The BULLetin
August 23, 2018
Principal's Message
Our theme this year is "Don't Stop Believing..." We played some Journey, got a few students singing along, phone flashlight were glowing and hands were swaying. It's a fun song. For whatever reason, kind of timeless.
Just because it's catchy isn't the reason that we chose it as the theme. Rather, it speaks to the mindset that we're trying to instill in students, that anything is possible.
I told them that I grew up in a small, farm-town in Wisconsin. I had 88 students in my graduating class and fewer than 400 in my high school. In elementary, I had 28 students in my class and there was 1 class of each grade level. My teachers, there was 1 history teacher for each grade level and there wasn't multiple levels of classes. My experience was limited and I didn't even know it.
As I moved into college my world-view became bigger and when I started working in schools 20+ years ago, I realized that the world is much larger, opportunities are much greater and options are far more vast, than I ever imagined.
It became one of my primary goals in life as a parent and an educator to help kids understand much earlier that the world is a huge amazing place and that the limits that we perceive are often self-imposed.
I hope the work we do this year, in classrooms around the building and at each and every grade level helps every student believe that anything is possible.
Staff Changes
Daniel Stockhausen - Special Education Resource Coordinator
Heather Smith - Special Education Instructional Skills Program Coordinator
Heather Viall - Assistant Principal (1st semester)
Christine Alesia - ELA
John Baker - SS (Part-Time w/ Thompson)
Aaron Dudley - PE
Brian Falli - Counselor (L-Z)
Dan Kokes - SS (Part-Time w/ Bednarcik)
Erika Rerych - ELA
Amy Schultz - Math (Part-Time w/ Bednarcik)
Sarah Vinanek - was Sarah Seconde
Kristen Walsh - Literacy Coach
Second Step
This week during our Advisory period, we began the Second Step Middle School Program, which focuses on skills and concepts that are designed to help students both in and out of school.
These include:
Mindsets and Goals: Students learn about ways to grow their brains and get smarter, along with research-based strategies for achieving goals and handling difficult situations.
Values and Friendships: Students learn to identify their personal values and use those values to make good decisions and build strong, positive relationships.
Thoughts, Emotions, and Decisions: Students learn the positive role emotions play in their lives, how to handle unhelpful thoughts and strong emotions, and specific strategies for calming down.
Serious Peer Conflicts: Students learn how to identify and avoid serious conflicts, resolve conflicts that can't be avoided, think about other people's perspectives, and help stop bullying and harassment at school.
If you have any questions about the Second Step Middle School Program, please reach out for more information. Thank you for supporting your child in learning the skills and concepts that lead to success in school and in life.
Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures & Buses
Parent Drop Off/Pick Up
We have a crossing guard at the entrance/exit to Murphy and Grande Park. Due to the numbers of kids who walk to and from school, that person or those persons are there to help ensure that students are able to safely cross the street when there is a lot of traffic. There job is student safety. Neither the District nor the Plainfield Police want them to be directing traffic. To help ensure efficient drop off/pick up procedures, we have worked with the Plainfield Police to create a process that is effective and ultimately safe.
When leaving Murphy/Grande Park parents are asked to follow the traffic patter so that the passenger door is curbside and students are dropped off/picked up curbside. This is to ensure that students are not walking through the parking lot and into the flow of traffic. That is why we ask ALL parents to drop off/pick up their students by going through the cue.
Also, in order to minimize traffic back ups on Grande Park Boulevard, between 7am and 4pm, there are only RIGHT hand turns onto Grande Park Boulevard. Because the entry to the school gets traffic from three directions, not having left turns reduces the potential for accidents from the other two directions. On most days, the crossing guards have cones to block left hand turns. Students should be dropped off no earlier than 7:45AM.
Bus Riders
Students who ride the bus should take note of the BUS NUMBER hanging in the window on the side in the morning (e.g. 8120), it will help them as they look to find the proper route home in the afternoon. This information is ALSO available on the District Transportation website. Please make sure students are at their assigned stops a few minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive.
Please understand that morning pick up and afternoon drop off will likely be delayed the first few days of school as we ensure that students are on the correct buses.
Please remember that students MAY ride another bus home from school BUT we need to have a letter from both the sending and receiving parent that it's ok. Students need to stop by the office before school or during their lunch period to get a pass to ride a different bus.
PTO
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the PTO table during the Locker Load sessions and Curriculum Night!
As many of you know, we don’t do any fundraising as a PTO. Instead we ask families to make an annual donation to the PTO. These donations help us to provide classroom grants, student events, staff appreciation, community awareness and much more. Please consider making a donation. In addition, any family who donates $25 or more will receive one free ticket to the Murphy Monster Mash!
NEW THIS YEAR! The PTO can now accept credit card payments for spirit wear and annual donations You can also make your family’s annual donation via SignUp Genius by clicking on this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0445aaaa22ab9-murphy2). If you prefer to send your donation in with your student, please print out the form below and send it to school with your student.
For more information on the Murphy PTO, upcoming PTO events or volunteer opportunities, please contact PTO President Missy Dziewiatkowski at missyd71@gmail.com or 630-999-3927. Please also follow us on Facebook for PTO events and updates (Murphy PTO-Home of the Mavericks).
We’re looking forward to another great year at Murphy!
Murphy Spirtwear
Weekly JAM (Just Another Maverick)
Student Services Spotlight
High School Courses: Credit Opt-Out Process
If you have a student enrolled in Algebra I, Pre-AP English 1, or Spanish and do not want your student to receive high school credit for the class (Algebra only) or wish to drop the course, please click the “Opt-Out Letter” link below for further information. Opt-out forms must be completed and returned to your student’s counselor by October 19.
The ZAP program will begin when we return to school after Labor Day.
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.
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.
Respect-Responsibility-Excellence - The Maverick Way
Picture from left to right are Justin Morrissey, Nick Panozzo, and Jayden Saa.
MmmMaverick Tasty Treat Cooking Club
Are you interested in cooking and baking? Hanging out with friends after school? Meeting new people and becoming part of a fun group?
Then join MmmMaverick Tasty Treat Cooking Club!
Additional dates and registration information can be found here.
Upcoming Events
August 24
- 6th Grade Choir Get to Know You Event (3:10-5:30pm)
August 27
- 7th Girls' Volleyball v Bednarcik (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Volleyball @ Bednarcik (4:30pm)
- Boys' Soccer v Bednarcik (4:30pm)
August 28
- 7th Girls' Volleyball @ Plank (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Volleyball v Plank (4:30pm)
- Boys' Soccer @ Plank (4:30pm)
August 30
- 7th Girls' Volleyball v Traughber (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Volleyball @ Traughber (4:30pm)
- Boys' Soccer v Traughber (4:30pm)
- Cross Country @ Thompson (4:30pm)
- 8th Grade Marching Band @ OE (6pm)
September 3
- Labor Day - NO SCHOOL
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