Murray Elementary School

As we enter the final 9 weeks of the school year, we want to celebrate all the hard work, growth, and accomplishments of our students and staff. This is a time to stay focused, finish strong, and continue building on all that we’ve learned so far. Let’s make these last weeks meaningful, full of learning, collaboration, and positivity, and set ourselves up for a successful end to the school year. Keep encouraging one another, stay engaged, and let’s make every day count!

This is a reminder that school will be closed April 6-10 for Spring Break. We hope you all have a fun, relaxing, and enjoyable time!

Thank you, Roger Baber and Arbor Life for donating wood chips to our upper playground. Our floors, students shoes, and custodians thank you for cutting down on the mud in our halls.

Thank you to WAHS with a Cause for coming out on 3/30 and beautifying our grounds and spending time with our Kindergartners reading and making crafts!

As we are now in the last quarter of this school year, we begin to prepare for the 2026-2027 school year. If you are not returning to Murray/Henley next year, please take a moment to let the office know. You only need to let us know if you are not attending next year. Please email Cdodson2@k12albemarle.org by Friday, April 3rd. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the front office at 434-977-4599. Thank you.

It's time for kindergarten to shine! Join us on Friday, April 24 at 8:15am.

1. Ensure Restful Sleep – A good night’s sleep helps your child focus and retain information. Encourage a consistent bedtime during testing weeks.
2. Eat a Healthy Breakfast – A balanced breakfast with protein and whole grains gives energy and helps concentration. Avoid too much sugar that can cause energy crashes.
3. Arrive on Time – Being punctual reduces stress and allows students to start each test calmly and confidently.
4. Stay Positive and Encouraging – Praise effort over perfection. Remind your child that SOL tests show what they’ve learned, and their best effort is what matters most.
5. Practice Calm and Focus – Encourage your child to take deep breaths if they feel nervous. Simple mindfulness or stretching exercises in the morning can help.
6. Review Key Concepts Lightly – Short, focused review sessions are more effective than cramming. Encourage your child to ask questions about anything they don’t understand.
7. Pack Essentials the Night Before – Pencil, eraser, water bottle, and any allowed materials should be ready to avoid last-minute stress.
8. Limit Distractions at Home – During test days, reduce screen time and create a quiet environment for your child to get ready and feel relaxed.
9. Celebrate Effort – Regardless of the outcome, acknowledge the hard work and perseverance your child has shown throughout the year.

Kindergarten Registration for the 2026-27 school year opens April 1, 2026.

If your child will turn 5 by September 30, 2026, it’s time to start preparing for kindergarten. The 2026-27 school year will begin for students on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Registration Steps

To register for kindergarten, or if your child has been accepted into a preschool program, please follow these steps:

1. Review admission requirements.
   To enroll in kindergarten for the 2026-27 school year, your child must be 5 years old by September 30, 2026, and reside in Albemarle County.
2. Determine your school attendance area.
   Albemarle County Public Schools determines which elementary school your child will attend for kindergarten based on your physical (home) address.
3. Prepare to present required documents.
   In order to enroll your child in kindergarten, state law requires you to provide certain information to the school division. Our online registration form provides an opportunity for families to upload required documents. We recommend that you gather your documentation prior to completing our online registration form. If you do not have all of your required documentation at the time you submit the registration form, you will need to make arrangements with your child's school to provide the documentation.
4. Complete an online registration form.
   Albemarle County Public Schools uses an online registration form to collect the information used to enroll your child in one of our schools.

To receive on-site assistance with the registration process, please contact your child's school to schedule an appointment.

For assistance registering a child who was not born in the United States or speaks a language other than English, or if the documents needed for school registration were issued in a foreign country, contact the International & English Learners (EL) Program at 434-296-6517.

We can’t wait to welcome all of our new kindergarten families on May 21 from 3:30–5:00 PM! Please save the date and be on the lookout for more information during your child’s registration.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qJmG4aEGK31JPJyVITaSYvWHbEKT_00b/view?usp=sharing

Our April Fire Drill is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd.

As the colder weather sets in, we want to ensure the health and safety of our students. Please find attached guidance on when it’s best to send your child to school and when to keep them home due to illness or other concerns. Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy learning environment!

Please check out the school calendar for all other school events https://mes.k12albemarle.org/about/calendar

https://mes.k12albemarle.org/

Check out our school events on the Murray Calendar!