News From The Murray Avenue PTA
March 14 , 2008

Last Week's Issue of Tiger Talk

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At what age should children learn financial responsibility?
 Find out about this and other money matters from speaker Neale Godfrey, bestselling author and founder of the Children's Financial Network.

Join us on Wed, March 26 at 7:30pm in the Murray Library. Questions? Contact Kim Tucker.
Last Chance to Nominate!
Please consider nominating yourself or another Murray parent for one of these Executive Board positions: Co-President; Treasurer; Secretary; VP Faculty Relations; VP Parent Services; & VP Student Programs. Nominations were due today, Fri, March 14, but you can submit via email directly to a Nominating Committee member by Mon morning: Chris Hofstedt; Ann Lobue; Melissa Nagin; Debra Schwartz; Ann Wilson. All submissions and queries are confidential.
First Grade Cultural Arts:
On Mon, March 17, The Puppet People will enchant first graders with a whimsical retelling of The Firebird, the Russian folktale in which a mythical firebird comes to life. It explores such themes as cooperation, friendship, courage, self-esteem and responsibility. The production uses a variety of puppets including beautifully handcrafted marionettes, rod puppets, and even a life-size purple wolf, as well as Igor Stravinsky’s musical score. Following the show, each first grader will create a puppet in classroom workshops. The program is sponsored by the PTA and is coordinated by the PTA Cultural Arts Committee in conjunction with a committee of teachers and administrators. Special thanks to teacher Elizabeth Dillon who sits on this committee and to Assistant Principal Soler for coordination of scheduling.
A Tip from the Green Tigers:
The kickoff for our Murray scientists will be a presentation about Flight by the nationally acclaimed Franklin Institute on Mon, Feb. 4. Children in grades 2-5 will explore the history of flight, investigate the Bernoulli principle, and learn how airplane wings provide lift. Later that day, grades 3-5 will get their very own Science Fair Handbooks! Check your child’s backpack so you can review the Handbook together. The Fair takes place in June, so there is plenty of time to get projects organized. Completed Project Proposal Forms are due by Fri, March 7. For cool ideas, check out the Science Fair Resource Area in our library and the fun websites listed in the Handbook. We need volunteers, so please contact one of us: Liz Paras at 834-0787, Sarah Murray at 834-8491, or Suzanne Prigoda.
A Tip from the Green Tigers:
Most households should have received a mailer from Con Edison recently offering a free energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). Please take advantage of this offer, if you haven't already. If every household in the US used just one CFL, it would have the same effect on reducing pollution as removing about 900,000 cars from the nation's roads!
08/09 District Budget:
Come to a School Board Study Session to learn about the 08/09 School Budget: Sat, March 15, 9am-2:30pm; Tues, March 18, 7:30 pm (also discussion of capital and field projects); Tues, March 25, 7:30pm. These meetings will be held in the MHS Tiered Classroom and televised on LMC-TV.
TV Turn-Off Week is April 14–18!
Most households should have received a mailer from Con Edison recently offering a free energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL). Please take advantage of this offer, if you haven't already. If every household in the US used just one CFL, it would have the same effect on reducing pollution as removing about 900,000 cars from the nation's roads!
Did you know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?
Studies show that kids who eat breakfast do better in school. March is Nutrition Month: look around the lunchroom for posters with more nutrition tips and ask your kids whether they enjoyed meeting Murray the Monkey.
The 5th graders and their parents wore down the parquet at the Palmer Gym Fri night at the 5th Grade Square Dance! Many thanks to the volunteers who lassoed up quilts for decor; organized food contributions; and helped out the night of the big event: Sheri Danehy, Alison Matz, Suzanne Kliegerman, Steven Haber, Regan Shulman, Jennifer Stingone, Josie Guttman, Melissa Nagin, Cindy Margiotta, Debbie Durben, Suzanne Calkins, Christin Putnam , Adrienne Skinner, Lizette Macaluso and all the dads that pitched in! Cheers to Peter Berendt and Cruz Soler who joined us at the hoedown! And thanks to Maureen LeBlanc, Tracy Owen & Jane Bernstein for their guidance. A special thank you from the entire 5th Grade to Abbey Straus, Ann Wilson & Jane Meyerson for their outstanding leadership in making this special event so memorable!
MVP (Murray Volunteer Parents) Schedules:
Daymon Terrace Drop-Off - Please visit Drop Off Schedule.
4th & 5th Grade Game Room - Please visit Game Room.
1st, 2nd & 3rd Grade Game Room - Please visit Game Room
Kindergarten Rainy Day - Please visit Game Room
Tiger Talk is Murray Ave PTA's weekly one-page bulletin and the best way to stay informed. Do you have an item for Tiger Talk? Submit your PTA-related notice, via email by 3 pm on Wed. to tigertalk@mamkschools.org. Questions regarding Tiger Talk, contact editor Ann LoBue at tigertalk@mamkschools.org. For School, District or Community submissions, contact Deborah Garriola, at Garriola@mamkschools.org.