Murphy Middle School eNews
February 5, 2016
Color Run T-Shirt Design Contest
We have set our school goal at $2016.00. Please click on the title above to make a donation!
Attention Parents of Current 8th Grade Students
8th Grade Parents,
Students in eighth grade are required to complete a Four-Year Plan for high school graduation. These are tentative plans designed to guide students through their course selections for grades 9-12. Students and parents develop the Four-Year Plan based on a student’s academic performance, test scores, career interests, and graduation requirements.
Conferences to develop your child’s Four-Year Academic Plan and registration plan for 9th grade began on Tuesday, January 26. If you haven't already received a letter informing you of the date and time of your child’s academic conference, please contact our counseling office at 469-752-7015.
The group scheduling session lasts approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, during which time we will make a tentative four-year plan and complete the ninth grade registration paperwork. These are important decisions for your child, and your attendance is appreciated. If you are unable to attend, your student will still meet with us and he/she can share the information with you. Please feel free to contact our counseling office at 469-752-7015 if you have any questions
We look forward to working with each and every one of you to make the transition to 9th grade as smooth as possible.
Sincerely,
Murphy Middle School
Counseling Team
Murphy Middle School Events & Information
No School For Students - Monday, February 15
NEHS Induction Ceremony - Monday, February 22 from 6:00 - 7:00 in the MMS Gym
NJHS Induction Ceremony - Monday, February 22 from 7:30 - 8:30 in the MMS Gym
Spring Open House - Monday, February 29
One Act Play Performance by the MMS Theatre Group - Thursday, March 3 at 7:00 in the MMS Cafeteria
SPRING BREAK - Monday, March 7 through Friday, March 11
Athletic Events - February
Admission cost for athletic events is $2 for students and $4 for adults. Please help out our ticket takers by bringing small bills.
7th Grade Girls Basketball (6:00 & 7:00 unless otherwise noted)
Thursday, 2/11, Friday, 2/12, Saturday, 2/13 - "B" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
Thursday, 2/18, Friday, 2/19, Saturday, 2/20 - "A" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
7th Grade Boys Basketball (6:00 & 7:00 unless otherwise noted)
Thursday, 2/11, Friday, 2/12, Saturday, 2/13 - "B" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
Thursday, 2/18, Friday, 2/19, Saturday, 2/20 - "A" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
8th Grade Girls Basketball (6:00 & 7:00 unless otherwise noted)
Thursday, 2/11, Friday, 2/12, Saturday, 2/13 - "B" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
Thursday, 2/18, Friday, 2/19, Saturday, 2/20 - "A" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
8th Grade Boys Basketball (6:00 & 7:00 unless otherwise noted)
Thursday, 2/11, Friday, 2/12, Saturday, 2/13 - "B" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
Thursday, 2/18, Friday, 2/19, Saturday, 2/20 - "A" Team Tournament - Time & Location TBD
Congratulations to Soumalya Das, Top 10 Collin County Spelling Bee
Congratulations to the following 6th grade students were named big winners at the 2016 Regional Science and Engineering Fair!
2nd place: “Texting & Stones will break My Bones” by Richard Wille
Honorable Mention: “Shocking Shoes” by Anay Gupta & Harsh Patel
1st place & overall grand prize for 6th grade: “How to Become an Olympic Archer” by Aditi & Rishi Mallela and Siddharth Turaga (Pictured Below)
Geography Bee winner - Anish Dave
Each year since opening, Murphy has participated in the National Geographic’s Geography Bee Challenge. This year our school winner is Anish Dave. His next step is to take the test to qualify for the state competition held in HEB. Congratulations Anish!! And good luck!!”
Dazzler Dance Clinic - Registration Form Attached To eNews Email
MMS Students Named Winners of the City of Murphy Recycling Mascot Contest
Congratulations to Cedric Zhou and Megan Trieu for winning the City of Murphy’s art contest for the recycling mascot. Their work will be displayed on the Progressive Waste Recycling truck.
Plano ISD - Parental Engagement Survey - Takes Less Than 5 Minutes To Complete
There are many ways in which parents may be involved in the education of their child. Extensive research has shown that activities such as reading and communicating with the child and setting expectations have the largest effect on student achievement. Other forms of parental involvement, such as attendance and participation in school functions, also contribute positively to achievement in school.
This Parental Engagement Survey will help us understand some of the ways in which parents are engaged in the education of their child. This information will guide us in providing support to the parents in our community.
With the 2015-2016 school year in mind, please take a moment to answer this brief survey.
Here are the links to the online survey:
English: http://formscreator.pisd.edu/formhandler/parentalengagementpisd.aspx
Spanish: http://formscreator.pisd.edu/formhandler/parentalengagementpisdsp.aspx
Thank you for your participation.
Soccer Club Information
Soccer season has started at Murphy MS. The soccer club has 11 teams and 118 students participating this year! The teams play each other every Friday for the next 3 months ending with semifinals and a championship game on April 22nd.
NJHS students who need volunteer hours: make sure contact
Mrs. Isbell or show up on Fridays to help during an early, a late game, or both!
Free Lacrosse Stick Clinics
Plano East lacrosse will be offering two free stick clinics for anyone interested in “the fastest growing sport in the US”. These clinics will be at McMillen High School from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, January 23 and Saturday, February 6. Loaner gear is available for anyone wanting to experience the sport. (Flier attached to original eNews email.)
If you have any questions, please contact Allison Worley at worley.a@gmail.com or Jeff Leach at jleach5150@hotmail.com.
Homework Hot Spot
Murphy’s Homework Hot Spot is here to serve your student. We created this area because we want students to have a teacher supervised area where they have teacher assistance, peer assistance (provided by Murphy NJHS students), or simply a quiet place to finish up homework before their day begins.
The Homework Hot Spot (HHS) is available every Tuesday and Wednesday morning from 7:50 – 8:20 in Mrs. Feil’s room D 111. We will be limiting the number of students coming in for assistance, so come early. See you there!
Grit and the Power of YET!
In order to demonstrate to students the Power of Yet, to encourage them to try again when they struggle, and to develop their grit, teachers will start adding the phrase “Power of Yet Tutorial (with the date and time of the tutorial)” on graded assignments when students are able to make another attempt at mastery. Teachers will also explain this change in grading communication so that students understand the meaning and purpose of “Power of Yet Tutorials.”
Club List - Updated January 2016
out some simple forms.
Here are the clubs that are formed so far - along with the name and email information of the teacher serving as custodian. Meeting times/dates are set by the teacher, so please direct your questions to him/her.
Book Club with Ms. Pearson in the Library (penny.pearson@pisd.edu)
Nintendo Club with Ms. McCutcheon & Ms. Hargrove in B120 (dena.mccutcheon@pisd.edu or lynda.hargrove@pisd.edu)
Star Wars Club with Mr. Murtaugh in B129 (michael.murtaugh@pisd.edu)
Environmental Club with Ms. Pilgrim in E113 (tina.pilgrim@pisd.edu)
Soccer Club with Mr. Murtaugh in B129 (michael.murtaugh@pisd.edu)
Baseball Club with Mr. Lagattuta in E112 (mike.lagattuta@pisd.edu)
Joy Club with Ms. Perry in J105 (clarice.perry@pisd.edu)
Reading Rain Club with Ms. Byrd in E101 (michelle.byrd@pisd.edu)
Mavs Steep Steppers with Ms. Holt in H102 (jemia.holt@pisd.edu)
Basketball Club with Mr. Henson in D101 (brian.henson@pisd.edu)
- Check out the latest Basketball Club News at www.Tinyurl.com/murphybballclub
Tennis Club with Ms. Hachtel in E111 (joey.hachtel@pisd.edu)
French Club with Ms. Nee in K104 (giang.nee@pisd.edu)
Singing & Dancing Club with Mr. Lagattuta in E112 (mike.lagattuta@pisd.edu)
Chef's Club with Ms. Thompson in D112 (kelly.thompson@pisd.edu)
Poetry Club with Ms. Edenkrans in F103 (elizabeth.edenkrans@pisd.edu)
Harry Potter Club with Mr. Lagattuta in E112 (mike.lagattuta@pisd.edu)
Student Council with Ms. Collins & Ms. McAnderson in F104 (karyn.collins@pisd.edu or melissa.mcanderson@pisd.edu)
Maverick Gazette with Mr. Matisoff in N101 (jason.matisoff@pisd.edu)
Current 6th Grade Students - Immunizations Needed For 7th Grade Entry
Dear 6th Grade Parent,
I want to make you aware of some additional immunizations that will be required in the 2016-2017 school year for 7th grade entry.
The changes will amend 25 Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 97, Subchapter B, §§97.61; 97.63-97.72. Following are the immunizations that will be affected:
· Meningococcal Vaccine (One dose required)
· Varicella Vaccine (Two doses required (or verification of disease)
· Tdap Vaccine (Tetanus and diphtheria toxoids and acellular pertussis) Booster dose required (within last 5 years)
Proof of these immunizations will be required to begin school for the 2016-2017 school year. Please check your child’s immunization records now and provide your school nurse proof of immunization as soon as the vaccine is received as this will provide faster service for your student’s schedule release. To view a copy of your child’s immunization record as currently on file with the school, please go to https://parentviewer.pisd.edu/
If you have questions or concerns, I recommend discussing these with your physician. The school nurse at your campus will be able to provide you with a list of locations where you can receive these immunizations.
For further assistance, please contact the school nurse at your campus or visit http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/immunize/default.shtm for more information.
Thank you,
Megan Schuler RN, BSN
Director for District Health
PTA News & Updates
Important Dates:
February 6th - SAGE Summer Expo
February 12th - Color Run T-Shirt Design Contest Deadline
February 16th - Coffee with Dr. Perry
February 16th - PDQ Spirit Night
February 19th - First Box Top Deadline of 2016
2016-2017 Officer Nomination Consideration Request
If you are interested in serving on the MMS PTA Board in any of the following positions, please contact Tanya Hartley, Chair of the MMS Nominating Committee, by Monday, February 15th. You can email tanyahartley23@gmail.com or text 214-673-9198.
The Nominating Committee will post their proposed ballot on Monday, February 22nd. Voting will take place at the next General PTA Meeting on Monday, February 29th. Please take time to reflect and consider whether you would like to serve on the executive board. Should you have questions regarding these positions or if you would like to inquire about other chair or committee positions opening up that don’t require the vote of the general membership, please feel free to contact Tanya.
MMS Officer Positions
President
1st VP Programs
2nd VP Membership
3rd VP Ways and Means
4th VP Volunteer
Secretary
Treasurer
Thank you!
—MMS Nominating Committee
Hello, parents! Our school receives two checks from the Box Tops for Education™ program each school year. If you turn in your Box Tops before February 19th, 2016 you can help boost the amount of the second check we receive in March . Our school’s Box Tops have to be submitted by March 1, 2016 to be included in our next check. Hurry, clip your Box Tops and turn them in before the deadline. Just have your kids drop them off in the office. Thanks for your help!
Please thank Anna Walker and Sreelatha Pillai for all of their hard work and dedication to PTA this year!!!!!
Murphy Middle School PTA Community Partners 2015-2016
Please remember our generous sponsors when shopping for services or supplies!!
For more Murphy information, please visit the Murphy web page:
http://k12.pisd.edu/murphy-middle-school
For Murphy PTA news: http://www.mmspta.org
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