Subject: SFS MS Tuesday Letter 11-1-2011
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:30:00 -0400

Tuesday - November 1, 2011

		

		

		 

					

								From the School
                                
                                Query

	This week&rsquo;s query:  Is a lie okay if it has good intentions?
Notes from Sally

	Friday&rsquo;s assembly:  SFS Alumnus Branson Skinner and his &ldquo;Of Rags&rdquo; project
	
	A reminder to 8th grade parents of the program Wednesday morning about the Upper School.  Please note that the location has been changed:  it will be in the Upper School Choral Room in the same building as the Meeting House.
	
	7th and 8th graders have a service day on Thursday &ndash; look for a permission form and information from your child&rsquo;s advisor.
	
	The winter PE/athletics season begins next Monday, November 7th.  Remember to have your child bring in sweat pants and a sweat shirt for the cold weather.  They should keep an old pair of sneakers in their gym locker so that if it is muddy, they won&rsquo;t get their street shoes messy.  It is also a good idea to keep a hat and gloves in the locker for outdoor activities.  If they are in swimming, please remember that they need to wear a hat over wet hair!
	
	Next Tuesday night at 7:30 is the meeting about Minimester trips; students will receive written information at the end of the week.  Please see last week&rsquo;s Tuesday Letter for more information about Minimester.  The meeting is not required for students to be able to travel.
	
	Next week is our fall play, The Hundred Dresses!  All Middle School students will have the opportunity to see the play at school, but we also hope to have good audiences for the performances on Friday night and Saturday afternoon.  Information about reservations is available elsewhere in the letter.
	
	Congratulations to Isabel Kirsch for her article in the Northwest Current!  If anyone regularly receives the paper and would be willing to pass along your copy when you&rsquo;re finished, I would love to have an extra.
	
	Are you planning family travel that will necessitate your child&rsquo;s absence from school?  While we understand that these are often important family occasions, we also hope that you recognize that missing school creates difficulties for your child and for his/her teachers.  If absences are absolutely necessary, we ask that you follow the following procedures:
	
	Please notify both the office and the child&rsquo;s homeroom teacher/advisor as far in advance as possibly that such an absence will take place.  Parents should then notify all of the child&rsquo;s teachers of the absence in the week prior to the trip.  While we will attempt to pull material together for the child in advance, it is not possible to develop a comprehensive list of assignments ahead of time.  The student is responsible for checking the homework websites for homework during the trip and for seeing each teacher upon his/her return to obtain a list of missing work and due dates for such work.  Teachers are not expected to reteach material covered during the student&rsquo;s absence.
	
	It is important for parents to understand that it is impossible to duplicate the experience of being in class and that a decision for a child to miss an extended period of time should be the rare exception rather than the rule.  Absences put children under undue pressure in our already rigorous curriculum.
	
	We are approaching the concert season.  7/8 choral and instrumental groups will perform in December, and the 5/6 orchestra and 5th grade chorus will perform in January.  For all concerts the dress requirements are as follows:  Boys &ndash; black* pants, black* shoes, white dress shirt, any color tie.  Girls -  Black* pants or skirt, white top (must have sleeves) and black* shoes.  (*or the darkest you own.)  No tennis shoes please.
	
	Attention 8th grade parents:  PLEASE NOTE as you are making your vacation plans for next summer:  Upper School athletic teams all begin pre-season practice before school begins!  If your child wants to play a fall sport, you must take this into consideration when scheduling your summer.
Instrumental Music Notes

	5/6 Full Orchestra rehearsal Wednesday November 2, rehearsal period Rm 101

	7/8 Full Orchestra rehearsal Wednesday November 2, rehearsal period Rm 101

	7/8 Full Orchestra &ndash; After school rehearsal Monday December 5, 3:30-5:30pm Arts Center (mandatory; refreshments provided)
Choral Notes

	Ms. Holtz
	Wednesday, November 2nd
	
	Boys Ensemble 7:25am AND Rehearsal Period
	
	Girls Ensemble 3:45-5:30pm
Financial Aid Information

	Financial Aid for 2012-13 &ndash; Please check your email inbox on December 1 for details regarding financial aid for the 2012-13 school year.  Information will no longer be mailed home to families.  If you are not receiving financial aid currently, but want to apply for the 2012-2013 school year, please call 202-537-2402.

							
								PA Announcements
                                
                                All School Parents Association Meeting

	All School Parents Association Meeting 7-9:00PM on November 9th
	
	On Wednesday, November 9th, the All School Parents Association and the Diversity Committee will be sponsoring a discussion with Head of School Tom Farquhar, and Rachel Jackson, All School Diversity Coordinator. They will be discussing highlights from the Assessment of Inclusivity and Multiculturalism (AIM) survey, which all employees, parents, and students in grades 7-12 were asked to take last spring. We will be gathering in the Robert L. Smith meeting room from 7:00-9:00PM. Tom Farquhar and Rachel Jackson will discuss some of the most salient issues from the results and the school&rsquo;s diversity initiatives for the upcoming year. There will be time allotted for open discussion.
 Read MoreMS PA Diversity Committee

	MS PA Diversity Committee &ndash; Re-scheduled Meeting
	
	The MS PA Diversity Committee meeting will be held Tuesday, Nov. 8 (please note the re-scheduled meeting date), 7:30-8:30 am in the MS Library classroom. Please join us to discuss the year&rsquo;s events and the issues and thoughts on your mind about the diversity of our community. If you have questions beforehand, or are interested in being a part of the Diversity Committee but cannot attend this meeting, please let us know. Contact us at [email-masked] , [email-masked] , or [email-masked] . We look forward to seeing and/or hearing from you! Margaret, Maria, and Beth
Community Service Corner

	ASK YOUR KIDS:
	6th Grade Families:  Ask your kids about the Halloween candy that they are collecting.  What is happening to the candy?  What&#39;s going on at their hangout on Wednesday?
	
	Community Service Meeting.  Come one, come all to the November meeting to discuss all things Community Service!  We&#39;d love to see you there!  Wednesday, Nov. 9 in the Upper School Crane Room (near the cafeteria) at 8:30am.
Middle School Drama

	Sidwell Friends Middle School Drama presents The Hundred Dresses by Mary Hall Surface, based on the 1944 Newberry Award-winning children&rsquo;s book by Eleanor Estes. Free public performances will be held Friday, November 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 12 at 2:00pm at the Middle School Drama Studio. Admission is free, but reservations are recommended by calling 202/537-8150.
 Read More6th Grade Hangout!

	This is the first hangout for this school year. Please make sure your 6th-grader has reserved time to gather, socialize and relax with other students in the grade from 3:30pm to 5:00pm on Wednesday, November 2nd. We will also be packaging Halloween Candy for the Children&#39;s Inn. To help make this a successful event, we still need a few parent volunteers to assist with setup/cleanup and to help chaperone. Please contact Mary Kae, [email-masked] or Cristina, [email-masked] if you are able to help. 

							
								Other News 
                                
                                NEXT TO NEW SALE

	Thank you to all our wonderful, dedicated Next to New volunteers for making this year a success! Whether you helped one hour or many, you made a difference and helped us raise $66,766 for student financial aid. That surpasses last year&rsquo;s total by over $2,300!
	
	Not only did we raise money for SFS, but we sent over 150 shopping bags of good clothing to Martha&rsquo;s Table and St. Luke&rsquo;s, plus we donated all the unsold items to various charities. Nothing was wasted&hellip; even the unusable items will be taken to the recycling center in Rockville.
	
	Thank you wholeheartedly for your time, energy and enthusiasm! Please stay tuned for an e-mail regarding a Next to New wrap-up party being held on November 15th. We hope you will all join us to celebrate the success of the sale.
Parents Council of Washington (PCW)

	Parents Council of Washington (PCW)
	
	The mission of the PCW is &ldquo;to foster a closer communication among parents, students and independent schools&rdquo; . Since Sidwell Friends is one of the member schools, the PCW provides events that feature fascinating speakers as well as Webinars that discuss the most current issues that involve our children. For information about PCW, please access their website at: http://www.parentscouncil.org
	 
 Read MoreQuaker Quotes

	Quaker Quotes
	
	On Revelation Over Scripture
	
	&ldquo;Dearly beloved Friends, these things we do not lay upon you as a rule or form to walk by, but that all, with the measure of light which is pure and holy, may be guided: and so in the light walking and abiding, these may be fulfilled in the Spirit, not from the letter; for the letter killeth but the Spirit giveth life.&rdquo;
	(Balby Elders, Christian Faith and Practice: London Yearly Meeting 1960. To the Reader.)
	 
	&ldquo;Live up to the light that thou hast and more will be granted thee.&rdquo;
	(Caroline Fox, 1841)
	
	&ldquo;Quaker Quotes&rdquo; is a weekly submission by Melissa Belman ([email-masked] &lt;mailto:[email-masked]&gt; ), Holly Moore ([email-masked] &lt;mailto:[email-masked]&gt; ) and Cindy Terrell ([email-masked] &lt;mailto:[email-masked]&gt; . We welcome ideas.
MS TUESDAY NEWSLETTER 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

						 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, Nov 2nd 
		
				8th Grade Parent Conversation with Upper School Administration and Student Panel 
				
				Choral Music Room
				7:30am - 8:30am

				

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

				

		
				6th grade hangout 
				
				Wannan Gym
				3:30pm - 5:00pm

				

	Thu, Nov 3rd 
		
				7/8 Service Day 

				

				

	Fri, Nov 4th 
		
				Friendly Dozen Potlucks 
				
				Off Campus

				

				
		
				5th Grade Conversations with Michelle 
				
				US Dining Room
				7:45am - 9:00am

				

	Sat, Nov 5th 
		
				Friendly Dozen Potlucks 
				
				Off Campus

				

				

	Sun, Nov 6th 
		
				Friendly Dozen Potlucks 
				
				Off Campus

				

				

	Mon, Nov 7th 
		
				MS PA Steering Committee Meeting 
				
				Athletic Center Meeting Room
				8:00am - 9:00am

				

		
				5th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting 
				
				MS Library
				7:30pm - 9:00pm

				

	Tue, Nov 8th 
		
				MS Diversity Committee meeting 
				
				MS Library Classroom
				7:30am - 8:30am

				

		
				Minimester Trips Meeting 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				7:00pm

				

	Wed, Nov 9th 
		
				PA MS Community Service Committee Meeting 
				
				US Crane Room
				8:30am - 10:00am

				

		
				All-School PA Diversity Meeting 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Fri, Nov 11th 
		
				Friendly Dozen Potlucks 
				
				Off Campus

				

				
		
				6th Grade Conversations with Michelle 
				
				US Dining Room
				7:45am - 9:00am

				

		
				MS Fall Play: The Hundred Dresses 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				7:30pm

				

	Sat, Nov 12th 
		
				Friendly Dozen Potlucks 
				
				Off Campus

				

				
		
				MS Fall Play: The Hundred Dresses 
				
				MS Drama Studio
				2:00pm

				

	Sun, Nov 13th 
		
				Friendly Dozen Potlucks 
				
				Off Campus

				

				

	Tue, Nov 15th 
		
				6th Grade Parent Peer Group Meeting 
				
				MS Library
				7:30pm - 9:00pm

				

	Wed, Nov 16th 
		
				MS ISMAW at St. Albans 

				

				

	Thu, Nov 17th 
		
				All-School PA Meeting with Anne Renninger 
				
				Athletic Center Meeting Room
				7:45am - 9:00am

				

		
				PA Arts Committee Meeting 
				
				US Library Board Room
				7:30pm - 9:00pm

				

	Fri, Nov 18th 
		
				Upper School No School - 9th Grade Conference Day 

				

				

		
				7th Grade Conversations with Michelle 
				
				US Dining Room
				7:45am - 9:00am

				

		
				8th grade hangout 
				
				Wannan Gym
				3:30pm - 5:00pm

				

		
				US Fall Play 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

	Sat, Nov 19th 
		
				US Fall Play 
				
				AC Theater
				8:00pm

				

	Sun, Nov 20th 
		
				US Fall Play 
				
				AC Theater
				2:30pm

				

											More

									

									Athletics

									

                                                
												
	Mon, Oct 31st 
		
				Tennis - Girls 7/8 at St. Andrew's School 

				2:45am

				

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

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Lightweight vs. Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Volleyball - 7/8 at Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 B at Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 B vs. St. Andrew's School 

				2:45pm - 4:00pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Boys 7/8 at Norwood School 

				3:30pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls 7/8 at Norwood School 

				3:30pm

				

	Tue, Nov 1st 
		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. MAC Tournament 

				3:30pm

				

	Wed, Nov 2nd 
		
				Field Hockey - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				

				

		
				Tennis - Girls 7/8 vs. National Cathedral School 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Volleyball - 7/8 vs. Stone Ridge School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Heavyweight vs. Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Lightweight at Landon 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 A vs. Flint Hill 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Tournament 

				3:30pm

				

	Thu, Nov 3rd 
		
				Field Hockey - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				

				

		
				Soccer - Girls 7/8 A at Holton-Arms 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Field Hockey - 7/8 at Holton-Arms 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Tennis - Girls 7/8 vs. Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys 7/8 B at Washington Episcopal 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Football - 7/8 Lightweight vs. Potomac School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Boys 7/8 at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls 7/8 at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. MAC Tournament 

				3:30pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				4:00pm

				

	Fri, Nov 4th 
		
				Field Hockey - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity vs. ISL Tournament 

				3:30pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				4:00pm

				

	Sat, Nov 5th 
		
				Football - Varsity at Maret School 

				2:30pm

				

	Sun, Nov 6th 
		
				Field Hockey - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				

				

		
				Soccer - Boys Varsity vs. MAC Tournament 

				1:00pm

				

		
				Soccer - Girls Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				2:00pm

				

		
				Volleyball - Varsity - ISL Tournament 

				3:00pm

				

	Fri, Nov 11th 
		
				Basketball - Girls 7/8 C at Fourth Presbyterian School 

				3:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Fourth Presbyterian School 

				3:30pm

				

	Sat, Nov 12th 
		
				Cross-Country - Boys Varsity vs. Private School Championships 

				8:00am

				

		
				Cross-Country - Girls Varsity vs. Private School Championships 

				8:00am

				

	Tue, Nov 15th 
		
				Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Dunbar 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity at Dunbar 

				6:00pm

				

	Thu, Nov 17th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity at National Cathedral School 

				4:15pm

				

                                            More

									

							

				

		

		

		
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