The Only Thing Constant in Life is Change
- Heraclitis
6th Graders - IAR Testing (M-Th)
7th Graders - Remote (M-F)
8th Graders - ISA Testing (M-W) and Hybrid (Th)
Monday is an A day
Dear Parents and Guardians:
There are many changes on the horizon and many key events to add to your calendars. We hope this newsletter continues to prove a helpful tool in the toolkit of managing your and your middle schoolers' lives during this continued pandemic.
- Monday, April 26 - Parent Information Nights (6 pm - Remote families, 7:15 pm - Hybrid families) (Zoom link to meetings)
- Monday, April 26 - Graduation Photos for Hybrid 8th Graders (must wear cap and gown)
- Tuesday, April 27 - Makeup Photos for 8th Graders (Remote - 9:30-11:15 am, Hybrid 11:15 - 12:30)
- Tuesday, April 27 - D97 Board Meeting, 7 pm
- Thursday and Friday, April 29 and 30 - PCR Covid Testing (4-8 pm)
- Monday, May 3 - All Hybrid Students are In Person (all grades)
- Friday, May 7 - NO SCHOOL (Remote Planning Day)
This letter contains all of the details for what to do/bring for the students who are taking tests in person.
The most recent Jayhawk Support Giving Campaign raised $3,063!
Jayhawk Support is Julian PTO's way to helping our students and families in need. After we depleted our initial funds, we ran a new campaign to raise money - and we appreciate all who contributed. 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.
Final PTO Meeting: Wednesday, May 5, 7:15 - 8:45 pm
Save the date for our last public PTO meeting of the 2020-21 school year. We look forward to a fun meeting in which we hope to feature student projects. We will also discuss open positions, this year's accomplishments, and the transition to the 2021-22 school year. Attend here.
Take an active role in the PTO next year!
Every parent and guardian is a PTO member - but we can't do what we do without active volunteers. The Julian PTO is a welcoming, highly functional and drama-free group committed to making the school a better place for our kids and teachers. Even if you only have a few hours to give over the course of a year, WE NEED YOU! We want to faces of PTO volunteers to reflect the diversity of our community, so please join us. Email ptojulian@gmail.com.
News You Can Use (See Below)
- Reserve Julian library books online
- Student club reminders
- Reminder: Morning Announcements
- D97 Parent-to-Parent Circle on April 29
- D97 childcare scholarships available
- Shop at the Julian Spiritwear Store
- Support CAST by buying a CAST face mask
- Meals are provided FREE to any D97 student
- Jayhawk Support program
- D97 Social/Emotional Wellness Check-ins for Students
- Julian office staff & assistant principal contact information
Don't stop thanking our teachers! They need it!
We've heard from several teachers about how the outreach from parents has helped me get through this incredibly challenging year. Keep sending thanks! These small gestures go a long way and will help the year end with a bang not a fizzle! Just a little note here and there from you and/or your student about what you/they appreciate.
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/Wed/Fri - A Days / Tues/Thurs - B Days.
6th Grade IAR Testing Week
7th Grade Remote Week
8th Grade ISA Testing/Hybrid Week
Find the printable calendar here.
Check Out Julian Library Books Online - It's Easy
Julian students and families! Any student (hybrid, testing, or remote) can put a hold on Julian Library books for check-out. Follow these directions. Please check out books! If you have questions, email Ms. Winchell, Julian librarian.
8th Grade is Hybrid this Week
This week, the 8th 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.
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)
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.
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, 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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 