Subject: MS Tuesday Letter
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2012 23:30:00 -0500

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  MIDDLE SCHOOL TUESDAY LETTER
  
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FROM THE SCHOOL
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This Week's Query

     How can I stay true to myself in the face of change?

Notes From Sally

Download 5th grade wellness  HGD letter.pdf
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterFromtheSchoolNews/5th_grade_wellness__HGD_letter.pdf

     Assembly (In the Meeting Room): Music and Painting: Sounds and 
Colors and What They Unveil with Christine Kharazian, violin and 
Frank Conlon, piano.

     This week's Northwest Current correspondents: Nia Baker and 
Alexandra McGuire.

     Today the Wisconsin Avenue campus will hold a lockdown drill. 
Students have been briefed on what to do for the drill.

     Is your son or daughter interested in participating in this 
year's Black History Month Show? Rehearsals are expected to be 2-3 
hours most weekends in January and February, with additional 
afterschool commitments the week of the performances (February 
11-15). Please contact Mrs. Clarkson or Leslie Segal if you have 
questions or have a student interested in participating.

     The Middle School Diversity Leadership conference is Tuesday, 
January 29th at Sandy Spring Friends School. This year's topic is 
creating a safe and inclusive community, and our own Vertical Voices 
will be performing. Students will depart school by bus after silence 
and attendance and will return by approximately 3:30pm. Interested 
6th, 7th or 8th graders should talk to Mrs. Clarkson or Leslie Segal.

     A reminder that next Friday, December 7th, is a half day for the 
Middle School. We will dismiss at 11:45. Lunch will be served to all 
students before school is dismissed. The Aftercare Program will be 
open, beginning at 12 noon. The shuttle to the Edgemoor Campus will 
NOT run until the normal dismissal time. These options exist for 
students who normally ride the shuttle: Parents may pick students up 
at Middle School at 11:45. Students may drop in to Aftercare. Please 
contact Elizabeth Kerr by Monday 4 pm at [email-masked] to drop in 
(regular after care participants do not need to RSVP) The drop in 
charge is $40. Please complete a drop in form if you do not already 
have one on file (form found on MS web page).

     An important announcement regarding Minimester trips: The 
interest in both the France and the Tetons trips was large, so we 
will need to choose students by lottery for those two programs. 
However, there is plenty of room in China, Florida, and Oaxaca. If 
any 8th grader who applied for France or the Tetons as a first choice 
and would like to change their preferences, please let me know right 
away. It is also likely that we will have room for 7th graders in 
China, Florida and Oaxaca, so interested students should apply! 5th 
graders will begin their growth and development classes next week. 
More information may be found in the attachment. If you have 
questions, please contact Nurse Jasmin Whitfield.

     Thanks so much to everyone who cooked and purchased for the Bake 
Sale last Monday! We have $675 ready to send to New York for relief 
efforts! Thank you, too, to everyone who brought leftover Halloween 
candy; the Washington Home was glad to receive a lot of leftover 
candy for their programs. The UNICEF total will be in next week's 
Tuesday Letter - I'm still running those coins through Coinstar!

Chorus Announcements

     7/8 Chorus Rehearsals This Week

     Tuesday, November 27th: Boys Ensemble 2:30-4pm

     Wednesday, November 28th: Boys Ensemble 7:25 ALL singers in 
concert during rehearsal period 12:55-1:50p. Girls Ensemble 3:45 
(sharp) to 5:30p

     Friday, November 30th: Boys Ensemble during BREAK at 11:00

Instrumental Music Notes

     5/6 Full Orchestra Wednesday rehearsal period

     7/8 Full Orchestra Wednesday rehearsal period

     7/8 Full Orchestra Monday December 10th 3:30-5:30 Arts Center 
Stage

Summer Amazon Rainforest Trip for Current SFS 7th and 8th Graders!!

     Experience the tremendous variety of living things found in the 
rainforest on this 10-day trip to the Amazon River basin of Northern 
Peru.

     Explore the forest from the ground with naturalist guides and 
work alongside scientists studying the forest canopy! Highlights 
include ascending 115 feet to a ¼- mile canopy walkway to conduct 
canopy research, taking river explorations looking for piranha and 
Pink River Dolphins, looking for and learning about unusual insects 
and plants in an ethno-botanical garden, and searching for rainforest 
birds early in the morning and night life when it's dark. We will 
also be interacting with local Yagua Indians to learn about their 
culture and taking part in a half-day project with a local community 
to find out more about their lives.

     Margaret Pennock will be leading this student group with 
Environmental Expeditions, an educational organization focused on 
environment, sustainability, and culture. Interested students should 
pick up an information packet from Margaret as soon as possible.

     Important Information Session: Tuesday, Dec. 18th at 7pm in 
Drama Studio

     Tentative Trip dates: June 28 - July 7

     Approximate Cost: $2,000-$2,150 (depending on group size) + 
approximately $1300 for air fare.

     Deposit: A $400 deposit is due no later than January 15th.

Financial Aid for 2013-14 School Year

     If you are a current financial aid recipient, an email will be 
sent on December 1 with information including the deadline for the 
SSS Parent Financial Statement. If you are not receiving financial 
aid currently, but want to apply for the upcoming school year, please 
call 202-537-2402.

"The Declassified" at Sidwell in December

     SFS Alum Adrienne Sirken '76, Executive Director at Golandsky 
Institute International Piano Festival at Princeton University, will 
bring "The Declassified" to the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room on 
December 5, 2012 at 7:30 pm to perform a concert of classical music.

     "The Declassified", is a cutting-edge chamber music society 
forging an integrated role for classical music in communities around 
the world. Based in New York City, The Declassified maintains a 
flexible roster of a new type of musician: virtuoso, arts advocate 
and educator. The group consists of some of the world's best and 
brightest young classical musicians who are seeking to reinvigorate 
the cultural conversation around classical music. They combine 
world-class artistry, revelatory audience engagement, and innovative 
programming in pursuit of a new model for the musician in today's 
society."

     Please join us on Wednesday, December 5 for what is sure to be 
this exciting and inspiring performance! Tickets will be available at 
the door at a cost of $10.00 - cash or check. (No charge cards 
accepted) There is no charge for Sidwell Friends students, faculty 
and staff.

PA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Parents Meeting on Nov. 28

     The Parents of Black Students cordially invite you to a meeting 
to discuss the "Top Ten Ways to Help Your Child Succeed at an 
Independent School". The meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 
28, 2012, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Robert L. Smith Meeting 
Room. This meeting will feature a presentation by Dr. Linda McGhee, a 
clinical psychologist in Maryland; as well as perspectives from a 
panel of faculty members and parents discussing tips and strategies 
to help your student be successful. Contact PBS co-clerks Suzann 
King, [email-masked], or Michelle Profit, 
[email-masked] for further details. All are welcome.

Community Service Corner

     In the Spirit of Giving: It's time for the Annual All-School 
Holiday Gift Giving Event! Please consider donating unwrapped gifts 
and wrapping paper to our long time community partners, Rosemount 
Center and Martha's Table. Gifts should be for children ages 
infant-18. Collection boxes will be in the MS lobby Tuesday, November 
27-Friday, December 14.

     New Addition to the MS Lobby: Ever wondered what to do with your 
old cell phone? Why not donate it to Sidwell Friends newest community 
partner, Secure the Call? Your phone could help save a life once it 
is converted to a 911 Emergency Access Phone. Look for the cell phone 
collection barrel in the MS lobby, and for more information about 
Secure the Call please visit http://www.securethecall.org/about-us

     Rub a Dub, Dub: Please consider contributing to the MS Toiletry 
Collection! Travel or regular sized personal care items will be 
donated to our partner organizations. A collection basket will be in 
the MS office throughout the rest of the school year.

Parents Invited to Meeting For Worship

     Parents of Middle School students are invited to attend Meeting 
for Worship with their child on Thursday, December 20, 8:10 - 8:40 
a.m., in the Smith Meeting House. For Quakers, wisdom begins in 
silence. This is a wonderful way for parents to experience Meeting, 
take part in your child's education, and demonstrate the value of 
silent worship.

Artrageous 2013!

     ARTRAGEOUS 2013..... January 27th, 1-4 pm All Arts. All School. 
All Welcome. 

     Our theme-- ART CAN!! (...Inspire, provoke, celebrate!) Join us 
NOW to help create it~~ parents and students we need your... talent, 
energy, willingness to help!

     For student participation, please email Ola Cole Laryea: 
[email-masked]. For parent volunteers please email Dana Lucas:  
[email-masked]

OTHER NEWS
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6th Grade Girls Softball

     Calling all 6th grade girls interested in joining a SPRING 
Softball team (BCC baseball league). Games are played on Sunday 
afternoons between 12 and 5, April through June. BCC requests that 
all interested players register in the Fall. Please contact team 
manager Maureen Gormley, [email-masked] as soon as possible 
for more details if you are interested.

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Sidwell Friends School
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