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MIDDLE SCHOOL TUESDAY LETTER

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FROM THE SCHOOL
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This Week's Query
What is popularity and does it hurt or help our community?


Notes From Sally

Download Standardized Testing.docx
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterFromtheSchoolNews/Standardized_Testing.docx

Download Minimester Apprenticeships.docx
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterFromtheSchoolNews/Minimester_Apprenticeships.docx

The 5/6 orchestra and the 5th grade chorus will perform their winter
concert on Thursday evening at 7 PM and on Friday afternoon at 2:45
PM (regular assembly time) in the Kogod Arts Center. Call times and
other information for parents may be found below under Instrumental
Music Notes. Students should plan to wear their "blacks and whites"
for both programs. In addition, the orchestra will be performing at
the Lower School for the assembly this Friday morning, and the chorus
will perform there next Friday morning (1/25.) If you have any
questions, please contact Michael Henderson or Caroline Holtz.??


Fifth graders will complete their time in vocal music class this
Friday, and sixth graders will begin vocal music next Tuesday. Eighth
graders will also change their arts classes beginning next Tuesday.
Reports from these first semester arts classes will be available in a
couple of weeks; be on the lookout for a newsflash notifying parents
that they have been posted in Educator.


First trimester reports with attendance data (missing in the original
posting) have been posted in Educator.


Middle School students will be taking standardized tests during the
first two weeks of February. Full details may be found in the
attached letter. Please read this information carefully so that you
will know what to expect.??


Attention sixth grade parents: Sixth grade teachers will begin to use
the interim system to check in with you about student performance.
This is the system used by 7/8 teachers. When a student receives an
interim, you will get an email notifying you that it has been posted
in Educator Online.??


"Conversations with Sally" by grade level will begin on Wednesday
morning, January 30th with 5th grade parents. Meetings for other
grade levels follow on subsequent Wednesday mornings. This year the
theme will be "What's New on My Bookshelf?" and I will spend a few
minutes presenting information from some new parenting books that I
have been reading. Time is also available during the session for
informal conversation. I hope to see you there!??


The full Minimester catalogue will be available to students in a
couple of weeks. In the meantime, please see the attached letter for
information about the Apprenticeship program.??


We are looking for homestay hosts. The Middle School has had a
long-standing relationship with a Friends School in York, England,
and they will be visiting Washington April 4-11. If you can host a
student for that week, including planning some fun activities over
the weekend, please let me know. On school days, the students will
come in with their host families and will be engaged in activities
here at school and in the city with their group, so host families are
responsible only for the evenings and the weekend.??


Grandparents' Day is coming in May! Save the Date cards will be going
out soon. Contact the office of Institutional Advancement to be sure
they have address information for all grandparents who are interested
in attending.??


Tomorrow will be fifth grade teacher Jamie Lauth's last day as she
begins her maternity leave. We'll pass along the news once the baby
comes, and we welcome Kelly Bergeron, who will be stepping in for her
for the rest of the year. Kelly has a Sidwell email,
bergeronk@sidwell.edu, and she will use Jamie's phone extension.??


Congratulations to our grade-level winners of the National Geographic
Geography Bee! 5th grade: Oliver Heggli-Nonay, 6th grade: Alex Wang,
7th grade: Isabel Kirsch, and 8th grade: Nikhil Haksar. These four
students will compete in the Middle School Finals scheduled for
Friday, 1/25.


Auditions TODAY for "Mulan"

Download MULAN fact sheet 2013.pdf
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterFromtheSchoolNews/MULAN_fact_sheet_2013.pdf
Attention 7/8 grade students:

AUDITIONS for the MS musical "Disney's Mulan, Jr." will be held
TODAY, Tuesday, January 15 from 2:30 - 5:30 pm in the MS Drama
Studio. Students must complete the Audition form and have their
advisor sign the audition permission slip - located on the MS Drama
call board. See the attached AUDITION FACT sheet for more
information.


We are also looking for stage-hands and technicians. Those students
are asked to let Tim Reagan, MS Drama teacher, know they are
interested in this opportunity.


A little about MULAN, Jr.:


Travel back to the legendary, story-telling days of ancient China
with this action-packed stage adaptation of DISNEY'S MULAN JR. The
Huns have invaded, and it is up to the misfit Mulan and her
mischievous sidekick Mushu to save the Emperor! DISNEY'S MULAN JR is
a heartwarming celebration of culture, honor and a fighting spirit.
The score includes favorites like "Reflection," "Honor to Us All" and
"I'll Make a Man Out of You" as well as new songs that will get
audiences up on its feet!


Instrumental Music Notes
AUDITIONS for all instrumental ensembles (Jazz/Rock Band, Mulan Pit
Band, Concert Bands, String Ensembles) grades 5 - 8 during Wednesday
rehearsal period in Room 101. Students will be asked to play a scale,
read a short melodic passage, and play something prepared.
Intonation, rhythmic accuracy and phrasing are what we are looking
for most.


5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir Tuesday 2:30 - 5 Arts Center
(refreshments provided)


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


5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir CONCERT Thursday 7 pm CALL
TIME 5:40 pm


5/6 Full Orchestra and Handchime Choir CONCERT Friday 2:30 CALL TIME
1:20


7/8 Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble and Handbell


Choir leave from parking garage Friday morning at 8 am sharp to
travel to the Lower School to perform. If you are meeting us there
please give a note from your parents to Mr. Henderson by the end of
school on Thursday.


News from the Nurse

Download 6th grade wellness HGD letter.pdf
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterFromtheSchoolNews/6th_grade_wellness__HGD_letter.pdf
Please read the attached document for information about 6th Grade Human
Growth and Development instruction.


Math Meet on January 30th
Attention 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents: The second math meet of the
year will take place on Wednesday, January 30th, at St. Patrick's
Episcopal Day School. At the meet, students will complete six fun and
challenging problems along side other middle school students from
area independent schools. An after school snack is provided at the
meet. We will leave Sidwell Friends around 2:15 pm, and return to the
Sidwell Friends garage at 4:15 pm. This a wonderful way for students
to share an experience outside of school with other math enthusiasts
their age. In order to attend, students need to sign up with their
math teacher. They also need to have a math meet permission form
(provided by their math teacher) signed and turned in to their
teacher if they haven't already turned one in this year.


PA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Board of Trustees Invitation: Community and Quaker Life Committee
As a vital step in the Sidwell Friends School Long Range Priorities
implementation planning, you are invited to a Special Session of the
Board of Trustees (Community and Quaker Life Committee) hosted by the
Parents Association concerning the role of Quakerism in the life of
the school:


The Quaker Audit


The SFS Board perceives a powerful consensus within the community for
preserving, renewing, and extending Sidwell Friends' identity as a
Friends school in the coming decades. How is Quakerism manifest in
the life and program of the school?


And


The Quaker Conversation


The opening of the Robert L. Smith Meeting House at Sidwell Friends
School at the center of the Wisconsin Avenue campus offers an
unparalleled opportunity to deepen our students' spiritual experience
on campus while convening a greater conversation within the broader
community. What kinds of events might illuminate this Quaker
Conversation?


Please mark your calendars and join us for one or both of two
meetings: Wednesday January 16th in the Robert L. Smith meeting house
and Thursday January 24th in the Lower School meeting house to
discuss these two topics.


6:30 Light supper


7:00 Introduction to Quakerism by Tom Farquhar


7:30 Tom and PA QLC and members of the Board CQLC lead small group
discussions


9:00 Adjourn


If you plan to attend please RSVP to Kathi Webb so we can ensure we
have enough food for supper -- if you decide to come at the last
minute that is fine too; please don't let the lack of a RSVP deter
you from participating!


OTHER NEWS
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Quaker Quotes
President Lincoln seemed particularly comforted by Quakers. Lincoln
aide William Stoddard wrote: "Either his ancestors or some near
relatives of his had been Quakers, and he always manifested great
respect for and interest in that highly respectable religious
community. I always thought, however, that his strong sense of the
humorous and appreciation of the quaint and odd, had more than a
little to do with this partiality. It would seem too, that the
Quakers, as a rule, have an unusually large amount of quiet humor of
their own; and it may be, moreover, that he had not entirely rid
himself of the old popular delusion that the Quakers are more
inclined to be honest than other men."


As President, Mr. Lincoln clearly valued the faith and prayers of
others. Mr. Lincoln wrote two Iowa Quakers at the beginning of 1863:
"It is most cheering and encouraging for me to know that in the
efforts which I have made and am making for the restoration of a
righteous peace to our country, I am upheld and sustained by the good
wishes and prayers of God's people. No one is more deeply than myself
aware that without His favor our highest wisdom is but foolishness
and that our most strenuous efforts would avail nothing in the shadow
of His displeasure. I am conscious of no desire for my country's
welfare, that is not in consonance with His will, and of no plan upon
which we may not ask His blessing. It seems to me that if there be
one subject upon which all good men may unitedly agree, it is
imploring the gracious favor of the God of Nations upon the struggles
our people are making for the preservation of their precious
birthright of civil and religious liberty."


from Abraham Lincoln's Classroom


"Quaker Quotes" is a weekly submission by Melissa Belman, Holly Moore
and Cynthia Richie Terrell. We welcome your thoughts.


ARTRAGEOUS 2013 is coming on January 27th!
COME ONE, COME ALL! ART CAN! ARTRAGEOUS 2013 is almost here!! The
ONE AND ONLY all-free, all-school, all-age Arts Festival Sunday
January 27, 1-4pm. Location: Kogod Arts Center, Upper School Campus
We're still looking for:


PERFORMERS: Email Roberta Gasbarre to reserve your slot.


VOLUNTEERS needed starting at 10 am for set-up and throughout the
day. Interested? Please email Dana Lucas. It's a great way to
participate in the school community.


UGLY TIES! Clean out your closet and donate your gaudy garish ties to
ARTRAGEOUS! The Refashionista Station will transform them into
something fabulous.


BIG BOXES! We need boxes and cardboard tubes to make the biggest
cardboard city ever. Boxopolis is Back! Please drop-off in US and MS
office.


CANNED FOOD for Can City! We are asking for canned food donations to
be placed in boxes at entry of school buildings from today until
January 25. They will be used for a construction on the day of the
event and then will be donated to the community.


Wondering what happened last year at Artrageous 2012? Check out the
following short clip of Arts in Bloom.


WHAT'S IN THE CAN FOR THIS YEAR?

Art Canstruction - Assemble a city out of cans. All cans to be
donated to the community.


Refashionista - Recycle old clothing saved from the can into fabulous
new creations.


Can Bots - Build Robot Sculptures out of cans, wire, and beads.


Print Making - Discover your inner Pop Artist making prints with LS
Art Teacher, Sabreena Ahmed.


Community Mural - Create a Collective Work of Wall Art to music with
Artist Cherif Mamadou.


iCan iPad Animation/ Canimation - Animate a stop-action film on an
iPad with LS teacher Jenny Voorhees.


Clay Studio - Sculpt clay with US teacher Hunt Prothro and MS teacher
Rick Honn.


Boxopolis - Construct a corru-gated community. Boxopolis is back,
bigger and better than ever!


Support Sidwell Girls' Rowing
Sidwell Friends Rowing asks you to fulfill those New Year's
Resolutions about health and getting in shape while supporting the
team! This popular club sport for girls in the Upper School relies
entirely on fund-raising to keep operating. Our major fundraiser, the
National Capital Erg Invitational, is coming up soon on February 10,
2013. To make this a success, we need YOU to help buy the ergs
(rowing machines) that are used at this event. To reserve your erg,
email NatlCapErg@gmail.com or visit www.NationalCapitalErg.org. And
sign up for an event while doing so! Cheers to the team!


Consider purchasing a Concept 2 PM4 Model D Indoor Rower for
$850-saving $240 over list-and having it delivered, assembled, to
your door on February 10, 2013.


Amazon Rainforest Summer Trip is Going!
We've Got Our Core Group! It's Not Too Late to Sign Up!


If you haven't already sent in your registration form and deposit to
Margaret Pennock, please try to do so right away. We can't reserve
air tickets until the deposits have been received. There is room for
additional students. You can sign up any time, but the cost of air
fare is likely to go up. The earlier you sign up, the better. Contact
Margaret Pennock if you would like more information. Dates: June
28-July 7th.


Community Service Corner
Toiletry Collection: Toiletries are urgently needed for a Middle
School Service Day project to benefit our partner organization, A
Wider Circle. A Wider Circle is continuously in need of personal care
items such as soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, lotion,
deodorant and tissues for their clients. Did you and your family
travel over the holidays, do you have some extra travel size or
perhaps you have regular size toiletries at home that you will not be
using? Please consider contributing to the ongoing MS Toiletry
Collection and to our special push for the Middle School Service Day!
A collection basket is in the MS office. Thank you for your help in
this important Community Service Project.


Your Old Cell Phone Can Save a Life: Consider donating your old cell
phone to our partner, Secure the Call. They convert old cell phones
into 911 Emergency Access phones. There is a collection barrel in the
MS lobby.


Questions? Contact MS Community Service Co-Clerks Sara Jane Harris or
Felice Roggen.


Parents Invited to Meeting for Worship
Parents of Middle School students are invited to attend Meeting for
Worship with their child on Thursday, January 31, 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.


MS Newsletter Information

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announcements concerning School or PA events or information related
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Sidwell Friends School
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3825 Wisconsin Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
Tel: (202) 537 8100
Fax: (202) 537 8499
http://www.sidwell.edu/

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