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Tuesday - January 20, 2015


Principal's Letter


NOTES FROM SALLY


Announcements


INCLEMENT WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS
VERTICAL VOICES PERFORMS AT SIDWELL THIS FRIDAY, JAN 23 AT 7:30 PM
MS SPRING MUSICAL - HAIRSPRAY, JR.
8TH GRADE PARENTS: WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS ABOUT 9TH GRADE?


Other


JOIN US FOR ARTRAGEOUS 2015 - THE NATURE OF ART
PARENTS: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SUMMER CAMP OPTIONS?
LINEN DRIVE - SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND PETS!
COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
QUAKER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
MS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION


News Around the School


Principal's Letter


NOTES FROM SALLY
MM_Handbook_2015.pdfThis week’s query: How can we share our thoughts while making sure not to be disrespectful or offensive?
Assembly: King’s Dream – a celebration of the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King. This should be a wonderful program – as always, parents are welcome to join us!
Northwest Current correspondents: Sophie Steel and Alden Zhang
Minimester booklets were distributed on Friday to all students who are not already enrolled in a trip. The preference sheet is due February 6th. A copy is also attached to this letter. Students who are interested in an apprenticeship to work with a professional in the community during Minimester should begin to make arrangements now. Out-of-town projects must be cleared by me. Anne Kennedy is directing the apprenticeship program this year.
January 19 - 23 is No Name Calling Week!
No Name-Calling Week was inspired by the popular young adult novel entitled The Misfits by popular author James Howe. The book tells the story of four best friends trying to survive the seventh grade in the face of all too frequent taunts based on their weight, height, intelligence, and sexual orientation/gender expression. Motivated by this simple, yet powerful, idea, the No Name-Calling Week Coalition created by GLSEN (The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) and Simon & Schuster Children's publishing, consisting of over 60 national partner organizations, organized an actual No Name-Calling Week in schools across the nation. Since then, No Name-Calling Week has been adopted by schools everywhere and has grown into one of the largest bullying-prevention initiatives in the country. Starting TODAY, Jan 20th, the Middle School will re-affirm our commitment as a community with a daily activity to celebrate kindness. Here is the schedule for the week:
- Tuesday through Friday: Think of a word or phrase that you have heard that is unkind and you could ZAP it out of existence. Tell us that word or phrase. Drop it in the No-Name Calling Box outside the Science rooms. We will shred them all on Friday!
- Tuesday: Come and Sign your pledge in support of No-Name Calling today! Pledge forms are available at the front desk and at Ms. Porter’s desk. When you have signed the pledge, you’ll get a sticker to wear showing your support of kindness!
- Wednesday: Wear 2 different shoes – the theme of walking a mile in another’s shoes can be difficult and eye-opening.
- Thursday: Wear your clothing backwards with the idea that words CAN hurt you and you can’t take them back and that a good person always has another’s back.
- Friday: Shredding of all the words and phrases we will not use again!

Linen Drive - Please bring bed linens, towels, comforters or blankets to Middle School ASAP. Usable items will find an immediate home with humans at A Wider Circle. Shabby fleece blankets and towels will head to our furry friends at Washington Animal Rescue League. Read more about this community service initiative later in this Tuesday Letter.
Looking ahead: a reminder that CTP testing (standardized tests) will be given during the week of February 2nd (Tuesday – Thursday). Please avoid appointments that week!
The National Geographic Geography Bee was held right after winter break. Congratulations to our grade-level winners: 5th grade: Evan Leviss, 6th grade: Aaron Wheeler, 7th grade: Aden Berger, 8th grade: Alex Lee. Alex is the school champion and will take the qualifying test to compete at the state level. Good luck, Alex!


Announcements


INCLEMENT WEATHER COMMUNICATIONS
As a reminder to the community, the School communicates delays and closings due to inclement weather in the following ways:
- Parents will receive an e-mail and a text message to the cell phone numbers on file with the School, while alternate contacts will receive a notice via e-mail only.
- In addition, you can check the website homepage (sidwell.edu) for the current status.
- A recorded message can also be accessed through the main phone number: 202.537.8100.
Please note that the Athletic Hotline is no longer in use.

VERTICAL VOICES PERFORMS AT SIDWELL THIS FRIDAY, JAN 23 AT 7:30 PM
PRESS_RELEASE__VERTICAL_VOICES.pdfThe eighth grade drama troupe Vertical Voices Playback Theatre performs this Friday, January 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the 37th Street Middle School Drama Studio at Sidwell Friends School. Playback Theatre honors the human experience by bringing personal stories to life on the stage in performance. Vertical Voices is a troupe of committed student actors who replay stories on-the-spot in front of the audience. Reservations are recommended. There is no admission fee, but donations are accepted for a Playback Theatre service learning project at the Milton Hershey School in May. Contact Barbara Munday at MundayB@sidwell.edu or 202.537.4351 with any questions.

MS SPRING MUSICAL - HAIRSPRAY, JR.
HAIRSPRAY_2015_Fact_Sheet.pdfFor 7/8 students: Auditions for the MS Musical, Hairspray, Jr., are Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the MS Drama Studio from 2:30 - 5:30 p.m. Review the attached fact sheet and complete the audition form on the MS Drama Call board. For more information see Tim Reagan or Barbara Munday.

8TH GRADE PARENTS: WANT TO HEAR FROM YOUR PEERS ABOUT 9TH GRADE?
Attend the 8th grade parent peer group on Wednesday, January 28, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., in the Middle School Library. A panel of 8th grade parents with children already in Upper School will provide their insights, wisdom and lessons learned from their previous experiences in Upper School with their older children. A Q&A period will follow. This will be a great companion event to the Upper School curriculum meeting for 8th grade parents on February 2.
Whether you’ve never had a child in the Upper School, or you are a seasoned Upper School veteran, you won’t want to miss this valuable discussion! Rising parents will learn important information, and veteran parents will gain some insights as well.
To get a sense of the amount of refreshments we need to order, please RSVP to Ira Apfel.


Other


JOIN US FOR ARTRAGEOUS 2015 - THE NATURE OF ART
Sunday, January 25, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Upper School Kogod Arts Center

Artrageous is an annual fun filled all school arts festival that incorporates the talents of SFS students in the visual and performing arts. Each year we have interactive “art stations” that include such things as print making, pottery, IPad creations, sewing, and face-painting to name a few, accompanied by many great performances by SFS students of all ages and delicious club-sponsored food vendors. This year we have several new exciting projects, including a really BIG collaborative public art project called “Artistree” and student instructed Master Classes for our aspiring younger SFS artists. So, mark your calendars and come enjoy the fun!

Art supplies needed for Artrageous!
Clean rags, old tee shirts, and bulky yarn of any color. Also, don’t forget to save and repurpose all your newspaper sleeves (those plastic covers used to keep your newspapers dry and unsoiled) for use at Artrageous. There is a drop off box located outside the Library for your donations. Please contact Dana.Lucas@thedmpgroup.com with questions.

PARENTS: ARE YOU LOOKING FOR SUMMER CAMP OPTIONS?
Summer Opportunities Fair
Sidwell Friends Upper School Cafeteria
Saturday, January 24 from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Come explore overnight camp options, meet with teen program representatives, and receive free advice from Tips on Trips and camps consultants. Tips on Trips is a free advisory service that represents over 500 summer programs in the U.S. and abroad including traditional camps; specialty camps; language immersion; community service; academics and enrichment; adventure and wilderness. More information can be found online at www.TipsonTripsandCamps.com.
This is a free event open to all parents and friends hosted by Meg Elliott Smith ’85. She can be reached at Meg@TipsonTripsandCamps.com or 703.345.0722.

Quaker Summer Camps in the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Area
Looking for a Friendly camping adventure? Catoctin, Opequon, and Shiloh, three local Quaker-affiliated summer camps, offer 1, 2 & 4 week residential sessions for campers aged 9-14, available between June 27th and August 9th. Activities include: hiking, canoeing, climbing, art, music, nature, and more in a healthy, supportive, affordable, Friendly community open to all. Registration for new campers begins February 1. Please see the website for more information and to apply online! bymcamps.org or call 717.481.4870 for more information!

LINEN DRIVE - SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND PETS!
Got old bed linens, towels, comforters or blankets that you’re ready to toss? Please send them to Middle School ASAP with your nearest and dearest. Usable bed linens, blankets and comforters will find an immediate home at A Wider Circle. Shabby fleece blankets and towels will head to our furry friends at Washington Animal Rescue League. Our “Paws and Claws” Minimester group can use even badly tattered blankets in March to make toys for the cuties in cages. Collection bins are inside the Middle School lobby and in the 5th grade hallway. Contact Susanne Saunders or Michael Salmon if you have questions.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
Cleats for Tanzania Photo.pdfJanuary 23 - 6th Grade Hangout
January 25 - 5th and 6th grade service club at A Wider Circle: ongoing project to manage the Kids' Corner. Contact Dana Milbank for additional information.
Ongoing Toiletries Collection - Bins in Lobby for A Wider Circle
Used soccer cleat collection for Tanzania
Jacob Walters, an 8th grader on Team Sky, is collecting used soccer cleats for Kunduchi School, near Dar es Salaam in Tanzania. Kunduchi is a financially-strapped government-run school with 1,500 students of lower and middle school age, in classes of 100. Like many Tanzanians, the students are passionate about soccer. Football Action, a UK-based charity, is working to build a soccer field at the school, but few of the children have proper footwear. Jacob has previously collected about 30 pairs of used cleats, which a volunteer for Football Action transported to Tanzania (see the attached photo above - it's worth a click). However, the demand is still very high, hence this new appeal. There will be a box for collection of cleats in the Middle School lobby through February 6. All sizes are welcome!
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.

QUAKER QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Why are Quakers historically quoted as using “thee” and “thy” in their speech, even in the 20th century? What does plain speech mean?
Back in the 16th century when Quakerism began, English-speakers were transitioning from using “thee,” “thy” and “thou” in everyday speech for informal address to always using “you." At the time of the switch, the choice to address someone with "you" or "thee" involved social status: people addressed social superiors with the polite form “you,” as though they were somehow grander or plural, but social inferiors were addressed as with the informal “thee,” “thy” and “thou.” This rankled the egalitarian-focused Quakers, who insisted on addressing each person as “thou” or “thee” as a form of witness, and they kept up this use of “plain speech” for 300 years. Over time, the social status distinction of "you" was lost in standard English, and everyone was addressed that way. Though Quakers had used the informal pronouns to signify equal regard for all others, in North America, using 'thee' came to signify being part of a Friends community. Kids in our grandparents’ generation were sometimes taunted with chants of “thee-thy-thou Quaker." The practice of using “thee,” “thy” and “thou” as plain speech has become less common in Quaker communities today -- a quaint peculiarity heard occasionally among Friends.
Quaker questions and answers are intended to deepen the understanding of Quakerism in the SFS community. Please contact your Middle School Quaker Life Clerks with questions and suggestions: Virginia Avanesyan (avanesyanfamily@gmail.com) and Amy Henderson (msaustin@mac.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, Jan 20th

LS Report Writing - No School


Wed, Jan 21st

China Minimester Meeting

MS Drama Studio
7:00pm - 8:00pm


Thu, Jan 22nd

PA Arts Committee Mtg

US Library Board Rm
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Jan 23rd

6th Gr. Hangout

Wannan Gym and MS Courtyard
3:30pm - 5:00pm


GAMETIME! Girls Varsity Basketball

Athletic Center
4:30pm - 6:30pm


GAMETIME! Boys Varsity Basketball

Athletic Center
5:45pm - 7:45pm


Sat, Jan 24th

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Sun, Jan 25th

Artrageous 2015! The Nature of Art

RLS Mtg Rm, Choral Music Rm, AC Foyer, AC classrooms
1:00pm - 4:00pm


Tue, Jan 27th

Italy Minimester 2015 - Meeting with Student Travelers and Parents

MS Drama Studio
7:30pm - 8:30pm


Wed, Jan 28th

8th Grade Parent Peer Group Mtg

MS Library
7:30pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Jan 29th

All MS Meeting for Worship (parents invited)

Robert L. Smith Mtg Rm
8:00am - 8:45am


Sat, Jan 31st

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Sun, Feb 1st

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 4:00pm


Mon, Feb 2nd

MS PA Steering Comm. Mtg

Rusch Team Rm
8:00am - 9:00am


Thu, Feb 5th

PA Executive Steering Committee Mtg

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


Fri, Feb 6th

GAMETIME! Dance Ensemble

AC Theater
7:00pm


US Dance Ensemble Winter Performance

AC Theater
7:00pm - 9:00pm


MS 7/8 Dance

US Dining Rm
7:30pm - 10:00pm


7th Grade. Parent Peer Group Mtg

MS Library
8:00pm - 9:30pm


Sat, Feb 7th

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


SFS Night at the Wizards

off campus - Verizon Center
7:00pm - 9:30pm


Sun, Feb 8th

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Mon, Feb 9th

BSU Show Rehearsal

AC Theater
6:00pm - 9:00pm


Until it Hurts - Mark Hyman Gathering with Parents

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, K-19
7:30pm - 9:00pm


More


Athletics


Tue, Jan 20th

Wrestling - Varsity vs. St. James School


4:00pm


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


4:00pm


Wed, Jan 21st

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


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Flint Hill


5:45pm


Thu, Jan 22nd

Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Wrestling - 7/8 vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Wilson H.S.


4:15pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Championships (Diving)


5:00pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Wilson H.S.


5:45pm


Fri, Jan 23rd

Wrestling - Varsity - MAC Tournament


10:00am


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Championships


2:30pm


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


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


5:45pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


5:45pm


Sat, Jan 24th

Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Georgetown Preparatory Last Track to Philly


Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. Swim Championships


8:45am


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. Swim Championships


8:45am


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. St. Albans


12:00pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Landon


2:00pm


Mon, Jan 26th

Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Mater Dei


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Mater Dei


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at Mater Dei


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Landon


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Tue, Jan 27th

Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Wilson H.S.


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Potomac School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:15pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Potomac School


5:45pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill


6:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Quad Meet


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Quad Meet


7:30pm


Wed, Jan 28th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Flint Hill


2:45pm


Wrestling - Varsity - Baltimore Friends Tri


4:30pm


Thu, Jan 29th

Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Swimming - Boys 7/8 at St. Albans


2:30pm


Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. National Cathedral School


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Sheridan School


3:15pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Sandy Spring


4:30pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman at Field School


4:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Diving


5:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Diving


5:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Potomac School


6:15pm


Fri, Jan 30th

Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Episcopal High School Open


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Episcopal High School


4:30pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Episcopal High School


6:00pm


Sat, Jan 31st

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - WMPSSDL Championships @ Fairland


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - WMPSSDL Championships @ Fairland


Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Landon


12:00pm


Mon, Feb 2nd

Wrestling - 7/8 at St. Albans


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Landon


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Landon


2:30pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at Bullis


2:45pm


Tue, Feb 3rd

Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Day


5:45pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School


5:45pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Tri Meet with Bullis & Flint Hill


7:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Tri Meet with Bullis & Flint Hill


7:30pm


Wed, Feb 4th

Wrestling - 7/8 at Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Field School


4:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros - Diving Only


4:30pm


Thu, Feb 5th

Basketball - Boys 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


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


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros - Diving Only


4:30pm


Fri, Feb 6th

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


4:00pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Takoma Academy


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:15pm


Wrestling - Varsity at JP Great


4:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros (500 & 400 Relay Trials)


5:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros (500 & 400 Relay Trials)


5:30pm
2/7/2015


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


5:45pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Episcopal High School


5:45pm


Sat, Feb 7th

Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) vs. Georgetown Prep Private & Independent Schools Invitational


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros - Swimming Trials


8:15am


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros - Swimming Trials


8:15am


Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Stone Ridge School


12:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Stone Ridge School


2:00pm


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros - Swimming Finals


5:30pm


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros - Swimming Finals


5:30pm


Mon, Feb 9th

Wrestling - 7/8 at Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


More


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