From the School
Query of the Week
How do your interests influence your friendships?
Notes from Sally
Parents are invited to join us for Meeting for Worship on Thursday in the Athletic Center from 8:10 -8:40.
This week’s assembly will be presented by SFS alum Emma Jaster, Visual Artist.
Our next round of Parent Peer Groups is beginning. 5th and 6th grade parents meet tonight, and 7th and 8th grade parents meet next Friday during the dance. We hope you can attend these important conversations!
8th grade parents – a reminder of the important Upper School curriculum meeting next Tuesday, February 8th at 7:30 PM in the Drama Studio.
CTPs begin Monday morning. Students may use a calculator on one portion of the test – please help them remember to bring one to school next Wednesday.
All 7th and 8th grade students are invited to attend the dance in the dining room next Friday, February 11th, from 7:30 – 10:00 PM. A reminder that school dress code guidelines do apply. The admission “price” is a box or cereal or canned goods for our winter food drive. Please drop off and pick up students in the garage.
Also coming up: Conversations with Sally. Anne Renninger, SFS Athletic Director, will join me for the first few minutes of each meeting to answer questions that you may have about the PE/Athletics program. All of these meetings are Wednesday mornings at 7:45 AM in the Dining Room. 5th grade is first, on February 9th, followed by 8th grade on February 16, 7th grade on February 23, and 6th grade on March 2nd. Hope to see you there!
Just a reminder about weather closing announcements: If there is a situation like the one last week when surrounding counties are closed but most of DC is open, a “we are open” confirmation will be posted on the SFS Hotline (202-5387-8176.) This may also be useful in the event of a power outage.
The internet safety evening that was cancelled last week will be rescheduled – we’ll get word about that out soon!
Minimester preference sheets are due next Monday. There was one mistake on the sign-up form: Food Frenzy is open to all (as noted in the booklet) not restricted by grade level as listed on the sign-up sheet. Please help your son or daughter remember to get those sheets in on time!
Congratulations to the Nights of the Round Table (the 4th - 5th Grade Robotics team) who were awarded first place in teamwork Saturday and a slot in the state tournament! They also had the second highest score in robot performance at the qualifier. 5th grade team members: Harrison Blain, Liam Susswein, Peirce Prue. The Robotics teams in all three divisions have done a great job this year!
Instrumental Music Notes
5/6 Concert Band Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101
7/8 Concert Band Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101
Aladdin Pit Band Monday and 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, February 2nd: Boys Ensemble 7:25 AM, Girls Ensemble during rehearsal period
Weather Closures and Delays
For all closures and delays, as stated on the inside front cover of the Parent Student Handbook, we will make announcements on the website, through email, on the Hotline (202-537-8176)(especially helpful if you do not have power), on WTOP and on NBC 4. We will only use AlertNow phone, email and text messages for extreme emergencies.
All Parents Invited to a Coffee with Tom Farquhar
Tom Farquhar would like to have an open dialogue wi
th parents on Thursday, February 17 from 7:30 – 9 am in the Upper School Dining Room. Please join him for all or part of the morning. Tom will share some of his thoughts and perceptions and welcomes the chance to take your questions and comments.
PA Announcements
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.
Mardi Gras Masquerade dance for 7th/8th graders, Friday Feb 11, 7:30-10 PM
Join the fun at the Mardi Gras Masquerade dance for 7th/8th graders on Friday February 11 from 7:30-10pm. We are kicking off the food drive by requesting contributions of boxed cereal or cans to be collected at the door. Parents (and Middle Schoolers!) - if you can join us to help set up decorations from 2pm in the cafeteria and/or stay a few minutes afterwards to clean up please let Liz (LBronder@ifc.org) or Shelley (s.schonberger@comcast.net) know.
Teacher Appreciation Lunch, Feb 23: looking for volunteers for set up and clean up
We are looking for volunteers to help set up (2 PM) and/or clean-up (4:30 PM) for the Middle School teacher appreciation lunch on Wednesday, February 23rd. This lunch is a way for parents to celebrate our wonderful teachers and express thanks for their hard work. With donated food from parents, we present a sumptuous buffet feast which teachers truly enjoy on a winter afternoon, after school. If you would like to volunteer please send an e-mail to Colette Chichester (email crchichester@hotmail.com) or Felix Sanchez (email FSanchez@terracom.biz).
MS PA Winter Meeting postponed due to last week's weather: stay tuned for new date
The MS PA Winter Meeting has been postponed due to last week's weather. As soon as a new date for
OMG! Navigating our Kids' Digital Lives: Encouraging Safe & Responsible Online Use, an evening with Stephen Balkam is available, we will let you know!
Other News
Discussion with Tom Farquhar on Finding Balance in Student Life: Mon Feb 7, 7-9 PM, US Dining Room
PARENT POP QUIZ: Do Sidwell Friends Students
A) work very hard and constantly feel too much stress?; B) coast compared to students in China and India
C) find the perfect balance between academic rigor and downtime; or D) I have no idea and/or my kids are still young, and I don’t know what the future will hold.
Whether you picked A, B, C or D, the Community Health Initiative Committee invites you to a discussion with Head of School, Tom Farquhar on finding balance in student life. All parents are welcome to join us for this important conversation to be held in the Upper School Dining Room on Monday, February 7, 7-9pm. Please note the change of venue!
CALLING ALL TENNIS PLAYERS!
Do you play tennis? Do you like to socialize with other parents? Then this is the event for you! Join the 6th Annual Events for Student Scholarships Tennis Round Robin on Saturday, March 12 from 6-10 PM at the Tennis Center at College Park.
Read MoreTHE VARIETY SHOW--THANKS TO ALL FOR MAKING IT A BIG SUCCESS!!
Thanks so much to all the dedicated student, parent and graduated parent volunteers, the fabulous alumni performers, and – of course – the intrepid audience members, all of whom braved power outages, construction conditions and hikes to the rest rooms to work at, and attend, the Variety Show! The Show was a huge success, thanks to everyone’s generosity and enthusiasm.
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.
