The BULLetin
September 7, 2017
Principal's Message
You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights...
I grew up in Wisconsin and went to college in Minnesota, this week my Facebook feed was filled with friends and family from those two states as they sent their kids back to school. Their kids are 1, 2 or 3 days into the 2017-2018 school year, we're some 16 days in. Now we can sit around our back patios and debate the merits of starting early or later and knowing how my neighbors like to sit around and debate the decisions of the school district, my guess is many of you have at some point in the last 20 days taken a side.
Just like you, regardless of what my personal preference is the decision is beyond my control and so here we are. The good news is that we are starting to build routines. Students are getting around the building in a timely fashion. Next week, we'll focus on recognizing students for getting to class on-time as part of our BULLSEYE program.
The BULLSEYE program is a way for our staff to give positive rewards for students making good decisions, accepting responsibility, valuing and respecting each other and the school, as well as, being safe (MAVS). Students receive BULLESYES for "being caught" doing the right thing. They can save their BULLSEYES and then "buy" items from our Mobile Maverick Mini Mall. (Who doesn't like alliteration?) The MMMM will be open on Tuesday and Thursday during Homeroom (pictured above). [Check out the Student Services Spotlight this week for more information about PBIS, MAVS and BULLSEYES.]
Students are also getting to know our staff. Heck, some of our staff are getting to learn new things about each other. We've learned of a certain teacher's fear of snakes, another who had a job as TV news reporter, another who stayed in a haunted hotel, an fortunate encounter with Justin Timberlake and much more. You won't necessarily learn those things about our staff but many have shared, where they went and where they (hope) to go - all in honor of our The Places You'll Go theme for the year.
The slide show, Welcome to Maverick Country! will introduce you to most of our staff and share a little about them.
Oh the Places...
Weekly JAM (Just Another Maverick)
First JAM staff meeting will take place tomorrow (9/8) during Homeroom in the Multi-Purpose Room. Anyone interested in being a regular contributor should come to the meeting after announcements.
Enjoy the Weekly JAM
Activity Bus Routes
To ride the Activity Bus students need to have an orange pass that identifies their name, address, routes and stop. Those can be picked up from the office or the activity sponsor. Students need those passes before 4:30 when the buses are scheduled to leave from Murphy.
To see routes and a map of stops see the links below:
Murphy Activity Route 1 STOPS MAP
Student Health History Forms
Murphy PTO
Thank you to everyone who stopped by the PTO table at Curriculum Night. We sold out of all spirit wear again! Be on the lookout for information regarding our Fall Spirit Wear sale soon.
Please join us for our first General PTO Meeting of the year on Wednesday September 20th at 7pm. During this meeting we will discuss the Murphy Monster Mash (Halloween Dance) plans, including volunteer opportunities. There are a limited number of volunteer spaces, so please come to the meeting to learn more. All PTO meetings are held at school, please enter through door #5 and turn left into the Community Room. We hope to see you there!
If you haven’t already, please consider making your family’s annual donation to the PTO. Anyone who donates $25 or more will receive a free ticket to the Murphy Monster Mash! Our focus this year will be on Student Events and Classroom Grants. Any contribution helps and is very much appreciated! Donation Form
New to the PTO this year! We are so happy to announce that the PTO will be running the Concession Stand for the Girl’s Basketball season and Boy’s Volleyball season (Winter/Spring sports). There will be volunteer opportunities available for this as well, so be on the lookout for details soon!
For more information on the Murphy PTO, upcoming PTO events or volunteer opportunities, please contact PTO President Missy Dziewiatkowski at missyd71@gmail.com. Please also follow us on Facebook for PTO events and updates (Murphy PTO-Home of the Mavericks).
IMPORTANT DATES:
- PTO Meeting Wednesday 9/20 at 7:00 pm
- Murphy Monster Mash Friday October 20th from 7-9 pm
Drop Off/Pick Up Procedures & Buses
We have a crossing guard at the entrance/exit to Murphy and Grande Park. Due to the numbers of kids who walk to and from school, that person or those persons are there to help ensure that students are able to safely cross the street when there is a lot of traffic. There job is student safety. Neither the District nor the Plainfield Police want them to be directing traffic. To help ensure efficient drop off/pick up procedures, we have worked with the Plainfield Police to create a process that is effective and ultimately safe.
When leaving Murphy/Grande Park parents are asked to follow the traffic patter so that the passenger door is curbside and students are dropped off/picked up curbside. This is to ensure that students are not walking through the parking lot and into the flow of traffic. That is why we ask ALL parents to drop off/pick up their students by going through the cue.
Also, in order to minimize traffic back ups on Grande Park Boulevard, between 7am and 4pm, there are only RIGHT hand turns onto Grande Park Boulevard. Because the entry to the school gets traffic from three directions, not having left turns reduces the potential for accidents from the other two directions. On most days, the crossing guards have cones to block left hand turns.
Student Services Spotlight
Bullseye Winners
Addison Quinn, Noor Singh, Paolo Soto, Jaylen Lewis, Katie O’Driscoll, Josh Dale, Katie Ries, Daniel Delucio, Josh Peterson, Joey Cantu
Faculty Winner
Mrs. Sanborn
Zeroes Aren’t Permitted!
ZAP is an intervention implemented to develop good homework habits. This program helps students self-correct without a penalty. Getting into the habit of doing homework and realizing that it counts is tough for many students. ZAP helps reinforce the importance of homework completion and provides an opportunity for intrinsic growth through self-correction.
What to do when your student is ZAPPED?
If a student does not complete a homework assignment he/she will receive a ZAP. Students have until 8:00am, the following morning, to turn the assignment into Student Services for full credit. If the student chooses not to complete or submit the assignment, then the student will be required to attend the ZAP classroom (D126) during his/her lunch to complete the homework, also for full credit. It is your student's responsibility to know what is missing and bring the necessary materials home. Students will be allowed 5 visits (every 9 weeks) to the ZAP classroom to complete their work. After 5 visits, students are no longer eligible for the ZAP intervention.
If you have questions, please contact your child’s teacher and/or counselor.
“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 Karen Whited at kwhited@sd308.org or Brandi Zawacki at bzawacki@sd308.org.
*Don’t forget to include some pictures in your email.
Mavericks Making a Difference
Pictured are current Maverick, Peyton Elliot; future Maverick, Morgan Elliott; and Maverick alumnus, Morgan Kobernus. These girls volunteered their time this summer to assist at Vacation Bible School. Thanks Mavs for showing our community the Maverick Way!
PBIS at Murphy
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a proactive approach to establishing the behavioral supports and social culture needed for all students in a school to achieve social, emotional and academic success.
One aspect of PBIS includes positive acknowledgement of student behavior. When students display the expected behaviors outlined in our MAVS Matrix, they may be acknowledged with verbal praise or tangible rewards (Bullseye Tickets) from their teachers. This makes the expected behaviors more likely to occur in the future and creates positive interactions, rapport, and relationships with students.
When students earn Bullseyes, they are able to collect them to enter weekly prize drawings and shop at the Maverick Mini Mall. This year, our Mini Mall will be on a cart, and students will have an opportunity to shop with their Bullseyes during homeroom each week. The Maverick Mini Mall will open for business next week!
There will be a monthly behavior focus, and teachers will be on the look out to catch students displaying these positive behaviors.
September’s Target is Making Good Decisions by:
- Week 1 (9/11-9/15): Being on time to class
- Week 2 (9/18 - 9/22): Coming to class with needed materials
- Week 3 (9/25 - 9/29): Displaying expected hallway behavior
Please encourage your children to Make Good Decisions!
Attention 6th Grade Families!
Please click on the links for more information about binders.
Interested in finding out more about binders and how we check student organization? This letter explains the process that we are using.
Want to help your student keep their binder organized? This letter explains how binders are set up.
MyOWN.edu - September Update
7th Grade:
Our kids are way more perceptive than we sometimes think. Did you know the manner in which you talk about your job can actually impact the way they view their futures? Here are some great tips that will help your teenager get excited about life after high school. Continue reading...
8th Grade:
Is your 8th grader stressed? Statistically, stress and anxiety among teenagers across the U.S. is at an all-time high. But you can help. Be aware of the warning signs and help them manage the stress and pressures of being a teenager. Continue reading...
Fall Sports
Cross Country
On September 5 the Murphy XC team took on Herget and Jewel. Times were not broken out by grade level. Herget runners filled 8 of the top 10 spots in the girls' race. Congrats to Leah Allgaier and Angeles Mendoza, Murphy's top 2 finishers.
In the boys' race Jewel dominated the top 10, again filling 8 of the top 10 spots. Congratulations to Arnulfo Mendoza, Murphy's lone Top 10 finisher.
Full meet results can be found HERE.
Girls' Volleyball
The 7th grade girls volleyball team has had a strong start with wins over Thompson and Washington and a forfeit by Heritage Grove. They take on Plank @ Plank at 4:30 tonight. Keep up the great work!
Boys' Soccer
Last Thursday, Murphy took on a tough Plank team. The MAVS lost the battle 0-2. On Tuesday, Murphy took on Bednarcik and came away with a 10-0 win. The team is 4-1 overall. Great job, Mavs!
Murphy STEM Club
Math Club & Competition Team
Students may also join the MathCounts Math Club to engage in a variety of math-related activities that are not necessarily competition focused. Additional information about the MathCounts Math Club.
OE Study Abroad Opportunities for Current Murphy 8th Grade Students
Interested in studying abroad? We are taking an educational tour in June 2018 to London, Normandy, Paris, Berlin, Munich and Salzburg on a WWII inspired tour. Students in 8th - 11th grade in District 308 are invited to attend an informational meeting on Thursday August 31st at 6:30 pm in the Oswego East LRC, please use the following link to RSVP. If students and or parents are not able to attend the informational meeting they may still apply for the tour. Applications are due September 11th, once students are accepted they must enroll on the tour by September 30th.
Flyer for information meeting: Click here
Oswego TAG website; Click here
RSVP for the info meeting: Click here
Application for WWII tour: Click here
If you have any questions please feel free to ask any of the following teachers. Mrs. Stanich (hstanich@sd308.org), Mrs. Krzeminski, Ms. Radziewicz, Mr. Leal, Mr. Szymanski, and Mr. Thurlwell at Oswego East High School.
Oswego East Wolfpack Basketball
Tryouts are coming soon. Registration and sign up information can be found at: www.oswegoeastwolfpack.com and more information can also be found here.
Screening of "Screenagers" at Bednarcik
Bednarcik Junior High is hosting a FREE showing of the movie, Screenagers: Growing up in the Digital Age on Thursday, September 21 @ 6:00 PM in the cafeteria. The movie dives into many issues surrounding social media, gaming, academics, and internet addiction with a focus on how we can empower kids to best navigate the digital world. After viewing the movie, parents will have the opportunity to discuss reactions to the move and share insights they have from their own experiences.
Please click on the link below and register in the top right corner so Bednarcik knows how many people to expect.
https://impactflow.com/event/presented-by-bednarcik-junior-high-school-3384
For more information visit https://www.screenagersmovie.com/
Upcoming Events
September 7
- Boys' Soccer v Jewel (4:30pm)
- 7th Girls' Volleyball v Jewel (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Volleyball @ Jewel (4:30pm)
September 9
- Cross Country "Run the Plank" @ Old Post Elementary
September 11
- 8th Grade Marching Band Day @ OEHS (6pm)
September 12
- Activity Bus Begins
- Boys' Soccer @ Traughber (4:30pm)
- Cross Country v Bednarick (4:30pm)
- 7th Girls' Volleyball @ Traughber (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Volleyball v Traughber (4:30pm)
September 14
- Boys' Soccer v Jefferson (4:30pm)
- Cross Country @ Traughber (4:30pm)
- 7th Girls' Volleyball v Jefferson (4:30pm)
- 8th Girls' Volleyball @ Jefferson (4:30pm)
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
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