Murch Elementary School

Home and School Association

Murch Elementary School > Articles by: Mary Eckstein

📣 Re-Enroll by April 10 — Win Prizes & Help Murch Hit 50%!

Thank you to everyone who has already completed enrollment for the 2026–2027 school year—we’re off to a great start!

As of now, we’re at 15.9% enrolled schoolwide, and we’re working toward our goal of 50% enrollment by April 10. Every completed enrollment helps us plan for staffing, resources, and a strong start to next year.

Don’t forget—families who complete enrollment by April 10 at noon have the chance to win:

  • 🔊 A portable wireless speaker
  • ⚾ Four tickets to DCPS Night at Nationals Park (May 6)


🍔 Grade-Level Challenge Continues!

The grade with the highest enrollment percentage by May 22 will win a grade-wide cookout and end-of-year celebration 🎉

📊 Standings by Grade as of April 1:

  • Pre-K: 15.4%
  • Kindergarten: 15.7%
  • 1st Grade: 🌟 22.1% (leading the way!)
  • 2nd Grade: 16.1%
  • 3rd Grade: 13.6%
  • 4th Grade: 11.3%

👏 Shoutout to 1st grade for jumping out to an early lead!

If you haven’t enrolled yet, now is the time! It only takes a few minutes and makes a big difference.

Reminder: DC Public Schools requires students to re-enroll each year.

📝 How to Enroll

  • Enrollment opens: March 27
  • Online (preferred): Log in via ASPEN
  • In person: Download forms & enroll in person by visiting https://enrolldcps.dc.gov
  • Required documents: Please upload proof of residency and any supporting documents in ASPEN, or bring them if enrolling in person

‼️ Not Returning? If your student will not be returning to Murch next year, please email MurchESEnroll@k12.dc.gov to request a withdrawal form

 

Supply Lists for 2025-26

Supply lists for the 2025-26 school year are available by clicking HERE (English) or HERE (en español).

If you need assistance procuring any of the suggested supplies on the list, please reach out to Ms. Lauren Miller (Murch’s guidance counselor) for confidential assistance.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Budget Update from Principal Cebrzynski

Good afternoon Murch families,

As a follow-up to the HSA bulletin from last week, I shared the approved Murch budget with the faculty/staff and the LSAT and am sharing this with the parent community.

The LSAT met on two evenings to make budgetary decisions. The first evening was to decide which non-teaching positions would go unfunded in next year’s budget. The second evening they met to decide how to fund the additional 2nd grade teacher.

The following positions are not funded as part of the SY 24-25’s budget: Assistant of Strategy and Logistics, RW-3 Custodian, and Math Specialist. The allocation used to fund the math specialist position was reallocated to fund an additional 2nd-grade teacher to reduce class size.

This budget meets the DCPS requirements for programs at our school that were not direct allocations including core content, related arts, attendance, and LEAP. LEAP is a professional development program that all teachers are required to attend and is led by instructional coaches.

Any updates about the budget will be shared when received.

Cordially,

Principal Cebrzynski

Murch Plus Wednesdays, K-3rd grade, April 27th-June 22nd

Dear Murch Families,

Murch Plus is back! Thanks to the generous support of the HSA and the Murch staff, we are very happy to announce Murch Plus Wednesdays, starting April 27th and ending June 22nd.

Kindergarten students through third graders can sign up for an after-school class of creativity and play, Wednesdays after school until 4 pm. If the requests exceed capacity, spots will be assigned by lottery. The rotation schedule within the cohorts will be by lottery as well. You will receive an email between April 25th and 26th if your student is placed in a cohort.

We will offer Murch Plus for four cohorts, two in K and 1st and two in 2nd and 3rd. Please be aware that only students from the respective grade band can apply for a spot.

Please sign up by 8pm this Sunday, April 24th. Please sign up here.

Each cohort will have three groups who rotate through a nine-week program, spending three weeks with each program/teacher.  The cohort options are below:

Cohort 1, K and 1st (flag football with Mr. Pyle, arts/science with Ms. Turner and school yard games with Ms. Bland)

Cohort 2, K and 1st (dance routine/cheer with Ms. Allen, paper creatives with Ms. Anderson and school yard games with Ms. Berger)

Cohort 3, 2nd and 3rd (flag football with Mr. Hayden, innovation/entrepreneur with Ms. Sessoms and architecture with Mr. Travitz)

Cohort 4, 2nd and 3rd (dance with Ms. Tara, art/mixed media with Ms. S. Gilson and school yard games with Ms. Ellis)

 

11th Annual Murch Day at AU Basketball Game—January 1

Murch students are invited to receive a FREE ticket to the AU Eagles men’s basketball game versus the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks on New Year’s Day.

Additional tickets can be purchased at discounted prices. Flyers with NEW electronic ticket ordering instructions were sent home in early December or simply click HERE to reserve your tickets/seating with fellow Murch families by December 28.  For questions, please email Clawed@american.edu!

Basketball Paperwork and Tryouts—November 1st, 3rd & 4th

10/29 Update Regarding Boys Team:  Per Principal Cebrzynski, a 4th grade boys tryout has been added to the calendar.  This tryout will be on Thursday, November 4th (for 4th grade boys).  Please see the calendar below.  As a reminder, the team will be capped at 15 students.  If you have any questions, feel free to contact Principal C via email.

Basketball season is almost upon us, and we’re excited to announce the kick-off to our season!

TRYOUT/WORKOUT SESSION:  We will hold tryouts/work out sessions on the following dates:

Boys Team:  Monday, November 1st (for 5th grade boys) from 3:30-4:30 PM in the Murch gym.

Girls Team:  Wednesday, November 3rd (for 4th & 5th grade girls) from 3:30-4:30 PM in the Murch gym.

Boys Team:  Thursday, November 4th (for 4th grade boys) from 3:30-4:30 PM in the Murch gym.

**Parents/guardians, please let classroom teachers know if your child will attend a tryout so our teachers know where to dismiss students on that day.  Students should report to the gym by 3:30 PM on their tryout day.

All students are required to submit paperwork (see below) prior to the 1st meeting/tryout.

PAPERWORK:  Required paperwork can be submitted electronically via seamless:  https://dcgov.seamlessdocs.com/f/c4a57hp5qjqy

The paperwork to submit online includes consent for athletic participation (AT-13), emergency treatment information (AT-14) and a signed concussion information sheet.  In order to have your paperwork reviewed by a DCPS athletic trainer and your athlete deemed eligible, you will also need to attach a universal health certificate (the form needs to be unexpired with an exam date less than 365 days old and signed by a parent/guardian), as well as other health forms (i.e. asthma action plan and/or anaphylaxis action plan) if needed.  You can attach documents by clicking the paperclip icon on the top left side of the screen.

While we prefer electronic submissions, paper forms are also available (and accessible in multiple languages) via this link:  https://www.thedciaa.com/participation-forms  If you need to send paper copies, please send the forms to Murch.Athletics@k12.dc.gov or drop them off at Murch.

Murch has to submit team paperwork to DCIAA no later than November 15th (this is a strict deadline), so please submit paperwork ASAP or no later than the tryout date so there is time for the athletic trainer to review and approve the paperwork. 

PRACTICES:  Once tryout results are announced, the girls team generally will practice on Tuesdays and Fridays from 3:30-4:30, starting November 9th.  Please note the girls also will have practice November 10th.  The boys team generally will practice on Mondays and Thursdays from 3:30-4:30, starting November 15th.  Once games start in early-December, coaches may shift to 1 practice per week on weeks with games.

COACHES:  Coach Nicole Bates will coach the girls team and Coach Jordan Tama will coach the boys team.  Thank you to these Murch parents for stepping up to coach!  If you would like to help or have any questions, please reach out to either coach directly.

We look forward to a great season!  Go Murch!!

Slow Down: Safety Reminders for Vehicles Around Murch

Slow Down: Safety Reminders for Vehicles Around Murch

School days bring congestion around Murch.  School buses are dropping off their passengers, kids on bikes and on foot are hurrying to get to school before the bell rings, and busy parents are trying to drop their kids off before work.

It’s never more important for drivers to slow down and pay attention than when kids are present – especially before and after school.

Please see below for some safety reminders from the National Safety Council:

  • Don’t double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles
  • Don’t load or unload children across the street from the school
  • Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic
  • In a school zone, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
  • Always stop for a school crossing guard holding up a stop sign
  • Take extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas
  • Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way
  • Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
  • Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians wherever they may be, no matter who has the right of way

Thank you for your extra attention and, most importantly, for slowing down to prevent injury to our students.

Girls on the Run Fall Team

Girls in grades 3-5 are invited to join the Murch Girls on the Run team.  

Girls on the Run inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. 

The Murch team is full but there is a community team that will practice at Fort Reno on Mondays and Wednesdays from 4:30-5:45 starting on 9/13/21.  Families MUST register online at www.gotrdc.org and choose the N. Cleveland Park/Wakefield team.

If you have any questions, please email Kathleen Bergin at kathleen.bergin@k12.dc.gov.

Murch School Spirit Video!

In celebration of National Photography Day (June 15th) and to celebrate Murch, the Murch Student Council sponsored a final spirit day!

Students were asked to email one photo of themselves celebrating our school community.

The video of submissions is available HERE.

Thank you for helping the Student Council celebrate our wonderful Murch and for your school spirit!

Copyright

© Murch Home and School Association (Murch HSA)
4810 36th Street NW Washington, DC 20008
202-282-0130
Read our privacy policy.

Website Developed by: Mettler Solutions
Website Hosted by: VanStudios.

Translate »