EMAIL DETAILS

Thursday - September 23, 2010


From the School

QUERY
“You’re the builder of a fresh new year; how can we work to make it a growing, learning, fun year for everyone in our community?”
--4XPARENT PARTICIPATION IN STRATEGIC PLANNING
The Board of Trustees and Tom Farquhar invite all parents to an All-School Parents Association meeting on October 4 to participate in round table discussions for the strategic planning process. Read More to access a letter from Tom Farquhar and a list of queries that will be used in the discussion. If you would like to attend, you MUST RSVP to Lydia Adelfio (adelfiol@sidwell.edu), so that we can assign each person to a discussion group. Read MoreVEGETABLES FOR VEGGIE CUTTING
Lower School will have an introductory Community Service assembly on October 1. The students will learn about our many service efforts and vegetable cutting during the assembly. Please be sure to start sending in vegetables on Wednesday, October 6!TEAM TWO TRIP TO RIVERBEND PARK
On Thursday, September 23, Team Two (grades 2 and 2x) will visit Riverbend Park in Fairfax County. This will be the first field trip related to our study of Eastern Woodlands Indians. Students will learn about the daily lives and lore of the area’s earlier residents through hands-on activities. Taking a hike along the Potomac River, we will search for clues of how the Algonquian speaking people interacted with their environment. We will see some authentic artifacts, and perhaps even learn to throw a spear and shoot an arrow! Please have your child wear long pants and sneakers, as well as layers as appropriate for the weather. Please send in a bag lunch marked with your child’s name to enjoy on the banks of the Potomac. Please do not send glass containers.


PA Announcements

POTLUCK HOSTS NEEDED!
Fall is time for one of Sidwell Friends' most beloved traditions. This year's potlucks fall on the weekends of Oct 22-24, Oct 29-31, and Nov 5-7. If you would be willing to host a potluck for parents in your child's class, please contact Pam Kurland (Pamela.Kurland@gmail.com) and Rebecca Rippey (rippey@rcn.com).
QUAKER LIFE
MEETING FOR WORSHIP
Please feel welcome to attend Meeting for Worship with your child. Next Tuesday, September 28 at 1:30 PM the entire third grade will be in the LS Meeting House. You are also most welcome to join your child in his or her classroom. Please arrive a few minutes early so you can settle in before Meeting for Worship, or walk with your child's class if they are hosted elsewhere.
INTRODUCTION TO MEETING FOR WORSHIP FOR NEW FAMILIES
Please join in the year's first early morning worship and an introduction to Meetings -- a central part of Quakerism in your child's school life. This event is open to all families -- parents and siblings -- and new families are particularly encouraged to attend. Faculty and the Quaker Life Committee will be present to answer questions and a light breakfast will be served.
Time: October 7, 7:45 to 9:30 AM
Place: Lower School Meeting HouseGOT ART?
In hand, mind, and/or spirit? The PA Arts Committee welcomes any one, on the fringe or deeply immersed in love of the Arts, to join us in monthly meetings during which we plan different ways to support and celebrate SFS’s Arts. Read more about us on our renewed PA Arts Committee Website, posted later this week. Contact any of the following for more info: Rebecca Boylan (boylanr@georgetown.edu), Maude Fish (maude.fish@comcast.net), or Sally Amoruso (sallyamoruso@gmail.com). First meeting is Wednesday, September 22, from 7:45-9:30 PM, in the US Library Board Room. Please join us for refreshments as we launch plans for a dynamically new ArtRageous, our annual all-school gathering (Sunday, January 30, 1-4 PM) to create, perform, and otherwise enjoy the Arts in the inspiring spaces of our beautiful Middle School campus.COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
Now that everyone has had a chance to settle into a new school year, if you haven’t done so already take a few minutes to look over your Community Service Flyer. The flyers were handed out at Back to School Night by the teachers. Each grade received a different flyer. The flyer gives a brief overview of the service day projects, dates and times of the service days, a number of service opportunities for parents and families throughout the year, and a contact person for each grade. Community Service projects are wonderful opportunities to work side-by-side with your children. Volunteer to be a chaperone at one of the service days (October 21 or October 26). To make this terrific opportunity for the students work, we need you to chaperone! For more information or to volunteer, please contact Beth Zeugin at bczeugin@comcast.net or Lisa Ward at wards4107@comast.net.
COMMUNITY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR:
Brightwood Reading Program: Looking for a very rewarding and fun volunteer opportunity? Come learn more about our Brightwood Reading Partnership. Parent volunteers read to students at our sister school, Brightwood Elementary School in DC. Last year, volunteers read and donated more than 1500 books to students at Brightwood. A volunteer meeting will be held Tuesday, October 5, 8:30-9:30 AM, in the LS library. For more information or to volunteer, please email Vanessa Johnson, coordinator, at vannateach@verizon.net. Please also remember to donate any children’s books to Brightwood when you donate to Next To New this year! You can put them in a box outside the LS library.
Drivers for Bethesda Cares: Parent volunteers are needed on Wednesdays and/or Fridays to deliver leftover lunch food from Sidwell Friends to a Bethesda Cares food pantry. Parents are assisted by kindergartners, who help package the food and load it into the parent’s car. (This is a great opportunity to come in to school to eat lunch with your child and then take the food over to Bethesda Cares.) For more information or to volunteer, please email coordinator Paul D’Andrea at paul.d’andrea@hmshost.com.

Green Team -- Lower School Recycling: Each week, a parent helps a group of 3rd graders check the recycle bins around the school and transfer the recycling materials to the school's dumpster. The recycling collection is from 11:55-12:15 every Friday. (This is a great opportunity to come in to school to eat lunch with your child and then participate in a 3rd Grade service project.) For more information or to volunteer, please email the GT coordinators: Luisa Ogden at luisaogden@gmail.com or Francesco Caramazzo at alexandrafrancesco@msn.com.
Martha’s Table - Wednesday Vegetable Drivers: Each Wednesday, a parent volunteer is needed to drive two large containers of chopped vegetables to Martha’s Table. The vegetables can be picked up between 12 noon and 4 PM, and must be delivered by 6 pm. For more information or to volunteer, please contact Felice Roggen at froggen@mac.com.
Knitting for Peace: Join the Knitting Club (open to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th graders) on Fridays, starting October 1 during recess to “Knit for Peace”. Technology teacher, Jenni Voorhees, leads the club for students interested in knitting. This year, the group will work together to knit projects that will be donated as community service projects, like blankets for newborn babies. Volunteers are needed (beginners and experienced knitters welcome) to answer questions, help students cast on, and join in the projects. This will be a wonderful year for knitting and I am thrilled to have parents volunteering to help. Others can contribute, too, by sending in size 7, 8. or 9 knitting needles. That is our greatest need. We also accept contributions of yarn. For more information or to volunteer, please email Jenni Voorhees at Voorheesj@sidwell.edu.
WEEKEND VOLUNTEERING FOR FAMILIES IN OCTOBER
A Wider Circle: Join SFS families at A Wider Circle (www.awidercircle.org) in Silver Spring on Sunday, October 3 from 1 to 3 PM. Volunteers will help sort children’s clothing, household items, pantry foods and furniture. Your time will greatly benefit AWC’s Neighbor to Neighbor as they help families who are just leaving shelters to make a warm, safe and comfortable home. All families welcome (ages 4 and up), Fourth Grade families encouraged. Please RSVP by September 27 to Sara Jane Harris, sjrharris@comcast.net


Other News

CAREGIVER/NURSE AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN OR ELDERLY
Highly recommended by Rich Lodish. Highly qualified, exceptional caregiver/nurse is looking for employment caring for infants to elderly people. Recently employed by Dr. Stanley Greenspan (very close friend of Rich Lodish). Also willing to undertake day to day chores and cleaning. Looking for full or part time position. Please call Mildred Omara on 301-977-5455 (home), 240-750-9849 (cell) or email SLRO@hotmail.com.
URGENT MESSAGE FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE: PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Many parent volunteers are still needed for Lower School admissions events this year. If you would be willing to help, please contact Shelly Jeffery ASAP either by e-mail (jefferym@sidwell.edu), fax (202 537-2401) or phone (202 537-8111). Thanks so much.
EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
BOOK CLUB
Only a few spots remain! Don’t miss your chance to participate in this year’s Book Club/Lecture Series. The purpose of the club is to highlight our extraordinary faculty, provoke thoughtful discussion, and raise money for student financial aid. Nine topics to chose from and light/food and drink will be served. For more information and to register, please click here. For questions please contact the Events for Student Scholarships office at 202-537-8110 or events@sidwell.edu.
NEXT-TO-NEW SALE
Remember to drop off donations Mondays and Wednesdays from 8-10 AM and Saturdays from 9-11 AM. For more information please visit our website.
We still need volunteers, please email the events office at events@sidwell.edu for more information and to volunteer.
LS pick-up: we will be picking up donations at LS on the following days: September 22, 29, and October 6 from 7:45-8:45 AM. Parent volunteers will be using their own vehicles so please no oversized donations, like furniture. If you have large pieces, please bring them directly to the NTN space.SHUTTLE DROP-INS
Need a Ride? You’re in luck! Sidwell Friends Shuttle Bus Booklets are now available for ‘drop-in’ shuttle use. Sidwell Friends Shuttle Bus Booklets are $25 and include 5 one way shuttle tickets to be used during the 2010-2011 school year. To purchase a booklets or for more information, please contact Auxiliary Programs at 202-537-8133.IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE
In an effort to work more closely with current families and employees who are applying a child for the 2011-12 academic year and who is not currently enrolled at Sidwell Friends, the deadline to submit Part I, the application form, is October 1, 2010.

All supplementary material to complete the application is due by January 15, 2011. The online application and all forms are now available from the website from the admissions tab. Call the Admissions Office at 202-537-8111 if you have any questions.LS THURSDAY NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
How to Subscribe
To receive the Thursday Letter via e-mail, send an e-mail to Thursday@listserv.sidwell.edu with only the word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.
How to Unsubscribe
If you have wish to have your name removed from the subscription list, send an e-mail to Thursday@listserv.sidwell.edu with only the word "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject line.
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, Sep 23rd

LS PA Steering Committee Meeting

LS Quaker Meeting Room
8:00am - 9:00am


Team Two to River Bend Park


9:00am - 1:00pm


Fri, Sep 24th

LS Assembly: Chinese Lion Dance

LS MultiPurpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


Wed, Sep 29th

1x Class to Bladensburg Waterfront Park and Kenilworth Gardens


9:00am - 2:30pm


Fri, Oct 1st

LS Service Assembly

LS MultiPurpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


Sun, Oct 3rd

Parents of Black Students Get Together

Lower School cafeteria
2:00pm - 4:00pm


Mon, Oct 4th

All School PA Meeting

MS Drama Studio
7:00pm


Wed, Oct 6th

3x to Smithsonian Environmental Research Center


8:45am - 2:30pm


Thu, Oct 7th

Introduction to Meeting for Worship for New Families

LS Meeting House
7:45am - 9:30am


K Class to Sharp's Farm


9:45am - 2:00pm


Fri, Oct 8th

Assembly: Diane Macklin, Storyteller

LS MultiPurpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


Mon, Oct 11th

Fall Break - No School


Tue, Oct 12th

PA Executive Committee Meeting

Athletic Center Meeting Room
8:00am - 9:00am


3x to Bladensburg Waterfront Park


9:00am - 1:30pm


More


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