The Jayhawk Weekly

Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,

Our celebration of Black History Month culminated yesterday! Our student performers and presenters dazzled our crowd with their demonstration of spoken word, poetry, and music. We also had the pleasure of learning about African music and dance from Felix D-Kat and friends. It was an incredible afternoon celebrating the varied, vast, and essential contributions of Black Americans. Please see some pictures from the event below. We also had an amazing showing for our Sneaker Ball on Friday! A huge and special thank you to our PTO Board and planning committee for all the work they did to make this event such a success!

We are still in need of Career Exploration Day volunteers for the spring. If you would like to recommend a friend or colleague, please have them sign up (the QR code is CED section of this newsletter). Our students enjoy this event every year, so we appreciate any help in making this a robust experience.

8th-grade Nashville trip parents, please turn in all forms and the meds this week. Ms. Jackson will contact families who have not submitted the required documentation, as the deadline is on Friday.

Thank you to the 17% of parents who have already completed our 5 Essentials Survey. The survey closes March 13th, so if you haven't completed it, please consider clicking the link now.

Jayhawks together,

Nick Filipowski, Principal

Adrienne Court, Associate Principal

DaWanda Fountain-Dotson, Associate Principal

Associate Principal Adrienne Court has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer since November 2025. Having just concluded radiation, the final step of her treatment is surgery on Monday, March 9 2026. Recovery is estimated to be about a month, and Ms. Court looks forward to reconnecting with our students, staff, and families when we return after Spring Break.

Ms. Court has continued to work closely with Principal Filipowski, AP Dotson, and Dr. De Leon to ensure Julian remains fully supported during her time away. Ms. Rita Sparks will also be supporting Julian while Ms. Court recovers. We have aligned plans to maintain continuity for students and staff. If you need any support during her absence, please reach out to the remainder of our administrative team (nfilipowski@op97.org, dfountain@op97.org).

PLEASE TAKE A QUICK MOMENT TO COMPLETE THIS SHORT SURVEY!

http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

Our 5 Essentials Survey is now open for you to participate! Your voice matters, and we want to hear from you! In order for this to be reported on the state's school report card, we need a parent participation rate of 20% (we would love 100%, though)! Last week, our participation rate only reached 17%. Please click the link and take a few minutes to complete this important feedback and help us reach this important goal:

http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/

We are excited to share that the Kickin’ It Sneaker Ball was a tremendous success! It was wonderful to see nearly 500 Julian Middle School students come together to enjoy an evening of music, dancing, and fun. Bringing back the feel of a classic middle school dance created an energetic and welcoming atmosphere that our students clearly enjoyed.

From the packed dance floor to the serene laughter in the chill-out zone, the night was filled with great moments. The snacks were a huge hit, and many students appreciated having the chill-out area available to take a break, relax, and spend time with friends before heading back to the dance floor.

As a community, we embraced the fundraiser idea of this event and raised $650 to stock the shelves of the school store! Students will now have an even more exciting assortment of options to purchase with those earned Jaybucks.

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

A special thank you to all of 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. Your support makes events like this possible for our students.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to the Julian Middle School staff and employees who helped us prepare for the event and who spent their evening chaperoning alongside our parent volunteers. Your support, guidance, and presence helped create a safe and fun environment for everyone. The custodial staff was instrumental in making sure we were ready to open the doors at 6PM, and helped tidy the school to get it ready for the next event!

Thank you again to everyone who contributed in big and small ways. Your time, energy, and generosity helped make this event memorable for our students. 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!

-Michele Jurewicz, Jennifer Roman, Jennifer Bulls, Nichole Oswald, and the Julian PTO Board

Yesterday, our community gathered for our culminating Black History Month celebration. Students from our Black Student Union shared poetry, history, and musical performances. We were also joined by a group of drummers and dancers who taught us about the instruments and language of African music and dance. Finally, we shared a wonderful meal together. A special thank you to Ms. Dotson, Ms. Shaw, Ms. Jackson, and our PTO for all they did to make this spectacular event possible! A HUGE round of applause to all our student performers who demonstrated black excellence at its finest!

• 🤠🎸LAST CALL...
• *STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THEIR REQUIRED FORMS ON FILE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO BOARD THE BUS TO NASHVILLE.***

1 - We need all medical authorization forms and copies of the health insurance card (FRONT AND BACK), no later than Tuesday, March 10th.

**REMEMBER - Friday's deadline has passed. Please with the school nurse or Ms. Jackson if you have any missing documentation or have not yet delivered the meds your child needs to take on the trip.**

A message from the Health Office...

~All medications must be brought to the health office by the parent/guardian in the original pharmacy prescription labeled container or a sealed as purchased (non-expired and unopened)
for over-the counter medications. If your child does not take meds, then simply turn in a copy (front and back) of the health insurance card.

"Medication authorization forms are required for any student that must take daily prescription or over the counter medications. PLEASE NOTE: a Physician/medical provider must complete and sign form for all prescriptions and Over the counter medications (this includes vitamins/supplements, cough drops, Tylenol and/or Motrin, etc.) AND a parent/guardian's signature is required at the bottom of the medical authorization form. Please turn in the medications to the Julian health office with signed form between 8:45am - 3:45pm no later March 10th.

2 -*PLEASE NOTE: STUDENTS WHO DO NOT HAVE THEIR REQUIRED FORMS ON FILE WILL NOT BE PERMITTED TO BOARD THE BUS TO NASHVILLE. This paperwork is not optional.

NASHVILLE TRIP PARENTS: Here is the checklist (Click the pdf buttons below for the REQUIRED WorldStrides forms, and be sure to complete the permissions slip google form (submit no later than Tuesday, March 10th):

• A copy of your health insurance card (front and back of the card) REQUIRED for all students
• WorldStrides Emergency Medical Form (REQUIRED FOR ALL STUDENTS)
• WorldStrides Code of Conduct Form (Student and Parent/Guardian must sign)
• Fill out the District 97 Permission Slip (complete on or before March 6th)

*Email your completed forms to ejackson@op97.org or drop the required Nashville trip paperwork and medication in person.

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:

• Single subject acceleration

• Whole grade acceleration

The acceleration application windows opened on March 2 and will be open through April 24.
Applications and information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration.

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/ISA will be administered to Julian Middle School students between April 7th and 30th:

ELA - April 7th & 8th (Makeups April 9th & 10th)

Math - April 13th, 14th, & 15th (Makeups April 16th & 17th)

ISA (8th grade only) - April 23rd, 24th, & 27th (Makeups April 28th, 29th, & 30th)

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

Cada primavera, todos los estudiantes del Distrito 97 en los grados 3 a 8 toman las evaluaciones requeridas a nivel federal para ayudarnos a comprender cómo están creciendo académicamente. Desde 2019, el estado ha utilizado la Evaluación de Preparación de Illinois (IAR) para evaluar el conocimiento y las habilidades de los estudiantes en Artes del Lenguaje Inglés (ELA) y Matemáticas, así como su progreso hacia la meta a largo plazo de preparación universitaria y profesional. Los estudiantes de 5º y 8º grado también tomarán la Evaluación de Ciencias de Illinois (ISA).

Este año, el IAR/ISA se administrará a los estudiantes de Julian Middle School entre el 7 y el 30 de abril.

ELA - 7 & 8 de abril (recuperación 9 & 10 de abril)

Matemáticas- 13, 14, & 15 de abril (recuperación 16 & 17 de abril)

ISA (solamente grado 8) - 23, 24, & 27 de abril (recuperación 28, 29, & 30 de abril)

¡Consulte nuestro documento “5 cosas que debe saber sobre IAR” para obtener más información sobre la evaluación de este año!

School office hours are 8:00am - 4:00pm. Please note the office will be closing promptly on 4pm on Monday, March 16th. And on Tuesday, March 17th, the school office will be closed due to the teacher/staff Institute Day. THERE IS NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS ON 3/17. The school will not be open for students to pick up lost or forgotten belongings, instruments, chromebooks, etc. on 3/17.

District 97 families of current 5th grade students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) are invited to join us for a virtual 5th to 6th Grade Transition Night focused on preparing for the move to middle school.

This informational session is designed to provide clarity, ease anxiety, and help families feel confident and prepared for this exciting transition within District 97.

Details

• Date: Thursday, March 19

• Virtual Event Zoom Link: https://op97-org.zoom.us/j/82620350649?pwd=HoCCC4MupNMLTkdp90FOJCnDB26LWf.1&jst=2

• Time: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

• What to Expect:
  Middle School Scheduling
  How schedules are built and what a typical day looks like.
  Teaming Structure
  How teachers work together to support students.
  IEP Services in Middle School
  How supports are delivered in a new setting.
  Tips for a Successful Transition
  Practical strategies to help students feel confident and learn about Middle School Connections.
  
  Q&A
  Time will be provided to meet members of the middle school team and get answers in real time.

****ATTENTION ALL CURRENT 6th & 7th GRADE FAMILIES:

Online registration for the 2026-27 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 Jan. 28, 2026, through April 30, 2026. 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 OnFlo/Let’s Talk. We look forward to supporting you through this process!

Greetings,

We have upcoming childcare opportunities available to families during Spring Break and throughout the summer. Thanks to recent grant funding through the YMCA of the USA (YUSA), we are able to provide additional financial assistance scholarships to families who may find support helpful when wanting to provide access for their young people at our Y programs.

We have programs such as Summer Day Camp and School's Out Sessions for child(ren) in a safe, supportive, and hands-on learning environment during days out of school. Our programs are designed to promote youth development, build confidence, encourage friendships, and provide engaging enrichment experiences that keep kids active and connected.

We also want to take this opportunity to help remind everyone that scholarships are always available for youth, individuals, and families. We are here to provide pathways to participation, and we are always committed to working with families to ensure every child has access to high-quality childcare and camp experiences.

Please find the registration and scholarship information below:

School’s Out Specials Registration:
https://pci.jotform.com/form/251504991287161

Adventure Camp Registration:
https://form.jotform.com/260226321818149

Youth Development Scholarship Application:
https://form.jotform.com/260494406773160

If you have any questions, please reach out. We truly appreciate your support in helping us ensure all children have access to safe, enriching opportunities.

Kind regards,
Kali

--

Kali Hottenroth

Associate Director

Youth Development Programming & Services

West Cook YMCA | 255 S. Marion St. Oak Park, IL 60302

P 708.434.0230 | E khottenroth@westcookymca.org

www.westcookymca.org | We're on IG!

Believe in our work? Please invest in us:

www.westcookymca.org/donate-now

For a Better Us®

The registration for spring session of Girls4science has begun. It’s a program that focuses on STEM. There will be class projects and two (2) class outings. A module is six (6) weeks long. They have had Boeing, Com-Ed, and other guests visit and donate to the program. This winter session was for the “S” in stem and it focused on Marine Biology. We visited the big aquarium downtown and the Peggy Notebaert Museum. This session will focus on Technology. Girls 10 - 18 can participate. For more information, each participant’s parent should to the Girls4Science.org website:

1. Tap on Programs and Registration tab

2. Then the registration tab

3. A registration form will appear

4. Fill the form out completely, selecting “Malcolm X College” as your desired location.

The program is totally free. The last day to register for this spring session is March 25, 2026.

The District 97 Middle School Art Department is excited to announce that we will be holding our annual Art Exhibition at Oak Park & River Forest High School. The opening reception will occur on Wednesday March 11th from 6:00-7:30pm.

Come celebrate with family and Friends!

View Artwork from both District 97 Middle Schools, participate in student-led tours of the OPRF Art Department, and write fan-mail to your classmates.

Students whose artwork will be on display will be notified via postcard by their respective art teacher.

Please use the attached sign-up genius if you're interested in donating refreshments for the event:

2026 District 97 Middle School Art Show - Refreshment Sign-up

This spring, the D97 Career Exploration Committee will host Career Exploration Days (CEDs) at our middle schools, giving students the chance to learn about a wide range of career paths directly from parent and community volunteers.

📍 Event Dates & Locations

• Julian Middle School – Wednesday, April 22, 2026 | 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School – Thursday, April 23, 2026 | 12 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Volunteers will share their career journeys through a 35-minute interactive session, helping students explore new interests and imagine future possibilities.

👉 Interested in volunteering?

Sign up and read more details here.

As a reminder, if your child will participate in Ultimate Frisbee, Basketball, Volleyball, Cheer, Cross Country or Track: On the health form the interscholastic box “yes” must be checked in order for your child to be eligible to try out or participate in any interscholastic activity.

SPORTS PHYSICALS –

Please remember that EVERY student needs to have a current sports physical in order to participate in athletics at Julian.

• Sixth graders can have a separate sports physical or the school physical with the sports box checked by their doctor.
• Seventh and eighth graders are required to have a separate sports physical every year (physicals expire after 13 months, 395 days after the date of the physical). If these requirements for physicals are not met, they cannot try out for the team. Please provide two copies of the physical prior to the tryouts/practices for your sport. You can either give it directly to your coach or the school office.

To access student health forms please visit http://www.op97.org/hr/health-requirements

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, supplements, 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. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Health Office at juliannurse@op97.org.

School policy (and state public health guidelines) requires a child stay home if he or she:

• Has a fever of 100.0 degrees or higher
• Has been vomiting or has diarrhea
• Has symptoms that keep him or her from participating in school, such as:
  • Very tired or lack of appetite
  • Cough that he or she cannot control, sneezing often
  • 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.

It is good practice to keep your child home until:

• His or her fever has been gone for 24 hours without medicine. Many illnesses can be contagious for at least 48 hours. Returning to school too soon may slow recovery or allow them to be exposed to other germs while they are still getting better. Sending your sick child back too soon exposes other people unnecessarily to illness.
• 24 hours after last vomiting or diarrhea episode.
• Rashes have been identified and diagnosed. Since a rash is a hallmark symptom of many infectious diseases, it is important to identify the cause of a rash. Parents/guardians of children with a rash of unexplained origin will be asked to consult with a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
• Fevers and/or the thick and discolored nasal discharge associated with runny noses have passed. If a runny nose is your child’s only symptom it is ok to send him or her to school.
• Pink eye has been treated with medication for 24 hours.

Bring your child to school if:

• It is wet or cold outside. Children do not play outside if the weather is hazardous.
• Your child has overslept. “Better late than never.”
• Your child is complaining of not feeling well but has no definite symptoms. The school nurse will call you if something more develops.

Please refer to our Health Services page for District 97 health guidance, policies, forms, etc.

Julian Health Office Staff

Percy Julian Middle School

juliannurse@op97.org

phone: (708) 524-7648

All Julian students who wish to attend basketball and volleyball games must wear their school issued student ID. We do not allow OPRFHS, Fenwick or Brooks students to attend games without parental or adult supervision. Students will not be able to enter the gym early on game days. Students should eat their afternoon snacks before entering the building (doors will not open until 4:15 p.m. on game days). Only water is allowed inside the main gym.

Here are the game day expectations to discuss with your Julian student:

• 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 bringing snacks and beverages into the school on game days.

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

If you are unable to make it in person, you can watch on livestream from this public link via Hudl.

FOOD DELIVERY POLICY

1. If a parent or guardian needs to drop off a forgotten lunch bag, it will be placed on the grade level shelf in the school office for the student. We ask that you please label the outside of the bag/container with your student's full name and grade level.
2. ***DISTRICT 97 EMPLOYEES WILL NOT SIGN FOR OR ACCEPT FOOD OR BEVERAGE DELIVERIES FROM RESTAURANT DELIVERY DRIVERS ON BEHALF OF STUDENTS.***Julian students, parents and guardians should NOT have food delivered to the school through any food delivery service (i.e. DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, Postmates, etc).
3. Food and Beverage deliveries will not be accepted during the school day. Students that order lunch for themselves will have to wait until 3:30pm to pick it up. Cold and hot lunches are always available in the school lunchroom during grade level lunch periods for any student that forgets to bring a lunch to school.

Please be sure to review this food delivery policy with your Julian student.

LUNCH

Hot lunch (and cold lunch such as a sandwich or salad) 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 Julian Lunchroom Manager, Ms. Cornelia Mack at cmack@op97.org. To make payments on student lunch accounts please visit, https://www.mymealtime.com/signin.aspx

As we begin Trimester 2, please be sure your child is aware of the Julian 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:

1) The student will drop off the cell phone in the school office at the start of the school day and pick it up at the end of the school day.

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.

2nd Wednesday of the month: Exec Committee @ 6:30 pm, Open Meeting @ 7 pm in the Library Media Center in-person or join online:

March 11, 2026

April 8, 2026

May 13, 2026

PTO Julian Middle School is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89578210054?pwd=z3zBaWFUbMcnvtpcaPMafbwU46nwel.1

Meeting ID: 895 7821 0054 Passcode: 455571

IMPORTANT NOTE: Only SCHOOL ISSUED LOCKS are allowed to be used on the lockers. Due to safety concerns, no student can use a lock that is not issued by the school on their locker.

If you need an alternate lock, please reach out to your 504 or IEP Case Manager. They will ensure the accommodation is listed on the plan and provide an alternate lock.

If you have already put a different lock on your locker, please replace it with the school-issued lock as soon as possible. If you have lost your school-issued lock, a replacement must be purchased for $5.

If you are having issues with your locker, please complete the Locker Challenge Form. There are signs at the end of each locker bay with the link to this form as well.

THE ONLINE OPTION IS NOW AVAILABLE!

The annual school fee of $225.00 can be now be paid on the Julian webstore. You may pay fees in person at the Julian school office during the school day between the hours of 8:00 AM and 3:00 PM. We accept only cash (exact change please) and checks (made payable to District 97) at the school office. All debit/credit card payments must be made online.

• 8th Grade Class Trip to Nashville: Sat., Mar 14th - Mon., Mar 16th

• Institute Day/Election Day: Tuesday, March 17th (NO SCHOOL for students)
• Trimester 2 Report Card Day: Friday, March 20th
Spring Break: Mon., Mar 30th - Fri., Apr 3rd (NO SCHOOL)
• 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony: Monday, June 1st
• Last Day of School: Tuesday, June 2nd

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 - Becca Murray (rmurray@op97.org)

• 7th Grade - Kasey Fleming (kfleming@op97.org)

• 8th Grade - Sergio Torres (storres@op97.org)

416 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian