Subject: SFS LS Thursday Letter 5-12-11
From: "SFS LS Thursday Letter" <[email-masked]>
To: "R. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 12 May 2011 03:00:00 -0400

Thursday - May 12, 2011

		

		

		 

					

								From the School
                                
                                QUERY
&ldquo;Many new friendships are sprouting this spring, many old ones have blossomed.  How can we plant a friendship that will grow to bring peace to the world?&rdquo;
- Grade 3A MESSAGE FROM CFO MIKE SAXENIAN
Please, while on campus, no idling while waiting.  We value the fresh air.  And, absolutely no cell phone usage while driving.  We have many students but none to spare!NOTE FROM RICH ON RETIRING TEACHERS
As many of you have heard through the grapevine, two of our magnificent teachers are retiring at the end of this school year &ndash; Pam Selden and Christine Fernsler.  Both of these teachers have been at Lower School for over 30 years.  I could fill twenty pages for each of these teachers with accolades for not only their outstanding ability to teach students, but also their care and commitment to the Quaker values of Sidwell Friends.  I will say much more about them in my Summer Letter and at our 4th Grade Graduation.  I will also share information about our three new teachers in my Summer Letter.  Rich Lodish2011-2012 CALENDAR UPDATE
The calendar for the &rsquo;11-&rsquo;12 school year is available. One change has been made, Tuesday, Nov. 29 is now an early dismissal at 12:15 PM for faculty professional development. Please mark your calendars.TIME TO UPDATE HOUSEHOLD INFORMATION
It is time to update household and student information for the 2011-2012 school year. In keeping with Sidwell Friends&rsquo; environmental commitment, this information will be collected online. Information gathered will help our school community provide a safe and supportive learning environment for your child(ren). One parent can update and submit the online form for the entire household. Divorced parents will provide their household information separately. Complete the online form no later than June 1st.  Report cards will be held for returning students until the online form is submitted.  After completing the form, additional changes can be made beginning July 1st. Please be mindful to update household, health and contact information throughout the school year as changes occur. If parents separate during the school year, contact Valerie Foster in Admissions to create a new household.MATH NEWS
Math for Parents
The last math class for parents this year will be on Friday May 13,  It will be held at 7:45 AM in the Math Lab, straight up the stairs in the Manor House.  We will try to have the library open early that morning for childcare.

This last class will be on algebraic reasoning.  While many of us never learned anything about algebra until the end of middle school or even later, our students are being introduced to algebraic thinking from PK on.  Come learn how even the youngest students &quot;do algebra&quot; and how we prepare them for the formal algebra class in middle school.  As part of the class, we will also be demonstrating model drawing techniques from the Singapore Math curriculum,  It should be a great way to end this series.

								PA Announcements
                                
                                JOIN TOM FARQUHAR FOR "CONVERSATIONS ON DIVERSITY"
The conversation continues&hellip; Join the Head of School for a second &ldquo;Conversation on Diversity.&rdquo;  The 2012-2024 Strategic Plan, calls for the school to address issues of different ethnic and cultural groups, to celebrate and promote a community based on inclusion and respect for differences, and to encourage close interaction among students, parents, teachers, and staff with varying backgrounds, experiences, interests, and perspectives. The &ldquo;Conversations on Diversity&rdquo; series with Tom Farquhar is helping the Head of School and the Board to shape and articulate goals and objectives as the school prepares for our increasingly global and multicultural community and world. Come and be part of these sessions.  They provide a safe space for you to hear diverse perspectives and it is our hope that these sessions also help bring enlightenment, understanding, and acceptance.  The 2010-2011 Conversations on Diversity series is sponsored by the All-School PA Diversity Committee. 

When:   Monday, May 16, 2011
Time:  6:30 &ndash; 9:00 PM (6:30 PM &ndash; 7:00 PM &ndash; Refreshments; 7-9 PM &ndash; Conversation/Meeting)
Where:  Middle School Drama RoomSEEKING 2011-2012 LOWER SCHOOL PA VOLUNTEERS
Have you ever wanted to get more involved at Sidwell by being a room parent for your child's class or serving on a Lower School committee?  Now is your chance to nominate yourself for these positions.  Job descriptions can be found on the website at http://www.sidwell.edu/parents/parents-association/job-descriptions/index.aspx.  New and current parents are encouraged to volunteer and get involved.  If interested, please contact Rebecca Rippey ([email-masked]) and Pamela Kurland ([email-masked]). 
 COMMUNITY SERVICE CORNER
@font-face {
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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt 38.15pt; text-indent: -0.25in; font-size: 11pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }Please extend our thanks to all the children who stopped by the Community Service table during the Spring Festival.  They made 56 bookmarks and colored 63 puzzles for the children at The Children's Inn at NIH.  Every day the children at the Children&rsquo;s Inn are given a small gift in their mailbox.  It is something they look forward to at the end of every day.  The Sidwell Friends Community helped bring 119 smiles to some very special children.
REFLECTIONS ON ALL AROUND THE WORLD EVENT AT SPRING FESTIVAL
We held our first World Friends For World Peace event on Saturday 
We are so glad that you came along 
We exchanged photo embossed World Traveler passports for a smile
While the cool DJ played his song
Russia, Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia and Brazil reps 
enhanced the children with knowledge 
And the Peace Flags quilt knitted a community together
In a way all Quakers would encourage  
So there is No Way to Peace they say
Peace is the Way. Everyday.  
And that's our song.

With Gratitude,

The LS PA Diversity Committee

								Other News 
                                
                                ANNOUNCING A FEAST FOR THE EYES AND IMAGINATION! AND YOU ARE INVITED
@font-face {
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}p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }   Needing an art gallery &ldquo;fix&rdquo; but dreading the I-95 corridor from DC to NYC?  We&rsquo;ve got a solution for you!  Celebrate the beginning of a spring weekend by swinging by a SPECTACULAR ART SHOW and RECEPTION HAPPENING IN OUR OWN RUBENSTEIN GALLERY at SFS, on FRIDAY, MAY 20, from 4:30 &ndash; 6 PM. The work displayed this year is of our UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS in PHOTOGRAPHY and CERAMICS and it&rsquo;s quite simply amazing! Please come to enjoy and support the excellence of these artists and their inspiring teachers, Ms. Lely Constantinople and Mr. Hunt Prothro. This is one feast you won&rsquo;t want to miss.2011 EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS GOLF TOURNAMENT
Join Co-Chairs Andre Fraser, Margaret Weaver Krull &rsquo;70, and Stephen O&rsquo;Neill &rsquo;77 for the 6th Annual SFS Golf Tournament on June 13, 2011 at the Kenwood Country Club. Players of all levels are encouraged participate for a great day of golf and camaraderie all while supporting the student financial aid program. The tournament will conclude with a cocktail reception and awards. Register online now.Please contact the Events for Student Scholarships office at 202-537-8110 or [email-masked] for more information.EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP -- 2ND ANNUAL TOUR DE FRIENDS!!
Join us for glorious day of bike riding and friendship in Rock Creek  Park to help us raise money for student financial aid on Sunday, May 15, 9 AM. Your participation includes rides of varying distances to be followed by food, drink, music, and plenty of give-a-ways!
Register today to help make this event a success! For information on   registering and additional information contact Michael Tierney, [email-masked], or Mark Michael, [email-masked]. Please contact Lauren Mulcahy at 202-537-8440 or              email [email-masked] to join this exciting family oriented event for all ages.SCAPINO!
The Upper School Spring Play, to be performed on May 20 and 21 at 8:00 PM and May 22 at 2:30 PM, is Scapino!  Scapino! is a wonderful piece of comic madness, inspired by Moliere's &quot;Les Fourberies de Scapin.&quot;  It was a huge hit on Broadway, inspiring critics to write:

&quot;An evening of sheer delight.&quot;--NY Post
&quot;One of the most joyous events of the season.  Jubilant!&quot;--The New Yorker
&quot;If you miss it you will be crazy, and if you let you kids miss it, you will be simply inhuman.&quot; --NY Times

Tickets available at the door beginning one hour before curtain
Adults: $8.00  Students: $4.00  SFS Students: FREE! 
For updated information:  [email-masked] or 202-537-8141 ext. 2
A jukebox is needed for the production.  If you, or a friend, have a jukebox that we could borrow, please contact: Ed Crow, director, at 202-537-8146; [email-masked].  Thanks for your help.  Hope to see you at the play!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. 
						LS newsletter submissions should be sent to [email-masked].

					

							
								
									 Calendar

									

												
												
	Fri, May 13th 
		
				LS Early Morning Quaker Meeting 
				
				LS Meeting Room
				7:45am - 8:15am

				

		
				K Play 
				
				LS Multi-Purpose Room
				9:00am - 10:00am

				

		
				US Dance Ensemble Outdoor Performance 
				
				Zartman Garden then moving through US campus
				4:00pm

				

		
				US Dance Ensemble Outdoor Performance 
				
				Zartman Garden then moving through US campus
				7:00pm

				

	Sat, May 14th 
		
				Rising 5th Grade Scavenger Hunt 
				
				Meet in Sledge Garden
				4:30pm - 6:30pm

				

	Mon, May 16th 
		
				Refreshments for Diversity Meeting 
				
				MS Foyer/Lobby
				6:30pm

				

		
				All-School PA Diversity Meeting 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				7:00pm

				

	Tue, May 17th 
		
				3x to the White House 

				9:30am - 12:30pm

				

	Thu, May 19th 
		
				PA Arts Committee Calendar 
				
				US Library Board Room
				7:45pm - 9:30pm

				

	Fri, May 20th 
		
				4x Play 
				
				LS Multi-Purpose Room
				9:00am - 10:00am

				

		
				Upper School Art Show and Reception 
				
				Rubenstein Gallery
				4:30pm - 6:00pm

				

		
				US Spring Play Performance 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

	Sat, May 21st 
		
				CPR/AED class for LS 
				
				LS Library
				11:00am - 3:00pm

				

		
				US Spring Play Performance 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

	Sun, May 22nd 
		
				US Spring Play Performance 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm

				

	Tue, May 24th 
		
				4th grade parent optional tour of Middle School 
				
				Middle School Lobby
				9:15am - 10:30am

				

		
				Kx to National Gallery of Art 

				9:15am - 1:00pm

				

		
				LS Nuts & Bolts for New Families 
				
				LS Breezeway, LS Meeting Room
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Wed, May 25th 
		
				Grade 3, 3x, and 3y to Underground Railroad Exp. Trail 

				9:00am - 2:45pm

				

		
				7/8 Orchestra and Choral Concert 
				
				AC Theater
				7:30pm

				

	Thu, May 26th 
		
				LS PA Steering Committee Meeting 
				
				LS Breezeway and courtyard
				7:30pm - 9:30pm

				

	Fri, May 27th 
		
				PK Circus 
				
				LS Multi-Purpose Room
				9:00am - 10:00am

				

		
				7th & 8th Orchestra and Choral Concert 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm - 3:20pm

				

	Mon, May 30th 
		
				Memorial Day - No School 

				

				

	Tue, May 31st 
		
				PK & K End of Year Picnic 
				
				LS Lower Field
				5:00pm - 7:00pm

				

	Wed, Jun 1st 
		
				US Reading Day 

				

				

		
				PA Executive Committee Meeting 
				
				Athletic Center Meeting Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

		
				3 to Chestertown, MD 

				8:00am - 8:00pm

				

		
				LS PA Diversity Meeting 
				
				LS Quaker Meetinghouse
				5:00pm - 6:00pm

				

											More

									

						

			

	

	

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