Julian Middle Matters Newsletter
A weekly communication from Dr. Fitzgerald
Friday, May 8
Registration Open for 2020-21 School Year in District 97
Returning Students - Registration for returning students will be open May 6 through May 20, 2020. All current families received an email on May 6 from InfoSnap@is.op97.org to remotely register your child for the 20-21 school year. We ask that all returning students complete registration as quickly as possible in order to accurately plan staffing, materials, devices, etc. for the upcoming school year. Remember to upload any required documents to InfoSnap (PowerSchool Enrollment) before submitting. Click here for the May 6 communication to families. Detailed information about the returning registration process is available on the district website at https://www.op97.org/hr/student-registration. If you have any additional questions, please email d97registrar@op97.org.
New Students and Kindergarteners - Please note that Kindergarten and New Student Registration will be open through June 6. Families who wish to enroll a kindergartner or new student should start the registration process now by completing a Google survey form on our website.
Navigating PowerSchool during Remote Learning
Please watch this brief video on how to navigate PowerSchool during remote learning. Angelica Love, an assistant principal at Brooks, put this together for our middle school parents/guardians. Please contact Cory Marshall (cmarshall@op97.org) if you need assistance with accessing PowerSchool for your student.
Are you interested in helping others during this time?
The Julian Service Learning Club is raising money for Beyond Hunger so that everyone in our community has access to food. You can contribute at our website: https://give.classy.org/JulianJayhawks. Another way to support our community is to make a card thanking healthcare workers for risking their lives to save others. Cards can be delivered locally to Meals2Medics at this website: https://meals2medics.com/#cards4medics.
Student Belongings still at Julian
We are in the process of figuring out how to have our students safely return to the school building to pick up their belongings from their lockers, turn in their chromebooks, pick up yearbook orders, etc. As well as how we will distribute the celebration yard signs to our 8th graders, distribute their diplomas and any cap & gown and tassel orders. Our first priority is to keep all students, parents and staff members safe during this pandemic. Once we figure out the logistics, we will share that information with families as soon as possible.
Teacher Appreciation Week - Thank You!
Julian Virtual Book Group
Attention all readers! Join Ms. Winchell in a virtual community with other Julian readers on Mondays at 2pm. Share what you are reading and get new book ideas. Be ready to share and listen!
Monday, May 11 @ 2pm
Monday, May 18 @ 2pm
Tuesday, May 26 @ 2pm
Monday, June 1 @ 2pm
Jayhawk Lunchtime Socials
We believe that during this time, it is important for our students to have the opportunity to come together. Starting next week, we are offering a space for Julian students to get together to socialize with their peers. Assistant principals will be facilitating these sessions next week. The “Julian Jayhawks Lunchtime Socials” will take place every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 11:00-11:30 using Google Meets. We will be sharing this information and the Google Meets link with our students on Monday morning.
Monday: 6th Grade
https://meet.google.com/jfe-hwao-wwr
Tuesday: 7th Grade
https://meet.google.com/tja-scvf-zfb
Wednesday: 8th Grade
https://meet.google.com/tto-ixpv-pte
Remote Learning Planning Days for Teachers:
Friday, May 15
Friday, May 22
Students are NOT assigned work by their teachers on these days.
Cancellation Refunds / Field Trips
Several field trips scheduled for March and April were cancelled due to the covid-19 pandemic. The Julian office staff has recently submitted refund requests for those parents who had paid for their student's cancelled trip. Given that the district office staff is working remotely because of the shelter-in-place order, this refund process will take several weeks to complete for all of our District 97 elementary and middle schools. If you have not received your field trip refund by June 1, please contact our business office at 708-524-7625. We appreciate your patience during this difficult time.
Social Emotional Learning Lessons for Julian Students
Things to do while at Home
At home with your kids during the Coronavirus pandemic? KidsOutAndAbout.com provides over 250 ideas for making the most of your time together! Here are a few ideas...
Learn to play an instrument
Research your family tree
Start some indoor seed plantings
Balloon volleyball
Build a house of cards
Build an outdoor fort
Plan and cook a meal for the family
Help family with home improvement projects
Family game night
Build an obstacle course
19 Webcomics for Middle-Grade and Young Adults
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program
The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth through the “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program.” Below is a list of upcoming VIRTUAL talks, which will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Eventbrite links below is requested. Once you register, a link will be emailed to you four hours prior to the start of each event.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Community Talk Flyer
Tuesday, May 12: Mindfully Coping: Strategies for Children and Families During a Pandemic https://www.eventbrite.com/e/coping-mindfully-strategies-for-children-and-families-during-a-pandemic-tickets-104362182096
Wednesday, May 20: Strategies to Support Executive Functioning and Self-Regulation Development Based upon Brain Science https://www.eventbrite.com/e/strategies-to-support-executive-functioning-and-self-regulation-in-middle-schoolers-tickets-104370637386
Wednesday, May 27: Mindfulness-Based Strategies and Their Applications in Academic Environments https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mindfulness-based-strategies-and-their-applications-in-academic-and-home-settings-tickets-104458977614
Thursday, May 28: Understanding Anxiety in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-anxiety-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-104370791848
Wednesday, June 3: Technology and Mental Health: Strategies to Promote Mindful Digital Citizenship https://www.eventbrite.com/e/technology-and-mental-health-strategies-to-promote-mindful-digital-citizenship-tickets-104361018616
Wednesday, June 10: Understanding Depression in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-depression-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-104459673696Mental Health Wellness Appointments
We recognize that this time of crisis may create stress and trigger emotional difficulties for your child. D97’s school psychology department is offering acute (short-term) access to mental health wellness checks. Scheduled appointments are available daily between the hours of 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. for mental health triage services during the COVID-19 school closure beginning April 13, 2020.
Parents/Caregivers, you may sign up your student for a 15-minute slot here: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/selfsched?sstoken=UUVKMGZxZ0E0ZkpvfGRlZmF1bHR8ODI4ZTEzZmFkOTFjYWY5OGU5NjFiZDBkMDExZjkzNmY if you think your child would benefit from an empathetic ear and a few coping and self-care tips. When signing your child up, please provide the email (for video chat) or phone number you’d like us to contact at the time of the appointment.
Technology Support
District 97 Staff Referral Program
Meal Distributions
District 97 will hold meal distributions every Monday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave. Meals are available to any District 97 family in need. Each student will receive breakfast and lunch items for five days.
OPRF Youth Summer Camp Program and Swim Camp Canceled
Upcoming Events
Remote Learning Teacher Planning Day - Friday, May 15
Email: tfitzgerald@op97.org
Website: op97.org/julian
Phone: 708-524-3040