FINALISTS (top 6)
EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING
4th - DeeDee Shastri
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
3rd - DeeDee Shastri
POETRY
5th - DeeDee Shastri
PROSE
5th - Quinn Gibbs
SEMIFINALS (top 12)
DUO ACTING
Claudia DeBonis/Alicia L.
HUMOROUS INTERPRETATION
Henry Mallory
POETRY
Daisy Mireles
Quarterfinalists (top 24)
BROADCASTING
Elin Davis
POETRY
Maggie Finney
PROSE
Avery Dublin
Cece Futrell
STORYTELLING
Elin Davis
Claudia DeBonis
Althea Hultman
Non-advancing competitors at the state tournament included Sylvie Beckers, Ezra Riquelme, Wyatt Riquelme, and Shiva Shastri.
The Murray Middle Speech Team is coached by Michael Robinson and Jennifer McCafferty.
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During our Read Across America Week we invite you to share photos of our students reading.
It's simple-follow the instructions from Mrs. Munsey-
Take a picture of your student reading with Murray The Tiger-(print graphic of Murray)
Email the picture to Mrs. Munsey, MES Library Teacher at Amberly.Munsey@murray.kyschools.us
(Include your student's Name and Teacher's Name)
Deadline is Thursday, March 5, @ 10 p.m. (No entries accepted after this time)
Photos will be displayed at MES and prizes will be given for most creative at each respective grade level. Four pictures will be chosen in a random drawing, and a total of eight prizes will be awarded.
#murrayschools
During the week community guest readers, MISD middle and high school students will visit the MES and read to students. A Murray Elementary School RAA is included for the daily themes.
Our students are already submitting photos of their favorite books and reading, we invite you to join us this week by reading your favoite book(s) to our students. We would love to have you as a guest reader.
#murrayschools
Busy weekday mornings make it a challenge for many families to find time for a healthy breakfast. Fortunately, the Murray Independent School District offers nutritious school breakfasts, complete with fruit and low-fat or fat-free milk, to ensure students are fueled for learning every school day.
The 2026 NSBW campaign theme, “The Quest For School Breakfast,” reminds the entire school community that school breakfast provides a healthy and energizing start to the day for students. Studies show that students who eat school breakfast are more likely to:
• Reach higher levels of achievement in reading and math
• Score higher on standardized tests
• Have better concentration and memory
• Be more alert
• Maintain a healthy weight
School nutrition professionals and students will be encouraged to show their enthusiasm for school breakfast from March 2-6 as the MISD celebrates NSBW with special menus, activities, and more. Murray Preschool Head Start, Murray Elementary, and Murray Middle schools will host giveaways for students who eat breakfast. Murray High School and Murray Middle schools will be providing taste testing samples as an introduction to new foods and coffee.
“A healthy breakfast at the start of the day is a great way to ensure students are nourished and ready to learn,” said April Baldwin, MISD Food Services Director. “National School Breakfast Week helps us educate parents and students about all the nutritious and delicious choices we offer.”
National School Breakfast Week was launched in 1989 to raise awareness of the availability of the School Breakfast Program, a federally assisted meal program operating in public and non-profit private schools and residential childcare institutions since 1975. #murrayschools
We’re focusing on healthy habits all month long:
Move More March – get active, stretch, walk, and participate!
Mindful March – take care of your mind with rest, focus, and kindness.
Make It Happen March – set goals, stay motivated, and finish the year strong!
Wellness also starts with nutrition. 🐯
All MISD schools are CEP, which means FREE healthy breakfast and lunch for every student every day — helping our Tigers stay energized, focused, and ready to learn.
Check out breakfast and lunches in March at Murray Elementary, Murray Middle and Murray High!
Healthy bodies. Healthy minds. Strong Tigers.
#MurraySchools #TigerWellness #MoveMoreMarch
#murrayschools
Murray Middle School Student Council hosted a First Responders Breakfast for our community's law enforcement officers, emergency medical services, and fire service members. . Dr. David Meinschein, Ed.D., MISD Superintendent, Shelley Stubblefield, MMS principal, Cody Brown (4th-5th grade assistant principal), and Heidi Mallory(6-8th grade assistant principal), were present.
MMS Student Council students, Dee Dee Shastri, Laurel Johnson, Will Leedy and Lillian Ryan, greeted First Responder Officers. #murrayschools
Established in 2020, the announcement of the Murray Independent Future Farmers of America (FFA) initial Charter occurred, February 21, 2020, at the National FFA Convention.
Brittany Forgey, the Murray Independent FFA Chapter Advisor, said the Chapter is experiencing tremendous growth, now reaching a record-high membership of 70 students. With a strong focus on leadership, career development, and hand-on agricultural education, the chapter continues to provide students with invaluable opportunitites. #murrayschools
While there students visit kindergarten classrooms, teachers, and students. They are introduced to a day in the life as a Murray Elementary School kindergartener.
Big smiles were found among these little Tigers! #murrayschools
We congratulate Mya, SaMieya, and Justyss! #murrayschools
(photo from left): Whitney York, MISD Assistant Superintendent, Mechelle Morgan, MISD Director of Instructional Technology , Mary Beth Paschall, Murray Electric Service Community Relations, Sherry Purdom, MISD Public Information Officerr, Heather Scott, Murray Electric System Broadband Billing Clerk, Dr. David Meinschein, EdD., MISD Superintendent, and Denise Whitaker, Murray Elementary School principal.
The Murray Independent School District received a $5,170.00 Technology Grant from Murray Electric System to assist the district with technology demands. Sherry Purdom, MISD public information officer, said the grant assists in each respective programs at Murray Elementary, Murray Middle, and Murray High schools. “We are thankful and appreciative to the Murray Electric System for their unwavering support in helping us continue to meet the evolving technology demands and needs of our students,” Purdom said. “Their sense of community goes above and beyond in every endeavor they undertake.”
Through the grant, Photoshop licenses, upgrading PA Systems, microphones for school programs, video software licenses, updating video and still-shot cameras, and publicity materials for school and community programs will be purchased. #murrayschools
Antony, Daughaday, Krotova , and Peng join a group of more than 15,000 Finalists. These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,900 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered this spring.
National Merit Scholarship 2026 winners will be announced in four nationwide news releases beginning in April and concluding in July. High school juniors in the 2026 competition entered by taking the 2024 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which initially screened program entrants. Merit Scholar designees are selected based on their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.
Since 1974, Murray High School has boasted 55 National Merit Finalists, 9 Semi-Finalists, and 14 National Merit Commended scholars.
🐯🎉 Future Murray High Tigers — this night is ALL about YOU!
On Tuesday, March 10 from 4:00–6:00 PM, we are thrilled to welcome our future Murray High Tigers (current 8th Graders) and their parents/guardians to campus! This come-and-go event is your chance to explore everything Murray High has to offer.
Students will be able to:
🐾 Check out our amazing elective classes
🐾 Meet teachers, staff, and current students involved in clubs & organizations
🐾 Learn about future career pathways with community partners
🐾 Experience our visual & performing arts programs
🐾 Visit academic core areas and tour the entire facility
🐾 Tour the Murray/Calloway County Area Technology Center (ATC)
Be ready to engage, ask questions, and have fun — we’ll even have a scavenger hunt to help you explore!
During the evening, families are asked to make their way to the Murray/Calloway County Area Technology Center (ATC) as part of the experience. Waiting there will be ATC staff and administration to answer questions, provide tours of the facility, and showcase some of the incredible hands-on work our students are doing. We want every student to see what a valuable opportunity the ATC can be!
📣 In the upcoming days, families will receive a short survey along with a brief video from Mr. Jarvis and our school staff with important information to help you prepare — please be watching for it!
We can’t wait to meet you. You are our future, and we want you to be READY TO ROAR! 🐯💛
Seniors Selvam Antony, Ali Yarali, Anastasia Arkova, Cullen Larkin, and Brandon Daughaday along with Junior Josh Sloan won second place in Quick Recall, advancing Murray High School to State Finals for the first time since 2022. MHS won 37-6 against Ballard Memorial in the first round before losing to McCracken 46-18 in the second round. The team persevered, moving up the lower bracket to defeat Caldwell 43 to 3 and Tilghman 34 to 9. Murray High School secured a 35 to 32 victory, punching MHS’s ticket to State Finals.
In individual awards Ali Yarali received his second Regional Social Studies championship and placed third in Composition. Selvam Antony placed third in science, and Anastasia Arkova placed both second in Arts & Humanities and third in Language Arts. Both Selvam and Anastasia received higher placements at Regionals than at our District competition - an amazing accomplishment.
The team is coached by MHS teachers, Adam Pitman and Wesley Bolin.
All volunteers are required to complete yearly confidentiality trainings and submit a new volunteer form.
Each volunteer is required to become approved. This mandates a state-background check.
There is a suggested $10 donation fee to perform the background check,. Once the background check is received and approved the check remains on file five years until another check is required. Remember all volunteers must be approved to attend field trips.
(The online training is still available)
During the ceremony Black History Club members, Mya Brown, Zaye Richardson, Justyss White, KJ Bomar, Lyric Cole, Ayden Wilkerson, King Williams, Jr., Dylan Payne, Meech Carman and Kyson Reed spoke. A special performance was provided by the MHS Choir singing “Lift Every Voice.” The event was hosted by the Murray High Black History Club.
During the program, Mya Brown was crowned the 2026 MHS Black History Queen. SaMieya Cosby, and Justyss White were the attendants. (SaMieya Cosby was absent due to sickness).
To view the assembly visit: https://youtu.be/xi-V42uykMg
Dr. Marteze Hammonds, MHS alumnus and Murray State University graduate , offered a solo performance of Sam Cooke’s A Change is Gonna Come.
Dr. Patterson focused his message on Leadership, Education, and Commitment. “I stand on the shoulders of my elders, and do not take this lightly,” he said. “Those three words—leadership, education and commitment—they tell the story of black history in America. They reflect the perseverance in the face of challenges, excellence in pursuing opportunities and deep sense of responsibility, not only to oneself, but also to future generations,” he said.
Special thanks to Dr. Patterson and his wife, Jenny, for being a part of the MHS Black History Assembly.
#murrayschools
Ann Marie Ulrich, (center) 2026 Mrs. Kentucky Globe and a Murray Independent Bus Driver, gifted the Murray Elementary School Drama students with a rose for their amazing performance in Frozen. Murray Elementary School Drama Club students performed four shows of FROZEN at Murray State University Johnson Theatre this past weekend.
Ulrich serves s a bus driver for the Murray students and will compete for the national title of Mrs. Globe in California this summer.
