“The most precious gift you can give someone is
your time and attention.”
-Susan Gale
Merrill News
March 21st
March 25th
Parents,
While it may not seem it with the snow, Spring is just around the
corner. With that, we want to stress the importance of being at school
and being on time. Below are reasons that a student’s attendance is
so crucial. Thank you for supporting us.
Success: By attending class regularly, your child is more likely to keep
up with the daily lessons and assignments, and take assessments on
time.
Achievement: students who attend school regularly are more likely to
pass reading and math assessments than students who don't attend
school regularly.
Exposure to the English language: Regular school attendance can
also help students who are learning English by giving them the
chance to master the skills and information they need more quickly
and accurately even in other subjects!
Being part of the school community: Just by being present at school,
your child is learning how to be a good citizen by participating in the
school community, learning valuable social skills, and developing a
broader world view.
The importance of education: Your commitment to school
attendance will also send a message to your child that education is a
priority for your family, going to school every day is a critical part of
educational success, and that it's important to take your
responsibilities seriously including going to school.
Girls Soccer Game
March 25th @3:45
Location: Hamilton
Boys Baseball Game
March 25th @3:45
Location: Hamilton
Mark Your Calendar
March 28TH – April 1st
SPRING BREAK!
April 5th @ 3:45
April 7th @ 3:45
Boys Baseball Game
Location: Merrill
Girls Soccer Game
Location: Merrill
April 18th @ 3:45
April 18th @ 3:45
Boys Baseball Game
Location: Place
Girls Soccer Game
Location: Place
April 26th @ 3:45
April 26th @ 3:45
Boys Baseball Game
Location: Merrill
Girls Soccer Game
Location: Roberts
Principal Selection Process
If you have not yet completed this survey, please take the time to answer the
following questions on the link provided below. These questions will help the
Instructional Supervisor, as well as the Advisory Committee, to choose the best
principal to represent our school next year.
Please copy and paste this link into the search engine bar:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/YHG63LZ
If you have any questions, please contact the Community/Family Liaison Heba
Nabhan at 720.424.0645 or [email protected]
Advisement
This week, the 6th grade classes completed an Individual Career and Academic Planning
(ICAP) lesson where they took a career interest survey to discover careers that match their
personality type. The 8th graders spent time preparing for high school by asking questions
related to the school choice process, class schedules and workload, social scene, and
clubs/sports/activities.
Free Bread!
Panera Bread is providing Merrill with bread and pastries every Monday morning.
Please feel free to stop by and grab some delicious baked goods. Special thanks to
the Hands Up For Children Organization!
JAGUAR JOURNAL
MARCH 18 , 2016
Staff Spotlight
Jon Markowich
Mr. Markowich is the technology teacher here at Merrill. He grew up in
Philadelphia, PA and attended Penn State University, where he
received his teaching degree. Mr. Markowich enjoys hiking on the
weekends. His favorite spot in Colorado is the Strawberry Hot Springs!
Why did you choose to teach?
“I chose to teach because I always enjoyed spending time mentoring
my younger cousins.”
What are your hopes for your students this year?
“My hopes are for my students to develop the confidence and skills to become independent
learners in order to become competitive in the 21st century!”
Counseling Corner
To all 8th grade parents: Thomas Jefferson high school will be holding a 9th grade Choice of
Studies (choose your classes) night March 22nd or March 23rd 6:00 -7:30 pm. During this time
students will choose their classes for next school year, as well as complete the math
placement test.
PTSA News
Merrill Community Fund – New Kiln
We are almost there! We’ve raised approximately $2000 towards the new kiln for the Art
Department. We just need $1000 more. Can you contribute $5, $25, $100 to make this dream a
reality? Every little bit helps. Your tax deductible donation will put the Merrill Community Fund
on FIRE! Click here to make your donation.
Merrill PTSA Membership
JAGUAR JOURNAL
MARCH 18 , 2016
Now that we are a PTSA, we are asking you to join us by becoming a member! Being a
member of the Merrill PTSA will provide you a VOICE at Merrill and it’s just the RIGHT thing to do.
We encourage you and your student to join the Merrill PTSA to help enrich the Merrill
experience.
Parent/Community membership is $10 each
Student/Teacher memberships are $7
- Consider paying for a membership for a teacher….just a thought!
Click here to join us
Want to help out? We need volunteers!
Check out the upcoming events and what you can to do to support your kids.
Makin’ Copies! – Every day!
Please direct PTSA questions to: [email protected]
Save the Date! International Celebration
**SAVE THE DATE! **
Merrill International Celebration- ALL IN!
When: Friday, May 6th, 6 pm - 9 pm
Where: Cableland, the 19,500-square-foot
mansion and official residence of the Mayor of
Denver
We are so excited for the parents and staff to
come together in celebration of Merrill’s dynamic
community and culture, while raising funds to
support our much needed social services. Featuring diverse international cuisine, music, and
dancing along with some amazing raffle items, this is the beginning of a Merrill tradition, and
we hope you are all a part of it!
If you would like to assist with donations (food, drink, raffle items, services), please contact
Emily Brouillette at [email protected].
Mark your calendar and book the sitter! Together we can keep making amazing things
happen for all of our kids.
Are you "ALL IN”?
Community Fund
Want to support Merrill? Make a contribution to the Merrill Community Fund to
enrich opportunities for students. What can you give – $5, $25, $100, more? For
more information, please visit http://merrill.dpsk12.org/mcf/.
Thank
you in advance for your support!
JAGUAR JOURNAL
MARCH 18 , 2016
Stay Connected
Don’t miss out on what happens on a daily basis at Merrill.
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram (MERRILL_JAGUARS) and
twitter (@merrill_jaguars).
Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up
Students may arrive at school as early as 7:30 AM, and should be dropped off on Iowa, which is on
the south side of the building. Students will walk from Iowa to our blacktop, where all students line
up in the morning for school.
Students may be picked up in front of the school on Monroe at 3:35 PM. Please note that C3
parents are picking their students up on Monroe starting at 2:45. The parking lots on the north side
(off Florida) and south side (off Iowa) are for staff only. Please do not use it to park. Thank you
Because we do not have supervision after 3:50, students MUST be picked up no later than 3:50
every afternoon. Thank you for your support.
Also, please park along the sidewalk. FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, NO DOUBLE PARKING
What’s Up at the High Schools?
Each week we will highlight events happening at our surrounding high schools. We encourage
our families and students to get out and support our community!
Shadowing and Touring: CLICK HERE to schedule a shadowing experience at
South!
Sports Camp this SUMMER! Recognized as one of eight model programs for
sports sampling in the United States, 2-4-1 Sports is proud to partner with Denver
South High School. Denver South’s rich athletic tradition and commitment to
multisport participation coupled with the proven model of 2-4-1 Sports Academy makes
2-4-1 Denver South a camp you won’t want to miss. CLICK HERE for more information and to
register!
Shadowing and Touring: CLICK HERE to schedule a shadowing experience at Thomas Jefferson
High School
JAGUAR JOURNAL
MARCH 18 , 2016
Sports Schedule
April 5th @ 3:45
Boys Baseball Game
Location: Merrill
April 18th @ 3:45
Boys Baseball Game
Location: Place
April 7th @ 3:45
Girls Soccer Game
Location: Merrill
April 18th @ 3:45
Girls Soccer Game
Location: Place
April 26th @ 3:45
Boys Baseball Game
Location: Merrill
April 26th @ 3:45
Girls Soccer Game
Location: Roberts
Floor Hockey Updates
Team 1, won 4-2 and lost 9-0 making our record 4-3. We did a great job while Brady kept us up
with moral support!
On Tuesday, Team 2 split their 2 games with Bill Roberts. In game 2, the score was Roberts 4
Merrill 2; and in game two the score was Roberts 3 Merrill 6. Currently the team's record is 6
and 2, and the team looks forward to their playoff games starting next week. Details on the
schedule should be known by Monday. GO JAGUARS!!
Girls Soccer Updates
We played Henry on March 14th and the score was 0-2. Although we did not win, we are
strongly motivated and prepared for our next games. Thank you to all the parents for all their
support and encouragement!
Washington D.C. Trip
JAGUAR JOURNAL
MARCH 18 , 2016
Attention 6th Grade Parents and Guardians,
We have our next Washington D.C. trip planned for April 2017 for our current 6th and 7th
Graders (who will be our 7th and 8th Grade students in April of 2017). No set dates yet, though
we usually go mid-April. This is our first notice to begin planning and saving for the trip.
The cost is estimated to run between $1,500 and S1,600 per student. Cost includes all airfare
expenses, all hotel expenses, all meal expenses, - basically all expenses except souvenirs.
Our last trip in April of 2015:
Day 1- Upon landing:
White House Visitor CenterWhite House Group Photo Stop- Front Gate
Washington Memorial
WWII Memorial
Museum of American History
Lincoln Memorial
Korean Memorial
Hotel Check-in
Day 2
Arlington National Cemetery
Kennedy Gravesites
Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Changing of the Guard
Iwo Jima Marine Memorial
National Archives
The Holocaust Museum
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
FDR Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Day 3
U.S. Capital Tour
Library of Congress
Supreme Court
Mt. Vernon – George Washington Home Tour
African Slave and Servant Memorial
Alexandria Colonial Ghost Tour
Hotel
Day 4
National Museum of Natural History
IMAX – Titans of the Ice Age
National Gallery of Art
Air and Space Museum
Airport - Depart
The Registration Process does not open until the next academic year- 2016/2017. For now, this is just
an initial notice to begin planning, and saving in order to join the trip.
We have an excellent working relationship with Worldstrides, and they have more information on
their website- Worldstrides.com. Working with them we have always had safe, incredibly active,
and fun trips to D.C.
Sincerely,
Tim Patterson
D.C. Coordinator/Visual Arts
[email protected]
JAGUAR JOURNAL
MARCH 18 , 2016