Jayhawk Weekly Communication
September 3, 2023
In observance of the Labor Day holiday, District 97 will be closed on Monday. Students will return to class on Tuesday, September 5 (which will be an A Day).
8th Grade Washington DC trip meeting - THIS WEEK!
You are invited to a family information session about the 8th grade trip to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, September 6th at 6 p.m. in the commons.
Any eighth-grade parents and guardians who would like to learn more about the trip are welcome to attend in person with their student. For your convenience, there is also an option for families to join via Zoom: https://closeup-org.zoom.us/j/82096684684.
During the session, we’ll share more details about the Washington, D.C. trip, which will take place Saturday, March 16 - Tuesday, March 19, 2024. We'll share program details, cost, financial assistance, important dates and deadlines, before a Q&A with Close Up, district, and school staff.
We look forward to you joining us!
SAVE THE DATE - 5:30PM - 8:00PM CURRICULUM NIGHT
Safety Drill
We will have our first safety drill of the school year on Thursday, September 14th. The Oak Park Fire Dept will be on the campus to observe our fire drill and provide feedback. Thank you for partnering with us to make our school a safe environment.
Back to School fun!
We had a great time at the Back to School Party, sponsored by the amazing and generous Julian PTO! It was a warm and sunny day, filled with good food, great friends and good music. The DJ played tunes that even had Mr. Lee, raising the roof!🤣 We hope all our families enjoyed themselves. Special shout out to Ms. Jackson, Ms. Bassett-Dilley, Ms. Marie and the fabulous Julian custodial crew for hanging out with us!🎶🍕🌮🍦Jayhawk Strong!
Preparing for Hot Weather
The current forecast for the Chicagoland area is calling for temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees starting Saturday, Sept. 2, and continuing through at least Tuesday, Sept. 5.
District 97 schools will continue to enact preventative measures for extreme heat, including:
Temporarily moving classes without air conditioning and utilizing portable air conditioning units when possible;
Keeping students and staff hydrated;
Monitoring student health.
A determination about outdoor time will be made next week utilizing the most current forecast.
Things you can do include:
Bring a full, reusable water bottle to school.
Wear weather-appropriate clothing. The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) recommends light, light-colored, loose-fitting garments, as they reflect heat and sunlight.
Plan ahead for safe travel before and after school.
Follow guidance provided by state and local health departments to keep your family safe.
Safe and Healthy Schools: Information about Student Illness
District 97 remains committed to maintaining safe and healthy schools. We continue to work in partnership with the Oak Park Department of Public Health, following guidance set by the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
When should a child remain home from school?
Staying home if you are ill is essential to keep infections—including the virus that causes COVID-19— out of schools and prevent spread to others. Please visit the District 97 Health Services page for more information about when to stay home. If you have specific questions, please contact your school nurse.
COVID-19 Guidelines for 2023-24
Following IDPH guidelines, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must stay home for five days after the first day of symptoms or testing positive (Day 0). They may return to school on Day 6 if:
They are 24 hours fever free with no fever-reducing medication AND
No diarrhea or vomiting for 24 hours AND
Improvement of other symptoms.
Masks are strongly recommended around others for five days (through Day 10). Per local guidance, anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should also complete Oak Park Department of Public Health's Positive at Home COVID 19 Test form.
For more information, please visit: COVID-19 Guidelines for D97 Students and Staff
Oak Park and River Forest High School Color Guard
Attention 8th grade families:
The OPRFHS Color Guard is a co-curricular, all-volunteer marching unit that performs at all home football games, the homecoming parade, marching festivals and local parade events. Our performances feature a central “show theme” that combines music, movement and visual elements in a production that is unified around a central theme. We have a terrific event coming up on September 22nd for Jayhawk 8th graders to participate in.
We would love to have all 8th graders who are interested in our fully-inclusive (no auditions) fabulous color guard to meet at OPRF to hang with the current ColorGuard for the football game. We are providing pizza. ColorGuard is a wonderful community who is welcoming to all. Contact OPRFHS directly by emailing Ms. Obed, if you have questions or would like your 8th grader to participate.
Shannon Obed
Parent Volunteer
Julian SpiritWear
Need a new Julian hoodie for the fall weather? Want a cool Jayhawk hat to wear to the game? Check out 1st Place SpiritWear to order new Julian Jayhawk gear. A percentage of the sale goes to Percy Julian Middle School. Visit their website now and your purchase will be shipped directly to your home. If you order by September 14th, you can get 30% off your order! And shipping is FREE on orders over $75. Go Jayhawks!
From the Julian Library - UPDATE
The library is now open in the mornings. Students can come to the library before school starting at 8:00 AM Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. We are closed Wednesday mornings because of teacher meetings.
***We are working to open the library during recess as soon as possible. We will communicate with students, teachers, and families when lunch recess in the library will start.***
Please feel free to direct library questions, concerns, or ideas to Jamie Winchell, Teacher Librarian jwinchell@op97.org.
Ms. Winchell
Teacher Librarian
Percy Julian Middle School
REMINDERS:
Attention all 6TH GRADE FAMILIES & NEW TO DISTRICT STUDENTS
6th Grade families and New to District 97 parents/guardians:
You can bring your child's health forms to the school office during the first week of school. All new students and all 6th graders need to have up-to-date health forms on file:
- Physical examinations are required of all students entering 6th grade and must be completed within one year prior to the first day of school (August 23, 2023). This physical exam must be recorded on the State of Illinois Certificate of Child Health Examination form.
- Students that require medication during school hours must have a medication authorization form completed by a physician: this includes prescription or over-the-counter medications. If your child has a severe allergy and/or asthma; forms titled Food Allergy Action Plan and/or Asthma Action Plan must be completed by your child’s physician and submitted to the school nurse. Forms can be found on our website under the Department Tab and then under Health Services. Please contact the nurse at your school if you have any questions or require any additional information. The health office can be reached at juliannurse@op97.org.
***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 no less than one year prior to the first day of the current school year. It is mandatory that your child has their physical form completed before they will be eligible to tryout or participate in any interscholastic activity.
2023-2024 School Fees
Parents and Guardians can pay the $225 school fees online. The annual school fee helps to cover costs of such items as instructional materials, staff supervision for before and after school events & activities, and the purchase & repair of district issued devices (i.e. students' iPads and chromebooks).
Please click here to make a payment on the webstore using your debit/credit card. Check or cash payments can be made at the Julian school office anytime between 8am - 4pm on school days. Please be sure to make your 2023-24 school fee payment by Friday, September 29th.
Calculation Corner
Calculation Corner will be starting up at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5th. Calculation Corner will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays in A213 both before school (8:00-8:50) and after school (3:40-4:30). See Ms. Gunnell to sign up!
Updated Student and Family Handbook for 2023-24
District 97 has updated the Student-Family Handbook for 2023-24. It contains important information regarding school policies, procedures, guidelines, student rights and responsibilities, and notifications required by state and federal law.
The purpose of this handbook is to outline for students, families and staff the expectations for building an educational community where everyone feels safe, included and able to learn. Having shared expectations, procedures and policies helps us respect all members of the school community in which we learn and work every day. Please take the time to read through the handbook and review it with your child.
Food Allergies/Nut-Safe Schools
Nuts and nut products are not allowed in any District 97 schools during the 2023-24 school year. This includes products that are labeled “processed in a facility that shares equipment with nut products.” Our schools have been nut-safe for the past two years—helping to create safer, more inclusive environments for all of our students.
Please visit https://bit.ly/3DZ7dda to access information about the district’s food allergy management program, as well as tips and options for identifying food that is safe for snacks and field trips. We appreciate your support of this important initiative!
Julian Bell Schedules
Calling Your Child In Sick from School
Please support our school nurse by LEAVING A REASON when you call your child in sick from school. Our nurse follows up on every absence call when a specific reason is not provided. If your child is staying home due to reasons unrelated to COVID-19, sharing that information in the message helps the nurse determine whether a call is necessary.
When calling the Julian attendance line at 708-665-3064 or leaving a message on the school office voicemail at 708-524-3040, please slowly state the following:
- Your Name
- Your Child’s First and Last Name
- Your Child’s Grade Level and Advisory Teacher
- Reason for the Absence
- Best phone number to reach you