Murphy Middle School eNews
April 29, 2016
2016 Bond Election
Click this link to watch the following informative video!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwMOd0qX8-s&feature=youtu.be&list=PLVcNW-DvhSHXldsZ4Ky972k98pN7D3nfI
Bond Election 2016: Early voting began this week on April 25 and continues through Tuesday, May 3. If approved, the bond initiative will provide funding toward eight major project areas with no increase to the tax rate and will impact all Plano ISD campuses through district-wide security updates, renovations and facility upgrades, as well as technology improvements. Find out more, including specific project allocations, at www.pisd.edu/2016bond. Watch our bond overview video at http://tinyurl.com/h76me8j. You may send questions to askpisd@pisd.edu.
Murphy Middle School Events & Information
Choir Pop Show - Friday, April 29th at Plano East starting at 5:30
STAAR Algebra EOC - Tuesday, May 3
6th & 7th grade STAAR tests - Monday, May 9th and Tuesday, May 10th
8th grade STAAR tests- Wednesday, May 11th and Thursday, May 11th
All library books due - Tuesday, May 17th
Talent Show Auditions - Tuesday, May 17th and Wednesday, May 18th
Murphy Talent Show - Thursday, May 26th
IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING LUNCHES
8th grade celebration!
It's time to celebrate our awesome 8th grade class as they prepare to move on to HIGH SCHOOL! From 12pm-3pm on May 26th, our 8th graders will get to head over to Murphy PSA for food and fun to celebrate their time here at Murphy!
Your child MUST have the permission slip signed and returned in order to attend. Please see the following link to download the form now:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Vp4l3p69VFcjQppBB1Pf-WCApKMOWk9YkU2OORIC-ow/edit?usp=sharing
Congrats to our 8th grade boys!
Congratulations to our record-breakers!
Congratulations to the following athletes who broke school records!
Evan Williams 8th grade boys High Jump 5'8"
Brett Holloway 7th grade shot 38'4"
K'Von Hamilton 8th grade boys discus 128' 6"
Congrats to our Soccer Team!
NJHS Outstanding Achievement Award
Congratulations to the remarkable 7 students who received the National Junior Honor Society Outstanding Achievement Award! 500 NJHS members will receive a $500 scholarship award. This is the inaugural year for this award, and Murphy students took 7 of the 10 Texas awards!
Congratulations to:
Sophia Li
Nitya Lohia
Anesa Abraham
Scott Walker
Sydney Trieu
Raishma Kazi
Isabella Haen
Congratulations to all who competed in the Reflections Contest!
Murphy was the Champion For The Arts in the Middle School division for being the school with the highest participation in Reflections!
We had 151 entries, which was the highest by any school in PISD.
STAAR SATURDAYS!
It’s that time of year again… nerves for the kids are high over all their tests and classwork.
Let’s settle some of their anxiety and empower them with a little extra boost through STAAR Saturday!
Does your 8th grade child want to lessen the anxiety they may have over STAAR History and Science? If so, they can consider attending our STAAR Saturday at Murphy from 9-12 p.m. on April 30th. We see this event as being fun, enlightening, and a great boost to help our kids!
April 30th – Second Annual STAAR Review-A-Palooza (students will be a part of an innovative, hands on STAAR day full of exploration, review, and collaborative learning with friends.) RSVP - http://goo.gl/forms/VBvGg8dx7m
Event is open to Murphy 8th grade students only.
Our target kids are our students who desire to push themselves a little further, a little harder, and strive to always do their best. Please discuss these events with your child. If there are any questions, students and parents are welcome to talk to Mrs. Jones (8th grade science teacher) or Mr. Matisoff (8th grade history teacher). It will be a great time for the kids – and wonderful for them to utilize their time studying in the weeks leading up to STAAR!
**ALL students who will be attending need to RSVP**
THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO MURPHY 8TH GRADERS ONLY
We know with your child in attendance, we can make this extra fun day of review a SUCCESS on Saturday, April 30th.
To see the event invitation (including the QR code you can scan to RSVP!), please follow this link!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBoEGyChxyrNURpXzgzb0NjYm8/view?usp=sharing
Don't forget to Audition for The MURPHY MIDDLE sCHOOL Talent Show!
Moving Or Might Be Moving?
Forms are due to Mrs. Reeves in the counseling office by Friday, April 29th.
Cross-Country Season
Cross-Country season has started. The last meet is scheduled to be at Plano Sr High on Wednesday, May 4th. The girls run at 5:00 and the boys run at 5:30. All students participating must have a physical on file and be at practices.
Cross-Country practices before school starting at 7:30 on Mondays, Tuesday's, and Fridays.
Physical Forms
Follow this link to access the physical form:
imPact Concussion Testing
On May 14, we will be performing ImPact testing on participating athletes in the East cluster at Plano East Senior High School. The ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) was created as a screening tool to assist sports medicine professionals in evaluating athletes after a suspected concussion. It is a valuable tool for helping doctors and athletic trainers safely return athletes to the playing field.
The Ben Hogan Concussion Clinic will be assisting us in facilitating these tests for a small price of $2.
For more information, please open the document below:
Important Orchestra Dates
May 5 beginning Rehearsal in small gym - 7:15 AM
May 14 Hawaiian Falls - 8:30 AM – 5:00PM
May 17 Beginning Rehearsal in small gym - 7:15 AM
May 18 Kung Fu Rehearsal in small gym - 7:30AM
May 19 Concert MURPHY CENTRAL PARK - 7PM
May 20 Beginning Orchestra Festival - 11AM-6PM
May 24-25 Sinfonia Festival - TBA
May 26 MMSO @ The Talent Show - 7PM
MMS Environmental Club News
The Next Environmental Club Meeting will be Friday, May 13th , from 3:30-4:30, please dress for working outside.
Thanks to all the volunteers that helped with the City of Murphy’s Clean & Green Event.
The volunteers did an awesome job sorting electronics, clothing, and other recyclable items.
Fundraising Drive for Veterans
May 16-26, Student Council and the History Department along with some help from the Honor’s societies are sponsoring a fundraising drive for veterans in observance of Memorial Day. The charity organization is the GI GO Fund (http://www.gigofund.org/aboutus.html). We will raise funds through the history classes and each history teacher will compete for their students to win free Domino’s pizza and water for lunch on May 31. If we reach our goal of $1000 as a school the students will earn the ability to wear school appropriate PJ’s on May 31.
To complement the drive we will have the students create a modern version of “Flander’s Field.” On May 20th the students will go out by grade level to place their paper poppies and create the field of poppies described in the famous poem. Also on May 20th we will invite military veterans to speak to students in their history class about their experiences to help put a face on the cause.
McMillen Sparkle Cats
Be apart of the first special needs cheer squad at McMillen!!
See the attached flyer for more information!
Plano East Cheer Kendra Scott Party
Come shop at the Kendra Scott at Watter's Creek on Monday, May 2nd and 20% of the sales will be donated to Plano East Cheer!
To see the flyer, please open the link below!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBoEGyChxyrYUNPQTJQZkVUazg/view?usp=sharingSupport Plano East Basketball!
PESH Soccer FUNdraiser!
Plano East Soccer Booster Club is hosting a Family FUNdraiser tournament at Top Golf Allen on Sunday evening May 8, from 6 to 9 pm! Tournament registration is $70 per player and includes Top Golf fees, clubs, instruction, dinner and prizes! Sponsorships are available as well. All profits go directly to our Senior Scholarship fund. Come out and enjoy some fun family time while supporting our deserving Seniors in their future endeavors! Register online at www.peshsoccer.com.
Plano East Baseball Fundraiser
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBoEGyChxyrVlBEM1p6eHZHbWs/view?usp=sharing
Mavericks Stampede Color Run
Thank you to all who made the Mavericks Stampede Color Run a huge success for the 3rd year in a row. We had 428 participants who were every color of the rainbow by the end.
Cole Coker was first to cross the finish line at 18:57. Choir, with 57 participants, won the traveling trophy for the 2nd year in a row.
Substance Abuse Prevention
In an attempt to put relevant, current, and important information concerning drugs and alcohol prevention directly in front of our parents, the Substance Abuse Prevention Specialists from PISD have shared this with us to share with you.
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Information: “Did You Know”
Did you know approximately 25,00 people overdosed and died from prescription drugs in 2014? You can help keep unused and expired prescriptions from being abused. The DEA holds a drug “take back” day where you simply bring any unused or expired medications to a site and drop it off. It is FREE and it is EASY to do! On April 30, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, you can stop by any collection site nearest you and drop off your medications. There will be sites at PSHS, PESH, PWSH and Clark schools this year. I have included the website if you need a site closer to home.
Please consider cleaning out your medicine cabinets and help us fight the battle of prescription drug abuse. Together, we can make a difference!
Check out the article from the Plano Police Department. https://nextdoor.com/agency-post/tx/plano/plano-police-department/national-drug-take-back-2016-20761427/
Panther Preschool at Plano East Senior High School
Now Enrolling for the 2016-17 School Year!
- Ages 3 or 4 years old (must be potty-trained)
- 2 days a week or 4 days a week
- Class time: 8:30 AM-1:45 PM
- Certified/Degreed teacher assisted by senior high school students enrolled in the Education & Training Program
- Designed so that each preschool child may develop to their fullest potential at their own pace.
- Emphasis on the growth & development of the whole child: physical, emotional, social, and intellectual areas.
- Activity-based curriculum includes phonics, language & literacy, math, science, art, music & movement, physical (indoor & outdoor), social skills development, and lots of fun.
- Come join us for an enthusiastic, educational year of exploration!
Panther Preschool at Plano East Senior High School
3000 Los Rios Blvd. • 469-752-9082 •
COLLIN COLLEGE OFFERS SUMMER CAMPS FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
There is a little something for everyone this summer at Collin College. Middle and high school students interested in nursing, robotics, music or dance have a lot of options on campus as summer camps heat up. Here is the schedule of the camps sponsored by Collin College.
- SAT Math Review
Students will learn test-taking strategies for the SAT. Sample problems and practice tests are included. Open to students 14 years and up. Cost is $69. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
- SAT Verbal Review
Students will learn effective test-taking strategies for the verbal portion of the re-designed SAT exam including sentence completions, critical reading, essay writing and improving sentences and paragraphs. Identifying sentence errors will be emphasized. Open to students 14 years and up. Cost is $99. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
- Nurse Camp
For students interested in getting an inside look at the nursing profession, Collin College is hosting its free Nurse Camp. Open to students between 8th -12th grades, participants will observe demonstrations and participate in simulations. Space is limited. Registration open through April 29 or until spots are filled. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
- Teen Entrepreneurial Academy
Students will learn how to turn their idea(s) into a business, determine if they can make money with their idea, learn to price their product or service for their target market and plan social media and other marketing options to get the word out. Students will also enjoy guest speakers, breakout sessions and networking opportunities. Open to teens ages 14 and up. Cost is $149. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
- College Knowledge 101
Searching, selecting and securing the college that is the best fit can seem overwhelming and a difficult process to navigate. This course will provide students with an action plan, resources and the confidence to succeed not only in getting admitted to their top choice college or university, but also in college life, inside and outside of the classroom. Open to ages 14 and up. Cost is $99. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
- Summer Robotics Camp
- Collin Summer Dance Festival
The sixth annual Collin Summer Dance Festival features workshops in modern, ballet, jazz, Pilates, musical theatre and hip-hop. Cost is $125. The Summer Dance Festival is for beginners or advanced dancers, 14 years old and up. Space is limited. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
- All Girls Summer Robotics Camp
- Texas All-Star Jazz Camp
The Texas All-Star Jazz Camp features a flurry of daily workshops and rehearsals as musicians learn the world of big band jazz. Camp faculty includes top jazz musicians from around the country who have played with big names such as Maynard Ferguson, Doc Severinsen, the Metroplexity Big Band and Woody Herman. This year’s special guest is NYC jazz and rock trombonist Tom "Bones" Malone. Students must be at least 13 years old with at least one year of study on their instrument. Cost is $265 or $310 with lunch. Registration open through July 17 or until spots are filled. For dates, times, locations and how to register, visit http://bit.ly/1PDnzVx .
UTD Summer Programs
The University of Texas at Dallas is offering several summer programs that include:
- Programming with Java, C++, Python, Scratch, and more
- App development with iPhone and Android
- Minecraft
- Modding
- FPS and RPG game design
- Robotics engineering with VEX and LEGO
- 3D modeling & animation
- Filmmaking, photography, and web design
Course offerings vary by site. Check UTD site for courses!
Is Your Child Interested in Robotics?
Gateway Academy Summer Camp registration is open!
We are offering three camp sessions this summer at Robinson MS, Wilson MS and Otto MS.
- Each session is four days long (Mon. – Thurs.) Students can only attend one session.
- Camp program time is from 7:45 am–11:45 am.
- Tuition is $95.
- Each session is limited to 25 students. It is intended for incoming 7th and 8th grade students only.
- Camp locations are Robinson, Otto and Wilson.
- The main projects will revolve around robotics.
- T-Shirts will be provided for all participants.
- Each camper will be given a Certificate of Completion on the last day.
- Campers will take home the projects they complete during the camp (if applicable).
The last hour of each session will be a student showcase/show and tell for parents to come in and see what the campers did during the week.
Session #1 – Monday, June 13 – Thursday, June 16
Otto MS
Wilson MS
Robinson MS
Session #2 Monday, June 20 – Thursday, June 23
Otto MS
Wilson MS
Robinson MS
Session #3 Monday, June 27 – Thursday, June 30
Otto MS
Wilson MS
Robinson MS
To register and find more information, please visit
http://k-12.pisd.edu/currinst/cte/pages/gtt-camp.html
See you there!
MealViewer App
Search for "MealViewer To Go" in the App store, or visit http://schools.mealviewer.com/ today!
End of Year Cafeteria Procedures
Please note that all accounts must be paid in full by June 3rd. Any withdraws or transfers you would like to make need to be completed by June 2nd. Any money left in your child's account will roll over to the following year, and will follow them to any school in PISD!
To read the full letter, please open the documents below!
*Please note: since our last eNews, the Spanish letter has been corrected. The new document is listed below!
In English:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBoEGyChxyrcm5PUEJKU1BiVEE/view?usp=sharing
In Spanish:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBoEGyChxyreDFCaGxYeWl5Rnc/view?usp=sharing
Barron Elementary Book Drive
Girl Scout Troop 670 is doing a book drive as part of their Silver Award. New and used books welcome. All books collected will donated to Barron Elementary School in Plano. The librarian at Barron will be giving the books to students for summer reading. If you have any books that your children have outgrown please consider donating them. Anything from picture books to Harry Potter...we promise to help them find a great home.
2 ways to donate:
1. Collection box in the library at Murphy Middle School
2. Text 972-670-5850 with your address and we will come pick them up
Thanks for your support!
PTA News & Updates
Important Dates:
April 18-May 31st Order School Supplies for Next Year
May 2nd Mogio’s Spirit Night
May 9th Wok Xpress Spirit Night
May 17th Boggess 2016 Senior Reception
May 23rd PTA General Meeting in the Cafeteria at 6:00pm
May 23rd Movin’ up to Murphy for incoming 6th grade parents’ 9am in the DLR or 6:30pm in the cafeteria
May 26th 8th Grade Celebration
THANK YOU!
A big THANK YOU to all who participated, Amy Deans, and all the other volunteers who made the 5th Annual Murphy Middle School Mavericks Stampede Color Run a success!!!
Congratulations to Angela Katai and Cindy Tamblyn for being volunteers of the month for going above and beyond for our PTA and MMS!!!!
Join us for spirit night at Mogio's on Monday, May 2nd!
Wok Xpress is hosting a Spirit Night on Monday, May 9th!
Your Amazon Purchases can help raise money for Murphy!
If you shop on Amazon please consider using the smile.amazon.com web address. It is the same as shopping on Amazon.com with one change you can pick a charity. Amazon will contribute 5% of certain purchases towards the charity of your choice. Please consider picking the Murphy Middle School PTA in the drop down menu under your account there is an option to choose your charity. Our charity is listed as PTA Texas Congress Murphy Middle School PTA
Thank you for contributing to MMS PTA!
Murphy Middle School PTA Community Partners 2015-2016
Please remember our generous sponsors when shopping for services or supplies!!
For more Murphy information, please visit the Murphy web page:
http://k12.pisd.edu/murphy-middle-school
For Murphy PTA news: http://www.mmspta.org
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