Jaguar Journal Vol. 16
December 9, 2022
Hello Merrill Families,
Another successful week. We had our Guitar and Ukulele performance, Law Enforcement Career field trip, auditions for the musical, and Basketball tryouts.
5 days left until Winter Break! Winter Break is December 17th through January 3rd, students return on January 4th. Please, please, please ensure you have checked in with your student and their Schoology to complete any missing work.
Please make sure you are checking into the Main Office anytime you come to campus. We appreciate you supporting our community safety. Ms. Rian and Ms. Alex are happy to welcome you and help you with whatever you need.
A GIANT THANK YOU to our PTSA and all volunteers. We have had a successful and generous support and gift giving season. We are also getting closer to our Direct Giving goal every day. Please feel free to share the link with family, friends, colleagues, and on your social media. Let's get to our $97,777! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed.
Next week is Spirit Week:
Monday- Fanny Pack Day
Tuesday- Dress As Your Interest (personal or hobby)
Wednesday- "On Wednesdays, We Wear Pink"
Thursday- Pajama Day
Friday- Dress As Your Favorite Holiday
You are invited to join us for the PTSA meeting this month.
PTSA Virtual Meeting
Wednesday, December 14 · 6:00 – 7:00pm
Google Meet joining info
Video call link: https://meet.google.com/agy-dzvf-hhq
Or dial: (US) +1 484-841-5468 PIN: 221 836 550#
Agenda:
- Giving Campaign
- Teacher Appreciation Breakfast/gifts
- And MORE!
Enjoy your weekend #FAMILY
Merrill Fundraiser - Donate Any Amount By Midnight, Tonight to Enter the Zoo Tix Drawing!
Merrill Families, we have a special treat!
Everyone who donates to the Seven Habits of Merrill Campaign between today and this Friday by midnight will be automatically entered into a drawing to win 1 of 5 four-packs of Denver Zoo vouchers! Already donated? You can absolutely donate again to enter - any amount counts!
Vouchers are for daytime general admission and are good through March 15, 2023. Winners will be notified Monday, December 12th via email.
https://fundrazr.com/SupportMerrills7Habits
We are almost a third of the way to our goal of $97,777 with over $26,000 donated from 60 families so far. A HUGE thank you to those who have donated!
Come Shopping at the Rack - Like Nordstrom's, It's Full of Clothes!
Please submit any great photos you have taken of Merrill Students for the yearbook.
HAPPENINGS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Shadow Tours at Denver South High School
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
Online books available 24/7/365
Winter Concert, Tuesday, December 13th, 5:00pm, Merrill Auditorium
Our first concert of the year is fast approaching! All music students will attend the concert, which is free and open to all families and friends- no tickets required. Music students must return to school by 4:30, or remain in the band room after school to warm up and tune. Concert attire is black dress pants, leggings, skirts/dresses, and plain black, white, or red shirt.
Before and After School Club Offerings
8th Grade Language Arts Field Trip Fundraising!!!!
Our 8th grade students will be reading To Kill A Mockingbird, and the touring Broadway production will be here performing To Kill A Mockingbird at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in February. Each ticket costs $40. Please log on to your MySchoolBucks account and select 8th grade Language Arts Field Trip, and if you can sponsor a student in need, we would appreciate it! When you go to MySchoolBucks and add the 8th grade language arts Field trip you can simply include as many in the quantity field as you like to contribute funds for additional students.
We are writing grants as well to hopefully raise enough for all 8th graders to have this incredible experience. Here’s a video preview of the tour
Community Resources
- Denver Community Resources-Here
- Virtual English Classes from the Denver Public Library-Here
- i-Ready-Here
- Sora (DPS digital library)-Here
- DPS Community Hubs-Here
If you have any questions, please reach out to Molly Zick at molly_zick@dpsk12.net
MERRILL PTSA
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Spread some cheer to the staff!
Can you contribute food items and gift cards to send off our teachers on a warm winter break?
Please view the sign up for Teacher Appreciate Breakfast Here
Annual Fundrazr
Merrill Families, we have a special treat!
Everyone who donates to the Seven Habits of Merrill Campaign between today and this Friday by midnight will be automatically entered into a drawing to win 1 of 5 four-packs of Denver Zoo vouchers! Already donated? You can absolutely donate again to enter - any amount counts!
Vouchers are for daytime general admission and are good through March 15, 2023. Winners will be notified Monday, December 12th via email.
Come to the Rack - Like Nordstrom's, it's full of clothes! Are they yours?
SUPPORT MERRILL WITH YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Coffee beans make fantastic holiday gifts. Order due 1/6 and will be delivered to Merrill Jan 12th.
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MERRILL JAGUAR ATHLETICS
Congratulations, Lady Jaguars, for a Great Volleyball Season
The 6th grade team learned a lot and improved on all of their skills. Merrill is one of the only teams setting the ball up with three hits every time. I am extremely proud of their growth.
I would like to thank Rachel Green and Kathy Swigle for helping coach this season. I also want to thank all of the parents for your continued support this season with driving, providing snacks (carrots), and for being our number one fans!
Basketball-
The Basketball Season starts on December 12, 2022 and DPS Athletics is finalizing the game schedule.
Please use the following link to register your student for tryouts.
Student Basketball registration: Students must be registered in order to tryout as well as having an updated physical on file.
Coach Anna Wilkin anna_wilkin@dpsk12.net
Coach Vince Franklin vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net
Please send all athletic questions to vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net or call 720.424.0621
Cool Classroom:
Cool Classroom: The Entire SPED TEAM!!! Mr. Bissen, Ms. Wendy, Ms. Hanson, and Ms. G
The SPED team is doing amazing things with their intervention class.
Ms. Wendy did an amazing lesson in science where all student assistants were the teachers supporting their partners with a sink and float lesson.
Ms. Hanson is co-teaching once a week with Ms. Hill on social-emotional strategies; specifically with how they treat each other.
Ms. Bissen is working with his class on providing more opportunities for students to work in groups and have authentic conversations and reading out-loud opportunities.
Ms. G does an amazing job of keeping her students informed about what is happening in all of their classes for the day and providing very specific support for math.
SPED team, thank you for all that you do- Inside and outside the classroom!
AT HOME CONVERSATION STARTERS
Would you rather spend the day at a river, lake, or ocean?