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OLHMS Weekly

8/30/22

OLHMSWeekly 8/30/22

THANK YOU!

Mustang Families,


As we continue to get into the swing of things and our routines solidify we want to thank our entire school community for your continued support and patience! Obviously, there are many moving parts as we begin a new school year and we value our partnership with parents in creating dreams into reality! We are extremely proud of our Mustangs!


Skyward Family Access

Make sure you are checking/ logging into Skyward Family Access routinely.


Assignment Notebooks/ Student Planners: Scholars have been given student planners to assist in their organization and school preparations! Please check their assignment notebooks regularly! These notebooks/ planners are also being used to help monitor hall passes and out of classroom time for students. These have been distributed and every scholar should maintain their planner. Lost or damaged planners will need to be replaced at the expense of families!


Student Device Insurance

The student device insurance policy provides full replacement cost coverage and protects the item worldwide (on and off school grounds) for only $25/year. The policy will be transferred to any replacement device that your child may be issued. Without insurance D123 families are fully responsible for the costs associated with the repair/replacement of their student's device. Insurance coverage is for the device only and does not extend to the case or the charger. Families of students in all grade levels can sign up for this insurance program by adding the optional “Student Device Insurance” fee through Skyward Family Access. You have until September 30 to purchase device insurance every year. Additional information about the student device insurance program and deductibles can be found at: https://d123.org/about/technology/student-device-insurance/


Please view either the written or video tutorial on how to add Chromebook / iPad insurance to your student's account.


Free & Reduced Lunch Reminder

The federal program allowing districts across the country to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of income has expired. At this time, the federal government has not extended the waivers for this school year to allow free meals for all students. As a result, schools across the nation will be reverting back to free and reduced-price meals based on income eligibility guidelines set by theU.S. Department of Agriculture. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year on August 17, families who do not qualify for free or reduced lunch will have to pay for school meals. Students whose families are eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast or lunch will be able to access meals this school year at no cost or a discounted rate. D123 will continue to explore ways we can help families with this adjustment since this may create a financial burden for some of our families. At no point would we ever want any child to go hungry at school. If you would like to apply for free or reduced priced meals, please click here.


Health Examination and Immunization Requirements

There are specific requirements for students entering preschool, kindergarten, second grade and sixth grade, as well as for all new students. Visit our Health Forms & Guidelines page for more information. Please note that these vaccinations and/or health examinations are required by state law.


Dates to Remember:


8/27/22: Monarch Fest at Oak Lawn Park District

8/29/22: Music Booster Meeting

9/5/22: No School

9/7/22: D123 Late Start

9/12/22: PTSA Spooktacular Planning Meeting

9/17/22: 6K- final year

9/20/22: OLHMS Open House

9/22/22: PTSA Spirit Wear Online Orders Due

10/13 & 10/14: Family Conferences (Virtual or In Person)

10/22/22: PTSA Spooktacular



Kindly,


Dr. McNichols

Bus Update

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to cope with the unpredictable nature of our transportation services. Over the past week, we have been communicating with First Student multiple times each day. Beginning each morning, we reach out to the First Student dispatch center each hour for updates regarding the likelihood of specific routes being ontime or delayed so that we can communicate with you in as timely a manner as possible. Please be assured we are doing everything within our power to improve the riding experience and timeliness for all of our scholars.

By having staff members and administrators on routes during the past week, we have identified that some of the listed arrival and departure times we have received from First Student routing services have been inaccurate due to origin times and general traffic conditions. We have worked with First Student to have these new route times corrected. Please check Skyward Family access for updated route times for your child’s bus. In addition, we have posted all of the D123 routes on our transportation page. Additionally, with road repair work occurring throughout the Village of Oak Lawn and City of Hometown we are also anticipating additional “no-travel zones” throughout the fall which may cause a minimal amount of rerouting.

Additionally, as previously communicated we are also continuing to ask for your support to help our scholars understand the importance of:

  • Removing their backpacks as they board the bus and placing them on their laps as they ride

  • Only changing seats when the bus is stopped at a designated bus stop

  • Offering up open seats to ensure that all scholars have a proper seat on a bus

  • Continuing to practice our Mustang Musts (Being safe, respectful, and responsible) while on the school bus, but also while waiting for a school bus at the assigned bus stop location.

We will continue our practice of informing families as soon as possible when we are notified of specific bus routes that are running late. Thank you again for your continued support, patience, and understanding as we work through our current circumstances together.

Arrival and Dismissal

Thank you Mustang Families for your patience and support with our new one way process on Oak Center Dr. We have greatly appreciated everyone's courteousness and understanding with this process!


Here are a couple reminders as we continue to improve this process:

  • Parking lots are for staff parking only. All parent/student drop off and pick up takes place in the back of the school on Oak Center Dr.
  • If possible, please have scholars sit in the rear driver's side seat.
  • Do not drop scholars off in the middle of the street.
  • Scholars should cross the street at a designated location/ crosswalk.
  • Feel free to pull over and utilize Minnick Ave. as a drop off and allow students to safely cross or walk East on Oak Center Dr. This would also be a good option for families wanting to head North.
  • Utilizing 53rd Ave. and/or Cook Ave. to head South (Right Turn) might be good options for some families.
  • All traffic should be moving South (Right Turn) at 52nd and Oak Center Dr.
  • Do not pass cars in our circle drive
  • Avoid making three-point turns on 53rd and Cook Ave.

  • Main Entrance: Bus entrance only!

  • Oak Center Drive: One-Way moving West to East for mornings and afternoons.

    • Parents dropping off and walkers enter the building in the back on Oak Center Dr. Parents please be patient, follow guidance from support staff and do not block the driveways of our neighbors on Oak Center Dr.

NEW PTSA Spirit Wear- Order Online before 9/22/22

OLHMS PTSA

All staff and families are highly encouraged to join the PTSA and attend meetings. This is an incredible opportunity, partnership and fun way to support our scholar’s experience at the middle school!