Murray Elementary School
A Great Place to Grow
School Supplies
Dear Murray Families,
We hope youāre having a wonderful summer. Weāre excited to welcome you to a brand-new school year on August 12th!
Murrayās PTO is committed to supporting our students, teachers, and families. To help make the start of the year easier for everyone, the PTO will be purchasing the classroom supplies needed for students in kindergarten through 5th grade this year.
Grades Kā5
We kindly ask families of children in grades K-5 to contribute $40 per student (electronic payment via PT Board, cash, or check made payable to Murray PTO). These funds will go directly toward ensuring that every student has the supplies they need to succeed all year longāthings like pencils, folders, markers, glue, headphones, and more.
In addition, we are asking 5th graders to personalize their learning by bringing the following items:
2ā zippered binder
Zippered pencil pouch
Simple 4-function calculator
There are 3 easy ways to contribute to the School Supply Fund:
Pay online via PT Board, Murray PTOās one-stop shop for PTO happenings. Here is the link: https://vlmurray.ptboard.com/formvw/store?store=8309.
Pay via cash or check (made payable to Murray PTO) at Open House (Monday, August 10 from 4-5:30 p.m.)
Pay via cash or check (made payable to Murray PTO) to your childās classroom
teacher or Carla Dodson in the front office.
On September 30, weāll calculate the total money contributed to the School Supply Fund and divide it proportionally among the 14 classroom teachers. Weāll notify each teacher of the additional amount they have to spend (for more information about classroom funding, check out the link on PT Board).
Thank you for your continued support of the Murray community and for helping ensure that each student has the materials they need to succeed. Weāre looking forward to a great year together!
Warmly,
Your 2026-27 PTO Executive Council Officers
Kara de Carvalho, President
Beth Bollwerk, Vice President
Alec Lorenzoni, Treasurer
James Stone, Secretary
Important Information for Families
Family Handbook
Our Family Handbook is a comprehensive guide to life at Murray Elementary! It contains essential details on daily procedures, school policies, arrival/dismissal routines, and ways to stay involved throughout the year!
From Nurse Bosen
Welcome back! As we kick off another school year, please take a moment to review these important health-related reminders to help us keep your child safe and healthy:
- Rescue Medications & Action Plans
If your child has a medical condition that requires rescue medication (such as an inhaler or EpiPen), we must receive an updated action plan at the beginning of each school year. Medications must be brought in by a parent/guardian and handed directly to the school nurse. - Prescribed Medications During School Hours
If your child needs to take prescribed medication during the school day, a medication authorization form (available [here]) must be signed by their healthcare provider. The medication must also be brought in by a parent/guardian and given to the school nurse. - Over-the-Counter Medications
If you would like your child to receive over-the-counter medication as needed, please provide a 30-day supply or less along with a signed permission form (available [here]). Both must be submitted by a parent/guardian. -
Up to Date Health Record
If your child has a change on his/her medical history or condition please be sure to update his/her medical record in PowerSchool. We want to make sure we have all the necessary health information needed to provide the best care possible while your child is at school. Please include only medical information that is relevant to your child's health and safety during the school day.
Thank you for your cooperation and for helping us ensure a healthy and safe environment for all students!
Tissues and Wipes Deive
š¤§ Tissues & Wipes Drive
What: We are accepting donations of unopened boxes of tissues and cleaning wipes.
How: Drop-off collection boxes will be available in the main lobby during Open House.
Why: With the start of the school year comes cold and flu season! Your donations will help keep our classrooms clean and our students healthy all year long.
School Attendance is Important!
Why?
Academic Achievement: Attending School regularly allows your child to fully participate in classroom activities, engage with teachers and peers, and stay up to date with their learning.
Skill Development: Beyond academic learning, school is a place where children develop critical life skills such as communication, teamwork, problem solving, and time management.
Well-Being: Regular school attendance helps children build strong relationships with peers and teachers, fostering a sense of belonging.
On January 1, 2025, Albemarle County Public Schools began a new division-wide policy to support student learning: Personal Device-Free Education.
Research shows that when students use cell phones or personal communication devices during class, their ability to focus and retain information decreases, leading to lower academic performance. Beyond classroom distraction, frequent use of personal devices and social media can have long-term impacts on adolescentsā attention, concentration, and mental health.
To create a healthier, more focused learning environment, ACPS has established a device-free school environment. This initiative ensures that all students can engage fully in instruction and school activities without the interference of digital distractions or personal communication devices.
What that means for Murray for Access to Personal Devices?
- Students may not use personal communication devices (such as cell phones, Apple Watches, any/or any smart devices, etc.) at any time during the school day, from the first bell to the last bell (Bell-to-Bell).
- Ideally, personal devices should be left at home. If a student brings one to school, it must stay stored away for the entire day.
School Safety
We will conduct a variety of emergency drills throughout the year to ensure we are prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from any crisis that may occur. These drills help us practice the safest and most effective actions to keep our students and staff safe.
Using ACPSās Emergency Response Protocols, we will conduct:
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Fire Drills
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Lockdown Drills
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Tornado Drills
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School Evacuation Drills
Upcoming Drills:
August 18 (T) Fire Drill at 10:10 am.
August 26 (W) Fire Drill at 1:20 pm.
September 4 (F) Lockdown Drill at 8:30 am.
September 24 (Th) Bus Evacuation Drill at 2:15 pm.
Listening Conferences
A listening conference is an opportunity for parents or caretakers to meet with the teacher and share background information about your childās experiences that you feel would be helpful for the teacher to know. During the conference, the parent or caretaker does mostāor allāof the talking, while the teacher listens and takes notes.
The insights gained from these conversations help the teacher build a strong relationship with your child and create a supportive classroom community.
Please watch for more information from your childās teacher about scheduling your listening conference.
