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.
Rain Date: Sunday, October 24
HAVE FUN AND HELP MURCH • PROCEEDS GO TO THE MURCH HSA
Credit cards are the preferred method of payment during the Fall Fair.
There will be few opportunities/ticket booths at which we will accept cash.
We thank all Murch families for day-of donations to our Bake Sale!
Please package treats individually and drop off near the HSA Booth (head toward the gym).
Want to advertise your small business? Are you a crafter and want to sell your goods?
Contact the Murch Marketplace to rent a table at the Fall Fair!
Email Crystal FitzSimons for details.
Please click on your grade level below, then find the sign-up link for your class. Also check out the general volunteer opportunities link.
Donate your gently used books! Board books, kids books, sci-fi, novels, mystery, hardcover, paperbacks and cookbooks all accepted. Please no out-of-date travel books or textbooks.
During morning drop-off: stop by the buddy bench at the gym door. During the school day: bagged or boxed books labeled with "Fall Fair" can be dropped off at the Davenport St. entrance with the security guard.
Volunteers are needed to help sort books in the gym on Thursday, Oct. 21. Masks will be required. Click here to sign up!
Email Lesley Rich for more information.
We always need more people on our team! Email Katie Riley for more information.
Rain Date: Sunday, October 30
Want to advertise your small business? Are you a crafter and want to sell your goods?
Contact the Murch Marketplace to rent a table at the Fall Fair!
Email Crystal FitzSimons for details.
Please click on your grade level below, then find the sign-up link for your class.
Also check out the general volunteer opportunities link at the bottom. Middle and high school students are welcome to sign up!
Please donate your gently used books to the book sale. To donate, please leave your bagged or boxed books labeled "Fall Fair" beneath the staircase in the main entrance lobby. Deadline for donating books is Thursday, Oct. 20.
We also need volunteers to help sort the books on Oct. 20. Sign up here to help sort books.
Please email Dan Golden for more information about donating books or volunteering.
We always need more people on our team! Email Crystal FitzSimons for more information.
Note: Credit cards are the preferred method of payment during the Fall Fair.
There will be few opportunities/ticket booths at which we will accept cash.
All pre-orders can be picked up at the HSA Booth located near the library after 12pm during the Fall Fair. We cannot offer refunds but we hope you'll consider any unused tickets a further donation to Murch HSA.
The International Table will be back this year at the Fall Fair! Families are invited to showcase their items from countries and communities around the world. Bring a piece of art, colorful textile, jewelry, clothing, toys, handicrafts, flags, sports jerseys, or any other items that represent your country or community, to showcase at the fair. Please drop off your items at the International Table in the Murch Marketplace anytime during the Fall Fair and then pick them up when you leave.
Want to advertise your small business? Are you a crafter and want to sell your goods?
Contact the Murch Marketplace to rent a table at the Fall Fair!
Please email Rebeca Fiet for details and to sign up.
We thank all Murch families for day-of donations to our Bake Sale!
Please package treats individually and drop off near the HSA Booth (head toward the gym). All bake sale treats must be nut-free.
Donate your gently used books, puzzles, and board games for sale at the Fall Fair!
Starting Monday, Sep. 18, please leave your bagged or boxed items labeled "Fall Fair" beneath the staircase in the main entrance lobby. Please ensure puzzles and games are not missing pieces. Deadline for donations is Thursday, Oct. 12.
Please email Dan Golden for more information about donating or volunteering for the book sale.
Get excited for yummy BBQ on Sunday from our friends at Due South, who will be opening up shop in Chevy Chase in Spring 2024!
We always need more people on our team! Email Rebeca Fiet for more information.
AtoZ Connect is the company we use to create our school directory and provide an easy way for you to connect with other Murch families. Families new to Murch must create an AtoZ Connect account to be listed in the directory and have access to the information online. Go to the membership toolkit and register as a new user.
For returning families, once you are logged in, you will see your contact information from last year. You can also update your contact information and privacy settings.
All families can choose what information is available for viewing by other Murch families.
There is also a mobile app called Membership Toolkit that we recommend downloading and using to find contact information for other Murch families from your phone.
Please email Rajiv D'Cruz with any AtoZ or directory questions.
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
The Murch website is your source for up-to-date information on everything happening at the school.
The school administrators, faculty, and the HSA all contribute content to the website. You'll also find a calendar of upcoming school events. And be sure to check out the Murch Parent Handbook for key information.
One of the most important ways we communicate is the weekly email newsletter. Sent every Friday, the newsletter compiles information from the school website, the principal's weekly report, and HSA updates.
This email list is also how last-minute information and special updates are communicated to families.
Previous newsletters can be viewed in the newsletter archives.
Murch is active on social media! Follow us here:
Twitter: Murch School: @murchschool / Murch HSA: @murchfamilies
Facebook Murch HSA @murchschool
Instagram: Murch HSA @murchschoolfamilies
The HSA loves to hear from parents!
Email: Email addresses for HSA Board members are listed on the website. If you are unsure where to start, contact our Co-Presidents first.
Friday Folders: Anything for the HSA can be placed in your child's Friday Folder. Just clearly mark that it is for the HSA and it will be delivered.
Get involved with the HSA to make Murch the best place for our children, teachers, and the community. The HSA's monthly meetings are open to everyone.
Let us know how you can help via this volunteer form.
The Murch Forum (IO Groups) is an informal way for parents to share information within the community. The listserv is moderated by Murch parents and is open only to parents and guardians of children currently at Murch and to Murch faculty and staff.
If you have signed up but are not receiving messages, please check your spam folder for messages from MurchFamilyForum@groups.io.
The Kids Ride Free program allows students to ride for free on Metrobus, Metrorail, and the DC Circulator while traveling within the District. The Kids Ride Free program ensures that enrolled District students who are also District residents can get to school and school-related activities for free. To request a Kids Ride Free card, please complete THIS form. You can also use the form to request a DC One Card.
2023-2024 Kids Ride Free Metro Cards will expire on September 30, 2024, so please request a new card by completing the form for the current school year.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. McGraw (rebecca.mcgraw2@k12.dc.gov).
Murch ES is looking for substitute teachers for the 2024-2025 school year. If you are interested in learning more about being a substitute at Murch ES, please email Principal Cebrzynski (chris.cebrzynski@k12.dc.gov) or AP Hawkins (devario.hawkins@k12.dc.gov).
To view the current DCPS requirements for substitute teachers and the Substitute Teacher Application, please visit: https://dcps.dc.gov/page/substitute.
Background checks are required for ALL parents interested in chaperoning a field trip. It is a simple and easy process that we encourage everyone to do ASAP. Follow these steps:
1. Complete the DCPS Clearance Application.
2. After you submit your DCPS Clearance Application you will receive an email with a link to instructions to use to schedule and complete a FieldPrint appointment for fingerprinting. FieldPrint appointments can be made quickly and easily at many UPS stores across the city.
3. Once you complete FieldPrint appointment, you will receive a letter from DCPS which should be sent to Rebecca McGraw, Murch’s Coordinator of Strategy & Logistics.
4. ALL DONE!