March Elective/SSP Newsletter
Art:
As we finish out the year we are staying active and engaged in the art studio. Students currently are working from a TAB art menu, in which each student may select what to work on during our time together. The students are excelling at independent response and process to the invites and challenges presented.
Some of the options students are working on include marble runs, school vitalization work/hallway art, Rube Goldberg machines, (advanced) puppet making, board games (continued/revision), independent art (with written explanations), along with the work needed for Soul Night.
The work has become incredibly individualized as student authorship, confidence and authentic expression increases. As a result, we are enjoying a productive and fun springtime.
Health
Hello Merrill Families- We are ending with our Sexual Education Unit. I hope your students came home and asked lots of questions. :) Our last month together we will be working on Executive Function skills.
Multi-Language Learners (ELD)
Ms. Richards 8th Grade ELD - Your students have worked together to create a newsletter for incoming Merrill students during the upcoming Spring Fling - you’ll get to see it at SOUL Night! Your kids are also competing for a Wash Park field trip through i-ready. Each student needs to be reading 80+ minutes a week and achieving 80% on their assessments. The reading growth this year has been incredible, be proud of your students and all the work they have put into doing their best work! Finally, ACCESS scores should be available for SOUL Night - I am confident that many of your students will meet or exceed their goals.
Mr. Garland 7th Grade ELD- Please ask your students to share their PBL Identity projects. Students analyzed their own backgrounds and family history to demonstrate their values and the best project will be shared with the entire Merrill community on international Festival Day!!! Be so proud of your students, they planned, organized and executed great projects.
PE
6th, 7th, and 8th grade students are continuing to refine skills primarily in the sports of lacrosse, flag football, soccer, and baseball. In closing out the semester, we are taking full advantage of Fitness Fridays where students have the opportunity to identify and correct errors in sport skills of their choosing. During this final month, 7th/8th grade students will take a deeper dive into nutrition and how to strategically fuel our bodies for better athletic performance. 6th grade students will hone in on incorporating effective strategy and tactics in various gameplay. Additionally, all students will partake in our final demonstration of learning to be displayed at SoUL Night!
Adaptive PE (Peer to Peer):
Gifted and Talented
6th Grade- Our last literature units are winding down. Our students are working with sci fi texts and diverse authors with non-white male protagonists. Drive by Merrill in the afternoon, on Tuesdays and Thursdays we are often spread out all over the grass in front of the school.
7th Grade- Our last literature units are winding down. Our students are working on their graphic novel unit as well as non-fiction literature as well. Please ask your student to look at their short stories, we have been practicing story editing so it should be a very interesting experience. Drive by Merrill in the afternoon, on Tuesdays and Thursdays we are often spread out all over the grass in front of the school.
8th Grade- Our 8th graders are racing through their financial lives. After having completed their first PBL unit on 18-29 we are now exploring MIDDLE AGE! Your students are determining whether or not they should work in the United States during their working life. Be ready for your kids to ask you about your salary and whether or not you negotiated for it. :)
Reading Intervention:
We are finishing up the year strong, with most students showing multiple years of growth in reading and writing. This last month of school we are focusing on non-fiction reading and essay writing. Students have chosen a passion that they want to research more about. We look forward to seeing you at SoUL night where students will present their learning to you. Please continue to have your student complete at least 20 minutes a night of iReady. Lastly, all students will be completing their end-of-year assessments to show exactly just how much growth they’ve made!
Deeper Math:
As we wrap up the school year, 8th grade will be preparing for high school placement tests and 6th grade will be learning Data & Statistics. In 8th grade, we will be reviewing 8th grade concepts from the year. In 7th grade we will be reviewing topics from throughout the year and solidifying their understanding of probability, data, and statistics. In 6th grade, we will continue frontloading concepts for the upcoming unit as well as helping students keep up to date with homework.
Band & Orchestra:
We are in the final stretch of the year, with many performances coming up to show off all the skills we learned. First our final school concert is next Wednesday, May 8th in the Merrill auditorium at 5:30 pm. The Orchestra is welcomed to the SouthEast music festival, held at South High school in the front lawn on May 14th at 5 pm. Band will have their SouthEast festival at the Wash Park boathouse on May 21st at 5 pm as well.
After our performances students will work on our SoUL night projects, where they can synthesize their year’s learning by preparing for a duet performance or composing original music.
Spanish
6th - Students have just finished their district proficiency test - have your student show you their scores on Illuminate! The proficiency target for Level 1 is Novice Mid 2 - which is between 36-50% on the test. We hope your student will be joining us for Level 2 next year!
7th - Students have just finished their district proficiency test - have your student show you their scores on Illuminate! The proficiency target for Level 2 is Novice High - which is between 51-76% on the test. We hope your student will be joining us for Level 3 next year!
8th - Students have just finished their district proficiency test - have your student show you their scores on Illuminate! The proficiency target for Level 3 is Intermediate Low 1 - which is between 36-50% on the test. We hope your student will be continuing in High School next year - we are working with students for high school placements based on their final proficiency level on the district assessment.
Spain Trip 2026 (current 6th graders!): There are 3 spots remaining for the 2026 trip. If you would like information on registering, please email courtney_jackson@dpsk12.net
Spain Trip 2025 (current 7th graders): This trip is currently closed. There will be meetings scheduled for students and parents during the 24-25 school year.
Spain Trip 2024 (current 8th graders): Trip meeting is May 14th from 4:15 - 5:15 in the library at Merrill Middle School for ALL students and parents. Tips (60 Euros) are due at this meeting.
Host a Spaniard in 2024: If you are interested in hosting a student from Spain for 2 to 4 weeks between 6/28 and 7/26, please email courtney_jackson@dpsk12.net
AVID
Students will be researching specific careers, comparing the skills, salary, education and other traits required for various careers. Our upcoming speaker reviews applications for a college and will be presenting about some of the things she looks for in college applicants. We have a field trip to better understand the business of real estate and a visit to Thomas Jefferson High School where students will be partnered with high school AVID students to experience a day in the life of a high school AVID student.
M.T.V
Students just finished the “What Makes Merrill Special” broadcast. The thoughtfulness of the projects and the interviews included were more than I would have expected.
Link:-Here
I think the students are ready for a change as we finish up the school year so we are now learning to make short films. Students are also working on a documentary called a “MeVideo” for Soul Night. These projects are a window into each student's life in 2024. Hopefully this project will be a video time capsule they can cherish forever.
STEM
This month we are wrapping up our projects! 6th grade elective 1 is currently working on designing a digital and 3D printed logo for a business they created. Some students are even designing a website! 7th grade elective 1 is wrapping up their collaborative projects where they are either designing a solar powered car, wind turbine or crane. 8th graders recently began working on their architecture project. They will be designing a 3D model of a house in the style of their choosing. 7th elective 2 is currently building and coding micro:bit controlled cars. We will be racing these through an obstacle. 6th grade elective 2 is currently designing a 3D car, focusing on safety and how well it can protect an egg that speeds down a ramp.
Drama
Hey, y’all! We did it! Elective 1 and 2 are participating in North High School’s Bi-Frost film festival May 15. Electives 3, 4 and 5 are performing their Duet Scenes; have your kiddo show you their performance! All electives will be participating in this year’s SoUL Night project. Please stop by and hear their wonderful stories.
SSP Corner
Executive function refers to a set of skills that underlie the capacity to plan ahead and meet goals, display self-control, follow multiple-step directions even when interrupted, and stay focused despite distractions. These are important skills for students to have and will benefit people throughout their lives. Below are some strategies that can help.