OLHMS Update (4/21/26)

Did you know that we are celebrating Empathy Week in D123?

Empathy Week provides an opportunity to strengthen our school community by helping scholars recognize, understand, and value the perspectives of others. Grounded in our commitment to Social-Emotional Learning, this focus supports positive relationships, responsible decision-making, and a culture where all scholars feel seen, respected, and supported.

Did you know that OLHMS is hosting the CASE Parent Night?

We are excited to welcome CASE families in D123 to the middle school next Tuesday to gain some insight into the Oak Lawn Park District programs and learn more about PUNS.

Did you know the PTA Council honored three amazing Helen Whalen Scholarship awardee?

Class of 2022 graduates Julie, Emily, and Sara were celebrated last night here at OLHMS with the D123 PTA Council Helen Whalen Scholarship! We are all so proud of their accomplishments and can’t wait to see where your future takes you! Once a Mustang, ALWAYS a Mustang!

Did you know our graduation fees are past due?

If you missed this deadline online, now worries, stop in the main office with cash or check and our amazing office staff will take care of you.

Did you know that we began "Breakfast After the Bell?"

We are offering breakfast in a bag upon entry for scholars interested. Students who take a breakfast will be charged on their Skyward account.

Mustang Families,

This is an exciting time of year at OLHMS as our scholars showcase all they have learned through the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR). We are incredibly proud of the growth, effort, and determination our students demonstrate each day. It has been especially encouraging to see the high level of engagement during testing sessions, along with the thoughtful work reflected in their notes and scratch paper.

As we look ahead, we are preparing for a busy and meaningful finish to April. We are wrapping up our 5th-grade visits and are excited to welcome our future Mustangs for school tours next week. We also look forward to connecting with incoming families at our OLHMS PTSA 5th Grade Parent Night and Open Gym on April 30th. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about middle school life and explore our building.

In addition, we are excited for the D123 Art Fest this Thursday, followed by our annual Service Day on Friday. Both of these events are great opportunities to celebrate creativity and give back to our community.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Together, we will keep leveling 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.

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. Here is a copy of the parent letter.

Main Parking Lot, Circle Drive and 99th Street: Family drop off and pick up is done on Oak Center Dr. Students should not be dropped off in the morning or picked up during dismissal via the main parking lot while buses are present.

We have had a staff and scholars almost hit by cars driving through the parking lot during arrival and dismissal. Please help keep our school community safe!

The main parking lot is CLOSED from 8:15-8:45am and 3:15-3:45pm daily while buses are present.

Designating a pick up and drop off area/ location for our scholars to meet their ride has been extremely helpful and allows families to avoid the congestion.
Please do not have students run across 99th street or Oak Center Dr. to be picked up without adult supervision. We want to make sure all of our students and families are kept safe.
The rear doors (Oak Center Dr./ Circle Drive) will close at 8:35am during morning arrival and the rear doors will be closed at 3:30pm during afternoon dismissal.
School tardies will be assigned after 8:30am.
Please be patient and courteous!

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:

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.

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