Subject: US Weekly E-Newsletter 11-29-15
From: "SFS US Weekly E-Newsletter" <[email-masked]>
To: "R. Hunter Biden" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 29 Nov 2015 09:02:32 -0500

Sunday - November 29, 2015

		

		

		 

					

							
								Principal's Letter

MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU 

							
							
								Announcements

JUNIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE FINAL WEEK PREPARATIONS 
IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION 
HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE: NOV 30-DEC 20 
STUDENT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES 

							
							
								Events

CALLING PERFORMERS & VOLUNTEERS - ARTRAGEOUS JAN 31 
TALKING ABOUT MONEY WITH CHILDREN NOV 30 
ISL-SPONSORED ATHLETICS WORKSHOP BY GREG DALE DEC 1 
BLOOD DRIVE DEC 1 
SENIOR CELEBRATION MEETING DEC 2 - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! 
PARENTS OF BLACK STUDENTS HOLIDAY POTLUCK DEC 11 
TICKETS FOR SFS AT THE WIZARDS JAN 8  

							
							
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                            News Around the School

                            
                                
                                US NEWS

                                MS NEWS

                                

                            

								Principal's Letter

MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU
Dear Friends,
I hope you all enjoyed the Thanksgiving holiday! 
On Monday afternoon, students will have the chance to hear a presentation from New York Times journalist Ron Lieber, author of The Opposite of Spoiled: Raising Kids Who are Grounded, Generous, and Smart about Money.  
This week, a group of students and faculty will travel to Tampa to attend the annual National Association of Schools People of Color Conference. Students will attend a Student Diversity Leadership Conference and have the opportunity to meet with 2,000 students from around the country to collaborate, engage in social justice education, and build leadership skills. Faculty and staff attendees will participate in professional development workshops on social justice, equity, and community-building, and hear speakers on a range of topics, including racial literacy, cultural competency, and socioeconomic diversity in independent schools. This conference is sure to be a wonderful learning experience for both students and adults.
I wanted to let you know that the winter semester exams (January 7-14) will begin at 10:00 a.m. rather than 8:30 a.m. The later start time will allow us to avoid any complications due to inclement weather and give students the chance to get a little extra sleep. The library will be open at 7:30, so students who wish to arrive early may do so. Please direct any questions about the semester exams to Min Kim ([email-masked]). 
Applications for School-sponsored service and global trips are due December 15. For a complete list of trips, please visit the following page: http://www.sidwell.edu/trips/index.aspx. Please direct all questions to the coordinator of Global Initiatives and Service Learning, Shoshanna Sumka ([email-masked]).
We have three weeks remaining before the winter break! 
Warmly,
Mamadou
Mamadou Gu&egrave;ye
Upper School Principal
Upcoming Events:
December 5, 10:00 a.m. &ndash; 2: p.m., FAPAC Holiday Party, Cafeteria
December 11, 5:30 &ndash; 7:30 p.m., Fall Art Exhibition of Student Work Opening Reception, Kogod Arts Center.
December 11, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., US Winter Music Concert
December 12, 8:30 &ndash; 10:30 p.m., Winter Dance, Dining Room
December 13, 2:30 p.m., Winter Choral Concert
December 21-January 1, Winter Break
January 4 &amp; 5, Review Days
January 6, Reading Day
January 6, 8:00-8:45 a.m., College Admission for the Athlete Meeting, Choral Room
January 7, History Exam
January 8, Science Exam
January 11, Language Exam
January 12, Reading Day
January 13, English Exam
January 14, Math Exam
January 15, Exam Make-up Day

							
								Announcements

JUNIOR COMMUNITY SERVICE FINAL WEEK PREPARATIONS

Thank you to all parents and students who have signed-up to donate gifts, party and arts &amp; crafts supplies for the FAPAC Holiday Brunch and Party on Saturday, December 5.  Many donations were dropped off last week and the FAPAC team is very grateful. 
Parents: If you signed up to donate gifts or supplies, please drop them off no later than Tuesday December 1 in room 222. We have arranged a second gift pick-up with FAPAC for that day. Please also drop-off party supplies, gift wrap, gingerbread houses by December 1 so an inventory can be completed. To sign-up, please go to: FAPAC Loving Circles Holiday Brunch and Party: Volunteers &amp; Donations 
Juniors: 3 Things to Remember! 
1.  Review the sign-up: If your plans have changed and you can no longer volunteer, please update the sign-up.  If the sign-up remains accurate, party managers will be able to plan accordingly. Please see this link for your role and time slot:  FAPAC Loving Circles Holiday Brunch and Party: Volunteers &amp; Donations.  
2.  Volunteer Sign-up Deadline: If you have not signed-up, please do so by Monday, November 30. We will open up the remaining volunteer slots to other students after that date. 
3.  Attend one orientation on December 4: All volunteers working at the party must attend a FAPAC-led 30-minute orientation on Friday, December 4: either at 12:10 p.m. in room 112 or 6:30 p.m. in the dining room. (Volunteers who will only be decorating or cleaning up do not need to attend an orientation session).
Thank you!

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID INFORMATION
For students in grades PK &ndash; 11 interested in applying for financial aid for the 2016/17 school year:
If you are a current financial aid recipient: you may reappy online at www.sss.nais.org.
If you are not currently receiving financial aid, but want to apply for the upcoming school year: e-mail Frankie Brown before beginning the application process online at www.sss.nais.org.
Key dates:
January 4, 2016: Due date to submit Parent Financial Statement at www.sss.nais.org.
February 1 - 21, 2016: Re-enrollment Contract and Financial aid awards available.
April 15, 2016: Due date for copy of 2015 Federal tax return with W-2 and schedules submitted to SSS. Awards are not final until taxes have been submitted to SSS.
Please contact the Financial Aid Office via e-mail at [email-masked] or call 202-537-8111, with any questions or concerns.

HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE: NOV 30-DEC 20
Dear US Families: We are preparing for Sidwell Friends&#39; annual holiday gift drive. The student-run Community Action Club (C.A.C.) and the Parents&#39; Community Service Group are teaming up for this effort. As in past years, we will provide donated gifts to benefit participants supported by partner organizations with which we have long-term partnerships: Martha&#39;s Table, the Rosemount Center, and FAPAC. Please help make this time-honored SFS tradition a success by donating a gift or gifts to benefit a child or children from age infant to 18.
HOW IT WORKS:

	For FAPAC and Rosemount: Please place unwrapped gifts in a large bag. Please include wrapping paper.
	For Martha&#39;s Table: Please click on this link that will direct you to Amazon.com for the preferred gift items, and items will be sent directly to Martha&#39;s Table: http://marthastable.org/bundles-of-joy/
	Drop-off site for US: in boxes in the Upper School Library, and if there is a tree, these would be under the tree.
	Delivery dates: Monday, November 30 through Tuesday, December 20.

GIFT SUGGESTIONS:
Rosemount Center: Gifts for children 0 to 5: diapers, winter clothes, books, board games, Legos, African American and Latina dolls, toys, crafts kits. 
FAPAC: Gifts for ages 0 to 18: diapers, winter clothes, books, toys, gift certificates for teens from Target, Old Navy (shops within walking/ Metro distance of recipients) and diapers. 
Martha&#39;s Table: http://marthastable.org/bundles-of-joy/
PLEASE NO action figures that carry weapons. No toy weapons. 
OUR PARTNERS: 
ROSEMOUNT CENTER: Located in Mount Pleasant, Rosemount provides a range of services, day care, bilingual instruction, home visits, physical and occupational therapy. SFS Upper School students partner with the Rosemount Center, providing support in the classrooms at this bilingual day care center that primarily serves children ages birth to 5 of recent immigrants to this country.
Martha&#39;s Table: Your participation in Holiday Gift Giving supports families that participate in Martha&#39;s Table Children Youth and Family Learning Programs. The program serves hundreds of children from the 14th Street corridor and surrounding neighborhoods in DC. For many years, all divisions of our School have been involved in the work of Martha&#39;s Table.
FAPAC &ndash; The mission of FAPAC is to significantly improve the lives of children in the District of Columbia child welfare system by empowering their foster, kinship, and adoptive parents to advocate for their children&rsquo;s needs and ensure the inclusion of those perspectives at every relevant table. FAPAC provides comprehensive support and training that enables foster, kinship, and adoptive parents to access the services needed to care for children who have experienced neglect and abuse, and to develop skills to serve as foster parents and mentors in the DC foster care system. Sidwell Friends will be hosting a holiday brunch for FAPAC families in early December. 
Thank you for your generosity and your thoughtfullness. Our warmest wishes for the holiday season. For questions, please contact Mohini Malhotra ([email-masked]); Nancy Rosenfeld ([email-masked]), or Hanna Endrias ([email-masked]). 

STUDENT TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES
Sidwell Friends will be offering a number of travel opportunities for our students over spring break and summer 2016. The opportunities will be announced online on Monday, November 23 with trip and financial aid applications due on December 15. Students will be notified of trip placements and aid awards in January. For more information visit the SFS Trips webpage.

							
								Events

CALLING PERFORMERS & VOLUNTEERS - ARTRAGEOUS JAN 31
Calling Performers and Volunteers for Artrageous 2016!
ArtRageous is the annual all-School community arts festival. This inclusive event will take place Sunday, January 31 in the Kogod Arts Center on the Wisconsin Avenue campus, from 1:00 &ndash; 4:00 p.m. All are welcome! The theme of this year&rsquo;s ArtRageous is The Fabric of Art.
Student performers (individuals or groups) are needed to celebrate the arts at ArtRageous &ndash; all are invited to come sing, dance, play an instrument, act, read, juggle, and more! Parent volunteers are also needed (no experience necessary) to contribute their time to help make this event a success &ndash; please volunteer for as little as an hour and then enjoy the festivities.
To learn more, or to sign up to perform or volunteer, please e-mail the PA Arts Committee at [email-masked].

TALKING ABOUT MONEY WITH CHILDREN NOV 30
Ron Lieber, a personal finance journalist with the New York Times, spends a lot of time listening to and collecting stories about how parents talk with their children about money and the important impact these conversations have on a child&rsquo;s actions and on family financial decisions. In his book, The Opposite of Spoiled, Ron shares some of these stories as well as stories about how financial differences affect students and families. One participant on a recent alumni panel observed that her friendships were affected more by socioeconomic differences than by other factors, including race. The PA encourages you to join a community conversation with Ron, to learn from his research, and to share your perspectives on this complicated topic so that we can better navigate our socioeconomic differences. Our conversation will begin at 7:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be available at 6:30 p.m. and child care is available. Please let Kathi Webb know if you plan to use the child care. A copy of Ron&rsquo;s book is available in the US library and MS Office, and copies will be on sale at this meeting.

ISL-SPONSORED ATHLETICS WORKSHOP BY GREG DALE DEC 1
Parents play a crucial role in determining whether or not children have a positive experience in sport. On Tuesday December 1 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Holton Arms School, Greg Dale (PhD) will conduct a thought provoking workshop that encourages parents to analyze the type of environment they are creating for their children. Topics covered in this workshop include; the significance of the coach-athlete-parent triangle, lessons parents want children to learn from sport and the importance of modeling those lessons, and effective goal-setting that parents can use with their children. Greg is the author of the book, The Seven Secrets of Successful Coaches: How to Unlock and unleash your Team&rsquo;s Full Potential. This workshop is sponsored by the Independent School League (ISL) which includes Sidwell Friends girls&#39; teams and 15 other independent schools. Parents of all students (boys and girls) are welcome to attend.

BLOOD DRIVE DEC 1
On Tuesday, December 1, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. a blood drive for Children&#39;s National Medical Center (CNMC) will be held at the Upper School. 
Blood drives are extremely important for the children who depend upon CNMC. The hemo/oncology department currently treats over 1,400 kids who need blood transfusions. Sickle cell patients need transfusions every 4-6 weeks. All blood collected remains at the hospital. When hospitals do not receive donations, they are forced to purchase blood.
You must sign up in advance online or you can call 202-476-5437 to make an appointment. Please make certain to go to the site and read attachments as there are restrictions. Some restrictions include current medications or vaccinations, travel outside the US, dental work, weight, age, and general health. Please check.
A donor can donate blood every 8 weeks. And platelets can be donated every 14 days. And if this donation date becomes full, please sign up to give at CNMC or another blood mobile day close to you!

Please remember, ALL donors:
1) Should eat a meal prior to blood donation and present photo ID (driver&#39;s license, passport, college ID with a picture) at time of donation.
2) Should drink at least 16 ounces of water prior to coming to donate.
3) Should read eligibility requirements prior to scheduling an appointment.
4) Must be free of cold and cold-like symptoms for at the least (3) days prior to donation.

SENIOR CELEBRATION MEETING DEC 2 - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!
What is Senior Celebration? It&#39;s a Parents Association sponsored evening with families, food, fun, and a little foolishness! It is the big event before the main event (graduation!) and it&#39;s a time to celebrate our seniors and the memories we&#39;ve shared as a community over the years. The Class of 2016 Senior Celebration will be Saturday, June 4, from 6:00 &ndash; 9:00 p.m., at the Kogod Arts Cente. A light supper and parent-supplied entertainment will be provided. In the past the parent entertainment has included everything from silly skits to slide shows, and traditionally, at some point, all the parents take the stage! 
Volunteers are needed to make this event a success! All senior parents to join us for our first meeting on Wednesday, December 2 at 7:00 p.m., in the US Choral Room.

So, senior moms and dads, if like planning menus, decorating, composing funny lyrics, writing skits, producing videos, organizing a slideshow, or just generally being supportive and adding a few ideas to the mix, join us!

If you haven&#39;t volunteering at Sidwell Friends, now is your chance... in fact, it is literally your last chance as a class of 2016 parent. Don&#39;t miss the opportunity to help make this an awesome, fun and memorable celebration for the entire class of 2016!
Lisa Larragoite and Lauren Hill
2016 Senior Celebration Chairs

PARENTS OF BLACK STUDENTS HOLIDAY POTLUCK DEC 11
Please join the Parents of Black Students for our annual holiday gathering on Friday, December 11 from 6:00-9:00 p.m. Sidwell Friends School parents Yomi Alawode and Georgine Newman-Alawode have graciously volunteered to host this potluck gathering. 
Please take a moment to RSVP, using the Signup Genius link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0544aea823a0fe3-pbsannual. (You may need to copy this link and paste it into your Internet browser to access the Signup Genius.)

TICKETS FOR SFS AT THE WIZARDS JAN 8 
Tickets are now on sale for $25 each. You can pick your seat and pay on-line using the link below. Tickets will be e-mailed to you or you can pick up before the game. Tip off between the Wizards and the Toronto Raptors is at 7:00 p.m. in the Verizon Center. The SFS chamber chorus will sing both the United States and Canadian anthems. Other fan opportunities available for early arrivers include the Wizards fan tunnel and courtside seating during warmups. To participate in these activities you must be present by 5:15 p.m. T-shirts will be provided to all fans. Click here to get tickets!

							
								Other
                                
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Three students represent the Quakers at the Student Global Leadership Institute.
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                                MS NewsGender has a profound effect on all of our lives
Philip McAdoo, director of Equity, Justice, and Community, talks about personal identity with 7th and 8th grade students.
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                        Upper School Weekly E-Newsletter Submissions

                        How to Submit an Article to the E-Newsletter. Fill out the form at www.sidwell.edu/submit by 12:00 p.m. Thursday. 
                        
                        Note Concerning the School Calendar: The calendar entries that appear in the right column of each Newsletter are automatically generated by the official school calendar and are not subject to editing by the Newsletter Editors. All changes or additions to the school calendar must be made through the school scheduling office, reachable at: [email-masked].
                        
                        The Upper School Weekly E-Newsletter is a forum for communication among parents and is designed to provide announcements concerning school events or information. E-newsletter submissions should be filled out at www.sidwell.edu/submit. 

					

							
								
									 Calendar

									

												
												
	Mon, Nov 30th 
		
				China Field Work 2016 Meeting 
				
				US Room 104 - 106
				6:15pm - 7:00pm

				

		
				PA Speaker - Ron Lieber  
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Tue, Dec 1st 
		
				US Shadow Day 
				
				Upper School
				8:15am - 8:55am

				

	Wed, Dec 2nd 
		
				Senior Event Committee Meeting 
				
				Choral Music Room
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Thu, Dec 3rd 
		
				PA Executive Steering Committee Meeting 
				
				Rusch Team Room
				8:30am - 9:30am

				

		
				Comedy Club 
				
				Caplin Theater 
				12:00pm - 1:00pm

				

	Fri, Dec 4th 
		
				Middle School Half Day 

				

				

		
				FAPAC Holiday Party Set-up 
				
				US Dining Room, Senior Center, Room 10, Room 12
				5:00pm - 10:00pm

				

	Sat, Dec 5th 
		
				FAPAC Holiday Party 
				
				US Dining Room
				10:00am - 3:00pm

				

	Tue, Dec 8th 
		
				PA Arts Committee 
				
				Upper School Room 102
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Wed, Dec 9th 
		
				MS 7/8 Chorus & Orchestra Winter Concert 
				
				Caplin Theater
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

	Fri, Dec 11th 
		
				US Art Show & Reception 
				
				Rubenstein Gallery
				5:30pm - 7:30pm

				

		
				PBS Holiday Potluck 
				
				Off Campus
				6:00pm - 9:00pm

				

		
				US Instrumental Winter Concert 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				7:30pm - 9:30pm

				

	Sat, Dec 12th 
		
				US Winter Dance 
				
				US Dining Room
				8:30pm - 10:30pm

				

	Sun, Dec 13th 
		
				US Winter Choral Concert 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				2:30pm - 4:30pm

				

	Wed, Dec 16th 
		
				US PA Steering Committee Meeting 
				
				Rusch Team Room
				8:00am - 9:30am

				

	Thu, Dec 17th 
		
				MS Meeting for Worship 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				8:00am - 8:45am

				

	Fri, Dec 18th 
		
				US Arts Guild 
				
				Robert L. Smith Meeting Room
				7:00pm - 9:00pm

				

											More

									

									Athletics

									

                                                
												
	Mon, Nov 30th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Calverton 

				5:00pm

				

	Tue, Dec 1st 
		
				Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Meet with GDS & Maret 

				7:30pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Meet with GDS, Maret, & Visitation 

				7:30pm

				

	Wed, Dec 2nd 
		
				Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Wrestling - Varsity vs. Landon 

				5:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Freshman at Flint Hill 

				5:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Flint Hill 

				6:00pm

				

	Thu, Dec 3rd 
		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - SFS Tournament 

				

				

		
				Squash - P.E. Class (Co-Ed) at Potomac School 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Tri-Meet with Bishop Ireton & Edmund Burke 

				7:30pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Tri-Meet with Bishop Ireton & Edmund Burke 

				7:30pm

				

	Fri, Dec 4th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity - SFS Tournament 

				

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - SFS Tournament 

				

				

	Sat, Dec 5th 
		
				Wrestling - Varsity - Bishop Ireton Invitational 

				

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity - SFS Tournament 

				

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - SFS Tournament 

				

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Relays 

				5:00pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. WMPSSDL Relays 

				5:00pm

				

	Tue, Dec 8th 
		
				Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) - Georgetown Prep Practice Meet  

				4:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. St. Albans 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. St. Albans 

				6:00pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Meet with Maret & St. Stephen's/St. Agnes 

				7:30pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Meet with Maret & St. Stephen's/St. Agnes 

				7:30pm

				

	Thu, Dec 10th 
		
				Swimming - Boys 7/8 vs. St. Alban's Meet 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Swimming - Girls 7/8 vs. St. Alban's Meet 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Wrestling - Varsity at Georgetown Day 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity vs. Landon 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity vs. Landon 

				6:00pm

				

	Fri, Dec 11th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity at National Cathedral School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Freshman vs. Landon 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Indoor Track - P.E. Class (Coed) - Episcopal High School Early Bird Meet 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Boys Varsity vs. Open Dive Meet 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity vs. Open Dive Meet 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity at National Cathedral School 

				5:30pm

				

	Sat, Dec 12th 
		
				Wrestling - Varsity - Tri with SSSA & Wilson 

				10:00am

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity - Paul Charter School  

				12:00pm

				

	Mon, Dec 14th 
		
				Basketball - Girls 7/8 A vs. Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls 7/8 B at Bullis 

				2:45pm

				

	Tue, Dec 15th 
		
				Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Holy Child 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at St. Andrew's School 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Swimming & Diving - Girls Varsity at Holton-Arms 

				4:30pm

				

		
				Wrestling - Varsity - Tri with St. Alban's & George Mason 

				4:45pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Holy Child 

				5:45pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity at St. Andrew's School 

				6:00pm

				

	Wed, Dec 16th 
		
				Basketball - Girls 7/8 A at National Cathedral School 

				2:45pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. National Cathedral School 

				2:45pm

				

	Thu, Dec 17th 
		
				Basketball - Girls 7/8 B vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys 7/8 C vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Wrestling - 7/8 vs. Georgetown Day 

				2:30pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Junior Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School 

				4:00pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Junior Varsity at Georgetown Day 

				4:15pm

				

		
				Basketball - Girls Varsity vs. Stone Ridge School 

				5:45pm

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity at Georgetown Day 

				5:45pm

				

	Sat, Dec 19th 
		
				Wrestling - Varsity - SFS Invitational 

				9:00am

				

		
				Basketball - Boys Varsity - Chantilly 

				7:00pm

				

                                            More

									

							

				

		

		

					

					

					

					

					

					

				

		

		
			3825 Wisconsin Avenue, NW   Washington, DC  20016   Tel: 202-537-8100   Fax: 202-537-8499