EMAIL DETAILS

Wednesday - April 2, 2014


From the School

Message from Lee
I hope you all had a wonderful break!
The best way to let us know that your child will be absent for all or part of the day is to send an email to usattendance@sidwell.edu or phone the Dean of Students Office at 202-537-8160. All staff who manage attendance will then get your message.
In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and rescheduled due to a snow day on January 22, our Collection speaker on Monday was Mary Bonauto, lawyer and civil rights advocate who has worked to eradicate discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Collection today will be a presentation by Ross Szabo, an award winning speaker, author, consultant and Returned Peace Corps Volunteer. He was Director of Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign for 8 years and is the co-author of Behind Happy Faces; Taking Charge of Your Mental Health. Ross has spoken to over one million people about mental health, societal stigmas that affect people's decisions to seek help and his experiences with bipolar disorder.
Ninth grade parents only! In December of 2013, the College Board announced that revisions to the SAT will be implemented in the spring of 2016. Earlier this month, specific details were released around what these changes will entail. As with previous test revisions, the PSAT will change first in the fall of 2015, and the SAT will follow. The new PSAT will serve as a preview for the new SAT. The revision is comprehensive, and there's no question that the SAT in March 2016 will look significantly different from the current version. Some changes include: the return to a 1600 scale, an optional essay, and shifts in approach to both vocabulary and math concepts. The College Counseling Office is actively planning ahead for our current 9th grade students and thinking thoughtfully about a practice standardized testing schedule. We are gathering input from testing experts and will notify you promptly when we have a plan in place for your son/daughter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Laurén Carter, Director of College Counseling at carterl@sidwell.edu or 202-537-8166. These changes will NOT affect current 10th grade or 11th grade students.

There will be a 9th Grade Parent Conversation with Upper School Administration on Thursday, April 3 from 7:45 AM to 8:45 AM in the Choral Room. This will be an informal discussion of the 9th grade experience looking back and the upcoming 10th grade experience looking forward.
Also on Thursday, April 3 from 9:30 AM to 10:15 AM in the RLS Meeting Room, Upper School parents are invited to attend the Upper School Meeting for Worship. There will be a reception following the Meeting.
“Let’s Talk About Sex: What Do Teens Really Want (Need) to Know” - Please join Gaby Grebski, US Counselor, and Irene Addlestone, Sex Educator and Program Developer, on Wednesday, April 9th from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM in the RLS Meeting Room for a unique opportunity to provide insight into issues and questions your sons and daughters have regarding sex and sexuality. They will share the sex education program being provided to the 9th and 11thgraders at Sidwell Friends in addition to having an interactive conversation addressing many of the topics of concern to your adolescent. If you have any questions, please contact Gaby Grebski at grebskig@sidwell.edu.
The Sidwell Friends School Black Student Union Go-Go will take place on Saturday, April 12 in the Athletics Center from 8:00 pm until 11:00 pm. The Go-Go is a decades-long annual tradition at our school celebrating this uniquely Washingtonian niche of music, and we also invite students from other area schools to come and enjoy. Unlike other SFS dances, there will be two live bands, both from the local Go-Go scene. Unlike other dances, tickets and student identification are both required for entry and there will be several security arrangements to handle the 600+ teenagers expected to attend (SFS and other prepaid ticket-holding guests), including a metal detector that all must pass through and several additional security personnel hired for this night. Please note that all parking/pickup should be in the parking garage as 37th Street will not be available. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Woods, Dean of Students. It is always a great evening!
There will be an Upper School Parent Conversation with Upper School Administration on Thursday, April 17 from 7:45 AM to 8:45 AM in the RLS Meeting Room. This will also be an informal discussion of the Upper School experience looking back and looking forward.
11th Grade Parents Only! Please mark your calendars for The Admission Game (TAG) on Monday, April 21 at 7:00 PM in the RLS Meeting Room. TAG is an interactive presentation of the college admissions process presented by Peter Van Buskirk, www.bestcollegefit.com. Mr. Van Buskirk is a former admissions dean, author and motivational speaker who will share his insight and advice regarding the college admissions process. During the event, the audience (students and parents) will become members of an admission committee, review four candidates’ credentials, debate their strengths and weaknesses, and vote to determine who gets in. In previous years, a similar program called “Mock Admissions” has been offered. Contact Laurén Carter, Director of College Counseling with any questions.
You are invited to attend a free orchestral concert performed by the Apollo Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Stephen Czarkowski on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 8:00 PM in Sidwell's Mary Ellen Caplin Theater. The following works will be performed: Richard Strauss's Don Juan, Francis Poulenc's Double Piano Concerto in D Minor (featuring Sidwell Friends Arts Department Chair John Touchton and Sidwell Friends Alumni Parent Virginia Lum, pianists), and Johannes Brahm's Fourth Symphony. Admission is free and seating is open; no tickets are required.


PA Announcements

"THE MIND OF THE ATHLETE" on April 16
Please join the Athletics Department and PA Athletics Committee in the Robert L. Smith Meeting room on April 16 from 7:30-9pm for a lecture on “The Mind of the Athlete” by sports psychologist Dr. Jarrod Spencer. Dr. Spencer’s passion is to assist athletes in attaining peak performance through sound emotional health. Dr. Spencer has a unique and provocative way of challenging us to re-think clearly and carefully about how we parent our young athletes. Dr. Spencer works with a number of professional, Olympic, college and high school athletes, coaches and teams and has served as the sports psychologist for athletic teams at the University of Maryland, Old Dominion University, Lehigh University and Lafayette College. For more information about this event, please contact Tony Mazlish, tony@healthyback.com


Other News

SFS Events for Student Scholarships News
THE ONLINE AUCTION HAS BEGUN!
We are currently in full swing of the Online Auction, which opened Sunday, March 30 at noon. This year’s Online Auction includes fewer, better items than in year’s past.
1. To begin bidding, click here to access Online Auction.
2. Log in with your last name and password. If you have not registered, the system will prompt you for additional contact information to locate your record. If a record cannot be found, you will be asked to create a new record. Questions? Contact Jessie Jacobson, Director of Special Events at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu or 202.537.8442.
3. The Online Auction will be open until Friday, April 4 at 5:00 p.m. All net proceeds benefit student financial aid at Sidwell Friends School.
AUCTION IS SATURDAY, APRIL 5 AT 6:00 PM
This is a friendly reminder that this year’s Auction, “Around the World Together” is set to take place this Saturday, April 5 in the Athletic Center. We hope you are excited – it’s going to be a wonderful evening for Sidwell Friends School.
• The Silent Auction will begin at 6:00 p.m. sharp and the Live Auction will follow at 8:00 p.m. Guests will receive an e-mail on Saturday morning with more details about the event.
• Would you still like to go but you missed the RSVP deadline? It’s not too late! Please RSVP no later than Thursday, April 3 by visiting our Online RSVP Portal. We hope you can join us!
SEALED BIDS DUE APRIL 4 AT 12:00 PM
Great news! You can still bid on the many great items in the Auction even if you can’t physically be at the event. The Sealed Bids document can be found on page 11 of your auction catalog. Sealed bids must be received by Friday, April 4 at 12:00 p.m. Please fax to 202-537-8449, e-mail to jacobsonj@sidwell,edu or mail or drop off to Sidwell Friends School to Jessie Jacobson’s attention.
Parents of Black Students Request Support for the Black Student Union
The Black Student Union (BSU) is hosting its annual Go-Go dance on April 12 from 8:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The BSU needs chaperones to help with concessions, run the coat/bag check room starting at 7:30 pm, be a general presence in the area above the dance floor, and to provide items to sell at the concession stands. There will also be teacher chaperones on the dance floor. Please click here to sign up. The Parents of Black Students (PBS) encourages Upper School parents to please sign up to help make this event a success. Concession items may be dropped off in the Upper School office of Susannah Parker or Hayes Davis if you are unable to bring the items to the event. For more information please contact PBS clerk Suzann King at sfspbsclerk@outlook.com.
Please Save the Dates
The Middle School Diversity Committee and the Parents of Black Students (PBS) request that you please save the dates of April 17 and May 6. NPR Correspondent Michelle Norris will be speaking with our community regarding her Race Card project the evening of April 17 in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room. Rep. John Lewis will be speaking with our community on May 6 in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room. More information to follow, but please plan to join us to hear these dynamic speakers!
Parents Council of Washington
Invites you to the 2014 Spring Forum: Using Mindfulness to Cultivate Resilience, Focus and Compassion at Home and at School, Wednesday, April 9, 8:30-10:30 at the Langley School,1411 Balls Hill Road, McLean, VA. Parking is limited, please carpool!
Quaker Quotes
"Without simplicity of spirit we are not prepared to receive the truth." Robert L Smith (former head of SFS)
US Wednesday Newsletter Submissions
How to Submit an Article to the Wednesday Letter. Send submissions to PA.USNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2 pm Tuesday, and reference "Newsletter Submission" and the publish date(s) in the subject line (limited to 3 weeks). Items should be submitted as text in the body of the e-mail and should be succinct. If you have a form or flyer to include with your submission, please send it as a PDF attachment. The editor on duty will confirm receipt of all submissions -- if you do not receive a confirmation within a reasonable time period, your submission may not have been received. Lastly, if it becomes necessary to modify a submission previously sent or published, please send a redline or otherwise clearly indicate the change to be made.
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.
US newsletter submissions should be sent to PA.USnewsletter@sidwell.edu.


Calendar


Wed, Apr 2nd

Small Vocal Ensemble Night

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
8:00pm


Thu, Apr 3rd

9th Grade Parent Conversation with US Administration

Choral Music Rm
7:45am - 8:45am


PA Executive Committee Meeting

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


US Meeting for Worship, Parents Invited

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
9:30am - 10:23am


US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Apr 4th

US Arts Guild Set-up

AC Theater
6:00pm - 7:00pm


US Arts Guild

AC Theater
7:00pm - 9:30pm


Sun, Apr 6th

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
1:00pm - 5:00pm


Mon, Apr 7th

US Spring Play Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Zeidman Lecture

Robert L. Smith Meeting Rm, Choral Music Room
8:00pm - 9:30pm


Zeidman Overflow

Choral Music Rm
8:00pm - 9:30pm


Tue, Apr 8th

10th gr. Parent Coffee

TBD
8:30am


Wed, Apr 9th

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Irene Addlestone and Gaby Grebski with US Parents - Sex Education

Robert L. Smith Meeting Rm
7:00pm - 8:30pm


Fri, Apr 11th

Apollo Chamber Orchestra

AC Theater
8:00pm - 10:30pm


Sat, Apr 12th

BSU Go-Go

Athletic Center
8:00pm - 11:00pm


Sun, Apr 13th

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
1:00pm - 5:00pm


Mon, Apr 14th

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Tue, Apr 15th

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Wed, Apr 16th

US Parents Association Steering Committee Meeting

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


US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


PA Athletics Speaker - Dr. Jarrod Spencer

Robert L. Smith Mtg Rm
7:30pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Apr 17th

All US Parent Conversation with US Admin.

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:45am - 8:45am


PA Speaker Event - Michelle Norris

Robert L. Smith Mtg Rm
6:00pm - 9:00pm


US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Sun, Apr 20th

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
1:00pm - 5:00pm


Mon, Apr 21st

US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


11th Grade Mock Admissions

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, Mtg Rm Foyer
7:00pm - 10:00pm


Tue, Apr 22nd

Founders Day


US Arts Guild

AC Theater
1:00pm - 2:30pm


US Spring Rehearsal

AC Theater, Rosenberg Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


More


Athletics


Wed, Apr 2nd

Track & Field - Boys Varsity - SFS meet


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - SFS meet


Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. Mater Dei


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Field School


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Baseball - Varsity at St. Albans


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. John's College High School


5:30pm


Thu, Apr 3rd

Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A at St. Albans


2:30pm


Baseball - 7/8 A vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Baseball - 7/8 B at Potomac School


2:45pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Holy Child


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at St. Albans


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. Albans


4:15pm


Fri, Apr 4th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at Baltimore Friends


4:15pm - 6:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at St. James School


5:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at Georgetown Day


5:30pm


Sat, Apr 5th

Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Potomac Meet


Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Potomac Meet


Crew - Club (Girls) vs. Smokey Jacobs Regatta


Baseball - Varsity vs. Bullis


11:00am


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Bullis


11:00am


Softball - Varsity at George Mason


2:00pm


Softball - Varsity at George Mason


4:00pm


Mon, Apr 7th

Baseball - 7/8 B at St. Albans


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 B at Bullis


2:45pm


Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Tennis - Boys 7/8 at Potomac School


2:45pm


Baseball - Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Tue, Apr 8th

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Flint Hill


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at St. James School


4:45pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at St. James School


4:45pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


5:30pm


Wed, Apr 9th

Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Flint Hill Meet


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Flint Hill Meet


Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. Bullis


2:30pm


Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Mater Dei


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at Bullis


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 A vs. Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:30pm


Thu, Apr 10th

Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Softball - 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Softball - 7/8 B at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Tennis - Boys 7/8 - A Team Home vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Tennis - Boys 7/8 - B Team away vs. Landon


2:30pm


Track & Field - Boys 7/8 at Landon


2:45pm


Track & Field - Girls 7/8 at Holton-Arms


2:45pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at National Cathedral School


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at Landon


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at National Cathedral School


5:30pm


Fri, Apr 11th

Track & Field - Boys Varsity vs. CRONLY


Track & Field - Girls Varsity vs. CRONLY


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


4:00pm


Softball - Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:30pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Flint Hill


4:30pm


Sat, Apr 12th

Crew - Club (Girls) vs. Baltimore Invitational Regatta


Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Woodward Relays


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Woodward Relays


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


10:00am


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Heights


11:00am


Wed, Apr 16th

Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 A vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 B at Maret School


2:45pm


Tennis - Boys 7/8 - B Team Home vs. St. Stephen St. Agnes


2:45pm


Baseball - Varsity at Maret School


4:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Holton-Arms


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at Holton-Arms


5:45pm


Thu, Apr 17th

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


2:45pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


Track & Field - Boys 7/8 - SFS meet


2:45pm


Track & Field - Girls 7/8 - SFS meet


2:45pm


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


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Prep


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Prep


4:15pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Baltimore Friends


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity at St. James School


5:00pm


Mon, Apr 21st

Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A at Bullis


2:45pm - 2:24pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at Potomac School


2:45pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 A at Potomac School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Landon


4:15pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Tue, Apr 22nd

Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:15pm


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


4:15pm


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


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School


5:30pm


More


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