Murch Family Newsletter

Brenda Lewis, Principal
202-282-0130  ●  brenda.lewis@dc.k12.us  ●  http://www.murchschool.org/

We are off to a wonderful start to the school year.  The students are settling into their routines and are adjusting well to being in school.  It is fun to watch the students as they renew old friendships and new friendships begin to blossom.  I would like to extend a thank you to the students, staff, and families for the warm welcome you have extended to me.

Each Friday you will be receiving a Murch Family Newsletter written by me.  The newsletter will be available on the Murch school website.  The school address is www.murchschool.org.  Please click on New From the Principal to view the newsletter.  If you wish to receive a paper copy of the newsletter, please fill out the enclosed request form.  The newsletter will contain useful information to keep you informed of school happenings and upcoming events.

Please join us for Murch Elementary Back to School Night on Thursday, September 6, 2007.  The schedule for Back to School Night will be as follows:
6:30-7:00         New Parent Reception
7:00-7:15         Welcome Large Group Gathering
7:20-7:50         Classroom Visits
7:55-8:25         Classroom Visits

Childcare is available.  We hope to see you for this informative event!

In order to ensure the safety and security of all of our students, staff members, and visitors of Murch Elementary please adhere to the following guidelines.

• Between 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. students, parents, and visitors are allowed to enter only if they are having breakfast or have a scheduled meeting with a staff member.
• When entering Murch Elementary, please enter through the gated entrances on 36th Street and Davenport Street.  Please refrain from entering through the parking lot.
• Students are not allowed unsupervised on the playground.
• All visitors must always sign in at the security desk and show ID.
• After 3:30 p.m. students must be escorted by an adult.
• After 3:30 p.m. visitors are allowed to go to the classrooms only with a scheduled appointment.

Thank you in advance for consistently adhering to these safety and security guidelines.  This helps to make Murch a safe environment.

I wanted to share with you our tentative enrollment numbers for the 2007-2008 school year.  At this point the enrollment for Murch will be in the range of 480-495 students.  We are excited to have several returning students as well as welcoming many new students to Murch Elementary.

Parents of Special Education Students

Come meet the new Special Education teachers at 6:30 PM on Back to School Night across from Room 105.

The Language Program is set to start on September 17th and the registration forms are due September 10th.  The registration forms are available on the Murch Web site and on the HSA table.  Parents can deposit registration forms and payment in a special box located in the main office.   Parents, please download the registration forms from the web site.  There is a general After School Activities brochure with a variety of clubs.  Certain registration forms are already available on the Murch Web site, some will be available later.
Again, please download the material from the Website.

The HSA would like to welcome everyone back to school and hope you noticed all the work on the playground. This weekend a new kickball field and 4 square will be painted. (weather permitting) It will look fantastic! Also note, the parking lot fence will be moved back to allow more space from the Davenport entrance.
We would like to thank some people who helped tremendously to get the school grounds ready: Parents Tracy Stannard for redesigning and repainting the playground and Regina Holiday for the Frog and Toad garden designs at Kaufman, with assistance from Angel Hernandez at Mauck Zanziger and Terra Inc for weeding, mulching and flowers. Thanks to Linda Komes for overseeing the repaving of the paths on the hill.
Another round of thanks to Galen Acar and Nicole Mintz for all their help with hospitality events over the summer.
Hope to see everyone at BTS night on Sept. 6th.
Karen Beiley & Jen Closser
HSA Co-presidents

This fall we hope to continue our tradition of successful fundraising by starting off with the popular Sally Foster Gift Wrap, Chocolate, and Bath and Beauty Products sale.  If you’ve participated in the past, you know that the products are excellent.   In addition, Murch receives 50% of every order.   Last year, this fundraiser alone raised over $9000 for the Murch Home-School Association, which helped pay for classroom aides, the school nurse, art supplies, music equipment, and high-speed internet connection in every classroom.  Our sale begins Tuesday, September 4, and continues until Tuesday, September 25.   Please offer these items to your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers. 
Thank you -- Beth Moten & Susan Sylvester

We’re back! Join HoopEd for another great session of AFTER SCHOOL BASKETBALL classes at Murch Elementary School. Classes begin the week of September 24th and will run for 8 weeks. 1st through 3rd graders will meet on Wednesdays and 4th through 6th graders will meet on Fridays. To register go to the fall upcoming events page at www.hoopeducation.com. For questions contact HoopEd Director Jonathan Scribner at jonathan@hoopeducation.com or call him at 202-431-9780. See you on the courts!”

September:

September 3, Labor day/no school

September 6, Back to School Night

October:

October 3, Fall indivdual photos

October 8, Columbus Day/no school

October 9, Parent/teacher conferences/no school