The Jayhawk Weekly

Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,

We want to start by thanking all of the parents and staff who volunteered to help at our dance on Friday! It was an incredible event, and a great time was had by all! We passed out around 550 wristbands on Friday to students who planned to attend, and the house was packed! A special thanks to our Dance Committee, who really rocked all the planning: Michele Jurewicz, Jennifer Roman, Jennifer Bulls, and Nichole Oswald. Thank you for all your hard work!

We look forward to seeing families on Thursday night or Friday morning for Parent-Family Conferences. Please make sure you book your appointment time with your student's teacher by Wednesday (see the section on parent-family conferences below for more information). We are also excited to have the return of our Book Fair in the Julian Library. We are still looking for more volunteers to help, so please click here to volunteer for the book fair!

If you have questions about the school year, please don’t hesitate to contact our Admin team at:

nfilipowski@op97.org, acourt@op97.org, dfountain@op97.org

Jayhawks together,

Nick Filipowski, Principal

Adrienne Court, Associate Principal

DaWanda Fountain-Dotson, Associate Principal

The Illinois Principals Association (IPA) encourages all communities in Illinois to celebrate Principal Appreciation Week October 18-24, 2026, and Principal Appreciation Day on Friday, October 23, 2026.

We are excited to share that the 2026 Julian Halloween Dance was a tremendous success! It was wonderful to see hundreds of Julian Middle School students come together for an evening of music, dancing, friends, and fun.

From the DJ led Dance Floor to the Chill-Out Zones, Snack Shack, and Photo Booth , the night was filled with great moments; we truly tried to offer something fun for everyone!

Events like this truly take a village, and we are incredibly grateful for the many people who helped make the Halloween Dance possible.

A special thank you to all the families who generously donated supplies and to the parent volunteers who gave their time to help set up, chaperone, clean up, and ensure the evening ran smoothly.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to Julian Middle School staff and employees who helped us prepare for the event, who spent their evening chaperoning alongside our parent volunteers, and who helped us return the building to its regular state post-event! Their support, guidance, and presence helped create a safe and fun environment for everyone.

Thanks to our community, the event also raised money in support of our PTO’s assistance fund; dedicate monies used to support our students and families who are faced with expected challenges throughout the year.

Thank you again to all who contributed physically or in support of the event. Seeing our students having fun together, making memories, and enjoying a positive community event is exactly what makes all the planning worthwhile.

We look forward to more great events ahead!

-Julian Middle School Dance Planning Committee and on behalf of the Julian PTO Board

The Julian Spirit Team hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month Assembly for the school last Friday, sharing examples of famous Hispanic celebrities and their contributions, as well as everyday examples of contributions by Hispanic inventors. They also played a Jeopardy-style game to engage students in learning about the many ways Hispanic culture is a vital part of our lives.

Students have also engaged in a Hispanic Heritage Month Highlight each day in their WIN classes and hosted a door decorating contest based on the theme from the National Council of Hispanic Employment Program Managers. Winners of the door decorating contest are pictured above (clockwise from top left):

• Best in School - Ms. Ward, 6th Grade
• Most Creative Theme Execution - Ms. Martinez, 6th Grade
• Top 6th Grade - Mr. Konecki
• Top 7th Grade - Ms. Gustafson (two photos to show both sides!)
• Top 8th Grade - Ms. Gunnell

On Monday, during all lunch periods, administrators will be conducting a lunch/recess safety audit. There are students who have green lunch but are eating with yellow lunch, and vice versa. Students should be eating lunch or heading out to recess during their assigned times. We will also counting the number of students that are without their school issued ID. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact AP Dotson at dfountain@op97.org.

The Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) is a parent-led group that invites District 97 families to share their voices and help inform the practices and programs of Student Services. By hearing directly from families, we can better ensure that the needs of every student are considered in our district-wide practices. We want to learn from you and work together to strengthen support for all students.

• Date and Time: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

• Location: Beye Library, 230 N. Cuyler Ave.

• Details: Consider bringing a cozy fall dish to share for our potluck! Oct. 21 event flyer >>

Due to parent-teacher conferences, there is no before school (8-8:50am) or after school (3:30-4:30pm) library hours on Thursday, October 22nd. And there is no school attendance for students on Friday, October 23rd.

The Book Fair will be in the Library Media Center (3rd floor E301)

Wed. Oct 21 9:00 am - 3:45 pm

Thurs. Oct 22 9:00 am - 8:00 pm

Fri. Oct 23 8:00 am - noon

Click here to sign-up to volunteer for the book fair!

Students learned how to write their names in ancient Cuneiform

For school purposes, please also ensure that any costumes do not feature any sort of weapon or toy weapon at school. Face coverings are also not allowed during the school day.

To get the best results, please remember to have students avoid wearing clothing or accessories that are the color green. And students will be asked to remove their caps or hats so that we can have full view of their faces. The school pictures are used to create new school IDs, so we need the view of the students' faces to be unobstructed. Orders and payments are made directly to the vendor, Van Gogh School Photographers (not the school office). When the proofs have been received, order forms will be distributed to students in WIN classes.

**8th grade families: this is not the "Cap & Gown Photo Day" for 8th graders. That will occur after Winter Break. We will share details in the winter, as we get closer to that 2027 date. In the meantime, your 8th grader should take a school picture on 10/28.

Open Gym will take place on Monday and Tuesday from 7:30 - 8:30 am. Tryouts for the team will take place on Wednesday and Thursday after school.

Julian families: Cooler days are here. Stay warm and represent Julian with $10 off hooded tees and crewnecks for a limited time.

Perfect for fall days, school, or weekends. SHOP Julian Spirit Wear Now: https://1stplace.sale/30596

Please make sure that your Jayhawk keeps their photo uncovered and the barcode unobscured on their school ID. Decorations such as stickers, beads, etc. should be limited to the lanyard or holder, and not placed directly on the student ID card. Please leave both the photo and barcode clearly visible on the ID. The barcode on the ID is how students are able to purchase meals in the commons. It is also how library books are checked out in the media center. With over 300 students to serve per grade level, we do not want to slow down the lunchroom line during students' lunch periods. When the school ID can not be scanned properly, the lunchroom staff must manually enter student data in the MealTime system, which is a delay that can be easily prevented.

Your voice is important as we engage in the pilot process. Families will be invited to provide feedback about their experience with each resource. This feedback, along with input from students and staff, will help inform the district-wide adoption of a new comprehensive 6–8 ELA Tier 1 resource for the 2027–2028 school year.

Thank you for your partnership and support as we continue to provide meaningful opportunities for all students to grow as readers and writers!

Please contact Nick Filipowski if you have any questions regarding the upcoming pilot.

District 97 is committed to continuing to elevate our students' experiences in reading and writing in grades 6-8.

One of our district’s priorities is to ensure teachers have access to high-quality, evidence-based resources aligned with the Illinois Learning Standards for English Language Arts.

This year, Brooks and Julian Middle Schools will pilot two resources for Tier 1 instruction that were carefully evaluated and selected by middle school English language arts (ELA) teachers during the 2025–2026 school year. We look forward to implementing these resources in grades 6–8 to provide students with engaging, high-quality opportunities to develop their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills while identifying the resource that best supports the needs of our students and teachers.

Middle School parents, join us on October 28th from 6-8pm in the Brooks Commons for parent/guardian education on suicide prevention. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a 60-90 minute, evidence-based suicide prevention training that teaches participants how to recognize the warning signs of suicide and respond effectively. Become a Gatekeeper by learning how to identify a crisis, offer support, and connect someone to help.

Participants are expected to:

• Be present for the entirety of the presentation.

• Participate in interactive portions of the presentation, including icebreakers and review activities.

• Complete both the pre- and post-surveys.

We can host a maximum of 30 participants and will close registration after the first 30 have signed up. Please complete this form if you would like to participate. Childcare and dinner will be provided.

Students can sign up via their Canvas Lunch page if they are interested in attending!

We are excited to invite your student to our upcoming D97 Student Services "Student Night In" on Friday, Nov. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Whittier Elementary School! This special evening is designed for all District 97 students with IEPs to connect with their peers and enjoy a fun-filled night together.

CLICK HERE to view the flyer >>

While the students are having a great time, parents and guardians can take the night off to relax and enjoy some time for themselves. Dinner will be provided for the students during the event.

To register your student for this event, please complete the registration form by Oct. 30. You can access the form using the following link: Register HERE.

We hope your student can join us for this fun and engaging evening!

Sincerely,

D97 Student Services Team

• 🟦🟧OPRFHS 8TH GRADE TOURS - Julian students will visit Oak Park and River Forest High School on the afternoon of October 26th for Future Huskie Tours. The 8th graders will be welcomed by students and OPRFHS personnel. Following this presentation, they will break up into groups and OPRFHS students will guide them through the school, popping into classrooms and other important stops along the way. Parents/Guardians should fill out this permission slip by Friday, October 23rd. The entire tour will end at approximately 2:20 p.m. and 8th graders will return to Julian in time for their 8th grade WIN classes.

• SCHOOL PICTURE DAY - As previously shared with families, the Julian School Picture Day is on Wednesday, October 28th for all students, all grade levels. This is NOT the Cap & Gown Photo Day (that will take place after Winter Break, TBD in January, for 8th graders).

• CAP AND GOWN ORDERS - If you have not already done so, please be sure to submit your order form and payment (only check or cash can be accepted in the school office) by the end of this month. Online payments can be made on the Julian webstore. We ask that you make your order/payment for the cap, gown and 2027 tassel no later than Friday, October 30th.

***If you plan to have your child wear a sibling's old cap and gown, please be sure to check the size and length of the gown (caps are "one size fits all"), as well as the condition of the gown (no stains, no holes, no snags, etc.). And remember to purchase the 2027 tassel keepsake for your student.**

• *We have extra order forms in the school office (you can purchase graduation materials with cash or a check made payable to District 97):

$12 - 2027 Tassel only

$21 - Cap & 2027 Tassel only

$23 - Gown & Tassel only

**Only the full set, cap, gown & tassel, can be purchased online for $28.

• 2027 GRADUATION CEREMONY - The Julian 8th Grade Graduation ceremony will be on Tuesday, June 8, 2027 at 6:30pm in the Oak Park and River Forest High School auditorium. This ceremony will be live streamed (all in-person attendees over the age of 2yrs old must have a ticket to enter). We will release the live streamed link in the Spring, so that you can share it with family and friends that are unable to attend the ceremony in-person.

This year, District 97 is utilizing the Standard Response Protocol language and visuals developed by the I Love U Guys Foundation, a national organization dedicated to school safety. The SRP is action-based, flexible and easy to learn.The premise is simple - there are five specific actions that can be performed during an emergency incident (e.g., inclement weather, fires, accidents, introducers or other threats). The five actions are: Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter.

One of the most important things we do to keep our schools safe is practice a variety of drills each year to ensure that everyone is prepared should an emergency occur. As part of our ongoing preparedness training, all students K-8th grade will receive instruction on the five SRP protocols during the month of October/November.

All content will be delivered in developmentally-appropriate ways for the student's age. This will occur during physical education classes at the middle schools and during Second Step or assembly at the elementary schools.

***PLEASE NOTE: students or parents/guardians may NOT have food delivered to the school through any food delivery service (i.e. DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, etc). DELIVERIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED DURING THE SCHOOL DAY. Please plan to have your child pack a lunch or purchase a school lunch with their student ID (it will be charged to their MealTime account) each day.***

***With over 950 students at Julian, it can quickly get overwhelming if parents/guardians wish to purchase a special lunch for their students' birthdays, sporting event championships, A+ on a test, etc. We hope you will consider celebrating with food after school and not during the school day. We thank you in advance for your consideration and your understanding.***

Hot lunch will be available to students who wish to participate and have a funded or approved lunch account, starting the first day of school. If you have questions regarding your student's lunch balance, you may contact the Lunch Manager, Cornelia Mack at cmack@op97.org. To make payments on student lunch accounts please visit, https://www.mymealtime.com/signin.aspx

Breakfast and Lunch Menus

Menus for our elementary and middle schools are available on our Food Services webpage. During the 2026-27 school year, students may:

• Bring a nut-free lunch from home

• Order school lunch
  

My MealTime

Breakfast and lunch payments are processed electronically through your student's My MealTime account. To set up an account and add funds, visit My MealTime. You may elect to sign up for scheduled deposits and/or low-balance alerts. You may also view transaction reports. Please note you will need your student's ID number for registration.

Free and Reduced Lunch Application

All students are required to pay for their breakfast and lunch meals unless they are directly approved by the State of Illinois or approved after completing the 2026-27 Free and Reduced Lunch Application (English/Spanish). We encourage all families who currently qualify to complete the application as soon as possible. Please visit our Food Services webpage for more information.

Food Allergies/Nut-Safe Schools

Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools. This includes products labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” Our schools have been nut-safe for the past two years — helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students.

Please visit https://bit.ly/4xFtS83 to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips. We appreciate your support of this important initiative!

Approximately 10% - 15% of students have a food allergy. The most common allergen item is nuts of any kind. Every food-allergic reaction has the possibility of developing into a life-threatening reaction within minutes. Some individuals may react to merely touching the substance, while for others, consumption of a tiny amount of that food can cause a reaction which could be fatal.

• Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any of our schools. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.”

• There is NO food sharing between students at any time during school.
  

• There is NO eating or drinking on school buses.

How to identify safer foods for your children to eat:

1. Please read all packaging to ensure the item is not produced on equipment shared with nuts

2. Additional safe options may be viewed at: www.snacksafely.com

We appreciate your partnership in promoting the health and safety of our children.

As we continue to have a successful and productive start to the school year, please be sure your child is aware of the Middle School Cell Phone Policy:

This is a friendly reminder about the Middle School Cell Phone policy. We are "Away for the Day" which means students should not use their cell phones from 9:00am - 3:30pm. If there is an emergency, students can call home from a teacher's classroom phone or the school office. If a student is feeling unwell, they can get a digital pass from their classroom teacher, and call home from the school nurse's office.

If a student is caught using their cell phone/electronic device during instruction time or caught using their device while school is in session for unrelated curriculum activities, then the following occurs:

• 1ST OFFENSE: The device is sent down to the school office by a staff member and the student must retrieve the device at the end of the school day.
• 2ND OFFENSE: The device is sent down to the school office by a staff member and parents/guardians are notified. The student will be able to retrieve the device at the end of the school day.

• 3RD OFFENSE: The device is sent down to the school office by a staff member and parents/guardians are notified. A parent/guardian/caregiver must then come to the school to pick up the device, it will not be released to the student. The parent/guardian/caregiver must also meet with an administrator or student success coach to decide one of two options:

OR

2) The student will leave the device at home and no longer bring the cell phone to school for the remainder of the trimester.

Thank you for your efforts to help us all make school a place of academics and social emotional learning.

We strive to improve the attendance of all of our students. Each minute of each school day provides opportunities for learning and it’s noticeable when students miss time. Absences, even if they are excused, can add up to academic trouble. Please be sure students are arriving daily by 8:50 am. Students arriving after 8:57 am will receive a tardy for the day.

Missing only 2 days a month (excused or unexcused), means your child misses 10% of the school year. If your child is going to be absent, please notify the office prior to 9:00 a.m. by calling (708) 665-3064 or emailing julianinfo@op97.org. When we do not receive a call or email from a parent/guardian, school regulations require that parents/guardians are contacted to verify the child's absence.

Should you need resources to support your child’s attendance please visit this link or reach out to your child’s Student Success Coach.

• 6th grade - Sergio Torres (storres@op97.org)

• 7th Grade - Becca Murray (rmurray@op97.org)

• 8th grade - Kasey Fleming (kfleming@op97.org)

We know this is a busy time of year for families, and we appreciate you taking a few moments to review the health compliance information and the two email notifications sent by the Julian Health Office. If you have received a notification from the school nurse, please review the information carefully to make sure all required documentation has been submitted. At the time of this newsletter, Sunday, September 20, marks 22 days remaining until the October 14 deadline.

1. Incoming 6th-grade students and/or any new students who have transferred into District 97 and have received notification emails from the Julian School Nurse MUST have a wellness physical and dental exam dated within one year prior to August 26, 2026. Your child's physical must have been performed after August 26, 2025. Your child may not be admitted to school on October 15, 2026, without these required documents being provided by email or in person by October 14, 2026, at 3:30 PM.

The interscholastic box must be checked “Yes” on the physical form in order for your child to be eligible to try out for or participate in any interscholastic activity.

2. Please submit all health documents by one of the following methods:

• Email PDFs directly to: JulianNurse@op97.org
  OR
• Deliver documents directly to the Julian Health Office

🚨Please do NOT send health forms with your student.🚨

If dropping forms off in person, please hand them directly to the Julian Health Office team so receipt can be confirmed.

• Nurse Allison
• Ms. Bec, Certified Nursing Assistant

This direct submission helps ensure that the Health Office receives the documentation and can confirm receipt.

🚨Please submit all required documentation by Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 3:30 PM.🚨

Documents may be submitted by email to JulianNurse@op97.org or delivered directly to the Julian Health Office. If required documentation has not been received by the deadline, the student will not be permitted to continue the school day beginning Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 9:00 AM, until the required documentation is received.

Warmly,

Nurse Allison

Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group's program(s), event(s) and/or service(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

YEMBA’s Mentoring Empowerment Program (MEP) is in full swing at Julian MS!!

MEP is FREE and is designed to help middle school students build confidence, develop life and leadership skills, explore their interests, and connect with mentors, their peers, and community.

Julian Middle School: Mondays & Tuesdays

Important note: Students do not have to attend every session. We understand that students have sports, other clubs, family commitments, and other activities. However, consistent attendance is important and encouraged!

Haven’t registered yet? There’s still time! Register your student today!

West40, a regional organization supporting West Cook County school districts and families, is hosting a Community Wellness Fair featuring local resources alongside a clothing and winter goods giveaway by Mano a Mano Unidos.

Please join us for this community event! West40 Wellness Fair Smore Link

• Date and Time: Saturday, Oct. 17

• Location: West40 (Maywood, IL)

• Details: Features community resources, clothing, and winter goods giveaway. All families are welcome to attend!

Distribution of information by a community group in accordance with District 97 policy does not imply, directly or indirectly, that the group's program(s), event(s) and/or service(s) is sanctioned, sponsored or endorsed by the district, the Board of Education or the superintendent.

THE ONLINE OPTION IS NOW AVAILABLE!

Fees may be paid online at https://oakpark.revtrak.net/Middle-Schools/JMS/julian-school-fees/

You may pay fees in person at the Julian school office during the week between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Debit/credit card payments can only be processed online or at the district office (at 260 Madison Street), not in the Julian school office. The school office can only accept cash (exact change please) or check (made payable to District 97) payments.

• Student-led Family-Teacher Conferences: Thurs, Oct 22nd - Fri, Oct 23rd

***(Full day of classes on 10/22)***

***(No school for students on 10/23)***

• Student Picture Day: Wednesday, October 28th
• No School: Tuesday, November 3rd (District 97 closed)
• • End of Trimester 1: Friday, November 20th
• Graduation Ceremony: Tuesday, June 8th (6:30pm @ OPRFHS, must have a ticket to enter)
• Last Day of the 2026_27 School Year: Wednesday, June 9, 2027 (full day of classes)

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian