“Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
-Albert Einstein /
Giving Back / January 15th
January 22nd
It was yet another amazing week at Merrill, but we would like to take a minute to highlight an event that encompasses all that we hold to be true at Merrill.
As you know, one of our students lost his mother over Thanksgiving break. This student is an avid soccer player and a leader on the field. To support him, both our girls and boys soccer teams decided to come together and raise money. In partnership with The Great Harvest Bread Company, they spent this Saturday afternoon prepping and baking pizzarollos. The original estimate was going to be roughly 50 pizzarollos, but because of you and our exemplary community, the teams made over 345! It was a touching experience to witness, to say the least.
/ Events
Restaurant Night
January 19th
Chipotle
4:00-8:00 pm
AVID Parent Night
January 19th
6:00-7:30 pm
PTSA
January 21st
6:00-7:30 pm
Athletics
Boys and Girls Basketball
January 21st
Boys: 3:45 at Merrill
Girls: 4:45 at Merrill
Mark Your Calendar
January 18th – NO SCHOOL
Martin Luther King Jr. Day / January 19th 4:00 – 8:00
Restaurant Night at Chipotle
January 19th 6:00-7:30
AVID Parent Night / January 21st 6:00-7:30
PTSA
January 27th 6:00-7:30
ELA PAC Night
8th Grade Parents

The Denver Public Schools (DPS) SchoolChoice season is officially under way! The SchoolChoice form is now available for families to rank their top five school preferences for the 2016-17 school year.

Submit the form quickly and easily through a DPS Parent Portal account. Families can create a Parent Portal account or get more details online, click here.

Paper forms are also available at any DPS school. Completed SchoolChoice forms must be submitted no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016. For more information, call Choice and Enrollment Services at 720-423-3493, or click here.

How Choice Works Sessions:

Get in-depth with DPS SchoolChoice by attending one of two events:

-Tuesday, Jan. 12 | 6 to 7 p.m. | North High School (2960 Speer Blvd.)

-Wednesday, Jan. 20 | 6 to 7 p.m. | South High School (1700 E. Louisiana Ave.)

For more information on these sessions, contact Choice and Enrollment Services at 720-423-3493, or click here.

PTSA News

PTSA will have their next meeting on January 21st, from 6:00-7:30 in the library.

Please direct PTO questions to

Stay Connected

Don’t miss out on what happens on a daily basis at Merrill. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram (MERRILL_JAGUARS) and twitter (@merrill_jaguars).

Merrill Has a NEW Website!

In our continued effort to stay connected with our community, we have a new website.In the design, we wanted to make sure that information was easy to find and that we were highlighting and celebrating our students and teachers.

Take a minute to check it out!

After School Clubs

The following after school clubs resumed this week:

  • Pokemon Club: Mondays in213(Ms. Zick)
  • Gay-Straight Alliance: Tuesdays in223 (Ms. Wucherpfennnig)
  • Smart Boys: Wednesdays inLibrary (Mr. Eustis)
  • Video Gaming Club: Wednesdays in116 (Mr. Thomas)
  • Book Club:Wednesdays in 209 (Ms. Welsh)
  • Smart Girls: Thursdays in 101 (Ms. Wickham)
  • Yearbook Club: Thursdays in103 (Ms. Nabhan)
  • Anime Club: Thursdays in220 (Ms. Begovic and Mr. Patterson)

Your child can still join any of the above clubs. Please have him or her reach out to the club sponsor. Other after school programs will begin in March. Please reach out to Courtney Wickham at with any ideas or suggestions for other after school offerings.

Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Students may arrive at school as early as 7:30 AM, and should be dropped off on Iowa, which is on the south side of the building. Students will walk from Iowa to our blacktop, where all students line up in the morning for school.

Students may be picked up in front of the school on Monroe at 3:35 PM. Please note that C3 parents are picking their students up on Monroe starting at 2:45. The parking lots on the north side (off Florida) and south side (off Iowa) are for staff only. Please do not use it to park. Thank you.

Because we do not have supervision after 3:50, students MUST be picked up no later than 3:50 every afternoon. Thank you for your support.

Also, please park along the sidewalk. FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN, NO DOUBLE PARKING.

Restaurant Night

Help support Merrill by eating atChipotle!

Tuesday, January 19th, 4:00-8:00
333 E Alameda Ave

Chipotle will give 15% of your purchase back to Merrill.You must bring the attached flyer to the restaurant.

Merrill Community Fund

Want to support Merrill? Make a contribution to the Merrill Community Fund to enrich opportunities for students. What can you give – $5, $25, $100, more? For more information, please visit

Thank you in advance for your support!

What’s Up at the High Schools?

Each week we will highlight events happening at our surrounding high schools. We encourage our families and students to get out and support our community!

  • Shadowing and Touring: CLICK HERE to schedule a shadowing experience at South!

Shadowing and Touring: CLICK HERE to schedule a shadowing experience at Thomas Jefferson High School!

Staff Spotlight

Vince Franklin

Mr. Franklin is in his third year at Merrill Middle School. As of this January, he is the Dean of Culture, as well as the athletic director and boys’ basketball coach. Mr. Franklin is from the Arvada area and attended William Penn University and the University of Northern Colorado.

In Mr. Franklin's free time, he enjoys attending sporting events and live music. When the weather cooperates, he may be found behind a grill barbecuing or at the golf course practicing his mean swing. Mr. Franklin enjoys an occasional cup of tea, and when he feels the need to get away from the city, he prefers a tucked-away camping spot near Golden that overlooks the metro area. It isn’t much of a drive to get there, and it’s an excellent place for reflection.

Why education?

Mr. Franklin worked at a youth corrections facility for three years. In this time, he gained a desire for having a greater impact on young people prior to them choosing a path of negativity. Mr. Franklin wants all Merrill students to grow, learn, and achieve, and he aims to heighten the value of education for as many students as possible.

Next Week’s Games
Boys Basketball / Girls Basketball
January 21st
3:45 at Merrill / January 21st
4:45 at Merrill
Jaguar Journal / January 15, 2016