The Jayhawk Weekly

Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,

The IAR assessment testing went well last week. We are proud of Jayhawks that came to school on-time, prepared with charged chromebooks and ready each day! Next week, our 8th graders will be take the ISA (see the section below for reminders). Thank you for partnering with us on these important State Assessments!

Please be sure that you are sharing the lunch policy with your child. All snacks and lunches must be nut free/nut safe. For the safety of their friends with allergies and food sensitivities, they should not share food at any time. We also ask for your help to keep our building safe by reminding your students that they are not permitted to order their own lunch from online food delivery services (such as DoorDash, GrubHub, UberEats, etc). It is a safety issue if a student is opening a door to meet a complete stranger to get food. We ask that parents and guardians explain the safety concern, and discuss this topic with your child.

The district is closed this Friday (April 18th), and there will be no school. After the long weekend, we will return to regular classes on Monday, April 21st.

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 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!

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. We will not be able to dismiss any student in the middle of the safety drills. Therefore, if you plan to pick up your child before the normal dismissal time, you must schedule your early dismissal before 2:30pm on Thursday, April 17th. Students will be completing the safety drills between 2:45pm - 3:15pm. 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. Also remind your child the day before or the morning of 4/17, if you know that you need to pick them up from school early. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Last week, we celebrated National AP Week. APs play a key role in the overall academic success of our students. We would like to take the time to celebrate Associate Principal Court and Associate Principal Fountain Dotson! Both are new to their positions, and have been wonderful additions to the administrative team. These amazing women have been supporting students and staff all school year with empathy, patience and care.

Thank you for your hard work and dedication to our Jayhawks, Mrs. Court and Mrs. Dotson!!

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In September 2024, District 97 introduced the VisitorSafe™ Visitor Management System(formerly known as the Raptor Visitor Management System) to streamline the visitor check-in process, ensuring that all visitors are properly identified and authorized before entering our schools.

As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance school safety, visitors may sign in using the Raptor Safe mobile app.

The Raptor Safe app offers a secure and convenient way for visitors to verify their identity before arriving at school. With the Raptor Passport feature, visitors can pre-verify their identity, which ensures a faster and smoother sign-in process when they arrive.

When arriving at a school, visitors can use the secure QR code generated by the app to expedite the check-in process. These QR codes regenerate every 5 minutes to maintain security and prevent misuse.

Please note, that using the Raptor Safe app to pre-verify your identity is optional. Visitors may still check in upon arrival using a government-issued ID.

The Raptor Safe app is available for all visitors across the district. To download the app, please refer to the Raptor Safe FAQ Sheet or go to https://raptortech.com/raptorsafe-app/.
If you have any questions, please contact your building principal or contact us via Let’s Talk.

Sincerely,
D97 Safety Team

We are excited to introduce Handle With Care, a new partnership between the Oak Park Police Department and local school districts designed to provide support for students who may be experiencing trauma or difficult life circumstances. The goal of this program is to help create a compassionate and understanding environment for students, ensuring that their emotional well-being is prioritized alongside their academic growth.

Learn more about how this program works and its benefits by reviewing the attached Handle With Care Family Introduction (PDF).

Last week, the Pop Ensemble from the Band of Mid America at Scott Air Force Base came to visit. They are on tour and had a stop in Chicago. Our Julian band students witnessed some great musical performances. And the USAF Band also brought along a flight simulator, so it was a great opportunity for kids to explore some potential air careers. Thanks Mr. Kanwischer!

The final home games of the boys volleyball team will be available via Hudl from 4:30pm - 6:30pm:

Date Opponent

4/17 - Irving

4/22 - Roosevelt (Berwyn)

4/24 - Northlake

All videos will be available via this public link via Hudl.

This is a friendly reminder that the last two meeting dates will be:
4/24/25
5/8/25

Thank you,
Ms. Tracy & Ms. Mandelbaum

Please note the following modified school office hours:

• Thurs., 4/17 - due to safety drills, the office will be closed between 2:45pm - 3:15pm (therefore ALL EARLY DISMISSALS MUST BE DONE PRIOR TO 2:30pm on Thursday, April 17th)
• Thurs., 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)
• Fri., 5/9 - the office will open at 8:30am due to a staff event so please plan accordingly
• Tues., 6/3 & Wed., 6/4 - the office will close at 4pm for graduation ceremony prep and on the last day of school

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 in Gurnee, IL on Monday, June 2nd from 9:30am - 6:30pm. For only $100, students will get admission to Great America amusement park, transportation to and from the park, lunch, a snack, and a refillable beverage cup...plus a Class of 2025 t-shirt!

1. All payments are due by April 25th (PLEASE NOTE: we will NOT extend the payment deadline. If you wish for your child to participate, payment must be received on or before 4/25. Great America must be paid in full prior to the trip date and we must have our final t-shirt order submitted by April 28th. Therefore, no refunds will be issued since each vendor must be paid in advance, prior to the SFGA field trip date.
2. IF YOU OWN A SEASON PASS to Six Flags Great America, the cost of the trip is $60 (it includes the Class of 2025 t-shirt, transportation, lunch, snack and the refillable beverage cup). Click here if you already own a valid SFGA season pass and you wish to purchase the season pass deal. **On June 2nd, if your student does not bring the season pass, they will have to pay full price admission at the gate or a parent/guardian will need to pick them up from the amusement park. If you already own a season pass, your child is responsible for bringing their valid season pass with them on the day of the field trip.
3. If your student will not attend the SFGA field trip on 6/2, but they want to order a Class of 2025 t-shirt, the cost will be $15.

We encourage all 8th grade parents/guardians & students to read the INFORMATION SHEET first before making the payment. Any students who do not abide by the rules of the amusement park and/or the D97 code of conduct 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.

Click here to make your online payment for the Mega Deal or the Season Pass Deal via the Julian webstore.

And don't forget to complete the Permission Slip for Six Flags Great America!!

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 later this month.

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 not already, please make your final payment for the Springfield/St. Louis this week.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Jackson.

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 16

Final meeting of the 2024-25 school year:

Wednesday, May 14

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