Principal's Newsletter - Martin Murphy Middle School
Principal's Newsletter - Martin Murphy Middle School
Principal's Newsletter - Martin Murphy Middle School
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Principal’s<br />
<strong>Newsletter</strong><br />
<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Middle</strong> <strong>School</strong><br />
September 2011<br />
A Message from the Principal, Mr. Adame<br />
Parents of <strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong><br />
<strong>Middle</strong> <strong>School</strong>,<br />
Please take time to review<br />
our first newsletter for the<br />
month of September.<br />
We are off to a great start!<br />
The changes implemented<br />
thus far have been extremely<br />
successful in improving<br />
our positive school<br />
climate and student support.<br />
Our first Academic Dance<br />
was a huge success. We<br />
had over 250 students<br />
complete their academic<br />
cards which entitled them<br />
to attend the dance.<br />
Another highlight is the<br />
implementation of interactive<br />
white boards and student<br />
response systems in<br />
seven classrooms. The<br />
company we selected for<br />
this technology is Promethean.<br />
The integration of<br />
these instruments has elevated<br />
our checking for understanding<br />
and lesson delivery.<br />
If you have not witnessed<br />
their effectiveness,<br />
please stop by our school<br />
anytime and visit these interactive<br />
classrooms.<br />
In closing this newsletter,<br />
I must restate what an 8 th<br />
grade student mentioned to<br />
me several weeks ago,<br />
“Mr. Adame, our school is<br />
much safer; there is no<br />
bullying, and it’s much<br />
more fun!” These types of<br />
comments are routine conversations<br />
since the start of<br />
the school year.<br />
We are on our way!<br />
Go Mustangs!<br />
Respectfully,<br />
Mr. Adame<br />
Principal, MS, MA<br />
<strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong> <strong>Middle</strong><br />
<strong>School</strong><br />
INSIDE THIS ISSUE<br />
New Technology for the classroom!<br />
End of First Grading Period<br />
Benchmark Testing Window<br />
Health Office News<br />
Athletics Calendar<br />
Pat on the Back—Find out how—<br />
Get help for your<br />
student:<br />
The <strong>Murphy</strong> Staff with Mr. Adame and Ms. Howell<br />
R E M I N D E R<br />
Please turn in your<br />
signed Computer Use<br />
Agreement forms. Of all<br />
the forms we ask from<br />
you, this is one of the<br />
most important. Without<br />
it, your student can’t<br />
use the school computers<br />
at all!
The first grading period of this year ended on Friday, September 23. Following the next grading period,<br />
all students will receive a Progress Report in the mail so parents can view how their children are<br />
progressing. Students receiving “D“ or “F” grades should, with their parents, reassess their commitment<br />
to completing class assignments, completing and turning in homework on time, raising the quality<br />
of classwork and homework, and increasing the amount of preparation for tests. Parents are encouraged<br />
to email the classroom teacher to set up a time to talk to gain further information regarding<br />
their student’s classroom achievement.<br />
Students are taking their first set of Benchmark tests in English, Math and Science to establish the<br />
emphasis in the classroom on standards that the students will need to master. Parents will have a<br />
much better chance to know what effort and skill their children are employing in their classes.<br />
Interactive Smart Boards Are Installed in 7 Classrooms at <strong>Murphy</strong><br />
Students in Ms. Udayamurthy’s Science<br />
Classes work on the new interactive Promethean<br />
board. (Adriana Baldwin and<br />
Dennis Vu)<br />
Students can respond with a stylus at the<br />
board, or with Promethean Active Expression<br />
from their desks.<br />
From the Health Office<br />
Thank you to all the parents who turned in your TDAP forms so<br />
that our students could attend school without interruption!<br />
When should you let your child stay home from school? Here are some<br />
guidelines from our district nurses:<br />
Don’t bring your child to school if (s)he has a fever of 100 degrees<br />
or higher within the past 24 hours.<br />
Don’t bring a child displaying one of the following symptoms:<br />
Earache Headache Lice<br />
Runny nose and/or persistent cough<br />
Sore throat<br />
Vomiting<br />
Diarrhea within the past 24 hours<br />
Skin rash<br />
Red, crusty and/or draining eyes<br />
Order your yearbook before Christmas<br />
Break and only pay $40!<br />
Parents: please send digital copies of photos<br />
you take at sports events or other school<br />
events to<br />
Jan.martin@mhu.k12.ca.us<br />
Design contest results will be reported in the<br />
next newsletter.<br />
2
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT<br />
Word Generation is a program designed<br />
to increase fluency, vocabulary and writing<br />
skills in our English students. Each<br />
week students focus on 5 new words that<br />
they will practice using and then must incorporate<br />
in an essay with a given writing<br />
prompt. The words will be posted in the<br />
front hall of the school and they will also<br />
be on the <strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong> website for parents<br />
to track. Use them at home so your<br />
students become comfortable with them!<br />
SOCIAL STUDIES DEPARTMENT<br />
Eighth grade students are studying the Revolutionary<br />
War. This topic leads directly into the Articles of Confederation<br />
and then the Constitution.<br />
Students will need to be able to grasp the underlying<br />
concepts that inform the Constitution and the Declaration<br />
of Independence.<br />
"The National History Day project has begun for 7th<br />
and 8th grade! This year's theme is Revolution: Reaction<br />
and Reform. For more information, check out the<br />
National History Day website at nhd.org. Also, the<br />
history department just concluded the history benchmark<br />
essay. Our history department is extremely<br />
proud of each student's hard work!"<br />
There are several ways to support the school through just buying<br />
your groceries. Sign up for Escrip on line at www.escrip.com or stop<br />
by the front office and get a Lucky’s Card. A percentage of everything<br />
you spend on groceries will go to the school of your choice—<br />
an easy way to help the school and help our kids!<br />
~ The Home and <strong>School</strong> Club Members<br />
MATH DEPARTMENT<br />
Math teachers are working very hard,<br />
as are our students. We are teaching<br />
according to key standards. And we’re<br />
starting to see improved results in our<br />
bi-weekly tests.<br />
In Pre-Algebra we finished chapter 3<br />
(equations and inequalities), we are going<br />
to explore chapter 4 (exponents<br />
and roots). Students are working hard<br />
on improving their skills.<br />
Algebra I students are working on solving<br />
inequalities. They are finding similarities<br />
and differences between equations<br />
and inequalities. All students are<br />
progressing toward mastering the covered<br />
skills.<br />
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT<br />
The science department is full of lots of fun and<br />
exciting new activities. The science fair projects<br />
have been assigned and all science students<br />
in the 8 th grade have begun to prepare for<br />
the competition. 7 th grade students may compete<br />
as an optional extra credit assignment.<br />
They will need to let their 7 th grade<br />
teacher know if they are interested<br />
ASAP! Please contact your child’s science<br />
teacher if you would like to be involved or help<br />
with any science department activities.<br />
Ms. Udayamurthy’s science classes: Great job<br />
on the biweekly tests! Excellent results shows<br />
that how are you listening in class! We are in<br />
Chapter 2 right now.<br />
3
A Friendly “Pat on the Back”<br />
“Pat on the Back” is designed to encourage positive student behaviors. Students will be rewarded for either<br />
demonstrating consistent practice, or showing noticeable improvement on various standard academic and social<br />
skills.<br />
Generally students should be nominated while considering two types of situations:<br />
A student comes to school following the dress code without a prompt; he or she is respectful towards the staff,<br />
helps a friend refrain from fighting, and assists another student with math. This type of student is a consistent<br />
role model;<br />
A second student is showing significant improvement; he or she is may have come off a suspension – is now<br />
engaged in constructive practices in class and out. The student begins to engage in successful interactions<br />
with staff and other students. This type of student is one that demonstrates new growth.<br />
When nominating a student, it may be helpful to discuss the student with colleagues. Although this<br />
not required, it will authenticate the level of behavior in other classes.<br />
To complete the nomination form, review the Skills list and type your initials into the box of each<br />
descriptor that corresponds with your student. Please complete a description statement that illuminates<br />
the skills of your nominee. Save the document and return it<br />
electronically to timothy.mcguire@mhu.k12.ca.us.<br />
Please refer to the Pat on the Back Timeline sheet as to the dates when nomination forms are to be<br />
returned. It anticipated that each teacher will reward one student every two weeks. Please vary the students,<br />
so the same students do not receive a nomination numerous times.<br />
AT: Great America<br />
Parking Lot (4701 Great<br />
America Pkwy.)<br />
See gigantic illuminated<br />
lanterns depicting features<br />
like the Eiffel<br />
Tower, the Taj Mahal<br />
and the Golden Gate<br />
Bridge.<br />
Also:<br />
~Dinosaur Maze<br />
~International Cuisine<br />
~Live Entertainment<br />
Pick up an order form at<br />
school and let them know<br />
you’re a <strong>Martin</strong> <strong>Murphy</strong><br />
family. 30% of your ticket<br />
prices go toward our<br />
school!<br />
Adults: $10 ($12 at the gate)<br />
Children and Seniors: $8 ($10 at the gate)<br />
4
Non-Profit Organization<br />
U.S. Postage<br />
Dr. Wesley Smith, Superintendent<br />
Joey Adame, Principal<br />
MARTIN MURPHY MIDDLE SCHOOL<br />
141 Avenida España<br />
San Jose CA 95139<br />
P A I D<br />
Morgan Hill, California<br />
PERMIT NO. 7<br />
[ ]<br />
[ ]<br />
Sign up for eScrip! See details inside!!<br />
October 2011<br />
4th Furlough Day: No <strong>School</strong><br />
10th Cookie Dough Sales begin<br />
11th Home and <strong>School</strong> Club Meeting at 3:15 pm<br />
12th Rotary Luncheon honoring <strong>Murphy</strong> student<br />
13th DELAC meeting at the District office at 6 pm<br />
14th End of 1st Quarter<br />
20th DAC meeting at the District office at 7:15 pm<br />
23rd Red Ribbon Week begins<br />
10/25 ELAC meeting<br />
26th <strong>School</strong> picture make-up day<br />
November 2011<br />
8th Home and <strong>School</strong> Club Meeting at 3:15 pm<br />
10th <strong>School</strong> Site Council meeting at 3:15 pm<br />
10th DELAC meeting at the District office at 6 pm<br />
11th Veteran’s Day: No <strong>School</strong><br />
17th ELAC meeting at school, 3:15 pm<br />
21st Begin Thanksgiving Vacation<br />
28th Back to <strong>School</strong><br />
December 2011<br />
12/5 —12/16 2nd benchmark Testing Window<br />
12/6 Home and <strong>School</strong> Club Meeting at 3:15 pm<br />
Winter Dance<br />
12/21 End of First Semester<br />
12/22 Christmas Holiday begins<br />
January 2012<br />
1/9 Students return from Holiday Break<br />
1/10 Home and <strong>School</strong> Club Meeting at 3:15 pm<br />
1/12 Panoramic Picture Day, 11:50 am in park<br />
1/16 <strong>Martin</strong> Luther King Day—no school<br />
1/19 DELAC meeting, District office, 6 pm<br />
1/26 <strong>School</strong> Site Council Meeting at 3:15 pm<br />
1/26 DELAC meeting , District office, 6 pm<br />
DAC meeting, District office, 7:15 pm<br />
6