The BULLetin
February 7, 2019
Principal's Message
I had the opportunity to meet many of the incoming 5th grade students from Homestead and Southbury today. I, along with several other Murphy staff, visited with students to help get them thinking about 6th grade and opportunities coming their way.
As I visited with the 5th graders today, I always ask about siblings currently at Murphy or that were once at Murphy and who's visited Murphy in the past. The good news is that many, if not most students already had some connection with Murphy.
If you have friends or neighbors who are not currently connected with Murphy, I encourage you to shared the BULLEtin and have them sign up for this newsletter (there's a sign up at the bottom of the page), favorite us on the SD308 app, like our page on FB and/or follow us on Twitter, @murphy308. We cannot easily communicate with them until after July 1 unless they opt to connect with us. We have information on our calendar about upcoming 5th grade events and we share that with our partner elementary schools but we want to make certain that everyone who needs to know what's going on is in the loop.
Updated District Calendar
The District sent communication to all parents about the changes to our calendar due to Winter Weather. We have updated our calendar to reflect May 31 as the last day of school. Our tentative 8th Grade Awards Night and rescheduled games. We're also in the process of trying to get all club, activity, practice, etc. meetings on our calendar so that we can help keep parents informed and also know what is being cancelled if severe weather arises.
Power of School
One of the teachers at Murphy shared this article with me recently. I actually came across a different version about a local man who is up for an Academy Award. This article from the Tribune group, I think speaks to the power of school and you never know how the things you learn in school may help spark a passion or give you direction when you feel aimless.
5 Essentials Survey
We'd love to have more feedback. The Superintendent shared our Parent Response rates and while they are not the lowest in the district, we would absolutely love to get a stronger parent response so we can make informed decisions about our improvement practices.
Parents
According to this week's report we've had approximately 23% of eligible families complete the 5 Essentials survey. Thanks to all who completed the survey. Many have not, we still want your feedback. As one Facebook user noted, when finding the Murphy survey, you need to identify the county that the school is in, not the county of your residence. Murphy is in Kendall County.
If you like the work that we do, fill out the survey. If you don't like the work we do, fill out the survey. If you like some things and not others, fill out the survey. I took the parent survey for my kid's schools. I think it took maybe 5 minutes apiece. Please give us your feedback. The survey is open until mid-February. This survey is not limited to 1 response per household. Both parents are welcome to complete the survey. Thank you in advance.
Parent Survey: http://survey.5-essentials.org/illinois/survey/parent/
Author Visit
Junior High Math Competition @ OHS
When: Thursday March 7, 2019
Where: Oswego High School
Time: 6:00 (plan to arrive at least 15 minutes early)
Who: Open to all 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students
Cost: None
For more information about the competition and the registration form, click here.
Practice SAT
On Friday, February 15 during the school day, Murphy will be proctoring a Practice SAT to interested students. Additional information and registration can be found at the link below.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE2Wfo6LwgKwMhyrqVpFPRqfwK--S7eukrBzAVPkGFEqCBkw/viewform
AVID Things @ Murphy
Students participated in a shared editing lesson where Ms. Waldron modeled editing a paper and then the students worked as a team to make edits. The groups sent one rep up to share their edit ideas and then we voted for the best and why. This leads into their assignment to peer edit 3 group members papers. Peer editing will help them with their Embedded Assessment and it is a model for how to improve their writing. The kids said they now understand how to look at a paper to make edits and how helpful it really is for them.
Mr. Gerl's - Science
Students in Mr. Gerl's classes designed toys to help teach speed, velocity and acceleration.
Upcoming Meet & Eats
2/12 6th Period Valentine Cookie Decoration
2/13 4th Period
2/21 4th Period Vision Boards2/21 5th Period Vision Boards
2/28 7th Period The Office & Cupcakes
Sign up through your Homeroom class.
Athena Dental Coming to Murphy
Dr. Andrea Miller with Athena Dental will be coming to Murphy to on February 21, 2019. Her dental services are available to all Murphy students. Insurance will be billed BUT no co-pay or deductibles will be charged to families. No student will be turned away.
A consent form and brief medical history will need to be completed in its entirety and signed if you wish for your child to participate in this program. These forms are available here. If you are not able to access the form online, a copy can be sent home with your student. See Nurse Wackerlin for the forms.
Please know that without the consent form and the medical history fully completed and returned, your child will not be seen by the dentist. You will receive a summary of the dental exam and findings within two weeks of the exam. This exam will fulfill the requirement for a sixth grade dental exam.
Save the Date!!!!
Coats for Kendall
Yearbooks!!!!
There's STILL Time!!!!
Yearbooks are still on sale. The price went up on February 1, but order will be taken for a bit longer. If you haven't ordered your 2018-2019 Yearbook, order now!
Yearbook orders can be completed online at jostensyearbooks.com. Please contact Ms. Fell if you have any questions.
The JAM (Just Another Maverick)
Student Services Spotlight
Course Recommendations for 2019-2020
Teachers have made recommendations for core courses (ELA, Math, Social Studies, Science) for next year. They will have discussions with students who are recommended for honors courses. 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.
Elyssa’s Mission 8th Grade Presentation 2/12
Murphy Junior High partners with Elyssa’s Mission (a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention) to provide depression awareness and suicide prevention training for our students as part of the Signs of Suicide® Prevention Program (SOS).
The SOS® program teaches our students the ACT message if they hear someone talking about hurting themselves or others: Acknowledge, Care, Tell. Please talk with your students about the importance of reaching out to a trusted adult in those situations.
The 2017-18 school year was the first year we implemented this program at all three grade levels. This year, and in following years, the full SOS® program will be presented to 6th grade and 8th grade classes. 7th grade will receive an abbreviated presentation from Student Services staff to review the ACT message. 6th grade presentations will occur on October 16th through Language Arts classes. 7th and 8th grade presentations will occur during second semester.
8th grade parents/guardians - please see the letter below for further information regarding the program as well as the process for opting your child out.
Elyssa’s Mission Parent resources:
- Elyssa’s Mission website: http://elyssasmission.org
- Elyssa’s Mission Parent Presentation: http://elyssasmission.org/suicide-prevention-training/
2017-18 Elyssa’s Mission Program Outcomes
93% of last year’s 6th graders correctly identified the ACT message
92% of last year’s 7th graders correctly identified the ACT message
96% of last year’s 8th graders correctly identified the ACT message
If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, these free, confidential resources are available 24/7:
Crisis Text Line - Text HOME to 741741 from anywhere in the U.S. about any type of crisis
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-272-TALK (8255)
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.
Volunteer Opportunities
March Volunteer Opportunities
The Homestead Elementary Fun Fair will be Saturday, March 9 from 11am to 3pm. They are looking for student volunteers to assist with the day. Sign up below. Questions? Contact: Amy Pasqualini at (630) 263-2633.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080d4ca9aa29a5fa7-homestead
Ongoing:
- Feed My Starving Children, Aurora:
https://www.fmsc.org/ - Loaves and Fishes Community Service, Naperville (must have adult if under 14): https://www.loaves-fishes.org/volunteer/youth-volunteers/
- Fox Valley Park District:
https://www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/our-mission/volunteer-opportunities/ - Oswego Park District:
https://www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/get-involved/volunteers/#4
Upcoming Events
February 7
- 7th Girls' BBall @ Bednarcik (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' BBall v Bednarcik (4:30pm)
February 12
- Elyssa's Mission - Grade 8
- 7th Girls' BBall v Plank (4:30)
- 8th Girls' BBall @ Plank (4:30)
February 14
- Valentine's Day
- 7th Girls' BBall @ Traughber (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' BBall v Traughber (4:30pm)
February 15
- SIP Day - 3.5 Hours - No Lunch Service
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