McMurray Elementary to Host Holiday Party

The PTA will host the school's holiday party Thursday from 2-3 p.m. The PTA and assistant principal Greg Marquis stress the importance of students' safety, especially with regard to food allergies—including peanut and tree nut. 

"While it is impossible for us to provide a snack which will be safe for everyone, we have selected these snacks to ensure that the children with peanut and tree nut allergies will be safe during the party," assistant principal Greg Marquis said in an email. 

"By no means, do we consider other food allergies less important than peanut and tree nut allergies—rather we focus on these allergies due to the prevalence at our school as well as the potentially serious nature of reactions to both ingesting and contacting foods containing peanuts/tree nuts or peanut/tree nut by-products.

"We are making each parent aware of the planned snack so that if you are concerned that your child could have an adverse reaction to it, you can send an alternative snack for your child that day.

"You may also wish to notify your child's teacher or the homeroom parent for your class that your child should NOT partake in the snack to ensure your child's wellness." 

In addition to a number of fun games and activities, the children will be served the following snacks: 

• Fourth grade—Oreo cookies and clear soda
• Fifth grade—Blue raspberry snow cones 
• Sixth grade—Hot chocolate with marshmallows

Sixth-grade students will also have the opportunity to participate in games and activities that include candy canes, marshmallows and Rold Gold pretzels.