MS Tuesday Letter - BidenLaptopEmails

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MS Tuesday Letter

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tuesday@listserv.sidwell.edu

DATE:

2012-01-03 04:00:00

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hbiden@rosemontseneca.com

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PROCESSED

Tuesday - January 3, 2012

From the School

Query

How do people make friends?
Notes from Sally

Assembly: The 37th Street Players (presentations from the 8th grade Drama classes) Parents are welcome to attend!

Please join the entire Middle School community in The Big Read. Our book for the Big Read this year is 8th Grade Super Zero, by Olugbemisola Rhuday Perkovich. On the surface, the book deals with familiar middle school issues of name-calling, bullying, and fitting in. But ultimately, this multi-layered story tells how a boy develops a deeper sense of personal identity and social justice. Through community service at a local homeless shelter, Reggie learns about the realities of homelessness and discovers how to make a difference in the world and at school. By engaging with a broader socio-economic community, Reggie is able to use his experience and understanding to rise above his own middle school angst. This book deals with socio-economic issues of difference. This is a theme raised in our school's recent diversity climate study and a focus of the Middle School PA Diversity Committee's work this year. The book is categorized as being appropriate for children ages 10-14 and we look forward to everyone reading the book in January so that the whole Middle School, students, parents, faculty and staff, can talk about the issues in the story.

Each year area middle schools participate in a diversity conference. This year the Middle School Diversity Leadership conference is during the day on Thursday, January 26th at Sandy Spring Friends School. This year's topic is anti-bias, and there is an optional peer leader training after school at Georgetown Day School this Thursday and next. Students who would like to attend the conference or peer leader training should talk to their homeroom teacher/advisor or to Leslie Segal. Permission slips are due by this Thursday, January 5. This conference is always rewarding, and participants have a chance to share what they have learned with the Middle School community at an assembly following the conference.

This year's Black History Month Show is titled, "Ruffled Feathers," and will incorporate music, poetry, dance, and singing. Middle School auditions will be held from 3-6pm on Sunday, January 8th (location TBA). All Middle School students are invited to audition. They can prepare a song/dance or the director will provide one. Rehearsals are each Sunday from 3-6pm from January 8th through February 12th. Performances are February 15th, 16th & 17th. Contact Kimberly Clarkson (clarksonk@sidwell.edu) with questions.

Please welcome Mr. Nathaniel Briggs to the Middle School! Mr. Briggs is the newest member of the Information Technology team and will be based in the middle school technology office, replacing Michael Carson. Mr. Briggs has managed the technology in two different middle schools in Florida and is excited to be joining the Sidwell Friends community.

Many thanks to the superlative leadership of Lexi Hopkins, Jamie Reiner, Becca Richie, Raina Weinstein and Sam Blazes for their organization of the Annual Lost and Found Fashion Show. The Lost and Found box has been cleaned out, but items are still being washed and prepared for donation, so contact the office this week if there is something that your child is missing. There is a bag of boys' concert clothes (including dress shoes) in the office, left from the 7/8 concert in December - please contact Julia Porter to claim.

Things have generally been better on 37th Street - keep up these habits!

Just a reminder: if you need to reply to a Newsflash that is sent out, send your response to the author rather than replying to the Newsflash itself.

Looking ahead: The CTP's, our standardized tests, will be given from Monday - Thursday, February 6-9. Please avoid early morning appointments that week so that students can complete testing without having to make up sessions.

Also - new this year: if we have an extended weather closure, as we did two years ago, we will be giving assignments through the homework websites. If really bad weather is forecast, we will remind students to take home all of their books so that they will be prepared.

A very happy 2012 to everyone!
Instrumental Music Notes

5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir Wednesday January 4th Rehearsal Period Room 101

5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir Tuesday January 10th mandatory tech rehearsal 2:30-5:00 Arts Center Stage

5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir Thursday January 12th Dress Rehearsal 9:00-10:00 Arts Center Stage

5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir CONCERT Thursday January 12th 7:00 PM CALL TIME 6:00 PM

5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir CONCERT Friday January 13th 2:30 PM CALL TIME 1:30 PM

7/8 Orchestra auditions for spring concert season (including Jazz/Rock Band and Pit Band) will be held on Wednesday January 11th, during rehearsal period room 101.

Looking ahead - 7/8 Orchestra and Handbell Choir will perform at the Lower School Friday January 21st. Students depart at 8 am and will return at 10:30 am. Parent volunteers who would like to come along to assist please contact Mr. Henderson: 202-537-2403; hendersonm@sidwell.edu

PA Announcements

Volunteers Needed for ArtRageous!

ARTRAGEOUS is just around the corner and we need you! Come and join the fun on Sunday, January 29th from 1-4. Volunteer for half an hour, or as much time as you have. Email Sarah Blake at sarahblakedc@gmail.com.
Performers for ArtRageous 2012

ARTRAGEOUS: FINAL CALL FOR PERFORMERS
It's not too late!!! The Arts Committee still has space available for individuals and groups to grace the stages at ArtRageous.

If you are interested, please run to your computer as soon as possible and send Maude Fish (maude.fish@comcast.net) a message with the following information: Who are you? What grade are you in? What will you perform and who is it by? Do you need an accompanist or audio/visual equipment?

Maude Fish will work to accommodate your scheduling needs, and she will confirm the time and place of your performance. Don't be late for an important date. ArtRageous 2012 is just around the corner.
Community Service Corner

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the gift drive this year! A Wider Circle was thrilled to receive our donations.

Other News

Quaker Notes

“If we divide into camps--even into violent and the nonviolent--and stand in one camp while attacking the other, the world will never have peace. We will always blame and condemn those we feel are responsible for wars and social injustice, without recognizing the degree of violence within ourselves. We must work on ourselves and also with those we condemn if we want to have a real impact.”

(Ayya Khema, “Be an Island,” as reprinted in Annapolis Friends Meeting January 2012 Newsletter)

“Quaker Quotes” is a weekly submission by Melissa Belman (melissa@ecologicflooring.com ), Holly Moore (htmoore@gmail.com ) and Cindy Terrell (ctcabin@gmail.com). We welcome ideas.
MS TUESDAY NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

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How to Submit an Article to Tuesday Letter
Send submissions to PA.MSNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2 pm Monday. 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. Please be aware that submissions may not run for more than 3 weeks.
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Note Concerning the School Calendar:
The calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the official school

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, Jan 3rd

School Reopens

Wed, Jan 4th