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November 22, 2020
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Happy (Virtual) Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 23 -
B day
No School Wednesday - Friday

Dear Parents and Guardians:

We hope most families were able to get their school materials for Trimester 2 on Saturday. Julian appreciates the patience that many exhibited in the long car line. If you were unable to pick up materials, please call the school (708-524-3040) to make arrangements. Trimester 2 starts right after Thanksgiving Break.

Check out this week's video message from Principal Christian. 

Remember to take a few minutes with your student to send a digital thank you note to their teachers (details below).

Check out Julian CAST performances virtually on Monday and Tuesday (details below).

Who wants to cook the day before Thanksgiving? No one! Order from Cuzzo's - Julian's ardent supporter on Wednesday, November 25 - and 10% of proceeds will go to the Julian PTO. Just mention Julian when you order. 

The D97 Superintendent Advisory Panel for Return-to-School planning continues to meet. Read the My D97 Wrap-up from Friday for all the details about last week's meeting and next steps. 

Please remember that your PTO is here for you. We have established Jayhawk Support for families in need. See below for more details and click here to fill out the confidential form if you are in need. If you desire to contribute to the funds, email ptojulian@gmail.com

Important Topics Include:
  • Buy from Cuzzo's on Wednesday and Support the PTO
  • Send a Thank You eCard to your Teachers
  • CAST Virtual Performances this Monday and Tuesday
  • Holiday Shop at the Julian Spiritwear Store
  • Mindful Middle Schoolers Community Talk focused on LGBTQ Youth on Dec 1
  • Student Clubs This Week
  • Reminder: Meals are Provided FREE to Any D97 Student
  • Jayhawk Support from the PTO Helps Families in Need
  • Erin's Law Session for Parents Dec 8th
  • Spanish Tutoring Available
Please stay safe, socially distant, and healthy over Thanksgiving break. COVID-19 numbers are increasing in Oak Park. We must all do our part by wearing masks and minimizing our interactions with those outside our households, despite the hardship of not sharing the holiday with our families and friends. 

Do you know someone who needs to be added to our newsletter email list? Go to the PTO website and sign up on the homepage. Have questions? Email us at ptojulian@gmail.com. Use this new email address to easily contact the school: julianinfo@op97.org.
 
- Your Julian PTO Executive Council
 
THIS WEEK
Mon = B Day  /  Tues  = A Day
NO SCHOOL Wed, Thurs or Fri
See full schedule here
 
This Wednesday - Buy Cuzzo's and Support the PTO

This month's Cuzzo's Dining Day in support of the Julian PTO is Wednesday, November 25th. Reference the Julian PTO when you order and we'll receive 10% of the proceeds. Thanks for supporting this great establishment - and the PTO! And who wants to cook the night before Thanksgiving anyway??!! You will find Cuzzo's at 330 W. Madison Street (708-386-8200) and you can order online via GrubHub.

Help the PTO Express Gratitude to our Teachers
Teachers have greatly appreciated the messages sent so far by students and parents. Please continue to spread the love! Remote Learning has been a huge adjustment for everyone and the teachers are those acting as the glue keeping us all together. Any gesture will be very much appreciated. There are a number of websites that offer free virtual greeting cards. Here are a few:

American Greetings
Blue Mountain
Evite
Greeting Island
Smilebox

Please help us shower the teachers and staff with positive messages during the month of November. We have seen incredible dedication, hard work, creativity, ingenuity, and enthusiasm and want to acknowledge those efforts!

Percy Julian teacher and staff email addresses can be found here.

Thank you in advance for partnering with the PTO to help show our gratitude! 
CAST Performances this Monday and Tuesday 
CAST has had an amazing time working on Zoom with 6-8th grade students at Julian these last six weeks. These THOUGHTFUL productions are ripped from the curriculum here at Julian, but they have had an even DEEPER RESONANCE for a student community that finds itself in the midst of massive cultural change and global pandemic.  These stories feature OPTIMISTIC young people who are role models of RESILIENCE just like the amazing Julian students who portray them, but you don't have to take our word for it, you can see for yourself.  

CAST Performances of The Diary of Anne Frank and Aftershock will be broadcast on showtix4u.com and you can get your tickets today. Click below to order tickets for


The Diary of Anne Frank (Monday, November 23rd, 7:30 pm)
Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett's play is based on the true story of a young Jewish girl who kept a diary of her time hiding from the Nazis in an attic of her father's office during World War II.


Aftershock (Tuesday, November 24, 7:30 pm)
In the aftermath of Katrina, two young people struggle to survive in the face of extreme disaster. In 1945 Belgium, an adolescent Jewish girl struggles to maintain her identity and dignity. And, in the Congo, a girl faces situations that stretch beyond the devastating and into the unspeakable. What ties these stories together? Aftershock!

Important Notes
  • Shows will only be available once and will be broadcast (like live TV) starting at 7:30PM, if you join late you will join the show in progress (just like in the Julian Auditorium)
  • For each $10 ticket you are given one secure broadcast link, if two people try to use it, the first link shuts off so buy as many "tickets" as you have screens on which you would like the show to run.
  • If you have a large family watching on one screen - please consider buying a family ticket for $15 or making a donation to CAST. Simply put, your support is why we are still here people so don't stop now!
Email Kathy Simon with any questions.
Holiday Shop at the Julian Spiritwear Store!
Find some goodies for the holidays at the new Julian Spiritwear Store. This year we are partnering with ShabbyFly, a local, Black-owned Oak Park-based business. They provide spiritwear to several D97 schools, including Julian feeder schools Beye, Longfellow and Mann. Adding Julian spiritwear to your closet is a great way to show your school spirit and support our PTO. ShabbyFly will handle all of the sales and customer service. We are excited about this vendor because….
  • The store will remain open all year, which is great for holidays and birthdays
  • Shipping is a flat rate $3.50 per order
  • All orders are contactless and delivery is within 10 business days of order.
Click here to purchase. Questions? Contact ptojulian@gmail.com.

  
"Mindful Middle-Schoolers" Community Talks on LGBTQ and Anxiety
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. The “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program” will offer staff training, parent workshops, groups and counseling for middle school students in Oak Park during the 2020-21 school year. To learn more about the program and upcoming virtual talks for parents, visit https://bit.ly/2SK0xIo.

Below is a list of upcoming community talks for parents, students and staff.
  • Tuesday, December 1 (6-7:15 pm): LGBTQ Youth: Understanding and Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being. Register here. 
  • Wednesday, December 9 (6-7:15 pm): Understanding Anxiety in Youth and Strategies for Treatment and Support Register here. 

Student Clubs This Week
Some of the regular Julian clubs are back in operation. Keep reading Mr. Christian's weekly newsletters as this list gets updated. 

Best Buddies: Every Other Week, Wednesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Follow this Zoom Link to access the next meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd.

Rainbow Tribe: Wednesdays, 3:35 pm, Starting November 18
Please reach out to Mr. Murawski (nmurawski@op97.org) or Mr. Kannan (akannan@op97.org) for the Zoom link for the next meeting on Wednesday, December 2nd.

Chorus: Do, Re, Mi's - Mondays at 8 am; Men's Ensemble - Thursdays at 8 am; Jukebox - Fridays at 8 am
Jukebox has a special practice this week on Tuesday morning at 8 am.
 
FREE Meals for ALL D97 Students
Meal distribution details can be found here. FREE Meals will be distributed on Tuesdays for the first trimester. Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches. 

Remaining November Meal Distribution Day
Tuesday, November 24 

Pickup for Julian and feeder schools is at Longfellow Elementary School (715 S. Highland Avenue) between 10:30 am and 1 pm.  Can't make our meal distribution day or time? Email District 97 Food Services Coordinator Carla Ellis at cellis@op97.org.
Jayhawk Support from the PTO is here!
The Julian PTO is committed to supporting ALL of our students and families to succeed and thrive. Our primary goal this year is to ensure families have the support they need to get through the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning. If your family is in need of any school supplies, food, toiletries, clothing, etc., Jayhawk Support is here for you! Complete this confidential form and you will be contacted by the Wellness team to help meet your needs.

Please note: There are some limitations to the support Jayhawk Support can provide. We will make every effort to help connect families with local resources if needed. We take your privacy very seriously. Only the Julian PTO Wellness team will have access to personal information.

Want to help Jayhawk Support? If you would like to contribute to our fund, you can let us know by emailing julianptowellness@gmail.com
Erin's Law Session for Parents, Dec 8, 6 pm

District 97 will host a virtual Erin's Law session for families on Tuesday, December 8, from 6 - 7 pm. "Erin's Law," or Illinois Public Act 097-1147, requires all public schools to implement a prevention-oriented program that teachers students in pre-kindergarten through 12th grade age-appropriate techniques for recognizing sexual abuse and ways to tell a trusted adult. The program also includes training for school personnel, and provides education and resources to parents and guardians. The virtual parent session will be facilitated by Laura Daily, an education prevention and policy specialist from the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center.

Zoom Details
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84863023311?pwd=dlVNSmhQcDR1TXJNdFltQXV6QW45Zz09
Meeting ID: 848 6302 3311
Passcode: 816221
One Tap Mobile: +13126266799,,84863023311# US (Chicago)
 
Assistant Principal Web Pages: Attend Office Hours!
Check out the new Assistant Principal main webpage here. When you click on your student's AP, you will find their contact information and office hours, including their Zoom link. Mr. Christian wants all staff to "overcommunicate and overdeliver" this year - take advantage of this opportunity to be in direct contact with your grade-level administrative leader.

6th Grade - Jerome Green
7th Grade - William Lee
8th Grade - Chemaine Carr
Spanish tutoring is back and remote!
If your student needs Spanish tutoring, the Spanish teachers area available for free tutoring. The schedule during remote learning is as follows:

LUNES (Monday) (AM): Señora Bultas
MARTES (Tuesday) (AM) : Señora Villalobos
JUEVES (Thursday) (PM) : Señora Hoskins
VIERNES (Friday) (AM): Señora Alberttis
 
AM Tutoring will be from 8:15 to 8:45 am. PM tutoring will be from 3:35-4:05 pm. Click here to join.
 

Julian Main Office Staff are Temporarily Remote
Due to the high and excessive COVID19 positivity rate, Percy Julian Middle School’s Office and Administrative staff have moved to the teleworking phase of operation for the next two weeks. In order to continue to provide communication and support to parents, guardians, and students, please contact the following staff as you need:

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:
julianinfo@op97.org

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.


Consider Donating to the Holiday Food & Gift Basket 2020 Program

Due to the pandemic, the Oak Park community Holiday Food & Gift Basket program has been re-imagined – but more in demand than ever. Please donate to support this great cause if you can. In lieu of gifts, recipients will receive a Target gift card to purchase any items needed at the time. Organizers anticipate supporting approximately 2,000 people this year, including at least 45 families from the Julian community. (Please note that Jessie Fenske, LCSW, Julian School Social Worker, asked to include this item.) Go here to contribute.
 
Community Conversations about Stamped
Our students are reading Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You by Jason Reynolds and Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, and, if there were ever a time for us to do the same homework as our children, this is it. D97 is hosting a three-session discussion on the book during which attendees will join together for a presentation followed by discussions in separate breakout rooms. Check out this flyer for additional information.

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. Participants must register using the links provided on the library's website.
  • Session 3: Tuesday, Dec. 1 - 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. (click here to register; you do NOT have to have attended the first two to attend this one)
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.
D97 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. Sign up or learn more about these services here.
 
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.
 
We're still collecting Box Tops for Education & download the app! 
If you have collected Box Tops for Education, please email our Box Tops coordinator, Lori Churchouse, to arrange a time to drop off the Box Tops, as Julian staff wants to limit the number of visitors to the school. If you purchase products with Box Tops, download the app to make sure they count for Julian in the future. It's now as simple as scanning your receipt. 
Technology Roundup
  • Help Desk: If your student is having issues with their Chromebook, including connectivity issues, email the D97 Help Desk at helpdesk@op97.org. This will set up an official Help Desk Ticket and allow a D97 staff person to respond and help resolve the problem. 
  • Canvas and Powerschool Guidance: Those new to Julian or even those with years of experience in the school may want to become familiar with Canvas and Powerschool. Follow this link to parent guides to both platforms. If you missed the Parent University calls with some of the same details, check out the list of Parent University videos from calls held on August 13th for additional information. 

PTO Meeting Schedule

Hey parents and guardians, YOU are the P in PTO!  We need your ideas to help us develop the best possible ideas for helping make this year a success. Email the PTO at ptojulian@gmail.com to toss your hat in the ring and give us a little bit of your time. Even just a little bit helps! And, please mark your calendar for our bimonthly meetings. 
  • Wednesday, January 13, 7:15 pm (zoom)
  • Wednesday, March 3, 7:15 pm (zoom)
  • Wednesday, May 5, 7:15 pm (zoom)

Julian PTO Executive Council Members
Co-Presidents: Michele Gurgas & Dave Gullo
Co-VPs of Programming: Sara Yount & Monnette Bariel
Co-VPs of Communications: Jennifer Alten & Alison Welch
Co-VPs of Green/Wellness: Doug Chien (Green) & Meredith Farster (Wellness)
Treasurer: Jamie Howe
Secretary: Susan Raphael
Volunteer Coordinator: Looking for 1 more volunteer
VP of Fundraising: Position Open
VP of Diversity/Inclusion: Position Open

Key Dates
2020-21 School Calendar

D97 Board Meetings
(Virtual, 7 pm)
Tues, Dec 1
Tues, Dec 15

Meal Distribution
(10:30 am -1 pm at Longfellow Elementary)
Nov Breakfast and Lunch Menus
Nov 24

Mon, Nov 23
CAST The Diary of Anne Frank Performance (7:30 pm)

Tues, Nov 24
Special Jukebox Practice (8 am)
CAST Aftershock Performance (7:30 pm)
End of Trimester 1

Wed, Nov 25
Cuzzo's Pizza night

Wed, Nov 25 - Fri Nov 27
NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)

Mon, Nov 30
Trimester 2 Begins

Tues, Dec 1
Stamped Community Conversation (6-7:30 pm)
Mindful Middle-Schoolers: LGBTQ Youth (6-7:15 pm)

Wed, Dec 2
Best Buddies (3:30 - 4:30 pm)
Rainbow Tribe (3:35 pm)

Wed, Dec 9
Mindful Middle-Schoolers: Understanding Anxiety (6-7:15 pm)

Fri, Dec 11
Report Card Distribution

Wed, Dec 23
HALF DAY

Dec 24 through Jan 8
WINTER BREAK

Mon, Jan 11
School Resumes

Remote Learning Links

Trimester 1 Remote Learning A/B Day Calendar

A/B Day Schedules by Grade

Help Desk Email: helpdesk@op97.org

Julian Remote Learning Page

D97 Parent University

PowerSchool and Canvas Parent Guides

D97 Remote Learning Page

Principal Christian's Parent Communication

MyD97 Weekly Wrap Up Newsletter

Covid-19 Links

D97 Coronavirus Update Center

D97 Let's Talk Page for Asking the District Questions about COVID-19

Oak Park Township COVID-19 Social Services Resource Guide


Village of Oak Park Coronavirus Resources

Oak Park Coronavirus Citizen Response Facebook Group


Designate Percy Julian School PTO as your organization for Amazon Smile. The PTO will receive 0.5% of your total purchase, at no expense to you. Please share this link with friends and relatives.
Digitally Collect Box Tops!  They help support our students, teachers and staff at Julian. If you have collected Box Tops for Education, please email our Box Tops coordinator, Lori Churchouse, to arrange a time to drop off the Box Tops, as Julian staff wants to limit the number of visitors to the school. If you purchase products with Box Tops, download the app to make sure they count for Julian in the future. It's now as simple as scanning your receipt. Use the new online process by downloading the Box Tops App
 
Percy Julian Middle School Parents Facebook Group Page
Comments? Questions? Click here for comments and questions regarding this newsletter or to submit items for inclusion in the newsletter.  
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