Sunday Notes

Sunday Notes
Posted on 06/12/2022
Sunday Notes Clipart

Sunday, June 13, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

As this year is ending, this will be my final Sunday message of the year. Again, I thank our families for your support, generosity, and feedback this year. You have been amazing.

Tuesday, June 14th, will be the last day of student attendance. We will be on a minimum-day schedule. We will dismiss school at 1:37 pm. Our late activity bus will not run on Tuesday. The following school year will begin on Monday, August 29th, 2022. SDUSD 2022-23 Calendar

Please ensure you have returned all school textbooks and materials. In addition, Muirlands students are to keep possession of their district netbook computers over the summer. Netbook computers should only be returned to Muirlands if your child is leaving SDUSD.

To enable our staff to better support our students in the classroom, Muirlands will require all students to use district-issued computers in all classrooms beginning the school year 2022-23. As a result, students will not use personal computers in the classroom.

Please ensure your students are taking proper care of their netbooks or storing them in a safe location over the summer break. Families will be responsible for the damage/loss of devices or chargers. Here are two links you might use with your child to reinforce proper use of their assigned computers.
Chromebook Care video
Chromebook care lesson slides

SDUSD will serve free lunches at several locations throughout San Diego this summer. These FREE Meals will be served to all kids 18 and younger.

LINK Crew applications are now available for current 6th and 7th-grade students! Join a team of student ambassadors who help all students feel welcome at Muirlands Middle School. Applications are available on our MMS website, and paper copies are available in Ms. Wehrli’s office. Join LINK Crew today! Email Ms. Wehrli if you have questions. [email protected]

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, June 5, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

On Monday, June 6th, students will receive a yellow paper from their period one teacher listing all of the items they have checked out that will need to be returned at the end of the school year. Textbook and materials return will take place June 8-10th. Chromebooks should only be returned if the student is withdrawing from San Diego Unified School District.

All students will return their textbooks, library books, and other materials during their Social Studies class on their designated day this week.

  • Grade 8 will return books on Wednesday, June 8th
  • Grade 7 will return on Thursday, June 9th
  • Grade 6 will do their return on Friday, June 10th.

Social Studies teachers will bring their class to the library with any textbooks, novels, library books, and combination locks they possess. Anything that is not being returned on return day should be placed in the student's backpack. Students will bring their backpacks to PE during the remaining school days - PE teachers will give students information about that procedure early this week.

The Muirlands yearbooks have arrived and will be distributed this week to students that have prepurchased. However, we have a limited supply of extra yearbooks. You can order a yearbook in the Muirlands Finance Office for $40. At this time, we are accepting cash only. For any questions and to check whether you already purchased a 2021-22 yearbook, please contact Mrs. Rodé in the Muirlands Finance Office at [email protected]

8th Grade Announcements

8th-grade students participating in the promotion ceremony or bowling trip were given a packet with information and permission slips this past Friday. Please read over the packet with your child and sign the permission slips. Permission slips are due on Monday, June 6th, to their period one teacher. Please contact the school if you have questions or need additional information.

All current Muirlands 8th graders interested in joining a Fall 2022 sports team at LJHS or joining ASB, school clubs, or activities this coming school year should come by the Muirlands auditorium at lunch on Wednesday, June 8. Representatives from LJHS sports teams, ASB, and clubs will be on campus to share information and answer your questions.

For information about specific LJHS activities:

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, May 29, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

Once again, I remind you that we will not have school tomorrow as we recognize and honor the Memorial Day Holiday.

Muirlands will not have a late start on Wednesday, June 1, 2022. The school will begin at our regularly scheduled time of 8:35 am and dismiss at 3:15 pm. Our gates and campus will open at 8:15 am. We will be on a minimum day schedule on our last school day, June 14, 2022. Our start time will be 8:35 am and dismissal at 1:37 pm. Please follow this link to see our bell schedules. Bell Schedule - Muirlands Middle

As we enter the last 11 days of our school year, I want to thank our students and families for your support and partnership this year. Please let us know if you need any additional support as we near the end of our school year.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, May 22, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

A reminder that on Friday, May 27th, and Monday, May 30th, our school will be closed as we recognize the Memorial Day Holiday. We recognize and mourn the U.S. military personnel who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. We also take this opportunity to thank all who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces.

The Muirlands Middle School Foundation is pleased to present “Muirlands Rocks Movie Night.” Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 4th. This free event is open to all incoming 5th-grade families and our current Muirlands community.

  • Our feature film is Sonic the Hedgehog 2 and will be shown on the Muirlands field.
  • Gates will open at 7 PM
  • Gringas Taco Truck will be serving up taco plates, burgers, and hotdogs for $10.00. Churros and ice cream are available for $3.50.
  • Please pre-purchase your meal tickets online.

The movie will start at 8:15 pm, and we will finish by 10:00 pm. So bring your blankets, pillows, and or low back beach chairs and claim your spot and let’s “rock” the end of the school year!

On June 3rd, our campus will welcome two Holocaust survivors to speak with our students at our first in-person grade-level assemblies of the year. Our students and staff are very fortunate to have the opportunity to hear first-hand accounts from these individuals.

On May 10th, the Teachers of the Year from each of our cluster schools had the opportunity to gather and recognize their work and awards. I was honored to join Muirlands teacher of the year, Nicole Ervin-Fugiel, for this event. It was a wonderful evening of food, conversation, and camaraderie. Bella Vista Social Club and Cafe graciously hosted this special event.

You are cordially invited to one of two informational Zoom meetings, “What I Wish My Family Knew, Youth Tobacco-Use, and Vaping.” San Diego Unified’s Tobacco-Use Prevention Education (TUPE) will be hosting a virtual conversation with SAY San Diego, and you are invited to join.

Wednesday, May 25th, 2022
10:00am - 11:00am
Registration: bit.ly/tupe525

Tuesday, May 31st, 2022
5:30pm - 6:30pm
Registration: bit.ly/tupe531

Informational flyer: English | Español

We recently realized that our staff did not receive emails sent directly from our website directory. We apologize if you sent an email this way and did not receive an answer despite your receiving a message that the message was sent. This includes the “Report an Absence” quick-link and emails sent thru the Teachers and Staff Directory. The district is working with the website provider to address this problem. In the meantime, if you are sending an email to any staff member, please do not use the ✉ link on the website but create your email.

Yearbooks are available on the Jostens website for $40 until May 31. You can also order by paying $40 cash for a yearbook in the Muirlands Finance Office. For any questions and to check whether you have already purchased a 2021-22 yearbook, please contact Mrs. Rodé in the Muirlands Finance Office at [email protected].

A special message to our promoting 8th-grade students from the La Jolla High School Theater Department. Please join the LJHS students for Summer Theatre 2022, "FOOTLOOSE.” This no-cost camp will focus on the production of "FOOTLOOSE." Students do not need to have musical theatre experience but must be willing to learn. Students must attend both of the three-week sessions. Please email Mr. Allen at [email protected] for more information.
Location: La Jolla High School- 750 Nautilus St.
Dates: June 21st- July 29th
Time: 1:00PM- 4:00PM

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, May 15, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

After a technology hiccup at the state level, we had a great second week of CAASPP testing. As a reminder, we have our regularly scheduled COVID testing Tuesday morning. Unfortunately, we are unable to adjust our COVID testing schedule. Thus, if your student is in 7th or 8th grade with math, either 2nd or 4th period, and you wish to have them participate in COVID testing, please have your student come to the auditorium before the start of school on Tuesday. COVID testing will be available on Tuesday starting at 8:00 am. at the Muirlands auditorium.

On May 10th, The Board approved the academic calendars for the 2023-24 and 2024-25 school years. Please use this link to view the approved academic calendars for the upcoming three years' academic calendars web page.

Muirlands will host an in-person Arts Night on Thursday, May 19th. The Muirlands Band and Orchestra have been preparing for their live show in the auditorium. In addition, our Muirlands Art students will have their art pieces on display in the Muirlands Library. Please use this link for detailed information regarding our Arts Night.

Our district has partnered with UCSD to create a voluntary/optional opportunity for your potential student-athletes to receive a $10 athletic physical at San Diego High School on Saturday, June 11th, from 8 am-12 pm. Please report to the parking lot between the stadium and the freeway.
The $10 athletic physical opportunity is for any student trying out for a CIF sport. The opportunity is also available for all sideline and competition cheerleaders.
UCSD has agreed to offer this opportunity to our current high school students and any current 8th grader in our district who will be attending one of our high schools next year and wants to try out for a sport.
All athletes must be athletically cleared before trying out for a sport over the summer.
Please contact Aaron Quesnell [email protected], LJHS Athletic Director, if you have questions about LJHS Athletics.

Lastly, we have several meetings this week that you can add to your calendar. On May 19th, we will have our Foundation meeting at 8:45 am. Also, on May 19th, we will have a La Jolla Cluster Meeting at 4:15 pm. Finally, on Friday, May 20th, I will host our final Principal Chat of the year. You can find zoom links for these meetings on the Muirlands website calendar.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, May 8, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

Each year Muirlands eighth grade students have an opportunity to design a school mural as part of the eighth-grade legacy mural project. The students create their murals, and the eighth-grade class votes for the mural they choose to represent their promoting class. The designer of this year's winning mural was Nehama Tourkia. Mural
Thank you to all who submitted their artwork.

We had a great first week of CAASPP testing. We will continue our SBAC testing this week. Please use the following link for this month's testing calendar. Testing Calendar - May 2022 Testing Calendar

As a reminder, we have our regularly scheduled COVID testing Tuesday morning. We are unable to adjust our COVID testing schedule. Thus, if your student is in 6th grade and has math either 1st or 3rd period or if you have a 7th or 8th grader with English either 1st or 3rd period, and you wish to have them participate in COVID testing, please have your student come to the auditorium before the start of school tomorrow to get tested. COVID testing will be available at 8:00 am. at the Muirlands auditorium.

Finally, I wish all our mothers and grandmothers a Happy Mother's Day.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, May 1, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

Tomorrow we start our CAASPP testing at Muirlands. As a result, our campus will be on a modified block schedule during our testing window. However, this will not alter our school day's start or end time and campus access. Please use this link, Parent Letter re: CAASPP, for a detailed informational message on CAASPP testing and our testing calendar.

Wednesday, May 4th, will be a late start day. Our campus will open at 9:35 am, and classes will begin at 9:55 am.

Please join me in recognizing our teaching staff as Tuesday, May 3, 2022, is National Teacher Appreciation Day. Please use the following link Staff Shout Outs, to share your appreciation for our incredible teachers.

The fourth and final progress report marks are now available in PowerSchool. Please make time to review this progress report with your child.

Each year the district is responsible for collecting information from our students’ families to support the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) process. The LCFF is legislation that changed how all local educational agencies (LEAs) in the state are funded, how they are measured for results and the services and supports they receive. To support the state’s process, San Diego Unified utilizes an online system accessed through the Parent Portal in PowerSchool. In the portal, we ask parents and families to complete a short questionnaire that increases the district’s opportunity to receive funds from the state. The information is only collected for this process and will not be used for any other purpose. Please use the following informational link and job aid to complete this questionnaire. Letter - Parents LCFF 2022-23, Job_Aid_LCFF_Parent_Portal

We will have our next SGT/SSC meetings on Thursday from 7:15-8:15 am. The meeting zoom links are available on our website calendar.

Lastly, a reminder that our 8th-grade promotion ceremony will be held on Tuesday, June 14, 2022, from 9:30-10:30 am in the LJHS stadium. Additional information will be shared with our 8th-grade families as we get closer to our promotion date.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, April 24, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

The final progress report period (P4) closed on Friday, April 22,2022. Families will be able to see their child's P4 grades in PowerSchool Friday, April 29, 2022. We have approximately seven weeks left in our school year. Please encourage your students to finish the year strong.

We are busy planning our end of the year grade level activities for our students. As a reminder, please review the end of the year participation criteria with your student.  Please contact your child's counselor if you have questions or need assistance with your child's progress.

May 9th-13th is California Student Mental Health Week. As we reflect on the impact of the past few years, experts have provided some guidance on how we as parents can recognize distress in our children and adolescents. Please see the attached flier regarding a parent workshop opportunity in May that offers tools and strategies for helping our youngsters.DECODING THE MENTAL HEALTH MESSAGES OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A WEBINAR FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS

New Student Enrollment for the 2022-2023 school year is here! Please have friends, family, & neighbors check our Muirlands website for registration information and to sign up for an appointment. https://muirlands.sandiegounified.org/about_us/registration_info

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, April 17, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

This next week is the final week of our last progress reporting period for the semester. In addition, we have just over eight weeks left in this school year. Please take some time to review your child’s current academic progress. I encourage you to contact your child's teacher ASAP if you have questions or concerns. As a reminder, we offer after-school tutoring in our library every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Please click this link for additional information about our afterschool tutoring program.  

 

Beginning the first week of May, Muirlands will open our state testing window for the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP). During this testing window, students will take grade-specific CAASPP assessments. These assessments are in the content areas of English Language Arts, math, and 8th-grade science. The Muirlands testing calendar is linked here for your reference: Testing Calendar - Parent Letter re: CAASPP.

Our 8th-grade promotion ceremony is in the La Jolla High School stadium on June 14th from 9:30 - 10:30 am. I will send additional information to our 8th-grade families as we get closer to the actual ceremony date.

I want to share the following events for you to add to your calendar. On Thursday, April 21st, we will have a Foundation meeting at 8:45 am. Later that day, at 4:15 pm, the La Jolla Cluster will meet. Then, beginning at 4:00 pm on April 21st, you can stop by the Nautilus Tavern and grab a meal. The Tavern is our latest sponsor to support the Muirlands Foundation’s Dining for Dollars program. The Tavern will donate 20% of its proceeds from the night back to the Muirlands Foundation. Finally, on April 22nd, I will host my monthly Principal Chat.

The Principal Chat will begin at 11:00 am.

Zoom Meetings:

Please see our google calendar for detailed meeting information and Zoom links. Muirlands Calendar 2021-22

 

Thank you to all our student-athletes that attended soccer tryouts this past week. It was wonderful seeing such a tremendous turnout.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, April 10, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

Our Book Fair opens on Monday. It will be held in the back room of the Muirlands Middle School Library April 11-15.
The Book Fair will be open for students to shop - Before school, 8:15-8:30, at lunch12:45-1:15and after school 3:15-3:45 PM.
Parents may send cash, check (made payable to the Muirlands Middle School Foundation) or credit card with their children or they can create an e-Wallet. Student e-Wallets can be set up between March 21-April 15, 2022 - see our webpage to create your account. https://www.scholastic.com/bf/muirlandsms
The online book fair is available April 11-24th.
For more information, please visit our Muirlands Scholastic Book Fair homepage.

On Friday, Muirlands will host our annual Jog-A-Thon. So make sure your child gets plenty of rest on Thursday night. This is a fun campus-wide event for both students and staff. Thank you all for your support. The proceeds from this schoolwide event help offset the cost of our swimming program.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, April 3, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

I hope you had an enjoyable spring break. School will resume tomorrow at 8:35 am. Please note that Wednesday, April 6, will be a late start day, our campus will open at 9:35 am, and classes will begin at 9:55 am.

Muirlands has partnered with, supported, and utilized the message that the Natural High organization https://www.naturalhigh.org/ has promoted for many years. We know that kids today are experiencing more stress than ever before, and we also know that finding a kid’s spark, or a passion, can help engage them in healthy coping strategies. We want our kids can find the relief they need in a natural high (positive experience) that they may otherwise seek from drugs or alcohol. The Natural High program and Muirlands strive to teach kids they have a choice, and we support them in their choice-making skills. I share the following article/resource with you in the spirit of our student’s well-being. It is a quick read and a great entry point for talking with your child about their choices and potential impact. 8 Reasons Kids Try Drugs - From Natural High Website https://www.naturalhigh.org/

We continue our work of encouraging respectful dialog on campus. I ask that you support this work by reviewing the appropriate use of the internet and social media with your child. Please refer to my email from Sunday, April 4, 2022, to view the links to cyber safety consultant Jon Moffat’s grade-level presentations and a Zoom recording of his parent presentation.

All students in attendance on Friday, March 25th received a COVID test kit and instructions. The test kits are intended for use before returning to school from spring break. Please refer to the flyer link for test kit information. Fliers: English, Spanish

Next week our GSA Club and ASB will cohost a schoolwide Inclusion Spirit Week. We strive to ensure the Muirlands campus is a safe and welcoming environment for all our students. Please use this link for detailed information about the theme for each day. GSA/ASB Spirit Week 4/4 - 4/8

  • Monday: Let Your Flag Fly
  • Tuesday: GSA Wants to Include You
  • Wednesday: Wacky Wednesday
  • Thursday: Muirlands Day of Silence
  • Friday: Inclusion is for everyone

And lastly, I want to thank you for your feedback on the California Healthy Kids Survey. We had almost 80% of our families respond. We look forward to analyzing the results and moving forward based on the data received from our students, staff, and families!

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, March 20, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

We appreciate those that took the California School Parent Survey. However, we are short of our goal of a 70% return rate. The survey is anonymous, smartphone-friendly, and takes approximately 12 minutes. See the link below.
Parent Letter for California School Parent Survey.

Research shows that when students connect to their school, they do better academically and socially. Please consider encouraging your child to participate in one or more of our extracurricular clubs and activities. Clubs - Muirlands Middle

This week will be the last week of school before spring break. I wish you a safe and enjoyable vacation and remind you that we will have our next late start day on Wednesday, April 6th. Our campus will open at 9:35 am on this day, and our classes will begin at 9:55 am.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, March 13, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

What a year! We are down to the last 12 weeks of school. As we enter our final progress report period, I encourage you to monitor your student progress in PowerSchool. I want to remind all families that the next six-week progress report will determine your student's eligibility for participation in end-of-the-year activities, including 8th Grade promotion. Please take a minute to revisit the End of Year Grade-Level & 8th Grade Promotion Criteria to ensure your student is on pace to be eligible to participate. Our end-of-year activity criteria are on page 13 of the Student Planner or the Muirlands Website Criteria for end-of-the-year grade-level activities and 8th-grade promotion. Please contact your student's counselor if you have questions or need assistance with end-of-the-year activities.

The California School Parent Survey window is open. Please take 10-15 minutes to provide feedback regarding Muirlands Middle School. Read the parent letter, which includes how to access the survey. Parent Letter for California School Parent Survey
Please complete the survey by March 18th.

We have several meetings this week that are available to our community. The Muirlands Foundation will meet Thursday at 8:45 am, our La Jolla Cluster will meet Thursday at 4:15 pm, and I will host a Principal's Chat on Friday at 11:00 am. Please see the Muirlands Calendar for Zoom links.

And lastly, please remember to adjust your clocks to daylight savings time.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, March 6, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

In January, I sent a budget survey to all parents. One of the most common requests was for afterschool sports and athletic opportunities. I am happy to share that SDUSD is launching a Middle School Athletics Intramurals Progam. This program is available to all SDUSD students in grades 6-8 FREE of charge. The first sport season is soccer. Please open the links for Soccer Tryouts and FAQ for Parents.

We invite all Muirlands parents to take the California School Parent Survey. This is an opportunity to communicate your opinions and perceptions of Muirlands. The survey is anonymous and voluntary. However, the results help our school understand our strengths and challenges. Read the parent letter, which includes how to access the survey, in the email link provided. Parent Letter for California School Parent Survey

SDUSD’s Instructional Innovation is starting a Standards-Based Learning (SBL) Student Advisory Committee. This committee will meet monthly to provide student input and generate student-centered resources. The group will meet beginning on March 23rd from 4:30-5:30 pm. Secondary students interested in joining should email Georgia Figueroa for the link to join.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, February 27, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

I want to remind you that Wednesday, March 2, will be our next late start day. Our campus will open at 9:35 am on this day, and our classes will begin at 9:55 am.

We are very excited to welcome Jon Moffat to speak with our students and the Muirlands community on March 2nd. Mr. Moffat will discuss cyber safety topics, including cyberbullying and social media, with our students at grade level assemblies. Mr. Moffat will follow up with a parent presentation that same evening as part of Muirlands Foundation;s Wellness Wednesdays Parent Series. The parent presentation titled "Cybersafety: Understanding the Dangers of the Online World and Empowering Parents with the Necessary Tools to Keep Your Kids Safe" is one you will not want to miss.
Please mark your calendars for March 2, 2002 6:30-7:30 pm.
Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82078243686?pwd=VWxOdXF5MSt0Y2RISkZCekd0THNhdz09
Meeting ID: 820 7824 3686
Passcode: 386536

Please let me share the following in response to the recent questions I received regarding changing the calendar for the next school year. Our student's first school day for the 2022-23 school year will be Monday, August 29, 2022. Therefore, there will not be any changes to the previously adopted 2022-2023 calendar. The approved academic calendar for the next school year is available on our district website.

We use various needs assessments to support our students and provide prevention and intervention activities for their social-emotional well-being. We have two surveys coming up that will help us understand our students better. The CORE SEL survey is given two times a year to all SDUSD students in grades 4-12. This survey is being administered tomorrow in their English classes. For more information, please view this link SEL Survey Information. The other survey coming up is the California Healthy Kids Survey. The CHKS is for all parents, staff, and 7th-grade students. This survey will be administered on March 14th. Sample Questions for CA Healthy Kids Survey
Please contact Muirlands school counselor Nicole Wehrli [email protected] if you have questions regarding either of these surveys.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, February 20, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

We want lunchtime to be a time when students are taking a break from their computers if possible. Therefore, starting Tuesday, February 22, computers/electronics need to be kept in student lockers or backpacks during lunchtime. Our library is open during lunchtime if students want to work on academic work (not gaming or social media).

Primetime applications for the 2022-23 school year will be available online beginning Monday, March 7, 2022, at 6:00 am. Please see the PrimeTime Application Parent Flyer English|Spanish. You may also attend a PrimeTime Application Parent Virtual Orientation meeting on February 24. Please open this link for the Meeting Schedule.

On February 25th and 26th, and on March 4th and 5th at 7 p.m., you are invited to see Muirlands Alumni perform in the La Jolla High School Theater Arts Department’s rendition of The Westside Story. West Side Story LJHS

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, February 13, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

SDUSD schools will be closed on Friday, February 18th (Lincoln Day) and Monday, February 21, 2022 (Washington Day). Please enjoy these holidays with your family and devote a bit of time reflecting on these two leaders' contributions to our country.

Please join us for our February 17th Foundation meeting. The Muirlands Foundation is an integral part of our school's success. The monthly meetings are held via Zoom and begin at 8:45 am. Please see our school calendar for zoom link information, Muirlands Calendar.

We had a fantastic start to our Wellness Wednesday Parent Series. Our first presentation was on "Understanding Anxiety and Building Resilience in your Middle-Schooler." I would like to thank the Muirlands Foundation for bringing this wonderful evening to our school community. The presentation was recorded and is available on our school website Wellness Wednesday.

The Window to Apply for SDUSD’s Level Up Summer Program is now open. Muirlands will host the Summer Program on our site. However, courses will be offered at several campuses throughout the district. Parents will have an opportunity to enroll their students at the campus of their choice. The enrollment window will close on February 28. Students enrolling after February 28 will be waitlisted and enrolled based on space availability. Please use the following link for the district’s Summer Information website: Level Up Summer/ESY for Parents and Families. If you have additional questions, please contact Ms. Dominguez [email protected]

Our Eighth-grade students are invited to design a school mural as part of the annual “legacy mural project.” Students from each 8th grade promoting class will choose an artwork designed by one of their own to be painted on a wall at Muirlands. Please visit the 8TH GRADE LEGACY MURAL PROJECT on our website for detailed information on the project requirements and to find out how to submit your design. The deadline for submission is Tuesday, Feb. 22.

Next month our 7th graders are taking the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS). This statewide survey addresses alcohol, tobacco, drugs, bullying, and other health issues such as school climate and student resiliency. Survey data will assist schools in:

(1) preventing youth health-risk behaviors;
(2) promoting positive youth development; and
(3) fostering positive school climates.

This survey is for our 7th-grade students only. Every Muirlands’ parent and staff member will have an opportunity to provide feedback on a separate survey. If you would like additional information regarding the CHKS survey, including sample questions, please use the following link: Cal-SCHLS - San Diego Unified School District Please contact Nicole Wehrli, [email protected], if you have questions about the CHKS.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, February 6, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

This week we celebrate National Counselor week. We have two of the best on our staff, Robin Dominguez and Nicole Wehrli. Please join me in recognizing and thanking them for their service to our community. Also, if you have not done so already, please visit the Muirlands Counseling Departments' webpage, Muirlands Counseling.

This past week you were sent an email with information regarding the upcoming “2022 LEVEL UP SD SUMMER ACADEMIC PROGRAM ENROLLMENT/REGISTRATION” Please click the link to learn about this summer school program and enroll your student today! The enrollment window is February 1, 2022, to February 28, 2022. The session begins June 21 and ends July 22. Please open this link 2022 SUMMER SITES/ESY BELL TIMES for a list of Middle Schools that will host Summer Academic Programs on their sites. Muirlands will be one of this year's host sites, although families can choose to attend any of the available sites regardless of their current school of attendance. If you have further questions, please contact Robin Dominguez, Counselor, at [email protected].

The SDUSD’s Superintendent Search Community Engagement Forum has been rescheduled. Please open this link for information regarding the next forum, Superintendent Search Community Engagement Forum.

La Jolla High School Counselors spoke with our 8th-grade students this week. If your 8th grader did not bring home their Curriculum planning form for 9th grade, please visit the Muirlands Counseling page, where you will find a link to the form and other matriculation information: 9th grade 2022-2023 Curriculum Planning Form.

Please join us on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, for the first installment of our Wellness Wednesday Parent Seminar Series. The Zoom discussion, “Understanding Anxiety and Building Resilience in your Middle-Schooler” will begin at 6:30 pm. Please use Wellness Wednesday's Seminar Series link for the Zoom link and additional information.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, January 30, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

I would like to recognize Ms. Nicole Ervin-Fugiel as Muirlands 2021-22 Teacher of the Year. She is an essential and incredible part of the Muirlands community. We are fortunate to have her on our staff. Congratulations, Ms. E!

If your child is missing an item they might have lost on campus, please have them stop by the “Lost and Found Rack” just outside of the counseling office entrance. Please pick up items from lost and found by 2/4/22. Items not recovered by Friday will be donated to charity.

In support of our school community’s social and emotional health, the Muirlands Foundation will begin the Wellness Wednesday seminar series. Please join us for our first presentation on Wednesday, February 9th, from 6:30-8:00 pm. The topic of our first presentation is “Understanding Anxiety and Building Resilience in your Middle-Schooler.” Please see our school website for presenter information and Zoom login information.

As a reminder, cell phones and headphones (earpods) are not to be used during the school day, including lunch and passing periods. If a student has their phone out or earpods in during school hours, the phone/earpods will be confiscated, and a parent/guardian, listed in PowerSchool, will be required to come to the school to pick up the item(s). Electronic devices can be permitted while under the supervision of school district employees for a limited period and then powered off and put away. We appreciate your support.

The Muirlands Community has done an excellent job with keeping our COVID-19 numbers down this year. However, recently, our numbers have seen an increase that is reflective of what we are seeing worldwide. Please continue to send your child to school with a properly fitting mask Masks for Kids: Tips and Resources and Mask One Page Fact Sheet. Please remind your child of their responsibility and the importance of wearing their mask properly, washing/sanitizing their hands regularly, spreading out at lunchtime, and practicing safe distancing behaviors. And lastly, please keep your child home if they are sick or experiencing symptoms. Here is the link to the SDCOE decision tree webpage. This page is updated regularly with the latest guidelines and is the tool we are currently using to determine the status of student and staff quarantine and return dates. You will also find a FAQ page on this link.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, January 23, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

As conditions and guidelines are continually changing for our schools, I encourage you to utilize the SDUSD’s expanded COVID-19 information website COVID-19 Information - San Diego Unified School District for the most current information. We begin our second semester tomorrow.

I encourage all students to start the second semester strong, utilize the available support, and seek assistance if they need help. Your school counselor is a great place to start if you have questions or need assistance. Students can use this Request to see the Counselor form, and their counselor will call them in.

Yearbooks are currently on sale and will remain on sale until we run out. Yearbooks are available for purchase on the Jostens website. Please review this flyer before ordering to make your online selections easier.

We have some yearbook deadlines approaching. January 28, 2022, is the last day to personalize yearbooks with a nameplate or icons and is also the last day for eighth-graders to submit a recognition ad. Parents of 8th graders: design your recognition ad, order, and submit at www.JostensAdServices.com. Ads are â…› of a page, and the cost is $30.

We will distribute yearbooks to the students during the last week of school. For any questions, please contact Mrs. Rodé in the Muirlands Finance Office at [email protected]

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, January 16, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

I hope this message finds you and your family doing well. I sent an update message on Wednesday so that this message will be short. If necessary, use this link 1-12-22 Parent Update Message to review Wednesday’s announcement information.

Muirlands continues to follow the SDCOE developed decision tree and e-Decision Tree. These documents are updated regularly. Please be sure to refresh the documents as you open the link to get the most current version of the decision trees.

Tomorrow, January 17, 2022, our country celebrates a holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Our school is closed tomorrow in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Please spend a portion of your day with your family to reflect on Dr. King’s life and work. And let us be inspired by his call for us to serve, and his efforts towards social justice and human rights.

Due to the increase of student and staff positive cases on our campus, I will not send a "non-close-contact" letter to our community daily. However, to keep our community up-to-date, I plan to send an all-school message once a week if we have a “non-close-contact” on campus during the week. In addition, Muirlands staff will continue to work with and support the SDUSD’s COVID tracing department to identify and notify close contacts and assist families with determining the next steps.

On Friday afternoon, Muirlands received a delivery of Adult KF94 and Youth KF94 masks. Cloth masks are still authorized for student use. However, the KF94 type mask is preferred.

On Tuesday, Muirlands will distribute a KF94 mask to all students who want one by the end of the day. These KF94 masks are reusable and made to be worn multiple times. Until additional masks are delivered, we will not distribute a replacement KF94 type mask to your child should they lose or break their initial mask.

Adult N95  Adult KF94  Youth KF94   Disposable Surgical
May be worn multiple times  May be worn multiple times  Intended for students and provides better coverage than a surgical mask or reusable cloth mask  Intended for staff and students when an N95 and KF94 mask is not available. Recommend for site visitors and athletic events.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, January 9, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

Thank you, parents, for your efforts in monitoring your child’s symptoms, having them test, and keeping students home that are showing COVID-like symptoms. Our onsite testing continues on our campus every Tuesday morning. I am delighted with our excellent testing results. However, we have been impacted by increased student and staff absences as we returned from Winter Break.

If your child is symptomatic or has tested positive, please have your child stay home, notify our attendance clerk, Ms. Gabby [email protected], and get your child tested.

The Ed Center is still open and available for testing for all students and staff of SDUSD. However, at this time, the district has not expanded the testing to those not enrolled or working in SDUSD. Please use this link for information about SDUSD COVID-19 Testing.

The County Office of Education has published an updated Quarantine Decision Tree. This updated decision tree determines quarantine timelines.

The end of semester one is nine days away. Please visit PowerSchool and take some time to discuss with your child their academic and citizenship progress.

Muirlands Foundation will host an off-campus parent event. As a parent of a Muirlands Middle School student, you are part of the Foundation. Please come to an outdoor meet and greet with Foundation members and fellow parents to find out how you can stay connected to what is happening with your kids at school. Come to the backyard of Marcia Branstetter, right after drop off on 1/21/22, for coffee, pastries, and a chance to chat and connect. Contact Marcia at [email protected] for more information and to get the event address.

LJHS invites our current 8th graders and the parents of our 8th graders to attend the upcoming "La Jolla High School Counselors 8th grade Parent Night" on January 13 at 5:30 pm via Zoom. Parents will receive information on 9th-grade course selection, graduation requirements, and high school transition.
Zoom Link: https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/87907765602

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, January 2, 2022
Hello Muirlands Community,

We look forward to welcoming back our students tomorrow morning. As we prepare to return to campus, I would like to thank our school community for their support in keeping our campus safe for students and staff. By recognizing the importance of following the district’s safety protocols and guidelines, we have been able to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on our campus. However, with the recent spike in COVID-19 numbers, we must be vigilant in our efforts both on campus and outside of the school setting to promote the safety of our community.

Before sending your child to school tomorrow, please test them with the COVID test kit provided before Winter break or another testing method. If your child tests positive or is symptomatic, please keep your child at home and notify Ms. Gabby [email protected] to report your child’s attendance status. If possible, please have your child stay current with their school work by monitoring their assignments through Google Classroom and communicating with their teachers through email.

COVID testing will continue every Tuesday on our campus and is available daily at the SDUSD Central Office. Please open this link for information and directions on Central Office Testing. I was at the central office this morning getting my family tested, and there are no more take-home testing kits available for distribution. At this time, we do not have additional testing kits available for distribution at Muirlands. I will notify our community if we receive additional testing kits.

Please use the following link for updates regarding GATE information, including testing information GATE Website for Parents. I did not receive an update regarding a change in policy for GATE testing at the middle school level. Thus, we will not administer GATE testing to our middle school students. As additional information becomes available, it will be posted on the SDUSD GATE website.

A reminder that Wednesday, January 5th, is a late start day for Muirlands. Our campus will open at 9:35 am, and school will begin at 9:55 am.

On Friday, January 7th, our counseling department will host a Zoom information meeting for the parents of incoming students. If you know of a family considering Muirlands for their child next year, please have them contact our counseling department for more information.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, December 12, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

Muirlands Middle School will hold our annual food drive this week. The food drive will run from Monday through Thursday. Drop-off bins will be located at the front of the school from 8:15 am - 8:35 am. Students can drop off their food items as they enter campus. All collected food will be donated to a local food bank.

Most Needed Food Items:

  • Canned Chicken & Tuna
  • Dry & Canned Beans
  • Cereal
  • Rice
  • Nuts & Seeds
  • Peanut Butter
  • Canned Soup
  • Canned & Dried Fruit
  • Canned Vegetables
  • Powdered Milk
  • Infant Formula

* No glass or home baked goods

Please join me on Friday, December 17th, for our next Principal’s Chat.  

On Fridays, we usually wear a shirt that shows our support for our favorite sports team or college. This Friday, the theme will be ugly sweater day. Please wear your best (worst?) sweater/top to school. Stop by the front of the school for a Dolphin ticket.

After a long workday, pajama bottoms and slippers are very comfortable and great to change into. However, they are not allowed to be worn to school. Please check that your child does not wear these items to school.

PARENT WORKSHOP SERIES - San Diego Unified School District invites parents to participate in a series of workshops where they will receive up-to-date information about what happens in our community, helping to raise young people who are successful in school and life in general. Please open this link for more information and workshop topics: Parents Learning to Be Better Parents Series

Yearbooks can be pre-ordered at jostensyearbooks.com. See this flyer for details before ordering online. The early bird price of $35 is only good until Dec. 31, 2021. Parents of 8th graders: the deadline for the congratulatory 8th-grade ads is Jan. 28, 2022. Start planning now, and order and submit at www.JostensAdServices.com. Ads are â…› page, and the cost is $30.

Please remember to log in to PowerSchool Parent Portal and update ALL home and contact information. Enrollment Form Instructions for Parent Portal. If you need PowerSchool Parent Portal login information or support, please contact our Site Tech, Mrs. Rodriguez.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, December 5, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

Our 12-week progress reports have been finalized and are available for your review through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Please take a moment to review your child's current marks.

The Muirlands library is currently accepting gently used hardcover novels. Please send any books you are interested in donating to the library with your child and have them see Ms . Vintika in the Library. The Muirlands community thanks you in advance for your generosity.

A reminder that arrival and dismissal times are very busy with traffic and students. Please ensure you are driving with extreme caution around our schools and watching for our kids. This includes following speed, traffic, and parking laws.

Thanks to the efforts of our students, parents, community, and Muirlands staff, the COVID pandemic has had a minimal impact on our student and staff attendance at Muirlands. However, we must continue to take the steps and diligence we have in the past if we expect these results to continue. Please spend a minute with your child to remind them of the importance of social distancing and wearing their mask correctly. I have to remind more students about social distancing and masks as of late.

Please join our La Jolla Cluster meeting this Thursday at 4:15 pm. You can find additional information and the Zoom link on the Muirlands website or contact the school.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, November 28, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving break. School will resume tomorrow, Monday, November 29th at 8:35 am.

I also want to remind you that Wednesday, December 1st, will be our next late start day. Our campus will open at 9:35 am on this day, and our classes will begin at 9:55 am.

On Monday, we will begin the last six weeks of our first semester. I encourage all students to seek assistance if they need help with their academics. As a reminder, our tutoring center is open to all students as an academic environment to complete their work or receive support from our teaching staff. The tutoring center is open every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:15 - 4:45 pm.

Our custodial staff, landscaping staff, teaching staff, students, and community volunteers have done a lot to make Muirlands a clean, well-groomed, and welcoming campus. We value and take pride in the physical appearance of our campus and classrooms. This is the third message I have sent regarding Tik Tok challenges and their impact on school campuses. We encourage and expect our students to make positive and respectful choices regarding their actions and words. There will be consequences for any student that makes a poor decision to vandalize or steal school property.

In my effort to keep our community informed of the current SDUSD policy regarding COVID-19 and student vaccines, I refer you again to a message sent to all families by Superintendent Jackson.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, November 14, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

The end of the P2 grading period for the first semester is Friday, November 19th. The P2 final progress report grades will be available online for parents to view on Friday, December 3rd.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please email Sandy Rodriguez at [email protected].

Digital Document Delivery is a PowerSchool feature that gives schools the ability to email reports and letters, in a PDF format, to parents/guardians. Please visit your PowerSchool Parent Portal account to review or update your email address or opt-out of receiving emails. For step-by-step instructions about Digital Document Delivery - Parent Portal, please click one of the following links:

If you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Sandy Rodriguez at [email protected]

Our next Student Recognition Assemblies is on Wednesday, November 17th. Please look for these grade-level presentations on our Muirlands website on Wednesday.

Please join me at 11:00 am, on Friday, November 19th, for our next Principal Chat.  

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, November 7, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

First and foremost, I would like to wish you all a Happy Veteran's Day. Thank you to all those that have served and those that are currently serving. Please remember the reason we recognize our veterans on this day.

In recognition of the Veteran's Day Holiday, SDUSD schools will be closed this Thursday, November 11.

Please remember to set your clocks back to Standard Time.

Picture Make-Up Day or Retake Day will be on Tuesday, November 9. If your student was absent on our original Picture Day, the PE teacher will send them to have their picture taken. If you do not like the original picture from October 15 and WANT A RETAKE, please send your student to school on November 9 with a NOTE ASKING FOR A RETAKE. Only those with a parent note will be allowed a retake. Click here for more information.

At the end of the week, we will dispose of or donate all items not picked up from our lost and found. Please have your child retrieve their water bottles, lunch boxes, school supplies, and clothes.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, October 31, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

What an amazing Red Ribbon and Spirit Week we had this past week. The videos and discussions around positive choices that took place in our classrooms were impactful. The participation of our students and staff with spirit days was better than I remember it ever being.

As part of our beautification process before opening up the school year, we removed much of the gum from sidewalks and around our campus. Therefore, we ask that our students refrain from bringing chewing gum to school.

Several people have shared a concern with the inappropriate use of a few, non school-supported, social media platforms. Please remind your child that respectful interaction with others on social media is as important as their interactions in person.

We are in the process of establishing our English Language Advisory Committee and seek parents to join. The committee advises and assists the school with English learner programs and participates with our School Site Council. Please open this link for more information.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, October 24, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

We held our first Grade Level Student Recognition Assemblies on October 13th. Please view the Grade Level specific presentations located on our school website. Muirlands teachers recognized several students for their outstanding work during the first six weeks of school during the assemblies.

This week Muirlands will celebrate Red Ribbon Week and School Spirit Week. Our students and staff will take time to view short video clips and discuss the importance of making positive choices in our lives. You are encouraged to watch these videos and view the discussion prompts with your student. These videos are great entry points to talk about the importance of making positive choices. And don’t forget to encourage your student to dress up each day this week to show your school spirit!

If your child is wearing a costume to school on Friday, October 29th, please ensure you view our Halloween Costume guidelines.  

This past week we participated in the Great California Shakeout earthquake drill. Please ask your child about their participation.

Our Zoom link did not work for the Principal Chat scheduled for this past Friday. I apologize for the inconvenience. I have scheduled a new Principal Chat for this Friday, October 29th, at 11:00 am. Please join me for a school update and chat session.  

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, October 17, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

We continue to focus on maintaining a positive, respectful, and welcoming environment on our campus. I ask for your support by reinforcing the value and importance of respectful social media use and post with your student. Please inform me if you have concerns with a school-related social media incident. I encourage you to visit our counseling webpage for additional resources or use the following link to a resource landing page A Guide to Bullying and Cyberbullying.

This past Friday, Counselors presented the “Xello” program to all 6th-grade students. “Xello” is an app on the students’ Clever account that facilitates learning interests & personality types that help match students to their potential career. Please ask your 6th-grade student to show you their “Xello” account. There will be multiple “Xello” presentations this year for all grade levels.

As we approach Halloween weekend, students are encouraged to wear costumes on Friday, October 29th. As you are deciding on costume options, please use the following link to view Muirlands costume guidelines.
Halloween Guidelines 21-22

La Jolla High School is hosting a special haunted Walk-Thru, the Dark Path. The “Walk-Thru” will take place on Friday, October 29th, from 6:30-9:00 pm. The main entrance for the event is on Draper street and the cost is $5.00 at the door. You can find more information in this flyer or you can contact La Jolla High School Drama and Theatre teacher, Mr. Stacey Allen [email protected].

Please join us this week for the following events.

  • Principal Chat 10/22/21 11:00 am     

Lastly, our school planners have arrived. The planners will be distributed this week to students during their period one class. Our school planner is a great tool to assist students with organizing their schoolwork and life schedule. Thank you to the Muirlands Foundation and the Muirlands Gives program for supporting our students with the purchase of these planners.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, October 10, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

Our staff had a very productive morning on late start Wednesday. This late start enabled our staff to attend training on maintaining a safe campus and best practices for responding to emergencies. The professional development and training we participate in on our late start days will directly impact your student’s academics, social-emotional wellbeing, and safety.

Our push-button water fountains have been replaced with water fill stations. Please send your child to school with a refillable water bottle. If you need assistance with acquiring a water bottle, please reach out to me directly via email.

Our campus is serving many more lunches than we have ever done. It is wonderful how many students are enjoying our school lunch program. Please use the following links if you are interested in viewing our daily cafeteria options:

All Muirlands students will take the CORE SEL Survey this week. Please view this Social Emotional Learning Information Slide Show for detailed information regarding the survey. If you would like additional information or would like to opt your student out from taking the survey, please contact Ms. Wehrli at [email protected].

Federal Survey Forms were distributed to students on Wednesday. If you have not completed this form, please have your child turn in their completed form to their 3rd-period teacher. Our Federal funding is partly based on the information received. If you need a replacement form, please have your child see Ms. Duncan in the main office.

Finally, Friday, October 15th, is Picture Day at Muirlands. You can preview, personalize and order on JostensPix.com a few days after Picture Day.
For immediate access to your student's photos, use the email address you provided to Muirlands PowerSchool when you create your JostensPix account. See flyer for details

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, October 3, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

We are entering the final week of the current grading period. Your student’s progress report grade will be available for you to view in PowerSchool on October 15, 2021. Our tutoring center is staffed and opens to students every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:15-4:45 pm. Please contact your student’s counselor for more information.

A reminder that we have our first late start day on Wednesday, October 6. Our school day will begin at 9:55 a.m. and dismiss as usual at 3:15 pm. Our campus will open at 9:35 am.

We held our first SSC meeting this past week. We reviewed and approved the following required documents.
Parent and Family Engagement Policy
School Parent Compact

Last month, Superintendent Jackson sent the following message TikTok Communication to all families in the SDUSD. The safety and wellbeing of our students, staff, campus, and community is our top priority. Additional online challenges are now appearing related to physical assault towards staff members, sexual harassment, and further vandalism. I have been pleased with the culture and climate we have established on our campus. I will continue to do everything within my power to maintain a safe campus for our community. Thanks to our staff’s diligent supervision of our students, and the culture of respect and responsibility we reinforce on campus, we have had minimal episodes of vandalism behaviors. I would like to thank you in advance for your continued support with this matter.

Enrollment Options Online Choice Application will open on October 4 and close on November 15. Parents have the opportunity to submit an online Enrollment Options application via the School Choice, Magnet, and Voluntary Enrollment Exchange Program (VEEP), by accessing the district website at Choice Enrollment. If you have any questions regarding Choice enrollment, please contact Mrs. Allison Ichihara.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, September 26, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

I want to thank all of you that joined us at our virtual Back to School Night. If you were not able to join us, the presentation is available HERE. Don't hesitate to contact your school counselor if you need assistance with accessing the presentation.

Our sixth and eighth-grade students will have a district-approved Sexual Health unit taught to them through their science class. Please watch this short video by Ms. Trombley that explains how to access and preview the curriculum used at each grade level. Sexual Health Education Program Parent Preview 21-22

Our first grading period will end in two weeks, on October 8th. I encourage you to spend a few minutes with your student to check their academic progress through PowerSchool. Please contact your child's teacher(s) if you have questions or concerns. As a reminder, we will start after-school tutoring in our library every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:15-4:45 pm. The tutoring is a drop-in program, free of charge, and is staffed by Muirlands teachers and support staff.

As a reminder, please be cautious as you drop off and pick up your student from school. The morning and afternoon traffic is busy on Nautilus Street.

Please ensure your child is bringing a fully charged computer with a charger each day. In addition, you might want to set up a consistent charging station and system at home to help your child be consistent with this responsibility.

Muirlands Middle School's Counseling Department wants to ensure we develop and provide programs that meet student needs. Therefore, we ask our students to complete this short survey - Counselor Needs-Assessment for Students. Your student will need to login into their district account to take this survey. However, only your child will know their responses. We include no student names on this survey. This survey will help us learn how many students need programs and activities on specific topics. Thank you for helping us better meet your child's needs. Please contact your child's counselor if you have questions or feedback.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, September 19, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

Please save the date! Muirlands will host our annual Back to School Night on Thursday, September 23rd. Our event will be virtual this year and begin at 5:30 p.m. with a short Zoom presentation
Zoom Link - https://sandiegounified.zoom.us/j/84192433008.
After this presentation, I will release families to view the classroom presentations our teachers have prepared. Each teacher will have a short informational presentation to view and directions on contacting the teacher if you have questions or need additional information. The Teacher presentations will also be posted on our website for your convenience if you cannot make the 5:30 p.m. Zoom presentation.

We are trying to do our part and convert as many items as possible to a paperless process. One of the items we converted this year was our enrollment form. We need all families to submit this form (electronically). This task was included as part of the first-week packet you received. Please go to the Parent Portal and follow the three short steps listed in the following link - Enrollment Form Directions. Please contact Ms. Ichihara for more information at [email protected].

Our student COVID testing is becoming more efficient as we familiarize ourselves with and fine-tune the process. Last week we tested 173 students. If you have opted your child in for testing, please remind them to take the test when prompted. As a reminder, the testing is not mandatory, and teachers will not tell the students they must leave the classroom and take the test.

I firmly believe that Muirlands Middle School has the best students and families in the district. Muirlands is very proud of our daily work to establish and maintain an inclusive and welcoming campus for all. For the well-being of all students and staff on our campus, respect, acceptance, equality, and inclusion are the expectation. Bullying, hate speech, expressions of hate, and hateful acts of any kind are not tolerated.
We encourage all students and staff to be upstanders on our campus when they witness or hear hate speech, bullying, or speech of a biased nature.
By supporting one another in this ongoing work, we make our school a safe and welcoming place for all.

This past week, the San Diego Unified Board of Education passed a resolution recognizing the month of September 15 through October 15, 2021, as Hispanic Heritage Month. Join us in honoring the heritage of Hispanic Americans in our schools and city, as we encourage all students, employees, and family members to deepen their understanding of the Latinx community by celebrating their histories, cultures, and contributions!

We are currently organizing school clubs on our campus. These clubs are free and available to all students. If inclined, please encourage your child to join an established school club. Here is a link to the clubs currently meeting at Muirlands and the steps to take if your child wants to start a club on campus - Student Clubs.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, September 12, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

This past week has been another great week as we continue to welcome our students back, build community within our classrooms, and settle into our school routines. Our students have been doing a great job wearing their masks and adhering to our safety protocols on campus. These safe behaviors are making a difference. Let’s keep them up!

We have begun our Friday college/sports team Spirit Days. We encourage our students and staff to wear clothing that supports a college or favorite sports team on Fridays.

Please see Mr. Wyatt in room 307 if you are interested in joining the chess club. ALL levels of chess players are welcome!

Our students are rewarded with Dolphin tickets when observed doing positive acts in the classroom and on campus. These tickets can be redeemed for an early release to lunch on Fridays and included in our weekly campus drawings.

A reminder that our PE area is open at lunchtime for our students to play games or use the track to stay active. Please leave your backpacks in your lockers and eat your lunch before joining us on the field. Students have access to their lockers during the first 5 minutes of lunch to drop off their backpacks.

Our VEEP late activity school bus is now running. The bus will depart Muirlands at 4:45 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Parents/Guardians, please review the following with your child. We appreciate your support with the following items.

  1. Cell phones must be off and put away during the school day, including lunch and passing periods. If a student needs to make a phone call, they can ask permission from a staff member or come to the office to use the school phone. Students that use their cell phones without school permission will have their phone confiscated, and parents will need to pick up the cell phone from the school office.
  2. Please develop a system with your child to ensure their Chromebook is fully charged and placed in their backpacks daily. The library has a limited number of Chromebooks available for students to borrow if they forget their Chromebook or their Chromebook is not charged.
  3. If you have not done so already, please review our school dress code with your student. I ask that you ensure your child leaves your house dressed in agreement with the school’s dress code. I have included the school dress code below for your convenience.

DRESS CODE

At Muirlands Middle School, we strive to help students grow as learners and as citizens. The Muirlands Dress Code encourages students to focus on learning, maintain school and age-appropriate attire, and be safe as they express their individuality appropriately. This dress code applies equally to all students. Attire should protect the health and safety of all students.

  • Student attire should not advertise or advocate the use of alcohol, drugs, tobacco, weapons, or gang affiliation. This also applies to garments with writing or pictures that are obscene, suggestive, sexual, mean-spirited, or violent.
  • Half-shirts, crop tops, low necklines, straps less than 2", and sleeveless tops with large armholes are not to be worn.
  • Shirts must be long enough to touch pants or shorts/skirts.
  • Clothing must cover undergarments. Shorts must have a 3-inch inseam.
  • Pants must not have holes/rips above the 3-inch inseam.

The following are not allowed at school:

  • Pants or shorts worn below the hips
  • See-through clothing that exposes undergarments
  • Flip Flops of any kind
  • Pajamas, blankets, or slippers
  • Chewing gum and sunflower seeds

When a student's attire does not meet the dress code, he/she/they will be asked to remedy the issue in one of the following ways: The student will be asked to:

  • Change into appropriate alternative clothing from their PE locker
  • Change into clothes provided by the office
  • Call home from the office to request a change of clothes

Muirlands staff will address non-compliance with the dress code respectfully and professionally. Students who repeatedly make clothing choices that do not adhere to the dress code may face consequences for defiance.

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, September 5, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

I want to thank you and your student for a wonderful first week. It has been a pleasure to welcome our students back to school. I realize we are all still adjusting to our new school year and schedule, but our students and staff have done a fantastic job. A reminder that tomorrow is a school holiday as we recognize Labor Day. Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize workers’ many contributions to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

I want to share a few informational items and asks.

Student COVID Testing:

As you know, keeping our students safe, healthy, and IN SCHOOL is our #1 priority. Monitoring the health of our students and staff is a crucial measure in ensuring we are taking the steps necessary to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all.

We will offer weekly COVID-19 testing on-site to those families that choose to take advantage of this service. To have your child tested, you will need to fill out the COVID-19 Testing forms. Thank you to all who have already filled out these forms. If you are opting out of COVID testing, we still need you to submit the testing form.

  • Click here for instructions on how to fill out these forms in Powerschool.
  • Click here if you’d like to see a video explaining the instructions.
  • Click here if you need instructions on how to set up a Parent Portal account.

If you prefer to fill out the forms on paper, please use the following links.

SDUSD COVID Testing formEnglish | Spanish 

Testing vendor consent form English | Spanish 

Testing will take place on the Muirlands campus every Tuesday from 8:00 am - 11:00 am. Students will have their first opportunity to test on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. Teachers will announce to their classes that the testing is now available for their students. Students will then leave class and receive the test. School Administration and counselors will be present to supervise these students as they transition back and forth between their classroom and the testing location.

Important - Our students who have opted into testing will have the option to test each week. Parents, if you do not want your child to receive the test on any particular Tuesday, please share that information with your child. Also, please instruct your child not to leave the classroom when their class is released for testing.

Lunch Drop Off:

We are asking for your assistance with limiting the number of non-essential visits and contacts on the campus. Please do not bring lunches to the office for delivery to your child's classroom. As an option - all students are welcome to a free cafeteria lunch again this school year. Families do not have to sign up to receive a free lunch.

Crosswalks and Electric Bicycles:

If your child needs to cross Nautilus for pick-up and drop-off, please direct them to use the crosswalk. Unfortunately, I have observed students jaywalk and cross Nautilus during these high traffic times. We correct these behaviors when we see them but would appreciate your support.

PLEASE!!! - If your child rides an electric bike to campus, have a discussion with them about safe practices. I have observed and have received several calls from the community regarding dangerous riding behaviors. These include exceeding the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic, multiple people on one bike, not wearing a helmet, doing stunts on bikes while traveling along with traffic.

SSC/SGT Recruitment

Our school operates most efficiently with the support and input of our community. Therefore, please consider volunteering to join our School Site Council (SSC) or our Site Governance Team (SGT). Please use the link below to volunteer.

SSC/SGT nomination form

Attendance:

If your student is absent for any reason, please report the absence to Ms. Gabby in the attendance office via phone, email, or our Muirlands website. This also applies to any students who require a blue slip due to leaving school early.

School Packets:

Thank you to all the parents/students who submitted their First Day Packets. If your student did not return their completed packet this week, please take the time to read over the documents and return the completed packet to their first-period teacher as soon as possible.

The first item listed on the packet is our ‘ K-12 Enrollment Form 2021-2022’. Parents, please remember to log in to the PowerSchool Parent Portal and update ALL information for this item. If you need assistance, please refer to our Muirlands website. There is a link titled: ‘Enrollment Form Instructions for Parent Portal.’ If you need login information, please contact our Site Tech, Mrs. Rodriguez.

Lunch Area Update:

We have expanded the area our students use during their lunch break. This expansion includes additional lunch tables, benches, and supervision. Please remind your students to practice safe behaviors by spacing themselves out as they eat lunch, only remove their masks when actively eating and drinking, and practice social distancing. We will continue to monitor and enforce these guidelines as well.

Please continue to contact me if you have any questions or constructive feedback. Enjoy your extended Labor Day weekend!

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, August 29, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

I hope you and your families are well. The entire Muirlands staff is excited to welcome your student to campus tomorrow and begin our year together.

We spent this past week preparing for your student’s arrival. We realize the transition back to campus will come with a wide range of emotions. Therefore, as we plan for your student’s return, we have worked this week to establish a warm and welcoming environment to ensure their transition back to campus is a positive experience.

Your class schedule is now accessible in PowerSchool via the Student/Parent Portal. To access your schedule, you will need to log in to Student/Parent Portal by clicking HERE. Please note, all students will need to pick up their “Official” schedule as they enter campus tomorrow.

Our campus will open tomorrow at 8:10 am. Please plan your student’s arrival accordingly. We ask that all students perform a health screening before leaving home. Please use this SAML Login link to assist you with this requirement . There is usually a lot of traffic on Nautilus, please be aware of your surroundings during drop off and pick up.

As we will be diligent in maintaining a safe and healthy campus this year for our students and staff, only students are allowed on campus tomorrow morning. Parents, please adhere to this policy and do not attempt or request to enter campus with your child tomorrow. I assure you we will do a tremendous job of supervising, assisting, and supporting your student this entire year.

I also ask that you discuss and reinforce the importance of safe and healthy behaviors on campus with your child. Behaviors as properly wearing a secure fitting mask when required, safe social interactions with friends and classmates, washing their hands properly and using hand sanitizer. We will supervise students and remind them of the safety and health guidelines we have in place. However, our students will need to internalize their actions’ importance and possible consequences while on campus. We want to do what we can to ensure we stay healthy and on campus.

I have included a link to our Muirlands Back to School FAQ Handbook. This handbook is designed to assist Muirlands families as we open our school year. We have tried to provide answers to many of your potential questions in our handbook.  

Additional Information

Netbooks

Please remember to bring a fully charged netbook tomorrow. Those students who do not currently have a district netbook will check one out from our library tomorrow. Your period one teacher will be able to assist you with that process.

School Bell Schedule

Please use this link to view our school schedules.

Technology, Textbooks, and Materials

During the first week of school, Muirlands will issue Chromebooks, textbooks, and lockers to students. Muirlands staff will distribute these items to our sixth-grade students on Wednesday, our seventh-grade students on Thursday, and our eighth-grade students on Friday.

Food Services

SDUSD will continue to provide free meals to all students. Families will not need to apply to be eligible for this program. In addition, at the end of the school day, all students have the opportunity to pick up a Grab and Go bag with that night’s dinner and the following day’s breakfast. These bags will be distributed by school staff at our entrance/exit gates.

We know this is a lot of information to process. So please continue to check your email and our website for information.

Please contact the school if you have questions or need assistance. We look forward to a wonderful and impactful year.  

Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Sunday, August 22, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

I hope you are enjoying the tail end of your summer vacation. I am anxiously awaiting the start of our new school year. I look forward to reconnecting with our returning students and welcoming all our new students joining the Muirlands family. As you know, this year, schools in the SDUSD will resume full-time and in-person learning. We realize this will be a shift from what we experienced this past year. The opening of this school year will be a transition period for students, families, and staff. We recognize and pledge to work collaboratively with you to welcome our students back to campus full time.  The positive work, effort, and mindset we all bring to our campus each day will impact not only our success but that of our peers. Your teachers have worked over the summer to prepare a positive, socially appropriate, and challenging year for you. 

SDUSD will soon send our families a “Back to School Guide” containing district and site level guidelines and information for the upcoming year. 

Below you will find a link to a Muirlands Welcome Back FAQ. Please read through this document for site-specific information regarding the opening of our school year. Muirlands Welcome Back FAQ

New student virtual orientation will take place on Tuesday, August 24, 2021. If you are new to Muirlands this year, I encourage you to attend this informational orientation with your child, as I imagine you will have questions as a family. We will host two identical Zoom sessions.

The year’s first Principal Chat will take place on Friday, August 27th, at 11:00 am. Please join if you would like a last-minute update or have any questions. 

  • August 27th, 2021 @ 11:00 am Zoom invite for Principal Chat

Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support your academics and wellbeing. 

If you are not attending Muirlands next year, please contact our enrollment clerk, Ms. Ichihara [email protected] or 858-302-3150 x 3021
 
Sincerely,
Principal Luna

Tuesday August 17, 2021
Hello Muirlands Community,

I hope this message finds you well and enjoying your summer in our beautiful city or wherever you might be traveling. We are officially 13 days from our first day of school.

We are working hard to prepare for the school year and are getting ready to welcome our teachers back on August 25th. As we have seen, the impact of COVID-19 is still tremendous in our community and our nation. While we are preparing for a full return to in-person learning, we are also planning to ensure the health and safety of all staff and students on our campus. We appreciate your patience as we are gaining an understanding of district guidelines and planning for the specific needs of our Muirlands campus and community. In addition, I ask that all families please be diligent in taking the steps necessary to ensure we have a healthy and safe school opening and year.

Soon, SDUSD will send a “Back to School Guide” to all families. This guide will contain much of the information families need before sending their children back to school.

Muirlands will host two virtual orientation sessions on August 24th. The first session is from 8:00 am - 9:00 am. The second session is from 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm. We will post a recording of the orientation on our school website if you are unable to attend the live presentation. A zoom link and additional information will be sent to families later this week.

As you begin to prepare for the start of the year, here are some general guidelines:

  • All staff and students will be required to wear masks indoors
  • Mask will not be required while outside
  • Students will suit up for their physical education classes. Your child’s PE teacher will share how to purchase a PE uniform during the first week of class. 
  • We will continue air filtration mitigations with MERV-13 filters or air purifiers in each room and the opening of windows and doors when appropriate
  • All students who received school transportation in the past will continue to receive transportation this year
  • We will resume our “normal” school schedule
    • Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesday, Thursdays, Fridays 8:35 am-3:15 pm
    • We will have a late start day once a month to allow our staff to attend Professional Development. On our late start dates, the school will meet from 9:55 am - 3:15 pm.
      Please calendar the following late start dates: October 6, 2021, November 3, 2021, December 1, 2021, January 5, 2022, February 2, 2022, March 2, 2022, April 6, 2022, May 4, 2022
  • Important Dates:
    • Wednesday, August 18 - School office Re-opens 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
    • Tuesday, August 24 - On-line new student orientation, two sessions 8:00 am and 2:30 pm A Zoom link will be emailed to each family
    • Sunday, August 29 - Unofficial student schedules will be available in PowerSchool
    • Monday, August 30 - First Day of School!!! We will welcome all students to in-person learning. Gates will open at 8:15 am. Students will pick up their official color-coded schedule in the school quad. The official color-coded schedule is required for entrance into classes on 8-30-21.

Last year our Phase 2 reopening was a success and a tremendous opportunity to learn what works best for our school and our students. We intend to lift a lot of our best practices to ensure a successful 2021 Fall. Please regularly check your emails for ongoing communication and updates.

Our success last year rested upon our amazing partnership with you, our community. Your ongoing positivity was an invaluable component of our ability to navigate reopening our school with grace.

Please monitor your email for additional information. We encourage all families to sign up for the Muirlands Foundation e-Splash. We look forward to a wonderful school year. Please reach out to the school if we can assist in any way.

In partnership,
Principal Luna

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