UPCOMING DATES

May 5-6                 Murch Day at Politics & Prose
May 10                   Shining Stars Talent Show, 7:30 pm
May 18                   Parent-Teacher Conference Day – NO SCHOOL
May 19                   Murch Rummage Sale

June 8                     Field Day

Co-Presidents' News by Michelle Cochran and Martha Saccocio

The year is really beginning to wind down, but there are still a number of fun events for the Murch Community including the Politics & Prose Sale (May 5-6), the Rummage Sale (May 19) and Field Day (June 8). If you haven’t had a chance to help out at an event this year, these are three fun events that won’t happen without parent involvement, so please consider volunteering some time.

Also, another reminder that the next general meeting of the Murch HSA is Tuesday, May 8 at 7 pm. At this meeting, we will elect the HSA Executive Board and Murch Development Team for next year. We also will approve the proposed operating budget for the 2007-2008 school year. Please make every effort to attend. Child Care will be provided for school-aged children ($5/child). If you have thoughts about the HSA budget, please contact Martha Saccocio at MarthaNS@aol.com. Your input is important.

Michelle Cochran MichelleCochran@starpower.net

Martha Saccocio MarthaNS@aol.com

Registration for Murch Extended Day SY 07-08 opens next week, on Tuesday, May 1 to all families. Forms can be picked up in the Extended Day office from 7:30 – 8:30 am and 2 – 6 pm. Forms will also be on the HSA table near the Murch media center. Questions?murchxday@starpower.net

Classroom Connection by Christy Sommerville and Carrie Pencek, Pre-K Team

If you were in Pre-K right now you would see:

• *Silk worms eating mulberry leaves before they spin silk cocoons

• Twenty seedlings spouting by the window

• The roots of Lima beans as they grow in a zip-lock bag

• A stack of science journals that the students are using to record information about their science projects

• Tulips blooming in one vase, and Roses in another vase

• A Post Office for students to mail letters to each other

• Children, painting, drawing, smiling and learning

 

Pre-K is the place to be!

Classroom Connection by Carolyne Albert-Garvey

Each spring, there is considerable discussion about placing children in classes for the next school year. This is a matter that we do not take lightly at Murch. The teachers and I will spend many hours forming well-balanced classes in which all children will have an opportunity to learn and to grow in their academic and social skills. 

It is hoped that a frank review of our procedures for class placement of students will reduce the need for parents to make requests for specific teachers. 

When classes are structured, we follow a clear set of guidelines. Classes are formed into deliberate, heterogeneous groups with the following in mind:

• an even gender and racial balance

• a full range of aptitudes within each class

• an even proportion of abilities and learning styles across the classes at each grade level

• an equal number of students in each class on a grade level

 
Once these factors have been considered, teachers begin to build classes of children who show promise of working well together. Attempts are made to match pupil and teacher personality and style. Quite understandably, these decisions are based upon observations made by the teachers during the course of the year.

While we review additional input about your child’s individual learning needs, such as your observations shared at parent-teacher conferences, any such input will be considered in the context of the guidelines above. Additional comments are entirely optional, but if submitted to me, must be written and received no later than May 11, 2007. We also trust that you will understand that parents’ comments constitute one of the many factors that we consider in forming classes. The final decision on class placements resides with the principal.

SPECIAL THANKS TO JULIA PORTER, SALLY SEPPANEN, SHELLEY SCHONBERGER AND GALEN ACAR! These four parents volunteer in the main office during the “morning rush hour”! They answer the phones, manage attendance sheets, issue tardy slips, greet parents, students and visitors, and MUCH MORE! I want the Murch community to know that I truly appreciate the support of these four volunteers.

Community News & Classifieds

Apartment wanted. Susan Landmann taught preschool at Murch for twenty-seven years. She left four years ago to teach on Nantucket. Susan’s husband, Bob Landmann, recently took a temporary job in DC, and wants to rent a small apartment, perhaps in the basement of a house. If you know of a place in the Murch area please contact Susan Landmann at susanlandmann@comcast.net, or phone: 240.418.1993. Submitted by Joan Timony, Murch teacher
LOST. My first grader had a bad day on Monday–his basketball went missing from where he left it on the playground, next to the kickball court, after school. It has his name on it–Leo Canty. Please, if you find it call me at 237.6617 OR return it to Ms. Cresswell’s room (across from the art room). Thank you very much. Michelle Cochran

Part-time school assistant at Auguste Montessori (directly across from Murch). M-F, 9 – 11:30 am. Joyful environment, children ages 2 1/2 – 6. Must be able to be firm but kind and enjoy working with children and preparing craft materials. Please call and leave message on admin line 237.1788 and send resume or drop off at school. Auguste Montessori School, 3600 Ellicott Street NW, Washington DC 20008 or augustemont@aol.com

Mural Painter. Add a very special value to your child’s room, dining room, study or any place in your home! Piero Passacantando, a talented young artist from Rome who studied at the Corcoran, is interested in taking commissions and will work with you to develop what is appropriate and meaningful for your home. You can check out his work at Comet Pizza where he did a beautiful painting in the bathroom – no kidding, it is fantastic! He is the real deal! He is also, by the way, a friend of Murch, and donated generously to our auction. Contact him directly at jekojeko@yahoo.com. Submitted by Nicole Andrews-Brandes

Si usted llegara o necesita alguna ayuda para traducir algo al espanol contacteme. Sara Villeda: telefono 202.244.7493/email savll@aol.com