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MIDDLE SCHOOL TUESDAY LETTER

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FROM THE SCHOOL
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This Week's Query
How can we make new friends and keep the old?


Notes from Sally
Assembly: The annual Black Student Union Show


The Black Student Union presents its Annual Black History Month Show.
The show will be performed at Middle School Assembly on Friday,
February 15th, and again for parents, families and friends at 7:00pm
that evening. Both performances will take place in the Arts Center
Theater. A tradition that began in the 1980s, the program
incorporates original student content with songs, poems, and other
material from established authors. The cast is made up of students
from the Lower, Middle, and Upper School, and alumni will join the
cast for the evening performance. Everyone is welcome at both the
assembly and the evening show.


After a successful experience with the ERB/CTP testing on line last
week in 7/8, 5/6 students will take these tests on Tuesday,
Wednesday, and Thursday of this week. Sixth graders should remember
their laptops each day, and calculators may be used for the Thursday
afternoon test if students would like, so they should have them that
day.


Important notice for all Middle School parents: We have noticed this
year that some students have participated in challenges and dares
that have gone around the internet as fads. Some of these have
included a "cinnamon challenge (ingesting a large spoonful of
cinnamon)," the use of ice and salt to burn one's skin, and the use
of over-the-counter products containing alcohol, such as mouthwash or
cough syrup. It is typical for young adolescents to test boundaries,
but we are obviously concerned about the potential health risks from
"challenges" such as these. We encourage you to keep a watchful eye
out for these behaviors and to remind your kids about the dangers of
taking risks such as these, even with what seem to be harmless,
everyday products. We are also talking to our students about this
through advisory lessons. Please feel free to contact us if you have
questions or concerns.


A reminder about 37th Street: Please do not arrive in the afternoon
before 3:30. The early line is getting really long, and this prevents
the Hearst buses from getting through and keeps the street from
clearing. Also remember - no U-turns on 37th Street. Please
communicate these guidelines to anyone who drives your son or
daughter!


The Sidwell Friends Middle School Debate team competed in the third
of five tournaments of the DC Urban Debate League on February 9, 2013
at Alice Deal Middle School. There were 150 debaters from nine
schools and 57 teams competing. While many veteran SFS debaters were
unable to attend, the team had 12 rookies (new debaters who had never
before attended a tournament) and still had a total of 12 teams of
three at the tournament. The Debate team continued its success by
getting the second place trophy overall (the first place team had a
69.7 winning percentage, while SFS had a 68.2 winning percentage) and
having many superlative individual performances. In the speaker
points category, SFS had seven of the top 20 slots with Ana Mundaca
placing first in speaker points among all of the debaters present,
followed by Ananth Shastri at number two, Julian Dixon at #7,
Harrison Blaine at #11, Zach Mazlish at #12, Milan Vivanco at #15 and
Madeleine Montagner at #17. Team results were also splendid with four
Sidwell teams in the top 10: at #2 was the team of Sam Blazes, Jordan
Kalai and Harrison Blaine, #3 Daniel Blatt, Zach Mazlish and Mile
Zhang, #5 Julian Dixon, Madeleine Montagner and Ana Mundaca and #7
Jade Lintott, Ananth Shastri and Milan Vivanco. Overall, it was a
great tournament enjoyed by all. Congratulations to all debaters!


Instrumental Music Notes
5/6 Concert Band Wednesday rehearsal period

7/8 String Ensemble Wednesday rehearsal period

Jazz/Rock Band Monday 3:45-5:00

Mulan Pit Band Wednesday and Thursday 3:45-5:00


Re-enrollment for 2013-14
Reminder from the Admissions Office - Re-enrollment contracts are due
by Thursday, February 21. Complete and submit contract online from
the Re-Enrollment Contract link on the parent portal. Contact Valerie
Foster at foster@sidwell.edu or 202-537-2402 with any questions.


Math Meet Results
Congratulations to 8th graders Jordan Chernof, Jason Souvaliotis,
Amal Mattoo, and Luke Oh, who helped Sidwell Friends win 1st place as
a team at the Math Counts Chapter Competition on Saturday, February
9th, beating out a host of other public and private DC schools. In
the individual competition, Sidwell Friends swept the top three
spots, with Luke Oh winning first place, Amal Mattoo winning second
place, and 7th grader Kevin Jiang winning third place. The team will
compete in the State Competition in March. Other participants at the
competition were 8th graders Alan Zhang, Casey Dorfman, Garrett
Nixon, and 6th graders Mitchell Jubeir and Arjun Sethi-Olowin.


Seeking Night of Auction Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers for the night of the auction -
Saturday, April 27, 2013 from 5:00-11:30 p.m. This is a great
opportunity! People on the "night-of" committee enjoy an evening at
the Auction and help this great cause of raising money for financial
aid. Duties include: monitoring Silent Auction tables, closing
sections, collecting and organizing items, handing out invoices, and
disbursing items. No experience required, no meetings beforehand
(we'll send instructions by email and provide training at the start
of the evening). You just need to be ready, willing and available for
the duration of the event - and you'll have a fun auction experience!
Contact Bart Hipple at 301 699 8373 or barthipple@comcast.net. If you
are interested in helping with event set-up between 9:00 and 11:00
a.m. on auction day, please contact Jessie Jacobson at
events@sidwell.edu.


2013 Next-to-New Sale: Last Opportunity to Recycle Shopping Bags
This is the last week that the Next-to-New Sale will be collecting
shopping bags for use in the fall sale. You can help by dropping your
shopping bags into boxes located in the Lower, Middle, or Upper
Schools (just inside the front door). All kinds/sizes of bags are
needed, paper and plastic, as long as they have a handle. The last
collection day will be Friday, Feb. 15. Also, if you know someone who
is moving, please send moving boxes our way at anytime. Contact Anne
Honn, Next-to-New Sale co-chair, at anhonn@gmail.com.


Tennis Tournament Date Change
Please note that the Tennis Tournament to benefit student
scholarships will no longer be taking place on February 23, as marked
on your SFS calendars. However, the Tennis Tournament will be taking
place this year! Please stay tuned for more information about the
reshaping of this exciting fundraiser. If you are interested in
joining our Tennis Tournament Committee, please contact
events@sidwell.edu.


PA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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BSU Annual Black History Month Show and PBS Reception After the Show
The Black Student Union presents its Annual Black History Month Show
for parents, families and friends at 7:00pm on Friday, February 15th.
The performance will take place on the Upper School campus, in the
Arts Center Theater. A tradition that began in the 1980s, the program
incorporates original student content with songs, poems, and other
material from established authors. This year, the Parents of Black
Students (PBS) would like to begin a new tradition and invite both
the cast and audience to join us in the Rubenstein Gallery Lobby for
a post-production celebration. Please click here to let us know if
you plan to attend, and if you might be willing to provide a dessert
or light refreshment or help with set up or clean up. Please feel
free to contact PBS Co-Clerks Michelle Profit
(mprofit@profitfunds.com) or Suzann King (suzannking@hotmail.com) if
you have questions.


Parents Invited to Meeting for Worship
Parents of Middle School students are invited to attend Meeting for
Worship with their child on Thursday, February 28, 8:10 - 8:40 a.m.,
in the Smith Meeting House.


For Quakers, wisdom begins in silence. This is a wonderful way for
parents to experience Meeting, take part in your child's education,
and demonstrate the value of silent worship.


Community Service Corner
February 28 Middle School Service Day


Every student and teacher in the Middle School will be working with
their grade or team to serve a variety of Sidwell Friends' community
partners. Your help is needed to make this amazing day run more
efficiently, so be on the lookout in case your Room or Team Parents
send an email requesting volunteers! Don't forget to bring in those
toiletries too! Collection basket in MS office.


Talk to Your Kids About Hanging Out


At the 6th grade Hangout this Friday, students will be making
"Birthday Cake Bags" requested by Food and Friends. Visit their
website: www.foodandfriends.org/ March 1 at the 5th grade Hangout,
students will be decorating pillow cases for residents at the
Children's Inn at NIH. Visit their website: www.childrensinn.org/


Questions? Contact MS Community Service Co-Clerks, Sara Jane Harris
sjrharris@me.com or Felice Roggen at Froggen@mac.com


MIddle School PA Looking to Fill Positions for Next Year
If you enjoy community building and would like to make a contribution
to the school or your child's grade, please volunteer as a Grade
Representative, At-Large Rep, or Committee Clerk (Arts, Athletics,
Community Health, Community Service, Diversity, Quaker Life). We are
looking to fill positions in Middle School. If you are interested in
serving as a Grade Rep, At-Large Rep or have an interest in a
particular committee, would like to suggest someone else, or simply
need more information, please contact Priscilla Cheng at
ppcheng@aol.com or Denielle Pemberton at pembertond@aol.com.


Thanks to All for a Great Rowing Victory
Sidwell Friends hosted the National Capital Erg Invitational on
Sunday February 10. The Sidwell Friends Rowing Team wishes to thank
all members of the community and all participants for making this a
terrific success. During an exciting day, 275 racers participated in
26 different races, from 20 minute rows to sprint competitions of
distances from 500-2000 meters, plus a hilarious costume relay. Head
of School Tom Farquhar was a ubiquitous presence and excellent sport,
winning the race in his division against a youthful crowd. Four area
high schools sent most of their teams, and several local rowing clubs
showed up, creating a vibrant scene of the community of rowers.


The team and their parents thank all of you who helped out in so many
ways, and especially to the school for graciously offering the
athletic center as the venue. The success of the second year of this
event is inspiring, and we look forward to seeing you next year.
Thanks again to everyone!


OTHER NEWS
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Quaker Quotes


"To me it seems clear that a good school is one that is
constantly engaged in self-examination, in improving itself, in
becoming wiser in its ability to both teach and inspire. A school can
educate in ways in which its curriculum cannot. It's the soul of a
school-its intangible persona, its characters, its principles, its
daily life over time, the impression it makes, the effort it inspires
and the moral authority it posesses-that helps mold a child into an
educated, assured,humane, and caring adult.. A good school's
overriding aim is to help each student respond to the best that is in
him or her. . I believe that all good schools must recognize that
the moral growth of students is at least as important as their
intellectual growth" A Quaker Book of Wisdom by Robert Lawrence
Smith


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Sidwell Friends School
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