Walk to School Week is Coming Soon: New!!! Please Donate Gently Used Children's Shoes
Calling all Murray students!  Grab your sneakers and get ready to walk and help others walk during Walk to School Week October 7th-11th!  Look for parent volunteers at orange covered tables to enter raffle to win prizes and make your donation of GENTLY used children's shoes.  Volunteer locations : 1) large playground 2) small playground 3) Daymon Terrace in front of kindergarten playground.  All donations will be given to The Sharing Shelf.  

Volunteers needed!  If you can help from 8:20-8:45 am any morning during WTSW, please contact Emily Levine (emily_levine@yahoo.com), Danicia Ambron (danicia@mindspring.com) or Jennifer Tomkiel (jennifer.tomkiel@gmail.com)

Wrapping Paper Order Deadline Extended to October 4th
Don't forget to send in your tally sheets and checks for Murray Avenue's wrapping paper fundraiser!  The deadline has been extended to Friday, October 4, 2013.  Drop off orders in the PTA mailbox outside the main office. Don't have a catalog? You can also order online at www.prestigefundraisinginc.com. Support your school and get your wrapping paper in time for the holidays. Any questions?  Contact Julie Leonard at jkocaba@yahoo.com.

Inner Resilience Program Parent Workshops: There is Still Time to Sign Up But Space is Limited
Workshops begin Thursday 10/3.  Advance registration of $125 through PayPal is required. Registration includes all 4 sessions*, Thursdays (10/3-10/24), 9:00-11:30am at Murray.
*If you have a small scheduling issue, please contact us to discuss.

Join the movement at Murray to quiet our minds and improve emotional intelligence. Can't make it yourself? Sign up your caregiver instead.

• Learn how to model healthy behavior for your children. 
• Explore ideas on conflict resolution.
• Reduce stress and anxiety over homework.

Sign up today at http://mamkschoolspta.org/murray/inner_resilience.html.  For questions, contact Carrie Tucker dustyetucker@aol.com.

PTA Dues
We are still collecting PTA annual dues ($10 per family). While dues are optional, we appreciate your support! The greater our PTA membership, the more we can influence policies and practices at the state level.  Also, the PTA provides quality programs that benefit Murray Avenue's children and families.
 
To join the PTA: 1) make out a check payable to Murray Ave PTA listing the name(s) of your child(ren) and their teacher(s) on the check and put it in the blue drawer labeled PTA Membership, in front of the Main Office; or 2) mail to Alex Soderlund, 7 France Place, Larchmont.  
 
Each family only needs to join once.

Art Appreciation Training: Thursday, October 3rd
Inspired by Murray's new garden, this year's Art Appreciation curriculum will focus on the ways in which art incorporates nature. Please join us for the first presentation to parent volunteers on Thursday, 10/3 at 9am in the Murray cafeteria. We will explore French Impressionism and review the classroom project. Please contact Elissa Bard at elissabard@yahoo.com with questions.

Last Chance to Order your Mini Directories! Deadline is Friday, Oct 4th.
Mini Directories are available for Pre-Order ONLY!  Please Note: A regular full size directory will NOT be available in hard copy.  It is available electronically only.  This Mini Directory will be the ONLY hard copy available. 

The cost of each Mini Directory is $8.00.  Click here to order your Mini Directory now for easy online ordering.  We appreciate your support of one of the 5th grade's main fundraisers! For more information contact Lee Wipper at lkwipper@msn.com

Shop at Amazon Using the Murray Link and Earn $$ for Murray
Earn money for Murray Avenue PTA every time you shop at Amazon.  Enter Amazon’s website through the Amazon banner on our website, and Murray will automatically earn 7-10% of your visit's purchase for the PTA.    

Mobile Directory: Tip of the Week
We hope you have had a chance to try the new electronic directory! Want to search students by class or grade?  Go to the "Student Search" page, and click on the menu button (desktop version) or arrow (mobile version) in the top right corner.  A menu will drop down allowing you to filter students by grade or teacher.  Stay tuned for more tips in coming weeks. Questions?  Contact murrayptadirectory@gmail.com.
 
Thanks of the Week
Thank you to Stephanie McFadden, Catherine Sullivan, and Andrea Fleming and all the parent volunteers who helped our kids look their best and get their smiles on for school pictures last week.

Thank you to Fran Ganz-Lord and Laura Perry for getting our electronic student and family directory up and running so quickly, and thank you to all our parents for your cooperation as we launched this new directory format!

In This Issue:

• Walk to School Week
• Wrapping Paper Orders - Deadline Extended
• Inner Resilience Workshops
• 5th Grade Coffee 
• PTA Dues
• Art Appreciation Training
• Last Chance to Order Mini Directories
• Shop at Amazon, Earn $$ for Murray
• Electronic Directory Tip of the Week
• Thanks of the Week
• PAWS for News

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