Subject: SFS MS Tuesday Letter 5-7-13
From: <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 07 May 2013 08:30:00 -0400

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  MIDDLE SCHOOL TUESDAY LETTER
  
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FROM THE SCHOOL
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This Week's Query
In what ways does having more improve or hurt a person's personality?

Notes from Sally
The assembly this week is a report from Minimester.  It is part of 
Grandparents Day and will take place in the morning.

Grandparents Day is Friday!  The formal program ends at 1:00, and 
there is an optional program of Playback Theater and building tours 
at 1:00.  Generally Middle School students, especially those in 7th 
and 8th grade, do not go home with their grandparents.

Attention 8th grade parents and students:  Save the Date!  There is a 
program for all students and parents who will be attending Upper 
School next year on Thursday evening, May 16th  from 6:00 - 8:30, 
including dinner.  Watch your emails for more information from US 
Principal Lee Palmer.

Let your voice be heard!  The PA Diversity team is interested in 
getting feedback from parents about diversity efforts in the MS in 
two ways.  First, we ask you to click here to complete a very brief 
survey (5 minutes) about diversity.  Second, we invite you to attend 
our parent forum on PA Diversity Efforts in the Middle School on May 
13, 6:30-8:30 PM, MS Drama Studio.  There will be refreshments and 
lively discussion.  We really want to hear about your thoughts and 
ideas so we can plan future work in the MS!  Thanks.

We are beginning to think about assemblies for the 2013-14 school 
year.  Please send your suggestions my way!

The middle school debate team participated in the fifth and final 
debate tournament of the DC Urban Debate League season on Saturday, 
May 4, 2013 in McLean, Va.  While there were only five Sidwell 
Friends teams, the debaters fared well.  Overall, Sidwell Friends 
came in second for the tournament, with the team of Julian Dixon, 
Madeleine Montagner and Ana Mundaca placing second among the 41 teams 
present.  In speaker points, Ana Mundaca came in 21st, Miles Zhang 
came in #17, Madeleine Montagner was #15, Julian Dixon was #13 and 
Zach Mazlish came in third overall among the 120 debaters present.  
Finally, a special trophy was given to the team that had the highest 
percentage of wins during the entire year and Sidwell Friends 
received the first place trophy for the 2012-2013 season.  
Congratulations to all of the debaters that participated this year!

The MathCounts team will traveling to the national competition this 
weekend - good luck!

Instrumental Music Notes
5/6 Concert Band, Harp and Guitars Wednesday Rehearsal Period 5th and 
6th Grade Handchime Choirs , Friday DEAR Period Jazz/Rock Band 
Tuesday 7 am

7/8 Full Orchestra and Handbell Choir Wednesday Rehearsal Period

Annual Physical Exams:  changes to required exams
Please note the following changes to the rules on required physical 
exams:

Non-athletes (including all grade 6 and below): annual physical exams 
will now expire one year from the date of the last physical exam. For 
example, if your child's last physical was July 15, 2012, the next 
one will be due and need to be submitted to the school via the Parent 
Portal (click on the link Update Student Health Information) by July 
15, 2013.

Student athletes, grades 7-12: athletes must have had a physical exam 
and the Vital Health Record updated within the current calendar year 
in order to participate in August pre-season or fall athletic 
activities (even if their last exam was less than 12 months prior to 
the start of pre-season, e.g., last fall).  If you find that your 
child falls into this athletic category and it has been less than 12 
months since the last exam, you may have the pediatrician write a 
note indicating that your child "is cleared to participate in 
physical and other school related activities until next physical exam 
scheduled on...." This note will suffice until that scheduled 
physical exam is completed.

Immunizations:  For those of you that have children who will not need 
a physical exam prior to September 4, 2013, please note that 
immunizations may still be required.  Tdap, Meningitis and HPV 
immunizations are required by the D.C. Department of Health for 
students entering 6th through 8th grade. Please check with your 
pediatrician and ensure that your child has or will receive these 
immunizations and submit documentation of receipt via the Parent 
Portal (under the Physical Evaluation section once logged into Magnus 
Health).

**All forms are to be submitted on-line, no forms will be accepted at 
School.** All other required health forms (medical action plans, 
medication forms, etc.) must be submitted directly via the Parent 
Portal prior to students returning to class on September 4, 2013. 
Questions? Contact Jasmin Whitfield, Middle and Upper School nurse, 
[email-masked] or Barbara Conte Lower School nurse, 
[email-masked].

PA ANNOUNCEMENTS
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Sorry, no news is available at this time.

OTHER NEWS
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Golf Tournament and Tennis Mixer:  May 13
We hope you will join us for this fabulous fundraiser and 
community-builder at Kenwood Country Club on Monday, May 13, 2013, at 
1:00 PM. It's simple, choose between a fun day of tennis or golf and 
end the day with a cocktail reception with all participants. Click 
here to register for the Golf Tournament and Tennis Mixer and to view 
the event schedule. Sponsorship opportunities are available for both 
events. All net proceeds benefit financial aid. The registration 
deadline is May 1, 2013. Please contact [email-masked] for any 
questions or concerns.

EVENTS FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS: 4th Annual Tour De Friends! May 19, 
9 AM
Join us for glorious day of bike riding and friendship in Rock Creek 
Park to help raise money for student financial aid on Sunday, May 
19th, 9 AM. Your participation includes rides of varying distances to 
be followed by food, drink, music, and plenty of give-a-ways!

Register today to help make this event a success! For information on 
registering contact Michael Tierney, [email-masked], or Mark 
Michael, [email-masked]. Please contact Jessie 
Jacobson directly at 202-537-8442 or [email-masked], to join 
this exciting family oriented event for all ages.

Bethesda Friends Meeting supports Ramallah Friends School May 19

Download Donation Form.docx
http://www.sidwell.edu/data/files/news/MSNewsletterOther/Donation_Form.docx
Please join the Meeting's Spring Fling on May 19 from 12:30 - 2 pm on the 
Lower School Campus. Proceeds support financial aid for students at 
Ramallah Friends School on the West Bank. SFS has an Upper School 
student from Ramallah Friends each year. The event includes a Middle 
Eastern Lunch, Silent Auction, White Camel Sale and children's 
activities. Any questions, contact Lydia Adelfio [email-masked].

7th and 8th graders invited to a SLOW LUNCH May 20
7th & 8th Graders…. Please join us in Mr. Sotela's room on May 20th 
for our first SLOW LUNCH.  SLOW LUNCH is an opportunity to eat in a 
peaceful environment, away from the noise and distractions of the 
cafeteria.Students can bring their lunches from the Cafeteria to Room 
316 where we will experience a mediative and mindful lunch 
experience. Ommmmm.

Community Service Corner
We'd LIke Your Suggestions!  As we begin to plan for next year, we 
would welcome your thoughts and suggestions for the Middle School 
Community Service Committee.  Please contact Co-Clerks, Sara Jane 
Harris [email-masked] or Felice Roggen [email-masked] with your 
thoughts.

Quaker Quotes
"True Godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enable them 
to live better in it, and excites their endeavors to mend it; not 
hide their candles under a bushel, but set it upon a table in a 
candlestick..." Quaker founder William Penn

"Quakers live with paradox: They are law-abiding people, but they 
wrote the book on civil disobedience...Engagement with government - 
both in support of government and opposition to unjust laws through 
lobbying and, at times, civil disobedience - has always been part of 
Quaker practice...Individual Quakers were among the signatories of 
the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and other 
historical documents. During the 19th century, Friends in the US 
actively lobbied against slavery, then for temperance, women's 
rights, penal reform, enforcement of treaties with Native Americans 
and other issues. In the 20th century the work to gain recognition of 
conscientious objection to war as well as attempts to prevent wars 
drew many Friends into the legislative arena."  Margery Post Abbott, 
A Theological Perspective on Quaker lobbying

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Sidwell Friends School
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