questions regarding this OPRFHS event, please contact Dr. Julie Lam, Director of Student Learning, at jlam@oprfhs.org or Ms. Kris Johnson, Director of Student Services, at kjohnson@oprfhs.org.

Spanish tutoring began on Monday, 11/28. It's not too late to sign up, but you must do so in advance. Spanish tutoring is open to Jayhawks of all grade levels. Here are the teachers' names, classroom locations, and tutoring days:

Tuesday- Ms. Foronda B209 8:00-8:45 AM

Tuesday- Ms. Kerr C308 3:30-4:15 PM

Thursday- Ms. Kerr C308 8:00-8:45 AM

Thursday- Ms. Hoskins B409 3:30-4:15 PM

Friday- Ms. Bultas C409 8:00-8:45 AM

Please sign up at the link below!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qnKwCd6AtS4I0W34vMZu70oF2dqjqwADSvsFC1ucMJk/edit?usp=sharing

School Store

As we prepare for our January school store, we find that many of our items are now out of stock - especially gift cards! Can you support our PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports) efforts by purchasing items from our Amazon wishlist? THANK YOU!!

DePaul Community Coordinator
Could your family use some extra support in housing & rent assistance, coordinating medical and mental healthcare, insurance and benefits applications, after-school programs and tutoring, or support groups and parent coaching? Reach out to our DePaul Care Coordinator at jbroadn2@depaul.edu.
Care Coordinator Flyer

Request for Assistance Form

If your child might benefit from some additional social emotional support such as Check In Check Out or the DePaul Mindfulness Group, please complete this Request for Assistance Form. Our Culture & Climate team will review submissions at our bimonthly meeting and will follow up with you about potential next steps.

--

Katie Trathen, LCSW

(she/her/hers) - Hear my name

Culture & Climate Coach
Percy Julian Middle School

416 Ridgeland Ave, Oak Park, IL

Julian Request for Assistance Form - SY23

Process for Reporting Positive COVID-19 Cases to D97 Schools

If a student or staff member tests positive for COVID-19, they must complete the following steps:

1) In order to notify the school nurse and receive a return-to-school date, families/staff must complete the confidential COVID-19 Positive Case Notification Form as soon as possible following the positive test. Information provided will also be shared with the Oak Park Department of Public Health.

2) Families must continue to report student absences via the school attendance line, and staff must enter their absences in Frontline.

To see the rules for isolation and quarantine, click here. Additional resources are linked below.

• Summary of District 97's COVID-19 Mitigations

• 2022-23 COVID-19 Health and Safety Plan

COVID-19: Reminders & Resources

Staying home when sick is essential to keep COVID-19 and other infections out of our schools and prevent spread to others.

• If a student or staff member has tested positive for COVID-19, please complete the POSITIVE CASE NOTIFICATION FORM.

• Families must also report the absences by calling the school attendance line, and staff must enter their absences in Frontline.

To view the district’s COVID-19 Health Safety Plan, along with other COVID-19 resources and information, please visit the COVID-19 Update Center.

Thanks,

Nurse Misty

--

Misty Howe, MSN, RN, CNL

she/her/hers

Percy Julian Middle School

Health Office

mhowe@op97.org

phone: (708) 524-7648

fax: (708) 524-3035

In 2020, Principal Christian implemented the theme of "over-communicate" amid the flexibility of the COVID19 virus and how information might change at a moment's notice. Last year, our theme was "growing together". And now in 2022-23, we'd like to continue with our new theme of "Stronger, Together". Here are the ways in which Principal Christian and the Jayhawk staff communicates:

• Our Official Percy Julian Facebook Page (click here)
• Christian's Weekly Communication (every week)
• PowerSchool Daily Bulletin Alerts
• Text Messages (Jayhawk Text Messages District 97 uses the notification system BrightArrow to communicate with families via email and phone calls. This year, we have started using periodic text messages to send reminders directly to parents' cell phones. In order to receive text messages, parents must opt-in by texting YES to 87569. Once you have subscribed, you will receive a text confirmation.)

416 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian

We give our best, and then some!