Walking Club

         Walking Club has begun at McMurray Elementary!  Using a grant from

         Highmark's Healthy High 5 Campaign, the club has purchased

         pedometers that the students can use during indoor recess days to record

         their step counts.  The purpose of the club is to provide students with a

         physically active alternative to sitting in their rooms when the weather

         prevents outdoor recess.  Students who achieve the individual goal of

         10,000 steps by the end of the second quarter will receive special

         recognition, club merchandise, and a chance to win physical activity

         enhancing prizes.  Mrs. Conkle, one of our Physical Education/Health

         teachers, is still in need of volunteers to help.  Please contact her by calling

         the school or via email at conklej@pt-sd.org.

Power School

Power School is available for parents! Parent usernames and passwords were mailed in December 2007. Parents/guardians are able to view attendance and grades online.

Please note: The use of paper report cards and progress reports has been discontinued. Parents may view 2nd and 3rd quarter grades online. End of Year paper report cards will be mailed home. For more information, visit PowerSchool

Lose your Power School username and password? Please contact the school office.

Pay It Forward Contest

Congratulations to Mrs. Zuccarini and her 4th grade students - winners of The Almanac's Pay it Forward Contest!

School Supply List

Supply lists for the school year are available on the building homepage prior to the start of each school year.

Enrichment Opportunities

MCMURRAY SCHOOL ENRICHMENT

Students at McMurray School are provided with opportunities for enrichment in all academic areas. Students are enriched within the classroom setting. Teachers, enrichment facilitators, and the school librarian provide additional opportunities when the needs of the students go beyond the normal scope of the curriculum. Specific criteria are used to identify students who will benefit from academic advancement or grade level enrichment.

Enrichment Sessions
All students at McMurray Elementary who qualify will participate in enrichment activities while other students are participating in skill development. The program is facilitated by classroom teachers and support teachers. Enrichment sessions will take place twice a week throughout the school year. Students are flexibly grouped according to learning styles and needs. Students participate in activities to further develop reading, writing, spelling, and independent learning skills. These activities cover a broad spectrum including literature discussions, technology presentations, creative writing, and self-selected projects. A professional enrichment team of teachers, facilitators, and the librarian develop an enrichment curriculum that focuses on creative and higher level thinking skills.

Independent Projects
Students demonstrating additional needs for curriculum differentiation will have the opportunity to explore areas of academic interest through various independent or small group projects. These projects are coordinated with an enrichment facilitator and the classroom teacher. The Renzulli Learning System software will be utilized to assist advanced students in the exploration of interest areas. All students have completed a profile on the software. It can be accessed at home atwww.renzullilearning.com. Parents may use their child’s ID number to create an account of their own.

Math Acceleration
In addition to the enrichment provided within the math classroom, qualifying students are able to participate in above grade-level curriculum. In order to advance to another grade level, students are screened using curriculum- based assessments and other available information. Students meeting the criteria are usually placed in an accelerated class with their chronological-age peers. A teacher in their current grade level teaches this class. At times, students are placed in a class at the next grade level or beyond. 

For more information, please contact one of our Enrichment Facilitators:

Alyson Boyer
boyera@pt-sd.org
724-941-5020 x3113

Beth Walsh
walshb@pt-sd.org
724-941-5020 x3301