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Tuesday - December 16, 2014


Principal's Letter


NOTES FROM SALLY


Announcements


MS SPRING MUSICAL - HAIRSPRAY, JR.
MATHEMATICIANS OF THE MONTH
PLAYWRITING COMPETITION FOR 6TH-8TH GRADERS
REGISTER TODAY FOR OUT AND ABOUT WITH FACULTY AND FRIENDS!
ADVERTISE IN THE 2015 AUCTION CATALOG
CALLING FOR 2015 "CELEBRATE DC" AUCTION DONATIONS


Other


COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
ARTRAGEOUS
QUAKER MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP
PARENTS OF BLACK STUDENTS' ANNUAL HOLIDAY POTLUCK
QUAKER QUOTE
MS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION


News Around the School


Principal's Letter


NOTES FROM SALLY
This week’s query: How can you respect other people’s religions?

Assembly: The annual, not-to-be-missed Faculty Follies, Lost and Found Fashion Show, and Holiday Singalong! Parents are welcome to join in the fun!

Parents are warmly welcomed to join us for Meeting for Worship on Thursday morning at 8:10 a.m. in the Meeting Room.

Today: All students who have been accepted for a Minimester trip must be registered through Auxiliary Programs. Please see the email that I sent to confim acceptance. This should be done today so that we can confirm spaces, award financial assistance, and get tickets purchased. Thank you! There are still a few spots in China, Italy (boys) and the Tetons (one boy.) Contact me ASAP if your child is interested!

Please help us find overdue library books before the holidays. Also, remind your child to check the lost and found for missing items (and watch for them in the fashion show!).

Important dates to note: The CTP (ERB) tests for Middle School will be given the first week of February: February 3,4, and 5. This is a change of dates that were circulated earlier. Please mark your calendars and if possible avoid dental appointments, etc. during those days.

We are wrapping up the proofing and posting of first trimester reports. Watch for an email from me letting you know that they are available on Educator Online; we anticipate that they will be up by tomorrow afternoon. It is worth noting that the trimester closed three weeks ago, so teachers with concerns – or who are seeing positive growth – since the second trimester began will be in touch through interims before the holidays.

The Middle School office will be closed during the break, although we will check email occasionally. I wish you all a restful and peaceful break, and we will see you all in the new year!


Announcements


MS SPRING MUSICAL - HAIRSPRAY, JR.
Attention 7th and 8th graders: Audition for the MS Spring Musical, Hairspray, Jr. on Tuesday, January 20 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the MS Drama Studio. Tech positions are also available to 7/8 students. Review the attached fact sheet and production calendar in this post, and on the MS Drama Callboard. For more information, see Tim Reagan or Barbara Munday.

MATHEMATICIANS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to 8th graders Oliver Bass, Mitchell Jubeir, and Nathan Shapiro, and 7th grader Etan Basser, our newest Mathematicians of the Month. These four were the only ones to solve the November/December Math Challenge of the Month correctly. You can check out their brilliant solution methods on the Math Counts Bulletin Boards in the 5/6 Hallway and outside Mr. C’s room (Room 306). The January/February Math Challenge will be posted in the first week of January.

PLAYWRITING COMPETITION FOR 6TH-8TH GRADERS
Attention 6th, 7th, and 8th grade playwrights. Submit an original 10-minute play exploring the theme of FAMILY to the Young Playwrights for Change Regional Competition for Middle School Students.

We see all kinds of family structures all around us. Families blend races, cultures, sexual orientations, and generations. People come to families through adoption, birth, marriage, and in many other ways. What makes a family? Why is family important?

Entry deadline is Friday, January 9, 2015. See the attached flier for details and don’t hesitate to let Tim Reagan know that you’re interested in submitting your own 10-minute play.

REGISTER TODAY FOR OUT AND ABOUT WITH FACULTY AND FRIENDS!
Please join us for the first Out & About with Faculty and Friends discussion of the year - Revolution Radio: African Protest Music from Soweto to Dakar with Shields Sundberg on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Hill and Dale Record Store (http://www.hillanddalerecords.com/) in Georgetown. Shields will explore the culture of protest music in South Africa in the 1970s as well as the birth of African hip hop. Light refreshments will be served. Tickets are $40 per person or $75 per couple and all net proceeds benefit student scholarships at Sidwell Friends. Spacing is limited - register online today.
To learn more about the other faculty-led discussions taking place this spring, please view the 2015 schedule. Many thanks for your support!

ADVERTISE IN THE 2015 AUCTION CATALOG
Interested in showcasing your business or organization in the Sidwell Friends auction catalog? Advertisements help defer the costs of producing the auction, and will be seen by over 8,000 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and friends of the School. To learn more about advertising opportunities, please view the Advertising Agreement. The deadline for ad copy is January 30, 2015. For questions, please contact Jessie Jacobson, Director of Special Events, at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu, or call 202-537-8442. Thank you for your support!

CALLING FOR 2015 "CELEBRATE DC" AUCTION DONATIONS
This year's scholarship Auction - "Celebrate DC" - will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2015 in the Athletic Center. You don't want to miss it!
We hope you will support this important fundraiser by making a contribution by February 1, 2015. Not sure what to donate? View the list of donation ideas. Donation contracts can be filled out online or you may print this contract and send to the school or fax to 202-537-8449.
For questions regarding the auction, please contact Jessie Jacobson at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu, Director of Special Events. Thank you for your support!


Other


COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
Today is the last day to donate a new, unwrapped toy for Mary’s Center, a longtime Sidwell partner. Mary's Center provides health care, family literacy, and social services using a holistic, multipronged approach to help each participant access individualized services that set them on the path toward good health, stable families, and economic independence.
Please use the collection bins for new and unwrapped gifts that will be delivered to Mary's Center.
Please note that charities get lots of toys for babies and young kids and far fewer for the older children they serve. See suggestions for boys and girls age 8 to 13 here or here.
Ongoing Toiletries Collection Bins in Lobby for A Wider Circle.
Contact MS Community Service Co-clerks Eva Xanthos at eva.xanthos@verizon.net or Lisa Arrington at arringtonlp@hotmail.com or your Grade Reps for volunteer opportunities.

ARTRAGEOUS
SEEKING PARTICIPANTS AND VOLUNTEERS!
Do you have a child (or children) who would like to perform at Artrageous 2015? Now’s the time to sign up! Artrageous is an annual all school community inclusive Arts Festival that will be held on January 25 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. If you’ve never attended an Artrageous event, you’re in for a real treat. There will be so many art-errific activities, including some new creations this year! This year’s theme is The Nature of Art and is sure to be BIG FUN, so please sign up your children NOW! Don’t delay!
Parents are needed too!! Volunteer for a one hour time slot and then go enjoy the festivities. All volunteers get a free limited-edition SFS Artrageous 2015 t-shirt, beautifully designed by an Upper School student!!
To learn more or sign up as volunteer, please email Dana Lucas at dana.lucas@thedmpgroup.com. To sign up as a performer, please email Sharon Nokes at snokes@capdale.com.
SAVE AND RE-PURPOSE YOUR PLASTIC NEWSPAPER SLEEVES FOR ARTRAGEOUS!
The Arts Committee is requesting that you save all your newspaper sleeves (those plastic covers used to keep your newspapers dry and unsoiled) for use at Artrageous. These plastic sleeves will be used in a newly created collaborative art exhibit, and it's going to be BIG! Stay tuned for more…. There will be a drop off box located at each school for your donations. Please contact dana.lucas@thedmpgroup.com with questions.

QUAKER MEETINGS FOR WORSHIP
Thursday, December 18, 8:10 to 8:45 a.m. Parents and caregivers are invited to worship with the Middle School staff and students in the Robert L. Smith Meetinghouse. Please arrive by 8:05 a.m. or earlier to settle in before students arrive.
Sunday, December 28, 10:30 to 12:00 p.m. Join students, staff, families, and alumni to worship with the Sidwell Friends community over Homecoming Weekend in the Robert L. Smith Meetinghouse. Worship between 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., followed by refreshments.
Please contact Middle School Quaker Life clerks Virginia Avanesyan, avanesyanfamily@gmail.com, or Amy Henderson, msausten@mac.com, with any questions.

PARENTS OF BLACK STUDENTS' ANNUAL HOLIDAY POTLUCK
Please join the Parents of Black Students for our annual holiday gathering on Friday, December 19 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sidwell Friends School parents Michael and Tisha Hyter have graciously volunteered to host this potluck gathering.

Please take a moment to RSVP, using the Signup Genius link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0d4aa8a728a31-pbswinter.

QUAKER QUOTE
"Wherein lies the greatness of this man to whom a world gives homage? His eternal greatness lies in this, that for him all men were great. He measured men, not by what they were, but by what they might become.
"Through all the centuries, men in all conditions and of all estates have felt the urge to become greater than they were. The disinherited, the unemployed, those oppressed by unfeeling greed, those in whom the light of manhood had all but died, from every sorrow, suffering and pain - those also of more happy lot, from every height of joy and true achievement - all these have felt at times their equal kinship with each other and with this man, as sons of the eternal God.
"It is no wonder, then, that Christmas is the symbol of that unfolding law of human life persisting through all frustration - the universal law of brotherhood of man. Whether expressed in the simple giving of self in intimate relationships, or in the sweep of social passion to a world gone wrong, the spirit of this holiday, so celebrated, beats with the heart of the universe and bespeaks the true destiny of man."
- Vincent D. Nicholson (1890-1945), first executive secretary of the American Friends Service Committee and great-grandfather of Rebecca Richie SFS '16
Quaker quotes are intended to deepen the understanding of Quakerism in the SFS community. Suggestions and questions may be addressed to Cynthia Ritchie Terrell at ctcabin@gmail.com.

MS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
How to Submit an Article to Tuesday Letter: Please send submissions, in the body of the email, to PA.MSNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Please reference "Newsletter Submission" and the publish date(s) in the subject line. 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, send it as a PDF attachment. Receipt of your submissions will be confirmed as soon as possible. Submissions may not run for more than three weeks.
How to Modify an existing Submission: Please send a redline or otherwise clearly indicate the change to be made in a second email.
School Calendar: Calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the school, not by the Tuesday newsletter editors. Any changes to the school calendar are made through the school scheduling office 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, Dec 16th

LS Holiday Program - Gr. PK, K, 1

LS Gym
9:00am - 10:00am


Wed, Dec 17th

Fall Art Show Opening

Rubenstein Gallery
5:30pm - 7:30pm


US Winter Instrumental Concert

AC Theater
7:30pm - 9:00pm


Mon, Dec 22nd

Winter Break


1/2/2015


Sun, Dec 28th

Community Meeting for Worship

Robert L. Smith Meeting Rm, Meeting House Foyer
10:30am - 12:00pm


Mon, Jan 5th

School Reopens


US Exams - Review Day


More


Athletics


Tue, Dec 16th

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Madeira


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. St. Albans


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Albans


4:30pm


Wrestling - Varsity at St. Albans


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Madeira


5:45pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at St. Albans


6:15pm


Wed, Dec 17th

Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Georgetown Preparatory Run & Gun


Swimming - Boys 7/8 at Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 at Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. Meet @ Stone Ridge


2:45pm


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


2:45pm - 4:00pm


Thu, Dec 18th

Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Wrestling - Varsity vs. Richard Montgomery


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Potomac School


6:00pm


Fri, Dec 19th

Basketball - Girls Varsity - Quaker Invitational 12/19 & 12/20


12/20/2014


Basketball - Boys Varsity - Florida Trip


12/22/2014


Sat, Dec 20th

Wrestling - Varsity - SFS Tournament/Beast of the East


Fri, Dec 26th

Basketball - Girls Varsity - Surf N Slam Tournament (San Diego, CA): 12/26 - 12/31


12/31/2014


Mon, Dec 29th

Wrestling - Varsity - Damascus Tournament


12/30/2014


Sat, Jan 3rd

Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. IAC/MAC Challenge vs. Episcopal HS


4:15pm


More


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