Christian's Weekly Communication
December 7, 2020
“Integrity is choosing courage over comfort; choosing what is right over what is fun, fast, or easy; and choosing to practice our values rather than simply professing them.” ―Brené Brown
Report Cards
Report Cards
Please keep in mind that final Trimester 1 grades will be posted to your child’s PowerSchool portal on Friday, December 11th.
Self-Care Wednesday (Advisory Schedule)
Throughout the Remote Learning 2.0 process we’ve continually evaluated our areas of strengths and future areas of improvement. We have encouraged our students, parents, and teachers to participate in several surveys to gauge areas that we might need to enhance and/or modify in order to continue within our effective and efficient instruction. Attached are the results from parents, students, and teachers regarding the amount of screen time that is had per day.
Our Culture and Climate Team, which includes parent and student input, discussed a way for us to allow students to have their Wednesday Advisory class free to focus on Self Care and Wellness activities. In order to minimize the amount of screen time for both students and teachers we will alter our Wednesday Advisory class. Starting this Wednesday, December 2, 2020, we will move to what is entitled Self-Care Wednesday.
In essence students and teachers will utilize each Wednesday to provide self-care for themselves. On Wednesday’s students will not report to advisory but will instead spend time in the activity they have chosen. In order to account for attendance students must complete the form provided by their teachers before their regularly scheduled advisory time on Wednesday. Failure to complete this form will result in being marked absent from the Wednesday Advisory class.
Please click here for detailed information regarding this modification.
You may also contact Mr. Jerome Green, Assistant Principal (jgreen@op97.org) if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Office Hours
Dear Julian families,
Unfortunately, at this time, Region 10 still exceeds the thresholds set for establishing mitigation measures under the state’s Restore Illinois Resurgence Plan. Therefore, in order to maintain the safety and good health of our staff, our administrators and school office staff will continue to work remotely until January 2021.
If you should need to come to the school office for records information or for another reason between December 7 - January 12, you must use this google form to set an appointment time. Please allow 24 hours’ notice, as our office staff is working remotely and will confirm your appointment time within 1-2 business days.
We thank you in advance for your understanding. If you have any questions, please contact us at julianinfo@op97.org.
Winter Break is Approaching!
STARS
STARS
Students Taking Action Regarding Success (STARS) is an affinity group for students of
color in the middle school space. STARS provides a safe space where students can build
connections, process difficult moments that occur in the classroom and the broader Oak
Park community. Students will receive support and affirmation in a setting with other
middle school aged children that share in similar experiences. The goal of STARS is to
be an outlet in implementing change in the middle afterschool space. STARS provides
students with essential leadership skills such as: positive identity development, self-
advocacy, empowerment and social awareness. The intention of STARS is to be a space
where students can authentically be themselves and express themselves.
Students will share their personal experiences/reflections with the goal of becoming
advocates for themselves and each other. Student reflection will work in tandem with
the STARS curriculum that has been developed to intricately weave together the
experiences of minority students. Our focus is for youth to develop skills of recognizing,
communicating and negotiating situations they perceive as unjust in school or in the
broader Oak Park Community. The ultimate plan is to create a map to solve issues that
pertain to the population of students that are disproportionately being affected by the
racial inequities that has created an opportunity gap in the Oak Park community.
Sidika Balogun, MSW (she/her/hers)
Program Coordinator
Email: sbalogun@yemba-inc.org
Phone:(708) 719-6702 ex: 02
Follow us on Facebook@ YembaInc
Erin's Law Information Session for Families
Next Meal D97 Meal Distribution: Tuesday, Dec. 8
Meals will be provided free of cost this fall to any District 97 student in need. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.
Meal distributions will be held every Tuesday, from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Longfellow Elementary School (for Julian and feeder schools), 715 S. Highland Ave., and Brooks Middle School (for Brooks and feeder schools), 325 S. Kenilworth Ave.
Continued Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students
To sign up or learn more about these services, please visit https://bit.ly/3m3Xece.
If your child is experiencing an immediate mental health crisis, please do not use this service and instead call the Thrive 24-Hour Crisis Hotline at 708-383-7500. You may also refer to this local resource guide created by the Community Mental Health Board of the Oak Park Township.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Program
The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Elementary School District 97, and DePaul University’s Community Counseling Center have partnered to deliver a vast array of educational and therapeutic services to staff, families, and youth through the “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program.” Below is a list of upcoming VIRTUAL talks, which will be held via Zoom. Registration via the Eventbrite links below is requested. Once you register, a link will be emailed to you four hours prior to the start of each event.
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Community Talk Flyer
- Wednesday, December 9: Understanding Anxiety in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support https://www.eventbrite.com/e/understanding-anxiety-in-youth-and-strategies-for-treatment-and-support-tickets-124168632723