The Jayhawk Weekly

Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,

We have had a wonderful start to our school year! Students are already getting into the flow of the day and getting better and better at using their lockers, as well as becoming accustomed to our new bell schedule. Our Jayhawks rock!

It has been great to see our students and families take part in our multiple summer programs and events. Shout out to all the staff involved in the Middle School Connection program, those that assisted with the Welcome Night, and those that joined our Back to School Party! We would especially like to thank the Julian PTO for hosting the BTS Party and inviting the Oak Park Public Library, Sticks & Cones, Cuzzo's, Taco Mucho and Julian families to get in on the fun. It truly was a great family event full of music, dancing, laughter and awesome food! What a wonderful way to start off a tremendous new school year!

If you have questions about the upcoming school year, please don’t hesitate to contact our Admin team at: nfilipowski@op97.org, acourt@op97.org, dfountain@op97.org. ****Please note that the julianinfo@op97.org is only for attendance. Mr. Filipowski does not receive those emails.

Jayhawks together,

Nick Filipowski

Principal

Adrienne Court

Associate Principal

DaWanda Fountain Dotson

Associate Principal

Our front office handles attendance, transportation inquiries, and keeps our building running smoothly!

Ms. Jackson - Building usage requests, school fees, Cap & Gown payments, minor schedule corrections (such as classroom location - but see an administrator for any schedule adjustments due to IEPs & 504s, etc), Free and Reduced Lunch applications, and supports Principal Filipowski & staff.

Ms. Craig - Student attendance, announcements, locker repairs, locks, locker assignments, student IDs, admin team and student support, etc.

Ms. Euring - Field trip payments, record requests, school IDs, admin team and student support, etc.

Until further notice, school office hours will be 8:00am - 4:00pm. Once we have a receptionist, we will extend regular office hours to 4:30pm.

Our Student Success Coaches manage 504 plans as well as support students with their academic and executive functioning needs. Our Student Support Specialist will be helping students with self-regulation and supporting reteaching of expectations.

Rebecca Murray - 6th grade (rmurray@op97.org)

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

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

Karintha Shaw - 6-8 Student Supports (kshaw@op97.org)

Team Leaders are a great first contact if you are not sure what teacher you want to talk to or have a more global academic concern or question about your child.

SY26 Team Leaders:

6.1: Sam Tracy (stracy@op97.org)

6.2 Steve Hoskins (shoskins@op97.org)

6.3 Jessica Clark (jclark1@op97.org)

7.1 Jen Baldassarre / Christina Welchko (jbaldassarre@op97.org, cwelchko@op97.org)

7.2 Felicia Garcia (fgarcia@op97.org)

7.3 John Beck (jbeck@op97.org)

8.1 Matt Downs (mdowns@op97.org)

8.2 Ashley Kannan (akannan@op97.org)

8.3 Kit Kadlec (ckadlec@op97.org)

DROP INSTRUCTIONS:

ALL PARENTS/GUARDIANS should be dropping students off on Ridgeland Ave and then have their child exit on the passenger side of the car and then walk to their designated line-up location (see below). Please refrain from pulling into the staff parking lot, as it is hazardous with multiple cars in motion, as well as staff members driving in for work. This is a safety and security concern, so we thank you in advance for your cooperation.

STUDENT ENTRY:

Students should arrive at their designated entrance (see below) by 8:50 am. Starting after Labor Day, Students who arrive after 8:56 am should enter the main entrance at Ridgeland Ave and check in to the main office to receive a tardy pass to their first class.

Pick-up and drop-off procedures are located here.

• All 6th graders should line up to enter the building at the entrance near the turf field

• All 7th graders should line up to enter the building at the entrance on Washington

• All 8th graders should line up to enter the building at the main entrance on Ridgeland

Research shows that attendance matters! Attendance includes being on time to have a successful day and ready to learn. Please talk as a family about your nighttime and morning routines to support on-time arrival to school. Please be sure students are arriving daily by 8:50 am. Students arriving after 8:56 am will receive a tardy for the day.

Dear District 97 Middle School Families and Staff,

Student voting for the eighth-grade trip destination begins on Monday, August 25th and continues through Friday, August 29th! As a reminder, we’re excited to offer our eighth-grade students an overnight trip to one of two destinations–St. Louis (the price is estimated at $819.00) or Nashville (the price is estimated at $1100.00). The presentation that will be shared with students this week can be found here.

We will share the result of the vote on September 3rd. We anticipate that students will attend the trip from March 14th through March 16th.

Dear Julian Families:

Welcome to the new school year!

My name is Allison Smith (aka Nurse Allison), and this is my first year as the Julian School Nurse. My goal as your School Nurse is to work collaboratively with our Julian families and staff members to maintain a healthy school environment, so our students can enjoy a healthy environment. My clinical background is in Emergency/trauma critical care, Pediatric and Adult Gastroenterology, and Certified GI nurse and Endoscopy. I have had the pleasure of being in healthcare since 2003, and worked as a Nurse since 2007. I'm a born and raised New Orleans native, and have two children; one attends Julian (6th grade), and the other is three years old. I'm sure you can imagine my email inbox, so please know that I feel your pain, and you have my apologies if this information and reminders does not pertain to you. Below you’ll find important details about medications at school, required health forms, dental forms, and sports physicals.

Medications (Daily and Emergency)

If your child requires any medication at school (including over-the-counter), a District 97 Licensed Prescriber Authorization Form must be completed by your child’s healthcare provider.

• Students with asthma, severe allergies, or seizures must also have an updated Emergency Action Plan signed by a provider each year.

• If your student will self-carry an inhaler or EpiPen/Auvi-Q, a D97 Self-Carry Agreement is required (only for inhalers and epinephrine).

• Forms are available here: District 97 Health Services Forms.

Important reminders:

• IMPORTANT: Per District 97 policy, all medications must be in the original pharmacy labeled container or in a sealed as purchased over-the-counter container. Please check the expiration dates of all medications before you turn them into the nurse's office: expired medication cannot be given at school and will not be accepted.

• Medication must be brought to the nurse’s office (not to teachers/staff) in the original pharmacy-labeled container or sealed, purchased OTC container.

• If your child no longer requires medication, please notify me so records can be updated.

Health Forms

• Who needs them: All incoming 6th graders and students new to the Illinois school system.

• What’s required: A current Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination with up-to-date immunizations.

• Deadline: Wednesday, October 15, 2025.

Per Illinois School Code (Section 27-8.1), contains regulations and requirements regarding physical examinations and immunizations for students. According to these laws, District 97 is obligated to exclude students from school on Oct. 15th who have not provided proof of the required physical examinations and immunizations until they are in compliance.

Illinois Immunization Requirements → Tdap and Meningococcal for 6th graders

Dental Forms

• Who needs them: All incoming 6th graders and students new to Illinois public schools.

• What’s required: Illinois Proof of Dental Exam Form.

• Due date: May 15, 2026 (exam must be dated between Nov. 15, 2024 and May 15, 2026).

Sports

Students participating in any Julian sport must submit the IHSA/IESA Pre-Participation Sports Physical Form, completed and signed by:

• Student’s healthcare provider

• Parent/guardian

• Student athlete

• All athletes are required to have a current athletic physical exam on file. The exam is current for 395 days. The best date for a physical exam is after May 1, so it will not expire during the next school year.

• Sixth grade athletes can use their school entry physical to serve as the athletic physical if it is dated after May 1, 2025.And the box marked interscholastic sports is noted as yes

• All returning athletes must have a physical on file that covers them through the entire season of competition.

  
  

Waivers

Waivers for immunizations, health records, and dental exams are available on the District 97 Health Services page.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with questions:
708-524-7648
juliannurse@op97.org

I’m looking forward to a healthy and successful school year with our students!

In partnership,
Nurse Allison

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.

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 - Segio Torres (storres@op97.org)

Need a new Julian t-shirt, hat or tote bag to show your school spirit? Then check out 1stPlace SpiritWear...they have a great back to school sale going on now. There's FREE SHIPPING on orders over $75! So take advantage of 25% off plus a portion of the sale will be donated to Julian Middle School! Check out their sale today.

Your child’s schedule were emailed home on Wednesday, August 13th. All requested courses were considered and assigned whenever available. And remember, if your student’s registration hasn’t been fully completed, including uploading all documents, we will not be able to send your student’s schedule at this time.

Navigating the schedule can be confusing at first. Here's a quick guide to how to read about your classes.

School begins promptly at 9:00 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m. Students will now have 7 class periods per school day.

• Here is the new Bell Schedule for 2025-26. Please note the lunch and WIN class period for your child's grade level.

This year's Jayhawk Reminders is now live on our website. Don't miss the comings and goings, catch the reminder!

I will be sending weekly school communications on Sundays. You can find past Jayhawk Weeklys on our website. The next Jayhawk Weekly will be shared on Sunday, August 31st.

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

***Please note students or parents/guardians may NOT have food delivered to the school through any food delivery service (i.e. DoorDash, UberEats, GrubHub, etc). Deliveries will not be accepted during the school day. Please plan to pack a lunch or purchase a school lunch each day.***

1. PTO Friday - Firehouse Subs/Domino’s Lunch Options will be available.
2. CAST Thursday - Buona Beef/Domino’s Lunch Options will be available.

Ordering information for these lunch options will be shared separately by the CAST Theater program and the Julian PTO, as they are both fundraising programs for each organization. PLEASE NOTE: The school office does not collect payments for either fundraising program. You must contact CAST or the Julian PTO directly if you have questions or wish to sign up. They will communicate details soon, so be sure to check your email for more info.

Our school-wide expectations reflect our commitment to positive, evidence-based practices that support students’ academic, social, emotional and behavioral success. Administrators, teachers and staff play a crucial role in this supportive process, and we believe that clear and consistent adult practices will create a middle school learning environment where every student can succeed.

Key Links:

• School-Wide Behavior Expectations for 2025-26 (one-page overview in English and Spanish)

• Frequently Asked Questions - Created by the middle school team with the goal of being clear about expectations and answering some common questions before the school year starts.

Supporting Our Students:

While some of these expectations and procedures were in place in our middle schools before the pandemic, we understand that changes around phones, backpacks and lockers may be new for some. We’re committed to helping students adjust to these expectations both before the school year starts and throughout the year, but we need your support and partnership to make the transition as smooth as possible.

We’ll introduce the expectations to sixth-graders during District 97 Middle School Connection and to seventh- and eighth-graders (and any sixth-graders who are unable to attend District 97 Middle School Connection) at our middle school welcome nights. In the first two weeks of school, and again at the start of Trimesters 2 and 3, teachers will review these expectations during advisory. We'll celebrate when students meet expectations and provide reminders and extra support to foster independence to ensure everyone feels confident and successful.

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.

We will not be utilizing PE locker rooms or PE Uniforms. Students will need to wear gym shoes and clothing that would permit participation in PE on the days they are scheduled for PE. Please be sure your student wears appropriate footwear and clothing on the days they are scheduled to attend PE class.

Incoming 6th-grade students and/or any new students who have transferred into District 97, MUST have a wellness physical and dental exam dated within one year prior to August 20th, 2025. Your child's physical must have been performed after August 20, 2024. Your child may not be admitted to school without these documents. 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 – The State of Illinois Office of Education requires that any student who wishes to participate in interscholastic sports MUST have an Athletic Physical Examination, dated within one year prior to August 22nd, 2025. It is MANDATORY that your child have this physical before they will be eligible to try out or participate in any interscholastic activity. To access student health forms please visit http://www.op97.org/hr/health-requirements

Please submit the appropriate document by mail or in person no later than September 2, 2025 to the following:

Percy Julian Middle School

Attn: Health Office

416 S. Ridgeland Ave

Oak Park, IL 60302

Math accelerations' letters have been emailed to families whose students participated in any of the acceleration pathways. Your student’s schedule will reflect the needed math class.

Please use our School supply list to get the needed supplies for the upcoming school year.

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.

• No School: Monday, September 1st, 2025 (Labor Day)
• Curriculum Night: Thursday, September 11th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm (Event is for parents/guardians, please remember to leave students at home with a trusted guardian as space in classrooms is limited)
• No School: Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025
• No School: Thursday, October 2nd, 2025
• No School: Monday, October 13th, 2025
• Family/Teacher Conferences: Thursday, October 23rd through Friday, October 24th, 2025 (PLEASE NOTE: NO SCHOOL for students on 10/24)
• End of Trimester 1: Friday, November 14th

416 S. Ridgeland Ave.

Oak Park, IL 60302

708-524-3040

www.op97.org/julian