Hello #FAMILY,

We are looking forward to a wonderful 24-25 School Year! Every Merrill Family needs to complete the Annual Family Update (Registration). Thank you to all our families who completed it online or in person. If you have not completed the Annual Family Update (Registration), you will need to come to Merrill next week between 9:00 and 3:00.

For your convenience, the school supply list for Elective Classes and grade-level Classes can be easily found below. Student schedules will be available on the Parent and Student Portal on Wednesday, ensuring you have ample time for back-to-school supply shopping.

Merrill will have unique 6th, 7th, and 8th grade start dates. This allows us to have opportunities to welcome our new 6th-grade students and support them with their transition into middle school. We also have special start dates for Merrill's 7th and 8th graders. Please see below for the start dates:

• 6th Grade- Monday, August 19th, and continue for the rest of the week
• 7th Grade- Wednesday, August 21st, and continue for the rest of the week
• 8th Grade- Thursday, August 22nd, and continue for the rest of the week.

Enjoy the last few weeks of Summer!

Sincerely,

Merrill Leadership

For the start of the 24-25 school year please see the below dates as they are different per grade level. All school days are 8:50am-3:50pm.

• First Day for 6th Grade: 8/19/24
• First Day for 7th Grade: 8/21/24
• First Day for 8th Grade: 8/22/24

XC- First practice Aug 20th 4pm-5pm, First meet Aug 24th Wash Park Invite (practices for season M-Th 4-5pm)

Picture Day - Aug. 29

No School Monday, September 2- Labor Day.

Back to School Night! Thursday, September 5! 5:30-7:30pm

Next year middle school sports will be realigned. Please see below.

Athletic Registration is available via this LINK. The athletic fee is $35 per sport and needs to be paid during the registration process. If a student does not make the team they are trying out for, the fee will be refunded.

All athletes must have a current physical on file to play. It will be uploaded during the registration process via the aribitersports registration LINK

Early Fall - 9/3-10/18

XC

Baseball

Girls Soccer

Fall - 10/21-12/13

Girls Flag Football

Boys Flag Football

Winter - 1/8-2/20

Girls Volleyball

Boys Volleyball

**Floor Hockey**

Early Spring 2/18-4/11

Girls Basketball

Boys Basketball

Spring 4/4-5/17

Softball

Boys Soccer

Tryout dates are TBD

Thanks

Mr. Franklin

Electives

Art

Coloring Pencils (for the semester)

#2 Pencils (For the semester)

Sketchbook

Folder to store drawings/notes

Ruler (for the semester)

Basic set of markers (for the semester)

Art markers for blending (optional but recommended. These can be pricey)

Black ink pen (fine and ultra-fine)

• Students in need of financial assistance will be provided supplies, as needed.

AVID

1 ½ - 2 1/2” three-ring binder

One package dry erase markers

2 packages of lined loose-leaf paper (that WILL be left behind in the classroom)

3 ring Pencil pouch

1 package of pencils (that WILL be left behind in the classroom)

Band/Orchestra

$10 program fee for music/ instrument repairs/ etc.

Pencils- to be replenished throughout the year

Pencil pouch with 3 ring binder holes

Instruments will need to be rented from a store*

• Flesher Hinton, Music and Arts, Golden Music, other reputable music store

1-inch binder and 4 divider tabs

After students select instruments, additional supplies will be needed_

• Clarinets, Saxophones, Oboe, and Bassoon will need reeds- to be replenished throughout the year

• Brass needs valve oil

• Strings Rosin

• Percussion needs a drumstick and mallet set

*Families in need of financial assistance will be provided instruments and supplies, as needed

DRAMA

#2 pencils for the semester

Set of highlighters

Pack of lined paper

ELD:

2 pocket plastic folder

Composition notebook

GT

1 Spiral one subject notebook

Physical Education

Athletic shoes/ attire (highly) recommended

Water bottle (optional)

Adapted P.E.

Expo markers (any type or amount)

Spanish - 6th, 7th, & 8th Grades and Exploratory World Language

1 Notebook

Pack of Highlighters 1 Pink, 1 Green, 1 yellow, and 1 blue

Pair of headphones with cord

Pencils/ Pens

Pencil case and colored pencils (Rozo Class)

STEM

Computer mouse (wired or wireless)

Wired headphones

Pencils for the semester

Color pencils OR markers (optional to leave in class)

Liquid Glue (to leave in class)

Ruler OR Measuring tape

Pack of popsicle sticks (any amount) (to leave in class)

Pack of colored construction paper (to leave in class)

1 clear tape (refills preferred) (to leave in class)

*Optional* Non drying modeling clay (black, brown, white or multiy-color) (to leave in class)

Reading Intervention: Dawson

#2 pencils (will stay in classroom)

Any color EXPO markers

1 composition notebook

1 folder

General Supplies To Be Carried Each Day For All Classes:

Backpack

Water Bottle-prefer no squirt bottle (gatorade sports bottle)

Pencil Pouch

Pencils- to be replenished throughout the school year

12 Colored Pencils

3 Highlighters

Blue or Black Pens

Wired headphones (no airbuds, etc.)

Brought and Collected in Advisement:

Tissues (3 boxes)

Sanitizing Wipes (3 boxes)

Hand sanitizer

Math:

1-inch binder

basic 4-function calculator

Science:

Black sharpie

Rulers (30 cm)

3 Subject Spiral Bound Notebook

Language Arts:

3 Subject Spiral Notebook

Pocket Folder

Social Studies:

5 subject Spiral notebook

3 Glue Sticks

General Supplies to be Carried all Day for Classes:

Backpack

Water Bottle~prefer no squirt bottle (ie: no gatorade sports bottle)

Pencil Pouch

24 Sharpened Pencils

12 Colored Pencils

Thin markers

3 Highlighters (different colors)

1 Box Blue or Black Pens

Wired headphones (no airpods, etc.)

Brought and Collected in Advisement:

3 boxes of tissues

2 packages of sanitizing wipes

Hand sanitizer

Math:

1 or 1.5 inch binder

5 - Tab binder dividers

1 pack lined paper

Dry erase markers

One calculator (basic function or scientific)

Language arts:

1.5 inch binder (please no larger than 1.5 inch) with clear sleeve on outside and pockets on inside

3 Ring binder dividers

2 packets of lined paper - college rule

Science:

1 Three Ring Binder

Loose leaf notebook paper

3 Ring Binder Dividers

Social Studies:

1- 1” binder with clear sleeve on outside and pockets on inside

1 package of loose-leaf paper

General Supplies:

Backpack

Water Bottle

Pencil Pouch

24 Sharpened Pencils

5 Highlighters (different colors)

Box Blue or Black Pens

Wired headphones (no earbuds, etc.)

Tissues (3 boxes for Advisement class)

Sanitizing Wipes (2 packages for advisement class)

Hand sanitizer

Math: (all courses)

1 pack of Graph paper (with holes)

24 pack of pencils

Three ring binder

5- Tabbed binder dividers

Optional: Scientific Calculator

Science:

5 Subject notebook

1 Box of colored pencils

Social Studies:

ALL OF THESE SUPPLIES WILL BE LEFT IN THE HISTORY CLASSROOM We do a lot of projects and need access almost every week

5 Subject Notebook

1 box pencils

3 Glue sticks

1 Box of colored pencils

2 Highlighter

1 pair of wired headphones (that WILL be left behind in the classroom - they will need two pairs of Headphones in 8th grade one general and one specific to social studies)

Here is a link to some affordable headphones

https://a.co/d/3202ljp

Language Arts:

1 3 subject college-ruled spiral notebook

1 folders (Plastic if possible)

1 pair of wired headphones

1 Box of pencils

1 Box of tissues

If able, the novel, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee (so they can take home/annotate)

Bell Schedules

Merrill Specific Calendar

Happy summer from the Merrill PTSA Board!

Happy summer from the Merrill PTSA Board.

If you have a kiddo attending next year, please join

the 2024-2025 Merrill PTSA NOW by clicking HERE.

8th Grade Math

My name is Pat Mahoney, and I am originally from the tiny but mighty state of Rhode Island! I moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College and majored in economics and Spanish. At that time, I was lucky enough to tutor high school students in math, and I fell in love with teaching. Since graduating, I have been teaching 8th grade math and haven't looked back!

As a teacher, I really enjoy helping students develop their confidence as mathematicians. I am a firm believer that all students are capable of greatness. I particularly love helping students deepen their understanding of math concepts and see the real-world connection. Even if we don't notice it, math is everywhere around us!

Beyond teaching I am an avid New England sports fan and love being active. I enjoy biking, skiing, fishing, basketball, and pretty much any other sport. I love books, movies, and music.

6th Grade Math

Hi Team Merrill! My name is Kate Simmons (she/her) and I was born and raised in Fairfax, Virginia (just south of Washington D.C.!) I attended James Madison University, where I played a little softball and earned both my undergraduate and Master’s degrees in Inclusive Early Childhood and Elementary Education. I have taught in DPS for ten years, at the 4th and 5th grade levels! I'm excited to begin my journey with middle school scholars! I am particularly zealous about social justice, math, curiosity, and creative problem-solving. In my free time, you can find me hiking National Parks, baking tasty treats, hanging poolside, enjoying chats over coffee, or snuggling with my nieces and nephews!

7th Grade English Language Arts

Hi all! My name is Sophie Harris and I graduated from CU Boulder with a degree in English Creative Writing and I have my License in Secondary Education. Prior to working as a Language Arts teacher at Merrill, I was a long-term substitute for second graders at C3. I am thrilled to be part of the Merrill community, and I cannot wait to keep getting to know each student!

8th Grade Science

Hey everyone! I am Aidan Halpin, I have an undergraduate degree in physics, astrophysics, and education! I minored in math and am more than excited to be here. In my free time I love to hike, work on art or odd ball projects, cook, and play Magic the Gathering. I look forward to creating multi modal learning experiences for our 8th graders and working with other teachers across subjects.

Summer Reading Program Info

We are encouraging all students to visit their local libraries to participate in their summer reading programs. Denver Public Library’s theme is Summer of Adventure: Read-Make-Explore Maker Challenge: show off your creation, open to kids 0-18. There will be an End of Summer Party at Denver Zoo - August 10th, open to all registered summer reading participants.

DPS Summer Reading Resources at this link

This new pilot program will provide 4,000 eligible Denver Public Schools middle school students with $1,000 to enroll in afterschool programs. As students enroll in participating programs, My Spark Denver will also invest $4 million in afterschool activities.

My Spark Denver gives parents the agency to decide how they want to use the money, which is provided to them in the form of a restricted debit card that can be redeemed across 100+ afterschool providers, big and small. Every kid is different and what parents really need are the resources to help their children pursue their sparks, whether it's fencing, football or fashion design.