The Jayhawk Weekly

Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,

As mentioned previously, our students will take the IAR assessment this week. Please join us in reminding your child of the importance of doing their best. A few ways you can help include:

We are again asking for your help in following some important safety measures. Please refrain from double parking or creating your own parking space when the front staff lot is full. On Friday, we had an ambulance here because an epi-pen had been administered. When responding to an emergency call, our first responders should not have to worry about how they are going to safely get out of the parking lot with their patient. If the driveway is clear, then they will not have to spend time trying to maneuver their ambulance to avoid hitting double-parked cars. We also want to take this time to remind everyone that all District 97 schools are nut-free. Please avoid sending any snacks or lunch items that contain nuts to school with your child. Our nut-free policy has been in the newsletter for several weeks as a reminder. Thank you for your help and attention to these safety matters.

Also don't forget, if you have a current 6th or 7th grader, please register them this week for the 2025-26 school year: https://www.op97.org/hr/returning-student-registration. Thank you so much for your help in ensuring that we can continue to plan and improve our school!

As always, if you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please don’t hesitate to contact our team (emails below). Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students' growth and success.

Jayhawks together,

Nick Filipowski

Principal, Percy Julian M.S.

• Safety Drills: Thursday, April 17th (no early dismissals after 2:30pm)
• District closed: Friday, April 18th (NO SCHOOL)
• 8th Grade Dance: Saturday, May 17th

• 8th Grade Class Trip: Sunday, May 25 - Tuesday, May 27th
• Memorial Day: Monday, May 26th (NO SCHOOL)

• 8th Grade Graduation: Tuesday, June 3rd (6:30pm @ OPRFHS)
• Last Day of School: Wednesday, June 4th (Trimester 3 Report Card Day)

Each Spring, all District 97 students in Grades 3 to 8 take federally-required assessments to help us understand how they are growing academically. Since 2019, the state has utilized the Illinois Assessment of Readiness (IAR) to assess students’ knowledge and skills in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics, as well as their progress toward the long-term goal of college and career readiness. Students in grades 5 and 8 will be taking the Illinois Science Assessment (ISA) as well.

This year, the IAR will be administered to Julian students between April 7th and 11th. 8th grade students will complete the ISA on April 22nd and 23rd. Here is a link to the bell schedule for the testing days.

Check out our “5 Things to Know About IAR” document to learn more about this year’s assessment!

On April 11th, we celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Percy L. Julian. Percy Lavon Julian (4/11/1899 - 4/19/1975) was a trailblazer in the scientific field, as well as a wonderful community activist when he and his family lived in Oak Park. Dr. Julian is perhaps best known as an American research chemist, who was a pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants. Our school is proud to be named after such an innovator and entrepreneur. Happy birthday, Dr. Julian!

43 seventh graders are participating in the 12 in 12 Reading Challenge! They've committed to reading 12 books (or a similarly lofty goal) throughout the last 12 weeks of school. They are off to a spectacular start!

We shared, learned about, and celebrated Best Buddies by building relationships and learning about disabilities. Look for our bulletin board outside the auditorium for our work & what we learned!

Please make sure that you note the following dates and times for modified school office hours:

4/17 - due to safety drills, the office will be closed between 2:45pm - 3:15pm (all early dismissals must be done prior to 2:30pm on Thursday, April 17th, so please plan accordingly)

4/17 - the office will close at 4pm and re-open again on Monday, 4/21 at 8:00am (there is no school on Friday, April 18th)

5/9 - the office will open at 8:30am due to a staff event so please plan accordingly

6/3 & 6/4 - the office will close at 4pm for graduation ceremony prep and on the last day of school

And remember, the library media center is always closed on Wednesday mornings before school due to staff professional development meetings. Thank you.

We will have the final parent meeting on Tuesday, April 29th at 6:00pm in the commons. WorldStrides will have a finalized itinerary and helpful packing tips regarding the trip. If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jackson.

GREAT AMERICA SUPER MEGA DEAL IS ONLY $100!

We are pleased to announce that we are offering a super mega deal for the 8th Grade Celebration field trip. We will go to Six Flags Great America on Monday, June 2 from 9:30am - 6:30pm. For only $100, students will get admission to Great America amusement park in Gurnee, transportation to and from the park, lunch, a snack, and a refillable beverage cup...plus a Class of 2025 t-shirt!

• All payments are due by April 25th (PLEASE NOTE: we will NOT extend the payment deadline because Great America must be paid in full prior to the trip and we must have our final t-shirt order submitted by April 28th). Therefore, no refunds will be issued because each vendor must be paid in advance, prior to the field trip.
• If you own a season pass to Six Flags Great America, the cost of the trip is $60 (you will receive the Class of 2025 t-shirt, transportation, lunch, snack and refillable beverage cup). **On June 2nd, if your student does not bring the season pass, they will need to pay full price admission at the gate or a parent/guardian will need to pick them up from the amusement park.
• If your student will not attend the field trip, but would like to order a Class of 2025 t-shirt, the cost will be $15.

**The online payment option will be available on Wednesday, April 9th.

We encourage parents/guardians & students to read the INFORMATION SHEET first before making the payment. Any students who do not abide by the rules of the park will be asked to leave the amusement park. And parents/guardians will be responsible for their departure and transportation home. No refunds will be granted for any student that is asked to leave the amusement park for any reason.

To make your online payment for the Mega Deal or the Season Pass Deal, parents/guardians will be able to pay the $100 or $60 via the Julian webstore (we will send a separate email when the vendor has the payment option available on 4/9). And to complete the Permission Slip for Six Flags Great America, please click here now. If you have questions, contact Ms. Jackson at ejackson@op97.org.

Please let your family and friends know that the graduation ceremony for Julian will be held on Tuesday, June 3rd at 6:30pm in Oak Park and River Forest High School's auditorium:

• Each Julian student that is graduating will receive 4 tickets for the ceremony.
• The school does not have a ticket wait list or ticket exchange.
• Every person over the age of 2 years old must have a ticket to obtain entry to the OPRFHS auditorium.
• A live stream of the ceremony will be available for those that do not have tickets and/or can not attend in-person.

More details regarding the graduation ceremony will be shared after spring break.

All District 97 families are invited to join Dr. Greg Johnson, superintendent of Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200, on Wednesday, April 9, for updates and the opportunity to ask questions about school performance, curriculum detracking, Advanced Placement enrollments and test scores, facilities improvements, sustainability initiatives, and more. The event will take place in the Julian Middle School Auditorium at 6:30 p.m.

SAFETY DRILLS:

In an effort to keep safety top of mind for all students and staff, we will run two safety drills on the afternoon of April 17st. PLEASE NOTE: Anyone in the building, adults and students, guests and visitors, will participate in the safety drill if they are inside of the school at the time of the safety drills. The front entrance will be locked (from approximately 2:45pm - 3:15pm on 4/17) until the tornado and fire safety drills are completed. Please plan accordingly.

EARLY DISMISSALS:

If you are starting the weekend early (there is NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, APRIL 18) for any reason (your family has a flight to catch, child has an appointment, etc.), please pick up your child before 2:30pm on 4/17. The safety drills will take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. And everyone inside of the school must take part in the safety drills. Therefore, if you plan to pick up your child before the normal dismissal time, we ask that you schedule your early dismissal before 2:30pm on Thursday, April 17th. Students will be completing the safety drills between 2:45pm - 3:15pm, and the office staff will not be able to get your child for an early dismissal, as they are also going to be participating in the safety drills. We strongly encourage you to plan ahead, call the school office before 2:30pm, or 10 minutes prior to your desired pick up time if you already have a doctor's or dental appointment scheduled (so that your child can be called to the school office prior to 2:30pm and before the safety drills begin). Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

If your child has an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), we highly encourage you to take the ISBE SPP Indicator 8 Survey to help guide our parent engagement efforts and provide the best possible service to our students.

Your responses through the survey play a vital role in shaping future initiatives and strengthening family-school partnerships in special education.

The survey can be completed by mail or online using the unique seven-digit survey ID enclosed in a recent letter from Measurement Inc. If you did not receive a letter from Measurement Inc., or need your seven-digit survey ID, you may request it online here.

For assistance in English or Spanish, contact Measurement Inc. at ISBEParentSurvey@MeasInc.com or (877) 881-7077. You can also reach District 97 Senior Director of Student Services Donna Middleton at dmiddleton@op97.org.

The survey is open through June 30, 2025. We value your input and thank you for your participation!

District 97 is excited to announce updates on the middle school schedule redesign, set to be implemented during the 2025-26 school year. Aligned with best practices and guided by student, staff and family feedback, the new schedule reflects our commitment to fostering engaging, equitable, and empowering learning environments at Brooks and Julian middle schools.

• Increased Instructional Time for Core Subjects: English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, Science, and Social Science will each receive an additional hour of instructional time per week by shifting from an A/B rotation to daily instruction.
  
  

• Expanded Elective Opportunities: Students will now have access to a wider array of electives, including year-long and trimester-based courses, with options such as world language, band, art, design, and speech/drama/debate.
  
  

• Lunch, Enrichment and Social Time Enhancements: Lunch periods will be paired with “What I Need” (WIN), a dedicated block of time designed to support students' individual needs through targeted enrichment and intervention opportunities. This update replaces the previous SOAR model. Additionally, structured social time will be consistent across both middle schools, providing students with opportunities to connect and recharge during the school day.
  
  

• Unified Schedule Across Schools: Both middle schools will adopt the same bell schedule and course offerings, promoting equity and enhancing collaboration among staff.
  
  

• Focus on Supportive Transitions: The new schedule will provide smoother transitions for students entering middle school and preparing for high school.

As the middle school teams prepare to implement the new schedule, families should expect the following:

• April 2025 - Communication/Course Selection: Middle school families will receive information from schools regarding the course selection process, which will take place next month.
  
  

• Spring/Summer 2025 - Schedule Orientation for Students and Families: Middle schools will hold sessions for families and students to learn more about the new master schedule. Be on the lookout for future communication!
  
  

• August 2025 - Welcome Back/Middle School Connection: Both schools will hold welcome back events to kick off the new school year, and Middle School Connection will again be held for rising sixth-graders Aug. 12-14.

The redesigned middle school schedule reflects a collaborative effort shaped by input from students, families, and staff, ensuring it meets the diverse needs of our community. We are deeply grateful for the months of thoughtful partnership and engagement that brought us to this point. If you have any questions, please reach out to our team using Let’s Talk.

Online registration for the 2025-26 school year in District 97 is now open for all students. Complete details about the process—including residency documents, timelines and other helpful resources—are available on the district website: www.op97.org/registration.

Returning Students

Registration for returning District 97 students is open Feb. 26 through April 30, 2025. Complete details can be found at https://www.op97.org/hr/returning-student-registration.

New Students and Kindergarteners

Registration for kindergarten and new students opened Feb. 19. Please click the links below to learn more about the registration process for kindergarteners and new students.

• Kindergarten Registration

• New Students

Get Ready to Register

Visit our District 97 Registration page for everything you need to know about the process, including residency documents, timelines, and helpful resources.

Need Help? Our registration team is here for you! Reach out anytime through Let’s Talk. We look forward to supporting you through this process!

District 97's Single Subject and Whole Grade Level Acceleration process for students for the 2024-25 school year opened on March 1st!

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

The application/referral windows are:

• March 1 through April 25 for acceleration

Information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration.

The Park District of Oak Park, Oak Park Public Library, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and Oak Park and River Forest High School District 200 are excited to host a Multicultural Fest on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Scoville Park. This event will celebrate and showcase the incredible diversity that makes Oak Park such a vibrant community.

We’re looking for organizations to join the celebration by hosting a table, organizing activities that highlight a specific culture or region, performing on stage, or leading an art workshop. If your organization represents a culture and would like to participate, please complete our interest form. We’ll be in touch with more details in early 2025!

Parents & Guardians,

We kindly ask that you refrain from parking outside of the painted lines of the parking spaces in the Julian staff lot. If there are no spaces available and the parking lot is full, please do not park outside of the lines or in the driveway. Just before spring break, one of the transport vans for our elderly lunchroom workers was unable to get out of the parking lot because vehicles were blocking the driveway. It was an unfortunate situation that took nearly a half hour to resolve.

If the front staff parking lot is full, please find a parking space along Ridgeland, Cuyler or Randolph. If these areas are blocked by double-parked or illegally parked cars, there is a great safety issue if an ambulance or emergency response vehicle cannot navigate our parking lot. Thank you for your understanding and your cooperation.

Health Reminders

We are so happy when your child can be at school on time and well enough for learning. However, keeping your child home when sick is essential to keep illness out of our schools and prevent spread to others.

*Families must report any absences due to illness or for any other reasons by calling or emailing the school attendance line (708-665-3064 or julianinfo@op97.org).

Please keep your child home if they are exhibiting signs of illness:

• Temperature of 100.0 degrees F° (37 C°)
• Your child should be fever free without medication for 24 hours before returning to school.
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Your child must stay home for a full 24 hours after their last episode of vomiting/diarrhea before returning to school
• Strep throat:
• Your child must be on an antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school and fever free for 24 hours without medication if a fever is present.
• Swollen, red eyes that itch and are draining (possible pink-eye)
• Your child must be on an antibiotic for 24 hours before returning to school for bacterial conjunctivitis and drainage free and/or a note from the doctor.
• Uncontrolled coughing or constant “runny” nose – especially with yellow or green mucus
• However, for a mild runny/stuffy nose and mild cough it is alright to send your child to school.
• An unusual rash, a blistery rash, or a rash associated with a fever
• Your child should remain at home until you have discussed the rash with your physician and your child is not contagious (a note from your doctor may be required)
• COVID? Please see and follow the info in the link: https://www.op97.org/health-services/covid-19-guidelines
• Has symptoms that prevent them from learning:
• Very tired or lack of appetite
• Headache, body aches or earache
• Sore Throat—a minor sore throat is ok for school, but a severe sore throat could be strep throat, even if there is no fever. Other symptoms of strep throat in children are headache, stomach upset, or rash. Call your doctor if your child has these symptoms.

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.

FOOD DELIVERY POLICY

***District 97 employees will not sign for food deliveries for students.*** Julian students or parents/guardians should NOT have food delivered to the school through any food delivery service (i.e. DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, etc). Food deliveries will not be accepted during the school day. Please plan to pack a lunch or purchase a school lunch each day.***

LUNCH

Hot lunch is available to students who wish to participate and have a funded or approved lunch account. If you have questions regarding your student's lunch balance, you may contact the Lunchroom Manager, Ms. Venus Jones at vjones@op97.org. To make payments on student lunch accounts please visit, https://www.mymealtime.com/signin.aspx

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.

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, 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

• Please call the attendance line at 708-665-3064 to leave a voicemail regarding your child's absence.
• Email julianinfo@op97.org if you have any questions for the school office.
• Dial 708-524-3040 to reach the Julian school office. And remember, if you plan to get your child for an early dismissal, give the school office a call 10-15 minutes prior to your arrival. This will give them time to locate your student and for your student to gather their belongings. Please, whenever possible, have your pick up done prior to 3:00 pm. Thank you for your understanding.

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian