OLHMS Weekly

Mustang Families,

We hope everyone enjoyed a rejuvenating and relaxing extended weekend with friends and family! We are extremely proud of our Mustangs and the beginning of this new school year! Scholars seem to be in a routine and understanding the flow of the day! Our building continues to settle in and it will be only be a matter of time until each of our projects are complete!

Do not forget we have a D123 Late Start tomorrow. Students will begin their day at 9:30am and be dismissed at regular time.

Clubs and Activities: After school activities have begun! Please remember that our activity buses run at 4:30pm and 5:00pm. These buses will only drop students off at the nearest D123 Elementary building. Please communicate with our scholars so they know where to meet you!

Trinity Christian College: We have developed a partnership with Trinity to help promote and support future teachers! This partnership will not only provide a fantastic experience here at the middle school learning and observing our incredible teachers and scholars, but will also provide some tutoring support on Wednesdays from 3:30pm-5:00pm with current college students. If you are interested in this opportunity, please reach out to Dr. McNichols.

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!

Skyward Family Access

Make sure you are checking/ logging into Skyward Family Access routinely. This is a great place to obtain supportive information such as student's courses, bus routes, student fee's/ debts and

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 30th 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.

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. Medical exclusions from school begin in October and student are not allowed to participate in sports without physicals!

Dates to Remember:

9/7/22: D123 Late Start (School day begins at 9:30am)

9/8/22: NWEA MAP Assessments Begin

9/12/22: PTSA Spooktacular Planning Meeting

9/16/22: Safety Drill Day

9/17/22: World Vision 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

Thank you for your ongoing patience and understanding as we continue to cope with the unpredictable nature of our transportation services. We have been constant communication with First Student, in some cases multiple times each day. We do expect communications from the First Student dispatch center in the morning if routes are delayed. When these communications are received, updates are made to families as soon as possible. Please be assured we are doing everything within our power to improve the riding experience and timeliness for all of our scholars.

We have worked with First Student to adjust origin times and plan for general traffic in our community. These new route times are reflected in Skyward Family access. 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.

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.

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!

• Membership can be online using this link: https://olhmsptsa.memberhub.com/store

• PTSA Spirit Wear- Order online by 9/22/22

• PTSA Open Gym 9/29/22

• Reach out to Mrs. Shane, our PTSA President for more information (tmshane@gmail.com)