Home and School Association
Murch student portraits are now online for viewing and ordering! You should have received an email from Freed Photography with your student's private gallery information. If you have not received this email (check your spam too), please contact Freed Photography at support@freedphoto.com or call 301-652-5452.
Murch students will stage and perform James and the Giant Peach Jr on the main stage at
UDC this May!
On November 20, Sarah Frances Williams and Jen Jacobs led a Zoom information session to go over details of auditioning and the role of the student tech crew as well as how parents a get involved. A recording of the meeting can be found here.
Students interested in designing sets, helping with costuming, and the overall running of the show should consider joining the Tech Crew. Any student interested in Tech should complete this Tech Interest Form here. Tech duties will begin in March and carry through to the final performance of the show mid-May. Students have until February to decide if they would like to join the Tech Crew.
There are more ways than ever for parents to get involved and help make this an unforgettable and successful theater experience for our students. From snacks, to organization, to set production and videography, we need parents! If you would like to help, please fill out this Parent Volunteer Form.Here are a few more key pieces of information:
Questions? Please send Allison an email. Thank you!
Circle Yoga is your neighborhood mindfulness and yoga studio for kids and adults. Their classes for kids, teens, and families are designed to teach yoga and mindfulness through the playful use of yoga poses, breathing techniques, relaxation practices, and meditation. Circle Yoga is offering one free class for new students. For more information, please click HERE.
Alice Deal Middle School invites feeder school families to join for their next virtual and in-person open house events. Prospective families can come learn about Deal, meet our team and community!In-Person
5th Grade Families – HERE WE GROW! Join Alice Deal Middle School in one of our open houses! Come by to visit Deal’s campus, meet with Principal Neal, and participate in student guided tours. We look forward to meeting you!
No school, no problem! HoopEd has it covered with their upcoming Student Holiday Mini-Camps at Murch! Students can enjoy active, playful days off of school with great coaches and friends!
Student Holiday Mini-Camps
October 10, 11, November 4, 27
REGISTER for upcoming days off from school
Winter Break Camps
December 23, 26, 27, 30, 31
REGISTER for Winter Break Camps
If you have any questions, please email info@hoopeducaiton.com.
Kristin Pillay, M.Ed, LICSW and Kim Palombo, PH.D, C-SLDS of District Kids: Center for Minds and Hearts, a comprehensive child and adolescent outpatient practice made up of former school educators, are offering additional support for children and families through Comprehensive Psychoeducational Assessments, Academic Support for kids and teens, and Child and Adolescent Individual and Group Therapy (with after school and Saturday availability now!).
Also, don’t miss theirDyslexia Screening Clinic on Saturday, October 19th. All families will receive screening results and reading resources. Sign up at www.districtkids.org.
District Kids: Center for Minds and Hearts is conveniently located at 5506 Connecticut Avenue NW between Mamma Lucia’s and Parthenon restaurant.
For more information, contact them at info@districtkids.org or 202-455-0706.
Dear Parent/Guardian:
Our goal this year is to ensure that every student attends school regularly.
We realize some absences are unavoidable due to health problems or other circumstances. However, we also know that when students miss too much school — regardless of the reason — it can cause them to fall behind academically. Research shows:
Absences can add up quickly. A child is chronically absent if he or she misses just two days every month!
Going to school regularly matters! Here are some frequently asked questions and answers: FAQ
Here are a few practical tips to help support regular attendance:
If your child will be absent for whatever reason, please fill out the Murch Absence Form found below. You can also find the link on the Murch website (www.murchschool.org):
As a reminder, an absence is only excused for the following reasons: Illness (a doctor’s note is needed after 5 consecutive days), medical or dental appointments, death in one’s immediate family, court activity, religious holidays or events, school visits (up to one day) or visiting a parent prior to military deployment.
For the 2024-2025 school year, DC Public Schools (DCPS) elementary schools will implement the “60/40” attendance policy as required by the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE). This means if your child attends school for less than 60% of the day, it will be tracked as a 60/40 absence. This applies to both excused and unexcused absences. (See 5-A DCMR § 2199.1.)
To support your child being marked present for the full day, please make sure they arrive on time and stay until the close of the school day every day. Please note that the following late arrivals and/or early dismissals will result in your child being considered legally absent for the day:
You can review the complete DCPS Attendance and Truancy Policy for additional information.
Let us know how we can best support you and your children so that they can show up for school on time every day. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact your child’s school at Murch ES, (202) 282-0130 or email Murch.Attendance@k12.dc.gov.
Sincerely,
Attendance Team
Sticks + Bars is DC’s first and only African-style youth marimba band! Our ensemble is dedicated to shining a light on the vibrant music of various African countries including, but not limited to Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, and Southern Africa. In addition to this we honor the musical stylings of countries worldwide, taking pride in providing our students with early exposure to cultural diversity through music.
Sticks + Bars has performed at the Kennedy Center on the Millennium Stage, at Strathmore Hall with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, at Ithaca College in NY, for the American Orff Schulwerk Professional Development Conference in Atlantic City, NJ as well as at various farmers markets and festivals in the DC area. DC students in grades 5-12 are encouraged to join us in our global musical exhibition! No previous musical experience is required.
For information about the Fall program, please click here.
Dear Families,
Murch Elementary School is forming a Parent Advisory and Engagement Team to enhance collaboration and inclusivity within our school community. This initiative aims to ensure that all voices are heard and valued, particularly those from historically underserved and underrepresented groups.
By actively involving parents in decision-making processes and fostering an environment of equity, the team will work to create a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that promotes the academic and social growth of every student. Together, we can build stronger connections between families and the school community to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive and reach their goals.
As a member of the Murch Parent Advisory and Engagement Team, you may be asked to participate in the following:
Advocacy and Awareness: Promote awareness about equity issues within the school community. This might involve organizing workshops, creating informational materials, or leading discussions on topics like race, socioeconomic status, disabilities, and other forms of diversity.
Policy Review and Recommendations: Collaborate with school administrators to review and develop policies that promote equity. This can include evaluating current practices and suggesting improvements to ensure all students have equal opportunities.
Community Engagement: Build bridges between the school and diverse community groups. This could involve organizing events that celebrate different cultures, facilitating dialogue between parents and school staff, or connecting families with community resources.
Student Support: Work with teachers and administrators to ensure that the needs of all students are met. This might include advocating for tailored support for students with disabilities, English language learners, or those from underrepresented backgrounds.
The team requires a full-year commitment from 10-12 parents dedicated to this work. We invite you to join us on this journey.
If you are interested, please complete this simple application by Friday, September 6. The first meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 25. Once the team has been finalized, a survey will be sent to to the group to poll future meeting dates and times.
For more information on the DCPS Equity Framework, please click here.
Best regards,
Principal Cebrzynski
The tutors at Ki
ds Up Reading Coaches follow the Science of Reading and use the Orton-Gillingham approach to phonics. We emphasize phonological proficiency, phonics and fluency, the foundational skills students need in order to become fluent readers and good spellers.
As kids become good at “decoding” (reading words) and “encoding” (spelling), their reading comprehension soars, they can express their thoughts and opinions in writing, their confidence grows, and homework battles decrease or even disappear. Parents often tell us that their entire household’s stress levels improved dramatically.
For more information, visit our website and read feedback from the families we work with. Schedule a Meeting with our founder Daniela or Contact Us for more information.
Fluent Readers. Good Spellers. Confident Students.
