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Sunday - January 29, 2017


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU


Announcements


QUAKER LIFE COFFEE AND DISCUSSION
US VALENTINE'S DAY FACULTY APPRECIATION
ARTRAGEOUS! AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR US PARENTS ASSOCIATION


Events


STATE OF THE SCHOOL WITH BRYAN GARMAN: JAN. 31
GAMETIME! DANCE ENSEMBLE: FEB. 2; BOYS' BASKETBALL: FEB. 14
PARENTS OF ASIAN STUDENTS LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: FEB. 5
BLACK STUDENT UNION SHOW: FEB. 10
PA SPONSORS "HE NAMED ME MALALA": FEB. 12


Other


LOWER SCHOOL GIVING TREE PROJECT
QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS


News Around the School


US NEWS


LS NEWS


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU
Dear Friends,
As you know, report cards were posted on Educator Online this past Friday. Advisors are available to guide students and serve as sounding boards as they set goals for the new semester. Please encourage your child to set up a meeting time with his or her advisor. Parents and guardians should also feel welcome to reach out to advisors with any questions or concerns.
Students should see the new semester as an opportunity to jump into different activities and clubs. It’s never too late to get involved, and participating in extracurricular activities can enrich a student’s experience at the School. Questions about clubs should be directed to Assistant Dean of Students Darren Speece (speeced@sidwell.edu).
On February 11, we will hold our annual Valentine’s Dance in the cafeteria. I want to encourage all students to attend this dance and to keep in mind the Quaker testimony of simplicity as they plan their outfits for the evening. Parents and guardians should not feel any pressure to purchase costly new outfits for this event! Also, dates are in no way required. In fact, students have the most fun at dances when they go with a group of friends, so please tell your children to attend the dance and enjoy themselves! If you have any questions, please reach out to Dean of Students Michael Woods (woodsm@sidwell.edu).
Warmly,
Mamadou
Mamadou Guèye
Upper School Principal


Announcements


QUAKER LIFE COFFEE AND DISCUSSION
Quaker Coffees continue in the new year! Join MS and US Quaker Life clerks for coffee, discussion, and Meeting for Worship on the last Monday of the month, from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. Our lively discussions inspire our Quaker Quotes and Questions feature, so bring your inquiring mind! While timing is geared toward US and MS drop-off, all parents are welcome.
January 30, 8:00–8:45 a.m.: Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
February 27, 8:00–8:45 a.m.: Zartman House Drawing Room
April 24, 8:00–8:45 a.m.: Zartman House Drawing Room

US VALENTINE'S DAY FACULTY APPRECIATION
The US Parents Association is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Valentine's Day Teacher Appreciation Cookie Bake.
Volunteers from each grade are needed to bake three dozen cookies each (we will need more than 40 dozen in all!). Contributions should be dropped off in the US Dining Room on Friday, February 10, no later than 7:45 a.m, please.
In addition to bakers, we ask that 12 volunteers also meet in the US Dining Room on Friday, February 10, at 7:45 a.m. to package the cookies in festive cellophane wrappings. With several volunteers, we will work efficiently to ensure that each faculty and staff member receives the gift of homemade cookies. Wrapping should take about an hour.
To sign up, click here.
Questions? Please contact Robyn Alexander at robynalexchef@gmail.com.

ARTRAGEOUS! AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES
Hello, Sidwell Friends arts supporters! There are many exciting events and opportunities on the horizon. It is almost time for our annual, all-School community arts festival, ArtRageous! We are seeking student artists/performers and SFS community volunteers; parents, alumni, and grandparents are all welcome to participate.
The festival will be held on Sunday, February 26, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Upper School Kogod Arts Center. The theme this year is “Dots & Dashes."
Student performers (both individuals and groups) from all grades are invited to sing, dance, play an instrument, act, read, juggle, submit artwork for display, and more. To sign up your child or to ask questions, please contact the PA Arts Committee at PA.Arts@sidwell.edu.
Volunteers do not need previous experience. You can help out for as little as one hour and then enjoy the festivities. Please contact the PA Arts Committee at PA.Arts@sidwell.edu to find out how you can help us make this event a success!
We are excited to bring the community together to celebrate the arts at Sidwell Friends!
February Arts Event Calendar
Please support the Sidwell Friends arts community by attending any (or all!) of the following events:
Dance Ensemble Performance
February 2, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Mary Ellen Caplin Theater, Arts Center Lobby
Black Student Union (BSU) Show
February 10, 7:00–9:00 p.m.
Mary Ellen Caplin Theater, Arts Center Lobby
Vertical Voices
February 24, 7:30 p.m.
Middle School Drama Studio
ArtRageous!—All-School Community Arts Festival
February 26, 1:00–4:00 p.m.
Upper School Kogod Arts Center

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR US PARENTS ASSOCIATION
Looking for a way to become more involved with the School? The Parents Association is seeking parent volunteers to fill positions for the 2017/18 academic year. If you enjoy community building and would like to make a contribution to the School or your child's grade, please sign up! We are filling division vice clerks, grade reps, and other positions; please see the SFS Parent Portal for descriptions.
To nominate yourself or someone else or for more information, please contact All-School Nominating Clerk Priscilla Cheng (ppcheng@aol.com) or Upper School Nominating Clerk Sandra McCoy (sandra.mccoy@mac.com). Thank you!


Events


STATE OF THE SCHOOL WITH BRYAN GARMAN: JAN. 31
Join us on January 31 in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room for the second All-School Meeting for Business with Bryan Garman, sponsored by the Parents Association. The event officially begins at 7:00 p.m. In this meeting, Bryan will provide financial, real estate, and strategic planning updates.
There will be time for questions. A light supper will be available at 6:30 p.m., and we will adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Childcare will be available for school-age children. Please register here if you plan to come, especially if you intend to use the childcare option. All members of our SFS community are invited, including grandparents, parents of alumni, and alumni. Current students who are interested in learning more are also welcome.

GAMETIME! DANCE ENSEMBLE: FEB. 2; BOYS' BASKETBALL: FEB. 14
Join us on February 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Arts Center's Mary Ellen Caplin Theater for a performance by the Upper School Dance Ensemble.* These Upper School students will perform works that they conceived of and choreographed last fall. Pizza, water, and cookies will be available at 6:30 p.m. in the Arts Center lobby. If you have a dancer in your household, we encourage you to join us, even if you must leave with a younger student before the end.
Boys’ basketball competes against league rival Maret on Tuesday, February 14, at 5:30 p.m. Fans of all ages are encouraged to wear their School colors, raise their voices, and wave their towels and pom-poms in support. Pizza, water, and cookies will be available.
*Dance ensemble members earn PE credit for their work, which is why they are featured as part of GAMETIME!

PARENTS OF ASIAN STUDENTS LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: FEB. 5

PAS is in the midst of planning the first PAS Lunar New Year Celebration at Sidwell Friends. This all-School event will take place on Sunday, February 5, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Upper School dining hall. Although Lunar New Year is often referred to as the Chinese New Year, there are other Asian cultures that celebrate this holiday. All are invited to join us in "awakening the lion" and ringing in the Year of the Rooster with crafts, music, delicious dumplings from various parts of Asia, and our very own dumpling-making food station. This is a free event for the entire SFS community, and we hope you and your family will join us to make this special event go "POW" like a firecracker! To help contribute, sign up here.
Cheers,
PAS Co-Clerks

BLACK STUDENT UNION SHOW: FEB. 10
Mark your calendars for the annual Black Student Union show on Friday, February 10, at 7:00 p.m. in the Arts Center's Mary Ellen Caplin Theater. The BSU Black History Month production, an SFS tradition for more than 20 years, is one of the few campus events that brings together students from PK through 12th grade. The show—a blend of dramatic monologues, singing, dancing, and video presentations—addresses challenges that face black students and other students of color, both on campus and across the United States. It also celebrates the contributions that students have made to Sidwell Friends and that historical figures have made to our country.
To encourage deeper levels of engagement and support the students, there will be a discussion directly following the show with special guests Pearl Cleage, a New York Times best-selling author, and Susan Booth, the Jennings Hertz Artistic Director at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia. These women have been leading the charge in social justice and the arts.

PA SPONSORS "HE NAMED ME MALALA": FEB. 12
Join the PA for a screening of the movie He Named Me Malala on Sunday, February 12, at 4:00 p.m. in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room. All are invited to join a discussion after the movie, led by MS and LS parents Ashwhini Tambe and Lynn Taliento. MS and US children are welcome to attend.


Other


LOWER SCHOOL GIVING TREE PROJECT
Lower Schoolers are collecting items for the Giving Tree Project. This is an ongoing, collaborative effort to create a community of students that understands that there are people who do not have the things they need—as opposed to all the stuff they may want. Lower School students have worked together across grade levels and classes to generate a list of essential care products. They ask the larger community to help collect these items, which will be distributed in individual bags and given to clients of Bethesda Cares:

Toothpaste
Toothbrushes
Floss
Lip balm
Mouthwash
Bottled water
Tissues
Q-tips

Please send any contributions to the following drop-off spots:

LS classrooms, Manor House
MS collection box
Zartman reception area
Mr. Woods's office
Ms. Sumka's office

Thank you!

QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
How can we reconcile Quaker thinking and practice with the concept of truth—especially in light of Friends’ belief in continuing revelation and a direct personal relationship with God?
In an important sense, Quaker thinking shows us a way through, even though it arose centuries before the postmodernist idea that, rather than objective truth, we can only offer “truth claims” relevant to particular contexts of culture, audience, and situation. Quakers’ name for themselves—Friends—is shortened from the original Friends of the Truth (or, sometimes, Friends in the Truth). The concept of the Truth was and is central to the Society.
The crucial piece of their thinking was—and remains—that there exists one single Truth, which isn't within the realm of us fallible human beings. Quakers believe that every individual has equal access to that Truth—or, stated differently, there is that of God within each of us, but no single person can be expected to receive or deliver it whole. Instead, we can each offer the insight that we glean through our own individual experiences. When we meet, share our truths, and work respectfully toward unity, then with luck, we can approach the actual Truth to some extent. In fact, that is the purpose of Quaker worship and the goal of Quaker business practice.
The reason Friends value diversity, other than egalitarianism, is that similarity of experience, outlook, and prejudice puts blinders on us. Friends earnestly seek wisdom from other cultures and beliefs. We welcome and value what children say, because they will often speak truths that adults aren’t apt to voice. Visitors can be mystified when they hear that Friends may spend a long time listening to people with mental challenges in Meeting. Quakers do this because such people sometimes deliver stunning glimpses of Truth we wouldn't hear otherwise.
So in a sense, the Quaker response to “post-truth” concepts is “well, of course!”—because Friends believe, instead of no offering being valid, all offerings hint at the fundamental Truth.
Quaker quotes alternate with questions about Quakerism in this newsletter feature. To ask a question about Quaker history or practice, e-mail our Sidwell Friends Quaker Life Committees’ authors at quakerquestions@sidwell.edu!


US NewsAs Luck Would Have It
Soye Kim ’73 and Antonia Fasanelli ’92 were connected from the start. But nobody could have predicted the way their lives repeatedly intertwined.
Read More


LS NewsTaking a Stand for Human Rights
Massive crowds in DC and across the country took a stand for social justice.
Read More


Upper School Weekly E-Newsletter Submissions

How to Submit an Article to the E-Newsletter. Fill out the form at www.sidwell.edu/submit by 12:00 p.m. Thursday.

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 Upper School Weekly E-Newsletter is a forum for communication among parents and is designed to provide announcements concerning school events or information. E-newsletter submissions should be filled out at www.sidwell.edu/submit.


Calendar


Sun, Jan 29th

BSU Rehearsal

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
10:00am - 1:00pm


US Musical - Rehearsals

Choral Room + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Stidio
4:30pm - 7:30pm


Mon, Jan 30th

PA-Quaker Conversation & Coffee

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room & Lobby
8:00am - 9:00am


Tue, Jan 31st

State of the School - Bryan Garman

RLS foyer and Meeting room
7:00pm - 8:30pm


Wed, Feb 1st

US PA Steering Committee Meeting

Rusch Team Room
8:05am - 9:35am


AC/PG meeting

US Library Board Room
12:00pm - 2:30pm


Thu, Feb 2nd

11th grade Parent Coffee

Zartman Drawing Room
8:00am - 10:00am


PA Executive Committee

Rusch Team Room
8:30am - 9:30am


US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


GAMETIME! Dance Ensemble

Arts Center & Caplin Theater
6:07pm


College Admissions - 2nd Annual Capitol Case Studies Program

Georgetown Day School
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Dance Ensemble Performance

Mary Ellen Caplin Theater, Arts Center Lobby
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Sat, Feb 4th

BSU Rehearsal

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
12:00pm - 5:00pm


LS Swim Party

Off Campus - Chillum Splash Pool
5:30pm - 7:30pm


Sun, Feb 5th

BSU Rehearsal

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
11:00am - 4:00pm


PAS Lunar New Year Celebration

Upper School Dining Room
2:00pm - 4:00pm


Mon, Feb 6th

BSU Rehearsal


US Musical - Rehearsals

Choral Room + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 10:00pm


Tue, Feb 7th

2nd Annual Capitol Case Studies Program

US Classrooms, US Dining Room, US Library
4:00pm - 9:00pm


US Musical - Rehearsal

Choral Music Room+ Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


State of the School Snow Date

RLS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 8:30pm


Wed, Feb 8th

AC/PG meeting

US Library Board Room
12:00pm - 2:30pm


US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


PA Arts Committee

Upper School Room 102
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Feb 9th

9th and 10th Grade Coffee with US Psychologist

Choral Music Room
8:00am - 9:00am


US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night

RLS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 8:00pm


Fri, Feb 10th

US PA Faculty Appreciation Project

Dining Room
7:30am - 9:30am


PA-Sponsored 10th Grade Parent Coffee

Off Campus
8:00am - 9:00am


BSU Show

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Sat, Feb 11th

ACT Test

US Classrooms
7:00am - 2:00pm


SSAT

US Dining Room
8:00am - 1:00pm


EJC Lunch

US Library
11:00am - 2:00pm


EJC Luncheon

US Library
11:00am - 2:00pm


Valentine's Dance


8:30pm - 10:30pm


Sun, Feb 12th

SSAT

US Classrooms
8:00am - 1:00pm


PAS Book Club

RLS Meeting Room
3:30pm - 8:30pm


Mon, Feb 13th

US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Tue, Feb 14th

US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Wed, Feb 15th

AC/PG meeting

US Library Board Room
12:00pm - 2:30pm


US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Feb 16th

US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


US Parent Curriculum Night

RLS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 8:00pm


Fri, Feb 17th

BSU Meeting

RLS Meeting Room
5:00pm - 7:00pm


More


Athletics


Mon, Jan 30th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:30pm


Tue, Jan 31st

Wrestling - Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Holy Child


6:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


7:30pm


Wed, Feb 1st

Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Mater Dei


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C at Mater Dei


2:30pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 - Stone Ridge Meet


2:45pm - 2:45am


Swimming - Boys 7/8 - Stone Ridge Meet


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Takoma Academy


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School


6:00pm


Thu, Feb 2nd

Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. St. Anselm's


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Holy Child


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Holy Child


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 at St. Albans


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 at St. Albans


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Diving Championships


5:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Diving Championships


5:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Bullis


6:00pm


Fri, Feb 3rd

Basketball - Boys Freshman at Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Day


5:30pm


Sat, Feb 4th

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Swimming Championships


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Swimming Championships


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Private and Independent Schools Invitational


4:00pm


Mon, Feb 6th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Norwood School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at Norwood School


2:45pm


Tue, Feb 7th

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Wrestling - Varsity at Potomac School


4:30pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. James School


5:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. St. James School


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Day


5:30pm


Wed, Feb 8th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) - Georgetown Prep Practice Meet #3


4:00pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Thu, Feb 9th

Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 - St. Albans Meet


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 - St. Albans Meet


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Landon


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Flint Hill


6:00pm


Fri, Feb 10th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. MAC Tournament


10:00am


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


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at St. Andrew's School


5:45pm


Sat, Feb 11th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. Melee at the Metro


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Bullis


2:00pm


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Hoxton Invitational


4:00pm


Mon, Feb 13th

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


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. St. Andrew's School


3:00pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at St. Andrew's School


3:00pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. St. Andrew's School


3:00pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at St. Andrew's School


3:00pm


Tue, Feb 14th

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. St. Albans


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


5:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


5:45pm


Wed, Feb 15th

Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 - Stone Ridge Meet


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 - Stone Ridge Meet


2:45pm


Thu, Feb 16th

Basketball - Boys 7/8 C at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Landon


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


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


3:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity at St. Albans


4:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. National Cathedral School


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at National Cathedral School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) at National Cathedral School


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at National Cathedral School


5:45pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill


6:00pm


Sat, Feb 18th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. DC Classic


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School


3:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Potomac School


5:00pm


More


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