The BULLetin
February 8, 2018
Principal's Message
We have cancelled ALL activities at Murphy beginning at 3pm today. We would like our students and staff home safely before the weather hits. Have a safe snow day and we look forward to seeing you on Monday. We anticipate the school year being extended which would push 8th grade awards night a day, as well as, the end of the school year. Once we have final information from the district, we will adjust our school calendar accordingly.
Cold & Flu Season
The District has also offered the following guidance for parents as they consider whether they should send a child to school.
Ms. Cryder's Geography
Alderman Bugg spoke about student initiatives in Aurora and how it moves through the municipal government.
Students asked questions about what lead him to government and how Aurora is addressing the budget concerns in SD308.
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. Stop by and watch the girls' basketball team starting Tuesday. We will have a nice selection of items and EVERYTHING'S A DOLLAR!
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:
- Skating Party at Aurora Skate Center Tuesday February 20th from 6-8 pm.
SD308 Junior High Writing Contest
Student Services Spotlight
Armon Holmes, Kylie Kany, Ava Saalfeld, Jayden Pagan, Bryan Cervantes, Aaron Sucharewski, Cecelia Carr, Skyler Meyers, Mustafo Gulomov, I’Marion Stewart
Faculty Winner: Ms. Fell
Maverick Staff Shout Outs!
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
Do you have questions about your student’s placement recommendation for School Year 2018-2019? If so, please contact your student’s teacher. Appeal forms can be found on the SD308 Gifted and Talented Education page. Recommendation appeals must be filed by June 29th, 2018.
“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.
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 is a weekly behavior focus, and teachers will be on the lookout to catch students displaying these positive behaviors.
Focus for next week: Focus for next week: 2/12-2/16 - Turn in homework on time
Parent Article
“Top 10 Skills Middle School Students Need to Thrive, and How Parents Can Help”
From the author:
“There is no manual to develop “soft” skills like perseverance and resilience. I have come to believe that certain social emotional skills are particularly useful as kids navigate middle school and beyond. Here are my top 10 skills, and ways parents can help without getting in the way.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/parenting/wp/2016/02/29/top-10-skills-middle-school-students-need-to-thrive-and-how-parents-can-help/?utm_term=.6ff409029406
MAVS Kindness Project - EXTENDED
Mavs Kindness Project (MKP) club is selling "In a world where you can be anything..... Be Kind" t-shirts and sweatshirts. The sale is open to anyone and everyone!
Orders are due by Friday, February 16. Please make checks payable to "Murphy Junior High School". Order forms can be given to either Sarah Noll or Brandi Zawacki.
College Planning from myOWN.edu - January Edition
That teenager of yours is still under construction! Their behaviors, moods, and personality seems to change daily - how can you possibly response in a firm, yet fair way as they continue to develop? Continue reading...
8th Grade:
You're certainly not a helicopter parent - but you may know someone who is. Help them avoid the pitfalls of hovering too closely! Continue reading...
Girls' Basketball Round Up
In the second game, the Mavericks also jumped to an early lead. Tough defense held the Bulldogs scoreless through the first half. The Mavericks went on to pick up a 17 to 4 victory. Mia and Gabby led the scoring with 6 points. Dana and Mar each played tough defensively.
Junior High Math Competition
When: Monday March 19, 2018
Where: Oswego High School
Time: 6:00 (plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early)
Who: open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Cost: None
What to Bring: #2 pencils and CalculatorMurphy Yearbook
The yearbook club has been very busy putting together the Murphy 2018 yearbook! The final day to preorder a yearbook is Friday, February 23rd. Yearbook orders can be completed online at jostensyearbooks.com. Please contact Ms. Fell if you have any questions.
Aramark Student Survey
Community Events
DuPage Area STEM Expo
Join us at the DuPage Area STEM Expo (formerly known as DuPage Area Engineers Week) for an interactive exploration into science, technology, engineering and math. Over 50 displays, presentations, projects to take home and activities for school age children, grades K – 12.
Saturday, February 24, 2018
10:30am – 3:30pm
IIT Rice Campus
201 E. Loop Road, Wheaton, IL 60189
Complimentary admission and parking
Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day @ Olivet
On Saturday, April 7, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) at Olivet will hold its third annual “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day!”
An event flyer can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/17OU-8IkhDx8usLjv6vL2OenpOP4e8RHu/view?usp=sharing
Parents and legal guardians interested in registering their children should use this link: https://goo.gl/forms/Z86cdOq6ifC1DKuG2
For information about scholarship opportunities, please contact swe@olivet.edu
Upcoming Events
February 12
- 7th Girls' Basketball @ Jefferson (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Basketball v Jefferson (4:30pm)
February 13
- 7th Girls' Basketball v Washington (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Basketball @ Washington (4:30pm)
February 14
- Valentine's Day
- 7th Girls' Basketball v Heritage Grove (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Basketball @ Heritage Grove (4:30pm)
February 15
- 7th Girls' Basketball @ Thompson (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Basketball v Thompson (4:30pm)
February 16
- SIP Day 3.5 Hour Student Attendance - No Lunch Service
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