Murray Junior High 2200 Buford Ave., 651-293-8740, www.murray.spps.org
Motivational shoveling
For more than 15 years, special education students at Murray Junior High School have provided snow-shoveling services to the school’s neighbors. This is not only a great community service, but it helps students learn introductory on-the-job skills and participate in a school-based activity in which they see and feel success—and make a little money.
Shoveling has motivated many students to do their best at school during the winter months as they are selected to participate through displaying positive school behaviors. The shoveling partnership is a great example of how students and community members can work together for the common good.
For information on having Murray students shovel snow from your walk next school year, contact Kim Stout at 651-744-5327.
Spring sports
Spring sports started Tuesday, April 16. The season runs through May 21. More than 160 student athletes will be playing baseball, softball, badminton and track. Murray will be very competitive in all these sports. The schedule for all St. Paul Conference teams in located at spps.org/sports. Go, Pilots!
Musical notes
Twenty-eight members of Murray’s concert band and orchestra, along with nine adult chaperones, will travel to Chicago May 16-19 where students will perform at River Trails Middle School, Adler Planetarium and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Murray’s concert band, varsity band and beginning band students will participate in the St. Paul Police Patrol Parade on Tuesday, May 21. The band and orchestra’s final program of the year will be performed on Thursday, May 23, at 7 p.m., in the school auditorium.
The concert is free and open to the public. Debate team is a winner Congratulations to the Murray Debate Team and their coach Eric Dahlberg for an outstanding performance at the Minnesota Urban Debate League Championship Tournament on March 20.
Murray swept the Novice Division by placing in the top three spots and becoming city champs. In the top 20, Winnie Commers, Stephen Boler and Eli Pattison placed in Top Speaker Awards. Jackson Kerr took fifth place, Gabe Reynolds took the Silver Gavel Award at second place, and Natalie Ierien is the City Champion, winning the Golden Gavel Award at first place. Murray placed four times in the top five positions in the team awards. Jared Czech and Andrei Konieczny placed fifth, Winnie Commers and Gabe Reynolds took third, Stephen Boler and Eli Pattison took second, and Jackson Kerr and Natalie Ierien are first-place champions. Congratulations to all debaters.
Model U.N.
On May 1, more than 250 middle-school students will converge on the University of St. Thomas campus, where the eighth annual Minnesota State Model U.N. Conference will take place. More than 150 of those students will be from Murray Junior High.
Murray students have been attending the conference since it began. Model U.N. is a nationwide program that begins in middle school and allows student to participate in the program all the way through college.
Students will act as delegates from various countries throughout the world. They learn to solve complex issues from different points of view. Students learn to negotiate to achieve results that benefit communities all over the world.
History Day winners
The following Murray students will compete in the state History Day competition at the University of Minnesota on Saturday, May 4: Performance: Abigail Moseman, William Curtis, Annika Hedges and the teams of Ben Xenos, CJ Chandler and Christian Nelson and Liona Dregni, Josie Schermerhorn and Hannah Chardzon. (Joelle Dalke and Abbie Clapp received an honorable mention for their performance at the regional competition in March.) Documentaries: Iris Holman. (Mon Non received an honorable mention at the regional competition.) Exhibit: Arturo Digirolama, Forrest Ahrens and the team of Remi Bougie and Daniel Ellis. Papers: Jackson Kerr and Aaron Coggins.
