OLHMS Update (10/7/25)
Wear PINK Tomorrow (10/8/25)!
Mustang Families,
We have reached the midpoint of the trimester and conferences are coming up, we hope families are feeling overly informed with our scholars progress and upcoming events. We appreciate your partnership as we continue navigating Skyward and traditional grades.
Progress reports were sent home on October 3rd reflecting grades as of September 30, 2025, while all teacher emails received last week include the most current updates. These reports, along with teacher communications and the mass mailing, help ensure all families remain informed and connected to their scholar’s learning. We will be revising this process over the course of the year, but wanted to make sure all families received information one way or another.
Family Conferences will be held on Thursday, October 16, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., and Friday, October 17, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Conferences are an opportunity to celebrate growth and discuss goals for the trimester. If you haven’t scheduled yet, please log in to Skyward Family Access to reserve a time.
Please note that school will be closed on Monday, October 13, in observance of the school holiday. We hope everyone enjoys the extended weekend and returns refreshed for conference week.
Thank you for your continued support as we work toward our District 123 goal of having 100% of our scholars meet or exceed their growth targets in math and English language arts.
Scholar progress reports will be sent home on Friday with each of our scholars!
Our goal is to ensure that all families are informed on student progress in our transition back to traditional grades. Families should have received physical copies of progress reports distributed to scholars this past Friday along with individual emails from every teacher. We also put together a mass mailing that included progress reports, Fall NWEA MAP Assessment results, NWEA New Norms, Qmlativ Family Access support and more.The student progress report (Grade and Attendance Analysis) will indicate the current earned grades and attendance as of 9/30/25. Families will see classes/ courses listed without grades. In most cases, these are trimester two and three Encore courses listed without grades since they are future courses, along with lunch listed without a grade since this is scheduled for all of our Mustangs. Families will only see attendance if a student has been absent from school.
Retakes will be available for scholars in the Summative Assessment category (70%). Retake procedures for the Summative Assessment category include:
Students will complete a reflection form, which will include the corrected test.
Students are to ensure all classwork/homework/independent work for that unit is completed before the retake date.
Retake dates will be established within 10 days of the graded assessment.
Retakes will not be allowed once the trimester has completed.
Retakes will not be completed during regular instructional time.
It is great to see so many scholars taking advantage of the opportunity to come in early or stay after school for additional time and support with academics. Please remind our scholars that this time should not be treated as a social opportunity and our school expectations of being safe, responsible and respectful should be maintained at all times. We appreciate everyone's support and partnership. Parents can check out the available times for each grade level on the student portal page!
As we continue to partner 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, we kindly remind families to bring a valid driver’s license or photo ID when picking up a student during the school day. For everyone’s safety, visitors are not permitted to leave the main office without a staff escort. Additionally, all students, staff, and guests are expected to wear their designated ID badges at all times while on campus.
Beginning October 20th, 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. We truly appreciate your partnership in supporting these safety measures that keep our community secure and connected.
We’ve also completed our first fire, severe weather, and lockdown drills of the school year. Please take a moment to talk with your scholars about the importance of these drills and how they help us all stay prepared in the event of an emergency.
Together, we’re building a safe and caring environment where everyone can thrive.
As technology continues to play a central role in students’ daily lives, we encourage families to stay actively involved in monitoring phone and device use. Recent research highlights the impact of excessive screen time and social media use on adolescents’ social and emotional health. Studies show that high daily screen time is associated with increased symptoms of anxiety and depression, disrupted sleep, and challenges with peer relationships.
We recognize that challenges arising from online interactions don’t always stay “outside school hours.” Incidents that occur on social media or other platforms can extend into the school day, affecting students’ focus, emotional well-being, and relationships with peers. This makes the partnership between families and the school essential—working together to set boundaries, foster open communication, and support healthy digital habits helps ensure that all of our scholars feel safe, connected, and ready to learn.
Thank you for partnering with us to support the well-being and safety of every student.
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!
Thank you to our PTSA Board members, families and scholars for joining us last night for a wonderfully informative first meeting of the year.
Membership(Click Here) is $7.00 per student and $10.00 per adult
PTSA Meetings are at 6:00pm monthly
- PTSA Meeting- November 10, 2025 at 6:00pm
- Reach out to Delecta Harris, our PTSA President for more information (olhmsd123ptsa@gmail.com)
- PTSA Facebook
Mrs. Field's Fundraiser 9/30 - 10/14
S&T Pizza Kit Fundraiser 10/7- 11/17
S&T Pizza Kit Fundraiser 10/7- 11/17
We want to remind families that OLHMS does not allow student lunch deliveries from outside services (such as DoorDash, Uber Eats, or other vendors). This practice minimizes disruptions and contributes to a safe and structured lunch experience for all students. On the note of lunches, if a student receives a lunch detention, a brown bagged lunch will be delivered to the student. Students are always welcome to bring their own lunch.
We’re glad to see our scholars taking pride in their hygiene and personal care! However, the use of cologne and perfume has become overwhelming at times and is occasionally being applied inappropriately during the school day. To ensure a comfortable learning environment for everyone, we kindly ask that students leave their scented products at home.
Please take a moment to discuss with your child the proper use and appropriate amounts of fragrance. While we appreciate the effort to smell nice, excessive scents can be distracting and overpowering in shared spaces. Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a pleasant and respectful atmosphere for all!
Mandatory deadline for students to submit required medical and immunization forms
Health Examination and Immunization Requirements (October 15th)
There are specific requirements for students entering preschool, kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade, as well as for all new students. Visit our Health Forms & Guidelines page for more information. Please note that these vaccinations and/or health examinations are required by state law.
- All incoming 6th Graders must have a physical and dental report on file.
- All 6th, 7th and 8th Graders interested in sports will need a sports physical to try out for teams.
Student Device Repair Program:
Your student's device is protected against accidental damage, theft, fire, flood, natural disasters, power surge and vandalism. If your child’s device needs repair, below are the costs associated with each incident during a school year:
1st incident - No Charge (one-time fee waiver)
2nd incident - $25.00
3rd incident - $50.00
10/9: PAC Meeting, PTSA Open Gym
10/10: Fall Picture Retakes, D123 Ed FoundationRetiree Luncheon
10/13: Unity Week, No School
10/15: Unity Day
10/16: OLHMS Music Booster Fundraiser- Panda Express
10/16 & 10/17 : Family Conferences
10/18: 6K Walk for Literacy
10/21: D123 Parent University: Supporting Your Middle School Student's Math Journey
10/23: High School Fair
10/28: Annual First Responders Meeting
11/7: Veteran’s Day Assembly
11/15: D123 Leaf Raking
12/13: Feed Six
Oak Lawn Community High School
Richards would like to invite our incoming 8th graders to the fall play free of charge!
The Richards High School Drama Department presents Midsummer Night’s Dream on Wednesday, October 8, Friday, October 10, and Saturday, October 11 at 7:00 pm nightly in the Performing Arts Center. Tickets cost $10 per person and can be purchased online.
We would like to invite all incoming freshmen to attend FREE of charge! Enter code: Feeder25 upon checkout to receive a free ticket!
Chicago Christian High School Showcase
Sunday, October 19, 2025 | 1:45–4:00 PM
At Chicago Christian High School (12001 S. Oak Park Ave, Palos Heights, IL)
Upcoming Events:
6th-8th Grade Girls
Thursday, October 9 from 3:30-5:30pm
Shadow at McAuley!
6th-8th Grade Girls
Every day at McAuley is a shadow day!
We are excited to announce a new Scholarship Opportunity for our entrance exam. The top two scorers will receive full tuition for all four years, while the next two will receive a 75% scholarship, and an additional two will receive a 50% scholarship.
Click the link below to schedule your son’s Shadow Day and see firsthand what makes Mount Carmel a place where young men thrive. Register Here
