EMAIL DETAILS

Sunday - March 1, 2015


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU


Announcements


COMMUNITY SERVICE AT A WIDER CIRCLE
LOVE MAKES A FAMILY: CALL FOR PHOTOS
SIDWELL SUMMER


Events


ALL-COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WORSHIP: MARCH 15
WHEN THE SPIRITS COME MARCHING IN!
RUBENSTEIN GALLERY PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS


News Around the School


US NEWS


MS NEWS


LS NEWS


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU
Friends,
It’s been a long winter, but despite the snow on the ground, spring is right around the corner. We wrap up the third quarter on Thursday, and students have a free day Friday while teachers finish grading and write report cards, which will be posted on Friday, March 20, the first day of Spring Break.
The cast and crew of Merrily We Roll Along have been putting in long hours rehearsing and building the set. It is sure to be a hit! If you haven’t yet, you should reserve your tickets now before the show sells out.
We resume our grade-level parent morning conversations this week. I, along with the other Upper School administrators, will meet with parents of 9th graders on Tuesday (3/3), parents of 10th graders on Thursday (3/5), parents of 11th graders the following Tuesday (3/10), and parents of 12th graders the following Thursday (3/12). All of these meetings will take place in the Choral Room of the Arts Center from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. I look forward to seeing you there!
With warm regards,
Mamadou Guèye
Principal
Important Dates:
March 2: Spring PE classes begin
March 3, 7:45-8:45 a.m.: 9th Grade Parent Conversation with Administration, Choral Room
March 5: End of third quarter
March 5, 7:45-8:45 a.m.: 10th Grade Parent Conversation with Administration, Choral Room
March 6: No Upper School classes, Teacher Report Writing Day
March 9: Fourth quarter begins
March 10, 7:45-8:45 a.m.: 11th Grade Parent Conversation with Administration, Choral Room
March 11: 2015/16 course selections form (with parent signatures) and 4-year plan due
March 12, 7:45-8:45 a.m.: 12th Grade Parent Conversation with Administration, Choral Room
March 13, 14, 15: Upper School Musical
March 20: Third quarter report cards posted online
March 20-27: Spring Break


Announcements


COMMUNITY SERVICE AT A WIDER CIRCLE
Please join us on Sunday, March 7, from 9:00-12:00 p.m. at A Wider Circle, 9159 Brockville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland. SFS students and families from all three divisions will be moving furniture and organizing household items at AWC's warehouse in Silver Spring. If you are interested in helping out this nonprofit that serves low-income families in our community, please contact Matt Fraidin at mifraidin@yahoo.com. A Wider Circle provides beds, dressers, tables, chairs, dishes, pots, pans, and other large and small home goods to families transitioning out of shelters, escaping domestic violence, or otherwise living without their basic need items.

LOVE MAKES A FAMILY: CALL FOR PHOTOS
Friends,
The Upper School Diversity Committee wants to recognize and celebrate the families that make up the Sidwell Friends Upper School community by creating a “Love Makes a Family” display.
Our project is inspired by the Love Makes a Family Campaign (http://familydiv.org/exhibits/love-makes-a-family/), which “provide[s] clear evidence that family roles and responsibilities need not be based on gender, and that children thrive in an atmosphere in which understanding, respect, and love transcend the prejudices of the day.” We are hoping to build on the LMAF campaign and display our families in all of their wonderful diversity!
Please share, via e-mail, a photo that captures and celebrates the essence of your family. Below you will find submission guidelines for file size, resolution, etc. Due to space constraints, we are only able to accept one submission per household; we would like to have submissions by Monday, March 9. The exhibit will be unveiled in the Upper School after Spring Break—details to follow.
Please send your photo to the e-mail address which corresponds to your oldest Upper School student’s class. If you have children in other divisions, you are more than welcome to include them in the picture.
9th grade: familylove2018@gmail.com
10th grade: familylove2017@gmail.com
11th grade: familylove2016@gmail.com
12th grade: SFSfamilylove2015@gmail.com
Note: These e-mail addresses were created by the Sidwell Friends School Information Services Department, and are secure. Your photo will be used for no other purpose than this exhibit.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
The SFS Upper School Diversity Committee
Photo Submission Guidelines:
When e-mailing photos from iPhone, Android, or personal computer, please use the following instructions as a guide. If you have further questions, please e-mail Lely Constantinople, Upper School photography teacher, at Constantinoplel@sidwell.edu. Thank you!
iPhone (multiple models):

When e-mailing photos, please select “Actual Size” or “Large”, whichever is larger.

Android (multiple models + Note):

Attach your photograph and look for the image size in the title of the image, i.e., “Title, 2.5MB.” If your image is less than 2MB to 3MB, please consider sending a different image with a minimum file size of 2MB.

Personal computer:

Please attach your photograph to your e-mail program of choice and check to see if it is at least 2MB in size (usually noted with the image when attached). Please do not drag and drop your photograph into the body of the e-mail.

Please note: If you have another type of device and/or are not sure if your photo meets these specifications, please look up your phone model online to get more information about sending images via e-mail, or e-mail Lely Constantinople for further assistance.

SIDWELL SUMMER
Sidwell Summer has great opportunities for Upper School students:

Drivers Ed will be offered at two different sessions:

June 8-19, 2:00 – 5:15 p.m.
August 17-28, 4:00 – 7:15 p.m.


Work as a counselor - all the options are online, plus looking for assistants for new STEM workshops


Take a Summer Studies course (credit and non-credit offered)

Contact summer@sidwell.edu or 202-537-8133 with any questions.


Events


ALL-COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WORSHIP: MARCH 15

The next All-Community Meeting for Worship (families, employees, alumni, and friends are welcome!) is on Sunday, March 15, at 10:30 a.m. in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room. First-day school, with activities for young school-age children, will start about 20 minutes into meeting. Refreshments will be offered at the rise of meeting. Please RSVP to Kathi Webb (webbk@sidwell.edu) if you plan to attend; please let us know if you anticipate bringing children who will participate in First-day school.

WHEN THE SPIRITS COME MARCHING IN!
An a cappella celebration with the Wesleyan Spirits!
March 6, 2015, at 8:30 p.m. in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room.
The Spirits, Wesleyan University’s oldest male a cappella group, will perform at Sidwell Friends on their way to New Orleans for their annual spring tour. The concert will also feature several Sidwell Friends student a cappella groups.
Admission is free and open to a cappella fans of all ages. No RSVP necessary. Bring your friends!

Hearty thanks to John Touchton, Arts Department chair, and to Allie Levey, assistant dean of Upper School Admissions and Financial Aid and a former Wesleyan Spirit, for arranging this special event.

RUBENSTEIN GALLERY PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT
Shootback: Photos by Kids from Nairobi and DC
February 2-March 13
Shootback empowers young people to tell their own stories and express their creative voices through photography, writing, and critical thinking about the world around them. Founded in Nairobi, Kenya, in 1997 by American photographer Lana Wong, Shootback started by putting cameras in the hands of teens in Mathare–one of Africa's largest slums–and culminated in the publication of Shootback: Photos by Kids from the Nairobi Slums, a documentary film, and an international traveling exhibition. Eighteen years on, Shootback continues to train a new generation of young photographers in Mathare; eight of the original Shootback students are now professional photographers and filmmakers.
In Washington, DC, Shootback is helping to bring photography and writing programs to DC public schools and at-risk youth in collaboration with various nonprofit education organizations.
www.shootbackproject.org


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
Quaker quotes alternate with questions about Quakerism in this newsletter feature. To ask questions about Quaker history or practice or what-have-you—anything you may have wondered about but weren’t sure whom to ask—e-mail our Sidwell Friends Quaker Life Committees’ authors at quakerquestions@sidwell.edu!
TODAY’S QUESTION: When I visited a Quaker Meeting, they had something like Sunday school for the kids but called it First-day school instead. What’s the reason for the name?
Early Quakers reexamined many different 16th-century habits and customs in terms of whether they coincided with Quaker beliefs and practices. In that vein, the tradition of naming days of the week after Pagan gods struck many Friends (and others) as inappropriate—something akin to an unintentionally worshipful gesture. After all, rendered in modern English, the days of the week would be Sun’s Day, Moon’s Day, Tiw’s Day, Wodin’s (or Odin’s) Day, Thor’s Day, Frigg’s Day, and Saturn’s Day, but we rarely think about that.
In response, Friends adopted the practice of calling the days of the week by number instead: First Day instead of Sunday, Second Day instead of Monday, Third Day instead of Tuesday, and so on. Over the past century, the practice has diminished, but as often happens in language, one deeply habitual use—First-day school—remains as a vestige.
Why have Quakers dropped the practice more generally? In part, as Friends have adapted to the modern age, they have focused on witnessing core testimonies like peace and equality, and they have recognized that peculiarities of speech, such as this one, tend to distract listeners. Perhaps also, as Quakers today work to honor other faith practices, it could seem odd to single out references to old Pagan deities as something in need of change.


US NewsGirls' varsity basketball takes first place in their division and wins the ISL A Tournament!
In December, Anne “Poff” Renninger achieved her 500th career win as coach of the team and then led them to another first–first place!
Read More


MS NewsWonders of the Rainforest
Middle School students learn about third eyes, detachable tails, and hissing bellies—up close and personal.
Read More


LS NewsLower School second annual Spanish Assembly
“Se calienta mi corazón.”
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


Tue, Mar 3rd

9th Gr. Parent Conversation with US Administration

US Choral Music Room
7:45am - 8:45am


Wed, Mar 4th

LS Parent Conferences - Half Day


Thu, Mar 5th

LS Parent Conferences - Half Day


10th Gr. Parent Conversation with US Administration

US Choral Music Room
7:45am - 8:45am


PA Executive Steering Committee Mtg

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


Fri, Mar 6th

LS Parent Conferences - No School


MS Report Writing - No School


US Report Writing - No School


Tue, Mar 10th

11th Gr. Parent Conversation with US Administration

US Choral Music Room
7:45am - 8:45am


Thu, Mar 12th

12th Gr. Parent Conversation with US Administration

US Choral Music Room
7:45am - 8:45am


PA Arts Committee Mtg

US Library Board Rm
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Mar 13th

US Musical - "Merrily We Roll Along"

AC Theater
8:00pm - 10:00pm

Visit this Link


Sat, Mar 14th

US Musical - "Merrily We Roll Along"

AC Theater
8:00pm - 10:00pm

Visit this Link


Sun, Mar 15th

All Community Meeting for Worship

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
10:30am - 12:00pm


US Musical - "Merrily We Roll Along"

AC Theater
2:30pm - 4:30pm

Visit this Link


Wed, Mar 18th

PA US Steering Comm. Mtg

Rusch Team Rm
8:00am - 9:30am


33rd Annual Zeidman Lecture

Robert L. Smith Mtg Rm
8:00pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Mar 19th

US Arts Guild

Caplin Theater
7:00pm - 9:30pm


Fri, Mar 20th

First Day of Spring Break/Potential school make-up day


Spring Break


3/27/2015


More


Athletics


Thu, Mar 5th

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Walter Johnson


4:15pm


Fri, Mar 6th

Baseball - Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Cardozo HS


4:00pm


Sat, Mar 7th

Baseball - Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Blair


11:00am


Baseball - Junior Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Blair


1:00pm


Tue, Mar 10th

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Bishop O'Connell


4:00pm


Softball - Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Baltimore Friends


4:30pm


Wed, Mar 11th

Tennis - Boys Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Bishop McNamara


4:00pm


Thu, Mar 12th

Baseball - Varsity vs. Gonzaga High School


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Gonzaga High School


4:30pm


Fri, Mar 13th

Softball - Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Stone Ridge School


4:15pm


Sat, Mar 14th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. DC Classic vs. St. John's


Baseball - Varsity - Quaker Classic - Johns Hopkins University


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. DC Classic vs. St. John's


1:00pm


Mon, Mar 16th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Mercersburg Academy


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Calverton


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Mercersburg Academy


5:45pm


Tue, Mar 17th

Baseball - Varsity at Maret School


4:00pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Landon


4:00pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity at Holy Child


4:15pm


Wed, Mar 18th

Track & Field - Boys Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:00pm


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes Meet


4:00pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Thu, Mar 19th

Softball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Bishop Ireton


4:30pm


Fri, Mar 20th

Softball - Varsity - March 20 - 24: Disney Wide World of Sports


3/24/2015


Baseball - Varsity - March 20 - 25: Disney Wide World of Sports


3/25/2015


More


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