EMAIL DETAILS

Sunday - September 20, 2015


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU


Announcements


EJC CORNER
IMPORTANT ADMISSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT
TRAFFIC PLANNING ALERT
VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING WITH BRYAN GARMAN AND MARGARET PLANK


Events


"CELEBRATE DC" AUCTION PARTIES AND MORE
NEXT-TO-NEW SALE COLLECTIONS+VOLUNTEERING
RAIS BHUIYAN ON FORGIVENESS & EMPATHY: OCT. 6
GAMETIME! GIRLS' VARSITY SOCCER, CROSS-COUNTRY, SEPT. 25-26


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS


News Around the School


Principal's Letter


MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU
Friends,
This past Wednesday, students on the Honor Committee and Student Government offered presentations to the entire student body about the important work they do for our School community. They encouraged 9th graders to run for the open positions on these committees. Ninth grade elections will take place on September 28. If you have a 9th grader interested in running, please encourage him or her to speak with any member of the Honor Committee, Student Government, or Dean of Students Michael Woods.
Just another reminder that Back-to-School Night takes places this Thursday, September 24. We will begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. in the RLS Meeting Room for introductory remarks before you move into the academic buildings to meet your child’s teachers. You will receive an e-mail with your individualized schedule for the evening. Hard copies of your individualized schedule will also be available that evening.
As some of you may be aware, this year’s Back-to-School Night falls on the same day as Eid al-Adha, an important Muslim holiday. Scheduling Back-to-School Night is always challenging, given the many competing events on the calendar, but we very much regret this conflict with an important religious holiday. We would like to invite families who are observing Eid al-Adha to another opportunity to come to the School to meet with administrators and teachers. We will gladly schedule these meetings for you at a time that is convenient for you. Please contact the executive assistant to the Upper School principal, Brittany Chase, at chaseb@sidwell.edu, who will facilitate scheduling meetings with your child’s teachers.
Warmly,
Mamadou
Mamadou Guèye
Upper School Principal
Upcoming Events:
September 24, 6:30 p.m.: Back-to-School Night, RLS Meeting Room
September 25: Last day to drop a class without WP/WF; last day to request pass/fail
September 25, 7:00 p.m.: Arts Guild
September 26, 8:30-10:30 p.m.: 9th Grade Dance, Dining Room
September 28, 8:00 a.m.: 12th Grade Parent Conversation with College Counseling, Choral Room
October 2-4: One Acts, Rosenberg Theater, Kogod Arts Center
October 5: Senior College Visit Day (No classes for seniors)
October 7, 8:00-8:45 a.m.: 9th Grade Parent Coffee with US Administrators, RLS Meeting Room
October 7, 7:00-9:00 p.m.: College Counseling Program on Financial Aid, RLS Meeting Room
October 8, 7:00-9:00 p.m.: 10th Grade Parent Night with College Counseling, Caplin Theater
October 9, 8:00-8:45 a.m.: 11th Grade Parent Coffee with US Administrators


Announcements


EJC CORNER
In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month, please enjoy a special cartoon highlighting the difference between terms that have sometimes mistakenly been seen as interchangeable. The cartoon is by Terry Blas, a writer/cartoonist.
http://www.vox.com/2015/8/19/9173457/hispanic-latino-comic
Any questions, comments, or suggestions, please e-mail PA EJC Co-Clerks Gretchen Sierra-Zorita and Annette Daley @ PA.USDiversity@sidwell.edu.

IMPORTANT ADMISSIONS ANNOUNCEMENT
If you are a current parent or guardian considering applying a sibling to Sidwell for the 2016/17 school year, the deadline to apply is October 8, 2015. Please log on to the new online application from the admissions page on the website at www.sidwell.edu/admissions/application-materials/index.aspx. Faculty and staff members who are applying a child to Sidwell Friends for the 2016/17 school year are also asked to submit their application by October 8, 2015. Please see the link above to get started.
All parents and guardians will be asked to schedule a parent interview with one of our admissions staff members this year; we will be making those slots available as soon as possible. Please contact the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid at 202-537-8111 or admissions@sidwell.edu with any questions. We’re looking forward to working with you!

TRAFFIC PLANNING ALERT
Pope Francis will be visiting Washington from September 22 through September 24 and will be staying at the Vatican Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue. For planning purposes, please note that the District will close 34th Street NW between Massachusetts Avenue NW and Garfield Street NW from 9:00 a.m. on the 22nd to 4:00 p.m. on the 24th. Sidwell Friends School will maintain its regular schedule during the Papal visit. Traffic will likely be heavier than normal, so please consider allowing extra time for your commute.

VIRTUAL TOWN HALL MEETING WITH BRYAN GARMAN AND MARGARET PLANK
The Sidwell Friends Board of Trustees has signed an agreement to purchase the property of The Washington Home on Upton Street, adjacent to the School’s Wisconsin Avenue campus. The purchase will allow Sidwell Friends to have all students and teachers, PK-12, on a single campus for the first time since 1963 when its Lower School moved to Bethesda. Join Head of School Bryan Garman and Board Clerk Margaret Plank for a Virtual Town Hall Meeting on September 28 at noon EST. Ask a question and share your feedback about the School’s historic opportunity to unite all divisions on one campus when you register here.


Events


"CELEBRATE DC" AUCTION PARTIES AND MORE
We still have several tickets available to purchase for the upcoming Texas Hold 'Em party on Saturday, October 3, hosted at the home of kindergarten parents Natalie Wilensky and Robert Bellinger. There will be plenty of cocktails, food, and fun for all! Cocktails and dinner will begin at 7 p.m. followed by a poker tournament from 8 to 11 p.m. Seats are sold individually, so if your spouse/partner plans to attend (even if it’s just to watch), a ticket must be purchased. The cost is $300 per person. Please contact jacobsonj@sidwell.edu if you wish to purchase tickets.

American Food and Wine Pairing, Texas Hold 'Em, and Progressive Dinners, oh my! Did you sign up to attend a party at last year’s “Celebrate DC” Auction? To view a full listing of these dates, please click here. The list is located on the right column of the web page. Please stay tuned for a message from the party host coming to your e-mail inbox soon.

NEXT-TO-NEW SALE COLLECTIONS+VOLUNTEERING
Sidwell Friends’ popular sale of quality used items is back, and we need your help to make this event more successful than ever! The Next-to-New Sale will be held October 15-17 in Wannan Gym on the Wisconsin Avenue campus. The Sale is part of the Friend to Friend program, and all net proceeds directly benefit student financial aid at Sidwell Friends. All items unfit for sale are recycled. All unsold items benefit local charities.
We are LOW on donations!
There are only 6 more collection days on the Wisconsin Avenue campus! Collections will run through Saturday, Oct. 3, taking place on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00-10:00 a.m. and Saturdays from 9:00-11:00 a.m. Lower School campus pickups will take place on Fridays (weather permitting) from 7:45-8:45 a.m. through October 2. Please meet Melanie Jacobsen outside of Manor House by the handicapped parking area.
Did you know we accept like-new men’s ties, special occasion dresses, tuxedos, and suits? To view a list of acceptable donations, please click here.
For a copy of the donation receipt for tax purposes, please click here.
Local Furniture Pickups
We are grateful to have the help of Next-to-New volunteer drivers to help pick up local furniture donations within 5-10 miles of the School. All furniture donations must be gently used and in “like new” condition. If you are interested in coordinating a pickup, please send photos of the item, dimensions, weight, and location of the item to Jessie Jacobson at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu. We try to honor as many requests as possible, but if we can't, discount pricing for delivery services to the School is available via College Hunks Hauling Junk. Please call John Bates at 301-335-2385 and mention the SFS Next-to-New Sale to receive a 15% discount on their delivery services.
We need MORE volunteers!
There are volunteer jobs for everyone at Next-to-New. We need your help organizing and pricing donations, cashiering, assisting on Charity Day, etc. Whether you have 1 hour of time to give or more, please volunteer! We ask volunteers to sign up by clicking this SignUp Genius link. You can sign up in as many areas that interest you. Please, just show up in Wannan Gym whenever you have time and head to the section that interests you.
Save the dates for the Sale:
Wednesday, October 14, 3:00-8:00 p.m. (SFS Faculty and Staff only)
Thursday, October 15, 9:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (SFS community only)
Friday, October 16, 9:30 a.m.-8:00 p.m. (Open to the public)
Saturday, October 17, 9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (Open to the public)
If you are interested in learning more about the Next-to-New Sale, please contact Jessie Jacobson, director of special events, at jacobsonj@sidwell.edu or at 202-537-8442.

Thanks for your support!

Co-Chairs Melanie Jacobsen and Felice Roggen

RAIS BHUIYAN ON FORGIVENESS & EMPATHY: OCT. 6
On Tuesday, October 6, at 7:00 p.m. in the RLS Meeting Room, Rais Bhuiyan will speak with our community about his work to help individuals around the world forgive, reconcile, and embrace the differences among us. Rais left a promising career as a Bangladeshi Air Force pilot to come to the United States as an immigrant with a few friends and a dream to experience the broader world. In the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, Rais was attacked and wounded by Texan Mark Stroman, who killed two other South Asian immigrants in shootings intended to defend his country from Islamic terrorists. Rais’s physical recovery and reunion with his mother led to a spiritual awakening and determination to work in support of forgiveness and cross-cultural understanding. Rais established a foundation, World Without Hate, which gathers testimonies about forgiveness and works with youths in grades 7-12 to develop "empathy ambassadors."
Rais will meet with Upper School students and with 7/8 students during his visit.
Anand Giridharadas ’99 chronicles the story of these two men in his 2014 book, The True American, which raises thought-provoking questions about whether we choose what we become. Rais’s conversation with parents and guardians, sponsored by the Parents Association, will begin at 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m. in the lobby, and child care will be available for SFS families. Please RSVP to Kathi Webb at webbk@sidwell.edu if you plan to attend and if you will use the child care. Grandparents and special friends are welcome to join us for this event. A copy of The True American is in the LS library, the MS office, and the US library if parents or students would like to read it.

GAMETIME! GIRLS' VARSITY SOCCER, CROSS-COUNTRY, SEPT. 25-26
This week’s GAMETIME! features two teams:
* GIrls' varsity soccer plays Maret School at 4:15 p.m. on Friday, September 25. For a roster, check out the SFS Athletics Page for Varsity Girls' Soccer.
* Boys' and girls' cross-country teams compete in the second annual DCXC at Kenilworth Park on Saturday, September 26. Look for the Go Quakers banner and tent on the infield of the track. This event is for students of all ages, but currently our varsity runners are scheduled to race after noon. Make a day of it and check out the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens right next door and the National Arboretum across the Anacostia River. Check the race schedule for more information from the race organizers. GAMETIME! boys' soccer is coming on Tuesday, September 29, at 4:00 p.m. Parents interested in working with the Athletics Committee to promote School spirit should contact Committee Clerks Estee Portnoy and Joy Willing at PA.Athletics@sidwell.edu. GO QUAKERS!


Other


QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS
Quaker Questions alternate with quotes about Quakerism in this newsletter feature. To ask questions about Quaker history or practice or what-have-you—anything you may have wondered about but weren’t sure whom to ask—e-mail our Sidwell Friends Quaker Life Committees’ authors at quakerquestions@sidwell.edu!
TODAY’S QUESTION: Why a QUAKER School? What’s the difference?
The multi-century Quaker tradition of excellence in education arose from the straightforward but dauntingly lofty goal of optimizing each individual’s ability to hear—and speak to—the divine in oneself and others. Achieving that goal, Friends have believed, requires an enlightened mind: deeply cognizant, well informed, compassionate, reflective. It’s an aim that reaches far beyond the scope of much of modern education, whose goal is to empower capable brains: fact-filled, highly functioning, confident in their knowledge, prepared for a chosen career. From a Quaker perspective, those are laudable qualities which Friends should of course also aim to acquire along the road. In themselves, though, they do not encompass the end, not by half— though of course educated, capable brains often tend on their own to develop into enlightened minds, which is wonderful. But in the long tradition of Quaker education, enlightenment has been the goal— enlightenment for scholars and doctors, yes; but also for farmers and machinists and others not apt to attend college. For example, many respected Quaker schools such as Westtown Friends Boarding School included a dairy curriculum and industrial arts facilities until quite recently.
Feel free to reach out to us with comments and questions: Ken Orvis (urfhas@icloud.com) and Cynthia Terrell (ctcabin@gmail.com).


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


Mon, Sep 21st

One Campus - parent meeting with BG

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:45am - 8:30am


Tue, Sep 22nd

One Campus - parent meeting with BG

LS Meeting House
8:00am - 9:00am


Thu, Sep 24th

One Campus - parent maeting with BG

LS Meeting House
5:15pm - 6:15pm


LS Back to School Night - Grades PK, K, 1

LS Gym, LS Multipurpose Room
6:30pm - 8:30pm


US Back to School Night

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
6:30pm - 9:00pm


Fri, Sep 25th

Virtual Town Hall

your computer, its virtual
12:00pm - 1:00pm


GAMETIME! Girls Varsity Soccer v. Maret

Soccer Field
4:00pm - 5:15pm


US Arts Guild

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Sat, Sep 26th

GAMETIME! Cross Country

Kenilworth Park, DC
9:00am - 9:15am


9th Grade Dance

US Dining Room
8:30pm - 10:30pm


Mon, Sep 28th

12th Gr. Parent Coffee with College Counseling

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


One Campus - parents meeting with BG

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:00pm - 8:30pm


Tue, Sep 29th

GAMETIME! Boys Varsity Soccer vs. GDS

Soccer Field
3:45pm - 4:00pm


Thu, Oct 1st

PA Executive Steering Committee Meeting

Rusch Team Room
8:30am - 9:30am


MS Back to School Night

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room, Wannan Gym, US Dining Room, MS
6:00pm - 8:30pm


Fri, Oct 2nd

US One Act Festival

Rosenberg Theater
8:00pm - 10:00pm

Visit this Link


Sat, Oct 3rd

US One Act Festival

Rosenberg Theater
8:00pm - 10:00pm

Visit this Link


Sun, Oct 4th

US One Act Festival

Rosenberg Theater
2:30pm - 4:30pm

Visit this Link


US One Act Festival

Rosenberg Theater
7:30pm - 9:30pm

Visit this Link


Tue, Oct 6th

TWH faculty meeting with BG

LS Meeting House
2:00pm - 4:00pm


GAMETIME! Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Maret

Athletic Center
3:45pm - 4:15pm


PA Speaker Event - Rais Bhuiyan

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Wed, Oct 7th

9th Gr. Parent Coffee with US Administration

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
8:00am - 8:45am


US Financial Aid Meeting

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
7:00pm - 9:00pm


Thu, Oct 8th

10th Gr. Parent Night with College Counseling

Caplin Theater
7:00pm - 9:00pm


More


Athletics


Mon, Sep 21st

Field Hockey - 7/8 vs. Stone Ridge School


2:45pm


Golf - Varsity vs. Maret School


4:00pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School


4:15pm


Field Hockey - Varsity vs. Holton-Arms


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Bullis


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Bullis


4:30pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. JV Maroon @ Bullis


4:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity at St. Andrew's School


5:15pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Holton-Arms


5:30pm


Thu, Sep 24th

Soccer - Boys 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Golf - Varsity vs. Riverdale Baptist


4:00pm


Volleyball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Holton-Arms


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Holton-Arms


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. School Without Walls


4:30pm


Fri, Sep 25th

Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. JV Gray vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill - flin


5:45pm


Sat, Sep 26th

Cross-Country - Boys Varsity vs. DCXC


8:00am


Cross-Country - Girls Varsity vs. DCXC


8:00am


Football - Varsity at Fredericksburg Christian School


2:00pm


Mon, Sep 28th

Soccer - Boys 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Cross-Country - Boys 7/8 at Flint Hill


2:45pm


Cross-Country - Girls 7/8 at Flint Hill


2:45pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 A at Bullis


2:45pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity at Washington International


4:00pm


Golf - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


5:00pm


Volleyball - Varsity at Washington International


5:15pm


Tue, Sep 29th

Golf - Varsity vs. St. James School


3:45pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Field Hockey - Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:00pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. JV Maroon @ GDS


4:00pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


5:30pm


Wed, Sep 30th

Soccer - Boys 7/8 A vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 B at Maret School


2:45pm


Volleyball - 7/8 vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Wilson H.S.


4:15pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:30pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity - JV Maroon @ Washington International School


4:30pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. Flint Hill


4:45pm


Thu, Oct 1st

Soccer - Girls 7/8 A at Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Field Hockey - 7/8 vs. National Cathedral School


2:45pm


Football - 7/8 Lightweight at Bullis


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 - A Team vs. NCS


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 vs. B Team @ NCS


2:45pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity at Stone Ridge School


4:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity at Stone Ridge School


5:30pm


Fri, Oct 2nd

Cross-Country - Boys Varsity vs. Paul Short Run


8:00am


Cross-Country - Girls Varsity vs. Paul Short Run


8:00am


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Washington International


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity at Stone Ridge School


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School


4:00pm


Field Hockey - Varsity at Madeira


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity - JV Gray @ St. Anselm's


4:15pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Madeira


5:30pm


Sat, Oct 3rd

Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. JV Maroon vs. School Without Walls


11:00am


Football - Varsity vs. JP Great


2:30pm


Mon, Oct 5th

Volleyball - 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day


2:30pm


Field Hockey - 7/8 vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 A vs. Potomac School


2:45pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 B at Potomac School


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 - A Team @ Potomac


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 - B Team vs. Potomac


2:45pm


Golf - Varsity vs. Potomac School


3:30pm


Tue, Oct 6th

Golf - Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School


3:30pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Visitation


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation


4:00pm


Volleyball - Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Bullis


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Episcopal High School


4:15pm


Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity at St. James School


4:30pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. JV Gray @ St. James


4:30pm


Field Hockey - Varsity at Bullis


5:30pm


Wed, Oct 7th

Football - 7/8 Lightweight at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. Maret School


2:45pm


Soccer - Girls 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 - A Team @ Bullis


2:45pm


Tennis - Girls 7/8 - B Team vs. Bullis


2:45pm


Field Hockey - Varsity vs. School Without Walls


4:15pm


Thu, Oct 8th

Soccer - Boys 7/8 A at St. Albans


2:30pm


Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. St. Albans


2:30pm


Field Hockey - 7/8 at Bullis


2:45pm


Football - 7/8 Heavyweight vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


2:45pm


Cross-Country - Girls 7/8 at Holton-Arms


2:45pm


Cross-Country - Boys 7/8 at Landon


2:45pm


Volleyball - Junior Varsity at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes


4:30pm


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


5:45pm


Fri, Oct 9th

Volleyball - Junior Varsity at Wilson H.S.


3:30pm


Golf - Varsity vs. Heights


4:00pm


Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Day


4:00pm


Soccer - Girls Varsity at Wilson H.S.


4:00pm


Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School


4:15pm


Field Hockey - Varsity vs. Holy Child


4:15pm


Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity - JV Maroon @ Maret


4:15pm


Football - Varsity at Potomac School


4:30pm


Volleyball - Varsity at Wilson H.S.


4:45pm


Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child


5:30pm


Sat, Oct 10th

Cross-Country - Boys Varsity vs. Glory Days


8:00am


Cross-Country - Girls Varsity vs. Glory Days


8:00am


Golf - Varsity vs. Mercersburg Academy


11:00am


More


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