Christian's Weekly Communication
November 30, 2020
Thank You!
I’d like to extend a warm expression of gratitude for the videos, letters, emails, and thankful expressions that were sent to our teachers and staff. We premiered our YouTube video to all teachers and staff last Tuesday. They were/are beyond grateful for your support. The words of encouragement have inspired them in ways that words cannot measure. Thank you! We’ve posted the video below for your viewing pleasure.
End of the Trimester
The end of Trimester 1 was on November 24th. Please keep in mind that 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 Appointments
Office staff will be available on Tuesday, December 1 from 8:30am - 10:30am, and on Wednesday, December 2 from 2:00pm - 4:00pm so that parents can pick up their students' Trimester 2 materials in the commons.
Grading Policy Reminder
Middle School Grading Policy
As 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).
Student, Family and Teacher Pledge
Students pledge to…
- 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.
Families pledge to…
- 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.
Teachers pledge to…
- 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 Emails
Parents, please remind and encourage students to check their email accounts on a regular basis. Often, teachers and Assistant Principals send students emails that are relative to the uniqueness of their learning experience. If students need help accessing their email, please encourage them to contact their grade level Assistant Principal during their office hours. Office hours can be seen by clicking here.
Over-Communicate & Over-Deliver
Our theme during our Remote 2.0 learning experience and beyond is to over-communicate & over-deliver. To that end, Principal Christian and the Administrative team has established a Julian YouTube channel. To view all videos and get up to date information subscribe to the YouTube channel by clicking here.
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.
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
"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
- Tuesday, December 1: LGBTQ Youth: Understanding and Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lgbtq-youth-understanding-and-supporting-mental-health-and-well-being-tickets-124167752089
- 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
Stamped Family and Community Discussions
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.
The last event will be held 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.
Erin’s Law Parent Session
Percy Julian Middle School
Email: julianinfo@op97.org
Website: op97.org/julian
Location: Julian Middle School, South Ridgeland Avenue, Oak Park, IL, USA
Phone: 708-524-4040