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Thursday - May 5, 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 3TIME 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.GREAT INTERNET RESOURCE
This is a great video from Common sense.

http://bit.ly/mFi9llMATH NEWS
Math Class 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 iof the class, we will also be demonstrating model drawing techniques from the Singapore Math currciulum, It should be a great way to end this series.

Wednesday Morning Math

The last regular Wednesday Morning Math class for the year will be held on Wednesday May 11. Then, on Wednesday May 18, we will have an end of year celebration where we will celebrate all of the incredible problem solving work our students have done -- and we will celebrate all of the help our parents have provided! Refreshments will be provided that day and we will put out some special fun problems.


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).
QUAKER LIFE COMMITTEE
You are always welcome to join your child in the classroom for Meeting for Worship. Please arrive a few minutes early to get situated. On Tuesday, May 10, the following classes will be in the Meetinghouse: PK, 2X, 3X.

Don't miss out on our last early morning Meeting for Worship for this year: Friday, May 13 at 7:45 AM in the Meeting House. COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
Collection of Household Essentials for A Wider Circle
Spring Clean, Recycle and Do Your Part to Fight Poverty - All At Once! Please join Sidwell Friends Lower School in collecting gently-used household essentials at Spring Festival. Donated items will be given to A Wider Circle (www.awidercircle.org), a local non-profit that helps families moving out of shelters and into homes. They provide necessities (beds, linens, furniture) that the families would otherwise not have. See "Read More" below for a more complete list of items needed. Read MoreCHI PARENT PEER GROUP MEETING FOR GRADES 3 & 4 CANCELLED
Meetings scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, May 10 have been canceled. Due to all-school calendar changes, this date no longer works. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause; if these meetings are rescheduled this spring, notices will be sent out.


Other News

LS AFTERCARE FAMILIES GATHERING
Come join the LSPA Diversity Committee and Aftercare Director, Diane Everts, as we celebrate the Aftercare community and the wonderful staff who assist in the development of our children each day. Thursday, May 12 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM in the Multipurpose Room. Be prepared for good food and conversation! If you have not already done so, please RSVP to Scott Lewis at sclewis4@comcast.net.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

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
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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


Thu, May 5th

3x to Mount Vernon


8:45am - 2:30pm


LS Diversity Committee

LS Meeting Room
5:00pm - 6:00pm


Fri, May 6th

1x Play

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


Sat, May 7th

LS Spring Festival New Family Gathering

LS Field, LS Gym, LS Multipurpose Room and Breezeway
2:00pm - 3:00pm


LS Spring Festival

LS Field, Gym, Multipurpose, and Breezeway
3:00pm - 5:00pm


Mon, May 9th

PA Athletics Committee Meeting

Athletic Centner Meeting Room
7:45am - 9:00am


Tue, May 10th

3rd Grade CHI Meeting

LS Quaker Meetinghouse
7:30pm - 9:00pm


4th Grade CHI Meeting

LS Multipurpose Room
7:30pm - 9:00pm


Wed, May 11th

PA Retreat

US Dining Room
6:00pm - 8:30pm


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


US Spring Play Performance

AC Theater
8:00pm


Sat, May 21st

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


More


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