Murphy Middle School eNews

Hello, Murphy Families!

Officially, Winter hasn't started, yet, but the rain and cooler weather tells me differently, especially when covering Kimbrough Crosswalk in the AM hours. There are 3 parents currently volunteering to help, but not all of the mornings are covered. Should you have some availability to help out with this crosswalk in the mornings, please reach out to me.

A Special Thanks to our 8th Grade NJHS students who facilitated the Family Safety/Security Night at MMS last Tuesday, December 3rd. They helped to explain the Standard Response Protocol an quizzed attendees on each of the emergency responses and why they would be used. What GREAT leadership they demonstrated to our families who attended to learn how PISD and MMS works diligently to keep students and staff safe daily on campus!

Our Boys and Girls Cross Country Teams did it AGAIN! They had another clean sweep for 1st Place in for ALL four teams! We are super PROUD of them because this has been the result for all THREE meets thus far! The City Final Meet is this Wednesday at Robinson MS!

Scroll down below for other recognitions for our Robotics Team, Choir, 7th/8th Science & Engineering Fair results, and more!

Campus dates for happenings through the end of January are also listed, as we begin MAP Testing and Semester Exams this week. Please note the schedule changes that affect lunch week of December 16th.

Don't forget to access MMS PTA Newsletter to learn about how to support our Holiday Luncheon for MMS Staff, purchase Winter MMS Spirit Wear whose deadline has been extended to January 5th, and how to volunteer for Basketball Home Game Concessions, and more!

New in this eNEWs :

• MMS Staff Superstar Award -- Week of December 2nd - Ms. Azcarate

• MMS Robotics Team Results

• MMS Choir Recognitions

• MMS Science Fair Results

• MMS Winter MAP/Semester Exam Schedule

Send anything you'd love to share campuswide to MMSPublications@pisd.edu.

Please access MMS Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/MurphyMiddleSchoolMavericks

Please access MMS Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/murphymiddleschoolmavericks/

Upcoming Events for the next few weeks:

December 9 Maverick Time with 6th Grade

December 9-20 MAP Testing and Semester Exam

December 9 8th BBB vs Bowman @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

December 9 8th GBB vs Bowman @Bowman, 6 p.m.

December 10 MMS Spelling Bee, 4 p.m. , DLR

December 11 6th Grade Choir/Orchestra Winter Concert, 6:30-7:30, MMS Stage, Choir

December 11 Cross Country Meet #4 @ Robinson MS

December 12 Theater 2 Rehearsal, 3:45 - 5:30 PM, MMS Stage, Theater

December 12 Advanced Bands Winter Concert, McMillen HS, Band

December 12 7th BBB vs Bowman @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

December 12 7th GBB vs Bowman @ Bowman, 6 p.m.

December 13 25-26 Course Selection Window Closes

December 13 UIL (Regain Eligibility from December 6th grade check)

December 13 Theater 2 Performance, 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM, MMS Stage, Theater

December 13 PESH AVID to visit during 3rd.4th periods

December 13-14 All Region Orchestra Clinic and Concerts — Allen HS

December 14 Speech/Debate Tournament, All Day, @ PWSH

December 14 Advanced Choir Cluster Winter Concert, Choir

December 20 Early Release @ 12:40 p.m. — End of 2nd Grading Period

Dec 23 - Jan 3 Winter Break (Student Teacher Holiday)

January 6 Student Holiday/Staff PL Day

January 7 Students Return; Start of 3rd Grading Period

January 8 8th BBB vs Wilson @ Wilson, 6 p.m.

January 8 8th GBB vs Wilson @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 8 MMS PTA Board Mtg @ 7:30 p.m.

January 9 MMS Lockdown/Evacuation/Fire Drill

January 9 7th BBB vs Wilson @ Wilson, 6 p.m.

January 9 7th GBB vs Wilson @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 10 Maverick Mania, Qtr 2

January 13 8th BBB vs Rice @ Rice, 6 p.m.

January 13 8th GBB vs Rice @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 14 PESH Choir Cluster 7th/8th Grade at Allen Americans Game (Choir)

January 15-17 One Act Play Auditions, 3:45 PM - 5:00 PM (MMS Stage, D106) Theater

January 16 7th BBB vs Rice @ Rice, 6 p.m.

January 16 7th GBB vs Rice @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 20 Student/Teacher Holiday - MLK, Jr. Day

January 21 8th BBB vs Carpenter @ Carpenter, 6 p.m.

January 21 8th GBB vs Carpenter @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 23 Choir Social, 4:00-8:00 PM (Main Event)) Choir

January 21 7th BBB vs Carpenter @ Carpenter, 6 p.m.

January 21 7th GBB vs Carpenter @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 27 UIL — 3 Week Grade Check

January 27 8th BBB vs Schimelpfenig @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 27 8th GBB vs Schimelfpfenig @ Schim, 6 p.m.

January 30 7th BBB vs Schimelpfenig @ Murphy, 6 p.m.

January 30 7th GBB vs Schimelfpfenig @ Schim, 6 p.m.

January 30 Group/Club Picture Day for Yearbook

Hospitality will be hosting MMS’s Annual Holiday Luncheon for our staff and teachers on December 18th.

DONATE HERE

You may purchase a $10 Amazon gift card and drop it off in the front office at school or you may help by donating $10 and we can do the shopping for you.

All donations and cards are due by December 13th. The Luncheon will take place on December 18th.

The Holiday Luncheon is being catered by Napoli's Pizza.

Please also sign up below to donate beverages and desserts to complete the meal.

SIGN UP HERE TO BRING DESSERTS or BEVERAGES

**MMS Superstar Alert!**

A big round of applause for **Jackie Azcarate**!

Jackie has truly gone above and beyond this year, taking on **two new subjects** with grace and **keeping Social Studies organized and thriving**. She’s also embraced the **joy and chaos of teaching PACE and Gifted Students** with creativity and enthusiasm.

Her willingness to help both **students and staff**, combined with her thoughtful planning and inspiring attitude, makes her a true MVP!

Jackie, your **talent**, **patience**, and **wisdom** are appreciated more than words can say. Cheers to you!

#LevelUp #TeamPISD #ProtectOurHouse #OurActionsMatter #MMSSuperstar #ThankYouJackie

Murphy Robotics Team 17338 and 11425 participated the last match of the tournament on Saturday, which happened to be one where they are (red) alliance partners! 🤪 (Murphy Middle School teams are working together!)

Team 11738 is Ranked #5 and Team 11425 is Ranked #9.

Great job to both teams!

On Tuesday, 17 choir students performed at the Solo and Ensemble Festival. Of those 17, 15 students received the highest rating of a 1. Five choir students were also selected as Exemplary Musicians by the judges:

Eliza Bush

Ember Blaine

Riya Raju

Ranelle Sevillo

Aakash Unnikrishnan

We are so proud of everyone's hard work!

**Science Fair Success!**

Congratulations to all our amazing Mavericks who participated in the **MMS Science Fair**! Your creativity, innovation, and dedication made this event a phenomenal success!

**Grand Prize Winners**:

**Science**: Haniyah Ghaffar

**Engineering**: Aarush Karnik

**Category Winners**:

**Animal and Behavioral Science**:

1st: Varshini Arulkumaran

2nd: Maariyah Choudhry

3rd: Desire Mohammed

**Chemistry and Food Science**:

1st: Grant Updike

2nd: Soumya Shivhare

3rd: Dylan Tran

Honorable Mention: Arnav Shaw

**Engineering Systems**:

1st: Aarush Karnik

2nd: Sahil Lakadawala

3rd: Aarav Chokhaini

Honorable Mention: Mitra Amin

**Material Science**:

1st: Kaitlyn Vo

2nd: Emma Sahni

3rd: Lauren Vo

**Environmental Systems**:

1st: Haniyah Ghaffar

2nd: Taylor Nguyen

3rd: Lasya Sekaran

Honorable Mention: Quinnlee Fenter

**Environmental Sciences**:

1st: Gabrielle Archer

2nd: Neal Donda

3rd: Nimay Shah

Your hard work and innovation inspire us all! Keep pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons!

#LevelUp #TeamPISD #ProtectOurHouse #OurActionsMatter #ScienceFair2024 #FutureScientists #MaverickPride

Please view image below for Winter MAP & Semester Exam Schedule

Counselors are available on campus to support current 6th to 11th grade students in beginning the course selection process for the 2025-2026 school year. During this period, students will utilize SchooLinks, our course planning software, to develop a three-year academic plan for middle school or a four-year plan for high school, with an emphasis on selecting courses for the upcoming school year.

Parents can create a SchooLinks account using the primary email associated with their Skyward account. Below, you’ll find detailed instructions on account setup and how to approve your student’s course plan, along with a helpful video guide.

Step 1: Claim Your Parent Account in SchooLinks

• View Video Instructions in English
• Visit the Guardian: How to Claim your Account webpage

Step 2: View Your Student’s Course Plan

• Getting Started with Course Planning in English
• Getting Started with Course Planning in Spanish

Step 3: Approve Your Student’s Course Plan

• How to View and Approve Your Student’s Course Plan in English
• How to View and Approve Your Student’s Course Plan in Spanish

For a comprehensive list of courses offered, course descriptions and additional academic planning tools, please visit our course catalog website.

If you have any questions, please visit our Murphy School Counselor webpage for information.

MMS Annual Spelling Bee December 10th 3:45-6:00 in the DLR All contestants welcome to participate. Pick up a spelling bee study list from Mrs. Mullen in B110 or from your English teacher.

The MMS Library is on Instragram. Follow to see all the fun happenings in the library. https://www.instagram.com/mavericklibrary/

Please view the BB Schedules below:

Please view the schedule below:

We are excited to share that Skyward Family Access can now accept attendance notes! If you know your student will be missing school, simply launch your Skyward mobile app and submit an absence request through Family Access. Your campus attendance clerk will be notified and can excuse the absence in just a few clicks! While campuses can still accept paper notes from families, this added feature is intended to streamline family communication with campus staff regarding student absences.

For more information on how to do this, please visit Family Access Help.

If you are having problems uploading your Dr. Notes in Skyward Family Access, then please email 054absence@pisd.edu within 3 days of your student's absence with the following info:

• Student first and last name
• Date of absence
• Reason for absence
• Parent first and last name

Extended Student Absence Form Linked HERE for English

Extended Student Absence Form Linked HERE for Spanish

Calling current 6th and 7th grade students who are motivated to do well in school and who are serious about their academic future. Check out the Maverick AVID program here at Murphy Middle School. Are you wondering what AVID is? AVID stands for Advancement Via Individual Determination and is a fun and exciting elective class for seventh through twelfth grade students that prepares students for admission to a four-year college or university or a technical career path. In class you will be given tools to help you to reach your full potential academically and personally during middle school and beyond. AVID students are leaders in the school, excellent teammates and good friends. If you think you might be AVID "material" there will be an informational meeting after school on October 30th. You may also please pick up the recruitment packet from the front office or from Mrs. Foster's classroom- E109 at any time. Packets are due back to Mrs. Foster by November 15 and student interviews will be held on November 20.

We encourage students and families to purchase tickets, PRIOR to the day of the event, BEFORE 3:00 p.m.

• All ticket sales will be online through Hometown Tickets at https://www.pisd.edu/Page/23044
• Ticket sales to the General Public will begin on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. for all games for the current week.

INDIVIDUAL TICKET PRICES

Varsity Football

Pre-Game:

• Reserved Seating: $10.00
• Adult General Admission: $8.00
• Student General Admission: $4.00
• PRE-GAME TICKET SALES WILL END AT 3:00 P.M. ON GAME DAY (NOTE New time!!)

At the Gate:

• Reserved Seating: $12.00 (includes 2 yrs. and older)
• All General Admission: $10.00 (includes students K-12)

All other Events:

Individual Tickets:

• Middle School: Adults $4.00 and Students $2.00
• 9th – 12 Grade: Adults $5.00 and Students $3.00

Passes:

• High School:
• Adult 10 game / $50.00 20 game / $100.00
• Student 10 game / $30.00 20 game / $60.00
• Middle School:
• Adult 10 game / $40.00 20 game / $80.00
• Student 10 game / $20.00 20 game / $40.00
• All-Sport Student Pass $30.00 (one scan per event-no limit on scans for school year)
• PASSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED FOR VARSITY FOOTBALL

Maverick Time is a creative response to the feedback that our students gave to us when they completed a High Reliability Schools Survey back in March 2024. (Parents also completed a parental version of this same survey, too). One of the indicators that both parents and students scored the campus low on was:

• The success of the whole school, as well as individuals within the school, is appropriately acknowledged.

For this reason, we created Maverick Time where Admin/Counselors would be able to meet with an entire grade level together for about 30 minutes to highlight students in that grade for various recognitions: growth on any academics (not just core subjects, electives, too); spelling bee; NEHS/NJHS; StuCo; Robotics; Athletics; Speech/Debate; Theatre, etc. We would allow some of our groups to possible perform for the grades as a way for our students to gain exposure and recognition for the many wonderful things happening on campus. This might also be a time where the counselors might what to review some topics without interfering and taking away from a core content class, so we can preserve the learning time in these classrooms.

Maverick Mania occurs quarterly and is by invitation for students who consistently uphold our campus core values of being Respectful, Responsible, and Resilient. Students will socialize during Maverick Mania in three rotations that include purchasing concessions and scheduled food trucks/ice cream trucks to the campus and more! Ideas for activities will be finalized with input from students selected to be part of the Principals' Student Advisory Group consisting of 10 students from each grade level, 6th-8th. (Students interested in being selected for the Principals' Student Advisory Group will need to apply through the Student Senate application process which includes teacher recommendations and a signed petition of 40 MMS students.)

In order to receive an invitation to Maverick Mania, students will need to meet the following criteria:

• Passing ALL Classes

• No unexcused absences without parent/Dr’s Note

• THREE Tardies to any class for the grading period.

• ZERO Discipline Office Referrals in Review360

• Too Many Teacher Managed, can become a Discipline Office Referral

Dates for Maverick Mania this school year are:

• Quarter 1 - Friday, November 1st
• Quarter 2 - Friday, January 10th
• Quarter 3 - Friday, April 4th
• Quarter 4 - Friday, May 23rd (Last Day of School)

Please click on the buttons below the SRP poster for more detailed information about Plano ISD's implementation and response to emergency events.

In partnership with Boys & Girls Club of Collin County, Club Reach is available at three middle school campuses in Plano. Please view the flyer below for information. Visit www.bgccc.org/enroll to enroll your student for this academic enrichment program that starts afterschool to 7 p.m.

Please refrain from cell phone usage in our school zones.

Plano ISD participates in the federal meal program, which provides free and reduced-price meals to students who qualify. Families who may qualify for meal benefits should complete a meal application for the 2024-25 school year via this website.

Families who already have a SchoolCafé account can sign in to complete the meal application. Families who do not have an account can create a new one by selecting that option on the SchoolCafé page. View this SchoolCafé information video for instructions on how to complete the meal application.

Applications will be processed within 10 business days. Eligibility notification letters will be sent via email. If parents have not received the letter in their inbox, please check junk and spam folders.

Students will start the year off based on their 2024-25 eligibility. The grace period ends on September 24 and unless families have reapplied, students will move to paid lunches.

Dressing out for PE is part of the middle school experience, so please scroll down for ordering information for students participating in pre-athletics or athletics. Otherwise, grey tops and blue shorts/bottoms will do for all students.

Please view the image below for Murphy specific school supply lists.

Plano ISD families: As we get closer to the start of the new school year, remember to save the 2024-25 academic to check for early release days, holidays and more!

You can view and download the calendar at pisd.edu/calendar

Fall MAP Testing: August 26 - September 5

Winter MAP Testing & Fall Semester Exam Dates: December 9 - December 20

Spring MAP Testing and Spring Semester Exam Dates: May 5 - May 23

The 2025-26 Plano ISD Academic Calendar was approved by the Board of Trustees during their meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.

The district proposed an academic calendar based on work from the 2024-25 calendar that was approved on November 28, 2023. Both calendars, nearly identical in design, were planned with the best interest of students in mind, taking into consideration valuable input from parents, students, educators and administrators. The first day of school for the 2025-26 school year will be August 12, 2025, and the last day of school is May 22, 2026.

This early calendar approval provides the district more time to secure graduation dates and allows more advanced planning for families and staff. It also gives the district time to adjust the calendar if needed.

Calendar features include:

• Student fall break from October 13-17, 2025
• Staff fall break from October 13-15, 2025
• Thanksgiving break from November 24-28, 2025
• Winter break from December 22, 2025–January 2, 2026
• Student holiday/staff work day January 5, 2026
• Spring break from March 16-20, 2026
• Student holiday/staff work day March 23, 2026

View the full calendar here.

www.pisd.edu/tipline