| Principal's Message |
Happy Winter Break!
In the spirit of the season, here are a couple of stories about giving that have brightened our days at Murch recently.
Brenda Freeman, parent of fifth grader Troy, works for Turner Broadcasting Company in Atlanta and asked Ms. Levy's class to submit questions for an interview with Jeff Kinney, the author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The students asked Kinney about the plans for a movie version of the book and whether the characters were based on people in his life. A few days after the interview, which took place in Atlanta, the class was pleasantly surprised when a shipment of the newest book in the series arrived - a copy for each student. Then, just before Thanksgiving, five more cases of books showed up -- 40 copies of every book in the series! Needless to say, the students were very excited. The books were shared with all fifth and fourth grade classes, and several copies were donated to the Murch library. Ms. Levy's students were very happy to write thank-you notes to Ms. Freeman for the generous donations.
As in past years, Murch students have been assembling holiday shoebox gifts for local charities. Last week, second-grade students and their families donated enough supplies (lotion, toothpaste, soap, small toys, etc.) to fill 100 shoeboxes for homeless children. With their fifth-grade student buddies, the students wrapped and donated the shoebox gifts to the nonprofit organization SOME (So Others Might Eat).
Other classes are filling shoeboxes this week. (For more coverage of this project, read "Annual Shoebox Project Helps Homeless" below.)
We will start our planning process for the 2010-2011 school year in the next few weeks. As we look strategically at Murch Elementary's strengths and areas of need, I want to hear what you think our priorities should be for the next few years. You'll have a chance to share your thoughts about the school's direction through focus group meetings and surveys, so please watch for information about the planning process coming home soon.
Happy holidays and a very, very happy new year to all of our Murch families. May 2010 be the best year ever!
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HSA Update
 Seasons Greetings,
We have several reminders and announcements before you all rush off for the winter break.
Recycle your Christmas tree to benefit Murch. Branches Tree Experts will again generously provide Christmas-tree recycling at Murch on Saturday, January 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations of $5 - $10 are suggested. All proceeds go to the boys' and girls' basketball teams at Murch. Go Mustangs!
Murch Talent Show is February 5. Wondering how to pass the days of winter break with your kids? Have them practice for the Talent Show! The big event is coming early this year. Tryouts are January 14 and 19 after school, and the performance is Friday, February 5. Contact Brendan Canty or Joshua Winchell with any questions.
A little late but better than ever - the Directory is out! The Directory went home in backpacks this week and we thank you for your patience. We think you will agree that it was well worth the wait. The artwork, formatting, and care that went into this edition are exceptional. We thank Martha Saccocio, Phyllis Jordan, Jane Solomon, and Mike Heffner for their hard work.
Auction plans are in full swing. Auction chair Karissa Kovner and her team are gearing up for the March 6th auction. Please help out by donating an auction item, contacting the table chairs with ideas on how you can help, or placing an ad in the auction catalog. Auction details are on the Murch Web site. In the meantime, mark your calendars for the January 23rd Build-a-Wine-Cellar Party!
Farewell to our able Ways and Means chair. We regret to report that we have accepted the resignation of HSA Ways and Means Chair Jane Solomon. Jane is also Chair of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3F, and her commitments to this elected position are keeping her extremely busy. We will miss her wisdom and cheer at our meetings, and we thank her for all of her service on behalf of the HSA and the broader Murch community.
And, finally, thank you! This season's message of giving has truly hit home at Murch this year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the volunteers who have helped us make the 2009-2010 school year full of exciting events, activities, and opportunities. We are a community full of generosity and good intentions, and our volunteers demonstrate this every day by their commitment and tireless hard work. Thank you.
Have a great winter break, everyone. See you on the playground... in 2010!
--Alison Howard and Karin Perkins, HSA co-presidents |
| Q & A |
Getting to Know
Ms. Otten
Fifth-grade teacher Vicki Otten has come full-circle back to DC Public Schools, having been a student at Lafayette Elementary in her youth. In this interview she tells us what brought her back into the classroom, her goals as a teacher representative for the Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT), and what she does in her free time -- besides advising Peer Mediators, rehearsing for the lip sync concert, organizing and planning the fifth-grade play on the Harlem Renaissance with author and Murch music teacher Anne Smith...
Was teaching in a public elementary school something you always wanted to do, even as a student at Lafayette?
Actually, not really. After receiving a BA in Sociology at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, I worked on the Hill with former Senator Paul Simon (D-IL) for many years. Senator Simon was very involved in a range of education issues, and as a senior staff member, I was also involved in federal education issues. When he retired, I took a little time off to be with my kids and figure out what I wanted to do next. It was the first time I'd ever spent any real time in my kids' classrooms, and I was completely awed by Karen Ritzinger, my son's then-5th grade teacher at Murch. As a native Washingtonian, DCPS pupil, and education policy wonk, I suddenly realized it was time to put my money where my mouth was. I came to Murch in January 2004 as a long-term science substitute for fifth grade. I then obtained my M.Ed from American University. Of course, now being in the classroom, I look back on those of us involved in policy, all of whom had the best of intentions, but none of whom had a clue. You can't begin to understand the needs of students and the needs of schools until you are in the classroom.
Is that what motivates you as a teacher representative for the LSRT?
In my relatively short teaching career, there has been no more important moment for teachers to be involved in the decisions that so greatly impact them than now. As teachers we have a number of avenues to do that, both through the union and the school system. The LSRT offers me an opportunity to work with the administration, other teachers, and parents to take a longer view of what makes sense for Murch - for our students, for our teachers, and for our families. In four years on the LSRT, I have worked with three principals, three parent/teacher boards and two heads of the school system. The constant change has been challenging but it has also offered us opportunities that might not otherwise have been there.
What has been your greatest challenge as a teacher?
Meeting the range of academic, social and behavioral needs of each of my students.
What would you say is unique about your classroom?
I don't really think about uniqueness when it comes to my classroom or my teaching style. I think our sense of community and the environment at Murch is the unique component of our teaching.
Any enhancements or curriculum changes you would like to see?
At the moment, I am comfortable with the opportunities and flexibility I have in creating both a reading and social studies curriculum that meets the standards but does not rely heavily on prepared text and lesson plans.
What is your most memorable classroom moment?
There have been so many, but one of them is having my entire fifth grade doing the Temptations shuffle to "My Girl" this year.
How about outside of school, what do you do when you're not at Murch?
Of late, it seems that when I am not at Murch, I am thinking about and working on Murch! But in the free time I do have, I raise two children, I cook, I read and belong to two book clubs, and I am a huge Capitals and Washington Wizards fan, so this time of year I am at as many games as possible.
How old are your kids now?
They're 26 and 21. My daughter just returned for an MBA at Harvard and my son is in his senior year at Colby College in Maine. My son graduated from Murch after having been beautifully educated by Ms. Mather and Ms. Levy!
And now, how would you finish this sentence: "If I weren't a teacher, I'd be a..."
bookstore/coffee-house owner in Boyne City, Michigan.
Boyne City?
It's a tiny town in northern Michigan where my husband's great grandfather built a cottage on a lake in 1902, and it is where we go every summer to escape. It was where I first tested any real athletic prowess, at the ripe ol' age of 40, when I learned to water ski!
-- Donna LaPorte Scharpf
photo by Danielle Allen, fifth grade |
| Save the Date |
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 Bring on the...Wine!
In what has become a favorite way for parents to contribute to the Murch Auction, the fourth annual Build-A-Wine-Cellar Party will take place Saturday, January 23, from 7:30-10:30 p.m. Parents are cordially invited to leave the kids with the babysitter and spend a convivial evening getting to know other members of the Murch community at this much anticipated cocktail party.
The price of admission: a bottle or two of wine for a stellar collection to be sold at the March 6th auction.
To make your contribution easier, choose from a specially created list available at Paul's Liquors and Calvert-Woodley. Both shops offer a 20% discount to Murch patrons on white-tag, non-sale 750ml bottles. Please let them know you are a Murch family so that our patronage and support of their stores will encourage them to continue partnering with Murch -- which ultimately contributes to the enhancement of our school and children.
Location and other details will be contained in an Evite coming to your inbox soon.
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| Math Contest |
 Murch Student Scores Highest Honors
At the American Mathematics Contest 8 on Nov. 17, fourth-grade student Harry Bagenstos attained the highest score not only of Murch students but also of all 132 students from around DC who took the test -- even eighth-graders.
Although the contest comprises junior-high-level math problems, 22 fourth- and fifth-grade students from Murch competed in the event, which took place at the University of the District of Columbia, along with fourth through eighth graders from various charter, private, and public schools in Washington.
Students had 40 minutes to complete 25 questions that challenged them in such skills as geometry and algebra. Calculators are not allowed. High-scoring students are invited to participate in the AMC 10, a 25-question, 75-minute multiple-choice examination in secondary school (pre-calculus) mathematics, held in February.
Bagenstos earned several AMC 8 awards including a Gold Certificate for Outstanding Achievement. Murch's silver went to Connor Yu and the bronze went to Justin Atwood, both fourth graders in Ms. Finberg's class.
In addition, all participants should be recognized as winners: fourth graders Leila Bagenstos; Olivia Barr; Leo Canty; Langley Custer; Sophia Diggs-Galligan; Owen Hanson; Camille Jefferson; Aidan Saccocio; Holden Scharpf; Nicholas Schneider; Grace Stohr; and Eliza Zizka; and fifth graders Riley Hager; Jacob Hegewisch; Anna Joos; Venus Lawrence; Henry Lent; Andre Nadeau; Evan Salerno; and Allison Schwalb.
We are proud that they were willing to put in the hard work to represent our school while sharpening their math skills. Congratulations!
--Denise Alexander, Instructional Developer |
| Performance |
 Second Graders Celebrate Cultural Traditions in Holiday Show
The cultural diversity of Murch was on full display Thursday, Dec. 17, as the second grade performed "Season of Light" in the gym, singing holiday songs from six different cultures before the entire student body, teachers, and parents.
The production is the culmination of their semester-long exploration of different traditions and cultures and how immigrants bring diversity to the United States. Students in Ms. Stephens, Ms. Mahar, and Ms. Schafer's classes explained different traditions, starting with the Christmas tree, before singing in unison "December in our town, what a wonderful place to be," accompanied on piano by music teacher Ms. Smith.
Up next came the history of Dawali, a Hindu celebration marking the time "that light will follow darkness and good will triumph over evil," followed by the Dawali song.
The history of Hanukkah was explained by Claudia Bertsch, Zora Colleye, and Leah Winchell, who noted that this holiday dates back to 165 BC. Students then sang, "Light the Candle" accompanied by tambourines and xylophones.
On December 15, the Spanish celebrate Las Posadas as way to teach the bible story of Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay on their way to Bethlehem. Shaking castanets, Ms. Mahar's class sang "La Fiesta."
Alexandra Allen, Henry Daschle, and Erin Hollar explained the history of Christmas before the entire class sang "The Innkeeper."
Joined by an African drum, students from Ms. Shafer's class explained how Kwanzaa is a seven-day holiday starting December 26 in celebration of the African harvest and the joy of family. After telling how Ramadan is a time for personal reflection, the students performed the Ramadan song.
In closing, Levi Berger summarized best what each student had learned in their traditions unit: "Every tradition has common themes: joy, love and hope."
--Robin Schepper |
| Spelling Bee |
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 Top Spellers T-i-e
Parfait... susceptible
...igneous...subterfuge... odyssey...What do these words have in common? They were some of the challenging words in the Murch Spelling Bee on Tuesday, Dec. 15, where selected fourth and fifth graders competed for the title of Murch Spelling Champion.
Prior to this event, each fourth and fifth grade class had its own classroom bee. The top three spellers from those competitions were invited to participate in the school-wide bee. These avid orthographers practiced twice a week for the past month to learn a list of 200 words taken from the Scripps National Spelling Bee list.
The wordsters were in fine form, resulting in an edge-of the-seat competition. After an hour and ten minutes Murch still didn't have a clear winner, so fifth-grader Evan Salerno and fourth-grader Justin Atwood tied for first place. Despite missing words that they had never seen before (sassafras and eucalyptus), both students will represent Murch at the Ward-Level Bee in February. Third-place winner Olivia Barr (fourth grade) will also compete. And it should be mentioned that fourth-grader Harry Bagenstos was a strong fourth-place finisher.
--Orly Friedman, 3rd grade teacher and Spelling Bee Advisor
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| Peer Mediators |
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 You've Got A Friend
If you are a Murch student and you've got a problem, peer mediators are on the playground to help. Murch has 16 peer mediators this year. They are all fifth graders who have been selected because they are considered to be "fair, patient, interested in helping, and are good listeners," says Murch Counselor Lauren Miller. Any student can ask a peer mediator for help while on the playground if they find that they are arguing with someone, having frustrations, feeling left out, or just feeling lonely.
Peer mediators introduce themselves to the students who might need help and tell the kids that they won't tell their teachers about the mediation or take sides in a disagreement. Peer mediation is private and confidential and problems won't be described to other students.
"Peer mediators don't tell anyone except Ms. Miller or me," says fifth-grade teacher Vicki Otten (back row, left) who with counselor Lauren Miller (back row, second from left) is one of the Murch peer mediator coordinators.
"This is the first year that Murch has had peer mediators in the 5th grade," says Ms. Miller. "Peer mediators have always been 6th graders. They have done an amazing job taking control."
Peer mediators stand out because they wear a blue hat with a picture of a yellow Murch Mustang that reads, Peer Mediator. They are on the playground for both recess times to help students. The peer mediators can play and have fun, but they also keep an eye out for students who might be having problems. You might see them near the Murch Peace Pole area during school recess working with students to help solve problems.
Sovanna Carnell-Guyon and Jordan Dean both are peer mediators. They say they like having an opportunity to show leadership and help fellow students. "Peer mediators ask people to explain the problem. The mediators won't interrupt the students. They give them suggestions and choices, but they leave it up to the students to solve their own problems," Carnell-Guyon says. She adds that she has used her peer mediator skills to help her solve problems at home with her sister.
Dean says that peer mediators "carry a paper with specific questions to ask each student and a pencil to write down what the students tell them. They are careful to ask every student they work with the same questions, so that everyone is treated fairly."
The peer mediators follow certain guidelines, such as:
1. They don't take sides and always remain neutral.
2. They ask students to walk around the Peace Pole labyrinth on the playground hill and think about how the students can fix their own problem.
3. They encourage students to talk to each other about the problem.
4. They encourage students to listen to each other and to express to each other how they are feeling.
If a problem cannot be solved at recess, the peer mediators will take the students to Ms. Miller's office and will continue to work with the students there.
This year's peer mediators are:
Sovanna Carnell Guyon
Kenneth Carroll
Khaleb Coleman
Jordan Dean
Anabel Forte-Fast
Rachel Geltman
Riley Hager
Jakob Hegewisch-Allen
Joshua Herring
Perri Hollar
Andre Nadeau
Que Anh Pham
Sophia Poulos
Allie Schwalb
D'Angelo Whittaker
Adam York
So, if you are having problems on the playground that you need help solving, look for a peer mediator in a blue hat.
-- Lindsay Harper, 5th grade & Danielle Allen, 5th grade
Photo by Danielle Allen |
| Pre-K Dispatch |
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 The Traveling Planetarium
Pre-k students are space explorers! On Wednesday, Dec. 9, we observed stars and constellations -right in our own school! Actually, the stars were projected inside an 11-foot-high dome that had been inflated inside the gym. It looked like a giant ball but it was a traveling planetarium from a company called Explore-it-all Science Center. We crawled through a small, dark tunnel, and when we got inside, there were thousands of stars dancing overhead! We connected the stars to create pictures and learned stories about Orion, Ursula Major, Ursula Minor, and other constellations.We also learned how stars like the North Star can help guide us.When we left the "Starlab," we said goodbye to our astronomer friends by wishing them "clear skies" just like real astronomers do.
--Betsy Wierenga, pre-k teacher |
| School Store |
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 Supplies and Apparel
for Sale
The Student Council is pleased to announce that the school store will be open for business every Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30-4 p.m. in the gymnasium, beginning Tuesday, January 5. We will be selling a variety of school supplies including pencils, folders, erasers, and markers, in addition to Murch t-shirts and sweatshirts. -- Justin Atwood, secretary, 4th grade |
| 2nd & 5th Grades |
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 Annual Shoebox Project Helps Homeless
On Friday, December 11th, the second and fifth graders got together and did the shoebox project. First, we covered the shoeboxes in holiday wrapping paper (top and bottom separately). Then we went to Ms. Schafer's room and filled them with: such toiletries as shampoo, conditioner, and toothbrushes; clothing items like hats, mittens, and socks; and fun little toys or games. The boxes will go to homeless children in DC through the nonprofit organization SOME (So Others Might Eat).
"It's great that all of us can get together and help people who are less fortunate than us," said Allie Schwalb, Murch Student Council president. "These gift boxes will be given to children who may not be getting any other gifts this holiday season," added Ms. Mahar. 
I think this is a great thing for the Murch students to do because I think people who are homeless should get special things for the holidays too.
Thank you to all the Murch students and parents who donated things for homeless children, and the teachers who helped us make the shoeboxes. We would also like to thank Dr. Ricardo Perez of Metropolitan Pediatric Dentistry in Chevy Chase, who donated lots of toothbrushes and tubes of toothpaste for the project. --Arielle Klein, second grade | |
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Share the Murch Mustang Express with your children!
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Newsletter to Change Schedule
The Murch Mustang Express will run every two weeks starting in January.
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Volunteer
Art Room
Parents needed
for art room. Your child doesn't need to be in the class for
you to volunteer for a specific time,
but you do need to be related to someone at the school.
Open House
Parents are needed Jan 7, 19, and Feb 3 from 9:30 - 11:15 am to give tours to prospective Murch families. Contact Wendy Gualtieri |
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Basketball Schedule 
Boys
Jan
7 Whittier at Murch
21 Takoma at Murch
28 Mann at Murch
Feb
2 Murch at Shepherd
Girls
Jan
5 Murch at Lafayette
19 Oyster-Adams at Murch
26 Shepherd at Murch
Feb
2 Murch at HD Cooke
3 Mann at Murch |
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Shop for Murch
Start your holiday shopping at One Cause and earn up to 20% of purchases for Murch! To register, our school's ID number is 120519. This portal features hundreds of top online retailers. Install the One Cause toolbar to ensure your contribution is counted and earn Murch two cents per eligible Yahoo search. |
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Pre-K and Out-of-Boundary Lotteries
On January 28, 2010, the lottery application will become available on the DCPS Web site. The application must be completed online; no paper applications will be accepted. If you do not have Internet access, please call or visit the nearest DCPS school for assistance in submitting your application.
Information on requirements can be found here. |
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Sign Up |
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New HSA
Classifieds Group
In response to
the many requests for a way to post classified ads for the Murch community, the HSA has created a new online site. By joining the HSA Classifieds Yahoo! Group, you can see and post what is happening in the community -- garage sales, freebies, volunteer opportunities in the city, community events, nanny shares, etc. Please note, this is a separate endeavor from the Murch Forum and Mustang Express; you need to sign up separately to access the classifieds. This is a work in progress and we welcome your suggestions.
-- Alison Howard and Karin Perkins, HSA co-presidents
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Contributors Wanted
The Murch
Mustang Express
is looking for parents--and students!--to be reporters, editors, & photographers.
Contact Laura Kaiser or Catherine Cooney. |
| Got News? Comments? Contact us |
Copy deadline: Tuesdays at noon.
Editors: Laura Kaiser and Robin Schepper
Contributors: Denise Alexander; Danielle Allen; Justin Atwood; Maria Conway; Orly Friedman;
Lindsay Harper; Arielle Klein; Karissa
Kovner; Donna LaPorte Scharpf; Betsy Wierenga
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