Christian's Weekly Communication
November 21, 2020
Top Secret
Trimester 2 Instructional Materials & Supply Pick-up
Saturday, Nov 21, 2020, 10:00 AM
Percy Julian Middle School (Square Parking Lot)
Author event and Book ordering
What
Author and historian Christopher Lloyd will share his new book, Britannica All New Kids Encyclopedia: What We Know & What We Don't and will do his live quiz show with 6th grade students during Advisory on Friday, November 20. The event will be exciting and interactive! The grand champion of the quizzes will win a free signed copy of the book.
Book ordering
ANYONE can order a copy of the book that will include a signed nameplate. The cost is $24.00 (20% off the cover price and cheaper than Amazon). Students should bring order forms (or first and last name) and payment to the Distribution Day on Saturday, November 21. Here is the order form.
Why an encyclopedia
According to Mr. Lloyd, the real world is more exciting than anything we can make up. Nonfiction is how we connect information together in our minds. This is the first kids' encyclopedia Britannica has published since1984. Instead of alpha order, this encyclopedia is organized into 4 chapters of natural history and 4 chapters of human history. It includes questions we still need the answers to and a quiz at the end of each chapter. This book will provide hours of entertainment for curious knowledge seekers.
Questions? Reach out to Ms. Winchell at jwinchell@op97.org
Thank you!
Julian Come Together!
Julian Readers
End of Trimester
The end of our Trimester will be November 24th. As a reminder, please remember to check your students’ grades via PowerSchool. Remember, summative assessments are worth 90% of a student’s grade. See our Middle School assessment policy below:
- We believe summative assessment is a measurement intended to measure student mastery of expected outcomes at designated checkpoints within and at the end of the unit. Summative assessment is worth 90% of a student’s overall grade. Summative assessments include, but are not limited to the following: quizzes, tests, projects, presentations, and argumentative, narrative and research essays. Summative assessments are a synthesis of understanding of new ideas, criterion-based and common across grade-level content areas.
- We believe formative assessment is a tool that monitors student progress, demonstrates a student’s current level of understanding and identifies individualized student learning needs. Formative assessment is worth 10% of a student’s overall grade. Formative assessments are opportunities for students to practice without penalty to the final grade. (i.e. athletes, artists, musicians practice their craft to prepare for the game, concert, etc.) These include, but are not limited to the following: observation, questioning, discussion, homework, graphic organizers, peer and self-assessment, quizzes, checks for understanding and visual representations. Formative assessment is a tool that encourages self-reflection, both for students and teacher, an opportunity for teachers to provide feedback, and a practice that supports student learning as well as shapes instruction and allows for teachers to make adjustments (e.g. external practice/homework).
- Make every effort to complete and turn in formative work on time and learn from the mistakes made in completing the formative assignments.
- Make every effort to succeed, to their best ability, on the original summative assessments.
- Request to make an additional attempt on a summative assessment to demonstrate learning of missing skills/concepts.
- Actively reflect on learning and when necessary, create reflective and meaningful late/incomplete formative assignment forms and Redo/Retake Forms when requesting to redo/retake a summative assessment.
- Communicate plans to parents and teachers.
- Commit to completing the late/incomplete work or ALP that they have agreed to and within the timelines established.
- Encourage their child to engage in, complete and learn from their mistakes in their formative assignments.
- Encourage their child to use high quality study methods, in hopes of succeeding on the original summative assessments.
- If needed, collaborate with their child on drafting the Alternate Learning Plan to create a study plan that will lead to student success.
- Support their child in meeting deadlines for completing late/incomplete work, as well as redoing/retaking summative assessments.
- Educate parents and students on the Assessment Policy
- Create assessments that measure learning outcomes in a fair and meaningful way.
- Establish time frames for formative and summative assessment completion that is reasonable and ensure the expectations for assessments are understood by the student.
- Advocate for and support students to continue learning, when they have fallen short of minimum expectations. This includes determining why formative work is late and establishing consequences for late work that does not include reduction of the grade but might include notation in PowerSchool, parent contact, before/after school or during lunch meeting, comments on report card that denotes chronic lateness. This also may include coaching the student through drafting a study plan in the ALP form to request redo/retake of summative assessment.
Student, Family and Teacher Pledge
Students pledge to…
Families pledge to…
Teachers pledge to…
Julian Main Office 'Temporary' Office Closure & Information
Attendance and School Related concerns:
Cory Marshall, cmarshall@op97.org, or 708-524-3040, 708-524-7845
School Related Concerns and General Information:
Yulonda Nichols, ynichols@op97.org, or 708-524-3040, 708-524-3010
School Related Concerns, and Financial Information:
Lonya Boose, lboose@op97.org, or 708-524-7846
School Operations, Communication, and Administrative information:
Echelon Jackson, ejackson@op97.org or 708-524-7512
Any and all School information:
You may also contact your students grade level Assistant Principal by clicking here.
**School Related concerns refer to the following: Attendance, PowerSchool, Zoom link operation, grades, etc.
Over-Communicate & Over-Deliver
Student Emails
Virtual Clubs
We are excited to announce that Rainbow Tribe will be back and
running! Our goal is to create a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+
students and allies. Share, listen to, and discuss personal
experiences and events without judgement. We lean on our RT student
leaders and guest speakers to help facilitate conversations. We will
meet every Wednesday after school at 3:35 with our first meeting
starting November 18th.
Please reach out to Mr. Murawski (nmurawski@op97.org) or Mr. Kannan
(akannan@op97.org) for the Zoom link and to learn more information on
how you can help contribute to a more nurturing environment for ALL
students. And remember...If it's Wednesday...It's Rainbow Tribe!
Request for Assistance
DePaul Mindful Middle Schoolers
Mindfulness Matters Program: Resiliency Skills for Anxiety, Depression and Executive Functioning
DePaul University, in partnership with the Oak Park Township Community Mental Health Board and D97, plan to offer the following services and supports to the Holmes & Irving Elementary School communities during the 2020-2021 school year:
- Parent/Student/Staff Community Talks (open to all): Strategies to support executive functioning and self-regulation development based upon brain science; Mindfulness-based strategies and their applications in academic and home environments; Understanding depression in youth and strategies for treatment and support; Understanding anxiety in youth and strategies for treatment and support; Technology and mental health: strategies to promote mindful digital citizenship; exact dates and topics TBD
- 4 & 12-Week Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy Groups: Evidenced-based approach for children with symptoms of anxiety, depression and difficulties with attention. Groups will be delivered during the school day. (referral links)
- Individual and Family Therapy: Individualized counseling services for those children & families needing more tailored support
- All services and supports will be offered virtually at this time
Orson Morrison, Psy.D. (he/him) is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and the Director of the DePaul University Family and Community Services (FCS). He provides clinic oversight, staff training, clinical supervision, and is involved in program development and the evaluation of clinical services at FCS. Dr. Morrison’s professional interests and areas of expertise include psychotherapy with children, adolescents, and families, psychological assessment, contemplative practices, culture and identity, and working within a social justice/empowerment framework. He is also an Oak Park resident and has children at Brooks and OPRFHS. omorriso@depaul.edu
Cary Klemmer, Ph.D., MSW (gender pronouns: He or They) is a licensed social worker and therapist at the DePaul University Family and Community Services Clinic. Cary is a long time practitioner of mindfulness practices like yoga and meditation. Cary is also a member of the LGBTQ community and an advocate for LGBTQ people of all ages. He looks forward to sharing his practice experience with your school community this year! cklemme1@depaul.edu
Erin's Law Information Session for Families
November 2020 Menus and Meal Distributions
November Breakfast/Lunch Menus
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.
Stamped Family and Community Discussions
District 97 students, families and community members are invited to participate in a three-session discussion on the book Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi. Attendees will join together for a presentation followed by discussions in separate breakout rooms.
In conjunction with Brooks and Julian middle schools' fall curriculum read, the sessions will follow along with the chapters being read by students and staff. Breakout sessions will be led by students from Dominican University, who will follow a peace circle format and draw on the Stamped Educator's Guide.
Events will be held:
- Tuesday, Nov. 17 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
- Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register)
These sessions are made possible with the support of: District 97 staff; Oak Park and River Forest School District 200; the Oak Park Public Library; the E-Team of Oak Park; and Dominican University’s Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) group.
Mental Health Wellness Appointments for Students
Continued Social-Emotional Wellness Check-Ins for Students
District 97 school psychologists and nurses have collaborated to offer access to virtual mental health wellness checks at each school this fall. Parents may sign up children for 25-minute Telehealth sessions where they can access an open ear for their sources of stress and learn self-care and coping strategies. Students may attend up to three sessions per trimester and may then be referred for other school-based supports if needed.
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.