Subject: SFS MS Tuesday Letter 5-12-15
From: "SFS MS Tuesday Letter" <[email-masked]>
To: "R. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 06:30:16 -0400

Tuesday - May 12, 2015

		

		

		 

					

							
								Principal's Letter

NOTES FROM SALLY 

							
							
								Announcements

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NOTES 
OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH BRYAN GARMAN  
PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WELCOME FAMILIES 
PARENT SURVEY 
PBS AND PLAS END OF YEAR RECEPTION 
REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR PA ACTIVITIES DUE BY JUNE 4 
FRIEND TO FRIEND 
UPPER SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION - GALLERY OPENING AND SPRING PLAY 

							
							
								Other

TIME TO SETTLE UP ACCOUNTS AT THE FOX DEN 
COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER 
QUAKER QUOTE 
MS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION 

							

                            News Around the School

                            
                                
                                US NEWS

                                

                                

                            

								Principal's Letter

NOTES FROM SALLY
This week&rsquo;s query:  How do you continue to work hard when you feel tired or overwhelmed?
Assembly:  8th grade drama scenes.  Parents are welcome!
Are you wondering about the big thermometer in front of the Middle School?  We hope that you will participate in a survey to assess the School&rsquo;s climate as part of our upcoming self-study and reaccreditation process. You can access the anonymous online survey at this link:
Sidwell Friends School - Middle School &mdash; Parent Survey Link http://www.schoolclimate.net?l=e&amp;t=p&amp;v=319&amp;c=1152793
The survey takes about 20 minutes and must be completed in one sitting. For those of you who find yourselves waiting for students before or after School meetings and events, computers are available in each of the division libraries for parent use to complete the survey. Laptops will be available before the May 12 Parents Association meeting for those who come early and would like to take the survey at that time. If you would like more information about the Self-Study or the survey, please contact Clerk Becky Farnum at [email-masked] or 202-537-2451.
Each year we select books to be part of our &ldquo;Big Read&rdquo;, an opportunity to have our entire community of faculty, parents and students read and discuss books about identity and inclusion.  This year, for 5th and 6th grades, we have chosen Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson. This National Book Award-winning work tells the autobiographical story of growing up in the south as an African-American girl in the 1960s and 1970s.  It is a beautiful book written entirely in verse!
For 7th and 8th grade, we have selected The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie.  The author recounts the trials of a Native American teenager, Arnold &ldquo;Junior&rdquo; Spirit, during his first year in high school. The author uses humor to soften the sometimes difficult and emotional story of a loveable, misfit protagonist.
A limited number of copies of these books are available in the library, office and with Ms. Nichols and Ms. Clarkson (and, of course, from the library and book stores as well!)  We hope that everyone will join us in The Big Read.
You may have noticed that we now have some extra help on 37th Street from our Security officers.  We hope that this will improve the traffic flow &ndash; please follow their direction.
It was lovely to see so many grandparents and special friends last Friday for Grandparents Day!
Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to the annual casserole bake for Martha&rsquo;s Table &ndash; we sent 48 casseroles to them.
Also a big thank you to Nina Saaty and Team Land for holding a bake sale to benefit the victims of the earthquake in Nepal.  They raised $250, which will be sent to AmeriCares.
As the year ends, we remind students not to leave their belongings unsecured on the campus!  Too often students leave bookbags or valuable sports or technology items lying about.  We do our best to track them down, but lots of people walk through the campus, and unattended items are vulnerable to theft.

							
								Announcements

INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC NOTES
7/8 Handbell Choir: Tuesday 7:25 a.m.
5/6 All Instrumentalists: Wednesday rehearsal period
7/8 All Instrumentalists: Wednesday rehearsal period
Jazz/Rock Band: Thursday 3:45 &ndash; 5:00 p.m.
7/8 Handbell Choir: Friday 11:00-11:15 a.m.
All 7/8 Instrumentalists: Monday, May 18 3:30-5:30 p.m. Arts Center (snack provided)

OPPORTUNITIES TO MEET WITH BRYAN GARMAN 
All School Parents Association Meeting with Bryan Garman, TODAY, May 12 at 7:30 p.m.
The Parents Association invites all Sidwell Friends parents to a meeting with Bryan Garman on May 12 at 7:30 p.m. in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room. Dessert will be available at 7 p.m. Bryan will update us on a number of topics including the Athletics Task Force, the upcoming all school climate survey and two new all school positions: Director of Equity, Justice and Community and Director of Global Initiatives and Service Learning. Parents Association clerks will also be available to provide information about parents association activities this year and plans for next year. There will be some time for your questions. Child Care will be available, so please contact Kathi Webb ([email-masked]) if you plan to use it.
Virtual Town Hall Meeting: Friday, June 12 at 12 noon
You are invited to a Virtual Town Hall Meeting with Bryan Garman moderated by Doug Thornell &rsquo;95. The Town Hall Meeting will take place on Friday, June 12 at 12:00 noon, and you can submit your questions in advance when you register online.

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP WELCOME FAMILIES
Did you know that 39 new students are coming to Middle School next fall (in addition to the rising 5th graders!)? We need your help welcoming them: new 6th and 7th graders are invited to a Scavenger Hunt and Ice Cream Social from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 31. Current parents and students will show new kids around and answer parents&rsquo; questions. This is a great chance to get to know the new families and enjoy some ice cream with friends. If you can help, please contact Carrington Tarr ([email-masked]) or Allison Leader ([email-masked]), MS Welcoming co-clerks. Thank you!

PARENT SURVEY
We are asking all parents to participate in a survey to assess the School&rsquo;s climate as part of our upcoming self-study and reaccreditation process. You can access the anonymous online survey here. The survey takes about 20 minutes and must be completed in one sitting.
This survey is a critical element of the self-study process, which in turn forms the underpinning of our forthcoming request for reaccreditation by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools (AIMS) and the Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges. The goal is to have 100 percent participation among parents, students, faculty and staff. Thank you for your support.

PBS AND PLAS END OF YEAR RECEPTION
Parents and students from all three divisions are cordially invited to join the Parents of Black Students and the Parents of Latino Students for an end-of-year reception. We will be gathering in the Upper School Dining Room on Thursday, May 28 from 6:00 -8:00 p.m. Graduating seniors will be recognized. In addition, seniors and their parents will share their thoughts about progressing successfully through all the divisions at Sidwell. 
A light dinner will be served and we would like to know how many guests to expect, so the favor of a reply is kindly requested at www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D4AA8A728A31-sidwell2 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Maurice Ross, PBS Co-Clerk at [email-masked] or Lisa Fuentes, PLAS Co-Clerk, [email-masked].

REIMBURSEMENT REQUESTS FOR PA ACTIVITIES DUE BY JUNE 4
Please submit all reimbursement requests for Parents&rsquo; Association activities to the PA mailbox in Zartman by Thursday, June 4 &ndash; the last day of school. Original receipts are required and should be taped (not stapled) to the back of the reimbursement forms. Please email Rebecca Rippey, PA Treasurer, at [email-masked] if you need a copy of the reimbursement form or have any questions. Thank you.

FRIEND TO FRIEND
Tennis Round Robin on Sunday, May 17
The Tennis Round Robin is less than one week away! Co-Chairs Eleni Rossides and Raina Fishbane invite your families to join us on Sunday, May 17 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center (home of the CitiOpen!) for an afternoon of tennis and fun with community members of all ages and skill sets. This is a great opportunity to meet Head Varsity Tennis Coach Octavio Delasobera and many of the top boys and girls varsity players, including Jacob Walker &#39;16 and Caroline Monahan &#39;16, who will be participating in the event. Even if you are not a tennis player, come enjoy the matches, food and fun! Adult tickets cost $50 and student tickets cost $30. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and all proceeds benefit student financial aid. Click here to register today! If you have any questions, please contact Jessie Jacobson, director of special events, at [email-masked] or 202.537.8442.
Auction Prizes Pick-Up by June 1
Still need to pick up your auction prizes? Please visit the Office of Institutional Advancement located on the lower level of Zartman House no later than June 1 to claim your certificates and tangible items. Pickup is available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. Many thanks for your support!

UPPER SCHOOL ART EXHIBITION - GALLERY OPENING AND SPRING PLAY
Come and celebrate the opening of the Upper School Spring Art Exhibition in the Rubenstein Gallery from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15. The show includes work created in the Drawing, Painting, Digital Art, Photography, Ceramic and AP Studio Art classes. The gallery opening will be followed by the Upper School Spring Play, &quot;Harvey,&quot; at 8 p.m. Make it your arts night at Sidwell Friends. Refreshments will be provided. If you would like to help our arts faculty with the installation of the student work, please contact Anna Tsouhlarakis, Studio Art teacher and Director of the Rubenstein Gallery at [email-masked].

							
								Other

TIME TO SETTLE UP ACCOUNTS AT THE FOX DEN
The countdown has now begun to the end of school and &lsquo;zero&rsquo; balances on The Fox Den accounts. Please take a moment to check in with the staff at The Fox Den on the status of your student&rsquo;s account.

- All accounts with negative balances must be settled up prior to the end of the year.
- All accounts with positive balances will be rolled over into the next school year.
Any special team orders that were not paid for (and quite possibly not picked up) during the course of the year have now been charged to those students&rsquo; accounts. Emails will be sent to students with negative balances the first week of May.

Payments may be made over the phone (202.537.8198) with a credit card, or in person via credit card, check or cash.

Please contact Marnee Robinson, The Fox Den manager, with any questions or concerns at [email-masked] or 202.537.8198.

COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
Thanks to everyone who participated in the Martha&#39;s Table casserole bake. We collected 48 yummy dishes!
Upcoming Dates:
May 14: 7/8th Service Day
May 15: 5th Grade Hangout
May 31: AWC Service Club Grand Finale

Many thanks to those fifth and sixth graders (and their parents!) who participated in the service club this year at A Wider Circle. We&#39;ll have a grand finale on Sunday, May 31 at 1 p.m. Please contact Dana Milbank ([email-masked]) with any questions.
Contact MS Community Service Co-clerks Eva Xanthos at [email-masked] or Lisa Arrington at [email-masked] or your Grade Reps for volunteer opportunities.

QUAKER QUOTE
&quot;Traditional Quaker Meeting, as inaugurated in the seventeenth century, has been called an experiment in religious anarchy. Because all authority is vested in all members, all people are equally entitled to speak. Each Meeting is like a gamble with the human spirit, a wager that more will be brought out of the room than was brought in - more depth, more insight, more truth, more knowledge, more growth in each and among all.&quot;
~Robert L Smith, former head of Sidwell Friends School
Quaker Quotations are intended to deepen the understanding of Quakerism in the Sidwell Friends School community. Questions and suggestions may be directed to Cynthia Richie Terrell at [email-masked].

MS NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
How to Submit an Article to Tuesday Letter: Please send submissions, in the body of the email, to [email-masked] by 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Please reference &quot;Newsletter Submission&quot; and the publish date(s) in the subject line. 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, send it as a PDF attachment. Receipt of your submissions will be confirmed as soon as possible. Submissions may not run for more than three weeks.
How to Modify an existing Submission: Please send a redline or otherwise clearly indicate the change to be made in a second email.
School Calendar: Calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the school, not by the Tuesday newsletter editors. Any changes to the school calendar are made through the school scheduling office at [email-masked].

                            
                                
                                US NewsUpper School math teacher speaks about her revolutionary past
Maria Koziebrodzka shares her personal account of growing up in Cold War-era Poland and her role in the resistance.
 Read More"They heard we were coming and quit"
Sidwell Friends was honored to host Tuskegee Airman William Fauntroy.
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 [email-masked].

					

							
								
									 Calendar

									

												
												
	Tue, May 12th 
		
				PA All-School Transition Meeting 
				
				US Dining Room
				6:00pm - 7:30pm

				

		
				PA All School Meeting with Bryan Garman 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Rm
				7:30pm - 9:00pm

				

	Wed, May 13th 
		
				6th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting 
				
				LS Meeting House
				8:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Fri, May 15th 
		
				5th Gr. Hangout 
				
				Wannan Gym and MS Courtyard
				3:30pm - 5:00pm

				

		
				Upper School Art Exhibition - Gallery Opening 
				
				Daryl Reich Rubenstein Gallery
				5:30pm - 7:30pm

				

		
				US SPRING PLAY - "HARVEY" by MARY CHASE 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm - 10:00pm
				
				Visit this Link

				

	Sat, May 16th 
		
				US SPRING PLAY - "HARVEY" by MARY CHASE 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm - 10:00pm
				
				Visit this Link

				

	Sun, May 17th 
		
				US SPRING PLAY - "HARVEY" by MARY CHASE 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm - 4:30pm
				
				Visit this Link

				
		
				Tennis Event 
				
				William H.G. Fitzgerald Tennis Center
				3:00pm - 7:00pm

				

	Wed, May 20th 
		
				7/8 Spring Concert 
				
				AC Theater
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Thu, May 21st 
		
				All MS Meeting for Worship - Parents Invited 
				
				Robert L. Smith Mtg Rm
				8:00am - 8:45am

				

	Mon, May 25th 
		
				Memorial Day - No School 

				

				

	Tue, May 26th 
		
				US Exams - Review Day 

				

				

	Wed, May 27th 
		
				US Exams - Reading Day 

				

				

	Thu, May 28th 
		
				US Exams - Science 
				
				US Dining Rm, US Classrooms
				8:30am - 10:30am

				

		
				5/6 Spring Concert 
				
				AC Theater
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Fri, May 29th 
		
				US Exams - Language 
				
				US Dining Rm, US Classrooms
				8:30am - 10:30am

				

		
				7/8 Dance 
				
				LS Multipurpose Rm
				6:30pm - 10:00pm

				

		
				7th Gr. Parent Peer Group Mtg 
				
				LS Meeting House
				8:00pm - 9:30pm

				

		
				8th Gr. Parent Peer Group Mtg 
				
				LS Library
				8:00pm - 9:30pm

				

	Sun, May 31st 
		
				New 6-8 Grade Student Ice Cream Social/Scavenger Hunt 
				
				Sledge Garden (Wannan Gym in case of rain)
				1:30pm - 3:00pm

				

	Mon, Jun 1st 
		
				US Exams - English 
				
				US Dining Rm, US Classrooms
				8:30am - 10:30am

				

											More

									

									Athletics

									

                                                
												
	Mon, May 11th 
		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity - DCSAA Tournament 5/11 - 5/15  

				
				5/15/2015

				

	Wed, May 13th 
		
				Softball - Varsity - DCSAA State Tournament 

				

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 B vs. Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 A at National Cathedral School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at National Cathedral School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament (higher seed) 

				5:30pm

				

	Thu, May 14th 
		
				Softball - Varsity - DCSAA State Tournament 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls 7/8 - Draper 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys 7/8 - Draper 

				

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 at Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 B at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 - B team vs. Potomac 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity - MAC Tournament Rain Date 

				5:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament Rain Date 

				5:30pm

				

	Fri, May 15th 
		
				Softball - Varsity - DCSAA State Tournament Semi-Finals 

				

				

		
				Crew - Girls vs. Stotesbury Cup Regatta 

				
				5/16/2015

				

	Sat, May 16th 
		
				Softball - Varsity - DCSAA State Tournament Finals 

				

				

		
				Crew - Girls vs. Stotesbury Cup Regatta 

				

				

	Mon, May 18th 
		
				Softball - 7/8 A at Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 B vs. Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 B vs. Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

	Wed, May 20th 
		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity - DCSAA Championship 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity - DCSAA Championships 

				

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 A at Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

	Thu, May 21st 
		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity - DCSAA Championship 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity - DCSAA Championships 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls 7/8 - Middle School Championships  

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys 7/8 - Middle School Championships 

				

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

	Wed, May 27th 
		
				Baseball - Varsity - DCSAA Quarterfinals 

				

				

	Fri, May 29th 
		
				Baseball - Varsity vs. DCSAA Semifinals 

				

				

	Sat, May 30th 
		
				Baseball - Varsity - DCSAA Rain Date 

				

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity - Alumni Game 

				10:00am - 1:00pm

				

	Sun, May 31st 
		
				Baseball - Varsity - DCSAA Championships @ Nationals Stadium 

				11:30am - 11:00am

				

                                            More

									

							

				

		

		

					

					

					

					

					

					

				

		

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