Did you change your clocks?
6th graders - Hybrid
7th and 8th graders - Remote
Monday is an A day
Dear Parents and Guardians:
This week, the 6th graders who chose hybrid are back in the building. If families have questions about the logistics, read this week's newsletter from Mr. Christian or keep reading for more details and links.
If you're considering traveling out of town for spring break, be sure to review these expectations for all D97 students and staff who travel. Please do your part to avoid a COVID-19 resurgence and keep all of us safe.
Did you miss our Trimester 3 supply distribution? No worries, the school will be distributing these bags to students during their hybrid week. If your student is not participating in the hybrid experience, please pick up your students bag during normal office hours, 8am-3:45 p.m. Monday-Friday. Also, you can contact the main office at 708-524-3040 for additional information.
News You Can Use:
- 6th grade hybrid details & links
- OPEF Spoken Word Club is back!
- Liked the 8th Grade author visit with Benjamin Dreyer? Order signed copy here.
- Student club reminders
- Reminder: Morning Announcements
- D97 Parent-to-Parent Circles
- D97 childcare scholarships available
- Support CAST by buying a CAST face mask
- Shop at the Julian Spiritwear Store
- Free D97 social-emotional wellness check-ins for students
- Meals are provided FREE to any D97 student
- Julian office staff & assistant principal contact information
- Jayhawk Support program
- OPRFHS Huskies Booster Club info for 8th grade families
LAST CALL! Email Photos with Blanket/Gift Card
The PTO would like to collect photos of students enjoying the items purchased through the anonymous donation as a way to thank the donor. Please email a photo to us that captures how they are enjoying the blanket and the purchases made with their gift cards. Those who submit a photo will be entered into a drawing for Julian spirit wear with one winner per grade! (Student's face does not need to be in the photo.) Email photos to ptojulian@gmail.com by March 15th.
Fundraising for Jayhawk Support Program
Thank You. We have raised over $1,800 from you, our Julian community, to help us continue the Jayhawk Support Program. This program has been run by our VP of Wellness Meredith Farster in partnership with the school social work team. We have almost exhausted our $6,000 budget by helping families who are in need during this difficult time. Check out this flyer for more details and make an online donation here (or mail a check - details on the flyer). All donations made to the PTO between now and March 31st will go directly to this program.
Please keep the letters and notes of gratitude and encouragement to the teachers coming.
They really appreciate it! They are working hard to adjust to new teaching methods, new technology, and a new environment when working the hybrid weeks. The PTO has arranged some goodies for them at Julian, including individually packaged snacks and drinks, including supporting local businesses L!VE Cafe and The Buzz Cafe.
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
A Day: Mon/Wed/Fri / B Day: Tues/Thurs
6th Grade Hybrid Week
Find the printable calendar here.
OPEF Spoken Word Club is Back for Trimester 3!
Nearly a year after we had to put our in-person Spoken Word club on hold, we're thrilled to invite students back for a spring season of creativity and self-expression. Please click here to register for the Oak Park Education Foundation's Spoken Word Club 2021, hosted at the Oak Park Art League (720 Chicago Ave)! Club will meet in person every Tuesday, starting March 16 (including Spring Break week on March 30) and will be led by our poet-artist Mo Santiago and at least one other OPEF staff member or D97 teacher. We will be able to accommodate 20 poets from both middle schools to start, in socially distanced spaces inside the gallery and in the courtyard outside. Our intention is to open up more spaces as COVID guidelines (and the weather) allow.
Liked the 8th Grade Author Visit? Order His Book Here
Benjamin Dreyer visited the 8th graders last week. His bestseller Dreyer's English, now adapted for young readers, is "an informative and witty guide to writing and grammar, written especially for a younger audience; it entertains as well as instructs.
Anyone can purchase a signed copy of Dreyer's book. Book purchases are how we are able to have authors visit us from Anderson's for free. Order at this link and select "pick up" and "school pick-up." Orders will be delivered to Julian and then to you. Contact Ms. Winchell with any questions.
D97 Parent-to-Parent Circle Series
District 97 families are invited to join an upcoming Virtual Parent-to-Parent Series, which will be facilitated in partnership with the E-Team of Oak Park. Events will be held:
- Thursday, March 18, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
- Thursday, April 29, from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The sessions are designed to build community among District 97 parents and guardians and provide support as we navigate hybrid learning. The intention is for parents/guardians to attend all three sessions to help build a consistent community, but if you cannot make the first session you may still attend the others. Please let D97 know your availability in the registration form so that we can plan accordingly. The deadline to register is Tuesday, Feb. 16. Sign up here.
Morning Announcements
This Monday, morning announcements are back. Principals and students will lead live announcements everyday on zoom. Check this link at 9 am daily for Morning Announcements.
Student Clubs
Some student clubs continue to operate virtually.
Rainbow Tribe: Wednesdays, 3:30 - 4:30 pm via zoom (contact Mr. Murawski or Mr. Kannan for details)
Best Buddies: Every other Wednesday, 3:30 - 4:30 pm via zoom (next meeting is Feb 10, contact Ms. Kiska- for details)
Morning Choirs: Do Re Mi's (Mon), Jukebox (Fri), and Men's Ensemble (Thu) meet weekly at 8 am (contact Mr. Seymour for details)
Yearbook Club: Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 pm (contact Ms. Guarino for details)
Investment Club: Tuesdays: 3:35-4:20 Zoom link. (Contact Mr. O'Brien, Ms. Gunnell, or Mr. Apostol for more information.)
Social Justice Club: Thursdays, 3:30 - 4:30 pm (contact Ms. Harris for details)
6th Grade is Hybrid this Week
This week, the 7th graders are back for the hybrid week. Check out this Hybrid Learning Checklist for (All) Parents/Guardians for more information, as well as the updated A/B Schedule which notes the hybrid weeks by grade. See more details about Julian's hybrid plan here. Learn more about how D97 is assessing COVID-19 metrics. If you have additional concerns, reach out to your student's Assistant Principal or Mr. Christian.
Support CAST by Buying Face Mask
Show your love and support of CAST with our new face mask! Buy your mask here! These custom-made face masks are designed and created by CAST Costume Designer, Rex Booth, so you know they're fabulous! Each 100% cotton mask has an unwoven filter and is machine washable. Purchases will be delivered to Oak Park addresses only. Delivery not available outside of Oak Park. Masks cost $15 each. All proceeds of face mask sales benefit CAST.
Eighth grade parents: OPRF Booster Club
Looking for a way to get involved at OPRF next year? Looking for Huskie Spirit-wear for your incoming freshman? Check out the Huskie Boosters page.
D97 Childcare Scholarships Available for Families
In order to provide additional support during the COVID-19 pandemic, District 97 is offering financial assistance to qualifying families who participate in childcare programs through the Park District of Oak Park and Hephzibah. For families who currently receive free or reduced lunch, the district will continue to cover 100% of the daily program fee.
During Trimester 2, District 97 will also offer scholarships based on family income level.
- For families with incomes below $65,000 per year, the district will cover 100% of the daily program fee.
- For families with incomes between $65,000 and $99,999, the district will cover 50% of the daily program fee.
Click here for more details about the childcare scholarships.
FREE Meals for ALL D97 Students
Meal distribution details can be found here. FREE Meals will be distributed on Tuesdays . Each bag of food will contain five breakfasts and five lunches.
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.
Shop the Julian Spiritwear Store!
Show your school spirt at the new Julian Spiritwear Store. ShabbyFly will handle all of the sales and customer service.
- 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.
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
Julian Main Office Staff Contact Info
If you need assistance, here is contact information for Julian's office staff:
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.
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
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.
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, 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
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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, 
Percy Julian Middle School Parents 