Art

For the next month we will move from 2D art and spend our studio time building, sculpting and creating 3D art. We are incredibly excited to begin our all-grade level, collaborative 3D diorama unit. Students across all levels are now working together to engineer a massive cardboard and cardstock city. To ensure the city fits together seamlessly, everyone is adhering to a shared measurement for scale: doors = 1". As they build their individual structures, students must choose a specific functional focus for their contribution:

Character Setting: A space designed for a specific narrative.

Societal Benefit: A structure that serves the community (e.g., a hospital or library).

Moving Parts/Simple Machines: Incorporating kinetic elements into the build.

Exterior/Interior Model: A detailed study of both the facade and the inner workings.

Once these individual pieces are complete, we will combine them to form a full, functioning diorama of our shared society. This diorama will be combined, and displayed later in the semester during our Soul Night Art Show.

Lastly, we are thrilled that our student teacher, Mr. Kai Masuchika, continues to lead our classes with excellence. His energy and passion remain a highlight for the students, and he is doing a fantastic job guiding them through these complex 3D builds as he prepares for his future in education.

ELD

Mr. Fairbairn’s ELD - We are nearing the end of our current unit titled “Eating and Shopping.” Thus far we have learned specific content vocabulary, as well as the continuous present verb tense. In the next couple weeks, we will be exploring the negative continuous present, completing speaking, reading and writing assessments for our current unit and starting to prepare for the CMAS assessment coming up after Spring Break.

As always, please ensure your students are completing four i-Ready lessons per week.

Ms. Richards’ 7th & 8th Grade ELD

This month, students are engaged in an exciting Urban Planning Unit. We are wrapping up presentation proposals in which students identified an issue at Merrill and developed thoughtful solutions using academic content vocabulary. Next, students will begin creating “help wanted” posters that include clear, detailed job descriptions using strong explanatory language.

In writing, we continue practicing the CCERERT protocol and summary writing process, with a focus on building independence and confidence.

Please continue supporting your child by ensuring they complete daily i-Ready reading practice (ideally 30 minutes per day). We are working hard to strengthen reading comprehension skills and strategies.

Ms. Richards’ 6th & 7th Grade ELD

Students are currently focusing on building and strengthening prepositional verb sentences using past, present, and future verb tenses with supporting evidence . We are proud to share that the class met our first goal—earning a candy celebration—for completing five consecutive days of English-focused academic discourse! We are just one day away from reaching our second goal of 10 days, which will earn the class an extra recess.

Please continue encouraging your child to practice speaking in English as often as possible and to complete 30 minutes of i-Ready reading each day to support their continued growth in reading comprehension.

GT

6th Grade- Our 6th graders are rounding out their last series of debates so get those awkward dinner table conversations in before it’s too late. Once the students have finished up with their philosophy research we will move seamlessly into advanced reading where students will work on four different text genres while also learning about the hero’s journey in fiction by writing their own short story. Let’s get reading!!!!! 

7th Grade- The 7th graders are finishing their final sociology through sports unit by looking at gender and gender equity with sports. The students are examining 1972’s Battle of the Sexes tennis match not only for the athleticism and cultural context but also to look at the long lasting effects of the match as well as the lifetime of influence from winner Billie Jean King. 

8th Grade- As I type the 8th graders are also typing the ending of their short stories!! These students have read, analyzed and created for the past 7 weeks to the point that we will do a peer read on all of their short stories to determine who demonstrated the best character arc, essentially whose hero had the greatest journey!!!

PE

Our students have successfully completed a basketball unit, which included peer-to-peer assessment of shooting accuracy, tracking individual game statistics, and practicing fundamental basketball skills. Moving forward, we will be transitioning to a new unit focused on enhancing lower-body coordination. This unit will involve activities like passing and receiving a ball, as well as various challenges designed to develop coordination. A key component will be progressing students in peer-to-peer feedback protocols.

Adaptive PE

This class also finished their basketball unit, emphasizing safety, inclusivity, and making modifications for unique needs. Students explored questions like: Is it acceptable to use a softer ball like a volleyball for basketball? (Yes!) Does every player need to use the same passing technique? (No.) Should everyone have an opportunity to participate in a basketball game? (Yes!)

Our next steps with this class will involve in-depth work on personal reflection and peer feedback. We will also begin participating in sports that utilize long-handled manipulatives, such as floor hockey, lacrosse, and tennis.

7th Grade Health

Dear Parent/Guardian,

Merrill Middle will soon begin teaching comprehensive sexual health in Health class.  DPS supports The 3 R’s from Advocates for Youth.  This curriculum focuses on age-appropriate, medically accurate information on a broad set of topics related to sexuality, including human development, relationships, decision-making, abstinence, contraception, and disease prevention.  The curriculum will be available at the school campus for you to preview.  You may contact Stephanie Graves if you have any questions.  Once you are familiar with the program, if you DO NOT wish your child to participate in the comprehensive sexual health curriculum, please complete this form.

Merrill Middle pronto comenzará a enseñar salud sexual integral en la clase de Salud.  DPS apoya las 3 R de Advocates for Youth.  Este plan de estudios se centra en información médicamente precisa y apropiada para la edad sobre un amplio conjunto de temas relacionados con la sexualidad, incluidos el desarrollo humano, las relaciones, la toma de decisiones, la abstinencia, la anticoncepción y la prevención de enfermedades.  El plan de estudios estará disponible en el campus de la escuela para que usted pueda obtener una vista previa.  Puede comunicarse con Stephanie Graves si tiene alguna pregunta.  Una vez que esté familiarizado con el programa, si NO desea que su hijo participe en el plan de estudios integral de salud sexual, complete este formulario. 

I will send home permission slips as we get closer. Students who opt out will have another activity to complete in schoology.

Spanish

6th Grade: Our class is excited to launch two reading projects! First, students will read a book in groups, create chapter-by-chapter graders to track their understanding, and develop thoughtful book recommendations to share with classmates. Next, we will begin reading our second novel, Agentes Secretos by Mira Canion, which promises adventure and engaging storylines.

These projects combine close reading, critical thinking, and creative expression—giving students the chance to deepen their comprehension while building presentation and collaboration skills they can use throughout the year.

7th Grade: In Unit 24, our class is building essential Spanish vocabulary with the words protege, cuida, disfruta, and viaja—words that will deepen our understanding of daily life and relationships. Through these vocabulary lessons, we're also exploring the rich cultural background of Costa Rica, which will prepare us perfectly for reading our next novel, Robo en la Noche by Christy Plasido.

This integrated approach helps students connect language learning with cultural knowledge, making our reading experience more meaningful and engaging as we discover the story's adventure and mystery.

8th Grade: This unit, students will continue mastering advanced Spanish grammar by identifying passive voice conjugations, gerund forms, and infinitive verb structures through pre- and post-reading activities centered around Me Perdí en Medellín. Alongside grammar practice, we're exploring Colombian culture and learning practical communication skills like providing directions, which will enhance our comprehension of the story's setting and context.

Additionally, each class is progressing on their individual Project-Based Learning (PBL) projects

Literacy Intervention with Whitehurst:

Questions about Literacy Intervention reach out to Keri Whitehurst-keri_whitehurst1@dpsk12.net

STEM

8th grade: 

Students in elective 1 recently started a new graphic design unit where they’ll learn basic design principals and apply them to a logo design for an elective teacher of their choice. Students in elective 2 are in the final stages of their prosthetics projects as they begin to design rapid prototypes followed by 3D designing their choice solutions for their animal in need. 

7th grade: 

Students in our 7th grade/newcomer class will begin working on their “Solutions Project” where they will be tasked with solving a problem using their engineer design skills and a 3D printer. If there is anything broken, missing, needs updating or a new design, then this is the project for that!

6th grade: 

Students are also wrapping up with a prosthetics project these next two weeks. They have learned how to 3D design, identify criteria & constraints and will now apply those skills to design and 3D print a prosthetic for a stuffed animal with amputated limb(s).

Band and Orchestra

Students are well into their preparation for the spring concert. This month, 6th grade classes are researching music, dances, and artists from countries around the world. 7th and 8th grade classes are working on a project for our Black History Celebration at the end of the month, arranging and sampling the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” We will explore the importance of this song in Black history and our creativity in this project.

Dance

For this months happenings in Dance please reach out to Paris Farr at-euphoricmynd@yahoo.com 

Drama

For this months happenings in Drama please reach out to Jillian Scott at sheltercove314@gmail.com

MTV

For this months happenings in MTV please reach out to Mr. Niebauer at-joel_niebauer@dpsk12.net

AVID

8th Grade: As they prepare for high school and beyond, 8th graders will begin a new research project centered on a future goal or question they’re curious about—whether related to school, careers, or life after graduation. This project is designed to help students explore possibilities, build confidence, and develop strong research and critical thinking skills in a supportive and encouraging way.

7th Grade: Seventh graders will begin researching college majors. Students will explore different fields of study, learn what careers connect to those majors, and reflect on their own interests and strengths. This is a great opportunity for students to start thinking about future pathways.

6th Grade: Sixth graders will kick off a creative video project that allows them to showcase what they’ve learned while building collaboration and presentation skills. New Our newest AVID scholars are beginning their journey by learning the foundational pillars of AVID, starting with Cornell Notes. These organizational and note-taking strategies will support them across all subject areas and help set them up for long-term success.

Newcomer Math and Conversation

Conversation: Level 1 Newcomers will be finishing up their Unit 2 projects and moving into Units 3 and 4 for the month of March. In these units, students will continue focusing on school related vocabulary and phrases, including routines, schedules, classes, places in school, times, etc. 

Level 2 Newcomers will be starting unit 6 and then move on to unit 7 in the month of March. In these units, students will be focusing on using the following target language: describe; compare; use possessive language; and how to form, ask, and answer informational questions in different structures. 

When you are able to, please ask your student what they learned in English and math when they get home from school. Every opportunity your student has to explain and reflect on their learning will benefit them greatly! Thank you!

Student Supports Providers (SSP)

BESS is a social emotional questionnaire given by all DPS schools that helps us check on students’ mental health. It gives us some insight to how our students are doing emotionally and helps us best support your child. It looks at how students think, feel, act, manage stress, interact with others, etc.. 

Students will be taking the BESS on Tuesday, March 10 in advisement.  Please make sure your child is on time and in school on March 10.  Please reach out to any of the SSP team  with questions (Special Service Providers: Natalie Battis-school psychologist natalie_battis@dpsk12.net, Emily Hill-school social worker emily_hill@dpsk12.net, Jeff Bayard and Hilary O’Kelly-school counselors jeffrey_bayard@dpsk12.net and hilary_okelly@dpsk12.net).

The BESS screener looks at the following three areas: internalizing (worry, sadness, anxiousness); self-regulation (attention challenges, hyperactivity, organization, and  focusing); personal adjustment (getting along with others, social relationships and/or self acceptance).

After speaking with the students whose screeners indicated some need for support, we then speak with the students’ parents/caregivers and determine if they would benefit from participating in a small intervention group.

An important part of the BESS screener is the short parent survey.  Please click here to take the parent/guardian survey.

Your responses help us better understand what our school needs to support all kids’ mental health - our thoughts, feelings, and actions.

There are no right or wrong answers!

Respond to the questions based on the past month 

The Family Support Clinic at the University of Denver is offering no-cost parent support groups.  These are 8-session psychoeducational support groups for parents/caregivers who are residents of Denver and caring for youth/young adults (ages 13-25) who are affected by mental health conditions. One group will be conducted in Spanish and the other in English. For questions, please reach out to the Family Support Clinic  at (303) 871-3879 or Judy Fox through email at judith.fox@du.edu

Check out the Colorado Department of Education’s Media Literacy Resource Bank, which provides families and community members with vetted tools to support media literacy, digital citizenship, social‑media health, online safety, cybersecurity, and cyberbullying education.