Jaguar Journal Vol. 11
October 28, 2022
Hello Merrill Families,
We want to celebrate our FANTASTIC students. A group of our 8th graders felt very passionate about canceling school the day after Halloween. They assembled and gained over 200 signatures. While we are unable to push this change through, we love seeing civics in action. For the first time ever, we are allowing costumes at school on Monday. Please ensure there are no masks, no blow-up costumes, no weapons, and nothing too scary/disruptive. Feel free to donate your left-over candy to our school store!
Our 8th graders have been interviewing refugees in our own community to finish up their unit in Language Arts. Ask your student what they learned in our assembly today.
THANK YOU PTSA for your continued support and ideas!
Our CSC meeting next Thursday at 5pm. Our CSC was formed last year and carry a 2 to 3 year term. Anyone is welcome to join as we will be going over our state rating and results, our Colorado Department of Education Unified Improvement Plan, and updated enrollment.
Meeting ID
Phone Numbers
(US) +1 570-416-2232
PIN: 582 883 193#
Reminders: Breakfast is offered BEFORE school from 8:30-8:40am. Students all have access to free breakfast. We have designated areas to eat before the day starts.
Colorado weather is changing and WILDLY different by the minute. Please ensure your student has appropriate clothing and shoes to be outside. We will be outside for our recess and important movement on MOST days.
In Partnership,
Patrice Underwood, Molly Zick, Ellie Foust, and Vince Franklin
GOING, GOING, GONE!
EVENTS AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Frontline Farming is having a Youth Fall Harvest Celebration/Dia De Muertos celebration on Saturday, October 29th from 12 pm to 3 pm at Celebration Community Garden (1650 Birch St, Denver) for families in the community. We will have delicious snacks, warm drinks, and fun activities such as altar-making, pumpkin painting, and more!
Here's the registration form. https://www.frontlinefarming.org/events/youth-fall-harvest-dia-de-muertos-celebration/form
Need Extra Groceries this Month? Check this out!
HAVE TOO MANY STUFFIES AROUND? DONATE THEM TO SCIENCE - STEAM CLASS!
Hello Merrill! The STEAM Lab is in need of stuffed animals that can be donated for use in their 3D printing unit. Students will be developing prosthetic parts for these animals. The stuffed animals will need to be donated permanently as we will be creating amputee prototypes.
Below is the list of animals:
- dolphin (or anything similar)
- elephant
- eagle (or any other bird)
- horse
- cat
- dog
- alligator/crocodile
- goat (or similar farm animal)
- duck
- turtle
- hermit crab
- hamster
- fox
- llama
- pig
- cow
Merrill Thanksgiving Baskets
In lieu of Thanksgiving baskets that we’ve provided in past years to Merrill families in
need, this holiday season we are shifting to grocery gift cards so each family can
purchase the traditional foods they prefer. If you can support a family ($25 or $50) or
want to contribute any amount, please donate to our PayPal by November 1st by clicking
HERE and comment with Merrill Families in Need (MFIN).
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
MUSIC FUNDRAISER - GET YOUR BUTTER BRAIDS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
The music department's annual fundraiser begins next week! If your student is enrolled in Band or Orchestra they are invited to help raise money for new music, instrument repairs, cleaning supplies, and more. Please help us raise funds to keep our program running at full speed! We will be selling Butter Braids and taking donations of any amount. Students will receive a paper order form and be invited to register for the online store. Orders will be delivered to school December 7th for students to distribute to those they sold to.
For those not enrolled in music, but that would still like to contribute, you may send donations through MySchoolBucks on the Band Fundraiser button. Thank you so much for your support!
We have been working SO hard on our fall production, Villain School. Please come support our kiddos. If you cannot make it, we are streaming Friday’s performance! -aide
Calling all DADS!
Join this social group November 9th @ 5:30 at Campus Lounge or by emailing John.Hesse@me.com
Save the date for our next dine-out
Help Stock the Merrill Store
Can you contribute items to the Merrill Store or spend a
Friday over lunch “selling” items? Click to contribute what middle schoolers want: Merrill Store needs items
_________________________________
IN OTHER PTSA NEWS...
Merrill Meals
Did you know that Merrill Meals pantry provides free groceries once a month to Merrill families
that would like to receive extra food? We know that everyone could use a little support from
time to time, and we’re here to help. Families can tailor their food orders to get the foods that
they like to eat and match their eating preferences. If you’d like to receive free, nutritious
groceries once per month, please complete this anonymous and private food order
form: Merrill Meals Order Form
Links to help raise cash for Merrill Middle School, when you select Merrill:
Getting Your Kids to Read More at Home Resource
MERRILL JAGUAR ATHLETICS
FLAG FOOTBALL-
Flag Football:
Game, Monday, Oct. 31st at 4:00 @ Grant Beacon
Mr. Franklin
Volleyball:
From Coach Wendy:
6th Grade girls are improving and doing a fabulous job.
7th and 8th grade team won their first game against Kepner with a full house. See photo below. Congrats!
Next game, Oct. 31st, 4:00 @ Grant Beacon
11/7 @ Merrill vs Slavens @ 4:00
11/10 Jamboree, More details to come
11/11 @ Bear Valley, 4:00
11/14 @ Grant Ranch, 4:00
11/16 @ Merrill vs KCAA, 4:00
Contact Wendy_Shepard@dpsk12.net if you have any questions.
6th Grade Game:
November 5th, 9:00 AM @ Slavens
November 12th, 9:00 AM @ Merrill. TBD
Email Rachel_Greene@dpsk12.net or Kathy_Swigle@dpsk12.net if you have any questions.
All girls should have brought home a $25 DPS athletic fee reminder.
Here is the link to the Physical Form – all students trying out must have a physical.
Please send all athletic questions to vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net or call 720.424.0621
www.Merrill.dpsk12.org under Athletics/Fall sports
Students are Learning to Create Calendars/Planners in Advisement
Pumpkin Carving and MIS Students
Cool Classroom:
8th grade ELA: Ms. Sommer
AT HOME CONVERSATION STARTERS
What has been the highlight of your year so far?