Subject: SFS MS Thursday Letter 3-19-13
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 18 Mar 2013 23:32:26 -0400

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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 be more thankful for the resources that I have?

Notes from Sally
Minimester begins today! All students involved in local Minimester 
programs should have received a daily itinerary. Unless otherwise 
noted, students will begin and end their school day at the regular 
time. The Shuttle Bus and Aftercare will operate normally this week. 
Absences should be reported to Julia Porter in the office and to one 
of the project leaders if possible. Please note any suggestions for 
dress and things to bring for the week; this is a good week to pay 
attention to the weather and dress accordingly since many students 
will be spending significant time outdoors. A small daypack and a 
water bottle are probably standard equipment for all local programs!

A reminder that we return from break on Tuesday, April 2nd. Once we 
return from spring break, we will be heading into warmer weather. 
Please remember our SFS dress guidelines from the Parent/Student 
Handbook: "Oversized sleeveless sports jerseys, spaghetti strap tops, 
shirts or blouses that expose the midriff and halter tops may not be 
worn." The length of skirts and shorts must also allow for normal 
movement without becoming revealing - they must pass the "fingertip" 
test.

Congratulations to 5th graders Matthew Johnson and Hugo Carney for 
their roles in "The Secret Garden" this past weekend!

And we are delighted to announce that Baby Holtz has arrived! Quinn 
Susanna was born early Sunday morning, and everyone is doing fine!

I hope everyone has a wonderful Minimester and spring break, and we 
will see you in April!

Events for Student Scholarships
GRANDPARENTS DAY INVITATIONS

2013 Middle School Grandparents Day invitations will drop this week. 
Please check with your student's grandparents to make sure they 
received their invitation. The RSVP deadline is April 26, 2013.  If 
you have any questions or concerns, please contact 
[email-masked].

AUCTION ITEM DROP-OFF DEADLINE

Many thanks to all of our generous donors to our upcoming auction. We 
kindly ask that all tangible donations be dropped off in the lower 
level of Zartman House in the Special Events hallway by March 22, 
2013.  If special wines or perishable items need an extension closer 
to the auction date, please contact [email-masked].

Spring Break Offerings
Spring Break is next week, need a little action?  Take a look at our 
spring break offerings - get in shape for spring soccer season 
working out with Coach Lester and his staff or sewing with friends 
from The Handwork Studios.  Sign up by the day or the whole week at 
www.sidwell.edu/summer.

Summer ExploreStar Program
Looking for a cool way to spend your summer?  Check out Sidwell 
Friends Summer's ExploreStar program for our awesome rising 6th - 8th 
graders.  The best part of ExploreStar is that YOU can design your 
entire schedule!  Interested in Cooking, Science, Spa, Art, or 
Sports? No problem!  Join our great summer staff, including Middle 
School teacher Ms. Bergeron, as they make this summer one to 
remember! Community Service workshops also available.

PA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Spring Speakers
Mark Your Calendars Now

Following up from last week's newsletters - remember to mark your 
calendars!

April 10, Anthony E. Wolf: Children in the Middle Years 

(http://www.anthonywolf.com)

7:30-9PM, Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

April 16, Michael Thompson: Fathers and Friendship  

(http://www.michaelthompson-phd.com), 

Breakfast with Fathers 7:30-9AM, Lower School

Evening 7-9PM, Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

April 17, Michelle Parker, book discussion about Mindset

7-8:30PM, Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

April 30, Carol Dweck author of Mindset

(http://mindsetonline.com),

7-9PM, Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

Community Service Corner
We "CAN" do it, and we did!

Thank you to those who contributed to the annual Middle School Winter 
Food Collection!   This week the Helping Hands Minimester crew will 
organize and deliver these items to those who are in need.

Spring Casserole Bake April 15, 16, 17

Be on the lookout for news about the 2nd Annual Middle School 
Casserole Bake!  Students, teachers and families will bake (or buy) 
casseroles to give to Martha's Table.   Get your recipes ready!

Questions? Contact MS Community Service Co-Clerks, Sara Jane Harris 
[email-masked] or Felice Roggen [email-masked]

OTHER NEWS
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National Youth Film Festival
"What would you do with a trillion dollars for your community, nation 
or world? Join the American Friends Service Committee and National 
Priorities Project for the World Premiere of the 3rd Annual "If I Had 
A Trillion Dollars" National Youth Film Festival on Sunday, April 14 
at Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC. Over 50 young filmmakers 
will gather in DC for this Premiere event in preparation to take 
their videos to Capitol Hill the following day and send a message to 
Congress about their budget priorities.

Sunday, April 14

6:30-8pm

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

Sidwell Friends School

Mary's Center Family Service Project
Wall and Mural Painting!

Join us for the second Family Service Project of the year. On March 
17th from 10 - 2 Bring the family, all school age kids are welcome, 
to help paint Mary's Center. Mary's Center in Adam's Morgan, founded 
by Sidwell Friends parent Maria Gomez provides heath care, social 
services and literacy services to over 30,000 people who would not 
otherwise have access. It serves people from 110 countries. It is 
located at 2333 Ontario Rd in Adams Morgan. There is plenty of 
parking. Behrends Builders will be helping with distributing supplies 
and overseeing the task at hand. Its a great opportunity to do 
something fun as a family and give back to the community.

[http://presence.mail.aol.com/mailsig/?sn=leslirose] please rsvp to 
Leslie Rose at [email-masked]@aol.com> , Community 
Service Co-Clerk with Maria Gomez

Face Painters Wanted! 
Come to the Lower school spring festival on Saturday May 4th, 2013 
from 3-5pm and help those little minds find their fantasies by 
painting their faces.  All supplies will be provided and no face 
painting experience necessary.  It's a great way to spend the 
afternoon and the kids really love it.  Please email Priya Parikh at 
([email-masked]) if you are interested.

Announcements from Bethesda Friends Meeting
On Sunday, April 7th, Joyce Ajlouny , Director of Ramallah Friends 
School will speak at Bethesda Friends Meeting, on "Life at Ramallah 
Friends School in the West Bank Today." The 12:30 p.m. forum is 
sponsored by the Peace and Social Justice committee. Those unable to 
attend can still hear Joyce talk about RFS on Sunday, April 21st at 
1:15 p.m. at Sandy Spring Friends Meeting , 17715 Meeting House Road, 
Sandy Spring, MD 20860.

Quaker Quotes
"If we better studied and understood God's creation, this would do a 
great deal to caution and direct us in our use of it. For how could 
we find the impudence to abuse the world if we were seeing the great 
Creator stare us in the face through each and every part of it?" - 
William Penn

"William Penn (October 14, 1644-July 30, 1718) founded the Province 
of Pennsylvania. The democratic principles that he set forth served 
as an inspiration for the United States Constitution. Ahead of his 
time, Penn also published a plan for a United States of Europe, 
"European Dyet, Parliament or Estates." Although born into a 
distinguished Anglican family and the son of Admiral Sir William 
Penn, Penn joined the Religious Society of Friends or Quakers at the 
age of 22. The Quakers obeyed their "inner light", which they 
believed to come directly from God, refused to bow or take off their 
hats to any man, and refused to take up arms. Penn was a close friend 
of George Fox, the founder of the Quakers. These were times of 
turmoil, just after Cromwell's death, and the Quakers were suspect, 
because of their principles which differed from the state imposed 
religion and because of their refusal to swear an oath of loyalty to 
Cromwell or the King (Quakers obeyed the command of Christ to not 
swear, Matthew 5:34)."  ushistory.org

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Sidwell Friends School
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