The Jayhawk Weekly

Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,

It has been an exciting time at our school this month: band caroling, concerts, Special Olympics celebrations, community service trips, basketball playoff games, CAST productions, and more! We're so proud of our talented students, and dedicated teaching staff, for making it all possible. This week's newsletter features several celebrations of the amazing things happening around our building.

Tomorrow, our boys basketball teams head to the final rounds of the playoffs at Unity! We want to be sure to share the importance of parent supervision if students plan to attend the games. No students should attend the games to spectate without parent supervision. We appreciate your support in this matter so that our students can continue to be welcomed at Unity in the future.

Our next newsletter will be in January, the weekend before students return to school. As we say goodbye to 2024, we hope all our Julian families and staff have an incredible winter break!

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Jayhawks together,

Nick Filipowski

Principal, Percy Julian M.S.

• Winter Break for students is Monday, Dec 23rd - Monday, Jan 6th.
• Students return to school on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
• It will be a B day when Jayhawks return from the winter break. Students will attend 6th period - 10th period classes on 1/7.

On Dec. 13, Julian Middle School hosted the district's annual Special Olympics basketball game, featuring athletes from Brooks and Julian, as well as Lincoln Elementary School. The event received enthusiastic support from Julian’s eighth-grade classes, who filled the gym with cheers and energy. In addition to showcasing their basketball skills, students led the crowd in cheers and dances, making it a joyful celebration of teamwork, community and inclusivity. Thank you to everyone who came out to support our incredible Special Olympics basketball team!

Our Cheer Team continues to bring school spirit all over our building! The squad supported our athletes at the Special Olympics game on Friday and opened for the CAST production on Sunday! They also plan to support our boys basketball teams at their playoff games on Monday at 4:30pm!

On Monday, both the JV and Varsity teams will play at Unity at 4:30pm. Our teams have had incredible seasons and we wish them the best of luck in the final rounds!

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your student plans to attend the game as a spectator, the MUST have parent supervision. No students are allowed to attend the games at Unity on Monday without parent supervision.

Please discuss the following information in advance with your Jayhawk student about the last day of school before Winter Break begins:

• The library will be closed before and after school on Friday, December 20.
• The school building will open at 8:45 a.m. on Friday, December 20. Julian staff will be in a holiday celebration, so the doors will be locked and the school office will not open until 8:45am on 12/20.
• The school office closes at 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20.
• The Lost & Found will be cleared out at dismissal on Friday, December 20.
• The school building will be closed after 4:00 p.m. on Friday, December 20. There will be no opportunity to retrieve forgotten belongings or musical instruments over the Winter Break.

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REMINDERS BEFORE SCHOOL BREAKS

SCHOOL OFFICE:

Classes are 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m on December 20th. However, the school office will open at 8:45am and will close at 4pm on Friday. Please remind your child to take all belongings home for the holiday break. The building will not be open, if your child forgets any of their belongings such as their cell phone or musical instrument after 4pm on 12/20.

LOST AND FOUND:

If your child is missing a belonging, please have them check the Lost and Found inside the commons before 12/20. And remind them that the Lost and Found area is cleared out every Friday afternoon.

ATTENDANCE:

Please be sure to use the attendance line, 708-665-3064, to notify us if you are starting your vacation early and your child will not be in school this week.

EARLY DISMISSALS:

Since the school's front office is still short one team member, please be sure to call ahead (10-15 minutes before coming to the school) to get your child for an early dismissal. The school office number is 708-524-3040. Also, whenever possible, please have your early dismissal pick ups done before 3pm. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Hey, Jayhawks! Are you ready to be part of something AMAZING? CAST at Julian’s Winter Auditions are just around the corner—happening on January 8th at 3:30 PM in the Julian Auditorium!

Whether you’re dreaming of taking the stage, working behind the scenes, or just trying something new, CAST is the perfect place to express yourself, meet incredible people, and be part of a welcoming and creative community. We’ve got a spot just for YOU!

✨ Why join CAST?

- Make new friends who share your passion.

- Get hands-on experience in acting, tech, and more.

- Be part of shows that will leave a lasting impression.

Don’t miss this chance to be part of our winter productions—it’s your time to shine! 💫

Learn more at castatjulian.org, email Cory Marshall (CAST Program Manager) at cmarshall@op97.org, or give us a call at (708) 524-7848. We can’t wait to see you there! 😊

Students will receive their Trimester 1 MasteryConnect benchmark assessments from Advisory teachers on Monday. Please be sure to get those from your student this week. Thank you.

The D97 Special Education Parent Support Group is now meeting monthly, and we would love for you to join us! Meetings will take place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Whittier Elementary School, 715 N. Harvey Ave., on the following dates:

• Dec. 16, 2024

• Jan. 13, 2025

• Feb. 24, 2025

• April 28, 2025

• May 12, 2025

Childcare will be provided. We hope to see you there!

We are excited to share that the registration portal is now open for the eighth-grade trip to St. Louis/Springfield, which will take place from Sunday, May 25 to Tuesday, May 27! Below, you’ll find all the details you need to register your student, submit the deposit, and prepare for the trip.

Key Deadlines and Payment Details:

1. Registration and Deposit: Complete your registration and submit a $100 deposit by Friday, January 17, 2025.
2. Final Payment: The remaining balance of $599.00 is due by Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

How to Register and Submit Your Deposit:

1. Click here to visit the registration portal.
2. Enter your email address and create a free account.
3. Use the Tour Web Code: T6ED2P3
4. Follow the prompts to complete your student’s registration.
5. Submit the $100 deposit to secure your student’s spot.

**If financial assistance is needed, please contact Ms. Jackson at 708-524-7512 or at ejackson@op97.org BEFORE registering to see if you qualify.

If you have any questions or concerns about registration or payments, feel free to reach out to Julian Executive Coordinator Echelon Jackson at ejackson@op97.org. We are happy to assist you and ensure all families have access to the information they need.

Thank you for your attention to these deadlines and your support as we prepare for this memorable experience for our eighth-grade students!

Sincerely,
The 8th Grade Trip Planning Team

District 97 believes that all students should be challenged and supported to develop to their maximum potential. For students who demonstrate they may benefit from accelerated placement, we provide opportunities to participate in an instructional setting that is usually reserved for students who are older or in higher grades than the child. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Early entrance to kindergarten or first grade

• Single subject acceleration

• Whole grade acceleration

For families interested in District 97's Accelerated Placement Program, we invite you to attend one of our family information sessions (details below), which will provide an avenue for families to share questions as well as receive information about the acceleration process and the upcoming application/referral windows (Feb. 1 through April 1 for early entrance; March 1 through April 25 for acceleration).

For families who are seeking early admission to kindergarten or first grade, the district will be hosting a Family Information session on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m, at the D97 Administration Building. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements for early admission to kindergarten or first grade.

Click here to view the event flyer >>

We are in the process of updating our websites to reflect this year's dates and any new changes.

Join District 97 for an Accelerated Learning Family Information Night on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Julian Middle School. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements for single-subject and whole-grade acceleration (Grades K-8).

Click here to view the event flyer >>

We are in the process of updating our websites to reflect this year's dates and any new changes.

In 2025, District 97 will continue to offer Access to Algebra (formerly known as Math Enrichment) for students in grades 5 through 7 who are not currently accelerated.

Families should save the date for our family information session on Jan. 15, 2025, if their student is interested in participating in these courses. We will be meeting from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Brooks Middle School.

Click here to view the event flyer >>

Registration information and additional details about this program will be shared with families in January 2025.

We are in the process of updating our website to reflect this year's dates and any new changes.

Recently, Ms. Hansen & Ms. Baldassare's classes read & discussed the award-winning picture book BIG by Vashti Harrison. The brainstormed words that represent who they are and wrote them on the big library windows. Come by the library to experience the many positive attributes of Julian students!

"What Goes on in Book Club!" Some of the 7th grade book club members came together to discuss the lovely and funny fantasy novel The Time of Green Magic.

Thank you to the Julian PTO for the books!

Team 7.2 volunteered at Feed My Starving Children last month. It was amazing to see how determined and passionate our seventh graders were about packing food for children and families around the world. We had over a dozen students volunteer to be warehouse helpers--lifting heavy boxes and rolling large carts around the entire packing area in order to make sure that all stations were stocked and running smoothly. Students from Team 7-1 and Team 7-2, along with a small group of students from another school, packed 216 boxes, equalling 46,656 meals that will feed 127 kids in Haiti for a year! We had so much fun doing good and giving back during the holiday season.

-Ms. Chu

ELA teacher

This year, Julian Advisory classes sponsored 17 local families to provide gifts for the holiday season. This is a partnership with the Oak Park Holiday Food and Gift Basket Program. Students purchased and wrapped gifts, and then loaded them into staff members' cars. Student Success Coaches delivered the gifts to the local drop off location.

Last week, the Lunch Trays ventured out into their community to serve others at Beyond Hunger! They packed bags, recycled food boxes, and suffused the whole place with their positive attitudes and giving spirits. The Trays pictured are packing bags and breaking down boxes.

French 3 is getting into the holiday spirit with readers' theatre performances of "Le petit bonhomme de pain d'épices." Reading a familiar story, like "The Little Gingerbread Man," is a great way to reduce the comprehension challenges of working in a new language. It leverages students' prior knowledge and allows them to shift their focus to pronunciation while they develop confidence in their speaking abilities. Bonnes fêtes à toutes et à tous!

EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION FOR OPYBS

Take advantage of OPYBS early bird rates thru 1/5/25 to save up to $50 for our spring tball, baseball and softball leagues. We offer leagues for kindergarten through 8th/9th grade. It's never too late to play baseball or softball. All levels welcome.

Questions? Email Megan Elsener, meganelsener@gmail.com

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 temperature, with wind chill, 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.

Please take a moment to review the information shared in the district’s Weekly Wrap-Up on Dec. 1 regarding winter preparedness.

The district’s emergency closing and E-Learning procedures are outlined in this brief deck; full details are posted at https://www.op97.org/communications/emergency-closings.

We have now entered "that time of year" when students may experience scratchy throats or dry coughs. Please know that teachers can not administer cough drops, vitamins, or aspirin to students. And students are not permitted to share their personal over the counter "meds" with their peers (this includes items such as Tylenol, Aleve, Motrin, vitamins, cough drops, etc).

All students are required to have a medication authorization form on file in the health office for any over the counter and all prescribed medications (please see the Health Office News REMINDER below for more details and a link to the medication authorization form).

STUDENT PREPAREDNESS

Please have your child prep for school the night before or "before they go out the door" the morning of, in order to make sure they have the items they need for the day. Several teachers have reported that students are showing up to class unprepared (uncharged chromebooks, no pencil for math class, no headphones for their chromebook, etc).

Here is a list of supplies that Julian students will need for all their classes on a DAILY basis:

• school ID
• fully charged chromebook
• headphones compatible with the chromebook (not earbuds for iPhones)
• pen, paper, notebook
• water bottle
• lunch/snack (food is available in the Julian lunchroom if your child doesn't or forgets to pack their lunch)

We appreciate your partnership.

REMINDER:

***Visitors will need to present a government-issued ID to check in, and a badge will be provided to wear while on school property.***District 97 implemented the Raptor Visitor Management System on Monday, September 16th. This system will streamline the check-in process and enhance security at all our schools.

For more details and video tutorials on the check-in process, please visit our website. If you have any questions, please contact Principal Filipowski.

Thank you for your support in keeping our schools safe!

Here are the game day expectations:

• All Julian students are required to wear their school ID in order to gain entry to games.
• Children under 18 years of age and teens that are not Julian students must be accompanied by an adult. All OPRFHS, Fenwick and Brooks students must be with a parent or guardian over the age of 18.
• Please do not bring food or drink into the gym. Outside food and beverages are not allowed. Water or water bottles are permitted. But we ask that you refrain from bring snacks and beverages into the school on game days.

Thank you for reminding your child of the game day expectations.

Parents and Guardians,

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 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.

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.

• We strongly encourage packing nut-free products in your student's lunches

• We strongly encourage sending nut-free products on field trips

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

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.

Per district guidelines, all medications must have an accompanying Medication Authorization Form

• A Medication Authorization Form is required for all over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medications.
• A physician must complete the form for all prescriptions AND OTC medications (this includes VITAMINS / SUPPLEMENTS, COUGH DROPS, TYLENOL, MOTRIN, etc).
• All medications are to be brought to the health office by the parent / guardian in the original pharmacy prescription labeled container or an unopened / sealed as purchased OTC packaging.
• Medical Authorization Forms may be found HERE.

Fees may be paid online at https://oakpark.revtrak.net/Middle-Schools/BMS/BMS-School-Fees/#/list

You may also pay fees in-person (with check, money order or cash only) at the Julian School Office during the week between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM.

• Winter Break: Last day of school (full day of classes) is Friday, Dec 20th /First day back is Tuesday, Jan 7th (B day)
• School Building Closed: December 21 - January 6
• PTO Executive Board Meeting: Wednesday, January 8th
• Dr. King Holiday: Monday, January 20th (NO SCHOOL)
• 8th Grade Class Trip: Sunday, May 25 - 27, 2025
• 8th Grade Graduation: Tuesday, June 3, 2025

Come help Julian be an even more awesome place...all that's missing is YOU! Julian PTO (Parent-Teacher Organization) meetings will be held every 2nd Wednesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in the Library Media Center:

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Wednesday, May 14, 2025

If you can't make it in person, log onto Zoom for the PTO meetings:

Every month on the Second Wed, until May 14, 2025, 9 occurrence(s)
Please download and import the following iCalendar (.ics) files to your calendar system.
Monthly: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/tZIqd-2grzwqH9xbM57ma8Z4koONenHwAstO/ics?icsToken=98tyKuGuqTsuEtWSsByPRpwAB4igLPzzmGZfgvpFnjKwVC1SOjmiPe1tHLdxOM_x&meetingMasterEventId=8BZCj1FGQtmhEqFKmR7G4w

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86704817058?pwd=sQ8438MQAlKe75JZ21eRBMFkOpJDza.1

Meeting ID: 867 0481 7058
Passcode: 325017

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian