Subject: US Weekly Newsletter: 6-4-17
From: "Sidwell Friends School" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Sun, 04 Jun 2017 13:00:52 +0000

June 4, 2017

Principal's Letter

MESSAGE FROM MAMADOU

Dear Friends,

It's hard to believe that the 2016/17 school year is coming to an end. This next week is the final week of school! All of our students worked hard this year and are eager to greet the lazy days of summer, but they are also sad to say goodbye to one another, and especially sad to let go of our graduating seniors.

This week, 9th through 11th graders will complete their exams, and on Thursday, June 8, we will welcome seniors back to campus for the last day of school. Seniors will offer presentations on their projects, and we will close the day with an ice cream party.

Second-semester report cards will be posted on June 9 for seniors and for all other grades on June 19. To access them, please log into QuakerZone.

The Upper School administrators and I will spend the summer months getting ready for the new school year. Academic schedules for 2017/18 will be published in late July. Students will receive an email from Min Kim notifying them that their schedules have been posted on QuakerZone. Information about textbook purchases will also be sent at this time. If you have any questions over the summer months, please feel free to email me, Michael Woods, or Min Kim.

We have much to celebrate this year. Our students have achieved a lot—as scholars, athletes, artists, and more. In addition to their intellectual pursuits, they have delved into an impressive array of cocurricular activities. Whether engaged in debate, Model UN, robotics, engineering, athletics, community service, a student publication, the visual arts, a theatrical production, a musical ensemble group, or one of our many student-led clubs, students have been challenging and stretching themselves, taking risks, and making important self-discoveries along the way. They have earned this summer holiday!

It has been a wonderful year. I wish you all a happy summer!

Warmly,

Mamadou Guèye
Upper School Principal

Announcements

SPORTS EQUIPMENT DRIVE

Last year, the Sidwell Friends community generously donated more than 150 items during an extracurricular drive to collect used sports equipment for kids who cannot afford new gear.

We're organizing another drive this year and invite you to dig up all the sports equipment in your home that you no longer need, so that underserved student athletes in the area can "get in the game." Items can be dropped off in the collection bin labeled "Leveling the Playing Field" in the garage. We will deliver the collected items after exams.

Thank you in advance for your support!

–Victor Doddy '17, Eric Doddy '19, and Sam Mogilnicki '19

URGENT NEED FOR BOOKS FOR JAMAICA LIBRARY PROJECT

Time to look for books in good condition! SFS students have donated books to libraries in the Kew Park, Westmoreland region of Jamaica for the last eight years. Twice a year, the library shelves need to be restocked. At the moment, we are in particular need of books for the area's students in grades PK–2. The books we receive will be delivered during the Upper School service trip in June. Please bring in as many books as you can to the Middle and Upper School libraries between now and June 6. Donations are also accepted in the box by the Lower School library office door. Thank you for your support of the Jamaica Library Project!

HOST A STUDENT FROM RAMALLAH FRIENDS SCHOOL

Consider hosting a student from Ramallah Friends School in the West Bank for the 2017/18 academic year! We are seeking a family who can host her for a 10-month stay at Sidwell Friends (or one semester if that works better for your family). She will be enrolled in 10th grade. Please email Shoshanna Sumka if you are interested, and we can set up a time to talk about it in detail.

Events

COMMUNITY IFTAR: JUNE 4

Ramadan, the holiest month in the Islamic lunar calendar, began after sunset on Friday, May 26. During the lunar month, Muslim students who are able to do so will refrain from all food and drink from sunrise until sunset, seeking spiritual reflection throughout the month.

An important part of Ramadan is the opportunity to break the day's fast together as a community. All SFS families are cordially invited to the first community Iftar on Sunday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m., hosted by the families of Muslim students at Sidwell Friends and co-hosted by the Parents of Asian Students. This will be an interfaith event open to all.

The event will start in the Robert L. Smith Meeting Room with a dialogue on the act of fasting as it is expressed in various faiths, how Ramadan is practiced around the world, and the significance of Ramadan to students at Sidwell Friends. This will be followed by a Q&A session and a community meal at sunset, 8:30 p.m., in the Arts Center lobby. If you would like to join, please RSVP here by June 1.

LAST SENIOR ARTS PERFORMANCES: JUNE 6 AND 7

Every year, each senior takes a few weeks to prepare a final project. Some of these projects involve a performance open to the entire SFS community. The Arts Committee invites you to the last of these presentations on Monday, June 6, and Tuesday, June 7, at 7:00 p.m., when Milan Vivanco '17 will give theatrical performances in the Rosenberg Theater.

The show may not be suitable for younger viewers. Discretion is advised.

Please join us in celebrating the arts. Lemonade and cookies will be served after the event.

Other

QUAKER QUOTES AND QUESTIONS

"Simplicity also involves peace and sustainability. A simple life takes us away from the greed that is the root of war."
–Jan Arriens and Marion McNaughton, "Testimony to Simplicity" in The Friend Quaker magazine (2009)
Quaker quotes alternate with questions about Quakerism in this newsletter feature. To ask a question about Quaker history or practices, email our Sidwell Friends Quaker Life Committee's authors at [email-masked].

Calendar

Sunday - June 4, 2017

PA-LS Reunion for Class of 2017

1:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Lower School Campus

Senior Meeting for Worship

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Robert L. SMith Meeting Room

Community Iftar

7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Robert L. Smith Meeting Room and Lobby

Monday - June 5, 2017

US Exam #3 - Language

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Commencement Rehearsal for All seniors

1:30 PM - 4:30 PM

Zartman House and Athletic Center

Tuesday - June 6, 2017

US Exam #4 - English

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Senior Project - Acting - Milan Vivanco

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Rosenberg Theater

Wednesday - June 7, 2017

US Exam #5 - History

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

US Arts Guild

12:30 PM - 3:00 PM

RLS Meeting Room

Commencement Rehearsal - All Seniors

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Zartman House & Garden

Class of 2017 Commencement Rehearsal

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Zartman House & Class of 1960 Garden

Senior Project - Acting - Milan Vivanco

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Rosenberg Theater

Thursday - June 8, 2017

Last Day of Classes (all divisions)

All day

Friday - June 9, 2017

Upper School Commencement

10:30 AM

Upper School Weekly Newsletter Submissions

How to Submit an Article to the Newsletter. Fill out the form at www.sidwell.edu/submit by 12:00 p.m. Thursday.

Note about 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 Newsletter is a forum for communication among parents and is designed to provide announcements about school events or information.

Sidwell Friends School

3825 Wisconsin Ave. NW • Washington, DC 20016 • 202-537-8100

Unsubscribe  LinkArchive Link

color
000000
conversation-id
32440
date-last-viewed
0
date-received
1496581253
flags
8590195841
remote-id
270100