From the School
This Week's Query
How can I contribute to my community when I’m still a child?
Notes from Sally
The assembly for this week is the fall play, “There’s a Boy in the Girls’ Bathroom.” Students will be seeing the production at school by grade level on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings. There are public performances on Friday night and Saturday afternoon – hope you can join us!
All Middle School parents are invited to join us for Meeting for Worship next Thursday morning, November 18th. Meeting is from 8:10-8:40 AM in the new Athletic Center.
The first trimester ends on Friday, November 19th. Next week there will be trimester tests for 7th and 8th graders. Schedules of special classes will change for 5th and 6th graders, and arts classes will change for 7th graders beginning on Monday, November 22nd. First trimester reports will be issued before winter break.
It’s time for a few reminders about the use of 37th Street: Please do pull all the way forward in the morning. Your kids can walk the extra few steps, and this saves cars from having to cut into the line, which always makes me worry about safety. Also be sure that you are pulled all the way to the curb before your child enters or exits the car. And please don’t come early in the afternoon. Your kids are generally not ready to go until almost 3:30, and waiting a few extra minutes helps the Hearst pick up clear out so that things move more smoothly. Generally things are going very well on 37th Street this year – thanks for your help and cooperation!
Sixth grade teachers have sent out a survey to their parents about the student-led conferences. Please do give us your honest feedback – we want to know what you think so that we can plan for future years!
Thanks so much to Mrs. Dennin’s 6th graders for their sponsorship of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF effort and to Mrs. McCourt’s class for sponsoring the Miniwalk for the Homeless! We’ll let you know the results of both of these drives as soon as we get the information tallied.
A reminder to parents of 6th, 7th, and 8th graders: please complete the laptop survey by this Wednesday, November 10th. Students in those grades should have completed the survey at school, but please remind them to take care of that. We very much want everyone’s feedback. Here are the links to the parent survey:
6th grade parents www.surveymonkey.com/s/5LZZHK5
7th grade parents www.surveymonkey.com/s/598LBV5
8th grade parents www.surveymonkey.com/s/5MZZ9C8
Congratulations to Coach Megan Miller who gave birth to Maxwell Jeffrey Miller on November 6th . All are doing well!
Instrumental Music Notes
5/6 Orchestra – String Ensemble – Wednesday November 10th – Rehearsal Period 7/8 Orchestra – String Ensemble – Wednesday November 10th – Rehearsal Period
7/8 Orchestra – FULL ORCHESTRA – Monday December 6th, 3:30-5:30 – Arts Center Stage
Chorus Rehearsals this Week
Tuesday, November 9th Girls Ensemble 2:30-4:00pm (students in play excused) Wednesday, November 10th Boys Ensemble 7:25am Boys Ensemble during Rehearsal Period Thursday, November 11th
Girls Ensemble 7:25am
An Invitation from 7/8 Middle School Drama
Middle School Fall Play - Save the Date!
THERE’S A BOY IN THE GIRLS’ BATHROOM
The much-anticipated annual Middle School fall play is just around the corner. An adaptation of the novel There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom by National Book Award-winning children's writer Louis Sachar, the play features a modern take on the classic tale of the misfit schoolboy. No-one likes 5th grader Bradley Chalkers. Teachers label him with "serious behavioral problems" while his classmates call him a monster. But the school counselor has faith in him, and after a series of tragi-comic episodes, she is proven right.
Free public performances will be held Friday November 12 at 7:30pm and Saturday November 13 at 2:00pm at the Middle School Drama Studio. Please show up to support our talented young thespians and bring along family and friends. Admission is free,
but reservations are recommended by calling: 202/537-8150.
(Performances for the 5th-8th grades will be held during school hours Wednesday November 10 through Friday November 12).
Math Meet
6th through 8th grade parents: A reminder that the first math meet of the year will take place next Thursday, November 18th, at St. Albans. Any 6th , 7th or 8th grader may attend! If your child has an interest in attending, make sure he or she has already turned in a signed math meet permission form (available from his or her math teacher) . Also, make sure your child has told his or her math teacher about wanting to go. We will leave Sidwell at 2:15 and return to Sidwell around 4:00. Questions? Email Andrew Callard (callarda@sidwell.edu)
From the Financial Aid Office
Financial aid information will be mailed on December 1 to families currently receiving aid. If you are not currently receiving financial aid, but want to apply for the 2011-2012 school year, please call 202-537-2402 to be added to the financial aid mailing list.
The 2010 - 2011 Fair Share Fund is Underway!
The Fair Share Fund (the Annual Fund for parents) is well underway for the 2010-2011 school year. Thank you to the many parents who have already supported this vital effort. Your gift helps support the students, the teachers, and the programs that make Sidwell Friends the strong school that it is. Please help us reach our goal of 95 percent family participation in the Fair Share Fund by making your gift before Thanksgiving. Visit www.sidwell.edu/support today to give online. Thank you! For question, please contact Leslie Hutchens, Director of Annual Funds, at 202-537-8147 or hutchensl@sidwell.edu.
Middle School Years Newsletter
middle_years_11-10.pdf Read More
PA Announcements
5th and 6th Grade Parent Peer Group Meetings
Please join us for the 5th and 6th Grade Parent Peer Group meetings on Monday November 15th at 7:30pm. The 5th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting will be held in the MS Library and the 6th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting will be held in Team Sea Room. The Community Health Initiative sponsors parent peer group meetings in an effort to build community among Sidwell Friends parents. Parent peer group meetings were created to provide an opportunity for parents to discuss non-academic issues of relevance to our children in a safe and intimate environment. They are for parents only and facilitated by parents from the class. The forum is non-judgmental and confidential.
Please join us.
8th Grade Hangout
The first 8th grade hangout will take place on Friday Nov 19th from 3:30-5pm in the Wannan gym. The first trimester will have just ended, Thanksgiving is around the corner, come and chill with your friends while enjoying pizza and ping-pong! Parents: please come and help chaperone. Send Abby Nolan (Mcganneynolan@aol.com) and Laura Hannah (LHANNAH@washingtoninstitute.org) an email if you can join forces--the last MS hangouts are drawing near so enjoy watching your children socialize!
The Lower School Book Fair is Coming!
Come to the Lower School Book Fair on November 13th at Politics and Prose. Long a resource and opportunity for parents and faculty to encourage the joy of reading, proceeds from the event support the LS Parents Association, which funds a variety of activities for our community throughout the year. It is a perfect time to do some early holiday shopping while supporting the local community and our school!
This year’s LS Book Fair is one day only—shop anytime from 9 am through 10 pm. At 10:30 am, we are thrilled to feature a children’s book reading by Lower School librarian Angela Smith. At 3 pm, Lower School parent and Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank will read from his book, “Tears of a Clown.” (Please note this is not a children’s book.) When you use a Book Fair coupon, available at each cash register that day, 20 percent of your purchase total will be donated to the LS PA. Please ask for the coupon at the time of purchase so that your contributions can be counted!
Fruit Flies
ORANGE YOU … interested in boosting upper school student activities—while receiving healthful and delicious fruit for your family and friends? We hope so! Because today marks the start of the FRUIT FLIES CITRUS SALE, which is the PA’s only annual fundraiser for upper school activities. It’s simple to help out: Order fresh-off-the-tree citrus fruit, and all profits support PA-sponsored student events. Just like last year’s successful fund-raiser, this year all ordering is ONLINE! It’s easy. As is our tradition, purchases may be donated to Martha’s Table or S.O.M.E. Write in your request in the NOTES section of the payment page, and our FRUIT FLY volunteers will deliver your gift directly to the agency. ORDERS will be accepted through November 19th. Fruit will be ready for pick up on Saturday, December 11th. Click here to order!
The Parents Association newsletters are a forum for communication among parents and provide announcements concerning School or PA events or information related to a School or PA event.
MS newsletter submissions should be sent to PA.MSnewsletter@sidwell.edu.
