Principal's Message

Dear Families and Scholars,

On behalf of the teachers, staff, and administrative team, I would like to welcome each of you to the Murdy Elementary school community as we embark on the 2026–2027 school year! My name is Dr. Michele Luong, and I am proud to continue serving as the principal of John Murdy Elementary alongside your assistant principal, Mr. Thao To.

At Murdy Elementary, we believe that every student belongs, every family matters, and together we create a school community where all children can thrive. Our school motto, “Murdy’s Herd,” represents the strength of our collective community. Just as a herd supports one another, we work collaboratively with students, families, teachers, staff, and community partners to ensure every child feels safe, valued, challenged, and inspired to achieve their very best. Together, we celebrate our successes, support one another through challenges, and demonstrate that when we work as one Herd, we can accomplish great things.

Murdy has earned a reputation for academic excellence through our various programs on campus. Our award-winning Vietnamese Dual Language Immersion Program (VDLI) continues to be a source of pride for our entire school community. As the recipient of the prestigious California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE) Seal of Excellence School Award, our VDLI Program exemplifies our commitment to bilingualism, biliteracy, high academic achievement, and sociocultural competence. The success of our program is built upon a cohesive school-wide vision, dedicated educators, strong family partnerships, and a shared commitment to educational excellence for all students. Our students continue to demonstrate the power of biliteracy and are prepared to continue their Pathway to Biliteracy as they advance through their educational journey.

In addition to our exceptional VDLI Program, Murdy has a Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program, which continues to provide enriching learning opportunities that foster creativity, critical thinking, and academic growth for our advanced learners. While we take great pride in our academic accomplishments, we also recognize the importance of developing the personal skills students need to achieve their academic, social, and personal goals.

While we take tremendous pride in our academic accomplishments, we know that a great education extends beyond the classroom. At Murdy, we are committed to developing the whole child by fostering kindness, responsibility, perseverance, and leadership. Murdy Elementary is also proud to be an award-winning school for Social-Emotional Learning (SEL). After being recognized as one of the best communities for Social-Emotional Learning in California, Murdy earned the 2025 Thriving School Award by SEL4CA and was one of only two schools in Orange County to receive the Platinum Award for System SEL Implementation. Through the intentional integration of social-emotional competencies within our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework, Murdy supports the development of the whole child. Our students are taught the skills to build positive relationships, manage emotions, make responsible decisions, demonstrate empathy, and contribute positively to our school community. Through SEL, PBIS, restorative practices, and student leadership opportunities, we continue to foster a safe, welcoming, and inclusive environment where every student can succeed.

As a Community School, we know that our greatest successes are made possible through the dedication and partnership of our students, families, teachers, staff, and community partners. We invite all members of our Murdy community to be active participants in our Herd by engaging in school events, family activities, parent organizations, and opportunities to collaborate with our school team. Together, we can ensure every child has the support, opportunities, and encouragement needed to reach their fullest potential.

It is an honor and privilege to serve the Murdy Elementary school community. I look forward to another year of learning, growing, and achieving great things together as Murdy’s Herd.

If I can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Michele Luong, Ed.D.
Principal
John Murdy Elementary

Our School

The teachers and staff at John Murdy Elementary are hardworking and dedicated to providing our students with high quality learning experiences and preparing them for future success. We are proud to offer an on-site GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) Program and our district’s first Vietnamese Dual Language Program.

We have a strong commitment to STE(A)M, and recognize the importance of getting technology into the hands of our students.  All our students participate in Hour of CODE and many elect to participate in robotics. The last three years, we partnered with a local high school to bring an art teacher to Murdy to provide lessons after school.

Other Opportunities for Murdy Scholars:

• After school STEAM Enrichment (Coding, Robotics)
• Before & After School Intervention/Support
• On-Site GATE Program
• After School Art Programs
• District & County Art Festivals
• Honor's Orchestra
• Honors Chorus
• Cultural Celebrations
• The Gratitude Project
• Community Service Opportunities
• On-site Boys and Girls After School Program