Subject: US Wednesday Letter 02-24-10
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:30:00 -0500

Wednesday - February 24, 2010

		

		

		 

					

								From the School
                                
                                Announcement from the Office of the Academic Dean
Upper School Department Heads presented an overview of course offerings to all current freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at Collection on Monday (2/22).
The 2010-2011 Curriculum Guide will be posted on the Parent and Student Portals on Wednesday, February 24.    We will begin the course selection process through Educator Online on March 4, and students will then have the opportunity to discuss courses and explore the online sign-up process with advisors.  Course selections are due with all signatures (parents and advisors) on April 1.
If you have any questions or concerns, in Mamadou Gueye&rsquo;s absence, please contact Assistant Academic Dean, Min Kim, at [email-masked] Contracts are Due

From the Admissions Office - Re-enrollment contracts are due on Monday, March 1.  Log into the Parent Portal to submit your child&rsquo;s contract online.  Call the Office with any questions at 202-537-8111.
 
Valerie Foster
Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
Sidwell Friends School
BSU Show

The BSU Show for US will be on Thursday, February 25.
The evening BSU show will be on Wednesday, February 24.
 
Thanks,
Rebecca
 
Rebecca Zug
Assistant Principal and Dean of Students
The 6th annual Anindya Dehejia '78 Memorial Lecture
DehejiaLecture.pdfJoin us on Wednesday, February 24 at 3:45 pm  in the Kogod Center, for a lecture by Jeffrey D. Sachs, author of The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University and President and Co-founder of Millennium Promise Alliance.
A reception will follow. Please RSVP by Friday, February 19 to [email-masked] or 202-537-8125 Read More5th Annual Tennis Tournament - Registration Deadline this Friday!
Register by Friday, February 26 and don't miss the chance to get out on the courts for a great evening of round robin, doubles tennis and socializing at the 5th Annual Tennis Tournament in support of student financial aid. Our event co-chairs Shallah Jewel, Sara Jane Harris, and Anne Mazlish would love to see you there. All player levels are welcome and spectators are encouraged.
When: Saturday, March 6, 6-10pm
Where: College Park Tennis Center
Why: Play doubles with new partners, meet fellow tennis enthusiasts in the SFS community and have fun, ALL while raising money for financial aid!
Click here to register and consider becoming a sponsor. Please contact the Events for Student Scholarships office at 202-537-8100 or [email-masked] with your questions.
 Sidwell Friends Participate in INTERSECTIONS
Sidwell Friends students will participate in INTERSECTIONS: A New America Arts Festival at the Atlas Performing Arts Center over the next two weekends. These are multi-disciplinary arts programs that celebrate differences and discover commonalities among artists and audiences of diverse races, ages and cultures.
Sidwell Friends art teacher Anna Tsouhlarakis has worked with the art teacher at Cardozo High School to mount an exhibit, Northwest Convergence, of student work inspired by the notion of &quot;intersections.&rdquo;   Members of the Upper School jazz ensemble will be playing, along with David Merlin Jones, at the Festival closing party.    The Middle School's Vertical Voices Playback Theatre will be performing on Sunday, February 28: Vertical Voices Playback Theatre Intersect: Let Your Life Speak, an interactive performance created by DC&rsquo;s Sidwell Friends School performers probing the festival theme.
Sunday, February 28, 4:30pm
Sprenger Theatre
Tickets: $5 For ages 5+
Visit www.intersectionsdc.org for more information.Dance is a Huge Success for Haiti

On Friday, the Dining Room was rocking and the community joined together to raise much-needed earthquake relief funds for Haiti.  To the music of Rickey Payton, his Urban Nation Hip Hop Choir, Glenn Pearson, and their bands, everyone danced, enjoyed great food, and celebrated coming together as a community for an important cause. 
 
The Help for Haiti Dance was a tremendous intergenerational effort.  Upper School students manned the donation table and decorated, parents provided delicious food, Meriwether-Godsey prepared fruit displays, the US Photography Club donated photographs and artists of all ages made the array of colorful Haitian flags which decorated the walls. Middle School Principal, Sally Selby even provided a cameo singing appearance.
 
To date, the community through the combination of the Help Haiti Dance, 4th grade coin collections, Middle School bake sales and coin collections, and other donations has raised almost $30,000 to help those in Haiti who are in desperate need.  Many thanks to everyone for showing that Sidwell Friends can make a difference.
12th Grade Parents:  End of Year Senior Events Reminders
For Parents of SeniorsPlease be sure to schedule a time for your Mother/Child and Father/Child portraits:  Sunday March 7 or Sunday March 14.  One timeslot for each family, please.  Check online for available time slots.
Any questions, please contact Janet Repka (daughters)  or Sara Jones (sons).
Please send in your three photos of your child.  See attached pdf document for the particulars.  Any questions, please contact Nancy White (daughters) or Leslie Heins (sons).
Mothers, please prepare and practice your 10-12 second message to be recorded at the Portrait sessions on March 7 and 14.  See the attached pdf document for specifics regarding voiceovers.
Dads, please send in your photos for the Dad&rsquo;s Brunch!  Questions?  Kai Rasmussen
Any general questions?  Dawne Collier (daughters) or Shauna Wertheim (sons) Read MorePerformance of "The Importance of Being Earnest"
Reservations are now being accepted for the Upper School production of &ldquo;The Importance of Being Earnest&rdquo; by Oscar Wilde.  This masterpiece is probably the most famous of all comedies.  It revolves wittily around the most ingenious case of &quot;manufactured&quot; mistaken identity ever put into a play.  Many students have enjoyed reading this play as part of the 10th grade English Literature curriculum.  
Performances are Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, March 14 at 2:30 pm.  Ticket prices are $8 for adults, $4 for non-Sidwell Friends students. Sidwell student tickets are free.  Seating is assigned.  To make a reservation, email [email-masked].  Please leave your name, day of performance and number of tickets by category.  Tickets will be held at the door for pick up beginning 30 minutes before the show.  We accept cash or check only.  Reservations can also be made via phone by calling 202-537-8141 ext. 2.  Reservations close Wednesday, March 10 at 4:00 pm.  Same day tickets can also be purchased at the door beginning 30 minutes before the performance.Counseling Corner
 
The Parent Encouragement Program (PEP)* is proud to present Michael Bradley, Ed.D, a well-known psychologist who has counseled adolescents and their parents for more than 30 years.  He is the author of several books including, Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy! Yes, Your Parents Are Crazy! and What To Do When Things Get Crazy With Your Teen . A nationally recognized specialist and noted speaker on adolescent behavior, Dr. Bradley will be speaking on Thursday, March 4 from 7:30-9:30pm at Walter Johnson High School (6400 Rock Spring Dr., Bethesda, MD) about some of the science behind your teen&rsquo;s irrational behaviors and the new, sometimes terrifying world in which teens grow up today.  Dr. Bradley also outlines strategies of how to get through these often challenging years with humor and patience.  This program is a part of PEP&rsquo;s noted parenting author series.
 
There will be a follow up workshop with Dr. Michael Bradley on Friday, March 5 entitled &ldquo;Parenting Today&rsquo;s Teen, Surviving Disrespect, Defiance and Risky Behaviors&rdquo; from 9:30-11:30am at Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD.
 
Tickets are $25.  Sidwell has been given 5 complimentary tickets to this workshop.  If you are interested in attending, please contact Gaby Grebski, US Counselor, at 202-537-8177 [email-masked].  You can also get more information about the speaker at www.PEPparent.org or by calling 301-929-8824 or 703-242-8824.
 
The Parent Encouragement Program (PEP), a local non-profit, has been providing parenting education and support for families since 1982.
Community Service Newsletter
The February 2010 edition of the Upper School Community Service Newsletter is now available on the SFS website.  Use this link to access the Community service webpage.  You will find the newsletter halfway down the page in the middle. This newsletter highlights upcoming and recent community service events taking place at the Upper School.  Please read this month&rsquo;s publication if you would like to learn more, and/or get involved in the community service program at the Upper School.Parent Talk on Stress
The race is on. Kids today are constantly on the move and thinking about what is coming next. With this past faced lifestyle comes a level of stress and anxiety that actually works in opposition to their progress.  Learn how to S.A.V.E. your child (and yourself in the process) from stress and anxiety. On Friday, March 12th from 7:30-8:30am in the Meeting Room, Dr. Vidisha Patel (Sidwell '81) will be talking about what stress looks like for you and your child and ways to alleviate its impact on your lives.
To learn more about Dr. Patel, click &quot;Read more&quot; Read More

								PA Announcements
                                
                                Community Service Project--Thanks
On Sunday, February 21, 10th grade parents and students participated in a community service project in the school cafeteria. We prepared 350 sandwich bags that contained a turkey/cheese sandwich, a banana or an apple, and a granola bar. These were delivered to Martha's Table. We also made 34 potato, ham, and cheese casseroles that were delivered to THRIVE DC.   Most of the food was donated by the parents and we received some food from Whole Foods and the Giant. The food banks were extremely grateful for the donations. We thank the parents and students who participated in the event and the families who donated the food.

								Other News 
                                
                                Swab A Cheek, Save a Life
In conjunction with the BSU Black History performance on Wednesday, February 24, the Swab a Cheek, Save a Life (SACSAL) organization will be holding a bone marrow drive in the foyer of the Arts Center, from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.   Although SACSAL's mission is focused on increasing minority representation in the national bone marrow registry, anyone who wishes to register may do so.  To entrol in the donor registry, no blood test is required; all it takes is a simple swab of the inside of your cheek.   For more information regarding the drive, please see the attached flyer or feel free to contact Donna Joe at [email-masked] or 301-640-6201.  To learn more about SACSAL please visit our website at www.swabacheek.org.Green Tip of the Week
Dry Cleaning: Avoid PERC!  Perchloroethylene is a volatile organic compound or VOC.  PERC is regulated, though not banned by OSHA and EPA, and 85% US drycleaners still use it.   If inhaled, PERC can affect the nervous and respiratory system (usually in occupational settings, but not always) and long-term exposure can damage the liver and kidneys.   Studies link PERC to cancer in lab animals.  PERC also contributes to smog when it reacts with VOCs in the air, all of which acts to damage the stratospheric ozone layer that protects us from the sun&rsquo;s harmful rays.
Here are a few alternatives:
1. You can often hand-wash many dry clean only clothes.
2. &ldquo;Wet&rdquo;dry cleaning is safe and uses controlled amounts of water.
3. A new safe alternative, &ldquo;liquid CO2&rdquo;, converts CO2 to a liquid &amp; carries soap like water.
4. Avoid DF-2000, if possible, it&rsquo;s made from oil and thus, contributes to global warming.
5. Recycle those wire hangers!
Comments, questions to Louise Micallef [email-masked] to this Newsletter
This Upper School Newsletter is produced by parent volunteers on a rotating basis and is published each Wednesday during the school year. Submissions should be emailed to: [email-masked] not later than 2:00 p.m. the day before publication (Tuesday). Your editors would be most grateful if you would include the words &quot;Newsletter Submission,&quot; or the like, and the proposed publish date(s) in the subject line of your email. Unless otherwise specified, entries will appear in one issue (subject to a limit of 3 publish dates per entry). School-related announcements only, please. For more on submitting an announcement for the newsletter, click here.
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: [email-masked].
Diane Shapiro Richer, Sarah Shiffert, and Stefanie Walker, 2009-2010 US Newsletter EditorsUnsubscribing from this Newsletter 
How to Unsubscribe 
If your child has graduated and you wish to have your name removed from the subscription list, send an e-mail to [email-masked] with only the word &quot;UNSUBSCRIBE&quot; in the subject line.
							
						 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. 
						US newsletter submissions should be sent to [email-masked].

					

							
								
									 Calendar

									

												
												
	Tue, Feb 23rd 
		
				Lower School Conference Half -Day 

				

				

		
				Lower School Dismissal at 12:15 PM 

				

				

		
				All School PA Nominating Committee Meeting 
				
				US Library Board Room
				8:00am - 9:30am

				

		
				Fair Share Committee Meeting 
				
				US Library Board Room 
				4:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	
Wed, Feb 24th 
		
				Lower School Conference Day 

				

				

		
				No School--Lower School Only 

				

				

		
				Dehejia Lecture Reception 
				
				MS Drama Studio and MS Foyer
				3:30pm - 7:30pm

				

		
				BSU Celebration Evening Performance 
				
				Mary Ellen Caplin Theater
				7:00pm

				

	
Thu, Feb 25th 
		
				Lower School Conference Half-Day 

				

				

		
				Lower School Dismissal at 12:15 PM 

				

				

	
Fri, Feb 26th 
		
				US: Last Day of Winter PE Classes 

				

				

		
				Arts Guild 
				
				AC Theater
				7:00pm - 9:30pm

				

	
Sat, Feb 27th 
		
				7th Grade Parent Reception 
				
				TBD
				7:30pm

				

	
Mon, Mar 1st 
		
				Senior Project Proposals Due (Individual Projects) 

				

				

		
				US Spring PE Classes Begin 

				

				

	
Tue, Mar 2nd 
		
				8th Grade Curriculum Night 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				7:15pm

				

	
Wed, Mar 3rd 
		
				PA Executive Committee Meeting 
				
				US Crane Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

	
Thu, Mar 4th 
		
				3rd Quarter Ends 

				

				

		
				9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Parents Breakfast with Principal, Assistant Principal/Dean of Students, Academic Dean and Director of College Counseling 
				
				US Dining Room
				7:30am

				

	
Fri, Mar 5th 
		
				No School--Upper and Middle School Only 

				

				

		
				Upper and Middle School Faculty In-Service Day 

				

				

	
Sat, Mar 6th 
		
				Tennis Tournament, IA 
				
				Off Campus

				

				
		
				Sidwell Summer: Coffee with the Kaleidoscope Directors 
				
				Lower School Multipurpose Room 
				9:30am - 11:00am

				

		
				College Counseling GAP Year Fair 
				
				Kenworthy Gym, AC Meeting Room 
				12:00pm - 3:00pm

				

	
Sun, Mar 7th 
		
				Senior Portraits 
				
				Senior Center, US 10/12, Crane Room 
				8:30am - 6:00pm

				

		
				Senior Voice Over recordings 
				
				US Rooms 10, 12
				8:30am - 6:00pm

				

		
				Senior Father/Kids Brunch 
				
				US Dining Room
				11:00am - 2:00pm

				

	
Mon, Mar 8th 
		
				1st Day of Spring PE Classes 

				

				

		
				4th Quarter Begins 

				

				

		
				US PA Reps Meeting 
				
				US Room 102
				4:30pm - 6:00pm

				

	
Thu, Mar 11th 
		
				PA Arts Committee Meeting 
				
				MS Library Classroom
				7:45pm - 9:30pm

				

	
Fri, Mar 12th 
		
				US Parents Meeting 
				
				AC Meeting Room 
				7:30am - 9:00am

				

		
				US Play "The Importance of Being Ernest" 
				
				Mary Ellen Caplin Theater
				8:00pm

				

		
				US Spring Play 

				8:00pm

				

	
Sat, Mar 13th 
		
				SAT Testing 

				8:00am

				

		
				DC Diversity Career Fair 
				
				US Dining Room 
				8:00am - 4:00pm

				

		
				US Play "The Importance of Being Ernest" 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

		
				US Spring Play 

				8:00pm

				

	
Sun, Mar 14th 
		
				Daylight Savings Time Begins 

				

				

		
				Senior Voice Over recordings 
				
				US Rooms 10, 12
				8:30am - 6:00pm

				

		
				Senior Portraits 
				
				US Senior Center, US 10/12, Crane Room 
				9:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				US Play "The Importance of Being Ernest" 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm

				

		
				US Spring Play 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm

				

	
Mon, Mar 15th 
		
				Middle School Minimester 

				
				3/18/2010

				

				Grade 2 Parent Peer Group Meeting 
				
				LS Multipurpose Room
				8:15am - 9:45am

				

											More

									

									Athletics

									

                                                
												
	Wed, Feb 24th 
		
				Winter Soccer - Girls 7/8 - at NCS (indoor) 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys 7/8 A vs. Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Metros 

				4:45pm

				

	
Thu, Feb 25th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Metros 

				4:45pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament at higher seed 

				5:00pm

				

	
Fri, Feb 26th 
		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament at St. Andrew's 

				

				

		
				Wrestling - Varsity vs. National Preps 

				

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity - ISL Tournament at higher seed 

				5:00pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Metros 

				5:00pm

				

	
Sat, Feb 27th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity - ISL Tournament at GDS 

				

				

		
				Wrestling - Varsity vs. National Preps 

				

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Metros 

				8:00am

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - MAC Tournament at St. Andrew's 

				5:00pm

				

	
Sun, Feb 28th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity - ISL Tournament at GDS 

				2:30pm

				

	
Sat, Mar 6th 
		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity - St. Andrew's Playday 

				9:00am

				

	
Tue, Mar 9th 
		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity at Walter Johnson HS 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Walter Johnson HS 

				4:30pm

				

	
Thu, Mar 11th 
		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. St. John's College HS 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity at Riverdale Baptist 

				5:00pm

				

	
Fri, Mar 12th 
		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at The Heights 

				4:00pm

				

	
Sat, Mar 13th 
		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. St. John's College HS 

				1:00pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity at St. Albans 

				2:00pm

				

	
Tue, Mar 16th 
		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Potomac School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at St. John's College HS 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Softball - Varsity vs. Potomac School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Softball - Junior Varsity at Potomac School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity at Potomac School 

				5:15pm

				

                                            More

									

							

				

		

		

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