| Principal's Update | 
The Big Test
It's almost here . . . the event we have been waiting for all year! No, not Mr. Welsh's birthday -- the DC CAS assessments!
Parents of third, fourth, and fifth graders, you have homework for the next two weeks. We are asking that you make sure your child is here and on time, gets plenty of rest before testing days, eats a good breakfast each morning, and has your support and encouragement.
Did you know that the DC CAS:
... is our state assessment that meets federal requirements under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB)
... is a test of how well students have mastered grade-level standards in reading and math for all students in grades 3-8 and 10th grade.
... includes a composition test for students in grade 4 and a science test for students in grade 5
... is untimed; students can take as long as they need to complete each assessment.
... holds schools responsible for ensuring that all students in the school demonstrate proficiency on the state standards of learning. Each school gets a "report card" every year detailing progress toward that goal. Parents get the individual results for their child in the mail during the summer.
Testing Dates
· Tue, April 20 Grades 3-5 Reading Sections 1 & 2
· Wed, April 21 Grades 3-5 Reading Sections 3 & 4
· Thu, April 22 Grades 3-5 Math Sections 1 & 2
· Fri, April 23 Grades 3-5 Math Sections 3 & 4
· Tue, April 27 Grade 4 Composition Sections 1 & 2
· Wed, April 28 Grade 5 Science Sections 1,2 & 3
For students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 2, classes will go on as usual for the most part. Those students are doing their part to prepare for their turn at the DC CAS by learning their own grade level's standards.
2010-2011 Registration
Thank you to all of the parents who have registered for next school year. We are still waiting for several hundred registrations, however, so please be sure to make this task a priority in the next couple of weeks.
Strategic Planning
Work on the development of Murch Elementary's strategic plan has been progressing rapidly over the last two months. To collect data about our community's thoughts and opinions about what our school's priorities should be, we have hosted two input sessions for staff and parents and conducted three surveys (parents, staff, and former parents). Members of the LSRT have reviewed assessments and other data about the school, examined and discussed all of the available data, and made recommendations about possible school priorities for coming years.
On April 7, two feedback sessions were held for staff and parents to provide them with an opportunity to react to the priorities that had been identified.
The next step is to identify two or three goals from the priorities that have been established, i.e., to decide what we want to accomplish as a school community. Once the goals are agreed upon, the staff will begin work on building the action plan, specifying what we need to do to meet the goals, the resources needed, and how progress to those goals will be measured.
Developing a strategic plan is a huge but important undertaking, one that will benefit students now and in the years to come. Thank you for your input and support.
--Dawn Ellis, principal |
| HSA Update | |
Flea Market and Plant Sale Sat, May 8
 Murch will hold a flea market and plant sale on the playground, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., May 8.
Have stuff to sell? Rent a table! Need a Mother's Day gift? Buy a plant! If you don't feel like schlepping any unsold items back home, we will arrange for a truck to take them away for donation to a local charity. Besides a selection of annuals and perennials, we will also be selling pizza and baked goods.
Forms are available for table rental and pre-ordering plants. Please contact Deborah Crouch for questions.
& Alison Howard, co-presidents
Find out more about the HSA here. |
Student Life
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 Walk and Bike to School for Earth Day!
The 40th anniversary of Earth Day is Thursday, April 22, and Murch is asking students and parents to walk and bike to school to celebrate. What a great way to exercise before another day of DC-CAS testing for third, fourth, and fifth graders!
Come join the walking school buses we have organized. If you have to get to work, drop off your kid at a location by 8:30 a.m. and the bus captain will bring your child to school. Please email the bus captain ahead of time if you are joining the bus or dropping off your child:
· Albemarle and Reno, captain: Jonathan Davidson
· Albemarle and 36th, captain: Wendy Gualtieri
· Davenport and Linnean, captain: Karen Beiley
· Harrison & Reno, captain: Deanna Jordan Sullivan
· 3841 Fessenden bet 39th & 38th, captain: Amy Dine
--Robin Schepper
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Student Blog
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Earth Day Photo Contest for Students
The Student Blog is sponsoring an Earth Day photography contest. First, second, and third place winners will receive gift cards to Politics & Prose!
All students are welcome to submit their best photograph that shows what Earth Day means to them. That could be almost anything - nature, people, food, or even pollution - but the photo must convey a strong environmental theme. The deadline for entries is Sunday, April 25.
Members of the Student Blog team will judge photos on composition, content, and environmental theme. Winners will be announced and their photos published on the Murch Web site and in the next edition of Murch Mustang Express. All entries will be featured in a gallery on the Web site as well, but the winners will be featured on the Home page.
Please, digital images only - this is Earth Day, after all, so let's avoid paper and chemicals! (If you have to borrow your parents' camera, be sure to get their permission first.)
Contest Rules
· Entries due by Sunday, April 25.
· One photo per student.
· Entrants must be Murch students.
· Photos may be in color or black and white.
· Submit digital images via email.
· Please include the student's name, parent contact information, and teacher.
· Titles and descriptions may accompany photos but are not required. Good luck. Start snapping away today!
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| GROW | |
Dig It!
A Project GROW posse descended on the Big Hill on Sat., March 20, and in one short day the GROW garden project became tangible.
If you've ever wanted a demonstration of the old adage "many hands make light work" the day was a perfect example. Chef Todd and Eileen Kassof Gray of Equinox restaurant joined other volunteers including parents, teachers and at least 40 students who removed sod, raked soil, constructed raised beds, and planted seeds.
Just five days later, the first sprouts emerged -- arugula and spinach in the north bed. Volunteers watered and thinned the plants over break. On one memorable afternoon, all activity on the playground came to a halt while the children watered the plants and performed the delicate task of thinning the shoots.
Many thanks to all who helped including American Plant, which generously delivered the soil the day before the big dig.
To see more pictures and sign up to get involved, check out the Murch GROW Web site.
You'll have to wait until the harvest in late May to see one of the garden's biggest surprises. Rumor has it that the carrots will be purple!
--Cheryl O'Neill
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Athletics
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Track and Field Hits Ground Running
The Murch Track and Field team did really well at our first track meet, which was April 7 at Dunbar High School. This was a developmental meet, where the coaches see what events you're good at and what areas you need improvement in.
It was awesome to hear your friends and your teammates cheering you on. The spirit and excitement-filled atmosphere was great to be back in again. "It was fun and exciting, but it could have been shorter," said Josh Valdez, a fifth grader. The meet lasted from 1 to 7 p.m. and the day was very hot.
Even with only three practices before our meet, we placed first, second, and third in many relay events. Coach Berger said he was very impressed at how well we did, which meant a lot to the team and to me.
--Kali Hoechstetter, fifth grade
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| Student Blog |
And Mystery Teacher #2 is...
Ms. C resswell!
Thank you to everyone who played the Murch Mystery Teacher Challenge #2. Congratulations to sisters Emily and Zora Colleye who correctly guessed her identity.
Yes, first-grade teacher Wendy Cresswell really was one of the first delivery people for Dominoes and she had to drive around in Arizona (which is very hot) in her Volkswagen with a big pizza oven in the back seat.
She's lived in many exotic places and says, "At the time I went to Colombia it was considered to be very dangerous so very few people traveled there, which was too bad because Colombia is beautiful. But South Africa was amazing too because I was there right after Apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela was elected President."
And she really is double jointed: "I can lean on a table and my elbows flip inside-out -- hard to explain--and stick way out the wrong way," she says. "It looks very weird."
Besides Tacky the Penguin, she has dressed up as a candy corn, a bat, Araboolie, and Lilly, but she loves Tacky because Tacky was "wacky."
And, yes, she really did act in a non-profit Star Wars fan film called "Revelations". "I was an inter-galactic diplomat at a party and I got arrested by the Storm Troopers--very exciting!" she recalls. "Unfortunately, the beings from my planet wore head-to-toe black shrouds so I am very hard to recognize unless you recognize my hands. I look like a big, black blob!"
--Adelaide Kaiser, third grade
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| Classroom Dispatches | |
 E-I-E-I-O!
This week in our pre-K classroom we transitioned from zoo animals to farm animals. We began by singing a song about our favorite farmer, Old MacDonald, who had a number of different animals on his farm.
We made a list of the animals on the farm. Then we worked in pairs to come up with words that describe farms. Farms can grow fruits, vegetables, flowers, or raise animals. Some farms do more than one thing! We matched up farm animal babies to their mothers and created a predictive sentence chart. We are using the idea of farms to address the concept of buying and selling.
We will be reading Ox-Cart Man next week and making bread and butter. You can begin talking about where your food comes from.
--Sarah Bogan
See more class dispatches here |
Q & A
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Getting to Know Ms. Stephens
 As a former insurance appraiser, second-grade teacher Gina Stephens knows how to size up a situation, whether it's a tree crashed onto a house or a room full of energetic kids. Sometimes she misses the perks of her old job, like having a company car, but since coming to Murch in 2006, she hasn't really looked back. She's been too busy, as she explains in this interview.
First things first, where are you from?
I am from Hartford, CT. I've lived in Annapolis, MD, Washington, DC, and, now, in Beltsville, MD.
What was your career path?
After majoring in accounting at Virginia State University in Petersburg, I took a job appraising houses and cars with Nationwide Insurance Company. I was in the Bethesda/Chevy Chase area during the 1986 catastrophe which toppled gigantic trees on top of houses and cars. Then I worked for USAA Insurance Company in the same capacity. I worked out in the field and also in the drive-ins at Jim Coleman Cadillac and Criswell Chevy in Gaithersburg.
How did you decide to switch to teaching?
In 1992, I became a Christian and as a result, my entire life changed. It all started for me as a volunteer in the nursery at my church. Eventually, I became the children's church director. I was awarded the Un-Sung Heroes for Outstanding Contribution to my Community award in March 2001 and then when I volunteered in my children's school, the teachers told me that I should become a teacher.
What did you think?
"Me? No way!" But then I decided to go for it. I left my beloved employer and fantastic manager of 10 years. I left the company car, the company credit card, the company phone, the 401K, the fantastic dental and health insurance, the huge bonuses. And I left my free time. I most regret leaving behind time to go to the gym.
But there you went -
--on to Trinity University here in DC to receive a masters degree in education. I felt like I had no idea what I was doing when I started teaching, but my first principal told me that I had compassion and the will and all I needed was the skill, which I developed through the Teachers Institute, which provided training at Columbia University Reading and Writing Project. It was fantastic.
That's where Writers Workshop was developed, right?
That's right. Back then Teachers Institute was a non-profit organization within DCPS whereby about 10-plus schools collaborated on the development of a readers and writers workshop based on the philosophy of the Reading and Writing Project out of Columbia University through Lucy Calkins. Through Teachers Institute, DCPS teachers had the inside track on state-of-the-art professional development at Columbia University. We also were able to visit some the schools in New York to see this at work. Through Teachers Institute all of the participating schools received a classroom library, rugs, and seat pockets. Some teachers also received laptops and other technology equipment.
So, you found your calling with teaching.
When I look back at my childhood, I can see that I was meant for teaching. I was always sort of a Ruby Bridges. In the second grade I was bussed from my neighborhood school to help integrate an all-white school. It was rough, to say the least! I remember teaching kids in my neighborhood in the hallways of our apartment building all the things that I was learning, and here I am full circle: still teaching second graders.
What has been your greatest challenge as a teacher?
Being able to effectively differentiate and meet the needs of every single student. Oh, did I mention organizing and keeping up with every single detail of each student?! Teaching is definitely an art.
What's your favorite part?
I love "that look" children give back after I give them encouragement or specific compliments on their achievements. It's priceless.
Describe your teaching style in one word.
Spontaneity! They never know what I may do to have fun while learning. Each year it's different. I get a feel for the makeup of my students and try to make an impact based on their styles and comfort-level.
What other experience do you bring to the table that we might not expect?
Writing and conducting musicals, Double-dutch, marching patrol, cheerleading, African dancing.
What's on your teacher wish list?
Effective Readers and Writers Workshop in every classroom where teachers are helping one another with mini-lessons to include pre- and post conferences and next steps... Funding provided for new teachers to attend Columbia University for the Reading and Writing Project weeklong workshops during the summer months and February...A state-of-the-art resource library with books according to levels for guided reading, genres for reading and writing units, author studies, read alouds, other subjects such as science and social studies, books on tape (specifically Mario Carbo for struggling readers and ELL leaders), DVDs and CDs to enhance subject matter...
You've given that a lot of thought. What else do you have going on in your life?
I still teach at children's church. And I'm, a wife and mother and daughter (my mom lives with me). I'm already planning for college with my son, going to birthday parties, activities, and piano lessons with my teenagers -- and sneaking a weekend with my husband, Terrence.
Finally, how would you finish this sentence: "If I weren't a teacher, I'd be...."
...a missionary for children somewhere.
-- Donna LaPorte Scharpf
Check out the Staff Page for more interviews with teachers |
| CAPA |
 Murch Catalyst for Conn. Ave Safety Effort
Imagine allowing your children to cross Connecticut Avenue without you. This level of safety is the vision of Connecticut Avenue Pedestrian Action (CAPA), the next phase of Murch's Safe Routes to School Program.
After Murch won the 2009 National Oberstar Safe Routes to School award in October 2009, CAPA leaders Jane Solomon and Robin Schepper teamed up with Marlene Berlin, pedestrian advocate from Iona Senior Services, to find ways to make Connecticut Avenue safe between Calvert Street and Chevy Chase Circle.
"In writing our Murch Action Plan, we realized we needed to look at Connecticut Avenue holistically, any changes made to signals or pedestrian crossing times affects the entire Avenue," explains Solomon, who is also ANC 3F chair.
"During our Safe Routes community meeting last year, Marlene approached me and said we should work together because seniors face the same pedestrian issues as elementary students. We knew we needed more community support to get the city to implement our proposals," says Schepper. In a recent CAPA focus group Berlin added, "Did you know that many of the seniors in the neighborhood do their errands while Murch crossing guards are on duty? The guards serve more than the students."
CAPA is now a community-based effort whose members include: DC City Council Member Mary Cheh; the ANC commissioners from Chevy Chase, Forest Hills, Cleveland Park, and Woodley Park; Oyster Elementary; DC-AARP; the Coalition for Smarter Growth; and Ward 3 Vision. CAPA's plans to conduct pedestrian audits and surveys in 2010, work with the Department of Transportation (DDOT) to develop a master pedestrian plan in 2011, and secure federal and city funding to implement the plan in 2012. Solomon and Schepper hope to get more than 1,000 people to answer the Connecticut Avenue survey and urge Murch parents to sign up to volunteer for two to four hours to conduct the pedestrian audit April 26 through May 8. Trainings will take place on April 24 and May 1. Check out CAPA for details.
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| Announcement | |
New Ways and Means Chair
 We are thrilled to announce Jeff Travers has accepted the position of Ways and Means Committee Chair effective immediately. Jeff brings a wealth of communications and fundraising experience with non-profit organizations. As director of external relations at Fight For Children, he oversees the organization's marketing, communications, development, and grant-making programs. Prior to that, Jeff was a founding principal at High Noon Communications, a consulting firm to non-profits. He and his partner, Mike Heffner, have twins in pre-k.
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Share the Murch Mustang Express with your children | |
Registration Reminder
Now's the time to enroll your child at Murch for 2010-2011. Click here for forms and more information.
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Lost and Found
Thanks to Miriam Cutelis and Christopher Snipes, all lost and found items can be viewed now online. Click here.
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Bloggers Wanted
We are looking for student bloggers and photographers. Contact
Laura Kaiser and Robin Schepper to join the online team.. | |
Events |
April 19
Report Cards Issued
April 19-30
DC CAS 3rd Through 5th Grades
April 21 8am
Teacher Appreciation Breakfast by 1st Grade Parents
April 22
Earth Day -Walk and Bike to School and Student Photo Contest
April 24 & 25
1- 4 pm Butterfly Garden Beautification
April 28
2nd Grade Field Trip Baltimore Aquarium
April 28
3:30-4:15 pm
Student Bloggers Meeting
Room 102
May 3
Murch Monday at Comet Ping Pong
May 3-7
Teacher Staff Appreciation Week
May 7
Teacher Staff Appreciation Luncheon (volunteers needed)
May 8
Flea Market and Plant Sale
May 11, 7pm
HSA General Meeting
May 121:30-3:45
Bogan & Wierenga Field Trip Levine School of Music
May 12
3:30-4:15 pm
Student Bloggers Meeting
Room 102
May 13
International Night
May 14
Butterfly Garden Planting Event (during school hours)
May 16
GROW Cooking Demo w/ Chef Gray
May 18 9 am 5th Graders
Deal Math Placement Exam
May 18
Picture Day Individual Portraits
May 22 & 23
BOOK FAIR at Politics & Prose
May 31
Memorial Day, NO SCHOOL
June 4
Murch Talent Show
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After School
Kickball
starts April 22
The Kickball Club opens its spring season on Thursday, April 22, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The club welcomes second and third graders, novices and experts alike. The club will play at the same time on Thursdays for the rest of the school year. For more information, contact Sabrina Finberg or Lauren Miller.
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Volunteer
Butterfly Garden Help Needed April 24-25
Part of the pre-K and second grade curriculum includes a segment on butterflies. The Murch Butterfly Garden, a valuable educational resource for this segment, is in need of rejuvenation. This year marks the beginning of a three-year restoration plan for the butterfly garden. On Sat., April 24, and Sun., April 25, from 1 to 4 p.m., we need eight adult volunteers (sign up here) to help move and repot plants, spread compost, and dig and save bulbs. Please bring your own shovel or spade and gloves; a couple of wheelbarrows are also needed. With support from the HSA, we have partnered with the Monarch Sister Schools Programand are working with them on an updated garden design and the selection of native plants for an in-school planting event Friday May 14.
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Salute
Tree for All
Murch got a little greener over spring break. On Sat., April 3, several Murch families and Principal Dawn Ellis joined with a team of workers and volunteers from Casey Trees to plant nine new trees in addition to the more than 100 that the non-profit has donated already. We're looking for volunteer watering teams, including kids, to help our trees get through the hot summer. If you're interested in being trained and volunteering, please contact Judith Ingram.
--Leonie Aksyonov, fourth grade
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Salute 
Congratulations to the first-ever Murch Morning News announcers!
Leonie Aksyonov
Quang Cao
Jacob Hegewisch-Allen
Grace Marion
Andre Nadeau
Rebecca Simon
Hanna Timm
Elliot Whitney
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Event
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Put International Night on the Map for May 13
The number of countries that will be represented at International Night on Thursday, May 13 keeps climbing.So far, they include: Brazil; Canada, England; Georgia; India; Ireland; Israel; Italy; Jamaica; Mexico; Netherlands; New Zealand; Paraguay; Senegal; Swaziland; Russia; and Vietnam.
Each country will be provided one table, which will need to accommodate the food as well as the country display and information. For countries where many people have signed up, we hope to be able to have more than one table.
Any display item that represents the country would be great -- maps, flags, clothing, arts and crafts items, brochures, booklets, or little tokens. Food items should be cut into taste size portions, and must be accompanied by a list of ingredients.
At this event, students will sing international songs and everyone will be issued a "passport" that they get stamped as they travel around to the different countries (tables) and enjoy lots of delicious food.
We need volunteers to make this night a success, so please sign up here. Contact Ms. Lipshie with any questions or suggestions, or if you would like to represent a particular country. The goal is to have as many nationalities as possible.
--Alyssa Lipshie
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Dispatches
Fourth Graders Explore Their Roots for Heritage Day
On March 19, Ms. Martell-Stevenson's fourth-grade class celebrated Heritage Day. Each kid asked their parents to tell them a little about what place they were originally from and then made presentation. Kids did poems, pictures, and music. Some just told a little bit about were they were from. Each kid wore a costume from the place they chose and brought in a food from that place. After all the presentations, everyone got to eat all the different foods. Many people tried many different foods, and some didn't. And everyone learned a little bit more about Ms. M-S's students. Also, they learned about some places that they didn't even know existed!
--Leonie Aksyonov, fourth grade
see more dispatches here
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Shop for Murch
Check out all the ways you can raise money for Murch while doing your regular shopping.
Click here for details |
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School Store Hours
Closed until further notice.
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Stay Connected | |
Join the HSA Classifieds Yahoo! Group & the Murch Forum Click here to find out more ways tp stay connected |
Publishing Schedule
The Murch Mustang Express's next issue will be April 30.
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| Got News? Comments? Contact us | Copy deadline: Tuesdays at noon.
Editors: Laura Kaiser, Robin Schepper, Stefanie Berger, Mike Heffner
Contributors: Leonie Aksyonov, Sarah Bogan, Kali Hoechstetter,
Adelaide Kaiser, Alyssa Lipshie, Donna LaPorte Scharpf, Cheryll O'Neill
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