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Thursday - May 12, 2011


From the School

QUERY
“Many new friendships are sprouting this spring, many old ones have blossomed. How can we plant a friendship that will grow to bring peace to the world?”
- Grade 3A MESSAGE FROM CFO MIKE SAXENIAN
Please, while on campus, no idling while waiting. We value the fresh air. And, absolutely no cell phone usage while driving. We have many students but none to spare!NOTE FROM RICH ON RETIRING TEACHERS
As many of you have heard through the grapevine, two of our magnificent teachers are retiring at the end of this school year – Pam Selden and Christine Fernsler. Both of these teachers have been at Lower School for over 30 years. I could fill twenty pages for each of these teachers with accolades for not only their outstanding ability to teach students, but also their care and commitment to the Quaker values of Sidwell Friends. I will say much more about them in my Summer Letter and at our 4th Grade Graduation. I will also share information about our three new teachers in my Summer Letter. Rich Lodish2011-2012 CALENDAR UPDATE
The calendar for the ’11-’12 school year is available. One change has been made, Tuesday, Nov. 29 is now an early dismissal at 12:15 PM for faculty professional development. Please mark your calendars.TIME TO UPDATE HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION
It is time to update household and student information for the 2011-2012 school year. In keeping with Sidwell Friends’ environmental commitment, this information will be collected online. Information gathered will help our school community provide a safe and supportive learning environment for your child(ren). One parent can update and submit the online form for the entire household. Divorced parents will provide their household information separately. Complete the online form no later than June 1st. Report cards will be held for returning students until the online form is submitted. After completing the form, additional changes can be made beginning July 1st. Please be mindful to update household, health and contact information throughout the school year as changes occur. If parents separate during the school year, contact Valerie Foster in Admissions to create a new household.MATH NEWS
Math for Parents
The last math class for parents this year will be on Friday May 13, It will be held at 7:45 AM in the Math Lab, straight up the stairs in the Manor House. We will try to have the library open early that morning for childcare.

This last class will be on algebraic reasoning. While many of us never learned anything about algebra until the end of middle school or even later, our students are being introduced to algebraic thinking from PK on. Come learn how even the youngest students "do algebra" and how we prepare them for the formal algebra class in middle school. As part of the class, we will also be demonstrating model drawing techniques from the Singapore Math curriculum, It should be a great way to end this series.


PA Announcements

JOIN TOM FARQUHAR FOR "CONVERSATIONS ON DIVERSITY"
The conversation continues… Join the Head of School for a second “Conversation on Diversity.” The 2012-2024 Strategic Plan, calls for the school to address issues of different ethnic and cultural groups, to celebrate and promote a community based on inclusion and respect for differences, and to encourage close interaction among students, parents, teachers, and staff with varying backgrounds, experiences, interests, and perspectives. The “Conversations on Diversity” series with Tom Farquhar is helping the Head of School and the Board to shape and articulate goals and objectives as the school prepares for our increasingly global and multicultural community and world. Come and be part of these sessions. They provide a safe space for you to hear diverse perspectives and it is our hope that these sessions also help bring enlightenment, understanding, and acceptance. The 2010-2011 Conversations on Diversity series is sponsored by the All-School PA Diversity Committee.

When: Monday, May 16, 2011
Time: 6:30 – 9:00 PM (6:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Refreshments; 7-9 PM – Conversation/Meeting)
Where: Middle School Drama RoomSEEKING 2011-2012 LOWER SCHOOL PA VOLUNTEERS
Have you ever wanted to get more involved at Sidwell by being a room parent for your child's class or serving on a Lower School committee? Now is your chance to nominate yourself for these positions. Job descriptions can be found on the website at http://www.sidwell.edu/parents/parents-association/job-descriptions/index.aspx. New and current parents are encouraged to volunteer and get involved. If interested, please contact Rebecca Rippey (rippey@rcn.com) and Pamela Kurland (pamela.kurland@gmail.com).
COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
@font-face {
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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 38.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }Please extend our thanks to all the children who stopped by the Community Service table during the Spring Festival. They made 56 bookmarks and colored 63 puzzles for the children at The Children's Inn at NIH. Every day the children at the Children’s Inn are given a small gift in their mailbox. It is something they look forward to at the end of every day. The Sidwell Friends Community helped bring 119 smiles to some very special children.
REFLECTIONS ON ALL AROUND THE WORLD EVENT AT SPRING FESTIVAL
We held our first World Friends For World Peace event on Saturday
We are so glad that you came along
We exchanged photo embossed World Traveler passports for a smile
While the cool DJ played his song
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia and Brazil reps
enhanced the children with knowledge
And the Peace Flags quilt knitted a community together
In a way all Quakers would encourage
So there is No Way to Peace they say
Peace is the Way. Everyday.
And that's our song.

With Gratitude,

The LS PA Diversity Committee


Other News

ANNOUNCING A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND IMAGINATION! AND YOU ARE INVITED
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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; } Needing an art gallery “fix” but dreading the I-95 corridor from DC to NYC? We’ve got a solution for you! Celebrate the beginning of a spring weekend by swinging by a SPECTACULAR ART SHOW and RECEPTION HAPPENING IN OUR OWN RUBENSTEIN GALLERY at SFS, on FRIDAY, MAY 20, from 4:30 – 6 PM. The work displayed this year is of our UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS in PHOTOGRAPHY and CERAMICS and it’s quite simply amazing! Please come to enjoy and support the excellence of these artists and their inspiring teachers, Ms. Lely Constantinople and Mr. Hunt Prothro. This is one feast you won’t want to miss.2011 EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS GOLF TOURNAMENT
Join Co-Chairs Andre Fraser, Margaret Weaver Krull ’70, and Stephen O’Neill ’77 for the 6th Annual SFS Golf Tournament on June 13, 2011 at the Kenwood Country Club. Players of all levels are encouraged participate for a great day of golf and camaraderie all while supporting the student financial aid program. The tournament will conclude with a cocktail reception and awards. Register online now.Please contact the Events for Student Scholarships office at 202-537-8110 or events@sidwell.edu for more information.EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP -- 2ND ANNUAL TOUR DE FRIENDS!!
Join us for glorious day of bike riding and friendship in Rock Creek Park to help us raise money for student financial aid on Sunday, May 15, 9 AM. Your participation includes rides of varying distances to be followed by food, drink, music, and plenty of give-a-ways!
Register today to help make this event a success! For information on registering and additional information contact Michael Tierney, tierneym@ninds.nih.gov, or Mark Michael, mmichael@occasionscaterers.com. Please contact Lauren Mulcahy at 202-537-8440 or email events@sidwell.edu to join this exciting family oriented event for all ages.SCAPINO!
The Upper School Spring Play, to be performed on May 20 and 21 at 8:00 PM and May 22 at 2:30 PM, is Scapino! Scapino! is a wonderful piece of comic madness, inspired by Moliere's "Les Fourberies de Scapin." It was a huge hit on Broadway, inspiring critics to write:

"An evening of sheer delight."--NY Post
"One of the most joyous events of the season. Jubilant!"--The New Yorker
"If you miss it you will be crazy, and if you let you kids miss it, you will be simply inhuman." --NY Times

Tickets available at the door beginning one hour before curtain
Adults: $8.00 Students: $4.00 SFS Students: FREE!
For updated information: boxoffice@sidwell.edu or 202-537-8141 ext. 2
A jukebox is needed for the production. If you, or a friend, have a jukebox that we could borrow, please contact: Ed Crow, director, at 202-537-8146; crowe@sidwell.edu. Thanks for your help. Hope to see you at the play!LS THURSDAY LETTER 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 to Thursday Letter
Send submissions to PA.LSNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2 PM Wednesday. 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 and 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.
LS newsletter submissions should be sent to PA.LSnewsletter@sidwell.edu.


Calendar


Fri, May 13th

LS Early Morning Quaker Meeting

LS Meeting Room
7:45am - 8:15am


K Play

LS Multi-Purpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


US Dance Ensemble Outdoor Performance

Zartman Garden then moving through US campus
4:00pm


US Dance Ensemble Outdoor Performance

Zartman Garden then moving through US campus
7:00pm


Sat, May 14th

Rising 5th Grade Scavenger Hunt

Meet in Sledge Garden
4:30pm - 6:30pm


Mon, May 16th

Refreshments for Diversity Meeting

MS Foyer/Lobby
6:30pm


All-School PA Diversity Meeting

MS Drama Studio
7:00pm


Tue, May 17th

3x to the White House


9:30am - 12:30pm


Thu, May 19th

PA Arts Committee Calendar

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


Fri, May 20th

4x Play

LS Multi-Purpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


Upper School Art Show and Reception

Rubenstein Gallery
4:30pm - 6:00pm


US Spring Play Performance

AC Theater
8:00pm


Sat, May 21st

CPR/AED class for LS

LS Library
11:00am - 3:00pm


US Spring Play Performance

AC Theater
8:00pm


Sun, May 22nd

US Spring Play Performance

AC Theater
2:30pm


Tue, May 24th

4th grade parent optional tour of Middle School

Middle School Lobby
9:15am - 10:30am


Kx to National Gallery of Art


9:15am - 1:00pm


LS Nuts & Bolts for New Families

LS Breezeway, LS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Wed, May 25th

Grade 3, 3x, and 3y to Underground Railroad Exp. Trail


9:00am - 2:45pm


7/8 Orchestra and Choral Concert

AC Theater
7:30pm


Thu, May 26th

LS PA Steering Committee Meeting

LS Breezeway and courtyard
7:30pm - 9:30pm


Fri, May 27th

PK Circus

LS Multi-Purpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


7th & 8th Orchestra and Choral Concert

AC Theater
2:30pm - 3:20pm


Mon, May 30th

Memorial Day - No School


Tue, May 31st

PK & K End of Year Picnic

LS Lower Field
5:00pm - 7:00pm


Wed, Jun 1st

US Reading Day


PA Executive Committee Meeting

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


3 to Chestertown, MD


8:00am - 8:00pm


LS PA Diversity Meeting

LS Quaker Meetinghouse
5:00pm - 6:00pm


More


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