EMAIL DETAILS

Tuesday - April 5, 2011


From the School

This Week's Query
How can I determine the difference between appearance and reality?Notes from Sally
Assembly: The Capital Carillon Handbell Choir
Reminder: Next Monday, April 11th, is an all-school Professional Day.
Next Tuesday is Founders Day. We hope that all students will wear their SFS clothing to show their school spirit!
Grade reports from winter season PE will be posted this week.
Invitations for Grandparents Day on May 6th have been mailed. Please remind grandparents to RSVP if they will be attending. Also, parking will be very limited, so please plan to drop them off and pick them up if that is at all possible. Thank you!
Construction is beginning to wind down! Although the circle is still closed to traffic, the front door of Zartman House has now reopened. We will be having Meeting for Worship in the new Meeting Room next Thursday, April 14th!
Just a reminder that the parent Minimester evaluation will be open for another week, and we encourage you to give us your feedback. Here is the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BLR32J2 We have heard that you may not be able to comment on two Minimester programs (if you have two children in Middle School.) I hope that you will feel free to send comments directly to me in that case.
We have some wonderful congratulations to offer this week! Gigi Stark, who competed in the state round of the National Geographic Geography Bee last Friday, placed 4th. Great job, Gigi!
Sixth grade writers have also excelled! Clara Molot is the winner of the Level 1 competition for Letters About Literature in the District of Columbia. Her letter will be judged at the National level and she will be honored at the ceremony on April 30th. In the Folger Library Sonnet Contest, Andy Harris’ untitled sonnet is the winner, and Wyatt Green Williams is the runner-up with “Starting a Fire.” Andy wins a Folger edition complete works of Shakespeare, and Wyatt wins a Folger edition of Shakespeare’s sonnets. They are both invited to read their sonnets at the Shakespeare Birthday Bash on April 17th. These are such wonderful accomplishments!
And a congratulations to Middle School librarian Cynthia Grady who had a column published recently in the journal Language Arts. Cynthia’s book of poetry will also be published next year!From The Nurse
All students entering and attending school in the District of Columbia are required to show documented proof of complete, correctly sequenced immunizations or proof of medical or religious exemption. D.C.’s Department of Health (DOH) recently completed a review of the immunization records of children enrolled in District public and private schools. DOH subsequently provided schools with the names of children who have incomplete or missing immunizations. A number of SFS students have been reported to our Health Services office.
If your child has incomplete or missing immunizations, you will soon receive a notification letter from the SFS Health Office. This letter, provided by the D.C. Immunization Program, will list the immunizations that are due, overdue, or not in compliance with the Recommended Immunization Schedule established by the Centers for Disease Control. These notification letters should serve as a reminder to have your child properly immunized during the upcoming physician appointment required as part of the 2011-12 back-to-school physical assessment.
Please note that the immunization regulations were revised in 2008 to include new immunization requirements. A copy of these new requirements is located on the SFS website under the Health and Emergency Forms link found under the Parent Portal.Instrumental Music Notes
Aladdin Pit Band: Monday 3:45-5:45, Tuesday 2:30-5:30 Arts Center
5/6 Concert Band: Wednesday 2:40-3:15 Rm 101
Knighting Ceremony Handchime Choir: Wednesday 2:40-3:15 Rm 101
7/8 Concert Band: Wednesday 12:55-1:50 Rm 101
Aladdin Pit Band: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday 3:45-5:45 Arts CenterChoral Music Notes
Wednesday, April 6th
Boys Ensemble: 7:25 (Please try to be on time!)
Aladdin coaching during rehearsal period (no Founders Day group)
Friday, April 8th
Girls Ensemble group picture during Break
SFS Middle School Production of Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition!
Bienvenidos a Agrabah, City of Enchantment! The Sidwell Friends Middle School presents Disney's Aladdin Dual Language Edition in the Mary Ellen Caplin Theater on Friday, April 15 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. Admission is Free.
The story begins centuries ago, when the royalty of Agrabah spoke Spanish, and the citizens spoke only English. Communication is impossible without translation - which is controlled by the evil vizier Jafar. When Jazmin, the rebellious princess, and Aladdin, a delinquent street rat, meet in the marketplace, they find something special in one another and work to transcend the barriers between them. With a little magical help from the Genie, a better future is created for Jazmin, Aladdin, and for Agrabah.
Don't miss the show! General information is available at 202/537-8150. April Middle Years
April Middle Years.pdfRead the latest issue of Middle Years, a newsletter for parents of middle schoolers. Read More


PA Announcements

SFS Middle School New Book Fair is Coming!
Mark your calendars and start thinking about all the latest titles you’ve wanted to acquire! The SFS Middle School Book Fair will be held in the MS Library, Monday, April 18, through Friday, April 22, 8:15 am to 4:00 pm. The books for sale this year are new (used book sale was last year), and all varieties and genres will be available. All proceeds benefit the MS Library Fund, and books may also be purchased for the MS Library. Paperbacks generally range from $7 -11 and Hard covers from $15 -20. Payment may be made by cash or check. We’ll see you at the Fair! Colette Chichester and Felix Sanchez, MS At-Large Reps


Other News

From the Quaker Life Committee: Please Support Ramallah Friends School
Each spring, Bethesda Friends Meeting raises funds to support scholarships for Ramallah Friends School, which has been providing Quaker education in the West Bank since 1869 (www.palfriends.org). A Perennial Plant Sale will held on Sunday, April 10 from 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM on the breezeway at the Lower School to support this effort. Please contact Brendan Weiss with questions, brendan.m.weiss@gmail.com.
Strategic Plan Update, May 2, 2011, New Quaker Meetinghouse, Wisconsin Avenue Campus, 7-9 pm
Please join Head of School Tom Farquhar, the All-School Parents Association and the Sidwell Friends Board of Trustees for an update on Sidwell Friends School’s Strategic Plan. The Board of Trustees has been working for over a year in consultation with parents, faculty, alumni and students on developing a strategic plan which will define the education skill sets through year 2024, the expectations for Sidwell Friends faculty as master learners, how the School's Quakerness defines our values and priorities, and the business models that allow us to reach our goals. As this important works approaches its final stages, please come for an update and discussion on these vital and exciting issues. We look forward to seeing you there. RSVPs required to: Adrianne Isaacs at isaacsa@sidwell.edu. Thanks! Polly Bomstein and Lynn Sachs, All School PA Co-Presidents.2011 Online and Live Auction Information
THE ONLINE AUCTION IS OPEN NOW! Be sure to register here and place your bids this week for the online auction! All items close on Sunday, April 10. The online auction offers many great items including restaurant gift certificates, artwork, Nationals tickets, Spa treatments, and more! As an auction donation, Praline Bistro in Bethesda is donating 10% of their proceeds on April 12 to the Events for Student Scholarships program—be sure to stop by!!
The Live Auction will take place on April 16. RSVPs are due by Friday, April 8. Spots are going quickly so be sure to get your RSVP in as soon as possible!
We need your help!!! We are still looking for volunteers to help set-up the day of the auction. Volunteers are needed from 10 to 3, and you can stay as little or as long as you would like. Please email events@sidwell.edu if you are interested. Night-of volunteers are still needed as well. If you are interested, please contact Bart Hipple at 301-699-8373 or barthipple@comcast.net. Thank you!Parent Event: Finding a Balance with Claire Shipman
Save the date! April 7, 7:30-9 PM, in the Meetinghouse, SFS Lower School parent Claire Shipman, and author of New York Times bestseller “Womenomics” will lead a discussion on balancing the many demands of our very busy lives. Whether you work at home, in an office, as a volunteer or as the principal caregiver in your family, time has become the new commodity, and we all need help figuring out how to hoard it and spend it. Shipman wrote the book with fellow SFS parent Katty Kay, and she will share their research, as well as strategies to help parents navigate their professional and private lives. A Q&A session will follow. To arrange for babysitting, contact Pamela Kurland (pamela.kurland@gmail.com) or Rebecca Rippey (rippey@rcn.com).ALASKA WILDLIFE ODYSSEY TRIP-A Wonderful Summer Opportunity for 13-16 year olds
Join us for this one-of-a-kind, summer experience! Final announcement for the Sidwell Summer Programs Alaska trip. (Final deadline April 15 approaching and we have spaces remaining.) This is the greatest wildlife spectacle in North America with whales, sea otters, and sea lions, and also caribou, moose, grizzly bear, and even wolves. And all in a setting of glaciers, vast forests and tundra, and the highest peak in North America. Registration is first come, first serve. Registrations before April 8th guarantee the price of the flight. Later registrations will probably result in a higher flight cost. Please contact Summer Programs (202-537-8133 or summer@sidwell.edu), or Dave Wood and Margaret Pennock with questions or if you would like to register.
Newsletter Information
How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Our automated listserv subscription service is currently down. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter, please send an email to isaacsa@sidwell.edu and indicate whether you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe.
How to Submit an Article
Send submissions to PA.MSNewsletter@sidwell.edu by 2 p.m. Monday. 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. Please 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.
MS newsletter submissions should be sent to PA.MSnewsletter@sidwell.edu.


Calendar


Tue, Apr 5th

PA Executive Committee Meeting

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


Mon, Apr 11th

No School - All School Professional Day


MS Spring Play Rehearsal (Tech)

AC Theater
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Tue, Apr 12th

Founders Day


MS Spring Play Rehearsal (Dress)

AC Theater
2:30pm - 6:00pm


Wed, Apr 13th

MS Spring Play Rehearsal (Final Dress)

AC Theater
3:45pm - 6:00pm


Thu, Apr 14th

MS Spring Play of Aladdin

AC Theater


MS Spring Play Rehearsal

AC Theater
3:30pm - 6:00pm


LS Parents Panel about MS

LS Meeting Room
7:30pm


PA Arts Committee Meeting

US Library Board Room
7:45pm - 9:30pm


Fri, Apr 15th

MS Spring Play Rehearsal

AC Theater
3:30pm - 6:00pm


MS Spring Play of Aladdin

AC Theater
7:30pm


Sat, Apr 16th

Auction

Off Campus


MS Spring Play of Aladdin

AC Theater
1:00pm


Mon, Apr 18th

Passover begins at Sundown


Tue, Apr 19th

Middle School Book Fair

Middle School


Passover


Wed, Apr 20th

Middle School Book Fair

Middle School


Thu, Apr 21st

Middle School Book Fair

Middle School


Fri, Apr 22nd

Middle School Book Fair

Middle School


6th Grade Parents Coffee

Zartman Drawing Room
7:45am - 9:30am


More


Athletics


Mon, Apr 4th

Baseball - Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. St. John's High School


4:30pm


Tue, Apr 5th

Track & Field - Boys Varsity - SFS Invitational


3:30pm


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - SFS Invitational


3:30pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Madeira


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. James School


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at St. James School


4:45pm


Baseball - Varsity at St. James School


4:45pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Madeira


5:30pm


Wed, Apr 6th

Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


4:30pm


Thu, Apr 7th

Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Softball - Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. The Heights


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity - St. Margaret's Episcopal


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity - Ballou HS


5:45pm


Fri, Apr 8th

Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity vs. The Heights


4:00pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Softball - Junior Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:30pm


Baseball - Varsity at Bishop Ireton


5:30pm


Sat, Apr 9th

Crew - Club (Girls) - Baltimore Invitational at Glass Beach


Track & Field - Boys Varsity vs. Woodward Relays


8:30am


Track & Field - Girls Varsity vs. Woodward Relays


8:30am


Mon, Apr 11th

Softball - Junior Varsity vs. Madeira


4:30pm


Tue, Apr 12th

Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:15pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Episcopal High School


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at Flint Hill


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Baseball - Varsity at Flint Hill


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at St. James School


4:45pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at St. Andrew's School


5:30pm


Wed, Apr 13th

Tennis - Boys 7/8 at St. Albans


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at Holy Child


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 A vs. Holy Child


2:45pm


Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Softball - Junior Varsity at Holy Child


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Thu, Apr 14th

Baseball - 7/8 A vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Track & Field - Boys 7/8 - Potomac & NCS


2:45pm


Track & Field - Girls 7/8 - Potomac & NCS


2:45pm


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


4:15pm


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


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at Sandy Spring


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Sandy Spring


4:30pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


4:30pm


Fri, Apr 15th

Softball - Varsity at Flint Hill


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Bishop Ireton


4:15pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. St. Albans


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Albans


4:30pm


Sat, Apr 16th

Crew - Club (Girls) - Episcopal & Holton-Arms at Thompson's Boat Center


Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Viking Invitational (Walt Whitman HS)


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Viking Invitational (Walt Whitman HS)


Baseball - Varsity - Wilson Tournament


9:45am


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at Calverton


12:00pm


Wed, Apr 20th

Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 A at Maret School


2:45pm


Softball - 7/8 B at Maret School


2:45pm


Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. National Cathedral School


4:15pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity at St. James School


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


5:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. National Cathedral School


5:30pm


Thu, Apr 21st

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


2:45pm


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


2:45pm


Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Track & Field - Boys Varsity at Flint Hill


4:00pm


Track & Field - Girls Varsity at Flint Hill


4:00pm


Softball - Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School


4:15pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Landon


4:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Fri, Apr 22nd

Softball - Varsity at Madeira


4:15pm


Sat, Apr 23rd

Crew - Club (Girls) - Crown of Wisconsin Regatta at Thompson's Boat Center


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School


12:00pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School


12:00pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. Potomac School


12:00pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Potomac School


1:00pm


More


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