September 17, 2018
With the school year in full swing, so is the learning! From academic instruction to activities and athletics, there are many opportunities to get involved and make the most of your educational experience. NWEA is an assessment tool used to measure what students know and helps teachers identify what they are ready to use next. All students, grades 6-12, complete the NWEA three times a year, after which an easy to use report helps teachers teach and students learn. These reports will be sent home once testing is completed next week. There are a number of building and district initiatives ongoing to promote the academic success of your student, and support their holistic emotional, social, and physical wellness. Character education programs are a critical activity to support these efforts. Mrs. Barker, our Counselor, works directly in each K-5 classroom, and with The Rock in grades 6-9, to promote student confident, respect, and forward planning. ALL teaching staff, as well as our Academic Advisor, Mr. Rod Kitzmiller, and Counselor, Mrs. Barker, work together with ALL 6-12th grade students every Tuesday and Friday during FOCUS. FOCUS applies a curriculum centered on the power of relationships and 21st century critical skills to support our students as they navigate the options available after graduation. These activities connect directly to our School and District Improvement Plans and are closely monitored throughout the year to ensure progress towards these goals!
Merrill Community Schools cultivates creative, compassionate, leaders prepared for lifelong success by fostering the intellectual, emotional, and physical well-being of each child.
WE NEED YOUR FEEDBACK:
our vision
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Welcome back to School
MS/HS Newsletter
FOLLOW US!
Merrill. Where You Belong!
Education in Action
The Board of Education and staff is launching a new initiative to guide Merrill Community Schools through a 3-5 year Strategic Plan. Stakeholder feedback is an important part of the planning process. Community members, parents, students, teachers and all district staff members will have the opportunity to give input on the strengths of the district, opportunities for improvement, barriers for implementation, and their vision for the district. You are invited to share your feedback through an electronic survey or Stakeholder Meeting scheduled for October 10, 2018 at 6PM in the MS/HS Media Center. Please consider completing a short 4 questions survey by October 19th.
SURVEY
What You Need to know
UPCOMING EVENTS:
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Safety Seminar
IMPACT SAGINAW: 9-12th Grade
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CAREER CORNER
Monday, Sept 17 Constitution Day NWEA, 8th Grade Knitting Club @3, HS K113 MS VB @4:30, HOME 9th Grade VB @5, St. Charles Tuesday, Sept. 18 Mental Wellness Assembly JV/V VB @5:30, Coleman MS 7/8 FBall HOME @5:30 Wednesday, Sept.19 NWEA, 10th Grade Cross Country @4:30, Ashley MS VB @4:30, Coleman 9th VB @5, Hemlock Thursday, Sept. 20 NWEA 11th Grade MS FTC Robotics Meeting @2:50PM in Robotics room Chess Club Meeting @2:45, Media Center JV FB HOME @6 vs Breckenridge Friday, Sept. 21 IMPACT Saginaw Field Trip, 9-12 Varsity FB @Breckenridge,7PM Saturday, Sept. 22 JV VB, 8:30AM@ Birch Run Youth FB @12, HOME
The Michigan Cyber Safety Initiative (CSI) will speak to the families of MCS on Tuesday, September 25 at 6PM in the MS/HS Media Center. All parents/guardians of students in grades K-12 are encouraged to attend! This program provides practical tools including Internet safety tips and how to: 1) access the Michigan Sex Offender Registry; 2) understand the impact of digital footprints; 3)appreciate the risk of sharing photos with embedded location information; 4)recognize the potential dangers and legal ramification of sexting; and 5) identify the warning signs of cyberbullying. We look forward to seeing everyone at the MS/HS Media Center on Tuesday, September 25 @6PM !
MHS has been offered an exciting opportunity for all of our students to participate in the "IMPACT SAGINAW" event on Friday, Sept. 21. We will depart the school at 9AM and return at 2PM. Our students will have the opportunity to hear two national speakers: Elizabeth Smart and Travis Mills, to hear their stories of strength and perseverance.
Academic Advisor kitzmiller@merrillschools.org office: 989.643.7231, ext. 206
Rod Kitzmiller
September is an exciting time of year. While we may regret summer slipping away, each school year brings the promise of good times and new experiences. At MHS ALL students and families have the support of an Academic Advisor to help navigate the post secondary world. From college or vocational course planning to resume building and help with applications, Mr. Kitzmiller is here to help! Located in the Media Center, he is available to meet with families daily M-F. Please check out is monthly newsletter to stay connected!
NEWSLETTER
CALENDAR
SKYWARD
#WEAREMERRILL
The Merrill Sports Boosters are putting on a PUNT, PASS, and KICK for 7-12 year old boys and girls again this year on September 21 after school-4PM. Permission slips were sent home or can be picked up in both the Middle School and Elementary School Office. We had a great turn out for this event last year. Please return forms by Tuesday, September 18!
RACHEL GOMEZ
Vandal Umbrellas
From 100 Year Celebration shirts to Vandal umbrellas view the links below to get your Merrill Vandal essentials!
100th Year Shirts
VANDAL GEAR
CANDY SALES
Battle of the Fans Shirts
PUNT, PASS, and KICK
POPCORN FOR A CAUSE
Middle School candy bar fundraiser is off to a great start! PLEASE continue to sell candy to support our Middle School trips and activities. The sale of World's Finest® Chocolate sale continues until Friday, September 21. This is our primary fundraising event for the year. We use the funds to pay for End of Year reward trips, Field Day, School year trips, Loon’s Baseball Game, and Hartley. WE NEED YOUR HELP to make all of these trips possible!! This is our only fundraiser for the school year. Please consider participating. ALL funds raised go directly back to Middle School student activities!!!!
Permission Slip
We would like to again show our support for the "Merrill Community Team" for the LIGHT THE NIGHT walk in the fight against cancer on September 22nd. Let's use the power of "change" to make a difference in the fight against cancer! Let's help our Merrill Community Team raise funds by purchasing popcorn on Tuesday, September 18 for $1.00 during FOCUS! All proceeds will be donated to this cause.
VANDAL PRIDE!
CLUB/ACTIVITY CALENDAR
SPIRIT EVENTS
GET INVOLVED
Preschool
Senior Sunrise
Athletics and ACTIVITIES
CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES
FTC Robotics Meeting on Thursday, September 6 @2:50PM for MS students! Sign up in the office! CHESS CLUB: Learn to play chess or drop in for a game on Thurs., Sept 20 from 2:45-3:45 in the Media Center. KNITTING CLUB: Meeting on Mon 3-3:45 in Mrs. Jordan's Room. No experience necessary!
College Access
Vandals Volleyball win Breckenridge tournament
MHS Volleyball teams are off to great starts. The Varsity currently sits at 19-0-3 with 1st place finishes at 3 Invitationals. Both the JV and Freshman teams are also having successful seasons. Once again, the Volleyball program has great numbers with 26 total girls out for volleyball this year.
LEARNING FOR LIFE
This past Friday, September 14th, Rapper and author Chris Ebnit, of Ithaca, visited Mrs. Fenby’s English class, and the senior English Class came to visit as well. Chris, known by his rapper pseudonym Syndr0m3, spoke about the importance of writing as a way to cope with difficulty and find peace. After leaving the military and then losing his fiancee to cancer, Chris explain how writing kept him out of trouble and focused on what was good in his life. He shared his music as well as his story of hope and healing. We are thankful to both Chris and Mrs. Fenby for showing us the importance of writing not just to complete an assignment, but to better ourselves as humans on this planet.
The Class of 2018 enjoyed the first day of school with together! The Senior class enjoyed a pancake breakfast and great company. A special thanks to Jason Buckley, Kelsey Felker, Julie Newton, Beth Glazier for making this event possible! .
Points of Pride: Merrill MS/HS
MHS 2018 HOMECOMING COURT
Military Appreciation 2018
Merrill Community Schools had the privilege to show our appreciation to all of America's veterans and active military personnel. To thank them for their service and honor their sacrifices, veterans and active servicemen/women and their families enjoyed a light dinner served by MCS staff and were provided tickets for free popcorn and soda sponsored by Merrill Sports Boosters. Prior to kickoff, each branch of the military were introduced with the official song from each branch, and then recognized at the 50 yard line by MHS and Carson City-Crystal coaches and athletes. The Hemlock/Merrill VFW raised the flag while Merrill Middle School Allyson Emmendorfer sung the National Anthem.
HONORING THEIR SERVICE
