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Tuesday - February 22, 2011


From the School

This Week's Query
If we know that we are supposed to give up materialism, then why is it so hard to do?Notes from Sally
There is no all-school assembly this week. 7th graders will hear a speaker about Quakerism; 8th graders will hear about the 9th grade arts choices.
A reminder of this week's events: Tonight is the program on Digital Citizenship that was postponed because of the bad weather - 7:30 in the Drama Studio.
8th grade parents are invited to tour the Upper School tomorrow morning - meet at 8:15 outside the main office on the arts center end of the building. (There is a second tour next Wednesday - same time, same place.) 7th grade parents - your Conversations with Sally gathering is tomorrow morning.

The second trimester ends this Friday. 7th and 8th graders will have trimester tests this week. Next Friday (March 4th) is a work day for teachers, and reports will be posted before spring vacation.
The winter sports season also ends on Friday, and spring sports begin on Monday.
Please help us make our winter food drive a success! Because in the D.C. Metropolitan Area:
· 1 in 6 people are at risk of hunger
· 1 in 2 children are hungry, that's 200,000!
· 2,300 Senior citizens are served by the Capital Area Food Bank only
· Just 5% of the people served by the Capital Area Food Bank are homeless
· Approximately half have homes but have to choose between food and paying for household utilities like heating
Your son or daughter has a "shopping list" -- feel free to contact me if you would like me to send a copy by email.
Once again, Sidwell Friends as been invited to join other Quaker schools in the region for a special evening at the Air & Space Museum. Family Science Night will take place on Tuesday, March 8 from 6:45-9:00pm. Buses will depart from the Wisconsin Avenue campus at 6:15pm and return by 9:20pm. We have space for 125 people from Sidwell. The program is geared for students in 3rd grade and up and younger children should not attend. Selected museum galleries will be open before the program. The evening includes the IMAX film Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D and a presentation by scientist Jeff Goldstein on the size of the universe and understanding Earth's place in it. Those of you who attended last year know that Dr. Goldstein is a dynamic presenter and makes complex space science accessible to all. If you are interested in attending Family Science Night, send an email to reserve your spot to Sam Francis, LS Science Teacher. (franciss@sidwell.edu <mailto:franciss@sidwell.edu> ). Indicate how many people in your family will be attending and the name and grade level of any Sidwell students. We will be charging a $5 per person fee to cover the cost of the buses with a $15 per family maximum. The Air & Space Museum will not allow individual entry to the museum on that night.
Congratulations to 8th graders Claire Thompson, Mikal Nathani, Shanthi Thillairajah, Gigi Stark, Laura Anderson, and Yasmin Siahpoosh, 7th graders David Hauge and Sammy Singer, and 6th graders Amal Mattoo and Alan Zhang, who led the Sidwell Friends Math Counts team to a 2nd place finish at the DC Math Counts Chapter Competition on February 12th. As a result, they qualified to compete as a team in the state Math Counts competition in March.
Good luck to our grade 4-5 and grade 6-7 Robotics teams who will be competing in the Maryland State Tournament this weekend!Choral Music Notes
Wednesday, February 23rd
Boys Ensemble: 7:25 a.m. AND Rehearsal PeriodInstrumental Music Notes
7/8 String Ensemble: Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101
5/6 String Ensemble: Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101
Aladdin Pit Band: Wednesday 3:45-5:30 Rm 101
Jazz/Rock Band: Thursday 3:45-5:30 Rm 101
Health News
Winter is the season where intestinal viruses (“stomach flu”) are spread. Stomach cramping, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, fever/chills, and muscle aches are among the common symptoms. Most symptoms begin 24 to 48 hours after ingestion of the virus, but can appear as early as 12 hours after exposure. Most people recover within 1 to 2 days. However, persons who have difficulty ingesting enough fluids that they have lost either through vomiting or diarrhea may become dehydrated and could require medical attention. The virus continues to be present up to 2 to 3 weeks after the person is feeling better. Read More


PA Announcements

OMG! IT'S TONIGHT!!!! Navigating Our Kids' Digital Lives: Encouraging Safe & Responsible Online Use, an evening with Stephen Balkam, Feb. 22, 7-9 pm
Please join the MS PA for the Winter General Meeting--we invite you to come learn more about your children’s digital citizenship and the responsibilities and pitfalls they must navigate, including cyberbullying and sexting. Stephen Balkam is the Founder and CEO of the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), an international, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, DC. Mr. Balkam has already hosted sessions for 6th-8th graders, as well as for the faculty so this is your chance to find out what they have learned! Light refreshments at 7pm, the talk begins at 7:30 pm in the MS Drama Room.8th Grade Community Service Hang-Out, Friday, Feb. 25 from 3:20 pm to 5:00 pm
The 8th Grade Community Service Hang-Out is Friday, February 25th from 3:20-5pm in the Upper School cafeteria. This hang-out gives the 8th grade students a chance to thank the many non-administrative and non-teaching staff at Sidwell Friends for their hard work during the year. This includes the tireless efforts of the grounds staff, who among many other tasks, work around the clock on snow days and late openings, clearing the pavements of snow and salting every inch so that we can walk safely to and within the school. It includes kitchen staff, who begin their frenetic pace well before 6am each day, and the folks at Security who are here 24/7.
We strongly encourage 100% participation in this event. Please make every effort for your child to stay on campus and make at least one card for a staff member. All students on campus will be expected to participate. Members in the play should come to the hang-out right after school, get some pizza, make a card and go to choreography by 3:45pm. (Mary Milroy and Tim Reagan approve this activity).
To make this work, we really need volunteers. Please help. Email Abby Nolan directly who is organizing this event. Mcganneynolan@aol.com. Thank you!6th Grade Parent Potluck
Each year the parents from the full grade gather for a fun and informal social event that allows us to connect with families from all the 6th grade classrooms. This year, we will be having a potluck evening on Saturday, February 26 from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the home of Claire and Al Dwoskin. Please RSVP to 6thGradeReps@gmail.com. Read More


Other News

Sidwell Friends School Vertical Voices Playback Theatre performs Let Your Life Speak: A Celebration of Stories
Sidwell Friends School Vertical Voices Playback Theatre performs Let Your Life Speak: A Celebration of Stories, in an interactive performance at the Atlas Performing Arts Center on H St, NE, Washington, DC, Sunday, February 27 at 4:00 p.m. Vertical Voices will perform in tandem with City at Peace, a youth development organization that uses the performing arts to teach and promote cross-cultural understanding and non-violent conflict resolution. More information is available at www.intersectionsdc.org and in the attached documents. Read MoreParent Association Reimbursements: New Rule
Effective March 1, 2011, all Parent Association reimbursements must be submitted within 30 days of the expenditure. Please see the "read more" link to review the summarized procedures and see the “How to Get Things Done” section of the Parents Association portal on the Website for more detailed instructions. Thank you to the myriad of parents who take on these PA volunteer jobs and your willingness to expend your own funds to run these programs. Unfortunately, very delayed reimbursements make it impossible to budget effectively, and we hope that this new procedure will allow us to allocate our PA funds more efficiently. Lynn Sachs and Polly Bomstein, PA Co-Presidents. Read MoreEVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

CALLING ALL TENNIS PLAYERS!
Do you play tennis? Do you like to socialize with other parents? Then this is the event for you! Join the 6th Annual Events for Student Scholarships Tennis Round Robin. Have fun hitting the tennis ball, all while raising money for financial aid. New this year -- we are inviting students to join in on the fun! While you participate in the round robin tournament, your children can practice their swings with local tennis pros. The tournament is Saturday, March 12 from 6-10 PM at the Tennis Center at College Park. This has been a sell-out tournament the past two years. Please click here to register!Alaska Wildlife Odyssey, July 5-17, 2011 for ages 13-17
Once again Sidwell Summer programs heads off to explore Alaska! This two-week trip will explore some of the finest WILD places and see some of the finest WILDLIFE in the world! Alaska is known as the Serengeti of North America for good reason. Our past trips have provided wonderful views of grizzly bears, black bears, moose, wolves, dall sheep, humpback whales, killer whales, Steller’s sea lions, and seabirds galore. We have even seen lynx, mountain goats, and wolverine. Read MoreSidwell Summer Basketball Camp
Is your child having a blast playing Basketball this winter? Keep the spirit alive by signing up for a week of Sidwell Summer Basketball Camp! 5 weeks of camp offered June 13-July 15. Encourage your whole team to come for a week together! Refer a new camper to Sidwell Summer and get 5% off your session! (To get the discount, pay only the deposit when you sign up online and then send a quick email to Karen at mcclellandk@sidwell.edu and she will apply the discounts). Sign up online at www.sidwell.edu/summer. E-mail (summer@sidwell.edu) or call us (202-537-8133) with any questions.Pennies for Patients Collection by Ms Brownlee's Advisory
During February, Ms. Brownlee’s advisory is leading its third annual “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser, a Leukemia and Lymphoma Society program that helps collect important funds for blood cancer patients. Simply by collecting and donating pennies, the research on and patient services for blood cancers increases, and more patients are able to have effective treatment. Last year, students in the DC metropolitan area raised $450,000 to fight blood cancer and provide services for patients and their families. There are collection boxes in the main offices of the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, as well as in Zartman House and the Fox Den. Read More

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, Feb 22nd

PA Athletic Committee Meeting

Athletic Center Meeting Room
7:45am - 9:00am


MS PA Meeting Refreshments

MS Drama Studio
7:00pm - 7:30pm


OMG! Navigating our kids digital lives: Encouraging safe & responsible online use

MS Drama studio
7:30pm - 9:00pm


Wed, Feb 23rd

7th Grade Conservations with Sally

US Dining Room
7:45am


Thu, Feb 24th

8th Grade Parent Social Gathering

Zartman Drawing Room
6:30pm - 8:30pm


Fri, Feb 25th

7th Grade Parent Reception


4:00pm


Sat, Feb 26th

6th Grade Parent Potluck

Off-Campus
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Tue, Mar 1st

LS Conference Half Day, Dismissal at 12:15pm


Wed, Mar 2nd

6th Grade Conservations with Sally

US Dining Room
7:45am


PA Executive Committee Meeting

US Crane Room
8:00am - 9:00am


Thu, Mar 3rd

LS Conference Half Day, Dismissal at 12:15pm


7th Grade Hangout

Wannan Gym
3:30pm - 5:30pm


ERB Workshop for LS Parents

LS Meeting Room
7:30pm


Middle School Parent Speaker

MS Drama Studio
7:30pm - 10:00pm


Fri, Mar 4th

LS Conference Day - No School


US & MS In-Service Day No School


Mon, Mar 7th

MS PA Steering Committee Meeting

MS Library
8:00am


Wed, Mar 9th

National Latin exam

US Dining Room
8:00am - 9:00am


Thu, Mar 10th

MS PE Awards (7/8 Only)

MS Drama Studio
2:30pm - 3:20pm


Fri, Mar 11th

5th Grade Hangout

Wannan Gym
3:30pm - 5:00pm


US Musical Performance of Oliver

AC Theater
8:00pm


Sat, Mar 12th

US Musical Performance of Oliver

AC Theater
8:00pm


Sun, Mar 13th

US Musical Performance of Oliver

AC Theater
2:30pm


Mon, Mar 14th

MS Minimester


PA Athletics Committee Meeting

Athletic Center Meeting Room
7:45am - 8:30am


More


Athletics


Tue, Feb 22nd

Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at Madeira


4:00pm


Basketball - Girls Varsity at Madeira


5:45pm


Basketball - Boys Freshman - Yeshiva


6:30pm


Wed, Feb 23rd

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros


Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Bullis


2:45pm


Wrestling - 7/8 at Bullis


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 B at Bullis


2:45pm


Thu, Feb 24th

Basketball - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament


Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros


Basketball - Girls 7/8 C vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. St. Andrew's School


2:45pm


Fri, Feb 25th

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros


Wrestling - Varsity vs. National Preps


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Tournament


5:00pm


Basketball - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament


5:00pm


Sat, Feb 26th

Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity - Metros


Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity - Metros


Wrestling - Varsity vs. National Preps


Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Tournament


11:00am


Basketball - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament


5:00pm


Sun, Feb 27th

Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Tournament


1:00pm


Sat, Mar 5th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. PlayDay


10:00am


Thu, Mar 10th

Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Annandale HS


4:15pm


Baseball - Varsity at The Heights


4:30pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. The Heights


4:30pm


Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Annandale HS


5:30pm


Fri, Mar 11th

Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Walter Johnson HS


4:00pm


Baseball - Junior Varsity at Riverdale Baptist


4:30pm


Sat, Mar 12th

Baseball - Varsity at St. John's College HS


3:30pm


More


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