The Jayhawk Weekly
May 10, 2026
The Jayhawk Weekly
Dear Julian Parents and Guardians,
First, we want to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to all the moms and mother figures in our learning community. Thank you for all you do to support your family and children. There truly is nothing like a mother's love, and we thank you for the love, care, and sacrifices you make each and every day.
It was a pleasure to celebrate our dedicated teachers and staff during Staff Appreciation Week. These educators work hard to ensure that we have a safe, welcoming, and robust learning environment for all of our Jayhawks. We'd like to extend a special thank you to our Julian PTO. This amazing group of parent volunteers helped to make the week very enjoyable for our staff as well, and they deserve a round of applause for all that they've done for our Julian staff and students this school year!
And speaking of the PTO, please join us for the final PTO meeting of the school year on Wednesday (in person or online, see the link below). We also invite you to join us for a very special presentation in honor of Mental Health Awareness Month on Thursday, May 28th. In partnership with the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation, Julian is hosting Mind Matters: A Community Mental Health Conversation — a free evening designed just for student athletes
in grades 4–8 and the families who cheer them on. Speakers include:
- Keisha Bishop — Life Coach & mother of Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles
- Dr. Wendy Borlabi — Former Director of Mental Performance, Chicago Bulls
- Hazel Clark — Three-Time U.S. Olympian & Seven-Time National Champion
Please see the 'Community News' section of the Jayhawk Weekly for more information and to see how to register.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, contact our team (nfilipowski@op97.org, dfountain@op97.org, acourt@op97.org). We thank you for your continued partnership in supporting our students' growth and success.
Jayhawks together,
Nick Filipowski, Principal
Adrienne Court, Associate Principal
DaWanda Fountain-Dotson, Associate Principal
The D97 Student Services Department is hosting a Student Night In for students with IEPs on Friday, May 15, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Whittier Elementary School, 715 N. Harvey Ave. This evening event is designed to provide a fun, inclusive experience for students and families.
Registration is open through May 4. Please use this link to register: Special Education Student Night In Registration
District 97 has once again been recognized as one of the nation’s Best Communities for Music Education by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation—marking the seventh consecutive year the district has received this honor. The award celebrates District 97’s continued commitment to ensuring all students have access to high-quality music education opportunities.
Shout out to our Julian music department teachers: Ms. Bern, Mr. Kanwischer and Mr. Seymour! We are Jayhawk proud.
Update your Julian gear today!
💗Get $10 off your order from now until May 31st! Use code MOM10 at the check out. Just in time for summer vacay, check out their new selection of tank tops, beach bags, fanny packs and...more!
And remember, with every purchase of Julian gear at 1stPlace Spiritwear, a portion of the sale goes directly to Julian Middle School!😎
PLEASE PLAN ACCORDINGLY for the following closures:
MARK YOUR CALENDAR:
- Fri., 5/22 - the School Office closes at 4:00pm
- Fri., 5/22 - the Library Media Center CLOSED AFTER SCHOOL
- Mon., 6/1 - Tues., 6/2 - the School Office will close promptly at 4:00pm for graduation ceremony prep and on the last day of school/Report Card Day.
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- LOCKERS ARE IMMEDIATELY CLEARED OUT AND CLEANED THE WEEK THAT SUMMER BREAK BEGINS (starting immediately on 6/3). WE DO NOT STORE NOR KEEP LOST OR FORGOTTEN BELONGINGS OVER THE SUMMER VACATION. Please remind your child to take all their belongings home on the last day of school. Items left in lockers, on top of lockers or in the Lost & Found area will be discarded beginning on 6/3.
- There are 2 pairs of prescription eyeglasses in the school office. If your child recently lost their glasses, please have them stop by to check at the front desk.
- The Lost & Found area is in the commons. And it is cleared out each Friday afternoon. Please make sure that if your child has lost or misplaced a piece of clothing, lunch bag, water bottle or shoes, that they thoroughly check the Lost & Found area.
CAMPUS SAFETY
We ask that families discuss this important safety practice with their Julian student(s). Administrators will contact parents/guardians and issue appropriate consequences for behavior infractions:
TOY GUNS AND WATER GUNS ARE NOT PERMITTED ON CAMPUS
UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ARE STUDENTS ALLOWED TO BRING WATER GUNS, TOY GUNS, OR STARTER PISTOLS TO SCHOOL. Weapons of any type or kind, including toy guns. water guns or track & field starter pistols, are strictly prohibited. And should not be brought to school nor be used at any time while on school property, including the turf field. Students found using or bringing anything resembling a weapon to school, including toy guns, water guns or starter pistols, will have immediate consequences, up to or including detention and suspension.
SAFETY EXPECTATIONS
One of our important safety expectations is that students and all staff wear their IDs every day. We taught students about this expectation during our welcome week at the start of the year, and have retaught the expectation multiple times throughout the year. At lunch, we have seen a steady increase of students not having IDs. Students not meeting the expectation have had to wait to get a temporary ID with their assigned lunch color and are reminded consistently of the importance of wearing their ID at school.
We ask for your help in reinforcing the expectation that all students must have their IDs on at all times. Replacement IDs can be purchased for $1.00. Fees are waived for students who qualify for free and reduced lunch. After many reteaching opportunities and reminders, students who do not have their IDs are assigned indoor recess.
Supporting Youth Safety: Tips for Being Independent Around Town
With warmer weather here, many of our students are spending more time outdoors and enjoying greater independence in the neighborhood. As routines shift with the season, it’s a great time to revisit important safety habits and ensure youth feel confident making smart decisions while out and about. We’re resharing the Supporting Youth Safety: Being Independent Around Town as a helpful resource for families to support safe and responsible independence. The PDF is available in both English and Spanish.
More safety tips and resources for families can be found on the District 97 website.
GRADUATION REHEARSAL/LAST DAY FOR GRADS
If you are planning for your 8th grader to be dismissed after the graduation rehearsal on Monday, June 1st, please fill out this google form. Students will start the day as normal at Julian at 8:50 a.m. We will do team activities until the buses arrive to take us over to OPRF high school for rehearsal in their auditorium. Graduation rehearsal begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. Once the rehearsal ends, we will board the buses to return to Julian at approximately 12:30 p.m. STUDENTS WILL NOT BE PICKED UP OR DISMISSED FROM OPRFHS. Everyone will board the buses and return to Julian after the rehearsal time. YOU MUST PICK UP YOUR CHILD FROM JULIAN M.S. if you plan to pick them up early.
If you plan to give your student permission to leave early on June 1st, please indicate that on the Early Dismissal google form. For attendance purposes, we are requesting that you submit your preference no later than Friday, May 22nd. Thank you.
LUNCH BALANCE REFUND
Your graduate's lunch account balance can be refunded over the summer after the 2025-26 school year ends. A positive lunch account balance over the amount of $10 can be issued in one of 4 ways (provided that there are no past due or lost library books, no lost textbooks, and/or no outstanding school fees owed):
- Transfer lunch balance to the student's new *OPRFHS lunch account
- District Office will mail out a check to your home address over the summer
- Transfer lunch balance to a sibling's Julian or D97 elementary school lunch balance
- Donate the lunch balance to a needy Julian student's lunch account
💰PLEASE INDICATE YOUR PREFERENCE BY MONDAY, JUNE 1ST. If the lunch balance is less than $10, we can issue the refund at the school office between June 3 - June 10 between 8:30am - 3:30pm. If your child has missing textbooks, library books or unpaid school fees, the lunch balance can be applied to the outstanding balance(s) owed to the school.
Please indicate on this google form how you would like to have your student's positive lunch account balance refunded this summer. PLEASE INDICATE YOUR PREFERENCE BY MONDAY, JUNE 1ST.
*PLEASE NOTE: if you choose to have the Julian lunch account balance transferred to the OPRFHS lunch account, the account balance will be credited AFTER the high school's lunchroom staff returns from their summer break in August. THANK YOU!
Google Takeout
If you have multiple students graduating this year, please fill out this form for each student. (for 2 students fill out the form twice, one for each)
🟦🟧🐺OPRFHS HEALTH OFFICE MESSAGE...
Here are some important health reminders from Nurse Julee Senseri with the health team at Oak Park and River Forest High School to help ensure a smooth transition into high school.
IMPORTANT MEDICAL PAPERWORK DUE DATES FOR OPRFHS:
School Physical and Immunization History – DUE NO LATER THAN 3:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14
- School physical must be dated within one year of the first day of school
- Updated immunization records required
- The DHS Certificate of Child Health Examination form will cover both school entry and athletics
- Please send forms to: medicalforms@oprfhs.org
Proof of Dental Examination Form – DUE NO LATER THAN END OF SCHOOL DAY ON MAY 15, 2027
- Please send forms to: medicalforms@oprfhs.org
Medication Administration at School:
Students may not possess or self-administer any medications, including over-the-counter medications, without written physician orders. Designated staff will administer medications during school hours and school-sponsored activities. Families are encouraged to administer medications at home whenever possible. Medication will only be given when necessary to support the student remaining in school. A new Medication Authorization form is required each school year. Please note: OPRF school nurses are not able to administer /hand out over the counter medications of any kind, including Advil or Tylenol, etc without a completed medication form on file.
Elevator Usage:
Elevators are not for general student use. A physician’s written order is required for student elevator access. The order must specify the medical need and duration of use. Once submitted to the Health Services office, an elevator pass will be issued for the approved timeframe. Elevator access is limited to students with documented temporary or permanent medical needs.
You may find additional forms and policies on the OPRFHS Nurses’ Office website.
Click here for the link to OPRFHS Nurses' Office website to find all forms and policies.
Wishing you and your families a restful summer and your students a smooth and successful transition to high school.
All the best,
Allison Smith, BSN, RN (she/her/hers)
Julian School Nurse
Bec Rennick
Julian CNA
🎫GRADUATION TICKETS
The ceremony will take place on Monday, June 1st at 6:30pm in the Oak Park and River Forest High School auditorium.
**PLEASE NOTE: THE SCHOOL DOES NOT HAVE A TICKET EXCHANGE OR TICKET WAIT LIST. Students will receive 4 ceremony tickets to be used by their guests and family members. Extra tickets can not be obtained from the school office or from Julian staff members.
Any person 2 years old or older must have a ticket to enter the OPRFHS auditorium on Monday, June 1st for the 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony. Children younger than 2 years old must sit on the lap of their parent/guardian in the OPRFHS auditorium during the ceremony.
**Later this month, we will distribute the ticket envelopes, as well as (if ordered) the cap & gown orders and class of 2026 t-shirts, about a week before the graduation date.
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OPRFHS AUDITORIUM RULES
Here are some reminders from Oak Park and River Forest High School regarding their auditorium policies for the graduation ceremony:
- Anyone aged 2 years or older must have a ticket in order to attend the ceremony
- No balloons will be allowed in the building
- Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices before the ceremony begins
- No flash photography is allowed during the ceremony
- Please refrain from any disruptive behavior during the ceremony such as talking, whistling, etc.
- For safety reasons, audience members should remain seated during the ceremony. Standing at the back of auditorium is strongly discouraged as it blocks the exits and could be a fire emergency hazard.
ORDER YOUR STUDENT A 2025-2026 JULIAN YEARBOOK TODAY!
- 📕Julian Yearbooks are on sale now!
- The cost is $30. Yearbooks will have over 100 pages of color photographs & memories!
- Pre-order online @ D.97 School Store
- Cash sales available late May.
*Yearbook orders will be distributed after Memorial Day but before the last day of school.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Guarino at nguarino@op97.org or Mr. Hoskins at shoskins@op97.org.
Important Dates
- School Office Closed: Fri., May 22nd (Library closed after school/Office closes at 4pm)
- Memorial Day Holiday: Mon., May 25th (NO SCHOOL)
- 8th Grade Six Flags Great America field trip: Thurs., May 28th
- 8th Grade Fest: Fri., May 29 (1:00pm - 3:30pm)
- 8th Grade Graduation Ceremony: Monday, June 1st (Ticket REQUIRED for entry)
- Last Day of School/Tri 3 Report Card Day: Tuesday, June 2nd
END OF YEAR REMINDERS
End-of-year field trips and travel are a great privilege we love affording our students to celebrate their achievements. However, certain requirements must be met for a student to be considered eligible for participation in these excursions to ensure we are focused on our main priority and goal: a well-rounded and rigorous education.
To ensure safety, students must be able to redirect behavior and follow adult directions or requests throughout the school day.
To ensure student accountability, students should consistently demonstrate responsibility through regular class attendance and limited tardies throughout the school day.
- Student must be in good standing, in accordance to behavior expectations, as outlined in the Oak Park School District 97 Student/Family Handbook. ANY STUDENT WHO DOES NOT ADHERE TO THE BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS IN THE HANDBOOK MAY BE BE REMOVED FROM THE END OF YEAR FIELD TRIP/TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES even past the date of eligible refunds.
Registration is required for the 2026-27 School Year
****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.
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!
You’re Invited: A Free Night for Your Student Athlete
Hi District 97 Families,
We have something special coming to Percy Julian Middle School — and we’d love for your
family to be part of it.
On Thursday, May 28, the Lyles Brothers Sports Foundation is hosting Mind Matters: A
Community Mental Health Conversation — a free evening designed just for student athletes
in grades 4–8 and the families who cheer them on.
We talk a lot about stats, scores, and conditioning. This night is about something different: how
our kids are doing on the inside.
Three incredible panelists will lead an honest, open conversation your student won’t forget:
- Keisha Bishop — Life Coach & mother of Olympic Gold Medalist Noah Lyles
- Dr. Wendy Borlabi — Former Director of Mental Performance, Chicago Bulls
- Hazel Clark — Three-Time U.S. Olympian & Seven-Time National Champion
Together, they’ll share real stories, practical tools, and the kind of advice that actually sticks —
for your student and for you.
The evening includes an open Q&A, a networking reception, community mental health
resources, and a raffle featuring signed memorabilia from Noah Lyles and other great prizes.
Every guest gets a ticket at the door.
📅 Thursday, May 28, 2026
🕡 6:30 – 8:30 PM (Doors open at 5:45 PM)
📍 Percy Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave., Oak Park, IL
💛 Free — open to all District 97 families
Space is limited, so don’t wait!
RSVP by emailing Jourdan Sorrell at jourdan@jourdansent.com — it only takes a minute. We hope to see your family there!
YEMBA Summer Empowerment Programs 2026
YEMBA, Inc. is offering free Summer Empowerment Programs for incoming sixth and ninth grade students, focused on helping students build skills, confidence, and connections as they prepare for middle and high school.
Incoming 9th Grade Program
Dates: June 22 - July 30
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Monday - Thursday
Location: YEMBA Office (218 Lake St.)
Students will participate in field trips, workshops, and recreational activities, with a focus on executive functioning, financial literacy, and high school/college exposure.
Incoming 6th Grade Program
Dates: July 6 - July 30
Time: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Monday–Thursday
Location: Julian Middle School, 416 S. Ridgeland Ave.
This program includes field trips, workshops, and recreation, with an emphasis on identity development, goal setting, STEM learning, and social-emotional skills.
Both programs are offered at no cost. All students are welcome, with priority given to families qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
Families can apply using the program form here: https://www.yemba-inc.org/programs-2025. For questions, contact: programs@yemba-inc.org.
Housing Information
Scan the QR code for more info
HEALTH OFFICE REQUIREMENTS/SPORTS PHYSICALS
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
Medications (Prescription and Over The Counter)
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.
Making the Right Call When Your Child Is Sick
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
phone: (708) 524-7648
REMINDER - The school does not accept food deliveries for students
FOOD DELIVERY POLICY
- 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.
- ***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).
- 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
Please review the Middle School Cell Phone Policy with your child
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:
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.
PTO MEETING DATE
2nd Wednesday of the month: Exec Committee @ 6:30 pm, Open Meeting @ 7 pm in the Library Media Center in-person or join online:
May 13, 2026 (FINAL MEETING FOR 2025-26 SCHOOL YEAR)
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
Lockers and School Locks
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.
SCHOOL FEES
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.
ATTENDANCE
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)
