Ayer Shirley Middle School

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4/9 - ELA MCAS

4/10-4/12 - ASMS Presents Frozen JR

4/20-4/24 - April Break

My name is Ms. Murphy. This is my second year teaching at Ayer-Shirley Middle School.

I love to read, needlepoint, crochet and run!

I also enjoy spending time with my family and friends.

Last fall I ran the Chicago Marathon!

7th Grade Field Trip:

On April 1st we informed students about the 7th grade field trip to Canobie Lake Park on June 11th (rain date June 12th). Currently, the cost of the trip is $70, but given that we are expecting an increase in fuel prices in about 2 weeks, we may have to send out an updated communication with an increased price. If you are in need, we do offer some scholarships; if you would like to seek out a scholarship, please return the permission slip and write the word "Scholarship" at the top. Permission slips were sent home on April 1st and should be returned to your student's homeroom teacher, myself, or Mr. Nessman. The due date for permission slips is May 22nd.

Social Studies:

7th Grade Update:

To prep students for next year, we ended last week and began this week with a research project activity (see U3L4-5). I gave 20 minutes of extra time, but many students received a reduced grade for incomplete work. I told them I would put these grades in the gradebook, then give them back their work with the understanding that if they resubmitted it, they could earn a better grade. I can't say that in 8th grade teachers are guaranteed to do this, but I've noticed a culture of "it's already over, so I don't need to do anything" that I would like to change. I want to teach them that they need to put in effort and use their time wisely.

We finished this week with another project (see U3L7-10) where students have to create a flyer/poster about one of the characters they chose on the Silk Routes. This will end the Silk Routes and Unit 3 for us so we can begin next week with Unit 5: Europe.

8th Grade Update:

We are trying to move as fast as we can through unit 4. This week we looked at Prince Hall's petition to the MA legislature and the abolition of slavery in the commonwealth (see U4L3-8). Next Week, we will be starting our unit 4 project; the petition. Students will choose an issue they care deeply about and create a petition exercising their voice as participation in the democratic process.

ELA:

7th Grade ELA: Last Friday, we finished the final essay for A Raisin in the Sun. A lot is happening this week: quiz on words 101-110 and direct/indirect object (Tuesday, 4/7), MCAS ELA Session 1 (Thursday, 4/9). We'll review what we've learned, but preparations have already been made. Let's goooooo!

8th Grade ELA: Last Monday, we made it to chapter 11 of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave. Douglass's language and the subject matter are challenging, which was the source for our essay on the idea of equality in a slaveholding state. This week, 4/6, we'll turn our attention to the first session of ELA MCAS, scheduled for Thursday, 4/9. Make sure to get a good night's sleep, and charge your Chromebook!

Math:

7th graders just completed calculating the areas of trapezoids, surface areas of prisms and volumes of prisms. The next topic is statistics including mean absolute deviation.

8th graders just completed solving systems of equations using graphing, elimination and substitution. The next topic is calculating the volume of cones, spheres and cylinders.

There is an i-ready lesson due each week worth 5 points. Students are now required to complete a total of 45 minutes of math i-ready each week for an additional 5 points. 45 minutes is the total amount of time for the teacher-assigned lessons and the my path lessons in all (Monday to Sunday). Please encourage your child to work on these assignments at home.

Some photos from STEM Night last week!

We’ve seen an increase in students riding e-bikes and similar motorized devices to and from school. While we understand their convenience, they present safety and fire risks that require clear and consistent expectations.

To ensure a safe and manageable environment, the following guidelines are now in place:

1. Use on campus

• E-bikes, electric scooters, and similar devices may be used to travel to and from school only.
• They may not be ridden on school grounds at any time. Students must walk them once they enter campus.

2. Storage

• All e-bikes and bicycles must be secured at designated outdoor bike racks.
• The school is not able to provide indoor storage or alternative accommodations.
• Devices may not be brought into the building for any reason.

3. Charging

• Charging of e-bikes or batteries is not permitted on school property.
• This aligns with Massachusetts fire safety guidance regarding lithium-ion batteries.

4. Safety expectations

• Students must follow all applicable Massachusetts laws, including helmet use.
• Students are expected to operate these devices safely when traveling to and from school.

5. Enforcement

• Failure to follow these expectations will result in progressive consequences, which may include:
• temporary loss of privilege to bring the device to school
• requirement for caregiver pick-up of the device
• additional disciplinary action if safety concerns persist

Given the age of our students, families should carefully consider whether e-bikes are an appropriate mode of transportation to school.

We were recently given the good news that our school was awarded a grant from the One8 Foundation to expand our use of the Investigating History program in grades 6 and 7. This inquiry-based curriculum, developed by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, helps students explore meaningful questions about history and the world around them.

The One8 Foundation has been a strong supporter of many of our newer curricula that focus on applied learning, helping us bring more engaging, real-world experiences into our classrooms.

With this funding, we will strengthen classroom learning through hands-on experiences, updated instructional materials, and professional development for teachers. Students will have more opportunities to think critically, analyze different perspectives, and apply their learning in real-world contexts.

The grant also connects our school to a broader network of educators and industry professionals, giving students opportunities to share their work, receive feedback, and engage in authentic learning experiences.

We’re excited to continue building engaging, meaningful social studies experiences that prepare students to be informed and active members of their community.

LINK TO ORDER TICKETS: https://asmsdrama.ludus.com/index.php?show_id=200517566

This year's town wide trash pickup will be on Saturday 4/25, with rain date of Sunday 4/26.

We will meet at the Ayer Town Beach Parking Lot at Sandy Pond at 8:30am.

We will have trash bags and assign streets/areas then, unless a large group wants to sign up for a certain area ahead of time. Please contact Scott Murray to sign up for a certain area at scotmurray@gmail.com

Service hour slips are available.

The Caregiver's Compass:

Navigating Your Role When a Child is Struggling

Join us on our journey to gain practical tools, clarity and the confidence needed to navigate the complex terrain of mental health care and guide the young people toward healing and a full life.

https://brytnational.my.canva.site/caregivers-compass

Hello Runners and Walkers!

We are happy to announce the 21st Janis Bresnahan Run for Education will be held on Sunday, May 17th, 2026. The race will include a 5K competitive race, a 2K Fun Run/Walk and many more family fun events including kid activities, DJ and BBQ. The event will be held at the Ayer Shirley Regional High School. Please see our website for more details.

Registration is OPEN! CLick here www.janisbresnahanforeducation.com

Parents! If you would like to purchase a yearbook for your student you can do so at this link: https://yearbookordercenter.com/

The code is 19892.

8th grade parents may also purchase an "Ad" for their 8th grader at this same link and during the process of ordering a yearbook.

Developing Healthy Interpersonal Relationships

Trimester 2: Relationship Skills

Our second unit of the year is on developing healthy interpersonal relationships.

Challenge #10:

-Grade 6: Take responsibility for your actions in the next 2 weeks.

-Grade 7/8: Take a moment at the start of a conflict and think about how the other person is feeling. Ask them if that is how they are feeling to show you are putting yourself in their shoes.