Morey Middle School

Dear Morey Community,

I wanted to provide an update about the class schedule for Friday, April 27. Due to significant anticipated teacher absences, DPS is cancelling all classes for Friday, April 27, including at our school.

DPS has been working in partnership to press our state government to restore education funding to our schools. The statewide teachers’ association, the Colorado Education Association (CEA), is planning a statewide rally of educators on Friday, April 27, to advocate for greater state funding and expects that many of our teachers will participate.

We had originally planned an early release on Friday, but due to the number of teachers planning to take the entire day off on Friday, DPS did not believe we would be able to keep our schools open on Friday. This is the case with most of our surrounding districts as well.

We want to support you through this change. Below is some information to help you plan for this non-student day.

Meals available for students:

To ensure our students have access to a meal this day, our school is partnering with Dora Moore to provide breakfast and lunch at no cost on Friday, April 27. Dora Moore will be providing breakfast from 8 to 8:30 AM on Friday and lunch from 10:45 to 12:30 PM on Friday. Please reach out to Dora Moore if you have questions.

Childcare options:

If you have concerns about childcare during this time, please contact the Family and Community Engagement team’s family hotline at 720-423-3054, and they can point you to additional resources. If you have additional questions, contact.

Families that are currently enrolled in Discovery Link can sign up for full-day care, which will be held at designated locations throughout the city. Interested families can learn more and sign up for care at discoverylink.dpsk12.org.

Athletics:

All middle school athletics are cancelled.

Shakespeare Festival:

The 34th Annual Shakespeare Festival is scheduled as planned. More information will be shared soon regarding transportation for families on April 27.

If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at 720-424-0700 or at noah_tonk@dpsk12.org.

Sincerely,

Noah Tonk

Principal

Morey Middle School

It’s time to get excited about Discovery Week! Take a look at all of the selections available this year.

8th graders pick Thursday, April 5
7th graders pick Friday, April 6
6th graders pick Friday, April 6

Hello Morey Community,

As you have likely heard in the news and on social media, students across the nation are planning to walk out on Wednesday in order to, according to organizers, “demand Congress pass legislation to keep us safe from gun violence at our schools.” Several area middle schools and high schools have planned demonstrations for Wednesday, and we have a growing number of students who have expressed interest in participating. In order to keep our students safe, give them an opportunity to participate in civic conversations that impact them, and to give them a chance to live our school vision of social justice, we are providing an opportunity for students to remember those who have died as a result of gun violence in schools and to make their voices heard for our legislators to keep our schools safe. This is not an endorsement of any particular political viewpoint of how to make that happen; rather, it is a recognition that the last 19 years of mass shootings at schools must finally be addressed by our government.

At 10:17 AM on Wednesday, March 14, our teachers will lead their students that wish to participate out of the front doors on 14th Avenue. Students who do not wish to participate will be able to stay inside in either room 103 or room 122. Once outside, our students will turn right and will walk silently around the school for 17 minutes, their silence honoring the 17 people who lost their lives at Douglas Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida. Once we have walked for 17 minutes, we will re-enter the building and go to lunch or recess. Students may bring signs to carry during this walkout, but signs must not contain profanity and must contain messages connected to the theme of gun violence in schools. Appropriate signs may positively call for action, but may not be offensive or insulting to anyone. Because we are walking out of class silently to call attention to this matter, students who violate our norms of silence to honor those who have been lost will be considered to have walked out against the rules and will be consequenced as such. Students who believe they will not be able to stay quiet will be asked to remain behind in rooms 103 or 122.

Separately, for those of you who are planning to attend the March for our Lives on Saturday, March 24, we are planning a Morey contingent in the March. We will provide details later, but students, families, and teachers will be invited to meet at Morey prior to the March 24 march and to walk to the event together. If you are planning to attend the March, we invite you to join us.

Please take some time over the next day and a half to discuss this issues with your children and to help ensure they understand the gravity of these 17 minutes on Wednesday.

Principal Noah Tonk

Morey Neighborhood Center is very excited to be offering additional clubs!  These clubs are open to the entire school – you do not have to attend MNC regularly to sign up for an individual club.

PopCulture’s Creating Board Games: Develop your very own board game! Each session, we’ll play and discuss board games ranging from Monopoly to Settlers of Catan to Pandemic in order to learn how they’re made, then you’ll have the chance to create an original board game of your very own. By the end of the class, you’ll have a board game that you can play with friends and family!

• Cost: $95/child for 8 sessions, once per week on Thursdays from 3:30pm-4:30pm
• Start Date: 2/8/18
• End Date: 4/5/18
• Minimum students needed to run the club: 8

Mad Science Chemistry: Ooze into action, manipulate matter and witness some radical reactions in this exciting Chemistry-themed after school program from Mad Science! Slide down the colorful pH scale and dip into the science of acids and bases. Learn to recognize chemical changes and mix ingredients together for some sensational results. Make your own ooey, gooey Mad Science slime and other concoctions to take home! From proper use of equipment and lab safety to molecular structure and more, this innovative program explores the exciting world of chemistry for middle school students!

• Cost: $100/child for 6 sessions, once per week on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30pm
• Start Date: 2/7/18
• End Date: 3/14/18
• Minimum students needed to run the club: 8

Arts and Minds: We will create a group project to “Give Back” to our community. The children will guide this process and decide to whom we “Give Back.”  Stay tuned for Family Engagement Opportunities throughout the Session. The last class will end in a dedication of our “Give Back” project, and Showcase of our Works. Stay connected to Arts & Minds through Facebook and Instagram to view snaps of your kids as they create with our incredible Teachers.

• Cost: $100/child for 8 sessions, once per week on Mondays from 3:30-4:30pm
• Start Date: 2/26/18
• End Date: 4/23/18
• Minimum students needed to run the club: 10

Link to register online: Morey Neighborhood Center Club Descriptions

Please reach out to Zach Goodwin at 303-229-6676 orZach_Goodwin@dpsk12.org with any questions!