Murray Pilots
PTO Newsletter January #2
**IMPORTANT**
Murray let us know that they can no longer send out the PTO Newsletter through their mass communication system. I am sending this to the emails I have. Spread the word and let other families know that is they would like to receive a newsletter they can email me directly (Lynnae@MurrayPTO.org) and I will add them to the list. If you are receiving this email and you would like to be removed, I believe you can just clink "unsubscribe." If that doesn't work let me know and I will remove your email. Thanks!!
Dear Murray Families,
I want to begin by acknowledging the delay in sending this newsletter. In moments like these, words can feel painfully inadequate, and finding the right ones has been difficult. The tragic events our city has experienced have left many of us grieving, shaken, and searching for steadiness in the midst of upheaval.
Even in the midst of this sadness and uncertainty, I have been deeply touched by the kindness and care shown throughout our Murray community. Small moments of connection—checking in on one another, offering help, and holding space for one another—matter greatly, especially for our children, who look to the adults around them for a sense of safety and calm.
To any families who are feeling overwhelmed or in need of extra support, please know you are not alone. We encourage you to reach out when you need help, reassurance, or resources. The safety, well-being, and care of our children and families remain our highest priority, and we are committed to supporting our community with compassion and care.
As a PTO, we will continue to share helpful information and resources as they become available. Our hope is that this newsletter can serve as a small point of connection and support as we move forward together.
Thank you for the grace, patience, and love you continue to show one another. Even in difficult moments, our community remains a place of care and belonging.
With care and solidarity,
Lynnae Erwin, President
Mandi Rupp, President
Nia Anderson, Treasurer
Kerrin Flanagan, Secretary
Spotlight on Fun
Teacher's Soup Potluck!
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Teacher's Potluck Fund or to those who dropped off soups, salads and desserts to the Soup Potlucks held on Tuesday and Wednesday last week. The Murray staff were incredibly appreciative of the support and generosity shown to them. Please be on the lookout for more PTO potlucks coming up in the near future—we hope you’ll be able to join us again!
The Murray Market
Grand Opening Wednesday January 28 during the Murray Showcase!
We’re excited to introduce the Murray Market, a new resource designed to support our students and their families. The Murray Market is a welcoming space, located in Murray Middle School, where students can grab essential items for home, including non-perishable food, household goods, baby supplies, hygiene products, and much more. This initiative reflects our community’s commitment to caring for one another and ensuring all families have access to everyday necessities. If you would like to donate to the Murray Market, please consider purchasing from the Murray PTO Amazon wishlist. Thank you so much for continuing to show your care and respect for all families.
Donations and Volunteering
Our community is strongest when we show up for one another
Right now, some families connected to our school are experiencing real hardship and could use extra support. If you are able to help, monetary donations can be made securely through our GiveMN page.
Every contribution—big or small—goes directly toward supporting families in need. Thank you for caring for our community and for helping ensure no family feels alone during this time.
I’m so grateful to be part of such an amazing school community and blown away by the support we’ve already received. If you’d like to volunteer, please fill out this form: Volunteer Form
Families in Need
**If you or your family is in need of support, resources or information please contact with one of the following Murray staff and they will help to connect you with the support you need.**
Ms. Revermann - justine.revermann@spps.org
Ms. Kyser - lizabeth.kyser@spps.org
Mr. Cudahy - bob.cudahy@spps.org
Ms. Olson - sari.olson@spps.org
Si usted o su familia necesitan apoyo, recursos o información, por favor comuníquense con uno de los siguientes miembros del personal de Murray, y ellos le ayudarán a conectarse con el apoyo que necesita.
Yog tias koj lossis koj tsev neeg xav tau kev pab, kev pabcuam, lossis ntaub ntawv, thov hu rau ib tus neeg ua haujlwm hauv tsev kawm ntawv Murray uas teev npe hauv qab no. Lawv yuav pab txuas koj nrog cov kev pab uas koj xav tau.
እንተ ንኹሉኻ ወይ ንወላድኻ ድጋፍ፣ ኣገዳሚታት ወይ መረዳእታ ትፈልጡ፣ በስራሕ ቤት ምስ ኣብ ትምህርቲ Murray ዝተዘርዘሩ ሰራሕተኛታት ኣንዱኻ ተገናኽብ። ነቲ ሰራሕተኛታት ንኹሉኻ ንዚ ዝፈልጉ ድጋፍ ንምገናኝ ይረዱኻ።
Haddii adiga ama qoyskaaga aad u baahan tihiin taageero, kheyraad, ama macluumaad, fadlan la xiriir mid ka mid ah shaqaalaha Murray ee hoos ku qoran, waxayna kaa caawin doonaan inaad hesho taageerada aad u baahan tahay.
အဲဒါက သင့်ကို သို့မဟုတ် သင့်မိသားစုကို အထောက်အပံ့၊ အရင်းအမြစ် သို့မဟုတ် သတင်းအချက်အလက် လိုအပ်လျှင် Murray ကျောင်း ဝန်ထမ်းတစ်ဦးကို ဆက်သွယ်ပါ။ ထိုဝန်ထမ်းများသည် သင်လိုအပ်သော အထောက်အပံ့ကို ချိတ်ဆက်ပေးပါမည်။
Ideas for a Family Safety Plan
Saint Paul Public Schools is committed to welcoming and educating all students and upholding our mission to provide a premier education for every child. SPPS cannot ask families or students about their immigration status or deny access to an education based on immigration status.
Many students and families have shared concerns about their safety. Below are some resources and steps to help students and families have plans in place. Please note the school district and school staff cannot provide legal advice or assistance.
Emergency Contacts
Make a list of important phone numbers, including family members, friends and local organizations that can provide assistance. Keep this list in an easily accessible place. Please contact your school or log into your Infinite Campus Parent Account to verify and update your information.
Public Directory Information
Per school district policy, certain information about students is public (including name, date of birth, grade and school). Parents have the right to “opt out” and make this information private. Please contact Student Records at 651-632-3764 and visit SPPS for more information.
Family Plan
Discuss and create a plan with your family. Decide on a safe place to meet and how to communicate if you are separated.
Important Documents
Keep copies of important documents (e.g., passports, birth certificates, medical records) in a safe and accessible place. Consider storing digital copies securely online.
Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA):
A DOPA is a document that allows you to designate someone to take care of your children if you are unable to do so. This person can make decisions about your child's care, custody and property. The DOPA is effective as soon as it is signed and notarized and lasts for up to one year. Each child will need their own DOPA filled out. You can list more than one person as a DOPA. **DOPAs do need to be notarized. Contact your school counselor or EL Teacher if you need a Notary and they will connect you.
A third-party custody is when a court gives legal and physical custody of a child to someone who is not a biological parent. This person is sometimes called the custodian. Legal custody means you have the right to make major decisions for the child. These are decisions like medical care, religion and where they go to school. Only court can grant someone third-party custody.
Community Resources & Information
If you need rent or utilities assistance:
CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio): Saint Paul 651-379-4200
MN Home Line: Free legal help for renters in Minnesota from a non-governmental, non-profit organization.
Twin Cities area 612-728-5767
Greater Minnesota 866-866-3546
Spanish 612-255-8870
Somali 612-255-8860
Hmong 612-255-7104
Ramsey Action Program Fuel Assistance: 651-266-6470
Ramsey County Heat Share Program: 651-224-4136
If you need shelter assistance:
Youth Services Network MN: Helping youth find shelter and services
Emergency Shelter Services: 651-266-1050 email: shelterentry@ramseycounty.us
Catholic Charities Higher Ground (shelter): 651-647-2330
Union Gospel Mission (shelter/men only) 651-292-1721
Model Cities Safe Space (shelter) 651-789-2066
Metropolitan Council: Rental Assistance 651-602-1428
If you need food assistance:
Twin Cities Mutual Aid Project (TCMAP) Map of mutual aid sites around the Twin Cities
Food Helpline: 1-888-711-1151
If you need legal assistance:
MN Immigrant Rights Action Committee: email - miracmn@gmail.com
Immigration Defense Network: 612-255-3112
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: 651-641-1011
Info on Delegation of Parental Authority (DOPA) - if you need help finding someone to notarize a DOPA reach out to one of the SPPS staff listed above
If you need mental health assistance:
Adult Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7900
Child Mental Health Crisis Line: 651-266-7878
If you would like information about Immigration Rights:
Monarca: 612-441-2881 & info@ monarcamn.org
Know Your Rights: Videos in English and Spanish
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & INFORMATION
PTO Meeting Dates
6:00pm in the Murray Media Center
Monday, February 9th
Thursday, March 12th
Monday, April 20th
Monday, May 18th
Important Dates
Wednesday, January 28th
Murray Showcase
At Murray Middle School
530pm - 7:30pm
Thursday, January 29th
End of Quarter 2
Activity Day
Friday, January 30th
No School
Monday, February 2nd
Murray PACT Meeting
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Monday, February 16th
No School
Monday, March 2nd
Murray PACT Meeting
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Friday, March 13th - Sunday, March 15
Murray Musical Performance
Time: TBD
Thursday, March 19th
Family/Teacher Conferences
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Friday, March 20th
No School
Saturday, March 29th
Regional History Day
Friday, April 3rd
End of Quarter 3
Monday April 6th - Friday, April 10th
No School, Spring Break
Monday, April 13th
Murray PACT Meeting
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Thursday, April 16th
Family/Teacher Conferences
4:00pm - 7:00pm
Sunday, April 19th
State History Day
Monday, May 4th
Murray PACT Meeting
5:00pm - 6:30pm
Thursday, May 21st
Murray Band & Orchestra Concert
6:30pm - 8:00pm
Monday, May 25 - Wednesday, May 27
No School
Wednesday, June 10th
8th Grade Recognition
9:30am - 11:00am
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Thursday, June 11th
End of Quarter 4
Last Day of School