From the School

Query of the Week

Where is the fine line between bragging and showing pride in your work?

Notes from Sally

There are two important announcements about today:

The 5/6 math club will NOT meet today.

Also 7th and 8th graders are invited to audition for “Aladdin” this afternoon from 2:30 – 5:30 in the Drama Studio. A fact sheet has been available to all students, so please be sure that you have seen it and reviewed the rehearsal schedule. Students will need their advisor’s signature to audition. There are also many opportunities for students to work backstage on the various technical crews for the production. Students can elect to participate in Costumes, Props, Set and Stage Crews. Students should talk to Mary Milroy or Tim Reagan about joining the tech crew.

As you know, over the past three years the School has piloted and financed a one-to-one laptop program for Middle School students, adding one grade to the program each year. After careful evaluation and much discussion, the School has decided to make one-to-one student computing an ongoing part of the Middle School curriculum.

The use of technology is an important part of our educational program, and the School provides roughly one computer for every four students in both Lower and Upper Schools. In the Middle School, however, each student in grades six through eight has his or her own computer purchased by the school in the same way as textbooks are. These laptops are kept by the students throughout the school year but remain the property of Sidwell Friends and are turned in for servicing and reimaging each summer.

To compensate for the increased cost of technology in the Middle School, the textbook fee for sixth through eighth graders will include a technology fee starting with the 2011-12 school year. Although this fee will not cover the entire cost of the one-to-one laptop program, it will help compensate for the additional access to laptops that students in grades six through eight enjoy. In accordance with this new policy, the textbook and technology fee for the 2011-12 school year for students in grades 6-8 will be $452, of which $240 covers the technology fee. Financial aid will of course apply for those families who are eligible.

We are excited about the new opportunities this one-to-one laptop program will continue to add to the educational program in the Middle School. More information about laptop policies will be available to current fifth grade families this spring. Eighth grade families who are moving to Upper School can expect to hear information about technology at Upper School at the curriculum evening on February 8th.

This Thursday, 42 sixth, seventh and eighth grade students will attend the Middle School Student Diversity Conference, with teachers Alexa Abdelatey, Ann-Baron Carneal, Lauren Phillips, Tim Reagan and Leslie Segal. Sponsored by East Ed, this year's theme is "Searching for Inclusion," and our very own Vertical Voices Playback Theater group will be performing. Stay tuned for a follow-up report! The assembly on Friday will be presented by students attending the Diversity Workshop.

A reminder to everyone about our fun-filled arts weekend! Vertical Voices will perform on Friday evening at 7:30 in the Drama Studio. The Variety Show is Saturday night. And Artrageous is Sunday afternoon. Hope to see you there!

Unfortunately, our first trimester reports were posted without attendance data. New versions of the reports have now been posted to Educator Online. We apologize for the error.

Booklets describing the regular Minimester offerings were distributed to students yesterday and will be posted on the Parent Portal by mid-week.

This week is No Name-Calling Week. Inspired by the book, The Misfits, by James Howe, No Name-Calling Week was first recognized in 2004. The project seeks to focus national attention on the problem of name-calling in schools, and to provide students and educators with the tools and inspiration to launch an on-going dialogue about ways to eliminate name-calling in their communities. Barnes & Noble is a co-sponser this year. More information can be found by following this link

All interested Middle School students are invited to participate in this year's Black History Month Show, sponsored by the Upper School Black Student Union. There are seven remaining rehearsals, and performances are on February 16th and 18th, both during and after school. See the attachment for more information.

Looking ahead: there is a Middle School math meet on Tuesday afternoon, February 1st. Interested students should see their math teacher.

Parents are invited to join us for Meeting for Worship on Thursday, February 3rd at 8:10 in the Athletic Center. We would love to have you with us for that morning.

On the mornings of Monday 2/7 , Tuesday 2/8 and Wednesday 2/9, homeroom teachers and advisors will be administering our standardized achievement tests (CTP4 or ERB) to all 5th through 8th graders. After the snow days of last winter we administered an abbreviated version which included Verbal Reasoning, Reading Comprehension, Quantitative Reasoning and Math . This year we will follow the same format while including Writing Concepts, at the suggestion of the Upper School, to give a broader dimension to a student’s file as they move on to Upper School. The homework and test load will be lighter than most weeks. Parents and students sometimes ask how to prepare for these standardized tests and the best advice is to get a good night’s sleep and eat a hearty breakfast. We realize that the first day of testing follow Super Bowl Sunday, so it will be important for kids to plan to get to bed right after the game.

The SFS Middle School Debate Team entered its first formal debate competition this past Saturday under the auspices of the DC Urban Debate League. There were teams from 9 different public, private and charter schools from DC, Maryland and Virginia who fielded 36 teams of 3 debaters for 4 rounds of debate over 8 hours (Sidwell fielded 4 teams). It was an exciting day as all 4 Sidwell teams did extremely well, with judge comments like "best middle school debate I have ever seen" etc. The 3 person team of Sofia Campoamor, Isabelle Charo and Jerome Walker placed 6th out of 36 teams with 3 out of 4 victories. In addition, Jake Gosselin came in 9th out of 108 debaters in total points achieved. Congratulations to ALL of the Middle School debaters!

Instrumental Music Notes

5/6 Orchestra – Full Orchestra Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101
7/8 Orchestra – Full Orchestra Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101
Aladdin Pit Band – Full Band Wednesday 3:45-4:45 Rm 101
Jazz/Rock Band – Thursday 3:45-4:45 Rm 101

Choral Notes

7/8 Chorus Rehearsals This Week:

Wednesday, January 26th: Boys Ensemble 7:25, Girls Ensemble during rehearsal period

Girls Ensemble will NOT be rehearsing on Thursday mornings this semester.

Let Your Life Speak: A Celebration of Stories with Vertical Voices Playback Theatre

Vertical Voices Playback Theatre honors the human experience by bringing personal stories to life on the stage in a performance on Friday, January 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the MS Drama Studio. This troupe of committed student actors replays stories on-the-spot in front of the audience. Playback is an exciting way to learn about the community. Reservations recommended (call 202/537-8150). There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted for a Playback Theatre service learning project at the Milton Hershey School in May. Please see attached press release.

PA Announcements

OMG! Navigating our Kids' Digital Lives: Encouraging Safe & Responsible Onlline Use, an evening with Stephen Balkam, Jan 26, 7-9 PM

Please join the MS PA for the Winter General Meeting--we invite you to come learn more about your children’s digital citizenship and the responsibilities and pitfalls they must navigate, including cyberbullying and sexting. Stephen Balkam is the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an international, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Mr. Balkam has already hosted sessions for 6th-8th graders, as well as for the faculty so this is your chance to find out what they have learned! Light refreshments at 7pm, the talk begins at 7:30 pm in the MS Drama Room.

6th grade hang-out: Friday, January 28 at 3:30 PM

Make sure your 6th-grader has reserved time to gather, socialize and relax with other students in the grade on Friday, January 28th. It’s cold outside so we will be gathering in the Upper School Dining Hall from 3:30-5:00pm. Parent volunteers are needed to help chaperone and to provide veggies, fruit, etc. to go along with the pizza that will be served. Please contact Portia at Portia.Robertson.Migas@gmail.com if you are able to help. Canned goods will be collected....

Please join us: 5th and 6th Grade Parent Peer Group meetings on Tuesday, Feb 1 at 7:30 PM

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 on the third floor of Middle School – Rooms 314 and 316. 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.

MS PA Looking for Grade Reps for next year!!

If you enjoy community building and would like to make a contribution to your child's grade, please volunteer as a Grade Representative. Every year Grade Reps organize a limited number of grade-wide activities for students and parents. Grade Reps typically work in coordination with the room parents. If you are interested in serving as a Grade Rep or in any other PA leadership position, would like to suggest someone else, or simply need more information, please contact the MS Nominating Committee members --- Lisa Larragoite at larragoite@aol.com and Gretchen Sierra-Zorita at peterhutt@msn.com.

MS Newsletter looking for volunteers...

If you would like to join the MS Newsletter team, please let us know. We are looking for a volunteer interested in starting later this year and continuing in the next school year. Please contact helensaxenian@gmail.com if you are interested.

Other News

The Variety Show is This Saturday -- Don't Miss it!

It looks like it'll be a sell-out again this year, so click here to get your tickets before it's too late! This gala showcase of talented alumni who have become professional performing artists is always a fun-filled evening of fabulous entertainment. The wide-ranging talent on display will inspire your children, as they see that dreams of a future on the stage, in the recording studio, in the concert hall can come true for SFS graduates. And you'll spend a relaxing evening enjoying the show and the reception with the performers that follows it. To top it off, all proceeds go to student financial aid.

Discussion with Tom Farquhar on Finding Balance in Student Life: Mon Feb 7, 7-9 PM, LS Meeting House

The Community Health Initiative Committee invites all parents to a discussion with Head of School Tom Farquhar on finding balance in student life. Please join us for this important conversation to be held in the Lower School Meeting House on Monday February 7, 7-9pm.

THIS IS IT! DRUM ROLL FOR ARTRAGEOUS 2011, THIS Sunday, Jan 30 from 1-4 PM in the Middle School!

Join our SFS community to revel in our students' performances, in a school-wide visual art slide show, in creating your own art, and in previewing a new SFS 6th grade art show, inspired by science! Want to know what's happening when and where? Pick up your BLUE PRINT at the door which celebrates the STARLIGHT in everyone. VOLUNTEERS still wanted! Please contact Sarah Blake (sblakie@aol.com). FINAL CLUE for the SURPRISE GRAND FINALE: It's 3:30 pm on 1.30.11. Out of the ArtRageous rockin' and rollin' comes a mysterious, well-known Voice inviting YOU to harmony, rhythm, and eatin' - ah, Sweet!

Annual Auction on April 16th: Last Week to Donate!

We need your help to continue supporting the 23% of students receiving financial aid! Every gift is important! Consider donating a bottle of wine, a gift certificate to your favorite restaurant or store, or underwriting money. All donations are tax-deductible!. The co-chairs Mimi Reisner, Elissa Rubin, and Beth Wilkinson and volunteers are working tirelessly to make this event a success but still need your help! Do you have any special ideas, talents or connections that you could donate or help us to arrange? If so, please contact events@sidwell.edu.

Golf Tournament

If you are a golfer this is the perfect volunteer opportunity for you. We are looking for people to serve on the Golf Tournament committee. The chairs, Margaret Krull and Andre Fraser, need your help. There will only be one meeting on February 24 at 1pm.