Come Together Event - Thursday, February 20
Join us as we continue a campaign of kindness and connection at Julian! Our goal is to connect school families, strengthen relationships between families, teachers, and staff, and make the school a place where every student gets what they need to succeed. For our second event, we’re excited to create a space for families and teachers to enjoy a meal together and join a conversation in circle that is topic specific. A few circles we will offer based on feedback are:
Transition to High School, Navigating Special Education/IEPs, Newcomer Families, and affinity circles for African-American families. We’ll also have general circles for families who just want to meet others in the Julian community.
Circles are created based on community feedback, so please let us know how to best support you by completing our survey if you haven’t done so: http://bit.ly/2tMdvMz
6:00-8:00pm in the Julian Commons
IB Community Fundraiser = Success
Yesterday’s IB Community Project Fundraising Event was a huge success! Six groups of students put their projects into motion by participating in this school wide fundraising event. The 8th grade students advertised their projects to the student body by going to classes, putting up posters, and using social media. These groups of students raised a total of $855.
The organizations students fundraised for were:
- Alliance for Living Ocean
- Animal Welfare Institute
- Arbor Day Foundation
- Prevent Child Abuse America
- St. Francis Mission
- Tanzania Education Corporation
Avery Lucas, Beatrice Spell, and Elsa Waichulis’s group raised the most money for their organization, Tanzania Education Corporation. Sarah Epshtein, Elsie Kren, and Sylvia Jones’s group, Prevent Child Abuse America, earned the most “Thumbs Up” tickets. These tickets were given out by teachers for the groups’ knowledge about their cause and overall presentation set-up. Congratulations to all our students for their hard work and thank you to everyone that participated!
Black History Month Celebration
February is Black History Month. During this month we honor and remember African Americans in history. Have you heard about Harambee? Our Spoken Word Club and students of Julian are performing in it at Longfellow.
Harambee is a lively performance that celebrates African dance, drumming, and spoken word. Kuumba Kids have been hard at work for months to put on a great performance. And the costumes are stunning! Come out Friday, February 28th at 6pm to Longfellow School, 715 S Highland. Bring money, there will be an African Market with food for purchase. Click here to watch a short video.
Math Summer Enrichment
Students can now register for the Middle School Summer Math Enrichment program. There are a variety of classes being offered. Click here for more information.
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. The “Mindful Middle-Schoolers Program” will offer staff training, parent workshops, groups and counseling for middle school students in Oak Park during the 2019-20 school year. To learn more about the program and upcoming talks for parents, please visit https://www.op97.org/news/1673321/mindful-middle-schoolers-community-talks-2020.
Below is a list of upcoming community talks for parents, students and staff.
- Wednesday, Feb 26 (@ Brooks Middle School): Strategies to support executive functioning and self-regulation development based upon brain science http://bit.ly/37DtBqF
- Thursday, Feb 27 (@ Brooks Middle School): Understanding depression in youth and strategies for treatment and support http://bit.ly/2S6Q5cT
CAST Update
CAST is pleased to present “State Fair”, February 21, 22 and 23 at Julian Middle School. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s only musical written directly for the movie screen in 1946, the stage adaptation of State Fair had to wait until 1996 to make it to Broadway where it was nominated for two Tony Awards. The story follows the Frake family as they leave behind the routine of the farm for three days of adventure at the annual Iowa State Fair. The magical effect of the fair on the Frake family is captured by a young newspaper reporter named Pat. His stories turn him from jaded to convinced and along the way win him a full-time job at the Chicago Tribune as well as the heart of Margy Frake.
Tickets are $5 for students and seniors and $10 for adults. Tickets are available here or at the door. If you have any questions please contact Kathy Simon at 708-524-7848.
Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) Parent Resource Site
The District 97 MTSS Team has created a D97 Parent Resource Site to further support instruction happening in the classroom. The site has been created to provide an overview of MTSS and support all students in the areas of reading, math and writing. Our team has selected resources that offer a free version to our families. If you have additional free websites or resources you would like to share, please reach out to Faith Cole, the MTSS Director, at [email protected]. Thank you for your partnership!
Single Subject Acceleration Parent Session
Parent Information Session - Single Subject/Whole Grade Acceleration. For families who are seeking single subject or whole grade acceleration for the 2020-21 school year, the district will be hosting a Parent Information Session on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln Elementary School, 1111 S. Grove St. The session will include a presentation that outlines the process and requirements. Click here to view the event flyer Information about the District 97 Accelerated Placement Program, including definitions and timelines, can be found at http://www.op97.org/acceleration
Support4U
Districts 97, 90 and 200 have partnered together to launch a mental health-related prevention and support resource for middle and high school students called Support4U. Students can use this text-based resource 24 hours a day to connect with licensed mental health clinicians who can provide them with assistance or guidance on a variety of issues that include, but are not limited to, anxiety, depression, substance use, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, bullying and abuse. Text 844-670-5838 for Support
Parent Workshop: "Developing Your Child's IEP"
The District 97 Student Services Department will host a parent workshop, "Developing Your Child's IEP," on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Holmes School, 508 N. Kenilworth Ave. Staff will provide a step-by-step guide to understanding the IEP process. Childcare will be available. Event flyer >
Upcoming Events:
Presidents Day - No School for Students / Monday, February 17
Sincerely,
Dr. Todd Fitzgerald
Principal, Julian Middle School