From the School

This Week's Query

What is another way for countries to resolve conflicts without waging war?

Notes from Sally

Assembly: Storyteller Noa Baum

The Middle School Book Fair is this week – lots of great selections for our students!

A reminder to 6th grade parents about Language Choice Forms for next year, to 7th grade parents about Arts Choice Forms for next year, and to 5th and 6th grade to send placement comments, following the guidelines in the email you received.

We would also like to remind all Middle School parents and 7th and 8th grade students to complete the survey designed to assess the School’s climate and culture as it relates to inclusivity and multiculturalism.

8th Grade Parents, please note the panel discussion about the transition to Upper School next Wednesday night, April 27th, at 7:30 PM in the Drama Studio.

Our Peace Speaker this year was Fozia Naseer from the Central Asia Institute. We are aware of the report that aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday night about Greg Mortenson and his organization, but arrangements had been made and we felt that Ms. Naseer’s story was a compelling one in its own right. The students received her with enthusiasm at yesterday’s assembly, and we are using other contacts to determine a possible spring fundraising effort that might continue the important work of encouraging schools that welcome girls in particular in this part of the world.

This past Friday approximately ¼ of the middle school students participated in Day of Silence. Founded in 1996 by students at the University of Virginia, Day of Silence is a day in which students across the country take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying, harassment, and derogatory language in schools.

Congratulations to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade mathletes who represented Sidwell Friends at the final math meet of the year on Monday April 11th at Norwood School. (And thanks for coming in to compete on the Professional Day!) 7th graders David Hauge and Max Albert, and 8th graders Gigi Stark, Yasmin Siahpoosh, and Claire Thompson all had perfect scores and helped Sidwell Friends to win the entire meet soundly by achieving the highest possible team score. Great job!

Congratulations to the cast, crew, and directors of Aladdin – what a terrific show!

Instrumental Music Notes

5/6 String Ensemble: Wednesday 2:40-3:15 Rm 101

7/8 String Ensemble: Wednesday 12:55-1:50 Rm 101

Jazz/Rock Band: Thursday 3:45-5:15 Rm 101

Choral Music Notes

7/8 Chorus Rehearsals This Week

Monday, April 18th

Girls Ensemble: 3:45 to 5:00 pm

Tuesday, April 19th

Boys Ensemble: 2:30-4:00 pm

Wednesday, April 20th

Boys Ensemble: 7:25 am

Girls Ensemble: During rehearsal period

Survey Reminder

Last week, Tom Farquhar, Head of School, sent out a request asking you to participate in a confidential online survey that is designed to help assess the School’s climate and culture as it relates to inclusivity and multiculturalism. This is a reminder to please complete the survey by Friday, April 22, 2011. Parent participation is essential to the outcome of the survey. Students in grades 7 and 8 will be taking the survey at school during their advisory time.

Please go to http://www.insightlink.net/aim-sidwell/to complete the survey. For more information on the survey, please read Tom’s letter to the community attached to the newsletter.

PA Announcements

Middle School New Book Fair is Here!

The Sidwell Friends MS Book Fair is underway in the MS Library! Come and grab all the latest titles that you’ve wanted to acquire! The Fair will continue through Friday, April 22nd, operating from 8:15am to 4:00pm daily. The books for sale this year are new (used book sale was last year), and all varieties and genres are available. All proceeds benefit the MS Library Fund, and books may also be purchased for the MS Library. Paperbacks generally range from $7 -11 and Hard covers from $15 -20. Payment by cash or check, please. We’ll see you at the Fair! Colette Chichester and Felix Sanchez, MS At-Large Reps

SFS 6th Grade Parents Coffee--Friday, April 22nd from 7:74 -9:30 am

You can forget about fixing that pot of coffee this Friday morning! Parents of 6th grade students will be gathering for a “coffee” right after drop-off and just before you head out to begin the rest of your day. Please join other parents in the Zartman House Drawing Room from 7:45am to 9:30am. This is a great opportunity to touch base and connect with other parents. Light refreshments will be served.

Attention SFS 8th Grade Parents--Mark Your Calendars for April 27th, 7:30-9:30pm!

Questions or concerns about courses, sports, extracurricular activities, homework? Please join us for an informal evening of questions and discussion with parents of current SFS 9th graders. A diverse group of 9th grade parents have graciously volunteered to answer questions and provide information about their own experiences as their children made the transition to Upper School. Last year was the first year that parents provided this information (previously it was done by students) and the evening was a great success. Join us for the second annual US-MS Parent Information Exchange, in the MS Drama Studio.

SFS 7th Grade Parents Coffee--Friday, April 29th from 7:30-9:30 am

The 7th Grade Parents Coffee will be held on Friday, April 29th from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Sledge Garden. We look forward to seeing you there.

Other News

6th Grade Student Party - Friday, April 29th

The 6th grade party is scheduled for next week Friday, April 29th. Students will be gathering in the Lower School Multi-purpose Room from 7:30 to 9:30pm. There will be a DJ playing music inside. Outside, students will have the opportunity to chat and hang out on the playground. We’ll need help with decorating the multi-purpose room, with refreshments, and we will need a few chaperones from each class. If you can help with snacks, please contact Hillary-Thomas Lake at HTLake@ltlstrategies.com. If you would like to help decorate, or if you’d like to help chaperone and pour drinks, please contact Claire Dwoskin at CD@dwoskin.com.

6th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting - Friday, April 29th

While students are at the 6th Grade party, parents will be meeting just steps away. The Parent Peer Group Meeting is scheduled to take place in the SFS Lower School Meetinghouse from 8:00pm to 9:15 pm. 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.

SFS/Bikes for the World Bicycle Drive, Saturday April 30th, 2011, 10 am - 1 pm. US Bus Parking Lot

On April 30th, US Community Service is offering SFS families and area residents a chance to donate their used bicycles as part of an effort to reduce waste and provide those in need with a means of personal transport. Through a partnership with Bikes for the World (BfW), the nation's largest bicycle reuse program, you are is invited to drop off your used bicycles (children, youth and adult - no tricycles, please) and cycling-related items. Tapping into a network of overseas non-profit partners, BfW will collect and distribute donated bicycles to impoverished communities around the world. There is a suggested donation of $10 to defray a share of the cost of shipping to overseas charity partners, which recondition the bicycles and distribute them to people who need them.

Volunteers are needed to prep the bikes and load them into BfW vehicles. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact David Connell, connelld@sidwell or June Das Gupta, junedasgupta@msn.com For more information on BfW, please see www.bikesfortheworld.org

Car Wash Sunday, May 1 from 11 am to 2 pm to Benefit the SFS Crew Team!

Clean that winter grime off your car and support the Sidwell Friends Crew team! The annual Spring Carwash is the team's primary fundraiser. Help the team, help yourself, and drive away clean! Sunday, May 1st, from 11 am to 2 pm in the SFS Upper School garage, 3824 Wisconsin Ave., NW.

Strategic Plan Update, May 2, 2011, New Quaker Meetinghouse, Wisconsin Avenue Campus 7-9 pm. Light refreshments will be served from 6:30-7

Please join Head of School Tom Farquhar, the All-School Parents Association and the Sidwell Friends Board of Trustees for an update on Sidwell Friends School’s Strategic Plan. The Board of Trustees has been working for over a year in consultation with parents, faculty, alumni and students on developing a strategic plan that will define the education skill sets through year 2024, the expectations for Sidwell Friends faculty as master learners, how the School's Quakerness defines our values and priorities, and the business models that allow us to reach our goals. As this important works approaches its final stages, please come for an update and discussion on these vital and exciting issues. RSVPs required to: Adrianne Isaacs at isaacsa@sidwell.edu. We look forward to seeing you there. Polly Bomstein and Lynn Sachs, All School PA Co-Presidents

Alaska Trip

The Alaska Trip is on! There are a few more spaces available. First come first serve. Questions? Contact Dave Wood, Margaret Pennock, or the Summer Programs office. Information and details are available on the Summer Programs website.

SFS Summer Opportunities

8 weeks 'til summer?! Less than 60 days 'til break? What are you doing once school is out? Join your friends at Sidwell Summer:

* Voyaging to area water parks, Six Flags, bowling, and outdoor adventures,

* Serving others through Helping Hands; A, B, C's; or Clean Up! Community service workshops

* Kicking, shooting, and acing in our Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis & Golf camps

* Exploring in EStar workshops such as CSI Sidwell, Ace of Cup(Cakes), Blast Off! Physics & Rockets, our own Glee "Show & Tell Choir", Summer Spa, Technology and more!

Want more information? Contact us at summer@sidwell.edu <mailto:summer@sidwell.edu>, 202-537-8133, or www.sidwell.edu.summer <http://www.sidwell.edu.summer/>. Start thinking Summer!

SFS MS After Care Information for Next School Year

It's not too early! Sign up now for the MS After School Program and Shuttle for the 2011-12 SFS School Year - http://www.sidwell.edu/middle_school/after-school-sparc/index.aspx
<http://www.sidwell.edu/middle_school/after-school-sparc/index.aspx>

Newsletter Information

How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Our automated listserv subscription service is currently down. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter, please send an email to isaacsa@sidwell.edu and indicate whether you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe.

How to Submit an Article
Send submissions to PA.MSNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2 p.m. Monday. Please reference "Newsletter Submission" and the publish date(s) in the subject line. Items should be submitted as text in the body of the e-mail. PLEASE do not include any formatting such as indents, bullets, boldface or all-caps. Please keep submissions succinct. If you have a form or flyer to include with your submission, please send it as a PDF attachment to your email. Receipt of your submissions will be confirmed as soon as possible.

Note concerning the School Calendar: the calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the official school calendar and are not subject to editing by the Newsletter Editors. All changes or additions to the school calendar must be made through the school scheduling office, reachable at: scheduling@sidwell.edu.