Jayhawk Weekly Communication
March 10, 2024
*PLEASE NOTE: The school office will close at 4:00 p.m. on Monday, March 18th.*
No School on 3/19 and Spring Break is 3/25 - 3/29.
2024-25 Registration Required
ATTENTION ALL 6th AND 7th GRADE PARENTS:
Online registration for the 2024-25 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 web site: www.op97.org/registration.
Returning Students
Registration for returning District 97 students will be open March 5 - April 19. 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. 22. Please click the links below to learn more about the registration process for kindergarteners and new students.
In order to register your student, you must be the custodial parent/guardian and currently reside in Oak Park. Students who are registering for kindergarten for the 2024-25 school year must be at least 5 years old and must be born on or before Sept. 1, 2019.
We appreciate your partnership in preparing for a successful 2024-25 school year!
Ramadan
Many Muslims who observe Ramadan will be fasting from approximately sunrise on Sunday, March 10 to sunset on Tuesday, April 9. As a result of fasting, students may have decreased levels of energy and in-class participation, and/or may need to be excused from extracurricular activities at sundown in order to observe evening prayers and/or break the fast. Parents/Guardians whose families will be observing it, should complete This Form. We can then communicate to your child's teachers if any accommodations need to be made during this time. Thank you.
Jayhawks soar again!
The Julian Jazz Ensemble earned a Division 1 top rating last month at a competition in Rolling Meadows! Over 50 middle school and high schools throughout the Chicagoland area competed at this event. Shout out to those recognized as Outstanding Performers: Sydney K. (trombone), Spencer M. (guitar), and Noah S. (piano). Outstanding job, Mr. Kanwisher and the entire Julian Jazz Ensemble. We are Jayhawk proud of you!
Percy Julian - Innovator and Entrepreneur
The Julian Legacy Museum
Special thanks to the Oak Park Public Library for hosting an amazing exhibit on Dr. Percy Julian earlier this year inside their "Idea Box". Recently, the Julian Student Leadership Team was able to take an informative field trip to the main branch and have a library liaison discuss the various pieces selected for the collection. Students learned new bits of information about Dr. Julian, his wife Anna, and his many contributions to society, as well as his contributions to the Oak Park community. Thanks Ms. Eble and Mr. Lee for leading the SLT group on the trek and introducing the students to more of Dr. Julian's truly unique legacy.
Thursday, 3/14, is Pi Day!
JAYHAWK REMINDERS:
Testing Reminders
IAR Makeups and ISA Testing
IAR Makeup testing will take place on 3/12, 3/14, 3/15 and 4/4 for all grade level students that missed their ELA or Math testing last week. Also, for 8th graders, they will take their ISA testing on 3/21 and 3/22. If you have any questions regarding makeups or ISA testing, please contact Ms. Butler at tbutler@op97.org. Students should be bringing fully charged chromebooks to school each day.
IAR and ISA Communications Toolkit 2024
This is a reminder that we are continuing with testing this week at Julian with IAR Make ups. Students should bring earbuds or headphones that compatible with their chromebooks (air pods do not work with the chromebooks and students will not be able to utilize their cell phones during the testing sessions).
- District-wide communication that the Communications Department sent to all families grades 3 to 8 on Friday, Feb. 16.
- 5 Things You Need to Know About IAR (one-page Info sheet for families)
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.
Contact Ms. Butler at tbutler@op97.org if you have any questions.
March 20th is a J Day
Schedule change - 3/20 is now a J Day (not a B Day)!
- The school office closes at 4pm on Monday, March 18th.
- Institute Day is Tues, March 19th (no school for students).
- Wednesday, March 20th is a J day.
- The final day of school before Spring Break begins is on Friday, March 22nd and it is a full day of classes.
Don't forget: Let Your Voice be Heard!
We encourage you to take the Illinois 5Essentials Survey between now and March 29, 2024: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/.
Thank you for participating in this important endeavor and for your continued support of our schools and the children we serve.
Spring Break Youth Camp
D97, Triton College & Fellowship Community Services host "College for Kids"
Triton College, in partnership with District 97 and Fellowship Community Services, is hosting a “College for Kids” Spring Break Youth Camp during spring break (March 25-28, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.).
The program offers students the opportunity to choose one major and one minor area of study to focus on throughout the week. They will receive direct instruction from content experts while participating in hands-on activities. Check out the program flyer (available in English and Spanish) for more details.
Please register today! Space in the program is limited; students will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
District 97 reminders
Acceleration Opportunities in District 97
District 97's Single Subject and Whole Grade Level Acceleration process for students for the 2024-25 school year opens 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:
Single subject acceleration
Whole grade acceleration
In accordance with the Illinois Accelerated Placement Act, District 97 has continued to refine procedures to ensure equitable access to acceleration opportunities for all students. Continuing this year: all students who are grade eligible to take the Illinois Assessment for Readiness (IAR) must participate in the assessment in order to be deemed eligible for acceleration. The IAR is a critically important measure in determining the mastery of grade level standards and must be considered by the school team along with other sources of data.
Applications for single-subject and whole-grade acceleration will be accepted from March 1 to May 15 of each school year. The general process is outlined HERE.
Information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program, including definitions and timelines, can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration.
Health Office
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
Reporting Absences
ATTENDANCE LINE INFORMATION
*PLEASE GIVE THE REASON FOR YOUR STUDENT'S ABSENCE*
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