OLHMS Update (9/10/24)
Tuesday's Top of the Mind
Did you know that our OLHMS Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) is an incredible opportunity to partner and support our school community?
We enjoyed our first OLHMS PTSA meeting last night! Thank you to each of our board members for their time and planning! We appreciated having a very well attended first meeting and look forward to our collaborations to enhance the middle school experience!
Did you know that individual IAR Assessment results have been sent home?
Individual student results for last year's IAR assessment were distributed to students today to go home. THIS D123 Parent Letter accompanied the individual results.
Did you know we will be taking part in a math grading pilot this year?
We are participating in a math grading pilot for each of our grade levels this year. Families should expect to continue receiving standards based grades along with a high school equivalent letter grade in math. There will be additional information and a parent meeting coming soon! Be on the look out for this date!
Reminder and Updates
Mustang Families,
This has been such a pleasant beginning to our 24/25 school year! We appreciate everyone's patience and support of our initiatives and recognize that our partnership only deepens the positive impression we leave on our entire school community. Hopefully, all of our families and scholars have settled back into the school routine! We have observed courteous and polite scholars who have been following our Mustang Musts and demonstrating expectations of success! We are very proud of our start and look forward to tremendous growth! We have completed the IXL diagnostic assessment and in the midst of NWEA MAP testing. These assessments provide great insight into our ability to best meet the needs of our scholars! We will also be starting the SAEBRS screener next week that aids our ability to meet our scholars social and emotions needs.
Here is our D123 SAEBRS Parent Letter and our D123 MTSS Parent Letter.
Speaking of support, here is the Class of 2025 Graduate Expectation Letter. This letter was distributed and discussed with our Class of 2025!
Teacher Assignments, Schedules and Transportation
Skyward Family Access is a great place to check on student balances, schedules, emergency contacts and all things student information!
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. It is always a perfect conversation starter for our sometimes reluctant middle school communicators!
Ask your scholar to grab their Chromebook and check out the student home page along with their Google Classrooms for each course! Do you see any missing assignments?
Lunch Accounts: Make sure to check your child's lunch account on Skyward. Alcarte items are available for purchase. Scholars with negative balances will NOT be allowed to purchase any alcarte items. Thinking about lunch, if a student receives a lunch detention, they are given a bagged lunch and cannot purchase alarte items.
MAP Assessment: Scholars took their beginning of the year MAP Assessment. Ask your scholar how they performed and if they are satisfied with their score! Our district goal is for 100% of our scholars to demonstrate growth in math and reading!
Double Buzz
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.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs and Activities: Our Mustangs will be able to choose club options. Scholars should be in the habit of checking the student portal to stay up to speed with club options and daily announcements! Clubs will begin the week of the 16th. Here is a listing of Trimester 1 clubs!
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.
New State Flag: The contest is open to all ages and backgrounds and the committee is hoping to achieve maximum participation from Illinois residents, from kids to senior citizens. The submission dates are from September 3 to October 18, 2024.
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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.
OLHMS PTSA
Membership is $6.00 per student and $10.00 per adult
PTSA Meetings are at 6:00pm monthly
- PTSA Meeting- October 7, 2024 at 6:00pm
- PTSA Spirit Gear- Order information coming soon!
- Reach out to Delecta Harris, our PTSA President for more information (olhmsd123ptsa@gmail.com )
- 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!
Important Dates
Dates to Remember:
9/28/24: Oak Lawn Shred Event
10/1/24: Family Conference Sign Up begins (10:00AM on Family Access)
10/5/24: Walk for Literacy 6K
10/11/24: Fall Picture Retakes
11/8/24: Veteran's Day Assembly
12/7/24: Feed Six
Walk For Literacy 6K
Saturday, October 5th at 9:00am
On Saturday, October 5th at 9:00am, District 123 will partner with the Tinogona Foundation for a "6K Walk for Literacy" to raise funds to build a library in Zimbabwe. This fundraising event is open to all staff, students, families, and community members. We are currently accepting registration forms and will be sending out staff volunteer information soon.
This summer, Mrs. McCarthy spent two weeks in Zimbabwe with Dr. Tererai Trent learning about her journey (video for staff only) and visiting her adopted schools. Additional information can be found here.
Fall Picture Retakes
OLHMS Annual Veteran's Day Assembly
Friday, November 8th at 9:30 AM
Oak Lawn - Hometown Middle School would like to invite you to join us in honoring our veterans on
Friday, November 8. Please encourage any veteran who is a neighbor, friend, or family member of
District 123 to attend and be honored at our annual assembly. Please take the time to fill out this
RSVP by Friday, October 25th if you plan on inviting a veteran to attend this event. The program will
be held in the main gymnasium at OLHMS from 9:30am - 10:30am. Our student body will be in
attendance, along with our band/chorus, and guest speakers. The event will be broadcasted live for
any member that is unable to attend.
High School Happenings
Oak Lawn Community High School
The Oak Lawn Junior Spartans Winter basketball program is for Oak Lawn area boys basketball players in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades.
- Tryouts and team formations will take place on Sunday, September 15th, from 7 – 8:30 pm in the school’s Main (Spartan) Gym.
- There is also a makeup date on Wednesday, September 18, also from 7 – 8:30 pm in the same location.
- The program cost will be $500 per player, including uniforms. Returning players will receive a $50 discount. Our teams will practice twice a week here at OLCHS and play games on the weekends.
- Please complete this Google Form to pre-register for Tryouts: https://forms.gle/AZp7V4AgJt8TGg2E7
- If you have any questions about the Junior Spartans program, please contact me at 708-741-5627 or jrhodes@olchs.org
The Marist High School Grade School Band Night will be held on October 18, 2024.
Grade School Volleyball Night and we invite ALL of your grade school students to join us! The fun will happen on Tuesday, September 17 at 6pm
Providence Catholic High School
Oak Lawn Park District Intramurals
https://www.olparks.com/programs/intramurals
https://www.olparks.com/programs/intramurals
https://www.olparks.com/programs/intramurals
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!