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Sunday - March 12, 2017


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU


Announcements


SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE THROUGH MARCH
CALLING ALL SENIOR PARENTS
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR 11TH GRADERS
AP EXAM REGISTRATION
COMMUNITY SERVICE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
KID POWER SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY


Events


GAMETIME! SPRING SEASON


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS


News Around the School


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU
Dear Friends,

Last week, I attended the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Annual Conference in Baltimore, along with several colleagues and more than 5,000 educators from around the country. We had the chance to learn from thought leaders in education, including Onaje X.O. Woodbine, author of Black Gods of the Asphalt: Religion, Hip-Hop, and Street Basketball, who delivered a powerful message about the pressures placed on African American collegiate athletes; Susan Cain, author of Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking, who challenged educators to create learning environments that nurture both introverted and extroverted students; Sir Ken Robinson, author of Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education, and research professor and best-selling author Brené Brown, who wrote Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. The two-day conference offered exciting and informative workshops on topics such as creating a culturally competent school, putting our school’s mission at the forefront, gender in the classroom, managing crises effectively, supporting transgender students, and much more. I am eager to bring what I learned back to Sidwell Friends!

This past Monday, 12th graders submitted their senior project proposals, which will now go to committee for approval. The proposals include many different project ideas. Some students will engage in community service, while others will work at an internship or on an individual creative endeavor. The last day of classes for seniors is April 28, which means they will begin their projects May 1. The four-week period offers a wonderful opportunity for them to immerse themselves in something that reflects their individual passions. On the last day of school, seniors will return to campus to share their experiences with the rest of the community. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Emily Thigpen, our senior project coordinator, at thigpene@sidwell.edu.

During Wednesday’s Collection, the student government introduced a new twist to the schoolwide Quaker Games. They organized a trivia contest for the students who haven't yet been eliminated from the games and a scavenger hunt for everyone else. It was a joyful and boisterous afternoon.

Finally, spring sports are now in full swing! I look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming games.

Warmly,

Mamadou
Mamadou Guèye
Upper School Principal
Sidwell Friends School


Announcements


SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE THROUGH MARCH
Please donate school and art supplies to Bright Beginnings, a DC nonprofit that provides programs and care for children in local shelters. Drop your donations off at the box by Shoshanna Sumka’s service learning office (room 222). The Community Action Club will be collecting supplies through March.

Suggested supplies include
*Gift cards to Target, Safeway, Giant, CVS, Rite Aid, etc.
*Paper, including construction paper, newsprint, wrapping paper, tissue paper, notecards, stationery, memo pads, notebooks, greeting cards, magazines for making collages, or Post-it notes
*Art supplies, such as pens, pencils, markers, stickers, or crayons
*Folders and backpacks
*Books about the environment
*Anything similar you can think of!
Questions? Contact Kaylee Simon ’17 at ksimon17@sidwell.edu. Thank you!

CALLING ALL SENIOR PARENTS
The Senior Celebration (one of several social events for the senior class this spring) is the traditional, on-campus, Parents Association-sponsored evening in honor of our almost-graduates, complete with food, fun, and parent-provided entertainment! The event will include silly skits, songs, and slide shows. All parents get to be onstage!
The event will take place on Saturday, June 3, 6:00–9:00 p.m., at the Kogod Arts Center. Please save the date.
Thanks very much to everyone who has volunteered to help so far. The teams have been working to put together a general outline for how the evening might proceed. We invite all senior parents to join us for our second grade-wide meeting on Tuesday, March 14, at 7:00 p.m. in the US choral room. This is your chance to provide input and make sure you agree with where the teams are heading. Don’t miss the opportunity to help make this a memorable celebration for the entire class. And it is not too late to volunteer—we will definitely need more help! Please reach out if you are interested.
Peggy Dotzel and Jackie Roberts
Senior Celebration Chairs
(margaret.dotzel@verizon.net; jroberts3413@gmail.com)

SUMMER INTERNSHIPS FOR 11TH GRADERS
Eleventh graders have received several e-mails about internship opportunities for the upcoming summer. In addition, the Upper School held two optional workshops this past week on resume and cover letter writing. The deadline for these applications is March 15. If students or parents have any questions about these opportunities, they should contact Robbie Gross at grossr@sidwell.edu.

AP EXAM REGISTRATION
Advanced Placement exam registration is now available online. Students who plan to take an AP exam at Sidwell Friends School must register online by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, March 15. The cost per exam is $93. Financial aid may be available for eligible students. Please contact Cory Zimmerman in the college counseling office for more information at zimmermanc@sidwell.edu.
A confirmation will be delivered to the parent’s e-mail address indicated on the page to verify that the registration process was completed.

COMMUNITY SERVICE GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
As you know, juniors must complete a minimum of 60 hours of service for an independent, off-campus organization before the start of senior year in order to graduate. For those who still need to complete this requirement, please arrange a time to meet with Ms. Sumka during a free period to discuss which organizations you might want to work with.
There are also several online resources that may help. One source is the Upper School “How to Get Started” guide. You can also look at this directory of organizations listed by social issue.

The deadline to submit your contract is April 1, 2017.

KID POWER SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
We are excited to announce that, once again, the Kid Power Summer Leadership Academy is accepting applications for students who wish to volunteer as camp counselors this summer.

Sidwell Friends has a longstanding partnership with Kid Power, and many SFS students have spent their summers working at the camp. You can read about the Leadership Academy here.
Volunteering for a minimum of two weeks will complete the community service graduation requirement. However, Kid Power prefers to have the same volunteers throughout the entire summer program so that counselors can form meaningful relationships with campers.
The Leadership Academy will run from June 26 to July 28, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
To apply, please complete these three forms:
1. The Kid Power summer leadership volunteer form
2. The DCPS volunteer clearance letter (if under 18)
3. The Sidwell Friends community engagement contract
Please contact Shoshanna Sumka at sumkas@sidwell.edu if you have any questions.


Events


GAMETIME! SPRING SEASON
Mark your calendars for a jam-packed, sport-filled April at Sidwell Friends. If you would like your team or grade to participate in a special experience, please e-mail the PA Athletics Committee at pa.athletics@sidwell.edu. Fan treats will be available at each event.

Wednesday, April 5, 4:15 p.m.: Boys’ tennis vs. Gonzaga
Wednesday, April 12, 4:00 p.m.: Boys’ and girls’ track and field
Tuesday, April 18, 4:15 p.m.: Softball vs. Maret
Friday, April 21, 4:15 p.m.: Girls’ lacrosse vs. NCS
Tuesday, April 25, 4:00 p.m.: Crew at the Charlie Butt Regatta, Georgetown
Friday, May 5, 4:30 p.m.: Baseball vs. St. Andrews


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
How do Quakers manage to come to a consensus in large groups? It seems so improbable.

Actually, the goal is even more challenging than achieving consensus: Quaker governance requires achieving unity to make a decision, which seems even less probable. As with many questions about how humans manage things, there are several answers.

In the interest of full transparency, let’s start by noting that Quaker business practices can sometimes be slow—and, to the uninitiated, excruciatingly so. Simply put, unity can be hard to achieve, especially on deeply felt issues. There used to be a saying around Philadelphia—“When a few more names die off the facing bench”—that referenced how some changes are apt to occur only at the pace of generational replacement. (When meetings had facing benches, it was the elders who were most likely to sit up there.) Still, change eventually happens.

More practically, unity refers to uniting over a decision, rather than coming to unanimity of thinking or opinion. While there does exist the practice of “standing in the way” of a business proceeding, it’s much more common to see people “stand aside” when they sense that the meeting is settling around a position that’s at odds with how they feel. They may wish to record their contrasting feelings, but by standing aside, they formally and freely give their consent to moving forward—they are not overruled.

A deeper answer is reflected in the very concept of Meeting for Worship on the Occasion of Business, which is how all Quaker business meetings are conceived. The core belief is that there is one best way forward, and that each of us has some insight into it—yet none of us is able to see or understand it completely on our own. Only by deeply, respectfully, and worshipfully questing together can we get close to it.
Quaker quotes alternate with questions about Quakerism in this newsletter feature. To ask a question about Quaker history or practices, e-mail our Sidwell Friends Quaker Life Committees’ authors at quakerquestions@sidwell.edu.


Upper School Weekly E-Newsletter Submissions

How to Submit an Article to the E-Newsletter. Fill out the form at www.sidwell.edu/submit by 12:00 p.m. Thursday.

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 Upper School Weekly E-Newsletter is a forum for communication among parents and is designed to provide announcements concerning school events or information. E-newsletter submissions should be filled out at www.sidwell.edu/submit.


Calendar


Sun, Mar 12th

US Musical - Wet Tech

Caplin Theater
12:00pm - 5:00pm


Mon, Mar 13th

US Musical - Supper & Rehearsal

Kogod Lobby, Caplin Theater
5:00pm - 9:00pm


Tue, Mar 14th

US Musical - Supper & Rehearsal

Kogod Lobby, Caplin Theater
5:00pm - 9:00pm


Senior Celebration Planning Meeting for Parents

Choral Music Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Wed, Mar 15th

US Musical - Supper & Rehearsal

Kogod Lobby, Caplin Theater
5:00pm - 6:00pm


Thu, Mar 16th

9th & 10th Grade Parent Conversations with College Counseling

Choral Music Room
8:00am - 8:45am


US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


US Musical - Supper

Kogod Lobby
5:00pm - 6:00pm


US Musical Dress Rehearsal

Caplin Theater
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Mar 17th

US Musical - Prep & Performance

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 11:00pm


US Musical - "RENT" (School Edition)

Mary Ellen Caplin Theater
8:00pm - 10:00pm

Visit this Link


Sat, Mar 18th

US Musical - Prep & Performance

Caplin Theater + Rosenberg Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
6:00pm - 11:00pm


US Musical - "RENT" (School Edition)

Mary Ellen Caplin Theater
8:00pm - 10:00pm

Visit this Link


Sun, Mar 19th

US Musical - Prep & Performance

Caplin Theater + Theatre Arts Studio
12:00pm - 6:00pm


Parents of Alumni Lunch

Zartman Drawing Room
1:00pm - 2:30pm


US Musical - "RENT" (School Edition)

Mary Ellen Caplin Theater
2:30pm - 4:30pm

Visit this Link


Thu, Mar 23rd

US MFW

RLS Meeting Room
9:35am - 10:20am


Fri, Mar 24th

Spring Break


3/31/2017


Sat, Apr 1st

Spring Break


More


Athletics


Mon, Mar 13th

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity - Scrimmage vs. Choate Rosemary Hall


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at George Mason


6:00pm


Tue, Mar 14th

Baseball - Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


4:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Brookewood


4:30pm


Softball - Varsity vs. George Mason


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Landon


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Landon


4:30pm


Wed, Mar 15th

Track & Field - Boys Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:00pm


Track & Field - Girls Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:00pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Calverton


4:30pm


Thu, Mar 16th

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Pallotti HS


4:30pm


Baseball - Varsity at Riverdale Baptist


4:30pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Bullis


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity at St. Albans


4:30pm


Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. Albans


4:30pm


Fri, Mar 17th

Softball - Varsity at Stone Ridge School


4:15pm


Sat, Mar 18th

Baseball - Varsity at Model Secondary School


11:00am


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


11:00am


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at Bishop Ireton


2:30pm


Mon, Mar 20th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Riverdale Baptist


4:30pm


Tue, Mar 21st

Track & Field - Boys Varsity - SFS Home Meet


3:30pm


Track & Field - Girls Varsity - SFS Home Meet


3:30pm


Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. St. Mary's Ryken


4:00pm


Softball - Varsity vs. Model Secondary School


4:30pm


Wed, Mar 22nd

Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


4:00pm


Baseball - Varsity vs. Bishop Ireton


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Bethesda Chevy Chase HS


5:15pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Bethesda Chevy Chase HS


5:15pm


Thu, Mar 23rd

Softball - Varsity at Edmund Burke


4:15pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Westtown School


4:30pm


Fri, Mar 24th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Bishop Sullivan CHS - Spring Break Trip


Sat, Mar 25th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Norfolk Academy - Spring Break Trip


11:00am


Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Norfolk Collegiate - Spring Break Trip


2:00pm


Sat, Apr 1st

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at Bishop Sullivan CHS


3:00pm


More


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