Murphy Mustangs
News and events for the months of February & March
Brrrrr!
Well, hopefully everyone is staying warm! This installment of the newsletter will be going online and in print. I'll try to condense the print version to save paper, however, there are so many great things going on! This newsletter serves to highlight a few past, present, and future Murphy items.
Please take a few minutes to look through our newsletter, we hope that you have a warm February!
One final note before you get started, you'll notice my contact info right below this paragraph. This is my contact info including my cell phone. Please keep this information handy should you ever need to get a hold of myself or the school. If the need should arise before school, after school, or in an emergency, please don't hesitate to contact me on my cell phone.
Sincerely.
Sean MartinsonDad to Three Amazing Kids
Principal - Murphy Elementary School
www.isd318.org/murphy ~ www.murphyprincipal.org
School: 218.327.5880 ~ Cell: 218.209.2573
School Announcements
End of Day Parent Pickup Routine
Over the past couple of weeks we have refined our end of day parent pickup process. It started with staying in due to the cold weather, however in reflection, the practice is safer in general for our students. Parents who are driving up are still asked to use the street adjacent to the school and stay in their cars (please do NOT park on the street adjacent to the building). For those that are walking up to get their child, we'll have the kids gathered in the cafeteria, you can come in the main entry and wait in the gathering area. A handful of staff and myself will be out front calling in for kids and making sure they are safe as they exit the building. I'm sure we will continue to refine this practice as we go so thank you for your patience.
Coffee and Conversation
- Tuesday, Feb 26 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Wednesday, Mar 27 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Wednesday, Apr 24 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Wednesday, May 22 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
Coffee and Conversations will take place from 8:30-9:15 at Murphy Elementary School in the Media Center Please remember to bring a picture ID and check in at the office. You do not have to RSVP, however if you can, drop me an email (smartinson@isd318.org) so I have an idea of the group is too large for the media center. Hope to see you there!
Fathers' Forum
- Friday, Mar 1 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Tuesday, Mar 26 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Thursday, Apr 25 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Thursday, May 23 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
Fathers’ Forum gatherings will take place from 8:30-9:15 at Murphy Elementary School in the Media Center Please remember to bring a picture ID and check in at the office. You do not have to RSVP, however if you can, drop me an email (smartinson@isd318.org) so I have an idea of the group is too large for the media center. Hope to see you there!
Books & Bagels
Books and Bagels, a Reading Celebration!
Please join us for a fun time of reading in your child's classroom.
Books & Bagels (Kindergarten and 3rd grades)
- Thu Mar 14, 2013
- 8:45am – 9:30am
Books & Bagels (1st, 2nd, and 4th Grades)
- Fri Mar 15, 2013
- 8:45am – 9:30am
- Additional parking will be available starting at 8:30am in the back of the school. The front and back doors will be open and visitors can check in at both doors.
- Parents with more than one child should plan on splitting time between classrooms.
- As classroom space is limited and this is a time to celebrate reading with your child in their classroom, please find child care for younger siblings.
Science Museum of Minnesota
What does this mean for Murphy School?
- On February 5th, the Museum came to Murphy to present two outreach programs to our entire school (K-1st Dinosaurs, and 2nd-4th Solids, Liquids, and Gases)!!
- In early March our entire 4th grade class, along with staff and chaperones, will participate in an over night trip to the Science Museum. During this trip they will also take a tour of the State Capital. This trip is fully funded by Flint Hills Resources.
This trip is funded by Flint Hills Resources. However, our 4th graders will host a fundraiser over the Easter break. Funds raised will be help send next year's 4th grade class on a field trip as well. We hope to make a trip of this type a tradition for our 4th graders.
2012-2013 Testing Calendar
April 8th - 12th: 3rd Grade Online MCA Reading Test Window
April 15th - 19th: 4th Grade Online MCA Reading Test Window
April 22nd - 25th: 3rd Grade Online MCA Math Test Window
April 29th - May 3rd: 4th Grade Online MCA Math Test Window
April 30th - May 17 Spring MAP Testing Window (2nd-4th Grade, Math and Reading)
What is MAP testing?
- Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) – These computerized tests are adaptive and offered in Reading and Mathematics. When taking a MAP test, the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. As the student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If the student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. In an optimal test, a student answers approximately half the items correctly and half incorrectly. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level.
- More info: www.NWEA.org
What are MCA tests?
- The Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA) are the state tests that help districts measure student progress toward Minnesota’s academic standards and also meet the requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). Students take one test in each subject.
- More info: http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/JustParent/TestReq
Accelerated Reader
AR Book Finder
- Find AR Books by level, topic, and interest levels.
- www.arbookfind.com
- AR Home Connect is a tool related to Accelerated Reader. You can use the same login your child uses to take an AR Quiz.
Volunteering at Murphy
More Information including Volunteer Handbook: http://www.murphyprincipal.org/?p=1785
Links
Murphy Sites
- https://hosted70.renlearn.com/161353/HomeConnect/ (same login as AR quizzing)
Murphy's FaceBook Page:
Murphy's Sound Cloud (audio recordings)
Murphy's Twitter Feed
Principal's Pad
Tumblebooks
- www.tumblebooks.com
- Our username and password: murphyes books
Upcoming Events
NO SCHOOL
- Mon Feb 18 ~ President's Day - No School
- Tue Feb 19 ~ Workshop Training Day for Staff, No School for KIDS
- Thu, March 28 – Mon, April 1 ~ Spring/Easter Break
Spring Picture Day
- Friday, March 1st
Books & Bagels
- Thursday, March 14 ~ Kindergarten and 3rd grades ~ 8:45-9:30
- Friday, March 15 ~ 1st, 2nd, and 4th grades ~ 8:45-9:30
- Tuesday, Feb 26 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Wednesday, Mar 27 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Wednesday, Apr 24 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Wednesday, May 22 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
Murphy Fathers' Forum (Media Center)
- Friday, Mar 1 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Tuesday, Mar 26 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Thursday, Apr 25 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
- Thursday, May 23 8:30am – 9:15am Murphy Media Center
FRED (Fathers Reading Every Day)
- Tue Apr 16 (night event)
About Us
Email: smartinson@isd318.org
Website: www.isd318.org/murphy
Location: 822 NE 5th Ave, Grand Rapids, MN
Phone: (218)327-5880
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216656585122152/
Twitter: @Murphymustangs