| Save the Date |
Murch Auction Set for March 6
Mark your calendars! The Murch auction, one of the school's biggest fundraisers, is set for March 6, 2010. This "grown-ups only" party will again be held, by popular demand, at Washington Hebrew Congregation on Macomb Street. This year's auction is already shaping up to be a memorable affair. In addition to delicious food and wine, there will be an incredible array of cool items to bid on, from vacation homes and sports tickets to restaurant gift certificates, theatre passes, and those crowd-pleasing class art projects by the kids. (Which reminds me: Each class needs to submit their project concept to Stefanie Berger by November 1.) The auction has traditionally been a great night for Murch and a lot of fun -- a rewarding way to get involved, get to know other parents and teachers, and support our school. We welcome anyone interested in joining the auction team. Specifically, we are looking for people to help with soliciting advertisements for the auction catalog, picking up donated items around town, inputting data for the catalog, and any number of tasks large or small. Details about the event, the awesome items up for auction, information about the "Stock-A-Wine-Cellar" party, and the ways in which you can help make the evening a success will be available in the coming weeks.
So watch the newsletter and Murch Web site for more information or contact auction chair Karissa Kovner (237-7807). -- Karissa Kovner |
| Student Council |
 First Meeting Held
At the first Student Council meeting, on October 6, we got to know each other. Next, we talked about what Student Council does. We discussed our first event -- the Fall Fair! Volunteers signed up to sell Murch merchandise. Come to the Fall Fair and support Murch! Our next meeting will be held on Monday, October 19. -- Justin Atwood, Secretary, 4th grade |
| Fall Fair |
 Donate Halloween Costumes Starting Next Week
One week before Halloween, the Oct. 24th Fall Fair is the perfect place to find a great costume and miscellaneous goblin gear. If you have gently used children's costumes, masks, wigs, and other Halloween wear, consider donating them to raise money for Murch. New this year, you can also donate Halloween yard and house decorations. Starting on Monday, October 12, drop off contributions in Nurse Wright's office at the school. If you have oversized decorations that won't fit neatly into a 3x2x2-foot box, please contact Donna Fabiani or Gayle Hager. Other Fall Fair preparations are revving up as well. Many classes still have time slots to fill for their booths, so please contact your room parents to sign up by Oct. 10. The fair runs from 12 - 4 p.m., but each booth also needs helpers an hour before and after to set up clean up. One hour of your time is a small price to pay for a smooth-running operation. Other ways you can participate, donate, and do well by doing good include these Fair favorites:
Flea Market: Rent a table and turn your junk into cash. This year the tables will be in a prominent location between the Kaufman Wing and the main building. With more than 300 Murch families plus alumni and neighbors attending the fair, that's a lot of potential shoppers. Contact: Rachel Garrett.
Used Book Sale: Children's and adult books will be collected Monday through Thursday, Oct. 19-22, by the entrance to the Kaufman wing 8:30 - 9 a.m. and 3:15 - 3:45 p.m. Please, NO magazines, textbooks, self-help books, or outdated travel or reference books. If you have paper grocery bags please save them for the book sale. Contact: Sara Kanach.
Cake Walk and Bake Sale: Donate a cake, pie, a batch of brownies, cookies or other baked goody. Pies and cakes should be in containers that will fit in a cardboard cake box. Package bake sale treats in plastic baggies or plastic wrap for individual sale. Bring items to the teachers lounge the morning of the sale to be priced. Please contact Susan Zentay and Karen Hahn to let them know your baking for Murch. |
| SOS Campaign Update |
 Have You Sent In Your
SOS Form?
With three weeks to go for Staff Our School Month, 172 families have contributed -- that's 48% of Murch families who understand the need to support our teaching staff and students. Let's show the remarkable value that the Murch community places on the education of our children and reach 100% participation! This year, the Murch HSA will spend $141,800 on additional staff and instructional support, and we have raised just over half of the needed funds. The HSA operating budget depends on the success of the SOS Campaign. If we have not yet heard from you, please take a moment to fill in your blue SOS reply form. Even if you are unable to make a full contribution, please return your completed form. By doing so, you will be entered into a drawing for an iPod Touch that will be held at the end of the SOS Campaign. SOS packets were sent home in your child's backpack last month. If you have misplaced your packet, you can pick up another from the HSA table next to the school library; download a form or pay online. For more information, contact Julie York.
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| HSA News |
HSA General Meeting
Tuesday, Oct. 13,
7 p.m., Media Center
Agenda
1. School-wide Strategic Planning Initiative
2. Review of 2009-10 HSA Budget
3. Review of 2009-10 DCPS Budget for Murch
4. Creating Partnerships with Academic and Cultural Arts Organizations for Curriculum Enhancement
5. HSA Committee Reports
All parents are encouraged to attend.
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| LSRT News |
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 LSRT Meeting
October 19
5:30 p.m., Media Center
All members of the Murch community are welcome to attend. A preliminary agenda for the October 19 meeting follows, and members of the community are encouraged to contact LSRT representatives on other potential agenda items:
1. Principal's update
2. HSA update
3. Survey of teachers on music and art enrichment activities
4. Outreach to out-of-boundary Murch families
5. Strategic planning
-- Vicki Otten and David Weiner, LSRT co-chairs
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| Culture Corner |
Art Studio Assistants Needed
Parent helpers are needed for each class's weekly art period. Contact your child's room parents if you can volunteer on a regular basis or for specific projects. To see the amazing works of art our little Picassos are creating in Ms. Cutelis's art studio, check out her Murch art blog.
4th grade self portrait
Early Bird Singers
The Murch Choir has reconvened for the 2009-10 school year under the direction of music teacher Anne Smith. Children in grades second through fifth are welcome to join. The next rehearsal will be Monday, October 19, 8 - 8:40 a.m. in the music room. If your child intends to join, please email parent volunteer Lisa Kaestner. |
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Contributors Wanted
The Murch Mustang
Express is looking for parents and students!
to be reporters, editors,
& photographers. The next student staff meeting will
be October 19, 4 p.m. Room 2007.
Contact: Laura Kaiser or Robin Schepper |
| Got News? Comments? Contact us |
| Copy deadline: Tuesdays at noon.
Editors: Laura Kaiser and Robin Schepper Contributors: Justin Atwood; Shawn Berger; Michelle Cochran; Miriam Cutelis; Kathryn Harlee; Aruni Hettipola; Vikki Otten; David Weiner; Julie York.
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Share the Mustang Express with your children!
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Reminder
HSA General Meeting
Tuesday,
October 13
7 pm
LSRT Meeting
Monday,
October 19
5:30 pm |
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Volunteer
Fall Fair
Class Booths Be sure to sign up with your child's room parent for your class booth. |
October is Walk/Bike
to School
Month! |
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Events |
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Oct 12
NO SCHOOL
Columbus Day
Oct 13
7 pm: HSA meeting
Oct 13 & 15
3:30 - 5 pm: Boys Basketball tryouts
Oct 14
3:30 - 5 pm:
Girls Basketball
tryouts
Oct 16
8:30 am: Coffee on the Playground
Oct 19
8 - 8:40 am:
Choir Rehearsal
Student Council Meeting
Oct 19
4 - 4:30 pm
Murch Mustang student staff meeting
Oct 19
5:30 pm:
LSRT Meeting
Oct 29
10:30 am Halloween Parade
11:15 -12:15 pm
Parties and lunch
Oct. 29
12:15 pm dismissal
Records Day
Oct 30
NO SCHOOL
Professional Development Day
November 13
Art Show submissions due
Dec 4
Art Show opening Night
March 6
Murch Auction
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In the Classroom 
Ms. Fitzpatrick's kindergarten class has been working hard this week reading literature books. They practiced comprehension and reading strategies by reading Harold and the Purple Crayon and Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? The class also will start writing personal stories and about moments of their life based on pictures from home. In math, they have begun graphing by using data aboutthemselves and the environment. Lastly, the class has practiced and learned how to say and write their home addresses.
Following the parents' potluck dinner on October 15, the class will head out to Homestead Farm pumpkin patch in Poolesville, Maryland, on October 16.
-- Aruni Hettipola
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Join the Murch Basketball Teams
Boys Basketball
3:30-5 p.m.
Oct 13 & 15
Girls Basketball
3:30 - 5 p.m.
Oct 14
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Shop for Murch
Always start your online
shopping at One Cause and raise money for Murch-- up to 20% of eligible purchases! (To register, our school's ID number is 120519.)This portal features a vast array of online retailers - Dell, LL Bean, Lands' End, Pottery Barn, Nordstrom, Shutterfly, and hundreds more. To maximize contributions, install the One Cause toolbar, which helps ensure that every eligible purchase counts, resulting in up to five times more contributions for our school. The toolbar will also alert you to merchant coupons and deals, and give Murch two cents for every eligible Yahoo search. And don't worry-- One Cause guarantees that the tool bar has no adware or spyware. | |
