The Jackson-Reed Crew Team is hosting its biggest fundraiser of the year—a spring plant sale!

Now through March 31, you can purchase annuals and native perennials, with free delivery available for homes within four miles of the school. Deliveries begin May 9, just in time for Mother’s Day and right after the last frost—perfect timing for spring planting!

👉 Order Plants Here: https://go.rallyup.com/c32965/Campaign/Details

Looking to refresh your garden beds as well? The Jackson-Reed Ultimate Frisbee Team is holding its annual mulch sale (with an option for delivery).

📅 Mulch sale closes: March 23
📦 Pickup/Delivery begins: March 28

👉 Order Mulch Here: https://my.cheddarup.com/c/tigersmulch/items

Support students at our neighborhood public high school while getting your yard ready for spring! 🌷🌿

All-ages family concert with award-winning DC-based kindie (kids+indie) band, Marsha and the Positrons at The Avalon Theatre in NW DC on Saturday, 3/21 at 10:30am! Winners of the 2024 Josie Music Award, they bring positive energy and good vibes along with catchy songs that are often great conversation starters!  Who knows — they just might inspire a budding scientist you know!

The show will be an interactive show featuring fun, clever songs about science and how the world works with positive social messages! Perfect for preschool & elementary-school aged kiddos, and great for the whole family! Dance and sing along; prizes and giveaways will be in the mix, too! Show will include songs from our three award-winning albums, plus new songs from our upcoming yet-to-be-recorded album that you can only hear LIVE.

We are delighted to have a special guest joining us —  beloved crossing guard & neighborhood legend, Mr. Joe! He’ll be giving out high fives to anyone who wants them during our song about high fives (which ought to be his theme song)!!   Folks can check out the High Fives song and the rest of our original music and music videos here:
https://linktr.ee/marshaandthepositrons

Buy tickets online in advance or at the door: https://www.theavalon.org/films/marsha-and-the-positrons-2/

As conversations about technology’s impact on kids continue, the Murch parent-led Delaying Social Media and Smartphones Workgroup is sharing resources to help families decide how and when tech enters their children’s lives.

Why pay attention? A recent New York Times article, “A Smartphone Before Age 12 Could Carry Health Risks, Study Says,” highlights a 2026 study linking early smartphone access to higher rates of depression, poor sleep, and obesity among youth.

Need more convincing? Listen to this short clip from Michelle Obama’s interview with Jonathan Haidt about device pressure and building resilience on her podcast IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson.

What action can you take now? Explore smartphone alternatives like landlines, limited-feature watches, flip phones, and more at Smartphone Free Childhood US.

It’s easier when we do it together. Join the growing community of Murch families working to delay social media and smartphones. Reach out to Meredith Katz (katzdc@gmail.com) if you are interested in hearing more!

The Pro Skills Basketball (PSB) Spring 2026 AAU season is just around the corner! Tryouts and evaluations for girls in grades 1–8 will take place over the next two Saturdays.

Pro Skills Basketball is committed to creating a positive youth sports experience—focused on skill development, fun, organized communication, and personal growth both on and off the court.

Elementary & Middle School Girls Tryouts
📅 Dates: Saturdays, March 7 & March 14, 2026
📍 Locations: Odessa Shannon MS (3/7) & Sligo MS (3/14)

Times by Grade
• 9:30–10:30 AM — Grades 1–3
• 10:45–11:45 AM — Grade 4
• 12:00–1:00 PM — Grade 5
• 1:30–2:30 PM — Grade 6
• 2:45–3:45 PM — Grade 7
• 4:00–5:00 PM — Grade 8

👉 Click here to learn more and register – Grades 1-5.

👉 Click here to learn more and register – Grades 6-8.

The DC Titans Youth Hockey Club is hosting a Try Hockey for Free Day on March 7, and Murch families are invited to come give hockey a try! This is a great opportunity for kids who are curious about the sport to step onto the ice and learn the basics in a fun, welcoming environment.

The DC Titans are the only youth ice hockey program in the Capital Corridor Hockey League, and their philosophy is simple: hockey is for everyone. The team does not hold tryouts, and players of all skill levels are welcome.

One local success story is Louis Piper, who first learned to skate and play with the Titans and now plays for the Jackson-Reed High School team (the DC Stars). Programs like this help young players build confidence, teamwork, and a lifelong love of the game.

The event will take place at Tucker Road Ice Rink, while the program prepares to return to its home rink at Fort Dupont Ice Arena, which recently reopened.

If your child has ever wanted to try hockey, this is a fantastic chance to get started. Let’s see some Murch Mustangs on the ice—maybe even in the Winter Olympics one day!

👉 See the flyer below for details and click HERE to register!

Try Hockey for Free

Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital (GSNC) invites families to explore Girl Sprouts, a new program designed especially for Pre-K girls! Girls who are at least 4 years old and will be entering Kindergarten next school year are invited to join.

Girl Sprouts introduces preschool girls to the Girl Scouts experience through fun, age-appropriate activities. Participants will explore STEM, the outdoors, and teamwork, while learning important values like honesty, kindness, sharing, and friendship—all while having lots of fun!

👉 Click HERE for more details and to register.

Girl Sprouts Spring 2026

Give your child a summer filled with adventure, creativity, and fun! Campers ages 5–12 will enjoy weekly themes, exciting field trips, pool days, S.T.E.A.M. activities, sports, and hands-on learning—all in a safe, supportive camp environment.

 Location: Bethesda Elementary School
 Schedule: Monday–Friday | 7:30 AM–6:00 PM

Spots are filling quickly—secure your child’s place today!

 Visit wonderslearning.org/summercamp to register
 Questions? Email summercamp@wonderslearning.org

RISE is a summer bridge program designed to help rising middle school students feel confident and excited about their transition to Deal. The program introduces students to all things Deal—from opening a locker to learning about the school’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program—while building connections and confidence.

RISE includes: 

• Opportunities to build relationships with teachers, staff, and fellow students
• Essential middle school skills (organization, managing multiple classes, checking grades, and keeping up with assignments)
• Fun, engaging team-building activities
• And more!

Eligibility & Enrollment: 
Students must be fully enrolled at Deal for the 2026–27 school year to participate in RISE. Enrollment opens Friday, March 27 and can be completed online at https://enrolldcps.dc.gov or in person at Deal.

Program Dates & Registration 
Students attend RISE during a week assigned alphabetically by last name. Space is limited.

• Week 1: July 6–9 | Last Names A–F – Register Here
• Week 2: July 13–16 | Last Names G–N – Register Here 
• Week 3: July 20–23 | Last Names O–Z – Register Here 

👉 For more information, click HERE.

Looking for a fun, active option on no-school days? HoopEd is offering All Sports & Games Student Holiday Mini Camps right here at Murch!

🌸 Spring Break Camps — Save 20%! 
Planning ahead for spring break? Choose the days you need and save 20% with promo code BLOOM (offer ends 2/28).
👉 Register for Spring Break Camps

A great way for kids to stay active, have fun, and burn off energy on days off!

Questions? Email info@hoopeducation.com