Merrill Minute
August 1, 2022
Welcome!
Greetings, Mustang Families,
The 2022-2023 school year is just around the corner and we are looking forward to welcoming approximately 650 Merrill Mustangs on Wednesday, August 24 for the first day of school! Our mission at Merrill is “to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful, liberated world." While at Merrill students will forge new friendships, navigate and engage in rigorous coursework, participate in clubs and activities after school, and ultimately become more independent learners and young adults before they leave us and head off to high school.
Mustang Launch:
We have several events planned to support students and families in the transition from summer mode to school mode. Mark your calendars for the events below.
- Infinite Campus Portal: Schedules will be made available for viewing on the Infinite Campus Portal beginning on Thursday, August 11. Students and families may log in and view student schedules and begin to become familiar with the flow of the day. Classroom numbers in the 100s are downstairs and classroom numbers in the 200s are upstairs.
- Back 2 School Night: Back 2 School Night is scheduled for Monday, August 22 from 5:00-7:00 PM. Students and families may stop by Merrill to walk the building and become familiar with classroom locations, meet teachers, drop off any bulk school supplies, and visit with staff regarding any unanswered questions.
- 1st Day: The first day of school is Wednesday, August 24. On the first day, and continuing into early September, we will focus on getting to know students, building community, helping students navigate the Merrill campus (lockers, lunch, schedules, etc.), and supporting students emotionally and academically as they return to the physical space of the school.
You can do this!
Some students are excited and ready for the new adventures of middle school and a new year, while others are anxious and intimidated. Most students are a little of both. We are here to help you navigate all of the emotions, learning, and logistics of middle school. Please don't hesitate to reach out. Welcome to Merrill!
Yours in making '22-'23 the best school year yet,
Kate
Kathryn Panek
Merrill Middle School, Principal
Top 5 Tips from Former Merrill Students
#1 Get Involved
#2 Speak Up
#3 Technology
#4 Practice
August is the time to practice the routines that will come in handy during the school year. Students should practice sustaining an enjoyable activity for approximately 45-55 minutes, which is the length of a class period. Have students select an activity from a menu of options such as reading a book from the public library, building something out of materials, listening to a podcast and sharing the highlights with you, or inquiring into a social issue and writing about it.
#4 Practice Continued
#5 Give it Time
Back 2 School Night
What should students bring each day?
Water Bottles
Technology
Backpack
Merrill Mustang Building-Wide Expectations
Our mission at Merrill is to create a better and more peaceful, liberated world. In doing so we partner with students to establish a culture that supports improving social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes for all students.
Students are introduced to our building-wide expectations during the first few days of school where we converse, teach, and provide students time to practice the expectations listed below in the hallways, restrooms, busses, cafeteria, and recess area. Throughout the year we will continue to strengthen our learning community and celebrate student success!
Merrill 2022-2023 Grade Level Bell Schedules
Day In The Life of a Merrill Student
- 8:15 A.M. Doors Open Doors will open at Merrill at 8:15 each day. Students may head to the cafeteria for breakfast or to the gym where they are welcome to sit in the bleachers and socialize with friends.
- 8:30 A.M.1st Period Begins Students will engage in six courses throughout the day. Class periods are approximately 56-minutes in length. At the end of each class period, students will head out the door to their next class. Most classes are located near each other. Staff members will be available in the hallways to help students find their way.
- Lunch: We have split 6th and 7th-grade students into two, 30-minute sections of lunch per grade level. This will reduce the number of students in the cafeteria at any given time and promote a more enjoyable and relaxing lunch experience. Teachers will help students navigate which lunch students have been assigned. All 8th-grade students will eat at the same time. When students are finished eating, we do encourage them to go outside to get some fresh air.
- Mustang Minutes: Mustang Minutes, more traditionally referred to as homeroom or advisory, is at the end of the day from 2:55-3:25.
- 3:25 P.M. Dismissal We have a staggered dismissal process set up in which we will dismiss the walkers and bikers, bus riders as each bus arrives, and passenger vehicle riders at 3:25.
- 3:45 P.M. After School All students not participating in a club or activity need to exit the building by 3:45. Families who need an after-school option may click here to learn more about our partnership with the Boys and Girls Club.
Opportunities to Join the Team!
Volunteers
Guest Teachers, Associates, and Nurses
DMPS - Join the Team!
Transportation Eligibility
Middle school students must live more than 2.0 miles from Merrill to qualify for transportation. (6th Grade Families: Elementary students are eligible at 1.5 miles. If you live 1.5-2.0 miles from Merrill, this could impact your eligibility for transportation.) There are a few exceptions. For more information, please click here.
Attention 7th Grade Families!
The Iowa Department of Public Health requires all students in Iowa entering 7th grade to have a Meningitis and Tdap (whooping cough) vaccine. The vaccinations need to be completed by August 24th to start school on August 25th. Please send an updated vaccination record to Merrill (fax 515-323-8656). Do you have an appointment set up for your child yet? Is there anything I can do to help you?" If families do not have a medical home, they can call Polk County Health Department at (515) 286-3798.
Online Registration
The annual online registration for the '22-'23 school year is open. Families should have received a unique link to register in the parent portal account on Infinite Campus. Click on the link to verify information and upload relevant documents. For help navigating online registration, click here. If you do not have a parent portal account through Infinite Campus, please contact the Merrill Office Manager, Brooke Austin, for information and assistance by calling (515) 242-8448.
Boys & Girls Club: After School Programming
Abby Block
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Iowa
Gregory & Suzie Glazer Burt Club
2500 Forest Ave I Des Moines, IA 50310
o. 515-271-4569
kablock@bgcci.org l www.bgcci.org l find us on Facebook
Meet the Merrill Team!
Office Manager Brooke Austin
Merrill Principal Kathryn Panek
Student Engagement Martin Luft
Student Last Name: A-L
Ryan Daugherty: Associate Principal
Kimber Foshe: School Counselor
Student Last Name: M-Z
Sara Triplett: Associate Principal
Emma Althaus: School Counselor
Attendance Office Joyce Grace
Media Specialist Carrie Kent
Merrill Office Julie McCann
Success Case Manager Andrew Pavelka
Behavior Interventionist Paige Dahms
School Nurse Kelli Luft
Instructional Coach Allison Chartier
Social Worker Monica Congdon
Instructional Coach Danielle Taylor
Campus Monitor - Rakim Tullis
Advanced Learning Program - Kathryn Pilcher
Community School Coordinator - Simone Freeman
Join Us for One Run in Support of Merrill
Lace-up your shoes, put on your navy and white, and hit the streets of Des Moines in support of Merrill Middle School! OneRun is a district-wide fundraising event for the Des Moines Public Schools Foundation, in support of K-8 schools at DMPS...and it is free! This two-mile fun run/fundraiser is set for Saturday, September 24, and will begin and end near the Des Moines Botanical Center.
Registration will be paid by corporate sponsors directly to the schools. Each participant may designate one school. The more participants, the more money for our school, so invite your family and neighbors to register! Please be sure to designate Merrill Middle School as your home school when registering! Click here to learn more about the event and to register online.
DMPS '22 - '23 School Calendar
Merrill Middle School
Email: jane.schumann@dmschools.org
Website: merrill.dmschools.org
Location: 5301 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA
Phone: 515-242-8448
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/merrillpta
Twitter: @MerrillMustangs