A l b e m a r l e C o u n t y P u b l i c S c h o o l s Volume 24, Issue 4

V. L. Murray Quarterly

June 2015 Dear Murray Families, It has been a pleasure to work with the students, staff, and families throughout this school year. I always miss sending the fifth graders off to their new schools, but I know they are well prepared and well supported. As they leave us, it also means that we will be looking forward to the next class of kindergarten learners who will be joining us very shortly in August. I am pleased to announce that Virginia L. Murray Elementary School was recently recognized for the Virginia Board of Education Excellence Award. The data used to determine this award placed VLM 12th among the 1,100 elementary schools in Virginia (top one percent). Congratulations to our students, faculty, and families for their hard work and dedication. As you begin your summer plans, please keep in mind some simple ways that you can help keep your child engaged in learning each day. Reading each day is probably the most important thing your child can do. Give them plenty of opportunities to visit the local library for exploration of their reading interests. Your child will bring home a copy of the “Summer Reading Ideas” that can help guide your child in their book selections. Your local librari-ans are also a great resource for assisting your child in finding appropriate books that fit their interests and reading levels. Your child will also have home access to the ST Math software program throughout the summer. They can log on as they have all school year and continue to help JiJi solve problems. They can play as much as they want, but 60 to 90 minutes a week should help keep their mathematical skills established over the summer break. I want to share a few changes to our faculty next year. Ms. Chelsea Morris, our preschool teacher, is moving to Florida to begin her Ph.D. studies at the University of Miami. Ms. Valerie Parks, a recent graduate of the Early Childhood Department at James Madison University, will be joining our faculty as our preschool teacher next year. Ms. Jessica Cleaver has accepted a teaching position in Louisa County. Ms. Cleaver will be working at a school just minutes away from where she and her family currently reside. Mr. Don Healy will be joining our first grade instructional team. Mr. Healy is transferring from Yancey Elementary School. Ms. Sara Hankins has accepted a position as an instructional coach with Albemarle County. Ms. Hankins will be working to support elementary teachers across a variety of schools in our district. It has been a privilege working with Ms. Morris, Ms. Cleaver, and Ms. Hankins. They are all very dedicated and talented educators and I know they will continue their outstanding work in their new professional endeavors. Please mark your calendars for our Open House on Monday, August 17 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. Also, Back to School Night is scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. I want to thank all of our parents and families who have supported and volunteered throughout the year. To-gether we make Virginia L. Murray...”A Great Place To Grow.” See you in August! Sincerely,

Mark Green mgreen@k12albemarle.org

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V. L. Murray Quarterly

PRESIDENTIAL OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS Joey Burch Virginia Smith Cam Winter Olivia Gibson Sam Vigilante Junzhi Xia Rebecca Haney Austin Winslow Natalie Yale

PRESIDENTIAL OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Matthew Burch Kirsten Jordan-Hyde Matilda McNamara Jameson Spence Lillian Clark Catherine Keith Sophia Pambianchi Ben Stith Charlotte Dougherty Michael Lee Alise Patterson Will Turner Mallory Greene Ellis Lucas Wyatt Shreves Ginger Umstadter Sarah Haney Constantine Mastakas

THE MATTHEW HENDERSON MEMORIAL AWARD

Jameson Rhys Spence has earned this award as an outstanding student who consistently demonstrates the highest qualities of citizenship, sportsmanship, determination, and positive sense of humor.

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION—AMERICAN HISTORY AWARD Austin Hahn Winslow has earned this award by putting forth special effort and demonstrating a special interest and understanding during the study of our nation’s history.

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION—GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD

Samuel Thomas Vigilante has earned this award by demonstrating behavior which brings honor to school, family, and community. She has demonstrated courage by overcoming obstacles and helping others to do so as well. Virginia has also demonstrated the ability to lead, good sportsmanship, responsibility, and fun-damental patriotism.

GOLDEN APPLE AWARD

Ms. Hollins Mills received the 2015 Golden Apple Award for Murray Elementary. “Ms. Mills is a passionate teacher who provokes creativity and curiosity from her students. She has a positive attitude towards life and learning, and is a great role model for students. Ms. Mills challenges students to hold high standards. Ms. Mills is a keen observer, she makes efforts to understand and devise a strategy to reach each child. She is creative, energetic, and curious. She communicates with parents consistently. She is always en-couraging her students.” Congratulations to Ms. Mills!

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Volume 24, Issue 4

Stuart Fielding Applestein Joseph Ryan Burch Matthew Lee Burch Frances Ruth Daleo Clark Lillian Teresa Daleo Clark Emma Claire DeMaso William Anthony DeSimone Kimberly Ruth Dodson Charlotte Beatrice Dougherty Jeremy Kyle Ewers Michael David Frey Olivia Blythe Gibson Sarah Catherine Going Mallory Claire Greene Rebecca Mary Haney Sarah Jane Haney Jackson Jude Hunt Koa Kalani Johnson Kirsten Leigh Jordan-Hyde Catherine Page Keith Augusta Garvin Key Michael Minho Lee Robert Maxwell Leonard Casey Carolyn Lockledge

Ellis Jeanette Lucas Tamim Noor Martin Constantine Christian Mastakas Matilda August McNamara Alivia Lucia Millway Sophia Rose Pambianchi Alise Frances Patterson Ethan Matthew Powell Devon Ellis Schroeer Wyatt Mitchell Shreves Virginia Elizabeth Smith Jameson Rhys Spence Bennett Tyler Stith Jenna Michelle Sutherby William Jacob Turner Ginger Ashby Umstadter Samuel Thomas Vigilante Tamarious Tatebb Waller Taquaria Talay Waller Austin Hahn Winslow Cam Lou Winter Junzhi Xie Natalie Pamela Yale

Our fifth graders are looking ahead to middle school for further learning and adventures. They will be missed by all of us at Virginia L. Murray Elementary School. Good luck graduates!

VIRGINIA L. MURRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S GRADUATING FIFTH GRADE CLASS

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VIRGINIA L. MURRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL’S GRADUATING PRE-K CLASS

Addie Chidester Max Henningsen Gavin Sacre Lucas Group Khayden Madison Jonah Stafford Savannah Hankins Nicky Mills Micah Stafford Our Pre-K friends are looking ahead to Kindergarten. We wish them the best of luck!

V.L. Murray Quarterly is published quarterly and distributed to all

V.L. Murray Elementary families.

Albemarle County Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,

religion, age, sex, disability, national origin, pregnancy, or marital status. Title IX of

the Educational Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §§1691 et seq., prohibits discrimina-

tion on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities receiving federal funds,

including discrimination in employment and student admissions. All Albemarle

County Public Schools students, applicants and employees are covered by this law.

VIRGINIA L. MURRAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Supply List 2015-2016

KINDERGARTEN In lieu of purchasing from a traditional supply list, we would like to collect $25 from each student. This money will be put into a class “bank account” so we can purchase all supplies and materials needed for the year. Students should bring a check made out to “VLM” (or cash) when they come to Open House on August 19th.

Please bring the following to get started: 1 set of wide tip markers 1 plastic pocket folder (no brads) 1 labeled cloth grocery bag 1 pair of Fiskars scissors (to fit their hands) 1 complete change of clothes in a labeled baggie

FIRST GRADE

Like Kindergarten, in lieu of purchasing from a traditional supply list, we would like to collect $25 from each student. This money will be put into a class “bank account” so we can purchase all supplies and materials needed for the year. Students should bring a check made out to “VLM” (or cash) when they come to Open House on August 19th.

Please bring the following to get started:

1 set of wide tip markers 1 plastic pocket folder (no brads) 2 Hanes brand white t-shirts (two sizes too big) 1 pair of Fiskars scissors (to fit their hands) 1 black, thin tip dry erase marker 1 complete change of clothes in a labeled baggie

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V. L. Murray Quarterly

www.k12albemarle.org

go to schools

Virginia L. Murray

Keep updated with happenings!

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Volume 24, Issue 4

SECOND GRADE

Our second graders will participate in a year- long project about resources! In lieu of purchasing from a traditional supply list, we would like to collect $25 from each student as the foundation for this project-based learning. This money will be put into a class “bank account” and we will build problem-solving and collabora-tion skills throughout the year by making collective decisions about how to spend our class money. Students should bring a check made out to “VLM” or cash. While we’ll purchase most of our supplies together, the following materials will help us get started. Please bring: 2 dozen—new, sharpened pencils 1 three-ring binder – 1 inch please 1 box full sized tissues I container of Clorox wipes THIRD GRADE Please label the following supplies: 4 composition books, wide ruled 2 plastic pocket folders 1 three ring binder, 1 inch 1 pack binder dividers 1 pair student scissors 1 pack washable markers 1 pack colored pencils 2 large pink erasers 1 pair earbuds in a labeled case or baggie 1 VLM assignment book-purchase at VLM, $5 Please DO NOT label the following supplies: 1 large box of tissues 3 boxes of sharpened #2 pencils 1 pack dry erase markers 2 large glue sticks 1 pack of sticky notes 1 pack wide-ruled notebook paper 1 container disinfecting wipes boys: a box of gallon size Ziploc bags girls: a box of sandwich size Ziploc bags

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Volume 24, Issue 4

FOURTH GRADE Fourth graders will participate in a yearlong project about re-sources. In lieu of purchasing a traditional supply list, we would to collect $30 from each student as the foundation for this project-based learning. This money will be put into a class “bank account,” and we will build problem-solving and collaboration skills throughout the year by making collective decisions about what resources we need to best support our learning! Students can should bring a check made out to VL Murray or cash.

While we’ll purchase most of our supplies together, we would like each child to bring 20 sharpened pencils to help us get started.

FIFTH GRADE

Each student should have:

2 Composition journals A 2” Binder – Inside the binder, they should have: A Murray Agenda (May be purchased in the office at Open House for $5.00.) 4 plastic portfolio folders in the following colors: blue, red, yellow, and green

(We can hole punch them at school if necessary, and they SHOULD NOT have the 3-ring metal brads in the center.)

A zippered pencil pouch – Inside the pencil pouch they should have: A simple 4 function calculator 1 hand held pencil sharpener 1 pair of scissors Wooden pencils (not mechanical – These break easily, and kids tend to play

with them.) 1 4 GB flash drive

The following additional supplies are needed and will go into a “pool” of supplies for the entire class to share all year:

1 pack of loose leaf paper (wide ruled) 2 packs of sharpened number 2 pencils 1 set of colored pencils 4 large pink erasers 1 full size box of tissues Boys – 1 box (8-10) classic colored thick markers Girls – 1 box (8-10) classic colored thin markers 2 packs of index cards (un-ruled) 3 large glue sticks

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