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!

Calling all student artists! If your student plans to enter the Bookmark Design Contest, please remember that all entries are due by Friday, February 27. Designs should be submitted in the collection box located in the Welcome Center.

Information about the contest was sent home in Friday Folders, but if you can’t track it down or need another copy, just click here!

Winning designs will be printed and shared with the entire school community at Curriculum Night on Wednesday, March 11—what a fun way to showcase student creativity!

Questions? Please contact Ms. Esche. Thank you, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing designs!

Black History Month Assembly

Friday, February 27, 2026 | 8:50 AM | Murch Gym
All are welcome!

Murch proudly invites families and community members to join us for our annual Black History Month Assembly, a meaningful celebration of Black history, culture, music, storytelling, and student voice.

This year’s assembly features two local Washington, DC authors, powerful student musical performances, historic video moments, and classroom reflections from across grades Pre-K through 5.

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Featured Guest Authors

Chad Harris
Amazon best-selling author and award-winning elementary music teacher Chad Harris will share his children’s book Two Brothers, One Song. With more than 20 years of teaching experience, Chad brings together music, history, and storytelling to highlight the origins of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.”

The book was inspired by the powerful history of the song’s first performance by students at Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida, and the enduring connection to Stanton Elementary School in Southeast Washington, DC—where Chad teaches today. His story centers the role of children in shaping history and preserving community legacy.

Two Brothers, One Song is deeply personal and is dedicated to eight of Chad’s former students who tragically lost their lives to violence. In their honor, all proceeds from the book are reinvested directly into Stanton Elementary School.

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L. Keshawn Harris
Our second guest author, L. Keshawn Harris, will present his picture book Robbie’s First Haircut to students in Pre-K through 2nd grade.

This joyful and heartwarming story follows Robbie as he prepares for his first haircut before his birthday celebration. With encouragement from his dad, his best friend, and a welcoming barbershop community, Robbie discovers courage, connection, and pride in a meaningful rite of passage.

Robbie’s First Haircut celebrates Black boy joy, fatherhood, and the beauty of community, making it a perfect story for young readers and families alike.

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Student Performances & Program Highlights

• Student musical presentations of:

  • “Lift Every Voice and Sing”

  • “Keep Your Eyes on the Prize”

  • “We Shall Not Be Moved”

  • “Back of the Bus”

• Video interview with Rosa Parks

• Historic footage of Martin Luther King Jr. delivering “I Have a Dream”

• A tribute video and short biography honoring Jesse Jackson

• A music video featuring Mahalia Jackson, whose gospel voice uplifted civil rights leaders and protesters

• A video collage showcasing Black History Month learning from classrooms across grades Pre-K through 5

As students and guests exit the gym, a special seven-minute Motown music video will play, highlighting the legendary sounds, artists, and Top 10 musical groups that shaped American music history.

We hope you’ll join us for this inspiring morning of learning, reflection, and celebration.

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! 💙💛

Calling all 4th and 5th graders! This spring, students are invited to take part in an exciting, hands-on original musical experience under the direction of the Educational Theatre Company.

Students will collaborate to create original characters, write dialogue and lyrics, choreograph, design costumes, props, and scenery, run lights and sound, and perform for peers, families, and the Murch community. A small group of 4th and 5th graders will also join as Tech Crew during Tech Week.

Who:
• Up to 40 students in grades 4–5 (plus a small Tech Crew)
• If interest exceeds capacity, a lottery will be held

When:
• Weekday rehearsals: Mondays & Thursdays, 3:30–5:30 PM beginning March 9 (excluding school closures)
• Saturday rehearsals: May 2 & May 9, 9:30 AM–12:00 PM
• Tech Week: May 18–20, 3:30–6:15 PM
• Evening performances: May 21 & 22 (call time 5:30 PM)
• In-school performance: Tuesday, May 26

Cost:
• $125
• Full scholarships available

Registration:
• Closes on Friday, February 27 at 11:59 PM!
• Cast notifications will be sent by March 2

👉 Click HERE to Register!

This is a unique opportunity for students to build creativity, confidence, and collaboration skills—both onstage and behind the scenes! 🌟

The Murch Lip Sync Show takes the stage on Thursday, March 5 at 6:00 PM in the Murch Gym! Mark your calendars and come cheer on our students and teachers as they perform in this always-fun community favorite. 🎶✨

Participant Reminder:
Students participating in the Lip Sync will have a dress rehearsal on Tuesday, March 3 at 3:30 PM in the Gym.

Questions? Please contact Ms. Miller or Ms. Hitree.