Our school year is filled with many exciting special events where we help others, support our school, and, yes, just have fun. The following list is organized by season - summer, fall, winter, spring – and roughly in chronological order. Specific dates and times may change, so check the Calendar and Events for the latest information.
Summer
Summer Reading Challenge: Students read a certain number of books from June through August to achieve individual and collective reading goals.
Fall
Ice Cream Social: If the student body achieves the collective Summer Reading Challenge goal, the HSA will dish out ice cream for all. So, make sure you read read read over summer vacation!
After-School Activity Fair: Come to the auditorium on a designated afternoon in September to find out more about the various extracurricular clubs and activities available to Murch students and meet the sponsors. Contact: Assistant Principal
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Walk-to-School Day: One day in early October, students walk and bike to school to support Murch’s Safe Routes to School Program. Join a “walking school bus” with kids from your neck of the woods!
Fall Fair: Held on a Saturday in October, rain or shine, this annual event is a real crowd pleaser. The schoolyard is transformed into an amusement park featuring such attractions as a moon bounce, giant slide, games, entertainment, a flea market, used book sale, cake walk, Halloween costume sale, and lots of munchies. You can help by volunteering an hour of your time for your class’s booth, renting a table at the flea market, or contributing treats for the bake sale and cake walk. Whatever you do, be sure to attend what is THE social event of the season for the 11-and-under set. For more information, contact chairs.
Scholastic Book Fair: The book fair usually coincides with the National Book Festival held in the fall on the Mall. All books are new and of excellent quality. Parents are welcome any time the fair is open, and there is always at least one evening when the event is open especially for parents to do holiday shopping. Parents can purchase books for their child’s classroom and the school library, too. The best part: 25% of the proceeds go to HSA in support of our school. For more information, contact the chairs.
Halloween Parade: All the children, teachers, and staff dress up in costumes and parade around the Murch school block in a procession to celebrate Halloween. After the parade, teachers and students hold parties in their classrooms.
Walk for the Homeless: Every year Murch students and faculty participate in a community mini-walk in support of Fannie Mae’s Help the Homeless Program and annual Walkathon on the National Mall.
Peace Poster Contest: Every year classes produce posters with messages of peace as part of a school-wide competition. There are two divisions: pre-K through second grade; and third through fifth grade. The winning classes receive a special treat such as an ice cream party. Contact:
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Art Show: Murch proudly presents the artistic creations of its student in periodic art shows. All students are encouraged to attend and to participate by submitting a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other piece of art they’ve made. You can read about previous art shows in Murch Mustang Express articles and on the Murch art blog. For more information, check the guidelines or contact art teacher
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Spelling Bee: The first step toward the Scripps National Spelling Bee starts in the fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms, where students compete in preliminary rounds. The top three spellers from each class then prepare for several weeks to compete in a school-wide bee. The resulting Murch Spelling Champion moves on to the ward-level bee, which determines which wordster will represent DC in the national spelling bee. For more information, contact third-grade teacher and spelling bee advisor,
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Season of Light: Second graders sing and perform in a tribute to several holiday traditions in a school assembly and at the Methodist Home.
Murch Talent Show: The annual talent show features entertainment from students and faculty. Solo and group acts are welcome to try out. The show seeks to include a wide variety of performance -- playing instruments, reciting poetry, juggling, singing, rapping, dancing, and whatever other hidden talents Murch students may have. Performers are expected to attend two or three rehearsals. Contact:
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Lip Sync: The Student Council invites all Pre-K through fifth-grade students to become a part of the annual Lip Sync Show. No singing talent required! Each act – an individual or group of students – simply mouths the words (lip sync) to a song, choreographs dance moves, and dresses up in appropriate costumes. All student performers are required to have a parent sponsor and submit a permission slip signed by all their parents. Performers are required to attend one tryout but must attend two dress rehearsals (accompanied by the parent sponsor or other designated adult) and be able to perform for two nights. All groups must submit a song on a CD and lyrics to that song when they register. For more information, consult the Lip Sync guidelines or contact:
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>> Lip Sync 2010 Photos
Book Fair at Politics & Prose: One Saturday and Sunday in May, Politics & Prose generously donates a percentage of sales to Murch. To fuel your book-browsing, buy a home-baked treat from the Murch students out front. 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW between Fessenden and Nebraska.
School Spirit Week: You know the school year is winding down when it’s time for School Spirit Week in June. Sponsored by the Student Council, these five days are a chance to don some zany duds and have fun. Each day has a special dress-up theme --Crazy Hat Day, Twin/Triplet Day, Favorite Book Character, Tropical Thursday, and School Colors.
Sports Day: Usually held on the last day of Spirit Week, Sports Day is Murch’s mini Olympics. Students compete in races, relays, and other sports activities all day. Contact:
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Awards Assembly: At the end of each school year, there are assemblies to recognize the achievements, participation, and volunteerism of Murch students. Awards and recognition are given to students from kindergarten through fifth grade. Fifth grade awards for leadership, academic excellence, and community spirit include: the Wanda Washburn Award, the American Legion School Medal, the Peter Barry Award, the Presidential Academic Fitness Awards, and Ben W. Murch Academic Scholar Award.
Promotion: The ceremony marks the passage of fifth graders to middle school. Former Murch graduates and a representative from the DC School Board participate to enhance this very special occasion.
Ice Cream Social: If the student body achieves the collective Summer Reading Challenge goal, the HSA will dish out ice cream for all. So, make sure you read read read over summer vacation!
Walk-to-School Day: One day in early October, students walk and bike to school to support 
Scholastic Book Fair: The 
Halloween Parade: All the children, teachers, and staff dress up in costumes and parade around the Murch school block in a procession to celebrate Halloween. After the parade, teachers and students hold parties in their classrooms.
Art Show: Murch proudly presents the artistic creations of its student in periodic art shows. All students are encouraged to attend and to participate by submitting a painting, drawing, sculpture, or other piece of art they’ve made. You can read about previous art shows in Murch Mustang Express 
Season of Light: Second graders sing and perform in a 
Sports Day: Usually held on the last day of Spirit Week, Sports Day is Murch’s mini Olympics. Students compete in races, relays, and other sports activities all day. Contact:
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