News From The Murray Avenue PTA
September 19, 2008

Last Week's Issue of Tiger Talk

Smile! School Photos this Tues and Wed

Pick out your photo clothes (bright colors) and practice your smiles! School photos will be taken on Tues, Sept 23 and Wed, Sept 24. Sibling photos will be taken on Wed, Sept 24 after school; appointments can be made at www.cassidaystudios.com.  

Photo order forms were due this week. Put late forms in the box by the main entrance ASAP. Scholarships are available through Principal Monaco. Any questions, contact Trish Miller, trishlintonmiller@hotmail.com or Pam Washington, pwash@optonline.net  or 914-393-9298.

Make Your Voice Heard -- Join the PTA!

Every parent makes a difference. Research shows that the more parents are involved at home and at school, the better our children learn! Plus, the greater our PTA membership, the better we can influence policies and practices at the state level and provide quality programs to benefit Murray Avenue's children and families. 

Annual PTA membership is $10 per family. To join: 1) make out a check payable to Murray Avenue PTA, listing the name(s) of your child(ren) and their teachers’ name(s) on the check, and put it in the PTA Membership Box in front of the office; or 2) give a check or cash to your Room Rep at Back to School night.  Each family only needs to join once. Thank you for your support. 

v  Kindergarten Cultural Arts: From Mon, Sept 22 through Wed, Oct 8, kindergartners will work with theater movement artists Paul Rajeckas and Neil Intraub, engaging in fun exercises and games that introduce age-appropriate theater elements and help them to practice “Concentration, Cooperation and Commitment.” The program will end in a demonstration in the auditorium on Wed, Oct 8 at 1pm (or at 1:25pm if lunch is on a rainy-day schedule). Kindergarten parents are welcome to attend. This program is sponsored by the PTA and coordinated by the PTA Cultural Arts Committee along with a committee of teachers and administrators. Special thanks to kindergarten teacher Patrice Schwartz, who sits on this committee, and to Assistant Principal Cruz Soler for coordinating the scheduling of this program.

v  Attention 5th Grade Parents! Come to the 5th Grade Level Coffee next Fri, Sept 26 at 9:15am in the Small Lunchroom. Meet Principal Monaco, Vice Principal Soler, the PTA co-Presidents, your Grade Level Reps, and other 5^th grade parents. Health teacher Kathleen Degnan and DARE Officer Rui Sandiaes will also speak. Discuss 5^th grade curriculum and activities or just stop by to say hello. We need your help with the great activities for the 5^th grade planned for this year. A letter with a sign-up sheet attached will be distributed at Back to School Night. Please volunteer!

v  Mark Your Calendar for the Fall Fling:  Our annual Fall Fling is right around the corner. Come out and meet other parents, teachers and administrators on Wed, Oct 15 at Chat 19. Details to follow. Questions? Contact Pam Nodiff, pnodiff@earthlink.net.

v  Help Needed for Bike Safety Days: Mon, Sept 29, Thurs, Oct 2, and Fri, Oct 3 are Bike Safety Days. 3-5^th graders should bring their bicycles to the large playground before school on the day they have P.E. class (details to follow next week). We need parent volunteers from 8:20-9:10am each day to help lock bikes to the fence along Murray Ave. If you can help, please contact Stephanie Basta, stephaniebasta@yahoo.com or 914-834-3760.

v  Reminder: New Parking Rules Around Murray Avenue School: Please remember that parking is prohibited on the north side of Colonial Ave between Daymon Terrace and Murray Ave at pick-up and drop-off during the school year. Parking is also prohibited on the north side of Forest Ave for 20 feet from the point where Sheldrake Ave meets Forest Ave.

v  From the Green Tigers: Have you noticed that each classroom and office in the school is now equipped with a blue recycling bin? This should make recycling at school much easier for everyone, and we thank Ms. Monaco for her part in making this possible. We also thank the custodians for their assistance with this program, and we thank all of you for participating!