EMAIL DETAILS

To 7th and 8th Grade Parents,

As you may or may not know, some independent schools in the Washington area routinely invite students from other independent schools to attend dances. This frequently happens when a student body is small or when the school is a single-sex institution. Because these events fall outside of the school day, I worked with the Parents Association several years ago to develop the following course of action:

When an invitation is received from another school to attend a dance, we will call the school to confirm the information. We will then publish the invitation in the Tuesday Letter or in a newsflash so that parents are aware that Sidwell has been invited to the event. You as parents should then use your own judgment about whether or not your son or daughter attends the event. There will not be personnel from Sidwell Friends at the event, so you should be certain that you are comfortable with the situation and go over your own family expectations for the event. The first dance to fit this category is one at Norwood School on Friday, November 16th, from 7:30 - 10:00 PM. Admission is $5.00 + a can of food, and all students should bring their SFS ID. They have also requested appropriate dress for the event.

Many schools in the area subscribe to a set of rules developed jointly by a group of Middle School heads in 2000. A list of these rules is included in this email. You should also feel free to call the host school to inquire about their supervision procedures.


Sincerely,


Sally Selby
Middle School Principal


Middle School Dance Guidelines

These standards were established to apply to all AISGW schools:

1. If school A invites school B, the invitation does not extend to friends of the students of school B.

2. Schools may request that invited guests show student IDs or that schools send class lists.

3. Students must leave bookbags, coats, and sports equipment outside the dance.

4. Acceptable behavior for guests includes treating all other guests and all adults with respect as well as identifying themselves and their school as they enter.

5. Behavior not acceptable on the dance floor includes running, slam dancing, and freak dancing.

6. Students will stay at the dance until its conclusion unless picked up by a parent. Once a student leaves, he or she may not return.

7. Parents should arrive promptly at the conclusion of the dance to pick up students.

8. If a guest misbehaves, school officials at his or her school will be notified.


September 2000
AISGW Middle School Heads Steering Committee