Jaguar Journal Vol. 14
November 18, 2022
Hello Merrill Families,
Dear Merrill Families,
Enjoy your break. We are grateful for each and every one of you. This week our students learned about the true history of Thanksgiving. Ask them what they learned, and what was new information to them. We practiced gratitude and rainbow breathing.
Our staff had a secret "dress like a middle schooler day"- and are truly young at heart! Your students inspired the fashion seen all over Merrill. Crocs, hoodies, pajamas, sweats, sunglasses and more!
We have 3 weeks left of the second quarter. Please check in with your student on Schoology, about their missing assignments, AR Independent Reading Goal and anything else they may need to wrap up.
Reminders: PLEASE ensure your students are dressing in warm layers. We will be outside anytime that the temperature is over 20 degrees. PLEASE have a conversation with your student about appropriate/respectful language and bathroom use. Students are not allowed to eat/drink(besides water) in the classrooms to ensure a healthy and sanitary learning environment. We appreciate your support by having students eat breakfast before arriving at Merrill or reminding students about free breakfast, provided by Merrill, before 8:38. We have experienced an uptick in these issues, and need your support.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
In Partnership,
Patrice Underwood, Molly Zick, Ellie Foust, and Vince Franklin
8th Graders at Meow Wolf
HAPPENINGS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Support a Community Event that is Committed to Helping Refugees and Immigrants
neighborhood. . https://www.denver7.com/news/positive-news/neighborhood-rallies-to-help-group-of-afghan-refugees-raise-money-for-families-through-sewing-project
Denver South will be hosting our annual basketball clinic next week, November 23rd from 9am - 12pm. The clinic is for 3rd - 8th graders. We hope to see you there!
Registration link -https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdf3X_1KUWNUEVCPTCANiIMezKNYv4nAL2Cg-l_OnuNanfn3g/viewform
Melina Hodzic
Denver South High School
Communications|Community Outreach|Athletics & Activities
Attention all 8th Graders interested in Denver South Athletics:
Come check out Ravens Athletics Night on 11/29 at 6pm. Learn more about our programs and meet our coaches. All attendees receive free tickets to our home opener girls basketball game at 7:30pm! We want YOU to become a Raven Student-Athlete - come see why it’s your BEST choice!
Please submit any great photos you have taken of Merrill Students for the yearbook.
You Helped the Music Department Make Some Dough!
If you ordered from the online store, please send your student to the Band room (122) on December 7th after school. All products will be delivered that day, and butter braids must be in a freezer or baked within 3 hours. Thank you all once again!
Want a fun activity this weekend? Head over to the Family Fall Festival in Morrison
SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUB OFFERINGS
International Club Information
The goal of International Club is to learn about different cultures and countries around the world. Club is held on Mondays from 3:45 to 4:30 in the library.
Activities include:
- Watching and discussing international-themed movies
- Trying international snacks/food
- Researching and sharing interesting facts about countries and cultures
- Field trips to restaurants within walking distance of Merrill
*Note on field trips: Field trips will be on Mondays (normal club day) with an extended end time of around 5:30. Permission/information forms will be sent home 2 weeks in advance. Unless otherwise noted on the permission/information form, all field trips will be within walking distance of Merrill (i.e. Teachers and students will walk to a restaurant or location a couple blocks from Merrill.)
8th Grade Language Arts Field Trip Fundraising!!!!
Our 8th grade students will be reading To Kill A Mockingbird, and the touring Broadway production will be here performing To Kill A Mockingbird at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts in February. Each ticket costs $40. Please log on to your MySchoolBucks account and select 8th grade Language Arts Field Trip, and if you can sponsor a student in need, we would appreciate it! We are writing grants as well to hopefully raise enough for all 8th graders to have this incredible experience. Here’s a video preview of the tour
Replay of the School Play
Community Resources
- Denver Community Resources-Here
- Virtual English Classes from the Denver Public Library-Here
- i-Ready-Here
- Sora (DPS digital library)-Here
- DPS Community Hubs-Here
If you have any questions, please reach out to Molly Zick at molly_zick@dpsk12.net
Coffee, Coffee! Get Your Coffee Here!
Buy coffee for holiday gifts, while raising money for Merrill! CLICK HERE to order
coffee beans or grounds bags by 11/24. Use code LOCAL and your coffee gifts
will be delivered for free to your kiddo at Merrill on 12/1, just in time for holiday gift
giving.
Stocking the Merrill Store
Only 4 more Merrill Stores left this year. Let’s make the reward of earning Merrill Money fun
for our kids as we close out 2022: Merrill Store needs items or make a cash donation to
Thank a Teacher
It’s time to thank our teachers. Please contribute to our PTSA PayPal to help us send off each staff member with a basket full of goodies over the winter break. Please toggle to “Teacher Appreciation”. Suggested amount--$25-$50 per student or whatever you can!
SUPPORT MERRILL WITH YOUR HOLIDAY SHOPPING
Shop for Merrill Spirit Gear 10% off with CODE: GIFT
Coffee beans make fantastic holiday gifts. Place your orders by 11/24
HERE, use code: LOCAL for free delivery to Merrill on 12/1
_________________________________
MERRILL JAGUAR ATHLETICS
Congratulations to Lucas Quarterone and Maya Krosky
SPORTS SCHEDULE AND INFO:
Volleyball:
Contact Wendy_Shepard@dpsk12.net if you have any questions.
6th Grade Games:
Thank you to all the families who helped us host the tournament. You are rock stars. Thanks for helping stack chairs, clean up spills, and cheer for our 6th grade Jaguars. Special shout out to Eric Balay for taking the score board home to fix it. Thank you!
Upcoming 6th Grade Games:
Saturday, November 19th at Hamilton Middle School. Please be there at 8:30 AM
Saturday, Dec. 3rd at Lake Middle School - Please be there at 8:30 AM
7th and 8th Grade Update: Congratulations to the undefeated Lady Jags Volleyball team for clinching the Southwest division. Playoffs begin on November 29 at Merrill.
We played Grant Ranch this week and won. We also beat KCAA. Violet G. and Etta D were the players of the game! Go Lady Jags!
Schedule for the team is as follows:
11/28 practice
11/29 playoff game at Merrill
11/30 playoff game
12/1 playoff game
12/2 championship game
BANQUET DETAILS:
The volleyball banquet will be held on Monday, December 5th at 6:00 in the Merrill cafeteria.
Please make checks payable to Ms. Wendy Shepard. Cost is $18.00 per person. RSVP and payment due by November 30th.
Your athlete will be bringing home a sign up sheet to fill out.
Basketball-
Basketball practices can start on December 5, 2022 so we are still finalizing the 2 dates for tryouts. When those dates are confirmed it will be sent out in our Jag Journal, posted on our website, shared in Advisement, and sent out via school messenger.
The Basketball Season starts on December 12, 2022 and DPS Athletics is finalizing the game schedule.
Please use the following link to register your student for tryouts.
Student Basketball registration: Students must be registered in order to tryout as well as having an updated physical on file.
Coach Anna Wilkin anna_wilkin@dpsk12.net
Coach Vince Franklin vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net
Please send all athletic questions to vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net or call 720.424.0621
Jaguars Hanging With the Avs
Photo Credit: Michael Martin
- Merrill 6th Graders at Ball Arena with Colorado Avalanche Fit Day
- This video was played at the Colorado Avalanche game on 11/14
Full gallery:
https://www.303sports.com/Category/Avalanche-2022-2023/Avs-Team-Fit-11112022/n-gkHbFJ/
Cool Classroom:
Cool Classroom: Futuremaker Elective~ Mr. Geimer
Students in the future maker elective had an awesome experience learning from a biochemical engineer about how they used 3D printing to recreate ancient human and cassowary daggers. What a “sharp” way to combine history with engineering and technology!
AT HOME CONVERSATION STARTERS
Who made you laugh at school/work today?
Bonus: What are you thankful for?