PTA Bake Sale on Nov 14 – Time to Bake and Buy!! This year's Bake Sale will occur on Murray's Visiting Day, Fri Nov 14. WE NEED YOU! During this election season, pledge your support to this year's Bake Sale. Proceeds from the bake sale directly support the dynamic programs and initiatives provided by our PTA.

We need volunteers to bake! Please mark your calendar to send cookies, cupcakes, brownies, loaf cakes, pies, and rice krispy treats. If you plan to bake please contact Karen Paul at 833-1007 or by email @ kapaul930@optonline.net. Last-minute donations also welcome. Look to the PTA website (www.mamkschoolspta.org/murray) for healthy baked goods recipes. Kid-friendly decoration of goods always appreciated and sought by our customers! Individual packaging of baked items requested: bundle cookies to portion sizes; same with brownies; wrap loaf cakes and pies (muffins and cupcakes don’t need to be wrapped).

Bagels, coffee and tea will be available in the morning for breakfast. And don't forget to send money with your child for the bake sale on Nov 14! Let them choose cookies or a cupcake for dessert.

The PTA Book Fair is Coming Nov 17-20! This year's hours are Mon, Nov 17, 8:15am-4pm; Tues, Nov 18, 8:15am-4pm and 6-8pm; Weds, Nov 19, 8:15am-4pm and 6-8pm; and Thurs, Nov 20, 8:15am-noon. Please contact Jennifer Nabi at jennabi@optonline.net or Dahna Freidus at dahna.freidus@gmail.com with any books you would be especially interested in seeing at the Fair. Volunteers still needed! If you have 1-2 hours to spare, please contact Amanda Lodge at lodgeusa@aol.com.

Reminder from the After-School Clubs Committee: Please be sure to discuss your club dismissal plan with your child/ren. Thank you!.

Healthy Bite from the Nutrition and Wellness Committee: Have you considered a healthier option this Halloween? How about handing out Halloween bags of pretzels or Teddy Grahams or even stickers, pencils or erasers? If you give out candy, choose mini size chocolate candy and limit the number. Let’s help to keep those Halloween pounds off our kids (and adults too!)!

Watch for a Murray PTA Membership Survey in your E-mail In-box

The Murray PTA depends upon YOU -- the parents and teachers of Murray Avenue School -- for the ideas, manpower and financial support to make our programming possible. Faced with decisions about how best to allocate our precious resources, we are seeking your constructive input.

We have prepared an online, interactive survey that will be distributed via e-mail to parents -- using the Murray Minute distribution list -- and to teachers. It should take no more than 15 minutes to complete. YOUR REPLIES WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL. A written report of the findings will be made available to the Murray community.

We thank you in advance for taking the time to help us with this important project.

Field Trip Photos Wanted for Murray Yearbook: Have you gone on a class field trip and taken photos? Murray Memories is looking for field trip or in-school event photos for ALL grades. Please contact Pam Nodiff @ pnodiff@earthlink.net. We are also looking for someone with Photoshop experience to help with the yearbook (minimal time commitment required).

NEW -- Murray Lunch Menu on the Website: The November lunch menu is posted on the District website, www.mamkschools.org. To find it, click on the “Parents” tab on the top of the home page, select “Lunch” from the list, click on “Murray Avenue Lunch Menu,” select your language, then click “Download Now.” In addition, thanks to help from Ed Cofino, the District-Wide Technology Coordinator, there is link on the “Lunch” page to MySchoolMeals.com, where Murray parents can place a lunch order. To access this link, go to www.mamkschools.org; click on the “Parents” tab; select “Lunch” and click on “Click here to place an order.” The prior month's menu will remain online until the start of the new month.

Questions? Contact Abbey Straus, Editor