Principal's Blog

July 30, 2008

It is Wednesday and I just finished typing up all of the class lists for this year. These will go to Mrs. Hernandez, who then gets them ready to post on the front windows and doors, just like we did last year. When is this, you ask? Tuesday, August 12. Who is your teacher, you ask? Aaaahhhh, I knew you would ask. You will have to wait and see. I'll never tell!

Okay, because I can't wait any longer to tell you one of the surprises (I'm horrible at keeping secrets) I mentioned in my last posting, I'm going to tell you now. But mainly because someone already "let the cat out of the bag" and put it on the main page of the Round Lake website! So if you didn't already know, our school hours have changed. That's right! Our NEW school hours here at Murphy will now be from 8:20AM - 3:00PM. So that was one of my surprises. I would have told you sooner or later, otherwise you all would have been late to school and then I would have had to give you a tardy slip. :)

In next week's blog.....

The BRAND NEW Mustang Reading Challenge for the 2008-2009 school year, and... Information on PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), our Behavior Management System here at Murphy.

Have a great rest of your week and an even better weekend everyone! Hopefully I will see some of you at registration at the High School this Wednesday or Thursday!

~Mr. Prickett

 July 23, 2008

Dear Kids,

Exactly 22 days until the start of school. I hope you are all as excited as I am! I am back in the office now, and starting to work on Back-to-School preparations. Since our 6th grade moved out and over to the middle school, one change you will notice upon your return, is that the 4th grade will now be up in the hallway near the office. Mrs. Craig was already there and just waiting for the chance for the rest of her team to join her. Now is your chance, Mrs. Craig! I am so excited about 4th grade being upstairs.

Also, when it is time to go to lunch at school, you will find out that we changed the schedule back to the way it used to be. You will now be eating first, and then going out to recess afterward.

There are a couple more new and exciting changes taking place, but I will wait and surprise you when you get back!

This next part is Very Important!!
Tell your parents that if they have not registered you for school yet, they can go to the Round Lake High School on Wednesday, July 30, or Thursday, July 31, and register you from 1:30-7:00PM. I will see you there if you come with your parents.

Well, I guess that’s all for now. I will see you on August 18.

Sincerely,

Mr. Prickett


June 9, 2008

It is the beginning of summer, the kids are all gone, we graduated two groups of students (both our 5th and 6th graders), the final reports and documents have been submitted to the district office, and already I don’t know what to do with myself. My mind turns naturally to school, to the office I left with so much that could still be done. I think of calling Mr. Gibson, our head custodian, to see if I can make my way past the maze of desks and chairs and boxes and supplies that clutter the hallway at this time of the year. I know he will tell me to stay away, that I should stay home and rest up for the next year, that he will see me in July. And what he would really be telling me is stay out of his way. And so I do.

Actually, I have plenty to do around the house. What I really think about my initial feeling of boredom is that this comes from my children. Already, on the first weekend of their summer vacation, they have had three friends spend the night, gone to the mall, to the movies, played four baseball/softball games, and went to Dairy Queen twice. Now they are bored. They are spent after only three days.

So off to the library I go. Packing the car up for this trip is really quite simple, doesn’t require much effort, and costs nothing. Unless I owe fines for late items. Or I buy dollar books from the sale shelves. They actually have a great summer reading program in McHenry for the kids, complete with prizes for reading a certain number of books. The Round Lake Public Library has a summer program, too! Registration actually starts today! Meet you there.

April 27, 2008Posted 4/27/2008; 9:33AM
The past two weekends have been full of the outdoors. We had a great time last weekend at the Chicago Fire soccer game down at Toyota Park. The weather couldn’t have been more perfect, I got to sit and have a wonderful time with many of our families from Murphy in our very own section. The kids went down on the field, got t-shirts, and had a blast watching the Fire. Even though they lost.
And then this weekend, outside all day Saturday at my daughter’s softball game, and then my son’s baseball game, where the weather, unfortunately did not cooperate like it did last weekend. The cold was biting, my face was left red from the howling wind, and both of my kid’s teams lost. We went and got ice cream anyway.
And I guess that’s the point, that we go out and have a great time, our team can lose, and yet we can have a great time and get ice cream afterward. Too often today, it becomes about simply winning. Whether it’s getting a higher score than a friend on a test, having nicer “things” than the next person, or winning the game.
There is a time and a place for competition. Sure, we all want nice things. Sure, we all want to win every now and again. These things leave us feeling good inside; leave us feeling like we are worthy and that we matter. And yes, it is important to win. But what is the cost of putting so much importance on winning, looking better than everyone else, having nicer clothes than our friends? I think about the commercials and ads we see and hear on television, and what these messages are telling our kids, especially our girls. How much importance these ads place on being beautiful and skinny and with perfect white teeth; or boys with big muscles and able to attract lots of girls. It’s no wonder that kids are depressed and having relational problems with family and friends. It’s no wonder that, when we lose, like in a baseball game, it is the end of the world for some kids. And their parents.
This week I will visit classrooms and talk with as many kids as I can. My message will be the same to all of them. You are awesome, powerful, wonderful kids who can learn and think for yourselves, and not be a follower. You can do whatever you want with your lives, no matter how much money you have or how popular you think you are or how good you are at sports. I wish you all a great week. I know we will have one here at school.
Sunday, April 13Posted 4/13/2008; 10:04AM
Good Morning All. Below is what our calendar for the remainder of the year looks like. Pretty busy, to say the least. On the PTO link of our website you will find more detailed information on some of these items. You will want to read about the Spring Auction and Raffle at the very least. Should be a great night!
April
Wednesday, April 16 - District Choral Festival
Friday, April 18 is the Diabetes Walk, rescheduled from Friday, April 11.
Sunday, April 20 - W.J. Murphy Chicago Fire Soccer Game (2:00PM at Toyota Park)
Tuesday, April 22 - Mid-Quarter
- PTO Meeting (7:00PM)
Wednesday, Thursday, April 23 & 24 - Honor Roll Breakfasts (Invitations to be Sent Home)
Wednesday, April 23 - Early Registration at Murphy (4:30-7:00PM)
Thursday, April 24 - 1st Grade Concert (7:00PM)
Friday, April 25 - Market Day Pickup
Monday, April 28 - Spring Book Fair begins - Volunteers Needed!! Contact the school.
Tuesday, April 29 - Mid-Quarter Reports go home
Wednesday, April 30 - Spring Auction & Raffle (6:00-8:00PM)
May
Friday, May 2 -Cinco de Mayo Celebration (6:00PM)
Monday, May 4 - Friday, May 9 - Teacher Appreciation Week
Thursday, May 8 - Father/Daughter Dance (6:30-8:00PM)
May 12, 13, 14 - Murphy School Field Days
Friday, May 16 - School Improvement Day (12:20PM Release)
- 5th Grade D.A.R.E. Graduation (Time TBA)
Friday, May 23 - Variety Show (Time & Details TBA)
Monday, May 26 - No School, Memorial Day
Tuesday, May 27 - 6th Grade Trip to Medieval Times
- PTO Meeting (7:00PM)
Wednesday, May 28 - Award Ceremonies (Time & Details TBA)
- Last Full Day
Thursday, May 29 - Last Day (Release Time - 10:40AM)
April 10, 2008Posted 4/10/2008; 8:44PM
There is a chance the Diabetes Walk will be cancelled due to the weather this Friday. If this is the case, the Walk will be held the following Friday, April 18. So far, we have raised over $2,000 dollars for Juvenile Diabetes! Way to go, Murphy!!
More news to follow this weekend, I promise….. And be sure to check the new PTO Page from our home page. This weekend, news from the latest PTO meeting will be uploaded to this page. It will contain lots of great upcoming activities, all sponsored by our Murphy PTO! I can’t wait to get the news to you!
April 2, 2008
It's Here!! The Principal's Blog link is here! I will be posting the blog on this site from now on, and have transferred the March 29 posting over from the old Newsletter site. Speaking of the Newsletter site, it will go back to being just that - the newsletter. Enjoy!
March 29, 2008Posted 3/29/2008; 1:49PM
I don't usually make much mention of political items, but the following bill, which was recently passed by the Senate, is one that I am sure everyone will be in favor of! Please read carefully. Afterward, if you are so inclined, go to the following website to take action and show your support for the bill!
Thanks to hundreds of calls and letters from A+ Illinois members, Senate Bill 2288 passed the Education Committee by a vote of 6 to 3.
But there's more work to do! Ask your state senator to add his or her name to the growing list of sponsors. Senators who sponsor a bill take responsibility for making sure it succeeds.

Bill Summary:
Senate Bill 2288 provides a new, permanent revenue source for schools and property tax relief for homeowners. This bill is a great start towards a comprehensive solution to Illinois' school quality and funding crises, and this Senate hearing is an important first step in that process.
What does SB2288 do for schools and communities?
• Raises the foundation level-the minimum amount of funding provided to schools-up to $6,974 by 2012;
• Increases funding for special education;
• Expands funding for early-childhood learning programs;
• Maintains and expands grants for high-poverty schools;
• "School Improvement Partnership Fund" targets resources to proven programs such as smaller class sizes, literacy coaching, longer school days and teacher mentoring;
• Improves funding for Illinois universities and community colleges;
• Reduces our reliance on property taxes with $2.9 billion in property tax relief.
How is SB2288 funded?
• Increases in the individual income tax from 3% to 5%;
• Increases the corporate income tax from 4.8% to 8%;
• Provides a refundable low-income tax credit to protect working families.
Why should we support this bill?
• Illinois ranks 48th in the nation for its support for schools. Our over-reliance on local property taxes creates enormous disparities in resources and student achievement between schools poor and wealthy communities.
• Our world is changing quickly. More than ever, young people need a world-class education to compete for the high-tech jobs of the global economy. Illinois' outdated funding system shortchanges schools and leaves students without the skills needed for college and the modern workplace.
• This bill provides schools with the resources to necessary to improve learning. It targets additional funding to struggling schools and to programs proven to boost achievement, and reduces our dependence on property taxes to fund schools.

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