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Thursday - March 31, 2011


From the School

QUERY
We have so much to learn from our teachers
and from each other. How can we focus our
attention on learning? When is the right time
to talk and socialize?
3YYEARLY HEALTH AND EMERGENCY FORMS
Yearly physical exam appointments should be made as soon as possible. Sidwell Friends School will accept physical exam results beginning from January 2011. All Lower School students must have a physical exam each year. Dental exams are not required. The Sidwell Friends School Physician’s Report, Maryland Immunization Certificate (for new students and those children who have received any immunizations during the past year) and Lower School Transportation Arrangements forms are due July 15, 2011. Go to SFS website, login to parent portal. Find Health Services, Health and Emergency forms – Lower School Forms. Please call or email if you have questions. Barbara Conte, RN 202-537-6992, conteb@sidwell.edu.CLASS PLACEMENT
If you have any comments about your child’s classroom placement for next year please put your thoughts in writing and share them with Rich Lodish by Friday, April 22 (this includes rising 5th graders). However, please feel no obligation to do so as teachers carefully and sensitively look at what is best as each student moves on to another grade. Page 20 of the SFS Handbook for Parents and Students 2010-2011 gives a complete description of the placement process. The Handbook section is as follows:
“The placement of children within available classrooms is the Principal’s responsibility and incorporates the professional judgment of the teachers. At the end of each school year, teachers from adjacent grades spend a great deal of time discussing each child and determining the most suitable placement for the following year. Such factors as individual student needs, interests, temperament and learning styles are balanced with the logistics that make for a cohesive class. The teachers and Principal collectively determine class make-up with an eye toward an effective and diverse mix of student capabilities, achievement, leadership and friendship. If the teachers or Principal receive parent input, it enters into the placement equation, although the final decision rests with the School.”
NEXT MATH CLASS FOR PARENTS -- FRIDAY, APRIL 8
Don't forget, the next math class for parents will be held on Friday, April 8. The class will be held at 7:45 AM in the Math Lab (upstairs in the Manor House). The focus this time will be on fractions and decimals. This class is relevant to parents of students in all grades. During the class, we will discuss how fractions and decimals are taught from PK through 6th grade and what parents can do at home to help their child better understand these important topics. On Friday, May 13, we will be holding our last class of the year. We will send out further information about this class as we get closer. We hope to see you then.

Merry and RainaCURIOUS ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Come and hear about the division from the students. On Thursday evening, April 14, there will be a presentation by a panel of Middle School students about their experiences. This is particularly aimed toward current 4th grade parents, but any Lower School parent is welcome to attend. Join us in the Meeting House at 7:30 PM.


PA Announcements

PARENT EVENT ON APRIL 7: FINDING A BALANCE WITH CLAIRE SHIPMAN
Next Thursday, April 7, 7:30-9 PM, in the LS Meetinghouse, 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). Cost for childcare is $10 per student.REFLECTIONS FROM THE PA DIVERSITY COMITTEE

"We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders." Maya Angelou
We welcome your comments and feedback, as well as your experiences. Email arringtonlp@hotmail.com.QUAKER LIFE COMMITTEE
Meeting for Worship
Quaker Meeting for Worship -- You are always welcome to join your child in the classroom for Meeting for Worship at 1:30 every Tuesday. Please arrive a few minutes early to get situated. On Tuesday, April 5, the following classes will be meeting in the Meeting House instead of the classroom: 1, PK, 4X.
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 Lower School. Contact Brendan Weiss with questions, brendan.m.weiss@gmail.com.BE A SCHOOL 'AMBASSADOR' FOR YOUR COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
What is it? Represent your country of origin at the Spring Festival, Saturday, May 7. We would like to highlight five countries for our World Citizen /World Peace theme. We would like you to display the cultural significance of your country by sharing and displaying items and information representing your country.
What’s Involved? We will provide a table, you should provide: paper currency, LS-friendly information, artifacts, map, authentic food, a game which originates from your country.
We ask that you decorate and station your table on the day of the event (2:00 – 5:00 PM) to be the "Ambassador". We will provide additional volunteer support for you. Additional volunteers needed to assist at the country tables, and to provide support for the Passport and Visa office. Contact arringtonlp@hotmail.com for more information.
COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
WEEKEND VOLUNTEERING FOR FAMILIES IN APRIL
This is the last month to volunteer for A Wider Circle and Martha’s Table. Weekend slots fill quickly.
A Wider Circle

Join SFS families at A Wider Circle in Silver Spring on Sunday, April 3 from 1-3:00 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), First and Third Grade families encouraged. Please RSVP to Sara Jane Harris, sjrharris@comcast.net.
Martha's Table
On Monday, April 11 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, we have 12-15 volunteer slots to work at Martha’s Table making and bagging donated food to feed people who are hungry throughout the city. You can even take a tour through the kitchen where you will see the enormous pot your Wednesday Veggies fill to make the famous Martha’s Table soup! All families welcome (ages 4 and up), Second and Fourth Grade families encouraged. (Families can leave earlier than 12:30 PM if they need to.) Please RSVP by March 28 to Felice Roggen at froggen@mac.com. Please do not sign up unless you can commit to the morning as this will prevent another family from using the slots.
Wondering when your grade is slated to volunteer? Click "Read More" below. Read More


Other News

EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP -- 2011 AUCTION
IMPORTANT DETAILS
Online Auction: April 4-10
Live Auction: Saturday, April 16 at The Andrew Mellow Auditorium
You should have received your invitation in the mail! Please note that seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served basis. Please return your reply cards via mail or fax (202-537-8449) promptly. Auction catalogs will be distributed to families through the youngest child this week. Please remind your students to bring them home. Some highlights of the catalog include Legg Mason tickets, a two-day internship in San Francisco, a Chef’s Table at Grapeseed, a vacation home in Maine, several spa gift certificates, and much more! We have many great things in the Online, Silent and Live Auctions! Please contact events@sidwell.edu if you have any questions regarding the auction.FAIR SHARE CELEBRATES CLASSES REACHING 99 PERCENT PARTICIPATION
Help your class reach 99 percent parent participation in the Fair Share Fund. All classes that reach this milestone will be entered into a drawing for a pizza party lunch. The winning class will be drawn at the SFS Auction on April 16. Visit www.sidwell.edu/support or e-mail your pledge to Elizabeth Souder, Assistant Director of Annual Funds, at soudere@sidwell.edu. Thank you to all those who have already supported the Fair Share Fund earlier this school year!SPRING SPARC
Sign up now as many of the Spring 2011 SPARC workshops are filling! Offerings this season include “We Like to Move It!” with Ms. McCain, Baseball, Soccer, Creative Drama, Chorus, Rollerblading, Chess, and Robotics! Registration for these programs will close on Friday, April 1, so don’t delay! Questions? Call Katelyn at 202-537-8401 or email burcawk@sidwell.edu. The application and workshop descriptions can be found here.CAR WASH -- SUNDAY APRIL 3, TO BENEFIT OUTING CLUB
Bring your car to the Wisconsin Avenue garage on Sunday, April 3, between 11 AM and 4 PM, for the Outing Club Car Wash. Drive on in, and for a reasonable charge, club members will wash your car and you will drive out with a clean car and the satisfaction of having supported the activities of the Upper School's Outing Club. Thanks for your support! Read MoreLS THURSDAY LETTER INFORMATION
How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
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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, Mar 31st

Kx to DC Superior Court


9:15am - 12:20pm


PA Arts Committee Meeting

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


Fri, Apr 1st

4th Grade Fun Concert

LS Multi-Purpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


Sun, Apr 3rd

US Outing Club Car Wash

Wisconsin Ave. Garage
11:00am - 4:00pm


Mon, Apr 4th

Grade 2 to Raku Restaurant


11:00am - 12:30pm


Tue, Apr 5th

PA Executive Committee Meeting

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


Grade 2x to Raku Restaurant


11:00am - 12:30pm


Wed, Apr 6th

Grade 1 to Roosevelt Island


9:00am - 12:30pm


Grade 3 to Claude Moore Farm and the Old Stone House


9:00am - 2:45pm


LS Diversity Committee

LS Meeting Room
5:00pm - 6:00pm


Thu, Apr 7th

1x to Florida Avenue Market


8:45am - 2:30pm


Parent Event: Finding A Balance with Claire Shipman

LS Meeting Room
7:30pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Apr 8th

3y Play

LS Multi-Purpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


Mon, Apr 11th

No School - All School Professional Day


Tue, Apr 12th

Founders Day


Wed, Apr 13th

Grade 3 to Sully Plantation, Colvin Run Mill


8:45am - 2:45pm


Thu, Apr 14th

3y to Old Town Alexandria


8:45am - 2:45pm


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

Nutrition Assembly

LS Multi-Purpose Room
9:00am - 10:00am


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


Grade 4 to Buddhist Temple


9:00am - 11:00am


Grade 4x to A&J Restaurant


10:30am - 12:30pm


Tue, Apr 19th

Passover


Wed, Apr 20th

K CHI Meeting

LS Multiprupose Room
7:30pm - 9:00pm


PK CHI Meeting

LS Quaker Meetinghouse
7:30pm - 9:00pm


More


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