Subject: SFS Tuesday Letter
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 08 Apr 2013 23:22:35 -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 do our friends influence our decisions?

Notes from Sally
Assembly: The Spilling Ink Project: Tales from Indian folklore and 
mythology portrayed through dance

8th grade parents: the second (and final) tour of Upper School is 
tomorrow morning. Meet outside the Upper School Principal's office at 
8 AM.

Please join us Wednesday evening to hear Anthony Wolf - 7:30 in the 
Robert Smith Meeting Room. Refreshments will be served before the 
program.

All 7/8 students will be involved in Community Service this Thursday.

7/8 students are invited to a dance at Sheridan School this Friday 
evening, April 12, from 7:30 - 9:30. Admission is $5, and students 
should bring their SFS ID.

Last call to see the Middle School Art Show! It will be in the 
Gallery of the Arts and Meeting Building until next week.

Also next week: The Middle School Book Fair and the Casserole Bake. 
Please look for more information about these events elsewhere in the 
letter.

And a reminder - next Tuesday, April 16th, is a half day for the 
entire school. The Middle School will dismiss at noon and lunch will 
NOT be served. Students who are staying for aftercare will be 
provided with lunch. If you would like to sign your child up for 
aftercare, sign up by April 15th at 4 pm by sending an email to 
Rachael at [email-masked] [email-masked]> if a drop in form 
is on file, or fax a drop in form to 202-537-2483. The one-time cost 
is $20 until 2 pm or $40 till 6 pm. Pizza lunch included.

Also next week: Mulan! The Middle School musical will be performed on 
Friday evening, April 19 at 7:30 and Saturday afternoon, April 20 at 
1:00.

Mark your calendars: On Thursday afternoon, April 25th, we invite you 
to join us for "Inquiry, Reflection, Collaboration: An Exhibition of 
Student and Teacher Learning." Teachers will be presenting 
documentation of their ongoing projects inspired by Harvard 
University's Project Zero and other ideas. The opening remarks will 
begin at 4 in the Middle School Drama Studio, and we invite you to 
stay to interact with the exhibits.

A reminder: Middle School students may not be in the Upper School 
Library after school.

As the weather warms, 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.

We would very much like to have your comments about Minimester! 
Please send me your suggestions and comments.

Congratulations to Isabel Kirsch, who represented SFS in the state 
level of the National Geography Bee. Isabel got to the final round 
and represented the school admirably!

We are also very proud of Ben Cooper, whose wonderful film about 
Diversity was shown in February at the Middle School Student 
Diversity Assembly. His film was entered in the Bridge Film Festival, 
an international festival of student- made films from Friends Schools 
and Meetings worldwide, that is dedicated to making media that depict 
Quaker values in action.

The Bridge Film Festival has provided a forum for dialog, learning, 
and exchange of ideas of commonality and diversity. Serving student 
filmmakers across an international network of Quaker educational 
institutions, the festival is committed to nurturing purposeful 
filmmaking that communicates messages of conscience. Guided by the 
Quaker principles of truth, community, equality and peace, the 
festival gives voice to student expression and recognizes creative 
achievement.

Ben's film received the highest score in all categories and won the 
Judge's Choice and the award for Best Documentary. Here is the link 
to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6rWvHFQHwo

Congratulations to Ben!

Congratulations to 6th graders Mitchell Jubeir, Christopher Cheng, 
Arjun Sethi-Olowin and Oliver Bass, 7th graders Kevin Jiang, Anya 
Vinogradsky, Anders Broadnax, Billy Hefter, Ana Mundaca, Ella Stark, 
and Liam Susswein, and 8th graders Luke Oh, Amal Mattoo, Jason 
Souvaliotis, and Jordan Chernof, all of whom were top scorers in the 
region on the Maryland Math League Contest taken in February. 
Mitchell was one of only 5 students in DC and Maryland to receive a 
perfect score on the contest.

Math Meet
Attention 6th, 7th and 8th grade parents-

The last math meet of the year will be held at Georgetown Day School 
on Wednesday, April 17th.  Any 6th, 7th or 8th grader may attend the 
meet.  If your child is interested, he or she needs to let his or her 
math teacher know as soon as possible, since the size of our group is 
limited.  In addition, he or she needs to have a permission form 
signed and turned in if he or she has not already turned one in for a 
previous meet this year.  7th and 8th grade students are given 
priority over 6th graders for the limited number of available spots, 
since they have fewer middle school math meets remaining during their 
middle school careers.  All the same, we are hoping that we will have 
space to have 6th grade students join us at this meet, so 6th graders 
are encouraged to sign up!  We will leave school at 2:15 pm, and 
return to school between 4 and 4:15 pm.  As usual, a delicious snack 
will be provided at the meet.  This is a great way for your child to 
solve fun math problems and meet students from other schools who 
share his or her enthusiasm for problem solving.

Instrumental Music Notes
Mulan Pit Band Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. See Haiku page 
for times

5/6 Orchestra - Harp Wednesday rehearsal period

5th Grade Handchime Choir - Wednesday rehearsal period

7/8 Orchestra - Percussion and Timpani Wednesday Rehearsal period

5/6 Guitars and 5th Grade Handchime Choir - Friday DEAR period

Disney's Mulan Jr. at SFS

Download Mulan Flyer.pdf
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterFromtheSchoolNews/Mulan_Flyer.pdf
Sidwell Friends Middle School Drama presents Disney's Mulan Jr. on Friday, 
April 19 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, April 20 at 1 pm (ASL interpreted 
performance) in the Mary Ellen Caplin Theater of the Kogod Arts 
Center at Sidwell Friends School. Admission is free.

Travel back to the legendary, story-telling days of ancient China 
with this action-packed stage adaptation of Disney's Mulan. The Huns 
have invaded and it is up to the misfit Mulan and her mischievous 
sidekick Mushu to save the Emperor! The story is a heartwarming 
celebration of culture, honor and spirit. The musical includes 
favorites like "Reflection," "Honor to Us All" and "I'll Make a Man 
Out of You" as well as new songs that will get audiences up on its 
feet! Fun for the whole family!

Events for Student Scholarships
2013 SFS AUCTION: APRIL 27

RSVP DEADLINE THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 12

Please join us for the 2013 SFS Auction, Starry Night: A Celebration 
in the Countryside has arrived! From our energetic celebrity 
auctioneers Leigh and Leslie Keno from the hit PBS show Antiques 
Roadshow to our debut of BidPal electronic bidding devices at the 
Silent Auction to the delicious catering brought to you by Occasions 
Caterers, this is surely an event you don't want to miss. We are 
currently at 50% capacity, so be sure to reserve your ticket(s) today 
by visiting our online RSVP portal by clicking 
here<http://www.sidwell.edu/broadcast/action/clickthru.aspx?id=366.1981.1175478.78252.11465>
 or sending your reply card to the school. Please contact 
[email-masked]@sidwell.edu> for any questions or concerns.

CATALOGS

Auction catalogs went home on Monday with the youngest SFS child. 
There are extras available in the Special Events office, located on 
the lower level of Zartman House. Download the auction catalog by 
clicking here. 
<http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/gallery/ContentGallery/SFS_Auction_Booklet_2013_v9.pdf>

Grand Opening!
The Sidwell Friends School Store is now online.

Fly the school colors! Visit www.sidwell.edu/school-store to shop

for a spirited selection of SFS T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, and 
more!

PA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Spring Speakers

Download SFS - Mindset book discussion and other April speakers.docx
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterPAAnnouncements/SFS__Mindset_book_discussion_and_other_April_speakers.docx
A quick guide to April speakers:

April 10, Anthony E. Wolf, PhD, author of I'd Listen to My Parents if 
They'd Just Shut Up: What to Say and Not Say When Parenting Teens. 
This is an evening talk focused on children in the middle years 
(grades 4-9), though all parents are welcome to attend. Learn more 
about Dr. Wolf

7:30-9:00 PM, all parents invited to Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

April 16, Michael Thompson, PhD, author of Best Friends, Worst 
Enemies and Raising Cain. He will work with PK-12 fathers only on 
"The Importance of Fathers" over breakfast at lower school, then with 
all parents in the evening when the discussion will focus on 
friendship and social groups. Learn more about Dr. Thompson

7:30 - 9:00 AM, Fathers-only breakfast at lower school

7:00 - 9:00 PM, All parents invited to Robert L. Smith Meeting Room

Black Student Union Go-Go
The Black Student Union (BSU) is hosting its annual Go-Go dance on 
April 13 from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. The BSU needs chaperones to 
help with concessions, run the coat/bag check room, and be a general 
presence in the area above the dance floor. There will also be 
teacher chaperones on the dance floor. Please sign up at 
www.signupgenius.com/go/10C094EA4AB29A02-black. The Parents of Black 
Students (PBS) encourages Upper School parents to please sign up to 
help make this event a success at. For more information please 
contact the PBS co-clerks: Suzann King [email-masked] and 
Michelle Profit at [email-masked].

Middle School New Book Fair 
New Book Fair is Coming - Volunteers Needed!

Mark your calendars and start thinking about all the latest titles 
you've wanted to acquire! The MS Book Fair will be held in the MS 
Library, Monday, April 15, through Thursday, April 18, 8:15am to 
4:00pm. The books for sale this year are new (used book sale was held 
last year), and all varieties and genres will be available. All 
proceeds benefit the MS Library Fund, and books may also be purchased 
for the MS Library. Paperbacks generally range from $7 -11 and Hard 
covers from $15 -20. Payment by cash, check or credit card (new this 
year!). Volunteers are still needed. Please sign up using the link 
below. http://www.SignUpGenius.com/go/10C0D4BA9AD2FA46-msbook

We'll see you at the Fair!

Summer Rowing Programs
Sidwell Friends Rowing--plan your summer and support girls' sports!

Did you know that the Sidwell Friends Upper School has a girls' crew? 
 Rowing is an increasingly popular team sport in the region, great 
for building fitness, strength, endurance, teamwork, self-discipline, 
and friendships!  If your daughters (or sons) are interested in 
learning to row, there are a number of summer camps nearby that 
welcome middle schoolers and beginners.  A week of summer camp is an 
excellent way for kids to give crew a try and start to develop their 
skills before joining a team.  Here are three options:  (read more)

1. St. Albans' Summer Programs offers one week half- and full-day 
rowing camps especially for boys and girls ages 11-15 for four weeks 
beginning June 17th.  Campers meet at St. Albans and ride a school 
bus to Thompson's Boat Center for instruction on land and on the 
water.  Rowing camp may be combined with other Summer Programs 
options.  Visit the school website at http://www.stalbansschool.org 
and look under Summer Programs.

Community Service Corner
Spring Casserole Bake April 15, 16, 17

Next week is the 2nd Annual Middle School Casserole Bake! Students, 
teachers and families will bake (or buy) casseroles, freeze them and 
drop them off on 37th St. The folks at Martha's Table will be 
delighted to receive your homemade or store bought dishes, so get 
your kitchens ready! You may bring your frozen items to the 
volunteers on 37th Street during drop off and pick up Monday, Tuesday 
(remember early dismissal) and Wednesday of next week.  For 
guidelines and recipe suggestions please read more, and if you would 
like to volunteer to collect dishes please contact MS Community 
Service Co-Clerks, Sara Jane Harris [email-masked] or Felice Roggen 
at [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. 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. Join our many visitors from 6:30-8pm in the 
Robert L. Smith Meeting Room.

 Bethesda Friends Meeting
New Date for the Perennial Plant Sale. Because of the 
cooler-than-expected weather, the date for the perennial plant sale 
has been changed to Sunday, April 28. As you are sprucing up your 
flower beds, how about digging up a few perennials to bring to the 
annual Bethesda Friends Meeting plant sale? Or, if you have a spot in 
your garden that needs some color, come select from among the many 
healthy, reasonably priced plants on sale. If you bring plants for 
sale, please label them and indicate sun or shade tolerance, and drop 
them in the courtyard on the SFS lower school campus by 11am on April 
28th.  Contact Cynthia Terrell, [email-masked], with any 
questions.

Quaker Quotes
"The American Friends Service Committee is an inclusive Quaker 
organization, bringing together people from many traditions to be a 
prophetic voice and compelling witness for peace.

We understand that peace requires more than the absence of war and 
violence. Peace requires the presence of justice, access to 
sustainable livelihoods, and basic human rights for all."

from the AFSC's Introduction to Quaker Testimonies

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Sidwell Friends School
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