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Sunday - January 22, 2017


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU


Announcements


US VALENTINE'S DAY FACULTY APPRECIATION
QUAKER LIFE COFFEE AND DISCUSSION
SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR US PARENTS ASSOCIATION


Events


ALL-COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WORSHIP: TODAY!
PARENT SPEAKER DEBRA W. HAFFNER: TOMORROW!
GAMETIME! GIRLS' BASKETBALL, DANCE ENSEMBLE
STATE OF THE SCHOOL WITH BRYAN GARMAN: JAN. 31
PARENTS OF ASIAN STUDENTS LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: FEB. 5


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS


News Around the School


MS NEWS


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU
Dear Friends,
This past Wednesday, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., students saw a special performance by the Maverick Lemons Dance Project, which featured traditional dance from Mali and Ghana as well as modern expressive pieces illustrating moments from the civil rights and Black Lives Matter movements. The dance troupe closed the show by inviting students to participate in a celebratory African drum circle. It was a wonderful way to start the new semester!
Over the next month, our juniors will be getting deep into their US History research papers, which they started back in October. Although juniors have had many intermediary assignments over the course of the past semester to help structure their work and time for this long-term assignment, they will inevitably feel greater pressure and stress as they approach the February 27 due date. I encourage parents to help by giving them time and space on the weekends to work on their research. Please encourage them to seek help from their teachers if they hit any roadblocks.
Upper School Curriculum Night is February 16 at 7:00 p.m. During this event, we will share all the course offerings for 2017/18 with parents and guardians. Please mark this date on your calendars!
Winter athletics are back in full swing! I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming games and matches.
Warmly,
Mamadou
Mamadou Guèye
Upper School Principal


Announcements


US VALENTINE'S DAY FACULTY APPRECIATION
The US Parents Association is looking for volunteers to help with the annual Valentine's Day Teacher Appreciation Cookie Bake.
Volunteers from each grade are needed to bake three dozen cookies each (we will need more than 40 dozen in all!). Contributions should be dropped off in the US Dining Room on Friday, February 10, no later than 7:45 a.m, please.
In addition to bakers, we ask that 12 volunteers also meet in the US Dining Room on Friday, February 10, at 7:45 a.m. to package the cookies in festive cellophane wrappings. With several volunteers, we will work efficiently to ensure that each faculty and staff member receives the gift of homemade cookies. Wrapping should take about an hour.
To sign up, click here.
Questions? Please contact Robyn Alexander at robynalexchef@gmail.com.

QUAKER LIFE COFFEE AND DISCUSSION
Quaker Coffees continue in the new year! Join MS and US Quaker Life clerks for coffee, discussion, and Meeting for Worship on the last Monday of the month, from 8:00 to 8:45 a.m. Our lively discussions inspire our Quaker Quotes and Questions feature, so bring your inquiring mind! While timing is geared toward US and MS drop-off, all parents are welcome.
January 30, 8:00–8:45 a.m.: Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
February 27, 8:00–8:45 a.m.: Zartman House Drawing Room
April 24, 8:00–8:45 a.m.: Zartman House Drawing Room

SEEKING VOLUNTEERS FOR US PARENTS ASSOCIATION
Looking for a way to become more involved with the School? The Parents Association is seeking parent volunteers to fill positions for the 2017/18 academic year. If you enjoy community building and would like to make a contribution to the School or your child's grade, please sign up! We are filling division vice clerks, grade reps, and other positions; please see the SFS Parent Portal for descriptions.
To nominate yourself or someone else or for more information, please contact All-School Nominating Clerk Priscilla Cheng (ppcheng@aol.com) or Upper School Nominating Clerk Sandra McCoy (sandra.mccoy@mac.com). Thank you!


Events


ALL-COMMUNITY MEETING FOR WORSHIP: TODAY!
Yesterday, in the spirit of democracy, the Women’s March on Washington took place in our nation’s capital. Members of the Sidwell Friends community are invited to come together this morning (Sunday, January 22) for an All-Community Meeting for Worship at 10:00 a.m. We will reflect on the march and the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., asking how we can encourage others to speak up and stand up for what is right. Childcare is available.

PARENT SPEAKER DEBRA W. HAFFNER: TOMORROW!
Tomorrow (Monday, January 23) at 7:00 p.m. in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, Debra Haffner will be speaking about raising sexually healthy and responsible children and adolescents. If you have questions you’d like Debra to answer, please feel free to submit them in advance to Upper School psychologist Kasaan Holmes (holmesk@sidwell.edu) or Middle School counselor Julia Porter (porterj@sidwell.edu).
Debra has been working for more than 40 years in sexuality education and holds a doctorate in ministry. She also has master's degrees in public health and divinity. Debra is the author or coauthor of seven books and will talk about such issues as identifying and taking advantage of teachable moments, the influence of technology on teenagers' attitudes and behaviors, dress and sexuality, and helping our children develop a sense of moral decision making about sexuality.
Please feel free to bring a friend: This talk is open to the broader community. Light refreshments will be available at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby of the meeting room. Childcare is available for Sidwell Friends community members—please let Kathi Webb know if you need this service (webbk@sidwell.edu).

GAMETIME! GIRLS' BASKETBALL, DANCE ENSEMBLE
Join us in the Athletic Center on Tuesday, January 24, at 5:30 p.m. as the girls' varsity team takes on its league rival, National Cathedral School. Fans of all ages are encouraged to come, wear their school colors, and raise their voices in support. We’ll have pizza in addition to cookies for fans.
Need a cultural break? Come to the dance ensemble's performance* in the Mary Ellen Caplin Theater in the Arts Center on Thursday, February 2, at 7:00 p.m.
*The dance ensemble members earn PE credit for their work—hence they are featured as part of GAMETIME!

STATE OF THE SCHOOL WITH BRYAN GARMAN: JAN. 31
Join us on January 31 in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room for the second All-School Meeting for Business with Bryan Garman, sponsored by the Parents Association. The event officially begins at 7:00 p.m. In this meeting, Bryan will provide financial, real estate, and strategic planning updates.
There will be time for questions. A light supper will be available at 6:30 p.m., and we will adjourn at 8:30 p.m. Childcare will be available for school-age children. Please register here if you plan to come, especially if you intend to use the childcare option. All members of our SFS community are invited, including grandparents, parents of alumni, and alumni. Current students who are interested in learning more are also welcome.

PARENTS OF ASIAN STUDENTS LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION: FEB. 5

PAS is in the midst of planning the first PAS Lunar New Year Celebration at Sidwell Friends. This all-School event will take place on Sunday, February 5, from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the Upper School dining hall. Although Lunar New Year is often referred to as the Chinese New Year, there are other Asian cultures that celebrate this holiday. All are invited to join us in "awakening the lion" and ringing in the Year of the Rooster with crafts, music, delicious dumplings from various parts of Asia, and our very own dumpling-making food station. This is a free event for the entire SFS community, and we hope you and your family will join us to make this special event go "POW" like a firecracker! To help contribute, sign up here.
Cheers,
PAS Co-Clerks


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
“Another gift is the reminder that times of dormancy and deep rest are essential to all living things. Despite all appearances, of course, nature is not dead in winter—it has gone underground to renew itself and prepare for spring. Winter is a time when we are admonished, and even inclined, to do the same for ourselves.
“But, for me, winter has an even greater gift to give. It comes when the sky is clear, the sun brilliant, the trees bare, and the first snow yet to come. It is the gift of utter clarity. In winter, one can walk into woods that had been opaque with summer growth only a few months earlier and see the trees clearly, singly and together, and see the ground that they are rooted in. … Winter clears the landscape, however brutally, giving us a chance to see ourselves and each other more clearly, to see the very ground of our being.
“… Our inward winters take many forms—failure, betrayal, depression, death. But every one of them, in my experience, yields to the same advice: ‘The winters will drive you crazy until you learn to get out into them.’ Until we enter boldly into the fears we most want to avoid, those fears will dominate our lives. But when we walk directly into them—protected from frostbite by the warm garb of friendship or inner discipline or spiritual guidance—we can learn what they have to teach us. Then, we discover once again that the cycle of the seasons is trustworthy and life-giving, even in the most dismaying season of all.”
—Parker Palmer, in the introduction to a publication for Seasons: A Center for Renewal, the conference and retreat facility of the John E. Fetzer Institute
Quaker quotes alternate with questions about Quakerism in this newsletter feature. To ask a question about Quaker history or practice, e-mail our Sidwell Friends Quaker Life Committees’ authors at quakerquestions@sidwell.edu!


MS NewsInspired by MLK
SFS students help the homeless on the second annual MLK Day of Service
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


Sun, Jan 22nd

All-Community Meeting for Worship

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


US Musical Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Stidio
1:00pm - 5:00pm


Mon, Jan 23rd

Parent Speaker - Reverend Dr. Debra W. Haffner

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Tue, Jan 24th

US Musical - Rehearsal

Choral Room + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Wed, Jan 25th

AC/PG meeting

US Library Board Room
12:00pm - 2:30pm


US Musical - Rehearsal

Choral Room + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Jan 26th

US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


US Musical - Rehearsal

Choral Room +Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Jan 27th

US Arts Guild

RLS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Sun, Jan 29th

BSU Rehearsal

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
10:00am - 1:00pm


US Musical - Rehearsals

Choral Room + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Stidio
4:30pm - 7:30pm


Mon, Jan 30th

PA-Quaker Conversation & Coffee

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room & Lobby
8:00am - 9:00am


Tue, Jan 31st

State of the School - Bryan Garman

RLS foyer and Meeting room
7:00pm - 8:30pm


Wed, Feb 1st

US PA Steering Committee Meeting

Rusch Team Room
8:05am - 9:35am


AC/PG meeting

US Library Board Room
12:00pm - 2:30pm


Thu, Feb 2nd

PA Executive Committee

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


US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


GAMETIME! Dance Ensemble

Arts Center & Caplin Theater
6:07pm


College Admissions - 2nd Annual Capitol Case Studies Program

Georgetown Day School
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Dance Ensemble Performance

Mary Ellen Caplin Theater, Arts Center Lobby
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Sat, Feb 4th

BSU Rehearsal

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
12:00pm - 5:00pm


LS Swim Party

Off Campus - Chillum Splash Pool
5:30pm - 7:30pm


Sun, Feb 5th

BSU Rehearsal

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
11:00am - 4:00pm


PAS Lunar New Year Celebration

Upper School Dining Room
2:00pm - 4:00pm


Mon, Feb 6th

BSU Rehearsal


US Musical - Rehearsals

Choral Room + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 10:00pm


Tue, Feb 7th

2nd Annual Capitol Case Studies Program

US Classrooms, US Dining Room, US Library
4:00pm - 9:00pm


US Musical - Rehearsal

Choral Music Room+ Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


State of the School Snow Date

RLS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 8:30pm


Wed, Feb 8th

AC/PG meeting

US Library Board Room
12:00pm - 2:30pm


US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


PA Arts Committee

Upper School Room 102
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Feb 9th

9th and 10th Grade Coffee with US Psychologist

Choral Music Room
8:00am - 9:00am


US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


US Musical - Rehearsal

Caplin Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Rising 9th Grade Curriculum Night

RLS Meeting Room
7:00pm - 8:00pm


Fri, Feb 10th

10th Grade Parent Coffee

Off Campus
8:00am - 9:00am


BSU Show

Caplin Theater & Arts Center Lobby
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Sat, Feb 11th

ACT Test

US Classrooms
7:00am - 2:00pm


SSAT

US Dining Room
8:00am - 1:00pm


EJC Lunch

US Library
11:00am - 2:00pm


EJC Luncheon

US Library
11:00am - 2:00pm


Valentine's Dance


8:30pm - 10:30pm


More


Athletics


Mon, Jan 23rd

Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C at Norwood School


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 at Norwood School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Landon


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at Landon


2:45pm


Tue, Jan 24th

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. National Cathedral School


4:00pm


Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) at Madeira


4:00pm


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. EHS Invitational


4:00pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. National Cathedral School


5:30pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Flint Hill


6:00pm


Wed, Jan 25th

Wrestling - 7/8 vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at St. Albans


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Norwood School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Norwood School


2:45pm


Wrestling - Varsity at Herndon HS


6:00pm


Thu, Jan 26th

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School


4:15pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Diving Championship


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School


6:00pm


Fri, Jan 27th

Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Swimming Championship


3:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Wilson H.S.


4:00pm


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


5:30pm


Sat, Jan 28th

Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. MS Swim Championships


9:00am


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. MS Swim Championships


9:00am


Wrestling - Varsity at Model Secondary School


12:00pm


Wrestling - Varsity at JP Great


12:00pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Gonzaga High School


12:00pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. McKinley Tech


12:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


1:00pm


Mon, Jan 30th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:30pm


Tue, Jan 31st

Wrestling - Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Holy Child


6:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


7:30pm


Wed, Feb 1st

Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Mater Dei


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C at Mater Dei


2:30pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 - Stone Ridge Meet


2:45pm - 2:45am


Swimming - Boys 7/8 - Stone Ridge Meet


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Takoma Academy


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School


6:00pm


Thu, Feb 2nd

Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. St. Anselm's


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Holy Child


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Holy Child


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 at St. Albans


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 at St. Albans


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Diving Championships


5:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Diving Championships


5:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Bullis


6:00pm


Fri, Feb 3rd

Basketball - Boys Freshman at Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Day


5:30pm


Sat, Feb 4th

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Swimming Championships


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Swimming Championships


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Private and Independent Schools Invitational


4:00pm


Mon, Feb 6th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Norwood School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at Norwood School


2:45pm


Tue, Feb 7th

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Wrestling - Varsity at Potomac School


4:30pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. James School


5:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. St. James School


5:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Day


5:30pm


Wed, Feb 8th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) - Georgetown Prep Practice Meet #3


4:00pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Thu, Feb 9th

Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 - St. Albans Meet


2:45pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 - St. Albans Meet


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Landon


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Flint Hill


6:00pm


Fri, Feb 10th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. MAC Tournament


10:00am


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at St. Andrew's School


5:45pm


Sat, Feb 11th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. Melee at the Metro


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Bullis


2:00pm


Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Hoxton Invitational


4:00pm


More


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