Merrill Middle School

Jaguar Journal

10/3/25

Dear Merrill Community,

Dear Merrill  Families,

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. We are excited to remind all that our Student Led Conferences are happening next week!

On Wednesday, October 8th, we will have an open house style conference from 4:30 PM to 8:00 PM. There’s no need to sign up—just join us at your convenience.

On Thursday, October 9th, the student-led conferences will be virtual. Please use the sign-up link below to reserve your time slot.

We also invite you to our Innovation Parent Meeting on October 22nd, which will be held virtually. We hope to see many of you there!

Merrill CSC

Wednesday, October 22 · 5:00 – 6:00pm

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/isw-fskz-xrx

As a reminder, please check the deadlines for missing assignments as we approach the end of the first quarter, as the last day work will be accepted will be:

  • 6th Grade 10/15

  • 7th Grade 10/15

  • 8t Grade 10/10


Lastly, don’t forget that Merrill serves free breakfast every morning from 8:30 to 8:45 AM by the STEM lab door. Students who need breakfast should be sure to grab it during that time.

Sincerely,

Merrill Leadership

Fall Virtual Conference Sign Ups

Please find the conference sign ups below.

The list is long! Please scroll to find your student's teachers and select a time with those teachers. Links for the GoogleMeets will go out closer to conferences.

6thGradeConferences

7thGradeConferences

8thGradeConferences

ElectivesandSSPsConferences

Garden Club

Bring a little cash and buy a plant from the Gardening Club on Wednesday at In Person Conferences! Donate what you can. They will be sold on the 2nd floor near the library!

Join the Merrill PTSA today!

PTSA QR code

Upcoming Dates

10/7/25- Picture Retake Day- Students must have an order form! Order forms are available in the main office.

10/8/25- Fall Conferences (in person)- AND Merrill Dine out at Chipotle! 2760 S. Colorado Blvd

10/9/25- Fall Conferences (virtual)

10/13&10/14/25- No School

Teaching students about mental health wellness and how to care for themselves is important. Feelings of sadness and depression appear to be happening at a much earlier age, and adolescence can feel like a rollercoaster of emotions. Risk factors such as depression and self-injury can be treated. While not every student will experience these feelings, they may be able to help a friend in need. 

Each year, schools teach students how to identify risk factors for depression and how to ask for help from a trusted adult. Classroom lessons also include information on Safe2Tell Colorado. Programming is implemented in 6th grade. If you DO NOT want your child to participate in programming, please reach out to Emily Hill, emily_hill1@dpsk12.net by Sept 23. 

Safe2Tell | 1-877-542-7233 | Website

  • Anonymously report anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family, or your community. We take your reports any time, any day.

    You have the power to make a difference.

Athletics

Flag Football Tryouts

Boys & Girls 10/15 & 10/16 

Time: 4-5:15pm

Practice 

Boys:  Monday and Wednesday 4-5:15pm

Coaches: Tony Aguilar - tony_aguilar@dpsk12.net

Owen Campbell - owen_campbell@dpsk12.net

Practice

Girls: Tuesday and Thursday 4-5:15pm

Coach: Vince Franklin - vincent_franklin@dpsk12.net

Jerseys are provided, students will need mouth guards and cleats are recommended.

Season begins 10/20

Boys Baseball:

Boys Baseball plays Monday 10/6 @Grant Ranch.

Girls Soccer:

Girls Soccer has a home game 10/10- come cheer!

XC

XC schedule
Yearbook presale until 3/26

Merrill Clubs

List of clubs

Merrill Store

The Merrill Store is designed to promote positive behavior and encourages students to make good choices. They earn Merrill Money throughout their time at school and use it to "purchase" items at the store during their recess. Items include snacks, chips, candy, sports equipment, Merrill gear, fidgets, toys, stickers and most importantly- gift cards! It's so fun seeing your student during the school day! We will have the store open 2 Fridays a month and hope to see you there! SignUpGeniusHere

Merrill Families Helping Families

Greetings #FAMILY! Merrill Meals pantry provides free groceries once a month to families in the Merrill community 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.

MerrillMealsForm

Merrill PTSA~

Merrill PTSA logo with jaguar

The PTSA is a great way to get involved with your student’s education, connect with

community and drive improvements for the school.

The PTSA extends funding to each classroom, teacher and program offered at Merrill,

and we cannot do it without the Merrill parent community!!

If the PTSA can help with anything to guide you through middle school, please reach

out to ptsamerrillmiddleschool@gmail.com

Dine Out to Support Merrill!!

Join us at Chipotle (2760 S. Colorado Blvd.) on Wednesday, October 8 from 4pm-8pm.

Chipotle is donating 25% of all of Merrill’s sales back to our school, so be sure to grab

some grub and remember to mention Merrill when ordering in person!! Ordering online

for pickup?? Be sure to enter promo code 7YKXETJ when ordering!!

Wednesday, November 12 – Join us at Park Burger (1890 S. Pearl St.) from 5pm-9pm.

Mention Merrill when ordering online or in person and 15% of sales will be given back to

our school!!

Next PTSA Meeting

Wednesday, October 8 at Chipotle (2760 S. Colorado Blvd.) at 6:00pm. Grab a

burrito to benefit Merrill and stay to learn about the great things the PTSA has planned

this fall!!

Upcoming PTSA Meetings

Wednesday, November 12 at Platte Park Brewing at 6:00pm. Grab a burger at Park

Burger to support Merrill and then join us across the street for a drink!!

Wednesday, December 10 (Location TBD)

Quick Link to Support Merrill

Enroll Merrill as Your Community Rewards Recipient Under My Account!

Chipotle logo
King Soopers logo

Donate Your Longmont Dairy Caps in the Merrill Office Longmont Dairy supports Merrill by giving 5¢ back for every milk cap! So, it's time to drop off all of those extra Longmont Dairy milk caps that you have been saving all summer! Stop on by the main office and help us fill up our collection bin to start our year off strong. Don't have any to turn in quite yet? We will continue to collect milk caps throughout the school year. Encourage your friends and neighbors to help us collect as well to help raise money that goes to support our students and staff.

milk Caps for Moola

From the Library

October is Disability Awareness Month. Middle School book recommendations can be found on the DPS Sora collections page. Pictured below are some highlighted books. Also pictured below are popular Spooky Reads. 

Disability Awareness link
Spooky reads image

Merrill Memories

Merrill Memories - Prologue - Merrill Dedication, November 24, 1953 at 8pm - Scene I

A few years back, I received a wonderful box filled with memorabilia from Merrill History. It has been a joy to explore these historical treasures and share them with our Merrill community through the school website, the display case outside the library, and Merrill Memories articles in the Jaguar Journal. 

Recently, I discovered another special piece: the prologue from our school’s dedication ceremony. Titled “Louise Merrill as We Knew Her,” it can be found on page 6 of the dedication program linked here.

In the upcoming weeks, I will be sharing scenes from this prologue that celebrate Louise Merrill’s legacy and her impact. Click here to read the Merrill Dedication Ceremony Prologue Scene I. 

Respectfully submitted,

Alise Lawrence 

Cool Classroom!

Students in 8th grade language arts were able to hear from an award winning photojournalist today. Denver Post photojournalist RJ Sangosti came to ELA classes to speak about his work. He shared a bit about his career, how he got into it, as well as how photographs tell a powerful story. This connects to the photojournalism PBL with the refugee experience.

photo of guest speaker in classroom
photo of guest speaker

Spirit Week!

Students and Staff have had a lot of fun during Spirit Week!

PJ matching
PJ matching
rival students
rival students
rival students
Rival students
spirit pic
Rhyme no reason

South High School Shadow Days!

Sign up HERE for 8th grade Shadow opportunities at South!

South logo

East Angels Futures Info!

East high flier
East flier spanish

DPS Support Opportunities! And MySpark!

Athletics & Beyond (A&B) is excited to partner with families and schools to provide high-quality after-school athletic and academic programming for DPS students. We believe in helping young people win on and off the field by combining sports with life skills, academic support, and social & emotional supports.

Our after-school programs include:
• Sports Training: Baseball, Basketball, Boxing, Football, Track & Field, Tumbling, and wrestling
• Academic Support: Tutoring, Homework Help, College & Career Readiness
• Technology & Innovation: STEAM and STEM enrichment, including hands-on projects and coding
• Mentorship & Life Skills: Character development, teamwork, and leadership training

Families with My Spark Denver and Chance Sports cards can use their funds to enroll their students in Athletics & Beyond programs.

For more details about our programming, coaches, and how to enroll, visit:
https://www.athleticsandbeyond.org/blank-1

boxing flier
Athletics and beyond flier
MySpark flier
MySpark flier Spanish

Design Like a Girl Workshop Series for Middle School Girls

Design Like a Girl is a free, three-day workshop series for middle school girls (grades six to eight) to explore careers in architecture and design. Held at the CU Denver College of Architecture and Planning on three Fridays during the 2025-26 school year, participants will work directly with professional women to engage in design activities like model building and sketching. Apply for Design Like a Girl. Applications for one of the 25 available spots must be submitted by Oct. 10. Questions? Reach out to Sondra Osif.

Girls Design photo