Subject: SFS LS THURSDAY LETTER 3-17-2011
From: "SFS LS Thursday Letter" <[email-masked]>
To: "R. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:30:00 -0400

Thursday - March 17, 2011

		

		

		 

					

								From the School
                                
                                QUERY
We have so much to learn from our teachers
and from each other.  How can we focus our
attention on learning? When is the right time
to talk and socialize?
3YTEAM TWO TO THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM
On Tuesday, March 29, Team Two (Grades 2 and 2x) will celebrate Sakura with a visit to the National Arboretum.  We will tour the ancient Bonsai tree collection and explore A New Year Stone Exhibit: Year of the Rabbit.   This exhibit celebrates the transition from winter to spring that Asian  cultures traditionally consider the beginning of the New Year.  After  the discussions and exhibits, we will have lunch by the Koi pond and  then wrap up our visit by writing beneath the beauty of the Cherry  Blossom trees.  Your child will need a bag lunch and drink for our trip. Please do not send glass containers or containers that need to be returned.  Please make sure to send your child dressed appropriately for the  weather.  We are looking forward to this very special trip and the  enjoyment of the splendor of the season. CURIOUS ABOUT MIDDLE SCHOOL?
Come and hear about the division from the students.  On Thursday evening, April 14, there will be a presentation by a panel of Middle School students about their experiences.  This is particularly aimed toward current 4th grade parents, but any Lower School parent is welcome to attend.  Join us in the Meeting House at 7:30 PM.LOST AND FOUND
Team Two  went through the lost and found box again and thanks to  everyone&rsquo;s support all coats, except for two were labeled.  Hurray!   Now, as warmer spring weather arrives, we need to extend the labeling  effort to sweaters, sweatshirts, fleece, etc.  Also, please encourage  your child to check the table at the end of the lower hall in the Groome  building to retrieve any lost items.  Unclaimed items will be donated  to Martha&rsquo;s Table.  Thank you for helping us help your child become  more responsible.NEW DATES FOR UPCOMING MATH CLASSES FOR PARENTS--NEXT PROGRAM APRIL 8
Due to school closures and conflicting activities and programs, the next math class for parents will be held on Friday April 8.  The class will be held at 7:45 AM in the Math Lab (upstairs in the Manor House).  The focus this time will be on fractions and decimals.  This class is relevant to parents of students in all grades.  During the class, we will discuss how fractions and decimals are taught from PK through 6th grade and what parents can do at home to help their child better understand these important topics. 

On Friday May 6, we will be holding our last class of the year.  We will send out further information about this class as we get closer.

We hope to see you then.
Merry and Raina

								PA Announcements
                                
                                COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER

Service Day Posters
Interested in seeing what the children did on their service day? Come by the Manor House and check out the service day posters.
WEEKEND VOLUNTEERING FOR FAMILIES IN MARCH
This is the last month to volunteer for A Wider Circle and Martha&rsquo;s Table. Weekend slots fill quickly.
A Wider Circle 
Join SFS families at A Wider Circle in Silver Spring on Sunday, April 3 from   1-3:00 PM. Volunteers will help sort children&rsquo;s clothing, household   items, pantry foods and furniture. Your time will greatly benefit AWC&rsquo;s   Neighbor to Neighbor as they help families who are just leaving  shelters  to make a warm, safe, and comfortable home. All families  welcome (ages 4  and up), First and Third Grade families encouraged. Please RSVP to Sara Jane Harris, [email-masked].
Martha's Table
On Monday, April 11 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM, we have  12-15  volunteer slots to work at Martha&rsquo;s Table making and bagging  donated  food to feed people who are hungry throughout the city. You can  even  take a tour through the kitchen where you will see the enormous pot   your Wednesday Veggies fill to make the famous Martha&rsquo;s Table soup! All   families welcome (ages 4 and up), Second and Fourth Grade families encouraged. (Families can leave earlier than 12:30 pm if they need to.)  Please RSVP by March 28th to Felice Roggen at [email-masked].  Please do not sign up unless you can commit to the morning as this will prevent another family from using the slots.
Wondering when your grade is slated to volunteer? Click &quot;Read More&quot; below.
 Read MoreGOING SOON -- TIME TO CHECK THE LOST AND FOUND
On Thursday, March 31, volunteers will clean out the lost and found bin and donate  unclaimed items to Martha's Table. Thanks to our second grade helpers,  labeled clothing will be returned to its owner if possible. Please check  the bin before March 31, and remember to label your child&rsquo;s clothing.REFLECTIONS FROM THE PA DIVERSITY COMITTEE
&quot;It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.&quot; Maya Angelou

 We welcome your comments and feedback, as well as your experiences. Email [email-masked] EVENT: FINDING A BALANCE WITH CLAIRE SHIPMAN
Save the date! April 7, 7:30-9 PM, in the Meetinghouse, Lower School parent Claire Shipman, and author of New York Times bestseller &ldquo;Womenomics&rdquo; will lead a discussion on balancing  the many demands of our very busy lives. Whether you work at home, in an office, as a volunteer or as the principal caregiver in your family, time has become the new commodity, and we all need help figuring out how to hoard it and spend it. Shipman wrote the book with fellow SFS parent Katty Kay, and she will share their research, as well as strategies to help parents navigate their professional and private lives. A Q&amp;A session will follow. To arrange for babysitting, contact Pamela Kurland ([email-masked]) or Rebecca Rippey ([email-masked]).

								Other News 
                                
                                EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP -- 2011 AUCTION

Important Auction Details
Online Auction: April 4-10
Live Auction: Saturday, April 16 at The Andrew Mellon Auditorium
You should have received your invitation in the mail last week!  Please note that seating is limited and on a first-come, first-served  basis. Please return your reply cards via mail or fax (202-537-8449)  promptly. Responses are due by April 1, but it is  likely that we will max out before this date. Auction catalogs will be  distributed to families through the youngest child shortly after spring  break. Read this newsletter and Events for Student Scholarships  emails because we will be featuring some of our most exciting items  leading up to the Auction. We have many great things in the Online,  Silent and Live Auctions! Highlights include a Bonefishing Trip in the  Bahamas, Box Seats to Wicked at the Kennedy Center, Washington Capitals  Tickets, Restaurant Gift Certificates, and more!
Auction Volunteers Needed: We're looking for volunteers to work the 2011 Auction on April 16.   This assignment is unique: people on this committee can enjoy the   evening at the auction and help a great cause. Duties include:   monitoring silent auction tables, closing sections, collecting and   organizing items, handing out invoices, and disbursing items. No   experience required, no meetings beforehand (we'll send instructions by   email and provide training at the start of the evening). You just need   to be ready, willing and available for the duration of the event -- and   you'll have a fun auction experience! Contact Bart Hipple at 301 699   8373, [email-masked].

CAR WASH -- SUNDAY APRIL 3, TO BENEFIT OUTING CLUB
Bring your car to the Wisconsin Avenue garage on Sunday, April 3, between 11 AM and 4 PM, for the Outing Club Car Wash. Drive on in, and for a reasonable charge, club members will wash your car and you will drive out with a clean car and the satisfaction of having supported the activities of the Upper School's Outing Club. Thanks for your support! Read MoreSPRING SPARC SIGN UP NOW
Sign up now for the spring 2011 SPARC program! Workshops this season will include Chess, Robotics, Baseball, Soccer, Drama, Rollerblading, Chorus, We Like to Move It! and more! Sign up early as space is limited in many of these workshops and they are sure to fill. The application can be found on the LS SPARC &amp; Aftercare webpage. Questions? Call Katelyn at 202-547-8401 or email [email-masked]. SPRING BREAK CAMP 2011
School's out so let's have some fun! Join us by the day or for the whole week for AM Soccer, AM/ PM or full day Handwork Day Camp, or AM/PM or full day Spring Break Day Camp! More information can be found in the School Year Camps section of www.sidwell.edu/summer. Sign up by clicking &quot;Apply Now&quot; on any of the Sidwell Summer webpages. Questions? Call 202-537-8401.
LS THURSDAY LETTER INFORMATION
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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].
							
						 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. 
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									 Calendar

									

												
												
	Fri, Mar 18th 
		
				Spring Vacation begins 

				

				

	Mon, Mar 21st 
		
				Spring Break Camp 
				
				Lower School
				9:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				Spring Break Camp Extended Day 
				
				Lower School
				3:00pm - 6:00pm

				

	Tue, Mar 22nd 
		
				Spring Break Camp 
				
				Lower School
				9:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				Spring Break Camp Extended Day 
				
				Lower School
				3:00pm - 6:00pm

				

	Wed, Mar 23rd 
		
				Spring Break Camp 
				
				Lower School
				9:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				Spring Break Camp Extended Day 
				
				Lower School
				3:00pm - 6:00pm

				

	Thu, Mar 24th 
		
				Spring Break Camp 
				
				Lower School
				9:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				Spring Break Camp Extended Day 
				
				Lower School
				3:00pm - 6:00pm

				

	Fri, Mar 25th 
		
				Spring Break Camp 
				
				Lower School
				9:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				Spring Break Camp Extended Day 
				
				Lower School
				3:00pm - 6:00pm

				

	Mon, Mar 28th 
		
				School Reopens 

				

				

	Thu, Mar 31st 
		
				PA Arts Committee Meeting 
				
				US Library Board Room
				7:45pm - 9:30pm

				

	Fri, Apr 1st 
		
				4th Grade Fun Concert 
				
				LS Multi-Purpose Room
				9:00am - 10:00am

				

	Sun, Apr 3rd 
		
				US Outing Club Car Wash 
				
				Wisconsin Ave. Garage
				11:00am - 4:00pm

				

	Wed, Apr 6th 
		
				PA Executive Committee Meeting 
				
				US Crane Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

		
				Grade 3 to Claude Moore Farm and the Old Stone House 

				9:00am - 2:45pm

				

		
				LS Diversity Committee 
				
				LS Meeting Room
				5:00pm - 6:00pm

				

											More

									

						

			

	

	

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