The BULLetin
April 25, 2019
Principal's Message
Thank You and We'll See You Soon
It's with a lump in my throat, I get to share that Murphy will have it's first retirees.
At the end of the school year, school nurse Margaret Wackerlin will be retiring. Margaret has been a fixture at Murphy almost since we opened. She has taken care of students and staff, administered first aid and doled out TLC. She has calmed frightened students, parents and staff. She will end her nursing career and take on full time grandma-ing and whatever else she can fit in around the grandkids.
At the end of the summer, my secretary, Shelley Shrum will be retiring. Shelley has tolerated me for 12 years. Other than my wife and my mom, she is the only person who has endured me for any length of time. She was my first hire at Murphy and continues to be my best. She makes me look better at my job than I am. Everyone knows, Shelley knows everything. She is irreplaceable and will leave Ronald McDonald sized shoes to fill. I will miss her more than I can currently even imagine.
As you visit Murphy over the coming weeks, please wish Margaret and Shelley well as they move on to the next season of life.
Mike Leckrone has been the leader of the University of Wisconsin Marching Band since 1969. He is retiring at the end of the school year. As a kid from Wisconsin, it's unfathomable. Growing up in Wisconsin and attending Badger events, Mike was ubiquitous. I always thought he probably had the best job in the world. One hallmark of Badger football games, a Badger Band tradition, is at the end of each half time show the PA announcer says, "We never say good bye, simply, we'll see you next year; and On Wisconsin!"
At Murphy Junior High, we never say, "good bye" simply, we'll see you soon.
8th Grade End of Year Events
April is cruising along, we are preparing for our end of year events. As in year's past, we will have an 8th grade dance, as well as, an 8th grade Recognition Night. We do not have a cap and gown ceremony but we do formally recognize the end of 8th grade.
8th grade parents should have received an email with a "Save the Date" for the 8th grade dance. Look for an invitation and ways that parents can help in the coming days. Additionally, our Recognition Night is set for Thursday, May 30 at 7pm at Murphy. This will once again be a ticketed event. Look for more details in the coming weeks.
PTO 8th Grade Shirts
Great news, Mavericks! The PTO is once again offering something really cool for our graduating 8th graders! OEHS Class of 2023 shirts are back! We have made this super easy for you. Simply use the link below to order and pay for your shirt. We will deliver the shirts to school before the last week of school (exact date TBD but most likely Monday 5/20). We got tremendous feedback on these shirts last year so we are happy to offer this again! Shirt cost is $10 (which includes a $1.00 service fee). ALL ORDERS ARE DUE BY 5PM ON MONDAY APRIL 29th, so please don't delay!
Ms. Kunsch's Art Classes
Survival Skills Volunteers Needed
Remember going to 6th grade Survival Skills? Thinking there's no way I'll ever... find my way around.... get my locker open... find a place to sit in lunch???? There were these SUPER cool older kids who were there to help you throughout the day... Those AWESOME kids were Survival Skills Volunteers.
AVID Things @ Murphy
On April 11th Mrs. Alesia and Ms. Rerych collaborated by grouping their students together, so they could practice their biographical presentation (Unit 3 EA 2) in a conversational style with other peers. The goal of this activity was to increase student eye contact, while utilizing a collaborative format. During this activity students completed a feedback form for each required element of the presentation. Once the presentations were done, students had to independently summarize the impact of the individual they learned about during the presentation. The feedback helped students target areas of improvement as well as areas of strength before they presented to their whole class.
Ms. Rerych - ELA
Pictures Row 1:
Students in Ms. Rerych's 6th grade ELA completed a gallery walk to analyze argument writing using the district's rubric to provide targeted feedback. Students completed their analysis in a two column note format. Before leaving each station, they had to leave a post it note on the draft with one praise and one polish for each piece of writing. The challenge was to provide specific feedback tied to the rubric that had not already been provided by another group. The 6th graders accepted plus rose to the challenge! Well done!
Pictures Row 2:
Students in Ms. Rerych's 6th grade ELA worked collaboratively to compose, edit, and revise argument essay drafts in writing groups. They also conducted further research on their assigned topics using advanced searching to uncover credible sources per the mini lessons they had with Mrs. Campasano in the lab. Then, students cited their work using the EasyBib add on. Finally, students marked their text using color coding to identify particular structural elements of their writing.
Student Services Spotlight
District 308 Summer School 2019 Catalog
Registration for summer school courses is open now through June 3rd. Courses offered include credit recovery, Honors Prep, and enrichment. Course listings and additional information regarding summer school can be viewed in the catalog at the link below.
Summer School Link: https://www.sd308.org/Page/8978
Further questions regarding summer school should be directed to Christopher Grays, Secondary Summer School Coordinator at cgrays@sd308.org or 630-636-3481 or Jamie Max at jmax@sd308.org or 630-636-4520.
Summer School “Bridge to Spanish 2” Course
Current 8th Grade Spanish 1 students - please consider signing up for the Bridge to Spanish 2 course offered in District 308’s summer school program. This course will be a comprehensive review of grammar topics and the skills needed to be successful in a World Language classroom at the high school. The course will be three hours long and will run for three weeks.
High School World Languages - Updated Board Policy
1 - A student who is taking a language course at an Ethnic school (i.e., - Greek School) can receive high school credit so long as they pass a proficiency test.
2 - A student must receive approval from the superintendent or his designee (HS principal) to receive credit for an online course.
The Board of Education recently updated and clarified the policy as it relates to junior high students being exempted from PE. Board Policy does not (except in a couple of instances) allow for junior high students to be exempted from participating in Physical Education.
While we have had a number of parents of students who, due to significant numbers of hours spent in club sports, have chosen to Home School their student for PE, it is often confused as a PE Exemption. Should a parent choose to Home School for PE, a student's instructional day will be 8 periods in length, instead of 9. The student would not have the option of enrolling in an additional course or study hall. This may be different from what has been in practice this year.
Appeals Process for ELA/Math Recommendations
If you have questions regarding a recommendation, please contact your student’s teacher directly. For information regarding the appeals process for a Math or ELA recommendation, please click the link below.
Service Hour Reminder - 8th Graders
Service hour logs are due to your counselor by Friday, April 26th, 2019. Students who complete a minimum of 25 service hours will be recognized at 8th grade Promotion Night.
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.
Counselor-In-Training Program through Oswegoland Park District
Students entering grades 7-10 for the upcoming 2019-20 school year can apply to be a Counselor-In-Training through the Oswegoland Park District this summer. Program dates are June 10th - August 9th. The program provides leadership curriculum along with hands-on work experience with Park District staff in one or more of the park districts summer programs such as Summer Camp Connection, Early Childhood Summer Programs, daytime athletic programs, morning swim lessons, and morning gymnastics. If interested, students can pick up an application packet in Student Services. Applications are due by May 3rd to Mr. Falli or Mrs. Zawacki.
Murphy is once again partnering with Shane's School Supply Kits. You can make 1 purchase and have your school supply needs taken care of and ready for August. School Supply List 2019-2020.
Girls' Soccer
Tuesda night the girls soccer team took on Traughber. Even though it was a very physical game and the toughest game so far this season, the girls still walked away with a victory. Great job girls. With this win, the record is 3 wins, 0 losses.
Summer Camp Experience for JH Students
Northern Illinois University is proud to offer over 80 day and residential summer camps for students entering grades 2nd through 12th grades. These students will get an opportunity to immerse themselves in a field of their choice and experience life on a college campus.
NIU camp pricing for residential camps includes meals, instruction, 24/7 adult supervision and staying at a residential hall during the week.
Registration is now open for all camps!
Are your student curious about science, tech or medical fields?
- Check out NIU STEM Career camps for high schoolers or STEM Exploration camps for elementary and junior high students. Choose from tracks such as Aerospace Careers, LEGO Waterbotics and Video Game Design.
Are your students interested in exploring creative career paths and meeting new friends who share a passion for the arts?
- Check out our Speech, Creative Writing and Filmmaking camps for junior high and high school students, and Music, Theatre and Visual Arts camps from the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
Are your students ready for an immersive camp experience like no other?
- At Quarantine: The Summer Camp, they’ll live the book, meet the authors of Quarantine and experience the science and art behind the story.
Find out more about the dozens of different NIU academic and athletic summer camps at go.niu.edu/summercamps.
College Summer Camp Information
- Waubonsee Community College: https://www.waubonsee.edu/community-offerings/youth-enrichment-programs
- College of DuPage: http://www.cod.edu/youth
- Northern Illinois University: https://www.niu.edu/summercamps/index.shtml
- University of Illinois: https://engage.illinois.edu/filter/SummerCamps
- North Central College: https://www.northcentralcollege.edu/summercamps
- Benedictine University:
Stem: https://www.idtech.com/register#/reg-flow/avail-charts-filters?lid=161&rgnad=true
Soccer: https://www.idtech.com/register#/reg-flow/avail-charts-filters?lid=161&rgnad=true
Basketball: https://pgcbasketball.com/programs/illinois-lisle-benedictine-university/
Volunteer Opportunities
Make sure your form is turned in to your counselor by Friday, April 26, 2019.
April
Oswego Park District
April 28th
Naperville’s Womens Half Marathon
http://napervillewomenshalf.events/?s=volunteer
May
- May 4 - May the 4th Be With You
Homestead Elementary
Homestead's annual Husky Hustle is still in need of volunteers for the fundraising event. We are looking for from 8am-10am. Some of the volunteer activities include helping the parent volunteers with childcare and cheering on our participants at our start and finish lines.
https://raceroster.com/events/2019/22092/husky-hustle-2019
June
Oswego Park District
June 9th Naperville 10K http://naperville10k.com/volunteer/
June 14th Five Fifty Fifty Run/ Walk ~ Naperville for Mental Health https://raceroster.com/events/2019/21201/naperville-il-2019-runwalk-for-mental-health-5k-50-states-50-days
June 14-16th Prairie Fest https://www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/get-involved/volunteers/#4
June 16th Prairie Fest 5k https://www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/event/prairiefest-5k/
Ongoing
Fox Valley Park District requires you to fill out a form and then they match you to events. You MUST be 14 years old to volunteer.
Plainfield Park District you must fill out a volunteer form:
Premier Event Management ~ Hosts runs in Naperville
March - August events ~ http://pem.events/
Volunteer page found ~ http://pem.events/partner-with-pem/volunteer/
Community Events
Husky Hustle
Open Mosque Day
The doors of Islamic Center of Naperville are open to all throughout the year, but annually this Center hosts a Special Open Mosque Day Event.
All are invited to our upcoming Open Mosque Day event on April 28th, 2019. Every year about a 1000+ people visit us at this event and have a rich experience. It is a great opportunity to get information about Islam and Muslims right from the source. This will help a lot in understanding the culture, dispelling stereotypes, and connecting with your Muslim neighbors.
Upcoming Events
April 26
- 8th Grade Honor Band at Bednarcik
April 27
- 8th Grade Honor Band at Bednarcik
April 29
- Boys' Volleyball @ Thompson (4:30pm)
- Girls' Soccer @ Thompson (4:30pm)
April 30
- Boys' Volleyball @ Bednarcik (4:30pm)
- Girls' Soccer @ Bednarcik (4:30pm)
May 2
- Boys' Volleyball v Plank (4:30pm)
- Girls' Soccer v Plank (4:30pm)
- Parent Step Up Night (7:00pm)
May 3
- Student Step Up Day
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
Mission Statement
Murphy Junior High School is an inclusive and supportive community that promotes student success by ensuring ALL students are college and career ready.
Vision Statement
Every student. Every day. Grow. Inspire. Empower.
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