Middlematters

District 97 Vision

Oak Park Elementary School District 97 will create a positive learning environment for all students that is equitable, inclusive and focused on the whole child.

International Baccalaureate (IB) Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate® aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.
To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.
These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

PowerSchool and Canvas Parent Access

Please click here to get step by step directions on how to access PowerSchool and Canvas.

PowerSchool

Students should access grades for assignments, projects and tests through PowerSchool (Not Canvas). Canvas is used as a tool to post assignments and related resources to complete the assignments. Occasionally, assignments can be automatically graded via canvas, but the grade reflected in Canvas is not the “official” grade. Grades are accurately recorded in PowerSchool only.

Canvas

Canvas is a Learning Management System (LMS). This program enables teachers, students and families to communicate in a centralized location. Canvas allows teachers to share resources and assignments, offers multiple ways to complete and submit work, and provides a safe place for students to collaborate.

School Wide System Tardy System 

In an effort to support students in developing good habits and being on time for class, we are continuing with our School Wide System for addressing students that have multiple tardy infractions every week. Here are a few reasons “Why” it is important to be on time for class:

1. We can’t learn from our teachers and peers if we are not in class. 
2. Learning objectives are set in the first 3-5 minutes of class so students that show up late miss out on critical material. 
3. Arriving late disrupts the learning of the students that are on time and ready. 

We have been encouraging students to establish a routine and work toward figuring out the best way to navigate the building in order to be on time for class. For students that have difficulty figuring this out, we provide them support by looking at their schedule and determining when they should make stops at their lockers, we help them plan out which route they should take to get from point A to point B, and we remind students to walk and talk so they are moving and not standing around as the minutes go by between classes. If your student needs additional support, please reach out to a teacher or administrator so we work with him/her. Starting next week the following will occur:

• Assistant Principals will track tardy infractions each week.
• Advisory teachers will receive tardy data on Thursday evening or Friday morning.
• Advisory teachers will email the parents/guardians of student(s) that had 5 or more tardy infractions during that week.
• Students with 5 or more tardy infractions will attend a Lunch Reflection session the following week.

This reflection is designed to help the student identify what is causing them to be tardy. The goal is for the student to either determine how he/she can address the issue independently or get support from a staff member. Any support you can provide your student as it relates to being on time for class is appreciated.

School Attendance Matters

In order for students to have a successful day at school, it is vital that they are on time each day.  Ten minutes late might not seem like a lot, but as this table shows, it adds up significantly. 

Author Visit for 6th Grade

6th grade is having an author visit on Wednesday, October 2. Robin Stevenson will come to Julian to talk with our students about her new book Kid Activists: True Tales of Childhood from Champions of Change. 

Thanks to Ms. Winchell, our media center specialist, for organizing this opportunity.

Attention 8th Grade Families - Transition Information from OPRF 

Here is some important information that needs to be shared regarding high school transition events for students and parents in the upcoming months.

School Wide Behavior Expectations

The 3 overarching expectations we have at Julian Middle School is to Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe. Please check out the Julian Middle School Behavior Matrix that has been shared with all of our students and staff. 

Julian Middle School - Communication Flowchart

Please refer to this flowchart when needing to contact someone at school for classroom related questions or issues. There may be times when it is necessary to reach out to a social worker, administrator, attendance clerk, or other personnel. Please start with your child’s teacher if you have a question about academics or any other matter that occurred within the classroom. 

Upcoming Events:

Monday, September 16 - PTO Meeting

Have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Dr. Todd Fitzgerald

Principal, Julian Middle School

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