The BULLetin
December 14, 2017
Principal's Message
I have to thank Mr. Paul Erickson our Athletic Director for working with Heritage Grove to schedule this game and make sure the Cheer and Poms teams have time and space for warms ups and performances. I want to thank the coaches Mr. Orr (7th grade boys), Mr. Brown (8th grade boys), Ms. Boyk and Ms. Cryder (Poms) and Ms. Fell (Cheer) for their teams participation and support. Thank you, Ms. Buckley and STUCO for running the concessions stand and donating all the profits to Show with a Cop. Thanks to all the Murphy staff who helped out by running the clock, doing the book, supervising the crowd, running the gate and so on. Lastly, I want to thank Heritage Grove, their principal Ms. Miller, their coaches, players, students and families.
I threw out this idea 4 years ago as something that I thought would be a fun activity for kids and would help a great cause. The Heritage Grove folks were eager to jump in and it's something I look forward to every year. The fact that the games are always close, makes it that much more exciting. I am happy to announce that I will be signing at check on Friday for $2000 on behalf of Murphy and Heritage Grove as our donation to the Plainfield Police Shop with a Cop program. I will also have the honor of shopping with the police and students from around the area next week.
Thank you Murphy families for your continual support of our school and donating your time, money and resources.
NAEP 2018 Parent/Guardian Notification Letter
Murphy Junior High will participate in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) on Tuesday, February 27th, 2018. NAEP is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what students know and can do in various subjects. It is administered by the National Center for Education Statistics, within the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP is different from our state assessment because it provides a common measure of student achievement across the country. The results are released as The Nation's Report Card, which provides information about student achievement to educators, parents, policymakers, and the public.
Murphy Junior High - Scripps National Spelling Bee
Round 1: By December 21, all ELA classrooms will have had a verbal, single-elimination competition to determine a classroom winner.
Round 2: On Wednesday, January 17 classroom winners will compete to determine the 10-15 students who will advance to the school finals.
Round 3: Thursday, February 1 we will have the school finals and the winner will participate in the county-wide spelling bee on February 24.
Word list, additional information and suggestions for practice can be found here.
MAVS Kindness Project
MKP Collecting Holiday Cards for Troops
Mavs Kindness Project recently collected holiday greeting cards to send to our troops who are deployed to help lift their morale and spirits during the holiday season. Thank you to everyone who helped make cards and letters!
Mavs Kindness Project
Mavs Kindness Project (MKP) is a club that focuses on kindness and positivity. If your student would like to participate, meetings are held Wednesdays before school at 7:45 in the ZAP room (across from the Multi-Purpose Room). We focus on ideas for spreading kindness here at Murphy as well as beyond our community. Please contact Mrs. Noll (snoll@sd308.org) or Mrs. Zawacki (bzawacki@sd308.org) if you have any questions or would like further information.
Toys for Tots
We had a great time at the Firehouse today donating our toys. Pictures and more news next week.
Murphy Cheer Squad
Murphy Yearbook
There's nothing like getting a yearbook. It is the limited edition collection of our school's stories for this year. Don't let your student miss out on sharing and reliving the big events that will make this year special.
Yearbooks are now on sale for the lowest price of the year. Order now for $25.00! Yearbook price will increase January 6th, 2018. Yearbook orders can be completed online at jostensyearbooks.com. Please contact Ms. Fell if you have any questions.
Weekly JAM (Just Another Maverick)
Murphy PTO
The Murphy PTO Board would like to thank you for your tremendous support! The Murphy community is simply the best!
The PTO will be running the concessions for the Girl’s Basketball season. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to give back! Grab your Murphy student or a friend and sign up for a shift (or two) using the link below:
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0445aaaa22ab9-girls
If you haven’t already, please consider making your family’s annual donation to the PTO. Our focus this year has been on Student Events and Classroom Grants. Any contribution helps and is very much appreciated! So far this year we have awarded grants to the PE and ELL Departments. Donation Form
For more information on the Murphy PTO, upcoming PTO events or volunteer opportunities, please contact PTO President Missy Dziewiatkowski at missyd71@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Facebook for PTO events and updates (Murphy PTO-Home of the Mavericks).
IMPORTANT DATES:
- PTO Meeting Wednesday January 17th at 7:00 pm. There will be several SD308 School Board Members there to discuss the pending budget cuts. Come out and let your voices be heard!
- Skating Party at Aurora Skate Center Tuesday February 20th from 6-8 pm.
We hope you have a safe and happy holiday season! See you all in 2018!
Student Services Spotlight
Maverick Staff Shout Outs!
Shout Out to Mr. Watkins! “He always puts people in a great mood and whenever he talks to you he makes you smile. He is such a tremendous teacher and makes me want to work harder. He cares very much about his students.”
We think our entire MJHS staff is amazing and deserves to be acknowledged for the great work they do on a daily basis! Please use this form to recognize any member of our staff. Remember, staff includes teachers, secretaries, nurses, teaching assistants, and custodians!
6th/7th Grade Course Selection Information
6th and 7th grade teachers are currently making placement recommendations for next year. This timeline has changed from previous years. Please reference the links below for Honors Placement Criteria for 6th and 7th graders.
7th to 8th placement and 6th to 7th placement guidelines.
8th Grade Course Selection
Reminder: OE Counselors met with Murphy 8th graders TODAY to go over course selection for next year.
Oswego East has an Incoming Freshman page on OE’s website that will include important dates and a link to the presentation that 8th grade students viewed with the OE counselors. To visit this page, please use the following link:
“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 Karen Whited at kwhited@sd308.org or Brandi Zawacki at bzawacki@sd308.org.
*Don’t forget to include some pictures in your email.
Mavericks Attending Pop Warner Football Nationals
Congratulations to Anthony Kuceba and Braeden Clark and the entire Naperville Patriots 13U Football Team. They played the Moreno Valley Falcons (California) in the championship game. They won 22-8 to become American Youth Football national champions.
ZAP-Zeros Aren't Permitted
ZAP is an intervention implemented to develop good homework habits. This program helps students self-correct without a penalty. Getting into the habit of doing homework and realizing that it counts is tough for many students. ZAP helps reinforce the importance of homework completion and provides an opportunity for intrinsic growth through self-correction.
What to do when your student is ZAPPED?
If a student does not complete a homework assignment he/she will receive a ZAP. Students have until 8:00am, the following morning, to turn the assignment into Student Services for full credit. If the student chooses not to complete or submit the assignment, then the student will be required to attend the ZAP classroom (D126) during his/her lunch to complete the homework, also for full credit. It is your student's responsibility to know what is missing and bring the necessary materials home. Students will be allowed 5 visits (every 9 weeks) to the ZAP classroom to complete their work. After 5 visits, students are no longer eligible for the ZAP intervention.
If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher and/or counselor.
PBIS @ Murphy
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success.
One aspect of PBIS includes positive acknowledgement of student behavior. When students display the expected behaviors outlined in our MAVS Matrix, they may be acknowledged with verbal praise or tangible rewards (Bullseye Tickets) from their teachers. This makes the expected behaviors more likely to occur in the future and creates positive interactions, rapport, and relationships with students.
When students earn Bullseyes, they are able to collect them to enter weekly prize drawings and shop at the Maverick Mini Mall. This year, our Mini Mall will be on a cart, and students will have an opportunity to shop with their Bullseyes during homeroom each week.
There will be a monthly behavior focus, and teachers will be on the look out to catch students displaying these positive behaviors.
PBIS Maverick Movie Celebration
In addition to acknowledging students for displaying expected behaviors with Bullseyes, we are preparing for our First Semester PBIS Celebration.
Students who are eligible for the Maverick Movie Celebration will receive their ticket the day before their movie Celebration.
The celebrations are on the following dates during periods 1 and 2:
- Friday, December 15th - 7th Grade
- Monday, December 18th - 6th Grade
- Tuesday, December 19th - 8th Grade
Between the dates of October 2 – December 8th, students will need to:
- M - make good decisions by receiving ZERO tardies to class,
- A - accept responsibility by receiving ZERO ZAPs,
- V - value and respect each other and our school and
- S - be safe by receiving ZERO disciplinary actions! This includes suspensions, detentions and office referrals through December 15th
Parent Article – Understanding Middle School Friendships
College Planning from myOWN.edu - December Edition
When was the last time your child came to your work? You may think they are getting too old but don't count out the impact that your work experience can have on their future! Continue reading...
8th Grade:
Thinking about high school classes? Having trouble understanding the many options? Learn how to help your student pick the right classes for their success! Continue reading...
Murphy Robotics
Boys' Basketball & Wrestling
7th Grade
Last Friday night, the 7th grade basketball team faced a tough Heritage Grove team. The Mavericks started the first half slow, but were able to build a 6 point lead before halftime. After 3 quarters, the Mavericks were still ahead by 8 points. In the 4th quarter, Heritage Grove battled back to tie the game in the final seconds to force overtime. Unfortunately, the Mavericks couldn't hold them off in the 34 to 39 loss. Michael led the scoring with 8 points, Robert scored 7 and Zach contributed 5 points.
On Saturday, the Mavericks played Herget in the City of Lights tournament. Herget came ready to play and hung tough with the Mavericks through the first half. In the 3rd quarter, Herget was able to penetrate the Maverick defense to grab a 3 point lead. The 4th quarter was a battle with the Mavericks coming up short in a 32 to 33 loss. Michael led the scoring with 15 points, Robert was good for 5, and Caden added 4.
8th Grade
Last Friday night 8th grade boys took on Heritage Grove in the Battle of 127th Street and that is exactly what it was, a battle. We started off tacking an 8 point lead but by halftime we barley held on to that lead. From this point on it was a battle back and forth we would take the lead and then they would take the lead. It came down to the final seconds and Rehan took a three and missed but Kacey came up with a high rebound and kicked it back out to Rehan who drilled the three to take the lead with seconds left to win the game. Bringing the trophy back to Murphy. Leading scores where Rehan with 16, Kacey had 8 and Chris had 6 and Nate had 5. Great job boys!
Maverick Makers Club
Maverick Makers Club meeting dates from 3:00-4:00 Art Classroom
January 22, 29
February 5, 12, 36
March 5, 12, 19
Any student who is wanting to explore the visual arts should join this club. Experimentation with glass, ceramics and fibers will be introduced.
Additional information and sign up sheet can be found here.
Community Events
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
Is your female student curious about science and the world around them? Are they natural problem solvers? Are they compelled to understand how things work? Have them come join Argonne National Laboratory in exploring the world of engineering and science at the 16th Annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED).
Argonne's IGED gives young female students a unique opportunity to discover engineering careers alongside world-class scientists and engineers. Participants will enjoy motivational presentations by female Argonne employees, tour Argonne's cutting-edge research facilities, connect with a mentor, engage in hands-on engineering experiments, and compete in a team challenge — all designed specifically for middle school-aged girls.
This event is open to 8th grade girls and is registration by lottery. Lottery registrations must be completed by January 12, 2018. Event is February 22, 2018.
OHS Dance K-8 Winter Mini-Camp
2 Day Clinic
Wednesday, February 7th and Thursday, February 8
4:30-6:30PM @ OHS Cafeteria
Half-Time Performance
Friday, February 9 at the Oswego v Plainfield East Basketball Game
Upcoming Events
December 14
- Winter Music Concert (7pm)
December 15
- Musical Cast List Posted
December 21
- End of Quarter 2
- End of Semester 1
- SIP Day (3.5 Hour Student Attendance) 11:30 dismissal; no lunch service
December 22-January 1
- Murphy will be closed the entire first week of break. There will be no staff in the Office. We will re-open January 2 from 8am to 2pm.
- Return from Winter Break
- Begin Quarter 3/Semester 2
- 7th & 8th Grade Girls Basketball Tryouts
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
Murphy Junior High School is an inclusive and supportive community that promotes student success by ensuring ALL students are college and career ready.
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