Grade 7 BOS Email

Dear Seventh-Grade Parents and Students:
 
I hope this email finds you well and enjoying your summer! My summer is moving WAY too quickly! The Charles Schultz character Charlie Brown said it best, “Summers fly, winters walk.”
 
I would like to take the opportunity to say, “Welcome to MUS!” We’re glad that you have made the decision to send your son to school at 6191 Park. As an Owl myself (Class of 1986) and parent of Patrick (Class of 2016), I can attest that you’ve made a wise choice.
 
One change has occurred on campus since your son’s acceptance; Mr. Clay Smythe, the previous Lower School Principal, has elected to return to the classroom full time to teach religion. In May I was honored when Headmaster Pete Sanders asked me to take the reins of the Lower School.
 
I am excited about my new role as Lower School principal and look forward to working with your son this fall. I entered Hull Lower School as a student in the fall of 1980 under the guiding hand of John Murry Springfield, returned in 1990 and taught Algebra I-A and Pre-Algebra in the Lower School with Principal Barry Ray at the helm, worked with Principal Rick Broer during his tenure, and sent Patrick through the Lower School under Mr. Smythe. As the fifth principal of the Lower School, I have had the honor of knowing all four gentlemen and plan on using their best practices and continuing MUS traditions to make the 2018-19 school year wonderful for your son.
 
As we prepare for his arrival on campus, we want to cover the following topics so we can get the school year off to a smooth start. I apologize for the length of the email, but all the content is important. Please read it carefully and begin to schedule accordingly.
 
Our online information system, OnCampus, is where you will access school resources, the school calendar, and school news. Additionally, once school is underway, you will be able to view your son's schedule of classes, progress reports, grades, and attendance records. 
 
Parents, visit www.musowls.org and log in (upper right corner).
 
If you have forgotten your login or password or do not have one yet, click on the Forgot your login? link and follow the prompts. (Click here for detailed instructions.) Students, during the first week of school, we will assist you with your login; please wait until you are physically on campus this fall.
 
Parents, you will find most everything you need under the Resources tab.
 
You will also find interesting and fun items on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube pages. Links for these are located on the MUS home page. Please "Like" our pages to show your support and get our updates. 
 
Summer Reading List and Math Requirements: 
Visit www.musowls.libguides.com/summer for Summer Reading and Math Packet information. Math Packets are due Tuesday, August 14; tests on summer reading will be given during the first week of classes.
 
Parent Camp: Monday, August 6, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
This important session is for seventh-grade parents only – no students or children. We will provide you with necessary information and attempt to anticipate your questions and concerns. Afterward, we are happy to address any questions. Please meet in Dunavant Lecture Hall, Hull Lower School building, north of the baseball field.
 
Book Sale: Tuesday, August 7, 9-11 a.m.
Seventh graders may buy their books Tuesday, August 7, from 9-11 a.m. in Ross Lynn Arena. Students should attend the Book Sale at this time not only to assist their parents but also to get their Owl Camp photos taken. Parents may also purchase books at any of the subsequent Book Sale sessions (Tuesday, August 7, 1-3 p.m., Wednesday, August 8, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; Thursday, August 9, 9-11 a.m. and 1-3 p.m.; Friday, August 10, 9:30-11 a.m.).
 
If you are unable to attend one of the Book Sale sessions, you may send someone in your place. Class schedules, seat assignments, and locker assignments are distributed at Book Sale. We suggest that you take books and materials purchased home after the sale, and DO NOT place them in assigned lockers. Students should bring books to school on Tuesday, August 14. At home, take a few minutes to place your son’s name in his books and notebooks; seventh graders occasionally misplace items, and it is much easier to return a book with a name in it.
  • Student photos: 
    Please have your son’s picture taken in the lobby before entering the Book Sale session Tuesday, August 7, from 9-11 a.m. This photo will be used during Owl Camp so the faculty and administration can begin putting names with faces. It will also be the photo used for the MUS identity card (U Card). Casual clothing worn for Owl Camp is fine for this photo.
  • Reminders: 
    To be eligible to receive schedules and buy books, tuition must be paid in advance (according to your payment plan). During the week of Book Sale, we will accept credit and debit cards for payment on books, spirit wear, and season athletic passes. Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are the cards we can accept.
  • Directions to Book Sale in Ross Lynn Arena: 
    Enter the Primacy Parkway gate on Ridgeway and park in the main lot facing the south doors of the Sue H. Hyde Sports and Physical Education Center. We will have plenty of friendly students around to help you find your way, and coffee will be provided. Visit www.musowls.org for a campus map (click on ABOUT).
School Supplies: 
Lower School supply lists are posted here and on an online Resource Board (see information for accessing in the sixth paragraph of this letter). There are a few items all our students need: paper (either loose-leaf or spiral notebooks), blue or black pens, red pens, pencils, highlighters, index cards, and a TI-30Xa calculator. You will buy an MUS assignment book at Book Sale. Teachers may have specific supply requirements, and the boys will receive that information during the first week of school. Both rolling and regular backpacks are acceptable. A large athletic bag is advisable for students with sports equipment; during the day, athletic bags are stored in the Lower School’s secure athletic closet.
 
Dining Service:
We contract with Sodexo for breakfast and lunch service. You may choose to buy a lunch Meal Plan either for a semester or for the year online at www.mus.sodexomyway.com (the account number is your son’s name) or at Book Sale. There is no semester plan for breakfast, but you can load funds in $25 increments on the U Card for breakfast or food purchases over and above Meal Plan options.
 
Student Orientation, aka Owl Camp:
We assemble at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7, in front of the Lower School for the Owl Camp overnight orientation. The seventh graders, accompanied by a crew of faculty members (and me), leave for Camp Bear Track, Drasco, AR, at 1 p.m. We return Thursday, August 9, around 4:30 p.m. Attendance is mandatory. For more information about the overnight trip and forms needed, click here.
 
The First Week: Monday, August 13 – Friday, August 17:
  • Monday, August 13, is Convocation Day – the first day of school. Students should arrive by 8 a.m. in the Lower School, and we will get them to Hyde Chapel. Convocation Day is also the continuation of Owl Camp for the seventh graders – activities are designed to orient students new to MUS in a variety of ways. Dress coat and tie is required attire for Convocation Day; we will also take student yearbook pictures before lunch, so please make sure that your son is properly attired and groomed. Appropriate appearance includes a clean-shaven face and hair that is neatly groomed so it stays out of the eyes, above the midpoint of the ear, and above the collar in the back. Sideburns may not extend below the earlobe. Examples of inappropriate grooming are hair of extreme style or color, mustaches, and ponytails. We will serve lunch and then embark on our tours and other activities. Convocation Day ends at 2:30 p.m. The boys are to be picked up in front of the Lower School.
  • Tuesday, August 14, your son begins his regular academic schedule. Summer Math Packets are due this day.
  • Academic and Medical Evaluations: If you have academic and medical evaluation data to relay to the counseling office, Mrs. Amy Poag is your contact. She can be reached at amy.poag@musowls.org.
Please email me at loyal.murphy@musowls.org if you have a question that cannot wait until August 6. We look forward to seeing you at Parent Camp and at Book Sale!
 
Sincerely,
 
Loyal Murphy
Lower School Principal
Memphis University School
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Memphis University School

6191 Park Avenue  |  Memphis, TN 38119  |  Main: (901) 260-1300