Hello #FAMILY,

Merrill's staff is excited to meet our 24-25 Jaguars next week. Below, you will find the start dates for all three grade levels. Students can bring their school supplies on the first day of school. We will get them to their correct classes, and students will get lockers so they will be able to store what they need to keep for the year. All Merrill students will have access to a hot lunch in the cafeteria. If you decide to pack your student a lunch, there will not be availability to reheat any packed food.

Merrill is fortunate to share a campus and a building with two outstanding Elementary schools, Cory and C3. Their school day finishes before Merrill's, and to support with end-of-day pick-up, we have designated parking zones. Please refrain from parking in the Orange Zone before 3:45. Merrill's DPS transportation (all our Buses and Cars) pick up on Florida. Please do not park to wait for your student in the Red Zone. The Green Zone is available for you to wait for your student before 3:45. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Molly Zick at molly_zick@dpsk12.net.

Merrill will be hosting our Back-to-School Night on Thursday, September 5th. Unfortunately, our back-to-school night conflicts with South High School; we understand this will impact some of our families. We hope all our families enjoy the last weekend before the start of school!

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

Hello Merrill Community,

Here are a few updates for the upcoming sports seasons.

XC (coed-no tryout)

1st Practice: Wednesday Aug 21st 4-5:00pm

Location: Merrill Middle School

Girls Soccer

Tryouts: Thursday Aug 22nd and Friday Aug 23rd 4-5:30pm

Location: Merrill field between Cory and Merrill

Boys Baseball

Tryouts: Thursday Aug 22nd and Friday Aug 23rd 4-5:30pm

Location: Veterans Park 2100 E Iowa Ave.

Important information

All students must be registered via this link Merrill Middle School

*Registration for Early Fall Sports Closes 8/23/24*

Required items include:

An up-to-date physical which will be uploaded by parents/guardians on the registration link

Submit the $35 pay-to-play fee.

**A student may not participate in tryouts unless all of these are completed on the registration. A few changes from previous years include the payment being made on the registration page as well as the physical being uploaded.**

**If your student does not make the team you will be refunded back to the card used during your sports registration.***

Any questions please reach out to the Athletic Director

Vince Franklin

vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net

720-424-0621

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

PTSA Membership Drive!

Click HERE now

Please help support your kiddo and the amazing teachers and staff at Merrill by joining the PTSA. The PTSA extends funding to each classroom, teacher and program offered at Merrill and we cannot do it without the Merrill parent community, plus you get a closer look into your child's school with PTSA involvement! Here are the initiatives that the PTSA provides support:

• Teacher/Department Grants
• After School Clubs
• Student Council
• Merrill Store
• Field Trips/Grade Level Celebrations
• Grant Writing
• Teacher Appreciation
• Merrill Spirit Gear
• International Festival
• Attendance Reward Parties
• Families Helping Families & Merrill Meals
• Dad's at Merrill (DAM)
• Monthly Dine-Out Socials & Grocery Shopping Fundraisers
• Fundraising for all of the above!
• If the PTSA can help with anything to guide you through middle school, please reach out to ptsamerrillmiddleschool@gmail.com

Introducing your Merrill '24-'25 PTSA Board!

President: Mark Smiley

Co-VPs: Kathleen Chambers/Joanna Shear

Treasurer: Natalie Nove

Secretary: Anastasia Glennie

Communications: Alison Roberts

We look forward to a fantastic school year and meeting you at Back to School Night on September 5th!

Dads at Merrill (D@M)

Are you a Dad reading this?

Connect with other Jaguar Dads by emailing john.hesse@me.com

Let's cool off our middle schoolers with popsicles to celebrate their first week back.

Please SIGN UP HERE to donate popsicles or volunteer to hand out to students during recess next Friday.

Click to gear up your Jaguar with 20% off code: SAVE20

Quick links to support Merrill:

Donate your Longmont Dairy Caps

in the Merrill Office

Longmont Dairy supports Merrill by

giving 5¢ back for every milk cap!

Start collecting and tell your neighbors

that Merrill is a drop off location for

Longmont Dairy milk & juice caps!

Enroll Merrill as your Community

Rewards Recipient under My Account!

Greetings #FAMILY! Merrill Meals pantry provides free groceries once a month to Merrill families that would like to receive extra food. We understand that everyone could use some support from time to time, and we are here to help.

If you would like to receive extra groceries one-time per month, please complete this private and anonymous survey, so we can provide the food items that your family likes to eat and match your preferences. Please mark the items that you would like to have potentially included in your pre-packed backpack.

***NOTE: Not all items are available, but we will match your request with whatever is in stock! Thank you.

Form can be found HERE

Are you interested in volunteering with Merrill Families Helping Families and the Merrill food pantry? The Fall signup is now open to help with the monthly backpack distributions. We need volunteers to help with inventory, packing the bags, and distributing the backpacks. Spring volunteer dates will go out toward the end of 2024.

Food Pantry Fall Volunteer Sign-Up

Our staff is back and excited to start the new school year! Thank you to the PTSA for providing lunch and adorable Merrill cookies!

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.

Xfinity offers packages on home internet ($9.95 or $29.95) to qualified households. Please see the flyer for more information.