![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/Ah4vvOUDIKPEV1cgT-LaVw.45298887.jpg)
![Logo](https://cdn.smore.com/u/thumbs/e9cd/thumb-e84dad54d5c61b08f3fec83b991c57aa.jpeg)
![page background](https://cdn.smore.com/_fr/Ah4vvOUDIKPEV1cgT-LaVw.70267298.jpg)
Narwhal Newsletter
January 1st, 2024
Hello Marsh Creek,
I hope that everyone had a restful and enjoyable break, and we want to wish a Happy New Year to you and your family! As we begin the first month of 2024, we are excited to announce that Mrs. Lauren Fiske will begin as our Assistant Principal on Tuesday. This week, our students will support the Aidan's Heart Foundation CPR/AED Peer Training Event. Students from our high schools will visit with our students and staff, and assist in providing education and information related to heart health and safety. Additionally, our families will begin to receive information related to our course selection process over the coming weeks. We have already begun to collaborate with our partners at both Downingtown and Lionville Middle Schools, and we want to ensure that our students' transition into their middle school experience is as seamless as possible. Keep an eye out for separate email communications related to the course selection process, and we will be including all relevant information within our weekly newsletter as well. I hope that you all have a fantastic first week of 2024!
-Matt
This week at Marsh Creek - Week of January 1st
Monday - 1/1
- Schools Closed - Happy New Year!
Tuesday - 1/2
- School Reopens - Welcome Back!
Wednesday - 1/3
- Aidan's Heart Foundation CPR/AED Peer Training Event
Thursday - 1/4
- Aidan's Heart Foundation CPR/AED Peer Training Event
Friday - 1/5
- Aidan's Heart Foundation CPR/AED Peer Training Event
Notable Upcoming Dates:
Week of January 8th - Parents will start to receive communication related to the course selection process for our middle schools.
A Day at Marsh Creek
Dr. Weiss and our Choir treated the students to a wonderful Holiday performance prior to our break!
Mrs. Smith's Spanish students perform for our office team by caroling in Spanish.
Our students will get to learn about heart health and safety from our teachers and high school students this week during their Health classes.
Aidan's Heart Foundation's CPR/AED Peer Training Event
We're kicking off the New Year by teaching all of our Narwhals one of the most important lessons they'll ever learn-- how to save a life! Aidan's Heart Foundation and our Marsh Creek PE/Health Department are excited to collaborate for the 10th annual school-wide CPR+AED training event this week! During Health classes, students will participate in guided instruction with local CPR-certified high school Heart Hero student facilitators to learn Hands-Only CPR techniques. They will hear from cardiac arrest survivors about the importance of quick bystander response using CPR and an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to best ensure chances of survival when a person's heart suddenly stops. The American Heart Association has found that, by age 11, most young people have enough body capacity to effectively deliver compressions-- by empowering youth with these skills, we are helping to make our families and communities safer!
Crime Victims' Center of Chester County (CVC) - Conflict Resolution
This week, our students will work with their Social Studies teachers and the staff from CVC to focus on conflict resolution. The goal of this program is to teach students to deal with conflict in a healthy, effective way. Through group activity and discussion, students will explore the concept of conflict by defining it and discussing options for dealing with it, such as aggressively, passively and assertively. They will then consider possible outcomes and consequences when each option is used. Compromise and the concept of "putting yourself in someone else's shoes" will also be illustrated through the use of scenarios and other activities.
Amphitheater Update
The Downingtown Community Education Foundation (DCEF) and our District are partnering together to provide innovative educational opportunities for our students. Construction on the new Amphitheater/Outdoor Classroom on the Marsh Creek campus is nearing completion. Our families and staff may continue to see increased activity on campus, primarily to the left side of our building as we arrive at Marsh Creek. We will continue to provide updates throughout the duration of the project.
Community and Family Support - Backpack Boost Program
This program provides supplemental nourishment for our students. Participating students receive a bag of non-perishable food items every Wednesday, which will be distributed in a discreet and caring manner by our staff. Click on the flyer below to complete the confidential form so that we can help in any way that we can.
Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth Ages 10-14 (SFP 10-14)
SFP 10-14 has been implemented throughout Chester County since 2010. SFP 10-14 is a universal, evidence-based prevention program that targets adolescents ages 10 to 14 and their parents/caregivers. This free skill-building program is delivered in seven weekly sessions and is offered as independent, concurrent learning sessions for caregivers and youth, followed by joint family sessions. The primary goals of the program are to build life skills in youth, including stress management, conflict resolution, and refusal skills. For caregivers, the program enhances parenting skills and promotes effective parenting styles, with the goal of strengthening family bonds, increasing positive communication, and enhancing collaborative problem-solving skills within the family unit.
Free dinner and childcare will be provided to all those in attendance. Dates, time and location will be announced shortly.
If you’d like your family to participate in the Strengthening Families program, please scan the QR code on the flyer with your cell phone and fill out the linked google doc to indicate your interest.
If you have any difficulty accessing the google document through the QR code and you’d like to register your family for the program, please reach out to your child’s counselor at MC:
Teams A, D, E – Mrs. Lyman at klyman@dasd.org
Team B and G- Ms. Mallon at dmallon@dasd.org
Team C, F and H- Mrs. Busby at mbusby@dasd.org
Counselor's Corner
Greetings from the Marsh Creek Counseling Department! We will use this area to keep you in the loop with updates from our department as well as helpful resources throughout the year. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help!
This time of the year can be fun and exciting but can also be difficult, especially for those who have lost a loved one. If you have lost a loved one or you know someone who has, click here for some ways to manage grief during the holidays. As always, your counselors are here to help so please do not hesitate to reach out!
Check out these community resources!
RSVP Here by Jan. 22, 2024
Another great local resource! Communities That Care offers groups, blogs and podcasts to support parents and guardians in the Downingtown area.
Click here for more information.
Please encourage your child to check out the Marsh Creek Counseling Department Schoology course. It’s filled with lots of great resources including stress management strategies, study skills, directions for how to check your grades and more!
As always, reach out if you need anything!
Chromebook Care
The most frequent damage to a Chromebook is a cracked screen. Follow these tips to avoid damage.
- Always carry a Chromebook closed. Never hold a Chromebook by its screen and always use two hands to carry the device.
- If carrying the device from classroom to classroom, hold the Chromebook close to your chest much like a hug.
- Be sure to set a Chromebook on a flat surface during use and avoid slanted, uneven surfaces which could lead to the device sliding off and dropping to the floor.
For more tips about protecting your device, and information related to getting a protective case for your device, click the following link to our technology page. Thank you for your assistance!
https://www.dasd.org/departments/technology/11-technology-initiative/chromebook-care
Clubs and Intramurals
Below is a link to the Activities page on our Marsh Creek website, which has been updated with all information that students and parents will need to engage in our extracurricular programs. It contains information related to the options available this year, as well as information related to Activity Fees, and the Activity Shuttle Bus. Students can work with our teachers to pick up information and to express interest in the activities offered this Fall.
Cultural Connections Club
Join MC6 Cultural Connections Club!
The CCC will allow students to get together once a month for group discussions, activities, leadership opportunities, and games. It will be a fun way to make new friends while celebrating diversity and strengthening our connection to the school community.
There is still time to join MC Cultural Connections Club! Sign Up Here -
MC6 Cultural Connections Club Interest Form
“We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” ~ Maya Angelou
Marsh Creek Home and School Association (HSA)
Thank you to our HSA for all that they have done this year to support our students and staff! We are so lucky to have a wonderful team of parents willing to help Marsh Creek. If you are interested in participating in our HSA this year, please consider joining us for future meetings. If you would like to contact our HSA to find other ways to support our students and school, please feel free to contact them at marshcreekhsa@gmail.com.
Employment Opportunities at Marsh Creek
Interested in working at Marsh Creek? We have several positions available for anyone interested in supporting students as a Paraprofessional. Please click below to start the application process, or feel free to reach out to Matt Barr at mbarr@dasd.org to express your interest! We would love to have you join our team!
2023-24 Yearbook Sale
Order your child’s 2023-2024 Marsh Creek 6th Grade Center Yearbook online at www.balfour.com. Click on Shop My School and enter our school name. Then click on the icon for Yearbook Products and Ads. You will need to enter your child’s name and grade. Then select your child’s Advisory teacher. Yearbooks cost $30 and will be delivered to students at school during the last week in May. Order now before they are all sold out!
Any Questions? Please contact:
Mrs. Allen at lallen@dasd.org or Mrs. Leister at rleister@dasd.org.