The BULLetin
March 9, 2023
Upcoming Events and Reminders
Please read the information in The BULLetin in it's entirety. This is our weekly communication to bring you up to speed on all important information.
Important information, upcoming events, and details can be found further in the Bulletin.
The BULLetin Information:
- **NEW** Murphy Celebrations
- **NEW** 7th and 8th Grade Girls Soccer
- **NEW** MJHS PTO Scholarship
- 2023-2024 8th Grade AVID Elective Information
- Practice SAT Information
- Career Day Survey
- **REMINDER** Please Complete: 5 Essentials Survey for Families
- Boys Volleyball Information
- Junior High Math Competition
- General Updates and Information
- Murphy NJHS Application Process
- Fox Valley Mall Food Pantry Information
- Linden Oaks Webinar Series for Parents and Teens
- OE German Event: DATE CHANGE
- OHS STEAM Night 2023
- Service Hour Form and Opportunities
- Maverick Market Donations
- Student Services Information
- Upcoming Important Dates and Events
Murphy Celebrations
Carrigan Boberg
Ella Ledesma
Cassidy Lepinske
Lilly Rebout
Henry Wrage
Charlotte Janis
Mia Lapinskas
Layla Clark
Makayla Hall
Idrees Jan
Landon Ray
McKenna Witkowski
Muzain Fathima
Satyanandini Kandukuri
Yllana Lao
Clarissa Cepeda
Megan Guziec - Best of Show 2D & People’s Choice Award
Karol Martinez-Castro
Alyssa Roberson
Pisey Chhay
Emma Garland2r
Chloe Park
Jocelyn Turnbull
Rida Waseem
Eman Aajoukah
Mariam Abdulsahib - 1st Place 2D
Colette Butwell
Jaelyn Davila
Daniela Flores Perez
Elaine Onemiye
Macie Samek - 3rd Place 6th Grade Art
Vidat Singha
7th and 8th Grade Girls Soccer
Any 7th and 8th grade girl interested in playing soccer for Murphy please make sure that you have a physical on file, you are signed up in 8to18, and you are at tryouts on 3/20. Tryouts will be from 3:20-5 pm.
If any questions please contact Ms. Kerr as soon as possible.
MJHS PTO Scholarship
2023-2024 8th Grade AVID Elective Information
The 2023-2024 8th Grade AVID elective is now accepting applications!
There are many advantages to joining the AVID elective in junior high. AVID, Advancement Via Individual Determination, is a program designed to help students develop the skills they need to be successful in high school and college. During this elective class, you will participate in collaborative study groups, receive the encouragement and support to enroll in rigorous classes, learn study and organizational skills, develop critical thinking, learn to ask probing questions, strengthen your note-taking skills, and participate in enrichment and motivational activities.
Since there is only one 8th grade elective class at each junior high building, there is a selection process outlined below. This is a unique opportunity for you to apply to be part of the AVID elective class at Murphy for your 8th grade year.
Selection Process:
Please view the informational material below:
If you are interested in continuing with the selection process, please complete the application below. It is due by Friday, March 24th.
If you or your parents/guardians have additional questions about the AVID elective class, please contact Brian Falli (bfalli@sd308.org) or Elizabeth Fell (efell@sd308.org). There will be an informational parent meeting on Monday March 20th from 6:00-6:30pm in the Murphy Multi- Purpose Room.
PRACTICE SAT Information
Sign Up for the Practice SAT on Saturday, March 18th!
As in previous years, Murphy will partner with Huntington Learning Center of Oswego to host a practice SAT on Saturday, March 18th. The test will be administered and proctored at Murphy Junior High. Students will enter through Door 4 at 7:30am the day of the test. Testing will begin at 8:00am. Sign up closes on March 10th or when 100 students sign up, whichever occurs first.
Cost of the test is $5
Registration is limited to the first 100 students
Most appropriate for honors-level 7th graders and any 8th graders
Supplies needed: #2 pencils, calculator, water
Saturday, March 18th from approximately 7:30am-12:15pm
Career Day Survey for Friday, April 21st
We thank you, in advance, for your involvement in the Murphy Junior High School Community.
5 Essentials Survey
REMINDER!...in order for our school to receive results, we need families to take the survey. When completing the survey, please be sure to add "Kendall County" when opening the survey and then you'll be able to choose Murphy Junior High (we are located in Kendall County). Thank you for your support in helping us continue improve our Murphy Community!
Dear Parent,
Beginning January 24, students and teachers across Illinois will have an opportunity to participate in the eleventh annual statewide Illinois 5Essentials Survey. This survey is designed to generate a detailed picture of the inner workings of your child’s school. As a parent, this opportunity will allow you to share your thoughts on the important elements of school effectiveness in a survey about your child’s school.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey will be administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
Effective Leaders
Collaborative Teachers
Involved Families
Supportive Environments
Ambitious Instruction
Prior research in more than 400 schools has shown that schools that were strong on at least three of these “5Essential” indicators were 10 times more likely to improve student learning gains in math and reading than those that were weak on three or more Essentials.
All teachers and 4thth through 12th grade students will be responding to this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. These reports will be sent to schools and districts in May 2023 and will also be included in the State School Report Card.
Additionally, your district has chosen to provide the optional Parent survey supplement. If at least 20 percent of Murphy Junior High School parents complete this survey, a parent supplement report will also be generated. The parent data will not be reported on the State Report Card.
Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide improvement. Your identity and survey responses will be kept completely confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Illinois 5Essentials Survey for students and teachers will be conducted January 24, 2023 through March 31, 2023. The Parent Survey Supplement will be conducted during that same timeframe. To take the survey please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey to begin.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or to view previous years’ Reports, please visit https://www.5-essentials.org/illinois. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact UChicago Impact Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or impact-surveys@uchicago.edu.
Sincerely,
Laura Bingham
Boys Volleyball Tryout Information
Junior High Math Competition
When: Tuesday March 14
Where: Oswego High School
Time: 5:30
Who: open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Cost: None
What to Bring: #2 pencils , your Chromebook and Calculator
Each grade level will have its own division with 2 competitions.
Individual competition
Each student will compete in the individual challenge which consists of a timed math test. Fill out attached form.
Group Competition
Students form teams of 4 and compete against other teams in a timed group math test. Fill out the attached form and turn in with all 4 students’ names. (all students on a team must be in the same grade). If you don’t have a team just leave that part blank and we will add you to a team.
Top Teams and Top individuals will be rewarded during a ceremony immediately following the competition.
Parents: You will not be allowed to be in the actual competition room. You are welcome to drop your student off or the auditorium will be open for you to stay in. We will have an awards ceremony after the competition is complete.
Please contact your math teacher with any questions regarding the competition.
General Updates and Important Information
**REMINDER** IAR Information
We will be starting IAR testing on March 7th. ALL students will need WIRED headphones with a 3.5mm jack to use with their Chromebooks. AirPods or anything similar will not work, as students will NOT be logging into their Chromebooks with their school ID and password. Wired headphones are for sale in the LRC for $1.00 if you would like to purchase them at school. Some testing reminders...this is your chance to show us what you know! Be sure to eat a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, get enough rest, and stay hydrated. Be prepared with your charged Chromebook, wired headphones, a silent reading book, and a notebook/pencil.
**REMINDER** Snack Line at Lunch
On Monday, March 6th, we will reimplemented our previous procedure of only allowing students with IDs to the Snack Line at lunch. Students can still obtain a lunch as usual, but the snack line will only be open for students with IDs.
Tardy Guidelines
See below for the Tardy to Class Guidelines:
- On the 3rd tardy to class, students will receive a lunch detention
- On the 5th tardy to class, students will receive a 30 minute detention (before or after school)
- On the 6th tardy to class, students will receive a 60 minute detention (before school for 2 days for 30 minutes each day, or after school for one hour)
- On the 7th tardy and thereafter, students will receive an Office Discipline Referral where consequences will be issued from the office.
Personal Hygiene Products
Students- Please be conscious and considerate of others when bringing personal hygiene products within the building. We have several peers who have allergies to products and want to be sure we're keeping our classrooms suitable for all learners. Please either keep perfumes/sprays/cologne at home, or utilize them only in the locker room or bathroom stall areas and not in classrooms or halls.
Toys, Personal Items, Backpacks, and Fidgets
We understand the need for fidgets! Please only bring school appropriate and non-distracting items to school. Remember, the school is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Please also remember to use your hallway locker for your backpack during PE. They should not be placed in areas around the building that can cause a tripping hazard or have the potential to be lost or taken.
Athletics Pick-Up Reminders:
Families- We appreciate your patience AND your willingness to drive your student-athletes to games/events after school with our current bussing situation. We understand that this can be difficult with the Grande Park Elementary School dismissal. Please be sure to enter the school off of Grande Park Blvd. and stay in the Murphy main parking lot area to pull around and pick up your student(s). Grande Park has found that there have been cars (unsure if they are from Murphy or from other buildings) that have pulled into the bus lot at Grande Park and have gotten stuck and unable to get out in a timely manner as students are exiting the building and entering the busses, causing stress and anger. Please remember that traffic rules apply even in the parking lot (no swerving/zig-zagging around cars that are waiting in line). We all thank you for your patience with this!
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedure Reminder
To help ensure safety of our students, staff, and families, please remember that when you are dropping off or picking up students from the front of the building that ALL VEHICLES need to pull all the way forward towards the Athletic Door (Door 1) and leave the cross walk open for people to cross. We need to ensure a smooth drop off and pick up and if all cars follow the procedure, then we can get our students to their cars in a timely manner and all cars out of the line quickly. Thank you for your cooperation.
Students- Please remember to utilize one of the two available cross walks to cross Grande Park Blvd. It is unsafe to cross the middle of Grande Park Blvd.
Student Support Time
Students and families- Please see the linked SST plan for the week. All students have a designated activity for each day of the week that they are expected to follow. We will work around extenuating circumstances, however, students are expected to follow this plan weekly.
Monday: AVID Organization
Tuesday: SuccessMaker (Algebra 1 students work on Prodigy)
Wednesday: SuccessMaker
Thursday: Second Step SEL Activities
Friday: SEL extension if needed, read The BULLetin, Independent Reading
REMINDER: Spirit Days
Remember, Mavericks, you're where you belong...make us proud! Every week, we have TWO spirit days...on Wednesdays, we promote colleges and careers. Feel free to wear your favorite college or career shirts/hoodies/sweats for the day. And of course, Fridays are always Maverick days...wear your favorite Murphy Maverick gear or red/black/white. We're excited to see everyone in this together!
REMINDER: Cell Phones/AirPods/Personal Devices:
Students: The Junior High district policy is that cell phones are off and out of sight from 8:10am-3:10pm. Cell phones and other personal devices will be confiscated if they are in sight during the school day. Consequences may be issued.
Parents: Please be sure to have a discussion with your student regarding cell phones and other devices during the school day. Our focus on academics is a priority and the use of cell phones for personal use takes away from our focus. We appreciate your understanding. If you need to reach your student, it is important that you contact the main office to share a message. We can get that message to your child.
Murphy NJHS Application Process
Murphy National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) Application Process
Current 7th graders who are eligible to apply for membership to the Murphy NJHS for the 2023-2024 school year with an accumulated GPA of at least 3.75 will receive a letter in their homerooms on Friday February 3rd. These students will also receive a google classroom invite where they can find important information about NJHS, the application process, and complete the application.
In addition to the scholarship standard, membership in NJHS is also based on standards of leadership, service, citizenship, and character. Members for the 2023-2024 school year will be selected by a selection committee of Murphy teachers and administrators who will review the applications and give input on each applicant as it pertains to the standards listed above.
All applications are due on google classroom by Friday March 10th. Candidates will be notified of the results of the selection committee with a letter sent to the students district email account by no later than March 24th.
Fox Valley Mall Food Pantry
Linden Oaks' Webinar Series: Mental Health Education for Parents and Teens
Linden Oaks' Webinar Series: Mental Health Education for Parents and Teens
OEHS German Hog
NEW DATE: Friday, April 21 from 5:30-7:30pm in the OE Community Room
Must register online...space is limited!
OHS STEAM Night 2023
OHS Science Honor Society invites you to STEAM Night 2023! Over 30 hands-on activities await young, curious minds. Perfect for elementary and junior high students who enjoy experimenting and getting creative.
Please consider pre-registering to help us prepare plenty of materials. You can register with this Google Form . Email pphelps@sd308 with questions.
Murphy Junior High Service Hour Information
** This is an optional opportunity for our students to be recognized at 8th grade Promotion Night. **
Murphy Junior High Service Hour Verification Form
AVID Maverick Market
The Maverick Market is opening! The store gives all students opportunities to cash in their Bullseyes that are earned for making good choices throughout the week. Take a look at the Maverick Market Wishlist linked here and below!
We are respectfully asking for donations for the following items:
Individually wrapped small sized candy (jolly ranchers, mints, etc.)
Gift cards in smaller dollar amounts ($5, $10, $15) to places like: McDonalds, Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, Five Below, etc.)
Small fidgets (stress balls, rubix cube, putty, or other sensory items)
Mechanical pencils or fun writing utensils
Other items you feel would entice our diverse student population to continue to employ strong character within our school and community
Disclaimer: At this time snack items and gum should not be donated.
You can help support the Maverick Market through our Maverick Market Wishlist.
We thank you in advance for your generosity in regards to stocking The Maverick Market! We cannot wait to see your student there!
Sincerely,
The AVID Team
Student Services Information
Student Services Team
Counselors:
Mrs. Zawacki- Last names A-H
Mrs. Affetto- I-Me (half day AM)
Mr. Falli- MI-Z
Social Workers:
Mrs. Noll- Last names A-K
Ms. Thompson- Last names L-Z
Ms. Martinez- Resource and Programming support
School Psychologist:
Dr. Milos
Student Services Secretary:
Mrs. Cooper
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
Use the "Murphy Building Calendar" link below to see all the things going on at Murphy Junior High.
- Monday, March 6 - Friday, March 10: School Social Worker Week...be sure to send your Social Worker a positive email!
- Thursday, March 9: 7th Grade Girls Bball vs. TH
- Thursday, March 9: 8th Grade Girls Bball @ TH
- Wednesday, March 22nd-Thursday, March 23rd: P/T Conferences- Flex Hours
- Monday, March 27-Friday, March 31: Spring Break (No Student Attendance)
- Tuesday, April 4: Teacher Institute Day (No Student Attendance)
- Friday, April 7: District Closed
- Monday, April 10: District Closed
- Saturday, April 15: ILMEA District 9
- Monday, May 1-Friday, May 5: Teacher Appreciation Week
- Thursday, May 11: Spring Band Concert
- Monday, May 15: Quint Track Meet
- Tuesday, May 16: Spring Choir Concert
- Friday, May 19: 8th Grade Dance
- Thursday, May 25: 8th Grade Recognition Night
- Friday, May 26: Last Day of School- dismissal at 11:40am
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: lbingham@sd308.org
Website: www.sd308.org/murphy
Location: 26923 W. Grande Park Boulevard, Plainfield, IL, United States
Phone: (630) 608-5100
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/murphy308/
Twitter: @murphy308