Subject: SFS MS Tuesday Letter 04-19-2011
From: "SFS MS Tuesday Letter" <[email-masked]>
To: "R. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:30:00 -0400

Tuesday - April 19, 2011

		

		

		 

					

								From the School
                                
                                This Week's Query
What is another way for countries to resolve conflicts without waging war?Notes from Sally
Assembly:  Storyteller Noa Baum
The Middle School Book Fair is this week &ndash; lots of great selections for our students!
A reminder to 6th grade parents about Language Choice Forms for next year, to 7th grade parents about Arts Choice Forms for next year, and to 5th and 6th grade to send placement comments, following the guidelines in the email you received.
We would also like to remind all Middle School parents and 7th and 8th grade students to complete the survey designed to assess the School&rsquo;s climate and culture as it relates to inclusivity and multiculturalism.
8th Grade Parents, please note the panel discussion about the transition to Upper School next Wednesday night, April 27th, at 7:30 PM in the Drama Studio.
Our Peace Speaker this year was Fozia Naseer from the Central Asia Institute.  We are aware of the report that aired on 60 Minutes on Sunday night about Greg Mortenson and his organization, but arrangements had been made and we felt that Ms. Naseer&rsquo;s story was a compelling one in its own right.  The students received her with enthusiasm at yesterday&rsquo;s assembly, and we are using other contacts to determine a possible spring fundraising effort that might continue the important work of encouraging schools that welcome girls in particular in this part of the world.
This past Friday approximately &frac14; of the middle school students participated in Day of Silence.  Founded in 1996 by students at the University of Virginia, Day of Silence is a day in which students across the country take some form of a vow of silence to bring attention to the silencing effect of anti-LGBT bullying, harassment, and derogatory language in schools.
Congratulations to the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade mathletes who represented Sidwell Friends at the final math meet of the year on Monday April 11th  at Norwood School.  (And thanks for coming in to compete on the Professional Day!)  7th graders David Hauge and Max Albert, and 8th graders Gigi Stark, Yasmin Siahpoosh, and Claire Thompson all had perfect scores and helped Sidwell Friends to win the entire meet soundly by achieving the highest possible team score.  Great job!
Congratulations to the cast, crew, and directors of Aladdin &ndash; what a terrific show!Instrumental Music Notes
5/6 String Ensemble: Wednesday 2:40-3:15 Rm 101
7/8 String Ensemble: Wednesday 12:55-1:50 Rm 101
Jazz/Rock Band: Thursday 3:45-5:15 Rm 101Choral Music Notes
7/8 Chorus Rehearsals This Week
Monday, April 18th
Girls Ensemble: 3:45 to 5:00 pm
Tuesday, April 19th
Boys Ensemble: 2:30-4:00 pm
Wednesday, April 20th
Boys Ensemble: 7:25 am
Girls Ensemble: During rehearsal period Survey Reminder
AIM_letter.docxLast week, Tom Farquhar, Head of School, sent out a request asking you to participate in a confidential online survey that is designed to help assess the School&rsquo;s climate and culture as it relates to inclusivity and multiculturalism. This is a reminder to please complete the survey by Friday, April 22, 2011. Parent participation is essential to the outcome of the survey. Students in grades 7 and 8 will be taking the survey at school during their advisory time.
Please go to http://www.insightlink.net/aim-sidwell/to complete the survey. For more information on the survey, please read Tom&rsquo;s letter to the community attached to the newsletter. Read More

								PA Announcements
                                
                                Middle School New Book Fair is Here!
The Sidwell Friends MS Book Fair is underway in the MS Library!  Come and grab all the latest titles that you&rsquo;ve wanted to acquire!  The Fair will continue through Friday, April 22nd, operating from 8:15am to 4:00pm daily.  The books for sale this year are new (used book sale was last year), and all varieties and genres are available.  All proceeds benefit the MS Library Fund, and books may also be purchased for the MS Library.  Paperbacks generally range from $7 -11 and Hard covers from $15 -20.  Payment by cash or check, please.  We&rsquo;ll see you at the Fair!  Colette Chichester and Felix Sanchez, MS At-Large RepsSFS 6th Grade Parents Coffee--Friday,  April 22nd from 7:74 -9:30 am
You can forget about fixing that pot of coffee this Friday morning! Parents of 6th grade students will be gathering for a &ldquo;coffee&rdquo; right after drop-off and just before you head out to begin the rest of your day. Please join other parents in the Zartman House Drawing Room from 7:45am to 9:30am. This is a great opportunity to touch base and connect with other parents. Light refreshments will be served.Attention SFS 8th Grade Parents--Mark Your Calendars for April 27th, 7:30-9:30pm!
Questions or concerns about courses, sports, extracurricular activities, homework? Please join us for an informal evening of questions and discussion with parents of current SFS 9th graders. A diverse group of 9th grade parents have graciously volunteered to answer questions and provide information about their own experiences as their children made the transition to Upper School. Last year was the first year that parents provided this information (previously it was done by students) and the evening was a great success. Join us for the second annual US-MS Parent Information Exchange, in the MS Drama Studio.SFS 7th Grade Parents Coffee--Friday, April 29th from 7:30-9:30 am
The 7th Grade Parents Coffee will be held on Friday, April 29th from 7:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Sledge Garden. We look forward to seeing you there.

								Other News 
                                
                                6th Grade Student Party - Friday, April 29th
The 6th grade party is scheduled for next week Friday, April 29th.  Students will be gathering in the Lower School Multi-purpose Room from 7:30 to 9:30pm. There will be a DJ playing music inside.  Outside, students will have the opportunity to chat and hang out on the playground.  We&rsquo;ll need help with decorating the multi-purpose room, with refreshments, and we will need a few chaperones from each class. If you can help with snacks, please contact Hillary-Thomas Lake at [email-masked]. If you would like to help decorate, or if you&rsquo;d like to  help chaperone and pour drinks, please contact Claire Dwoskin at [email-masked] Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting - Friday, April 29th
While students are at the 6th Grade party, parents will be meeting just steps away. The Parent Peer Group Meeting is scheduled to take place in the SFS Lower School Meetinghouse from 8:00pm to 9:15 pm. The Community Health Initiative sponsors parent peer group meetings in an effort to build community among Sidwell Friends parents. Parent peer group meetings were created to provide an opportunity for parents to discuss non-academic issues of relevance to our children in a safe and intimate environment. They are for parents only and facilitated by parents from the class. The forum is non-judgmental and confidential. Please join us.SFS/Bikes for the World Bicycle Drive, Saturday April 30th, 2011, 10 am - 1 pm.  US Bus Parking Lot
On April 30th, US Community Service is offering SFS families and area residents a chance to donate their used bicycles as part of an effort to reduce waste and provide those in need with a means of personal transport. Through a partnership with Bikes for the World (BfW), the nation's largest bicycle reuse program, you are is invited to drop off your used bicycles (children, youth and adult - no tricycles, please) and cycling-related items. Tapping into a network of overseas non-profit partners, BfW will collect and distribute donated bicycles to impoverished communities around the world. There is a suggested donation of $10 to defray a share of the cost of shipping to overseas charity partners, which recondition the bicycles and distribute them to people who need them.

Volunteers are needed to prep the bikes and load them into BfW vehicles. If you would like to volunteer for this event, please contact David Connell, connelld@sidwell or June Das Gupta, [email-masked] For more information on BfW, please see www.bikesfortheworld.orgCar Wash Sunday, May 1 from 11 am to 2 pm to Benefit the SFS Crew Team!
Clean that winter grime off your car and support the Sidwell Friends Crew team! The annual Spring Carwash is the team's primary fundraiser. Help the team, help yourself, and drive away clean! Sunday, May 1st, from 11 am to 2 pm in the SFS Upper School garage, 3824 Wisconsin Ave., NW.Strategic Plan Update, May 2, 2011, New Quaker Meetinghouse, Wisconsin Avenue Campus 7-9 pm. Light refreshments will be served from 6:30-7
Please join  Head of School Tom Farquhar, the All-School Parents Association and the Sidwell Friends Board of Trustees for an update on Sidwell Friends School&rsquo;s Strategic Plan.  The Board of Trustees has been working for over a year in consultation with parents, faculty, alumni and students on developing a strategic plan that will define the education skill sets through year 2024,  the expectations for Sidwell Friends faculty as master learners, how the School's Quakerness defines our values and priorities, and the business models that allow us to reach our goals.  As this important works approaches its final stages, please come for an  update and discussion on these vital and exciting issues.  RSVPs required to:  Adrianne Isaacs at [email-masked].  We look forward to seeing you there. Polly Bomstein and Lynn Sachs, All School PA Co-PresidentsAlaska Trip
The Alaska Trip is on! There are a few more spaces available. First come first serve. Questions? Contact Dave Wood, Margaret Pennock, or the Summer Programs office. Information and details are available on the Summer Programs website.SFS Summer Opportunities
8 weeks 'til summer?! Less than 60 days 'til break? What are you doing once school is out? Join your friends at Sidwell Summer:
* Voyaging to area water parks, Six Flags, bowling, and outdoor adventures,
* Serving others through Helping Hands; A, B, C's; or Clean Up! Community service workshops
* Kicking, shooting, and acing in our Soccer, Basketball, and Tennis &amp; Golf camps
* Exploring in EStar workshops such as CSI Sidwell, Ace of Cup(Cakes), Blast Off! Physics &amp; Rockets, our own Glee &quot;Show &amp; Tell Choir&quot;, Summer Spa, Technology and more!
Want more information? Contact us at [email-masked] &lt;mailto:[email-masked]&gt;, 202-537-8133, or www.sidwell.edu.summer &lt;http://www.sidwell.edu.summer/&gt;. Start thinking Summer!
SFS MS After Care Information for Next School Year
It's not too early!  Sign up now for the MS After School Program and Shuttle for the 2011-12 SFS School Year - http://www.sidwell.edu/middle_school/after-school-sparc/index.aspx
&lt;http://www.sidwell.edu/middle_school/after-school-sparc/index.aspx&gt;Newsletter Information
How to Subscribe/Unsubscribe
Our automated listserv subscription service is currently down. To subscribe or unsubscribe to the newsletter, please send an email to [email-masked] and indicate whether you would like to subscribe or unsubscribe.
How to Submit an Article 
Send submissions to [email-masked] by 2 p.m. Monday. Please reference &quot;Newsletter Submission&quot; and the publish date(s) in the subject line. Items should be submitted as text in the body of the e-mail. PLEASE do not include any formatting such as indents, bullets, boldface or all-caps. Please keep submissions succinct. If you have a form or flyer to include with your submission, please send it as a PDF attachment to your email. Receipt of your submissions will be confirmed as soon as possible.
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. 
						MS newsletter submissions should be sent to [email-masked].

					

							
								
									 Calendar

									

												
												
	Tue, Apr 19th 
		
				Middle School Book Fair 
				
				Middle School 

				

				
		
				Passover 

				

				

	Wed, Apr 20th 
		
				Middle School Book Fair 
				
				Middle School 

				

				

	Thu, Apr 21st 
		
				Middle School Book Fair 
				
				Middle School 

				

				
		
				Founders Day 

				10:30am - 1:00pm

				

	Fri, Apr 22nd 
		
				Good Friday 

				

				

		
				Middle School Book Fair 
				
				Middle School 

				

				
		
				6th Grade Parents Coffee 
				
				Zartman Drawing Room
				7:45am - 9:30am

				

	Sun, Apr 24th 
		
				Easter 

				

				

	Wed, Apr 27th 
		
				Parent panel on the transition to Upper School 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				7:30pm

				

	Thu, Apr 28th 
		
				US Visual Arts Gallery Opening 
				
				AC Rubenstein Gallery and AC Lobby
				4:30pm - 6:00pm

				

	Fri, Apr 29th 
		
				7th Grade Parents Coffee 
				
				Sledge Garden
				7:30am - 9:30am

				

		
				US Spring Choral Concert 
				
				AC Theater
				7:30pm

				

		
				6th Grade Party  
				
				LS Multipurpose Room
				7:30pm - 9:30pm

				

		
				6th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting 
				
				LS Meeting Room
				8:00pm - 9:15pm

				

	Sat, Apr 30th 
		
				Bikes for the World Bike Drive 
				
				Tennis Courts and Visiting Buses Lot
				10:00am - 1:00pm

				

	Sun, May 1st 
		
				US Instrumental Ensemble Concert 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm - 6:00pm

				

	Mon, May 2nd 
		
				MS PA Steering Committee Meeting 
				
				MS Room 109
				8:05am

				

		
				Board of Trustees with Parents Association 
				
				DC Quaker Meetinghouse, US Rooms 102, 104/106, 108, 110, 112, 120, 126, 128, 130, 234
				7:00pm - 9:30pm

				

	Tue, May 3rd 
		
				Rising 5th Grade Meeting  
				
				MS Drama Studio 
				7:30pm

				

	Wed, May 4th 
		
				PA Executive Committee Meeting 
				
				Athletic Center Meeting Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

	Thu, May 5th 
		
				MS Poetry Night 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				6:00pm - 8:00pm

				

		
				5th Grade Parent Gathering 
				
				Zartman Drawing Room
				6:30pm - 8:30pm

				

	Fri, May 6th 
		
				Middle School Grandparents Day 
				
				DC Quaker Meetinghouse

				

				

	Mon, May 9th 
		
				PA Athletics Committee Meeting 
				
				Athletic Centner Meeting Room
				7:45am - 9:00am

				

		
				Class of 2015 Welcome for Students and Parents 
				
				DC Quaker Meetinghouse
				6:00pm - 7:00pm

				

		
				5th Grade Parents Peer Group Meeting 
				
				MS Library
				7:30pm

				

											More

									

									Athletics

									

                                                
												
	Wed, Apr 20th 
		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 A at Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 B at Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. National Cathedral School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity at St. James School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				5:00pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. National Cathedral School 

				5:30pm

				

	Thu, Apr 21st 
		
				Baseball - 7/8 A at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

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

				2:45pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Landon 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity at Bullis 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Softball - Varsity vs. Episcopal High School 

				4:30pm

				

	Sat, Apr 23rd 
		
				Crew - Club (Girls) - Crown of Wisconsin Regatta at Thompson's Boat Center 

				

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Potomac School 

				12:00pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Potomac School 

				12:00pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity vs. Potomac School 

				12:00pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity at Potomac School 

				1:00pm

				

	Mon, Apr 25th 
		
				Softball - 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Softball - 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 at St. Andrew's School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 B at Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

	Tue, Apr 26th 
		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Maret School 

				3:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Madeira, GDS, Flint Hill & St. Andrew's 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Madeira, GDS, Flint Hill & St. Andrew's 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Softball - Varsity at Holton-Arms 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity at St. Andrew's School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				5:30pm

				

	Wed, Apr 27th 
		
				Track & Field - Boys 7/8 at Bullis 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls 7/8 at Bullis 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 at Landon 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 B vs. Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 B vs. Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 B at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - Junior Varsity vs. Washington Latin 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Wilson H.S. 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Gonzaga High School 

				4:30pm

				

	Thu, Apr 28th 
		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Penn Relays 

				

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A at Stone Ridge School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 A vs. Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. St. James School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity vs. St. James School 

				4:30pm

				

	Fri, Apr 29th 
		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity - Penn Relays 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Penn Relays 

				

				

		
				Softball - Varsity vs. National Cathedral School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at St. James School 

				4:45pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity at St. James School 

				4:45pm

				

	Sat, Apr 30th 
		
				Crew - Club (Girls) - Charlie Butt Regatta at Thompson's Boat Center 

				

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity - NEMA Tournament 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity - Penn Relays 

				

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity at Avalon 

				11:00am

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity at St. Albans 

				12:00pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity at Avalon 

				1:00pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Potomac School 

				1:30pm

				

	Sun, May 1st 
		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity - NEMA Tournament 

				

				

	Mon, May 2nd 
		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 vs. Mater Dei 

				2:30pm

				

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

				2:45pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 A - Brookewood 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:00pm

				

	Tue, May 3rd 
		
				Lacrosse - Boys Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Softball - Varsity at Potomac School 

				5:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School 

				5:30pm

				

	Wed, May 4th 
		
				Softball - 7/8 A vs. Maryland School for the Deaf 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - 7/8 B at St. Albans 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls 7/8 B at Maret School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - Varsity at Holy Child 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:30pm

				

	Thu, May 5th 
		
				Baseball - 7/8 A at Landon 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys 7/8 A at Landon 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys 7/8 at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Boys 7/8 - GDS, NCS & McLean 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls 7/8 - GDS, NCS & McLean 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Softball - Junior Varsity at Stone Ridge School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Junior Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Boys Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Lacrosse - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Visitation 

				5:30pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				5:30pm

				

		
				Baseball - Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				5:30pm

				

	Fri, May 6th 
		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity vs. Draper Invitational 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity vs. Draper Invitational 

				

				

		
				Softball - Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Tennis - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. James School 

				5:00pm

				

	Sat, May 7th 
		
				Track & Field - Boys Varsity vs. Draper Invitational 

				

				

		
				Track & Field - Girls Varsity vs. Draper Invitational 

				

				

		
				Crew - Club (Girls) - Ted Phoenix Regatta at Occoquan 

				

				

                                            More

									

							

				

		

		

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