The Merrill Minute
February 28, 2020
Student Learning in 2020-2021
Greetings, Merrill Families,
We have been hard at work preparing for the 2020-2021 school year. We expect to continue to see an increase in student enrollment at Merrill and are drafting a master schedule that will meet the varied needs of all of our students, keep class sizes under 30, and allow our students to have an intentional and meaningful International Baccalaureate experience that prepares them not only for high school, but also to be active citizens in our community today.
Next year we will move from a 7-period day to a 6-period day where students will experience and engage in the courses listed below. Each period will be approximately 56 minutes in length, an increase of approximately 10 instructional minutes per class, per day.
- Language and Literature
- Math
- Science
- Individuals and Societies
- A/B Schedule - Music/PE and Health
- A/B Schedule - Spanish/Wheel Classes (Art, Business)
We believe these changes will have many benefits. The move to a 6-period day reduces the number of transitions throughout the day, increases instructional minutes for each period, and results in an average class size of approximately 28 students in both core academic courses (ELA, Math, Science, Global Studies) and wheel courses (PE, Health, Art, Music, and Business).
Side note: Current class size in wheel courses exceeds 35. Current class size in 7th and 8th grade core courses is anywhere from 29-35.
In response to feedback from students and families regarding the crowded cafeteria, we will be hosting two, 30 minute lunch periods per grade level to allow for a more relaxed, less congested cafeteria. To make this work, half of the students in each grade level will be in Mustang Minutes while the other half will be at lunch. Along with this, we have been piloting deliberate, student intervention/extension time during Mustang Minutes and will continue to build off of this pilot next year.
This is being communicated now so that you are aware of some behind the scenes work that goes on well before the start of the next school year. Having said that, please know that my focus is on today and how we can better serve your student when he or she walks through our doors tomorrow. Thank you for your partnership and continued support as we prepare students to create a better and more peaceful world.
Yours in planning for the future,
Kate
Kathryn Panek
Principal
Merrill Middle School
Merrill Parents Night Out
The Merrill PTA invites you to join parents and teachers for an adults only evening of fun and community… all to help support our school!
3 ways to purchase tickets:
- $25 advance tickets paid at the main office (provide your name & email with payment)
- $28 advance tickets paid through Eventbrite.com Consider donating a ticket so a teacher can attend for free!
- $30 at the door
Help us reach our $5,000 fundraising goal! Any amount is appreciated. If you can’t attend, please consider:
- Bidding on select online auction items or funding specific needs through BiddingOwl.com
- Donating any amount through Eventbrite or Facebook.
Saturday, Mar 28, 2020, 06:30 PM
RDG Planning & Design, Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Merrill Spring Conferences
While conferences are scheduled for March 24, please know that we want to partner with families at ALL times throughout the year to be sure that we are working together to meet the needs of our students. Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out, and we promise to do the same.
Tuesday, Mar 24, 2020, 04:00 PM
Merrill Middle School, Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
Merrill GSA Works to Create a Welcoming Environment
Gay-Straight Alliances, or GSAs, are student-led organizations that work to create safe and supportive environments in schools. Several DMPS secondary schools have GSAs, a way for LGBTQ students and their allies to work on raising awareness and support.
At Merrill Middle School, students literally took matters into their own hands as they picked up paint brushes to create signs of support. Gathering in the music room after school, several students worked on a banner to be displayed while others painted smaller “safe space” signs available for teachers.
Adam Severson is one of the teachers who works with the group, and explained the idea came about as students discussed how they wanted to kick off second semester.
“Many of our students are very artistically inclined and wanted to do something that culminated in showing something that shares their pride of being who they are with others who may not always be as accepting,” he noted.
Merrill’s vocal music teacher Courtney Copic is the group’s lead faculty sponsor and art teacher Shannon Anders provided support for the GSA’s most recent creations.
The 30 members of Merrill’s GSA meet a few times each month to work on school projects, and several will be participating in the Iowa Governor’s Conference on LGBTQ Youth later this spring.
Volunteer Opportunities
Lunch Hour: We are looking for volunteers to keep the cafeteria and playground a friendly and welcoming place for students. Parents/community members are invited to stand in the hallway near the cafeteria or in the cafeteria and converse with students, hand out high-fives, and help direct students outside for recess or back into the cafeteria for lunch. You are always welcome! Just stop by for 6th Grade Lunch (11:30-12:00), 7th Grade Lunch (12:20-12:50), or 8th Grade Lunch (1:15-1:45).
Thank you!
Community Art Project Club
Escape Room Club
Stock Market Club
One Run - Saturday, April 25
Lace up your shoes, put on your navy and white, and hit the streets of Des Moines in support of Merrill Middle School! OneRun is a district-wide fundraising event for the Des Moines Public Schools Foundation, in support of K-8 schools at DMPS...and it is free! This two-mile fun run/fundraiser is set for Saturday, April 25 and will begin and end near the Des Moines Botanical Center.
Registration will be paid by corporate sponsors directly to the schools. Each participant may designate one school. The more participants, the more money to our school, so invite your family and neighbors to register! Please be sure to designate Merrill Middle School as your home school when registering! Click here to learn more about the event and to register online.
State Science Fair Qualifiers
Mark your calendars now for the State Science Fair on Friday, March 27 from 8:30 AM - 9:00 PM at Hilton Coliseum on the campus of Iowa State University. Go Mustangs!
6th Graders: Ronan M., Adeline S., Isaiah K., Annie A., Henry T., Helen H., Penn V., Paige B., Molly S.
7th Graders: Harper E., Will P., Alicia R., Isabel D., Ellery C., Julianna C., Addison S., Eme S., Isabelle H., Joe S., and Logan C.
8th Graders: Marlo B., Avery H., Sophia M., Ruby P., Mari T., Maia K.
He's Got Talent!
School Hours Reminder
Dress Code Reminder
Electronic Device Reminder
Personal electronic devices (cell phones, ear buds, tablets, etc.) need to be off and put away for the duration of the school day. We define “put away” as locked in a locker, checked-in to a trusted teacher at the start of the day, or left at home. We define “school day” as the time from when the student enters the building until 3:25.
DMPS Board Goals
- Student Expectation Goal 1: The percent of all third grade students on track in reading will increase from 52% to 72% by June 2023, as measured by FAST.
- Student Expectation Goal 2: The percent of black male third grade students on track in reading will increase from 35% to 72% by June 2023, as measured by FAST.
- Student Expectation Goal 3: The percent of black male students completing Algebra I with a B or higher by the end of grade 9 will increase from 17% to 35% by August 2023.
Click here to learn more about our progress.
Merrill Middle School Goals
- Student Expectation Goal 1: The percent of black male 6th – 8th grade students on track in reading (exceeding at-risk cut point 30th%ile) will increase from 53% to 75% by Spring 2023, as measured by NWEA MAP.
- Student Expectation Goal 2: The percent of black male 6th – 8th grade students on track for college & career readiness in math will increase from 12% to 29% by Spring 2023, as measured by NWEA MAP.
- Student Expectation Goal 3: The percent of 6th – 8th students with positive results will increase from 34% to 75% by spring 2023, as measured by the Conditions for Learning Survey.
Upcoming Dates
March 16th -25th: Spring Break for Students
March 24th: Conferences from 4:00-7:30
March 28th: Merrill Parents Night Out 6:30-9:00
March 31st: 7th Grade ISASP Testing
April 2nd and 3rd: 6th Grade ISASP Testing
April 7th and 8th: 8th Grade ISASP Testing
Contact Information
Email: merrill@dmschools.org
Website: https://merrill.dmschools.org/
Location: 5301 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA, USA
Phone: (515) 242-8448
Twitter: @MerrillMustangs