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! 💙💛

The Murch Musical kicks off on Monday, March 9, with the first rehearsal from 3:15–5:15 PM for participating 4th and 5th graders. We’re excited to see our students begin working together to create this year’s original production!

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.

When:
• Weekday rehearsals: Mondays & Thursdays, 3:15–5:15 PM beginning March 9 (excluding school closures and Thursday, March 12)
• 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

You can view the full rehearsal schedule HERE.

Cost:
• $125
• Full scholarships available

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

🎤Live from Murch… it’s SATURDAY NIGHT!

The 2026 Murch Auction is coming up on Saturday, March 21 at 7:00 PM! This year’s fundraiser will bring Saturday Night Live energy! It’s going to be a night of laughs, great company, and moments that are definitely not a rerun—all while raising critical funds to support our amazing school and students.

🎫 Purchase your tickets today to join the fun! 

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⭐ Level Up Your Auction Night with These Add-Ons!

Make your auction experience even better by adding one (or more!) of these fan-favorite extras:

🥃 Whiskey Club Membership
Love top-shelf bourbon and single malts? This popular add-on is a must for whiskey enthusiasts. Click here to purchase!
Membership Price: $65
📧 Questions? Email murchwhiskey@gmail.com

🍹 Tequila Club Membership
Calling all tequila lovers! Enjoy top-shelf tequila for sipping and mid-level tequila perfect for cocktails. Click here to purchase!
Membership Price: $40 (single) | $70 (double)

🎟 “Best of Live” Raffle Ticket
Want the ultimate edge? Add a Best of Live Raffle ticket for the chance to choose any live auction item before bidding even begins!

A few highlights of this year’s Live Auction include:

• 🍷 The Wine Cellar – A curated wine collection valued at over $2,000!
• 🏈 Commanders Tickets – Incredible seats right behind the Commanders bench
• 🌴 Jupiter, Florida Vacation Stay – One week in a beautiful 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home
• ⚽ DC United Suite Tickets – Enjoy a match from the DC Council Suite
• 🎤 Demi Lovato Concert – See Demi Lovato live from the DC Councilmembers’ Suite at Capital One Arena

👉 More details can be found on the Auction Website HERE.

Good news! Fall Student Portraits are now online for viewing and ordering. Families of photographed students should have received an email from Freed Photography with a link to their private gallery (be sure to check your spam folder!).

If you did not receive an email, please contact Freed Photography at support@freedphoto.com or 301-652-5452 for assistance.

Murch ES GOOD NEWS (1)

Calling all Murch dads! Join us tonight, Thursday, March 19 at 8 PM at Comet Ping Pong for an evening of good conversation, community, and connection. It’s an easy, informal way to meet other Murch parents and unwind after a busy week.

The group meets every third Thursday of the month in the bar area — no RSVP needed, just stop by and say hello!

The Murch International Committee is excited to bring back the International Display at the school entrance! This rotating showcase will feature cultural items from the many countries and traditions represented in our community.

If you have an item you’d like to share, please email Negar (nikifar30@gmail.com) and Sayuri (sbayona@gmail.com). Items will be safely displayed and returned to you whenever you need them back.

Let’s celebrate the rich diversity of our Murch community together!