The BULLetin
December 20, 2018
Principal's Message
Happy Holidays
Winter Break
The Main Office will be closed for the 2 weeks of Winter Break. The office will close on Friday, December 21 at 4pm and reopen on January 7, 2019 at 7am. If you need assistance during that time, it best to email staff directly.
The 5 Essentials Survey is something that we utilize to help our school improvement process. We take the information provided and use it to inform the work that we do, make changes/adjustments and set goals.
Parents
In order for us to get a usable score, we need 20% of parents to complete the survey. If you like the work that we do, fill out the survey. If you don't like the work we do, fill out the survey. If you like some things and not others, fill out the survey. I took the parent survey for my kid's schools. I think it took maybe 5 minutes apiece. Please give us your feedback. The survey is open until mid-February. This survey is not limited to 1 response per household. Both parents are welcome to complete the survey. Thank you in advance.
Parent Survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
Students
Students will be taking the 5 Essentials Survey at some point in early second semester. This is part of the information gathering process for our school improvement planning process and information gets aggregated to our school report card. Additional information can be found in this letter.
Toys for Tots
This is the 10th year the OFD and SD308 have partnered for Toys for Tots. Murphy teacher, Kristi Gabehart, reached out to the OFD 10 years ago to help start the program. Today, she was honored along with Assistant Chief Cornish for 10 years of dedication to the program.
Thank you to all the Murphy families and staff who donated to the program. Murphy kept the traveling trophy once again.
Ms. Youngwith's Science
Winter Break Coding & Minecraft
Learning to Code with Minecraft
Are you in middle school and have no school on January 2nd - 4th? If so, join us at the NIU Digital Convergence Lab for three fun days learning how to code with MakeCode and JavaScript in Minecraft!
Time: 8AM - 4:30PM (Bring your own lunch)
Where: NIU Founders Memorial Library
Digital Convergence Lab, Room 338
No parking needed! Parents will sign in students at the turn around on the south/west side of the library (Carroll Ave) between 7:45 - 8AM. Pick up is 4:30PM at the same location.
Cost: $150 for three day workshop
Space is limited to 20 students.
For more details and registration visit go.niu.edu/noschooldays or email: dcl@niu.edu
Strength & Conditioning Intramural
After Winter Break, Coach Dudley will be offering the Quarter 3 Strength & Conditioning Intramural. Students will work on speed and agility, as well as, work in the weight room. Additional details and sign-up information can be found below.
Golf Intramural
Fútbol
Maverick Meet & Eats
Mav-a-Palooza
Monday, after school, Mav-a-palooza! Students will receive their tickets in Homeroom tomorrow if we do not have a record of any ZAP, tardy to class or disciplinary action between November 11 and December 7.
AVID Things @ Murphy
Mr. Zaininger's 8th grade honors science students participated in Genius Hour, a student-led inquiry project in which they delved deeper into topics of their choice. Findings could be used to shape their science fair experiments or their own personal interests. Students then shared their genius hour projects with their class or a group/individual that they felt would benefit most from the information.
In a gallery walk, students analyzed anonymous argument writing samples (written by students) for ideas and structure specific to our district rubric for the EA. They engaged in inquiry to determine whether or not the sample met the standards of proficiency, while also posing questions to the writers that would help them revise.
Students in Ms. Clausen's 8th grade ELA classes have been reading Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Students completed 1 pagers, as a culminating activity. The focus of their 1 pager was how Dickens used symbolism in his story.
Coats for Kendall
Yearbooks are on SALE!!!
SOMETIMES IT'S
THE LITTLE THINGS
The power of a yearbook: it keeps the memories alive forever. Order one for
your student today and it'll be treasured for years to come.
Order now for $25.00! Yearbook price will increase February 1, 2019. Yearbook orders can be completed online at jostensyearbooks.com. Please contact Ms. Fell if you have any questions.
The JAM (Just Another Maverick)
Also, if you didn't follow Monday's Board meeting, late in the evening, the JAM's Editor in Chief, Lili Daniel addressed the Board. For more about the meeting and Lili's comments check out WSPY.
Student Services Spotlight
Jashiyah Templeton, Jayden Chua, Connor Gregory, Alex Butwell, Brett Connolly, Hannah Sucharzewski, Jayden Hicks, Isabelle Gershon, Cal Farrar, Sam Michael
Second Semester Schedules
Please ensure that your student has checked their second semester schedule as electives, PE, and/or lunch periods may change. Schedules are able to be viewed and printed via Home Access. No schedule changes will be permitted at this time.
6th/7th Grade Course Selection Information
Counselors will present elective information to current 6th and 7th graders in January after we return from Winter break. Students will select electives for the 2019-2020 school year. This process will be done through Home Access during a specific window of time - procedures for this will be reviewed with your student and sent home in the Bulletin in January.
1/8 - Counselor presentation to current 6th graders through Science classes
1/10 - Counselor presentations to current 7th graders through Science classes
1/14-1/25 - Elective selection window open on Home Access
1/23 - 1:1 elective verification meetings with counselors (6th grade) through ELA
1/24 - 1:1 elective verification meetings with counselors (7th grade) through ELA
Current 6th/7th grade students will receive a copy of the Course Selection Guide when the counselors present to them in January. This guide provides descriptions of electives available to 7th and 8th graders. You may want to take a look at offerings during winter break and discuss with your student what they may be interested in taking next year. Please click this link for the Course Selection Guide.
Murphy NJHS members have been spreading kindness and cheer, as well as helping out those less fortunate this holiday season. Recently, a few students spent their after school hours bell ringing for the Salvation Army outside Jewel in Plainfield. Pictured: Dylan Crawford Mike Polubinski Matt Pohlman
Sahar Kazmi represented Fox Valley Gymnastics in the recent Winter Whiteout meet at the Eola Community Center in Aurora. She came 3rd in her age group and her team came first. Way to go, Sahar!
Student Pranav Kannan is a 6th grade student at Murphy. He competes on the Advanced Green Baller team at the Five Star Tennis Center in Plainfield. Recently, he won the Champion Trophy twice for Green Baller tournament. Great job, Pranav!
The Maverick Way Outside of School
Murphy Junior High students are doing amazing things in the classroom as well as demonstrating “The Maverick Way” outside of school. If any student is demonstrating “The Maverick Way” outside of school we want to know about it! Please contact Brian Falli at bfalli@sd308.org or Brandi Zawacki at bzawacki@sd308.org.
*Don’t forget to include some pictures in your email.
Volunteer Opportunities-
January Volunteer Opportunities
Plainfield Public Library
https://plainfieldpubliclibrary.org/about/volunteer-opportunities/
Oswego Public Library
https://www.oswego.lib.il.us/evanced/lib/eventcalendar.asp
Ongoing:
Feed My Starving Children, Aurora:
Loaves and Fishes Community Service, Naperville (must have adult if under 14): https://www.loaves-fishes.org/volunteer/youth-volunteers/
Fox Valley Park District:
https://www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/our-mission/volunteer-opportunities/
Oswego Park District:
https://www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/get-involved/volunteers/#4
Upcoming Events
December 20
- Toys for Tots Breakfast
December 21
- SIP Day (3.5 hour student attendance) 3:10 Teacher Dismissal
- Modified SIP Day Schedule
- End of Semester 1
December 22-January 6
- Winter Break
- Begin Semester 2
- 7th & 8th Grade Girls' Basketball Tryouts
January 8
- 6th Grade Course Selection
- 7th Grade Girls' Basketball Tryouts
January 9
- East Side Choir Festival
- Winter Sports Concussion Testing
- 8th Grade Girls' Basketball Tryouts
January 10
- 7th Grade Course Selection
If you are looking for directions to AWAY events, this link will provide directions to many area schools.
Use the "Murphy Building Calendar" link below to see all the things going on at Murphy Junior High.
Contact Us
Mission Statement
Murphy Junior High School is an inclusive and supportive community that promotes student success by ensuring ALL students are college and career ready.
Vision Statement
Every student. Every day. Grow. Inspire. Empower.
Email: banderson@sd308.org
Website: www.sd308.org/murphy
Location: 26923 Grande Park Boulevard, Plainfield, IL, United States
Phone: (630) 608-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/murphy308/
Twitter: @murphy308