OLHMS Update (8/13/24)

Dear OLHMS Families,

My name is Dr. Sean McNichols and I am honored to serve you as the Principal of Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School! We are committed to "Creating a dream and making it a reality!" This is the motto for our learning institution. We will embrace this both culturally and academically. OLHMS is an incredible place for our scholars to continue to flourish. It is the hub for our community. This allows our scholars the opportunity to take responsibility for their love of learning and create an educational experience that motivates our young leaders, prepared to positively impact the world.

Our Mustang staff is passionate, positive and an extremely hard-working team! I have great confidence in our collaborative and supportive nature elevating the opportunity to strengthen partnerships with families and enhance our scholars overall educational and middle grade experience. I am looking forward to a peaceful year of growth and reflection for our scholars and staff as we advocate for our vision of excellence.

Thank you to all of our school stakeholders for entrusting us with your most precious gift- our children. As a father, I realize the significance of the middle grade years and our partnership is not taken lightly. I know this staff is passionately dedicated and committed to allowing the dreams of our scholars to become their reality.

Kindly,

Dr. Sean McNichols, Proud OLHMS Principal

Mustang Families,

We are a week away from welcoming our scholars for our first day of the this 2024/2025 school year and our celebration of 123 years for D123! We hope everyone enjoyed this restful and restorative Summer while preparing for an amazing year! Included in this communication you will find additional information to best support a successful start on Wednesday, August 21st at 8:30am! Please do not forget this is a half day of school and scholars will be dismissed at 11:30am.

We are very excited to welcome and introduce our two new Assistant Principals, Mrs. Grabarek and Mrs. Laureto to our Mustang Family!

Teacher Assignments, Schedules and Transportation

Homeroom assignments, schedules and bus routes will be posted in Skyward Family Access at Noon on August 14th. Please know there will be additional adjustments made to assignments, schedules and bus routes prior to or after the 21st. We appreciate everyone’s understanding and cooperation with any future adjustments. We plan to have all course secured at the end of our first full week of school.

Student Portal: Our Mustangs utilize the this site to access their Google Classrooms, Google Drive, Gmail, Skyward and student apps. This is also where daily announcements are posted for students.

We are excited to welcome back Office Craig, our School Resource Officer! As we continue to partner with local agencies, we will refine our practices to ensure safety is always on the forefront of our minds. One of the additional security measures this year will be guests entering our school through the main entrance. Please know that guests will have to be buzzed into the building twice, waiting in the vestibule until they are greeted or buzzed into the main office.

We appreciate everyone's understanding and patience! We will also expect that all students, staff and guests wear designated ID's at all times.

Digital Hallpass: We are excited to be using this digital system to support our entire school! Last year's pilot worked very well!

Grade level supply lists are linked below if you planned some shopping excitement between now and supply drop off on the 22nd! Schoolkidz purchased at the end of the 2022/2023 school year will be ready in student’s advisory classrooms. OLHMS Grade Level Supply List Link

Student Lockers: All students will be assigned a locker at the beginning of the school year. Please reassure our new scholars that they will be fine! Here is a locker support doc as well!

"The This and That of 6th Grade:" Helpful hints for a successful 6th grade beginning!

Sports Handbook - Here is the information you will need if your scholar plans to try out for one of many sports offered here at OLHMS.

Clubs and Activities: Our Mustangs use this quick LINK located on the student portal to stay up to speed with club options and registration each trimester. Located on this page is an example of club offerings last year!

Student Device Repair Program:

Your student's device is protected against accidental damage, theft, fire, flood, natural disasters, power surge and vandalism. If your child’s device needs repair, below are the costs associated with each incident during a school year:

• 1st incident - No Charge (one-time fee waiver)

• 2nd incident - $25.00

• 3rd incident - $50.00

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. 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.

• All incoming 6th Graders must have a physical and dental report on file.
• All 6th, 7th and 8th Graders interested in sports will need a sports physical to try out for teams.

• Membership is $6.00 per student and $10.00 per adult

• PTSA Meetings are at 6:00pm monthly

• PTSA Meeting- September 9, 2024 at 6:00pm
  
• PTSA Spirit Gear- Order information coming soon!
  
• Reach out to Delecta Harris, our PTSA President for more information (delecta@sbcglobal.net)
  
• PTSA Facebook
  

• All parents/ guardians/ staff & students 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!

• If you are interested in supporting our school in a different capacity please reach out to our PTSA! Maybe you do not have the time to donate, but your contributions can still be made through your membership!

Parents and families dropping off and walkers enter the building in the back of the school 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.

• 6th Grade scholars use Door 4

• 7th Grade scholars use Door 6

• 8th Grade scholars use Door 5

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.

• Main Entrance: Bus entrance only and will be closed from 8:15-8:45am and 3:15-3:45pm to guests!

• Oak Center Drive: One-Way moving West to East for morning and afternoon drop off and pick up.

Main Parking Lot, Circle Drive and 99th Street: Family drop off and pick up is done on Oak Center Dr. If family members are helping out, please let them know to use the rear of the building for drop off or pick up. Students should not be dropped off in the morning or picked up during dismissal via the main parking lot while buses are present. The main parking lot will be CLOSED from 8:15-8:45am and 3:15-3:45pm daily.

• Designating a pick up and drop off area/ location for our scholars to meet their ride has been extremely helpful and allows families to avoid the congestion.
• Please do not have students run across 99th street or Oak Center Dr. to be picked up without adult supervision. We want to make sure all of our students and families are kept safe.
• The rear doors (Oak Center Dr./ Circle Drive) will close at 8:35am during morning arrival and the rear doors will be closed at 3:30pm during afternoon dismissal.
  
• School tardies will be assigned after 8:30am.
• Please be patient and courteous!
  

Student attendance is critically important to our success! Please ensure our scholars are here daily and on time! Student tardies and overall attendance will be recorded and may impact student privileges! We look forward to working with our Mustangs daily!

Student Schedules (8:30am to 3:20pm)

Scholars follow a specific grade-level schedule. Each student will have a unique 10 period schedule consistent with their grade-level peer. All grade levels have grade specific Encore and lunch periods.

• Core Classes: All students have 4 Core class
• Math (80 mins), ELA (80 mins), Science (40 mins ) & Social Studies (40 mins)
• Daily PE (40 mins): All student have a PE period (Student must wear gym shoes)
• Spanish: Optional 3 year program
• Encore Classes (All 40 mins): All Encore are randomly assigned during Encore periods
• Global Studies, Connections, Communications, Art, Health, Music, Journalism, Multimedia Productions, Family Consumer Science and Financial Literacy.

Stress: How parents can spot and help reduce it in children: We all know this time of year can be very stressful! Our Counselors asked that I share a nice resource.

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

Student schedules will go live in Skyward Family Access at Noon today!

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

OLHMS School Supply Drop Off

2:00pm - 3:30pm & 6:00pm - 7:30pm (Evening is optional for staff attendance)

• The Supply Drop Off is a relaxed opportunity for scholars and families to walk our halls, check out Encore spaces, find their advisory classroom and begin learning or relearning how to open a locker. SchoolKidz orders will be placed in scholar’s advisory classrooms.

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

First Day of School (½ Day, Dismissal at 11:30am)

• School doors open at 8:25am

• Classes begin at 8:30am

• Dismissal at 11:30am

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Regular School Day (Dismissal at 3:20pm)

• School doors open at 8:25am

• Classes begin at 8:30am

• Dismissal at 3:20pm

Friday, August 23, 2024

Regular School Day (Dismissal at 3:20pm)

• School doors open at 8:25am

• Classes begin at 8:30am

• Dismissal at 3:20pm

Saturday, August 24, 2024

D123 Back to School Extravaganza (11:00am-1:30pm)

• TIM...That’s Amazing Shows @ 11:15 & 11:50
• Crosstown Exotic Show @ 12:00
• Concert by Gincy Hartin @ 1:00
• Hot Dog Lunch : $3 for 1 or $5 for 2
• Inflatables, Face Painting & More
• Local Vendors

Thursday, August 29, 2024

OLHMS Open House. This is a wonderful opportunity to begin our learning partnership!

• Doors will open at 6:30

Yearbook Delay: Due to unforeseen circumstances at the Balfour Yearbook Companies' publishing plant, the 2024 Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School Yearbook did not arrive before the end of the school year. The yearbooks have now arrived and will be available during Open House on August 29th.

D123 4WARD: We have begun a new effort to engage our alumni!! From the classroom to the stage, the athletic field to the culinary club, and everywhere in between, we want to know what our graduates have been up to in "tomorrow's world."

Whether these alumni excelled in high school, found opportunities in college, or started a successful career, the stories, adventures, and triumphs shared will inspire us, current students, and future leaders. This program is an opportunity to celebrate these achievements together and keep the D123 community spirit alive long after middle school graduation.

Families of alumni and D123 graduates themselves are invited to fill out this form to submit for possible inclusion in our alumni spotlight E-Newsletter, "D123 4-WARD." The newsletter will be produced and sent semiannually in December and May. Participants will be notified if their story will be included in the publication.

D123 4Ward May Addition: Check out the special edition newsletter focus on our D123 Alumni!