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Tuesday - September 14, 2010


From the School

LETTER FROM SALLY
This week’s query: How can I fit in and still be true to myself?
This week’s assembly is Abu the Flute Maker. Feel free to join us at 2:30 on Friday in the Arts Center.

Community Health Initiative meetings begin next week. One is scheduled for each grade level. These meetings with Middle School Counselor Jack Huntington and me are very important and parents are urged to attend. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the developmental milestones of the upcoming year and how to best support your children in their academic and non-academic work, to learn about the advisory curriculum and how parents can support this work at home, and to learn how to best navigate the social scene. This meeting is designed to help strengthen the communications and bonds between the school and parents in an effort to help support everyone in our community in making healthy and informed decisions pertaining to our children. Please mark these dates on your calendars:
5th grade: Monday, September 20
6th grade: Tuesday, September 28
7th grade: Tuesday, October 12
8th grade: Wednesday, October 20
Meetings begin at 7:30 in the Middle School Drama Studio. The 6th and 7th grade meetings will be preceded by a light dinner, beginning at 6:45 PM.
A few weeks after the grade-level CHI meetings there will be grade level peer group meetings. The peer group meetings provide a unique opportunity for parents to have meaningful discussions on many of these same subjects in a safe and confidential setting. These meetings are for parents only and, again, help us learn to communicate in open, honest and healthy ways on issues of mutual interest and concern. The peer group meetings are for discussing non-academic issues only and are facilitated by parents from each class. The Middle School years are the years when our children change the most – they enter as children and leave as young adults. With this comes a wide-range of changes (emotional, psychological, neurological, hormonal and intellectual) that are baffling for our children as well as for the parents. Opening the lines of communications on issues ranging from cliques to coed dances….is the most important tool that we have to create a community that can best support our children.

Math Club! Beginning Tuesday, September 21st, 5/6 students are welcome to come to room 205 on Tuesdays from 2:00 – 2:30 pm. Students will be able to work alone or collaborate with friends to tackle fun and challenging math problems. The 5/6 math club will be directed by Lauren Phillips. Meetings will be held every Tuesday, and students are welcome to drop in when they can. Pick-up is promptly at 2:30 when teachers begin their weekly faculty meeting.

Are you new to the Middle School? Lots of information about daily life in the division may be found on the Parent Portal of the website. On the Parents Association Middle School page, there is a box with a link to a document called “Nuts and Bolts: Frequently Asked Questions about the Middle School.” It’s a good place to start if you have a question.

There are two people on the Wisconsin Avenue campus who have key responsibilities in watching over the health of your children. Our nurse is Jasmin Whitfield, and our athletic trainer is Shannon Fooks. Jasmin is on duty during the school day, and Shannon is on campus during all PE classes and athletic events, late morning through early evening. Please contact them if you have any questions or concerns about your child’s health or physical activity levels. For email, follow the SFS pattern (last name, first initial @ sidwell.edu). Phone extensions: Jasmin 202-537-8130; Shannon 202-537-2464.

Thank you for returning the two transportation forms that were mailed out in the August letter. 7/8 parents also need to send the Camping Permission Form. If you have not yet sent these, please get them to your child’s homeroom teacher or advisor as soon as possible.

If you are in the building between 8:00 and 8:05 am, please remember that that is when we observe our morning silence. Also, students arriving then will check in at the late room on the first floor so that silence in the homerooms and advisories is not disturbed.

To all Middle School families: a reminder that cell phones are to be turned off and put away – in lockers or cubbies, not just in pockets – during the school day. Some students use phones during the day to send text messages to friends; I encourage parents to check billing records and to support our efforts to discourage this practice. Multiple phones are available at school for students to use if they need to contact you.

Middle School students are not permitted to buy food or drinks at the Fox Den (school store) or at campus vending machines from 8:00 AM until they have “shaken out” with their homeroom teacher or advisor at the end of the day. If a student needs to buy something such as gym clothing during the day, he or she should arrange that with the homeroom teacher or advisor. Coffee products will not be sold to Middle School students, and behavior in the store must be respectful, appropriate, and responsible at all times. It is the intention of the school to stock the store and vending machines with healthy snacks, but since the campus serves students from 10-18 years old, choices are available that we hope will encourage older students to stay on campus to purchase after-school snacks rather than leaving campus. Parents should set limits with their children about the use of these facilities.

A reminder: Students who attend after-school programs here at school are not allowed to leave campus (for example, to buy food) and then return. All structured after-school activities provide snacks, and we feel it is safer for students to be taken care of here.

Thanks to everyone for your cooperation with the traffic routines on 37th Street; things are going very well! One note: we do have assemblies on Friday afternoons, and they do not finish until 3:20, at which time students need to walk back from the arts center before they go home. Please be patient with us on Fridays – and come a little later for pick up!

We have heard that the traffic in the garage has been especially slow this fall. Please note that students should be dropped off and picked up only in the drive-through lanes, not in the garage itself. Also, you will notice that the light at the exit near the post office has two cycles; one light faces the SFS exit, and the other is for the post office. Form two lines at that exit, and then when post office traffic has cleared, you may turn right on red.

We still do have extra security cards for cars that are coming to campus regularly – feel free to pick them up. Some parents have noted that they easily slip down under the dashboard; a little tape does wonders to keep that from happening. Another solution is to secure it to the visor with a rubber band and flip the visor down when the car is on campus.

Also please do remember that when you come into the Middle School, please stop and sign in and pick up a visitor tag.

We are still looking for Parent Volunteers to help during the school day – contact Carlene if you have a half day every other week or so.

The print version of the student directory was delayed over the summer. We apologize for the inconvenience. Each family will receive a copy of the printed student directory before the end of September. Until then, please utilize the links on the parent portal to access this information.Instrumental Music Notes
Instrumental Music Notes
ALL Students selected for the Orchestra this year, grades 5-8, please report to room 101 (Mr. Henderson’s room) for rehearsal period. You will receive parts, letters to take home, and an overview of the concert season. Please be on time and bring your instrument. Students who are in both Orchestra and Girls Ensemble go to Orchestra first to pick up your music and letters. Then go to Ms. Holtz’s room for rehearsal.
Fall Drama Auditions
Vertical Voices Fact SheetAudition Fact SheetAttention Students in Grades 7/8! Audition for the Middle School Fall Drama: Louis Sachar's THERE'S A BOY IN THE GIRLS' BATHROOM. Audition date: Tuesday, Sept. 14 from 2:15 - 4:45 p.m. in the Middle School Drama Studio. Scripts are available in the MS Library. Please read the AUDITION FACT SHEET for more specific information. If you have any specific questions, contact Tim Reagan or Mary Milroy.
Attention 8th graders! If you are interested in joining the Vertical Voices Playback Theatre Company, there will be an interest meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 15 from 12:50 - 1:50 pm in the MS Drama Studio. Vertical Voices is a year-long commitment for 8th graders only. Please read the VERTICAL VOICES FACT SHEET for more information. Read MoreMath Counts
Attention 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents!! Does your child like solving challenging math problems and puzzles? If so, encourage him or her to come to Math Counts meetings. Starting on Thursday, September 30th, we will be gathering in Mr. C’s room (Room 306) from 3:30 – 4:30 pm every Thursday to tackle fun and challenging math problems together. In the spring, a team of students will be selected to represent Sidwell Friendsin area-wide competitions. Students do not need to sign up to attend the meetings – simply show up! An after school snack is provided for the students. For more questions, email Andrew Callard (aka Mr. C) at callarda@sidwell.edu.Test of Listservs
Test of Listservs
Important! We will be conducting a test of both Equake (the School's Emergency Listserv) and SFSNewsflash (important updates often grade or division specific) on Wednesday, Sept. 15. Each fall, each family is automatically subscribed using the emails submitted on the Parent Portal. If you would like to unsubscribe or subscribe additional e-mail addresses please read more. If you do not receive an Equake and a SFSNewsflash on Sept. 15 and you believe you should have been subscribed, please subscribe following the directions. You should get a message stating that you have enrolled. If you have any questions, please call or e-mail Lydia Adelfio (202-537-8102, adelfiol@sidwell.edu ).

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PA Announcements

Eighth Grade Parents
All 8th grade parents should have received an e-mail from Sung Hee Kim, one of the 8th grade representatives, containing information about last Saturday’s 8th grade picnic. If you did not receive this e-mail, please send Sung Hee your email address. Sung Hee Kim, sungheekim@comcast.net
Thank you.PA Arts Committee
GOT ART? In hand, mind, and/or spirit? The PA Arts Committee welcomes any one, on the fringe or deeply immersed in love of the Arts, to join us in monthly meetings during which we plan different ways to support and celebrate SFS’s Arts. Read more about us on our renewed PA Arts Committee Website, posted later this week. Contact any of the following for more info: Rebecca Boylan (boylanr@georgetown.edu), Maude Fish (maude.fish@comcast.net), or Sally Amoruso (sallyamoruso@gmail.com). First meeting is WED, September 22, from 7:45-9:30 pm, in the US Library Board Room. Please join us for refreshments as we launch plans for a dynamically new ArtRageous, our annual all-school gathering (Sunday, January 30, 1-4 pm) to create, perform, and otherwise enjoy the Arts in the inspiring spaces of our beautiful Middle School campus.Volunteer!
Volunteer!
A list of volunteer opportunities at SFS is now on line. Please go to the Parent Portal of the website, click Parents Association, then click Volunteering. ALL parents are encouraged to get involved in the Sidwell Friends community. Thank you in advance for being an active member of the PA!
Polly Bomstein & Lynn Sachs, co-presidents Sidwell Friends


Other News

Admissions Office Announcement
Important Announcement from the Admissions Office. In an effort to work more closely with current families and employees who are applying a child for the 2011-12 academic year and who is not currently enrolled at Sidwell Friends, the deadline to submit Part I, the application form, is October 1, 2010.
All supplementary material to complete the application is due by January 15, 2011. The online application and all forms are now available from the website from the admissions tab. Call the Admissions Office at 202-537-8111 if you have any questions.
Events For Student Scholarships
EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
NEXT-TO-NEW SALE
Sidwell’s hugely popular sale of quality used items is back and we need your help to make this event more successful than ever! The Next-to-New Sale will be held October 21-23. All proceeds directly benefit student financial aid. Collection times at the Wisconsin Avenue campus will run September 8-October 13 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 to 10:00 AM and Saturdays from 9:00 to 11:00 AM. We will also have a limited number of collection days at the Lower School—look for updates in the newsletter. Please click here for a list of items we accept and do not accept.
We need volunteers! We are looking for volunteers to assist with collecting, sorting and pricing donations, setting-up for the sale, cashiering, cleaning up, publicizing the event, community out-reach, etc. We are also looking for Section Heads to take responsibility for a particular category of donations and oversee its organization. If you are interested in learning more about these positions, please contact Lauren Mulcahy, Director of Special Events, ( mulcahyL@sidwell.edu ) or at 202-537-8110.
We can’t accept books for the NTN sale; however, if you have picture books, board books, and other elementary age books (not chapter books), we will accept them to donate to Brightwood. Sidwell partners with Brightwood Elementary School in DC in a community service project through which we donate books to be read to and given to children there by student and adult volunteers. This year’s donation during the NTN drive will supplant the usual separate Brightwood drive in November.Newsletter Information
How to Subscribe
To receive the Tuesday Letter via e-mail, send an e-mail to Tuesday@listserv.sidwell.edu with only the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.
How to Unsubscribe
If you have wish to have your name removed from the subscription list, send an e-mail to Tuesday@listserv.sidwell.edu with only the word "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.
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.

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.


Calendar


Tue, Sep 14th

PA Athletics Committee Meeting

Facilities Services Conf. Room
7:30am


Wed, Sep 15th

PA Committee Clerks Meeting

Athletic Center Meeting Room
8:00am - 9:00am


Fri, Sep 17th

Yom Kippur begins at sundown


Sat, Sep 18th

Yom Kippur


Mon, Sep 20th

5th Grade CHI Meeting

MS Drama Studio
7:30pm


Wed, Sep 22nd

PA Arts Committee Meeting

US Library Board Room
7:45pm - 9:30pm


Thu, Sep 23rd

7th & 8th Grade Camping Trip

off campus

9/24/2010


Fri, Sep 24th

7th and 8th Grade Camping Trip


Tue, Sep 28th

6th Grade CHI Meeting

MS Drama Studio
7:30pm


Fri, Oct 1st

Mid Atlantic Playback Theatre Leadership Gathering

MS Drama Studio, Art Classrooms, Music Room and Kitchen
5:00pm - 10:00pm


Sat, Oct 2nd

Mid Atlantic Playback Theatre Leadership Gathering

MS Drama Studio, Art Classrooms, Music Room and Kitchen
8:30am - 9:00pm


Sun, Oct 3rd

Mid Atlantic Playback Theatre Leadership Gathering

MS Drama Studio, Art Classrooms, Music Room and Kitchen
8:30am - 6:00pm


Mon, Oct 4th

MS PA Steering Committee Meeting

MS Library
8:00am


All School PA Meeting

MS Drama Studio
7:00pm


More


Athletics


Mon, Sep 13th

Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity at Churchill


5:00pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Churchill


7:00pm


Tue, Sep 14th

Cross-Country - Girls Varsity at Landon


4:00pm


Golf - Varsity - Potomac School at Fairfax CC


4:00pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:15pm


Cross-Country - Boys Varsity at Landon


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Varsity at Calverton


4:30pm


Football - Junior Varsity - Pope John Paul the Great HS


4:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


5:30pm


Wed, Sep 15th

Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Holton-Arms


4:30pm


Thu, Sep 16th

Golf - Varsity - Maret School at Kenwood CC


4:00pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Holton-Arms


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Varsity - Centreville HS


4:30pm


Football - Varsity - Pope John Paul The Great HS


4:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity vs. Maryland School for the Deaf


5:00pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Maryland School for the Deaf


5:00pm


Mon, Sep 20th

Soccer - Boys 7/8 B at The Heights


2:30pm


Field Hockey - 7/8 at National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Volleyball - 7/8 at National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 A at National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Golf - Varsity - Maret at Columbia CC


3:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity at Washington International


4:30pm


Tue, Sep 21st

Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity at Flint Hill


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity at Flint Hill


4:15pm


Field Hockey - Varsity vs. Madeira


4:15pm


Cross-Country - Boys Varsity at Flint Hill


4:15pm


Cross-Country - Girls Varsity at Flint Hill


4:15pm


Volleyball - Varsity at Flint Hill


5:30pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Madeira


5:30pm


Wed, Sep 22nd

Golf - Varsity - vs. TBA at Kenwood CC


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:15pm


Football - Junior Varsity vs. St. Albans


4:30pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Sandy Spring


4:30pm


Thu, Sep 23rd

Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Washington International


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Washington International


4:00pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:30pm


Fri, Sep 24th

Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. National Cathedral School


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:15pm


Field Hockey - Varsity at Holton-Arms


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Holton-Arms


5:30pm


Sat, Sep 25th

Cross-Country - Boys Varsity at Mercersburg Academy


Cross-Country - Girls Varsity at Mercersburg Academy


Volleyball - Varsity - Model Tournament


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity at Georgetown Day


9:00am


Football - Varsity - Baltimore Lutheran


1:00pm


Mon, Sep 27th

Tennis - Girls 7/8 at National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 A at Flint Hill


2:45pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Field Hockey - Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. Albans


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child


5:30pm


Tue, Sep 28th

Soccer - Boys Varsity at St. Albans


4:00pm


Golf - Varsity - Georgetown Day School at MVGC


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Wed, Sep 29th

Volleyball - 7/8 vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 at Holton-Arms


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity at Churchill


4:00pm


Thu, Sep 30th

Football - 7/8 Heavyweight vs. Landon


2:30pm


Football - 7/8 Lightweight at Landon


2:30pm


Field Hockey - 7/8 at Holton-Arms


2:45pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 A vs. St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 B at St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


Golf - Varsity - Potomac School at Falls Road GC


4:00pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Episcopal High School


4:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School


4:30pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School


4:30pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:30pm


Fri, Oct 1st

Soccer - Girls Varsity at Madeira


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Madeira


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Madeira


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Madeira


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. St. James School


5:30pm


Sat, Oct 2nd

Cross-Country - Boys Varsity - Octoberfest Invitational


Cross-Country - Girls Varsity - Octoberfest Invitational


Football - Varsity vs. Avalon


12:00pm


Field Hockey - Varsity at National Cathedral School


1:00pm


More


3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 Tel: (202) 537 8100 Fax: (202) 537 8499