Marrs Falcon Flyer
October 2021
Principal's Greeting
Hello Falcon Families,
Happy October! I hope everyone is having a wonderful fall and enjoying the beautiful scenery and cooler temperatures. It is hard to believe that we are already wrapping up the first quarter of school.
Our Student Led Conferences will take place on Wednesday, October 13th and Thursday, October 14th. The students and teachers are very excited to have our families come and hear about the hard work and learning that has taken place during the first quarter. There will be no school for students on October 15th. In addition, there will be no school for students on Monday, Nov. 1st.
Below is a letter that was shared last week to all middle and high school parents/guardians regarding damage being done to schools based on a TikTok challenge. Since this letter was sent, new information has emerged of more challenges for each month of the school year. The new challenges being put out to students cross the line of destruction to include harassment and assault.
Students were provided copies of the student handbook and have signed the consent form at the beginning of the school year. If a student makes the choice to partake in any of these TikTok challenges he/she will face the consequences as stated in our Code of Conduct. School is a place for learning. Please take the time to discuss your behavioral expectations with your child(ren) and the need for them to be the positive, safe role models in our school settings. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Dear Omaha Public Schools Middle and High School Families,
You may have seen local or national coverage of a social media trend that involves stealing from schools or damaging school property. Often, the vandalism involves a school bathroom. Much of the activity is posted to TikTok, a social media platform.
We are writing to make you aware and to help students make positive, safe decisions. Schools throughout the metro, including several in our district, have seen the negative effects of this dangerous behavior. We will thoroughly investigate any theft or damage to school property, following our student code of conduct and involving law enforcement partners when appropriate.
The safety of our schools is always our top priority. We encourage any students and families aware of unsafe behavior to connect with their school’s principal or call the Safe Schools
Hotline at 531-299-SAFE.
Omaha Public Schools
As I stated in the first newsletter a huge part of children’s academic growth comes from the partnership between home and school. We are a team, and we share the goal of seeing your child flourish during the middle school years. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, comments, or concerns as we work together for your child’s success in both their academic and social growth. We have counselors, deans, a social worker, and an administrative team that is here to support and serve you and your children.
We are committed to the following for every student:
*A welcoming, safe, and supportive environment where each student is known and valued
*High academic growth for every student
*Social emotional learning and character building
Please look over this newsletter to see some of the exciting things we have planned here at Marrs.
Take Care ~
Ms.Barone, Principal
Important Dates
October 13th and 14th: Student-Led Conferences
October 19th: Principal's Coffee - 9:30 - 10:30 am
October 28th: Title 1 Family Night - 5:30 - 7:00 pm
MTSS-B Update
Social media influences our students and the choices they make. Recently, there have been several negative social media challenges that encourage students to steal school items, vandalize schools, slap teachers, touch others inappropriately, etc. This behavior is not acceptable at Marrs and negatively impacts the learning environment. The Student Code of Conduct will be applied to any student who is caught stealing, vandalizing, putting hands on others and participating in any other inappropriate social media challenge. These violations of the Student Code of Conduct can result in restitution, suspension, expulsion, or even criminal charges. Please take some time and talk to your child about this information and discourage them from following this social media trend. By working together, we can teach the Marrs students respect for personal and school property and respect for each other.
The Marrs Falcon High-Flyer awards are given to students who show that they are Responsible, Ready, and Safe each and every day. Teachers award the Marrs High-Flyers and each student who earns an award are entered into the weekly grade level drawing. Students and parents may also nominate Marrs teachers. The QR code for the teacher nomination form is below.
5th Grade News
Science
5th graders are continuing to do experiments in science class that allow us to work with solids, liquids, and gases and we are diving deeper into the fact that matter is made up of particles that are too small to be seen. These small particles are called atoms! We are moving into our next unit that will allow us to explore matter as it changes states and learn about conservation of mass.
Social Studies
In Social Studies, students have been learning about Native Americans and their environments. We compared how different groups adapted to the regions where they lived and used the the natural resources available for their survival. In a cultural connection, we compared some Native American dancing styles to some modern dances. Ask your student about the Pow-Wow dance!
English and Spanish Language Arts
The 5th grade Language Arts classes have been hard at work learning about inventors, how to write an expository essay, and phonemic awareness skills. Some classes are starting to learn about fictional stories of all kinds, including short stories, poems, and even plays! Other classes will start on that next quarter. We're excited to learn how to express thoughts more clearly through our activities, which are focused on speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills.
We love our 5th grade Language Arts classes. Thank you for sharing your amazing students with us!
-Srta. Forrest, Mr. Gomez, Mrs. Meier-Bates, Sra. Moreno Padilla, Mrs. Thoene, and Ms. Turner
6th Grade
As we end our first quarter, we have been learning a lot! In Social Studies students have been learning about Pharoah's, which are Egyptian leaders. In Science, students are finishing up Thermal Energy, and moving into the Energy unit, which is about all other types of energy. In Math, students will be moving into decimals, adding, subtracting, dividing, and multiplying them! In Language Arts students are moving into our unit of Fears and Phobias! We will be having our first quarter celebration for students who completed the contract requirements after conferences. We will also celebrate our Olympic Attendance group, congratulations to those students with PERFECT attendance for Quarter 1.
Parents, please continue to send your students to school daily unless they are ill. If students need to be absent, please have them use their ipads to contact their teachers for the work they have missed. We look forward to seeing you all at conferences.
Something's Cooking in 6th Grade Science!
7th Grade
After a lot of hard work and perseverance, the students in 7th grade are nearing the end of the first quarter like true Olympians! ELA students are learning how to write informative essays, studying literary elements, and building their vocabulary. They also enjoy competing in an occasional "Blooket" or "Kahoot" to test their skills and knowledge.
In math classes, they are learning ratios and equations. Atoms and molecules are the topics being covered in Science. Students in social studies are finishing the quarter by learning all about the Middle East.
Students have also completed MAP testing and look forward to achieving their MAP goals the next time. Just like true Olympians!
8th Grade
Social Studies:
In social studies, we are diving into our constitution unit - starting with the three branches of government, the bill of rights and more! Students will have the opportunity to learn about the United States government, how it came to be, and what are the ways students can be active in their communities.
Science:
In 8th grade science, the students have been studying the history of the Earth. We are currently looking into fossils, timescales, and rock layers. Students will continue with this subject as we cover how Earth has changed over times, as well as how living things have changed over time.
Tech and Living
Ms. Freese and Twin Sister "Walrus" Entertain Business / Economic Students!
Marrs Welcomes New Falcon Teachers!
This school year, we welcomed six new teachers within Omaha Public Schools! We are extremely excited to see the impact that they will create within our classrooms.
Tera Nadolski
Grade and Subject: 5th grade Science
Why Teach? I love creating lessons that spark enthusiasm to learn with my students!
Fun Fact: I love skunks! I think they are adorable, and I even like their smell! I would have one as a pet, but it is illegal in Nebraska!
Riana Prudente
Grade and Subject: 8th Grade Social Studies
Why Teach? I want to spread the spark and enthusiasm for social studies to all students, just like my teachers did when I was a student.
Fun Fact: When I was 9 years old, I traveled to Australia by myself to visit my dad!
Nick Oelschlaeger
Grade and Subject: 8th Grade Math
Why Teach? I love teaching because I get to see students grow and do things they have never done before.
Fun Fact: Lake Superior is my favorite lake (shark free and unsalted)
Emma Cortney
Grade and Subject: 6th, 7th, and 8th ELA
Why Teach? I love teaching here at Marrs because of the students. It's amazing when students make up new words and I love watching that language learning process.
Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I have 42 house plants in my home, and a lot of things propagating. I LOVE PLANTS!
Samantha Rannells
Grade and Subject: 7th Grade science
Why teach? I love helping people understand the amazing world around us.
Fun Fact: I have owned every gaming console ever made.
Lindsey Reed
Grade and Subject: 6th grade social studies
Why Teach? I love teaching because I get the opportunity daily to make a difference in a kid’s life
Fun Fact: My left foot is almost a full shoe sizer bigger than my right foot.
Matthew Poppens
Grade and Subject: 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies
Why Teach? I love helping students learn about the world around them and seeing their development over the course of a year.
Fun Fact: I was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year in 2006
Falcon Families, did you know?
Children of parents who talk to their child regularly about drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those who don’t; yet only a quarter of teens report having these conversations with family.
We will be celebrating Red Ribbon® Week (October 23-31). Red Ribbon® is the oldest and largest drug prevention campaign in the nation. This is the perfect time to get the conversation started.
We will be discussing drug prevention during Advisement lessons. Staff and students will be encouraged to sign a pledge card agreeing to grow up safe, healthy, and drug free.
This year’s theme is Drug Free Looks Like Me ™. Visit www.redribbon.org to learn more about Red Ribbon Week ® and get tips for talking to your kids about drugs. The life you save may be that of your own child or a friend.
Students can show their commitment to staying drug free by participating in the Red Ribbon Theme the week of October 25th.
Gate News
On September 23 we inducted our new National Junior Honor Society members. Thirty-one current 8th graders were inducted we would like to congratulate them on this honor.
Marrs will be competing in a district Quiz Bowl Quad on October 8 we are excited to have our first in-person competition since the spring of 2020! Marrs will have 8 teams competing in the FERMI math competitions this year. FERMI is a math problem-solving competition that focuses on problem solving, inquiry, creative thinking skill as well as technological skills
Music Appreciation Club 2021-22
What? Overall Goals:
· Exploring Music, Instruments, Culture
Explore Mariachi Music genre
· Teamwork
· Performance (Closing Performance)
· Initiate Marrs Spirit Band theme
When
Tuesday & Thursday or as needed
· 3:15 – 4:30p.m.
Where
BAND ROOM 128
Who?
Students, volunteers, parents
Virtually: TEAMS or Zoom
· Contact: Mr. Hernandez, (531)299-2420 or text (402) 731-7410
About us
Email: marrs.principal@ops.org
Website: marrs.ops.org
Location: 5619 South 19th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Phone: (531) 299-2420
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RM-Marrs-Magnet-Middle-School-244556262362440/
Twitter: @OPS_RMMarrs