Murphy Middle School eNews
March 23, 2016
2016 Bond Election
On May 7, 2016, Plano ISD voters will decide on a $481 million bond proposal to fund initiatives recommended by the Plano ISD Facilities and Technology Task Force. Appointed in August, 2015 by the Plano ISD Board of Trustees, the task force included citizens, business leaders, teachers, principals and parents. The task force reviewed enrollment trends and projections, established construction and renovation needs, validated costs and sought input from fellow community members. After five months of study, debate and public input, the task force made final recommendations to school trustees which are included in this bond proposal. If approved, the bond initiative will provide funding toward eight major project areas with no increase to the tax rate and will impact all Plano ISD campuses through district-wide security updates, renovations and facility upgrades, as well as technology improvements. Find out more, including specific project allocations, at www.pisd.edu/2016bond. You may send questions to askpisd@pisd.edu.
Online Resources:
· Bond Election (main page): www.pisd.edu/2016bond
· Bond Overview Flyer: http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/BondOverview.pdf
· Press Release: http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/PressRelease.pdf
· Press Release (Spanish): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/PressReleaseSpanish.pdf
· Frequently Asked Questions (English): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/FAQ.shtml
· Frequently Asked Questions (Spanish): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/FAQ_Spanish.pdf
· Project List (English): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/Proposed_Project_List.pdf
· Project List (Spanish): http://www.pisd.edu/news/bond.programs/2016bond/documents/Project_Summary_Spanish.pdf
Murphy Middle School Events & Information
No School For Students and Teachers - Friday, March 25th
STAAR Writing for 7th Grade Students - Tuesday, March 29th
STAAR Math for 8th Grade Math 8 Students - Tuesday, March 29th
Algebra I EOC Practice Test for 8th Grade Algebra Students - Tuesday, March 29th
STAAR Reading for 8th Grade Students - Wednesday, March 30th
Instrument Selection For Band - Current 5th Grade Students - Saturday, April 2 at MMS
Spring Social Sponsored by the MMS PTA - Friday, April 8 from 6:30 - 9:00 in the MMS Cafeteria and Gyms
Poetry Slam - Thursday, April 14th starting at 3:30 in the MMS Cafeteria
Instrument Selection Meetings for Orchestra - Current 5th Grade Students - Thursday, April 14th in the Fine Arts Area - beginning at 4:00
Soccer Festival for All Middle Schools at Clark HS Fields beginning at 2:30
Mavericks Stampede Color Run - Saturday April 23rd starting at 8:30
Talent Show Auditions - Monday, April 25th & Tuesday, April 26th in the MMS Cafeteria beginning at 3:30
Choir Pop Show - Friday, April 29th at Plano East starting at 5:30
Upcoming Track & Cross Country Meets
Wednesday, April 6th - Track Meet at Kimbrough starting at 4:15
Monday, April 11th - Track Meet at Kimbrough starting at 4:00
Tuesday, April 12th - Track City Finals at Kimbrough Stadium starting at 4:00
Wednesday, April 20th - Cross Country Meet at Plano Senior High starting at 5:00
Wednesday, April 27th - Cross Country Meet at Plano Senior High starting at 5:00
STAAR & EOC Testing Information (See Attachment to eNews Email)
We would also like to address the following items which will make STAAR testing go more smoothly for everyone involved:
- Student attendance on testing days is vitally important. Please make every effort to be at school and to be on time.
- Please reschedule appointments that are slated for testing days.
- Cell phones are not allowed in testing rooms. Encourage your student to leave their phone at home or in their locker on testing days.
- We encourage students to bring their lunch on STAAR testing days. Because this is a timed test which must be interrupted for students to eat, having a lunch from home simplifies the process for everyone involved.
STAAR & EOC Testing Dates
Congratulations To Our Speech & Debate Team!
Congrats to the Speech & Debate team for winning 3rd place in the Schimelpfenig tournament this past weekend! Huge Congrats to our medal winners: Sophia Li, Hannah Rhodes, Nevin Gera, Jackson Ward and William Zhang.
Orchestra News - UIL Performances
Our Chamber Orchestra will be performing at Allen HS from 1:55 - 3:00 PM. on Thursday, March 24th. We will leave Murphy at 11:15 AM. We will be going to CiCi's Murphy for lunch and returning to school at 3:30 PM. Students need to bring $6.00 for food at CiCi's.
If parents would like to attend, their exact performance time at Allen HS is 2:25 PM.
Students are working very hard for these competitive performances. You are very welcome to attend and see what competitive orchestra performance is all about.
Time To Register For The 5th Annual Mavericks Stampede!
It’s time to register for the 5th Annual Mavericks Stampede. Our 3rd Color Run will be on Saturday, Apr. 23rd at 8:30am behind Kimbrough Stadium. It is a 3 mile run/walk that is fun for the whole family. This year there will be FIVE color stations so everyone can get their rainbow going. The traveling trophy is up for grabs again. The Fine Arts department with the most participants will receive the trophy. Will choir win again? We’ll have to find out! Sign-up is easy, follow this link.
2015-2016 Yearbook Is Complete!
Environmental Club News
March 26th—some Environmental Club members, along with Mr. Hendrix, will be involved with the City of Murphy’s Chamber of Commerce Spring Fever from 10-4 in the Lowe’s parking lot. They will be in a booth explaining all the projects the club participates in.
The NEXT club meeting will be April 1st from 3:30-4:30. Dress for working outside. We will also discuss the upcoming Spring Recycling Event on April 9th in the City of Murphy’s parking lot. We will help sort items being recycled---electronics, clothing, styrofoam, cardboard, ink cartridges, even pots and pans. It will be a drive-thru drop off event between the hours of 8:30am-12:30pm.
Moving Or Might Be Moving?
Blood Drive Hosted by the McMillen PAL Class
The McMillen PAL Class is hosting a blood drive on Friday April 8th from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm in the Kimbrough Parking Lot on the Carter BloodCare Bus. Just one donation can save three lives. Please take some time out of your day to help.
You can sign up for a donation time by clicking on the following link: https://ww2.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/67951
COLLIN COLLEGE OFFERS SUMMER CAMPS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
There is a little something for everyone this summer at Collin College. Middle and high school students interested in nursing, robotics, music or dance have a lot of options on campus as summer camps heat up. Here is the schedule of the camps sponsored by Collin College:
- Nurse Camp
For students interested in getting an inside look at the nursing profession, Collin College is hosting its free Nurse Camp. Open to students between 8th -12th grades, participants will observe demonstrations and participate in simulations from 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Central Park Campus, 2200 W. University Drive in McKinney. Space is limited. Call Beth Kasprisin, clinical coordinator of nursing, at 972.548.6605 or email mkasprisin@collin.edu for more information.
- Summer Robotics Camp
From 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., participants will stimulate their minds and unleash creativity at the Summer Robotics Camp. Open to students between 7th - 10th grades, the camp will be held at the Spring Creek Campus Living Legends Conference Center, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, in Plano. Cost is $89 and includes three lunches. This camp is sponsored by the Collin College Robotics Club and the Engineering Department. Call Gena Martin at 972.377.1501 or email gsmartin@collin.edu for more information.
- Collin Summer Dance Festival
The sixth annual Collin Summer Dance Festival features workshops in modern, ballet, jazz, pilates, musical theatre and hip-hop. Daily workshops are from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the dance studio (room AA146) at the Spring Creek Campus, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway, in Plano. Cost is $125. The Summer Dance Festival is for beginners or advanced dancers, 14 years old and up. Space is limited. Online registration is available at www.collin.edu/department/dance/summerdance.html Call Tiffanee Arnold, festival coordinator, at 972.881.5830 or email dance@collin.edu for more information.
- All Girls Summer Robotics Camp
From 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., girls get to design and build their own technological creation at the All Girls Summer Robotics Camp. Open to students between 7th - 10th grades, the camp will be held at the Preston Ridge Campus Conference Center, 9700 Wade Blvd in Frisco. Cost is $89 and includes three lunches. This camp is sponsored by the Collin College Robotics Club and the Engineering Department. Call Gena Martin at 972.377.1501 or email gsmartin@collin.edu for more information.
· Texas All-Star Jazz Camp
Monday-Friday, July 18-22
The Texas All-Star Jazz Camp features a flurry of daily workshops and rehearsals as musicians learn the world of big band jazz. Camp faculty includes top jazz musicians from around the country, who have played with big names such as Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, the Metroplexity Big Band and Woody Herman. This year’s special guest is NYC jazz and rock trombonist - Tom "Bones" Malone. Students must be at least 13 years old with at least one year of study on their instrument. All events will be at the Spring Creek Campus, 2800 E. Spring Creek Parkway in Plano. Cost is $265 or $310 with lunch. For information and a PDF application, call Kris Berg, professor of jazz studies, at 972.881.5108 or email kberg@collin.edu .
The University of North Texas College of Engineering Stem Conference for Girls
The University of North Texas College of Engineering is hosting a Stem Conference for Girls. The Event will be held Saturday, April 2nd, 2016. The link will take you to the Invitation, as well as the Event information.
Girls Track Schedule - Practices & Meets
Boys Track Schedule - Practices & Meets
Substance Abuse Prevention
In an attempt to put relevant, current, and important information concerning drugs and alcohol prevention directly in front of our parents, the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists from PISD will be sharing information with principals that can then be shared with parents via eNews.
Here is the fourth edition:
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Information: “Did You Know”
“Use of synthetic party drug puts two North Texans in hospital” DMNews
Parent Workshops Presented By Family Education and Guidance Services
http://www.pisd.edu/about.us/departments/familyservices.shtml
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.
PTA News & Updates
Important Dates:
March 29th - PDQ Spirit Night
March 31st - PTA Survey Closes
April 8th - Spring Social from 6:30 - 9:00 PM
April 14th - Poetry Slam after school
April 23rd - Mavericks Stampede Color Run
Spring Social - April 8th!!
Join the Poetry Fun after school at the Poetry Slam April 14th!
The Hospitality Committee is the volunteer of the month. The Hospitality members include Mindy Parker, Ann Mortel, Shannon Sadler and Amanda Conner.
Please thank them for the awesome job they are doing this year!
March 29th is Spirit Night at PDQ! Enjoy good food while contributing to MMS.
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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