Subject: SFS MS Tuesday Letter 9-20-11
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2011 23:30:00 -0400

Tuesday - September 20, 2011

		

		

		 

					

								From the School
                                
                                Query

	This week&rsquo;s query:  What is service?
Notes from Sally
Metro Subsidy Information
	Thanks for your patience with a lengthy letter this week &ndash; there are still lots of notes for the beginning of the school  year!

	The assembly this week will be presented by Timmy Abell, singer and storyteller.  Parents are welcome to join us in the theater at 2:30 on Friday.

	7th and 8th graders will be out for a Service Day this Thursday; permission forms have been sent home.  All sixth graders will attend the Solar Decathlon next Monday; look for a permission form by email.

	Fifth grade parents &ndash; we look forward to seeing you next Monday for our CHI meeting &ndash; 7:30 PM in the Drama Studio.

	We wanted to mention that we know that parents are having some difficulties with the homework web site.  This is an issue with our website provider, and we are hoping to have it fixed by the end of the week.  We apologize for the inconvenience!

	This year we will have an intern working in the mornings with Caroline Holtz in the music classroom until winter break.  Her name is Kelsea Appelbaum.

	If you are in the building, we hope you will enjoy looking at our beautiful &ldquo;respect tree&rdquo; on the second floor next to the kitchen.  Students have added their responses to our query from the first week of school:  &ldquo;What does respect mean at Sidwell Friends and how is it shown in our school?&rdquo;

	Does your child travel to and from school on public transportation?  There are subsidies to help with those expenses.  An information sheet is attached, and Middle School Office Manager Julia Porter will have a supply of the necessary forms for those who need them.  These apply to residents of DC, VA and MD.

	7th and 8th graders will begin to play interscholastic team contests next week.  Some reminders about the schedule when that occurs:

	Game schedules are posted on the Athletics section of the Sidwell Friends School website.  Any changes to the schedule because of weather or other circumstances will be posted on the website as soon as decisions are made. This information is also on the hotline, which can be reached at 202-537-8176, #1.  Parents are encouraged to attend games, both at home and away!

	Picking up students after &ldquo;away&rdquo; games: If parents attend games away from campus, they may take their own child directly home after the game, but please check out with the coach so that s/he knows that the student has left.  If a student is to ride home with a parent other than his or her own, that student must bring in a note from their parents before they leave campus giving permission for the child to go home with the other parent. 

	Transportation back to SFS will always be provided after away games.  The Athletic Department will do its best to provide an approximate time for pick up.  This time is, of course, subject to change due to the circumstances of the game, traffic, weather, etc.  Usually away games start at 2:45 and end at 4:00.  Travel back to school is usually about 45 minutes, so normal time to return after collecting equipment and boarding the bus is 4:45.

	Students will be dropped off from the bus or van at the garage, and that is where parents should plan to meet them. That is also the meeting place after home games.  If students need to leave backpacks, books, or clothes here at school, they have the following options:
	1. Lock belongings in their Middle School locker.  The door near the office is unlocked until 6:00 PM.
	2. Leave belongings in their advisor&rsquo;s room.  If the advisor has left by the time students return, there is usually someone who can open the door.  Students can stop by the office, ask a teacher, or call a Security Officer.
	3. Leave their belongings in their gym locker.

	In the rare instance that a team returns after 6:00, the red phone at the Security Office may be used to radio an officer who can unlock the building and a classroom if necessary.

	Athletic Team Spirit Days and &ldquo;Secret Psyche:&rdquo;  Occasionally your child will leave for school wearing what one might consider an unusual get-up: pajamas, mismatching clothes, etc.  It&rsquo;s probably for Team Spirit, an effort to promote enthusiasm and camaraderie among team members.  The teams decide on their spirit displays, but the team captain must check with Jennifer Mitchell or me in advance to clear the plans.

	The Athletic Department discourages the practice of &ldquo;Secret Psyche,&rdquo; which means buying something for a team member to be given secretly the day of the game.

	As a friendly reminder, we do have students and faculty with severe food allergies.  Although, Sidwell Friends School is not an allergen-free school, please assist us in refraining from bringing in snacks that knowingly contain peanuts, tree nuts, and/or products containing nut oils. Also, remind your children of the importance of not sharing food due to the possibility of cross-contamination.  Please refer to the Food Allergy Policy in the Parent/Student Handbook for more information.

	If your child is absent, please email his or her homeroom teacher or advisor with a copy to Julia Porter in the office.  If you need to pick up your child early for an appointment, please do the same, and be specific in your email about where you will be waiting so that we can direct your child to the right place.  If you are coming right at the end of the day, please do not park on 37th Street because of Hearst dismissal.  Your child should sign out on the clipboard at the Parent Volunteer Desk.

	Students who arrive after the 8 AM bell must remember to sign in at the Parent Volunteer Desk.  Otherwise, they will be noted as absent and we will be calling home to see where they are.

	Back-to-School Night for the entire Middle School will be Thursday evening, October 6th.  The program will begin at 6 PM in the Meeting House.  If you need child care for the evening, please contact us to get your child&rsquo;s name on the list!  We will not be able to accept drop-ins because we need to be sure that we have enough staff.

	We will accommodate children of school age (PK &ndash; 8th grade only, please), and we will provide pizza for them for dinner.  Payment for the evening is $10 in cash per child, and drop-off is at the playground.  Call the Middle School office to register for child care.

	Reminders for drivers on 37th St:  Morning:  please pull all the way forward to the end of the ramp in front of the Hearst driveway.  That keeps the line stretched out.  Afternoon: Stay in your car and keep pulling forward.  Also, come later.  There is no need to line up early; it&rsquo;s much easier to travel the street once Hearst&rsquo;s buses have cleared the area.  For all:  please do not make U-turns in the Hearst driveway! It is also worth noting that we do have assemblies on Friday afternoons, and they do not finish until 3:20, at which time students need to walk back from the arts center before they go home.  Please be patient with us on Fridays &ndash; and come even a little later for pick-up!

	Thanks for your help; please be sure that anyone who drives Middle School students understands these directions.
 Read MoreInstrumental Music Notes

	Instrumental Music Notes
	
	5/6 Orchestra &ndash; String Ensemble &ndash; Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101

	7/8 Orchestra &ndash; String Ensemble &ndash; Wednesday Rehearsal Period Rm 101

	All guitarists and harpists grades 5-8 report to Rm 101 during rehearsal period for music
Choral Notes

	From Ms. Holtz:

	7/8 Choral Rehearsals This Week

	Wednesday, September 21st

	Boys Ensemble  7:25 (sharp) to 7:55am

	Girls Ensemble  12:55-1:50&mdash;REHEARSAL PERIOD and 3:45-5:30pm

	 

Attention Parents of 6th, 7th and 8th graders! 

	Does your child enjoy tackling mathematical challenges and puzzles?  Please encourage them to come to Math Counts practices, which occur every Thursday from 3:30 &ndash; 4:30 pm in Room 306, Andrew Callard&rsquo;s (Mr. C&rsquo;s) room.  Math Counts is a national organization that sponsors competitions for middle school students every spring.  During these practices, we work on challenging and interesting problems in groups and discuss new mathematical topics as they arise.  Any 6th, 7th and 8th grader may attend, and he or she does not need to sign up in advance to attend a practice on any given week.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students to meet others in their grade and in other grades who share their love of math.  A delicious after school snack is provided. 

	The first Math Counts practice will take place this Thursday, September 22nd. 

							
								PA Announcements
                                
                                Potluck Hosts Needed!

	It is time, once again, for one of Sidwell Friends&#39; most beloved traditions.
	This year&#39;s fall potlucks will be held on the weekends of Oct 28-30, Nov 4-6, and Nov 11-13.  If you are interested in hosting a potluck for parents in your child&#39;s class/team, please contact Priscilla Cheng ([email-masked]) or Amin Abari ([email-masked]).
Community Service Corner

	Interested in Community Service at Middle School?  Join us for our first meeting of the year; Wednesday, September 21, from 8am to 9am in the Middle School Library classroom.  We look forward to seeing you and hearing your ideas!  Please let us know if you can make it or if you are interested but can&#39;t attend.  Sara Jane Harris, [email-masked], and Susan Maniatis, [email-masked], co-clerks of MS Community Service.

	URGENT : Parent Volunteers needed Wednesday, September 21 - Food Bank at Garrison ES
	David Connell, Director of US Community Service, needs parent volunteers on Wednesday, September 21, 4 pm - 7 pm, or any portion of that period. Volunteers are needed to help pack and distribute donated non-perishable food items at Garrison Elementary School 1200 S St. NW. (Nearest Metro Station: U Street). This is a new community service project that is organized by The Community Actions Club, the US student community service club, in partnership with Martha&#39;s Table. This service project, which will take place on the third Wednesday (4 - 7 pm ) of every month, is a concrete way for our school community to address the problems of hunger and lack of access to healthy food in the D.C. community. If you are able to join us on Wednesday 21, please contact David Connell (202 537-8182) or [email-masked] as soon as possible. Please note that younger students or siblings of US students are welcome to participate in this service project if they are accompanied by an adult.

	Saturday, October 15 (rain or shine unless severe inclement weather)
	Family Service Project
	Location: Clagett Farm Upper Malboro
	Time: 9 am -12 pm
	Families are invited to a morning of planting garlic and harvesting crops at Clagett Farm (www.clagettfarm.org), part of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. If there is sufficient interest, we will arrange to meet at school and travel to the farm by a SFS bus (min. 16 passengers).
	For more information and to volunteer, please contact June Das Gupta at [email-masked] by Friday October 7th. Please indicate whether you would like to use the bus. We will be able to accommodate 25 volunteers only.
Art's Committee's First Meeting

	The Parents Association Arts Committee needs you - and your thoughts!  If you are the parent of an artistically inclined student, or would like to encourage the enjoyment of the arts by all of our students, please consider becoming a part of this standing committee.  If interested, please consider attending the Arts Committee&#39;s first meeting on Thursday, September 29th, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the Upper School Library Board Room, or contact Maude Fish at [email-masked].  We look forward to hearing your perspectives!

							
								Other News 
                                
                                Events for Student Scholarships

	Next to New Sale:
	Donate: Only 10 days left to donate your items to the Next to New Sale. Collection times are Mondays and Wednesdays from 8-10 and Saturdays from 9-11 in the Wannan Gym on the Upper School campus. We need more donations including bikes, furniture, clothing, housewares, and much more. Plus, if you have moving boxes, please consider donating them to the sale.
	Volunteer: There are jobs for everyone. You can volunteer one hour or many. Please email the Events for Student Scholarships office at [email-masked] for more information about volunteering. In addition, we need dads to get involved. Help us with clean-up on Sunday, October 23.

	Auction:
	Save the Date for the 2012 Auction which will be held on campus on Saturday, April 21.
	Volunteers Needed: Please join us for our first auction kick-off meeting on Tuesday, October 4 at 9:00 a.m. in the Zartman Drawing Room. There are jobs for everyone including soliciting donations, set-up, recruiting parents to attend the event, writing descriptions for the catalog, and so much more. Email the Events for Student Scholarships office at [email-masked] if you plan to attend the meeting.

Admissions Office Announcement

	In an effort to work more closely with current families who are applying a child for the 2012-13 academic year, the deadline to submit Part I, the Application Form, is October 1, 2011. All supplementary material to complete the application is due by January 15, 2012.

	The online application is available at www.sidwell.edu/admissions/application-materials. Please call the Admissions Office at 202-537-8111 if you have any questions.
Brightwood: Volunteers Needed

	BRIGHTWOOD:  VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

	BRIGHTWOOD READING PROGRAM:  Looking for a very rewarding and fun volunteer opportunity?  Come learn more about our Brightwood Reading Partnership.  Parent volunteers read to students at our sister school, Brightwood Elementary School in DC.  Last year, volunteers read and donated more than 1500 books to students at Brightwood.  A volunteer meeting will be held Friday, September 30th, 8:15-9 am, in the LS library.  For more info, please email Vanessa Johnson, coordinator, at [email-masked] or call 301-613-5611. 

MS TUESDAY NEWSLETTER INFORMATION

	How to Subscribe
	To receive the Tuesday Letter via e-mail, send an e-mail to [email-masked] with only the word &quot;SUBSCRIBE&quot; in the subject line.
	How to Unsubscribe
	If you have 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.
	How to Submit an Article to Tuesday Letter
	Send submissions to [email-masked] by 2 pm 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 and 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.  Please be aware that submissions may not run for more than 3 weeks.
	How to Modify an existing Submission
	If it becomes necessary to modify a submission, please send a redline or otherwise clearly indicate the change to be made.

	Note Concerning the School Calendar:
	The calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the official school

						 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

									

												
												
	Wed, Sep 21st 
		
				MS Community Service Committee Meeting 
				
				MS Library Classroom
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

	Thu, Sep 22nd 
		
				7/8 Service Days 

				

				

	Mon, Sep 26th 
		
				5th Grade CHI Meeting 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				7:30pm - 9:00pm

				

	Thu, Sep 29th 
		
				PA Arts Committee Meeting 
				
				US Library Board Room
				7:30pm - 9:00pm

				

	Fri, Sep 30th 
		
				One Act Festival 2011 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

	Sat, Oct 1st 
		
				One Act Festival 2011 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

	Sun, Oct 2nd 
		
				One Act Festival 2011 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm

				

	Mon, Oct 3rd 
		
				MS PA Steering Committee Meeting 
				
				Athletic Center Meeting Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

	Tue, Oct 4th 
		
				Rubenstein Lecture 

				6:30pm - 8:30pm

				

	Wed, Oct 5th 
		
				All-School PA Executive Committee Meeting 
				
				Athletic Center Meeting Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

	Thu, Oct 6th 
		
				Middle School Back to School Night 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				6:00pm

				

	Mon, Oct 10th 
		
				Fall Break - No School 

				

				

		
				Next to New Sale Set-up 
				
				Wannan Gym

				

				

											More

									

									Athletics

									

                                                
												
	Tue, Sep 20th 
		
				Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity at Holton-Arms 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Varsity at Holy Child 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Madeira 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. St. James School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Holy Child 

				5:45pm

				

	Wed, Sep 21st 
		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Mercersburg Academy 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. Holton-Arms 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity at Holy Child 

				4:30pm

				

	Thu, Sep 22nd 
		
				Cross-Country - Girls 7/8 at Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Boys 7/8 at Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity vs. Holy Child 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Varsity - Centreville HS 

				4:15pm

				

	Fri, Sep 23rd 
		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. St. Albans 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Albans 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Wilson H.S. 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity at Holy Child 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Football - Varsity at Model Secondary School 

				6:00pm

				

	Sat, Sep 24th 
		
				Cross-Country - Boys Varsity at Mercersburg Academy - Mercersburg Invitational 

				8:30am

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls Varsity at Mercersburg Academy - Mercersburg Invitational 

				8:30am

				

	Mon, Sep 26th 
		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 A at Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - 7/8 at Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Volleyball - 7/8 at Holton-Arms 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 A at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Maret School 

				3:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Washington International 

				4:30pm

				

	Tue, Sep 27th 
		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity at Maret School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Junior Varsity at Maret School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity at Georgetown Visitation 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Georgetown Visitation 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Varsity vs. Holton-Arms 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Junior Varsity vs. Holton-Arms 

				5:45pm

				

	Fri, Sep 30th 
		
				Volleyball - Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. St. Andrew's School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Varsity vs. Bullis 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity at Bullis 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Varsity at Episcopal High School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity at Potomac School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Potomac School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Episcopal High School 

				5:30pm

				

		
				Football - Varsity - Hancock HS 

				7:00pm

				

	Sat, Oct 1st 
		
				Cross-Country - Boys Varsity - Glory Days 

				8:00am

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls Varsity - Glory Days 

				8:00am

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity vs. Episcopal High School 

				3:00pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Episcopal High School 

				3:00pm

				

	Mon, Oct 3rd 
		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 A at Mater Dei 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. Mater Dei 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 A vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 B at Holton-Arms 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - 7/8 at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

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

				2:45pm

				

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

				2:45pm

				

		
				Golf - Varsity vs. The Heights 

				4:00pm

				

	Tue, Oct 4th 
		
				Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Bullis 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Georgetown Day 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Junior Varsity at Georgetown Visitation 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Varsity at Madeira 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Varsity at Foxcroft 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Boys Varsity at Potomac School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls Varsity at Potomac School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity at Georgetown Visitation 

				5:30pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Junior Varsity at Foxcroft 

				5:30pm

				

	Wed, Oct 5th 
		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 B vs. Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 A at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Heavyweight vs. St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Lightweight at St. Stephen's & St. Agnes 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Junior Varsity at Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity vs. Washington International 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Junior Varsity vs. Washington International 

				4:30pm

				

	Thu, Oct 6th 
		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Volleyball - 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 A at Holy Child 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls 7/8 vs. Holy Child 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 A vs. Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 B at Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Heavyweight vs. Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Boys 7/8 at Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls 7/8 at Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. Maret School 

				3:45pm

				

		
				Golf - Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Varsity at Stone Ridge School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Maret School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Football - Varsity vs. St. James School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - Varsity vs. St. James School 

				4:30pm

				

                                            More

									

							

				

		

		

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