Archives for 2026

The Murch Boys Basketball team has advanced to the championship game, where they will take on Randle Highlands ES on Monday, March 9 at 5:00 PM at Dunbar High School.

The Mustangs have had an impressive playoff run so far, defeating Janney ES 26–8 in the first round and Hyde-Addison ES 39–16 in the semifinals.

Wishing the team the best of luck in the championship game! 🏆

Let’s go, Murch! 🎉🏀

2026 DCIAA ES Boys Basketball Playoff Bracket.

Amore Learning’s Spring Enrichment program is now open for enrollment and led by some of your favorite Murch teachers. From Junior Newsbreakers and Wildlife Explorers to Fashion Design, there’s something for everyone.

 Enrollment is open—register today!

Thank you, Murch families! 💙 We did it! 

The Murch HSA’s 2025 Support Our School (SOS) Campaign wrapped up on December 31, and thanks to your incredible generosity, we reached our fundraising goal!

Together, we raised $110,575, which will support the programs and moments that make Murch such a special place, such as Murch Plus, Movie Night, Fall Fair, field trips, performing arts, teacher grants, student scholarships, 5th grade promotion, student council, teacher and staff appreciation, and more!

🌟 THANK YOU to every family who donated, shared, encouraged, and showed up for Murch. Your support truly makes a difference, and we couldn’t do it without you! 🌟

If you weren’t able to donate during the campaign but would still like to support our school, contributions can be made at any time through the Murch website. Thank you for your continued support!

With spring just around the corner, we’re gearing up for Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week, taking place the first week of May! We’re looking for volunteers to join a Leadership Planning Committee to help brainstorm ideas and organize this special week.

This is a wonderful way for parents and caregivers to get involved at Murch and to help show our gratitude for the many ways our teachers and staff support, inspire, and care for our kids every day.

We’d love to make this a true community-wide effort and welcome new volunteers to the team.

👉 If you’re interested in joining the Teacher & Staff Appreciation Week 2026 Leadership Committee, please reach out to HSA VP of Staff Appreciation, Sasha Taskier, at sashataskier@gmail.com.

Thank you for helping us celebrate our incredible teachers and staff!

February 11, 2026

Dear DC Public Schools Parents and Families,

At DC Public Schools (DCPS), we are committed to providing students with rigorous and joyful learning experiences through high quality instruction. I am writing to share adjustments to the School Year (SY) 2025–2026 calendar resulting from the recent inclement weather closures.

Last month’s winter storm brought significant snow and ice to our city, and DCPS closed schools on Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28. In order to meet the instructional day requirements outlined in the DC Municipal Regulations (DCMR), DCPS is making the following modifications to the SY 2025–2026 calendar:

• Thursday, March 12 previously scheduled for Parent-Teacher Conferences, will shift to an instructional day for all students and teachers.
  • Parent-Teacher Conferences previously scheduled for this date are cancelled, and schools are encouraged to leverage existing communication structures—such as routine check‑ins, emails, or phone outreach—to share timely student updates with families and caregivers.
• Friday, March 13 will remain a Wellness Day with no school for students or teachers.
  • Maintaining this day supports student and educator well‑being and honors the commitments outlined in the district’s Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Washington Teachers’ Union.
• Thursday, June 18 will be the last day of school for students.
  • This one-day extension ensures students receive the full instructional time needed to finish the school year before the Juneteenth holiday.

We recognize that changes to the school year calendar can affect our families’ planning and end-of-year expectations. We hope that with this advance notice, families will be able to plan ahead as we look toward closing out another remarkable school year at DCPS.

Thank you for your flexibility and continued support.

In partnership,

Lewis D. Ferebee, Ed.D.
Chancellor, DC Public Schools

Calling all 4th and 5th graders!

📅 Season Details

• Practices: Tuesdays & Fridays, 3:15–4:30 PM
• Season Begins: Tuesday, March 10
• Cost: Free to participate

👉 Interested in joining? Please click HERE to sign up.

👟 Coaching & Support

Murch teachers, Jack Ryan and Emma Fisler, will serve as head coach, with Clare Carr and Mary Eckstein supporting administrative duties.
We’re also looking for parent volunteers to help with practices—please indicate your availability on the sign-up form if you’re able to assist.

📋 Important Reminders

All students must have the following forms submitted before practices begin:

• DCPS Student-Athlete Participation Packet (2025–26)
• Universal Health Certificate

Please be sure to complete all questions in Part 1 of the Universal Health Certificate before uploading. Incomplete forms are often rejected by the Jackson-Reed Athletic Trainer.

If your student previously submitted forms for Cross Country or Basketball and you’d like to confirm they are still valid, please email Murch.Athletics@k12.dc.gov or stop by the Welcome Center.

We’re looking forward to another fun, active, and successful Track & Field season! 💙💛