Thank you, Ken Smith!
The Board of Trustees captures Ken's many gifts to our school community in a letter of appreciation. Please read...

Congratulations to the Class of 2010
Congratulations to the Class of 2010, where 57 remarkable individuals each contributed their unique gifts to SSFS. Over 80% of this class received merit scholarships from one or more colleges for academic, athletic, and/or artistic achievement! We know that every member of this class of scholars, athletes, artists, leaders, and achievers will go out into the world and let their lives speak, and we wish them ALL the best.

Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery Exhibit Features Photographs by SSFS Parent Mitchell Layton
The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery is currently running an exhibit called "Glimpse of the Past: A Neighborhood Evolves," which "tells the story of the rise, fall, and rebirth of the heart of Penn Quarter," and features photographs taken by SSFS parent and photographer Mitchell Layton (Erin '13, Kelly '16). Layton's photos are of the exterior and interior of the Verizon Center, which is widely credited with sparking a renaissance in the downtown DC quarter when it opened in the late 1990s. Mitchell Layton is the house photographer at the Verizon Center. The exhibit will be running until September 25. See the online exhibit of "Glimpse of the Past" here...

Sandy Spring Friends School 2010 Girl's Varsity Softball Team wins the PVAC Championship
For the first time in school history, the Girl's Softball Team has captured the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) Championship. Sandy Spring Friends School won the PVAC Championship game decisively, 10-1 over Edmund Burke. The championship game was held at Montgomery Blair HS in Silver Spring. There was a great crowd on hand, a beautiful field and awesome weather conditions for the game. SSFS pitcher, and senior Morgan Miller was named as the game MVP. She threw a one-hitter and recorded 17 strikeouts on the day. Morgan was also named PVAC Player of the Year for Softball for the second straight year.

Four girls were also named to the All-Star team. Morgan Miller, 1st Team All PVAC, Kaylin Spicknall and Amelia Greenfield, 2nd Team All PVAC, and Emma Sutton, Honorable Mention All PVAC, will all participate in the league all-star game which is scheduled for May 17th, but may be postponed because of weather and rescheduled.

The SSFS Varsity team went undefeated, 14-0, for the season. The girls won the regular season banner and the tournament banner. As always, this was a total team effort. Congratulations to all!

Gazette Article Features SSFS as "Green School"

SSFS is featured in the May 12, 2010, issue of the Gazette: View the online Gazette article, "Sandy Spring Friends honored for being green". The article addresses our recent recognition by the Earth Day Network in their "40 Green Schools" project, the history of some of SSFS's green initiatives such as the Energy Garden and our compost program, and ways in which environmental education is taught in each division's curriculum. Interviews with SSFS stsaff include Director of Operations Laura Miyoshi and Head of School Ken Smith.

SSFS Hosts the Friends Environmental Educators Network (FEEN) Conference

Students and educators from Carolina Friends School, Tandem, Sidwell, Friends Central, Westbury, Germantown Friends, Greenwood Friends, Westtown, and Stratford Friends attended the Friends Environmental Educators Network (FEEN) Conference here at Sandy Spring Friends School. The conference began Thursday, April 28th, with our own Rob Jones '00 as the keynote speaker, describing his successful efforts to organize a grassroots effort to help small local farmers in NC through "Crop Mobbing." Attendees then heard presentations on Sustainability in the Amazon, Climate Change, Pollinators, Summer Service programs, Pick-up America, Saving the Bay, Garden of Earthly Delights, Pond Extravaganza, Wildflowers and Invasives, and Biodynamic Forestry. Students from different schools shared the initiatives they are involved in at their schools. Our 8th graders planned and executed a Plant Feastival for lunch on Thursday, in which they researched various vegetables and herbs that could be grown in our own Community Garden, and then prepared dishes that used these plants. Students from other schools had overnight stays with our students. Thanks to all for a well-attended and successful event!

SSFS Featured in Earth Day Network's "40 Green Schools"

Environmental Stewardship Day
Sandy Spring Friends School celebrated Earth Day early with our annual all-school Environmental Stewardship Day on April 15th. LS and MS classes and US advisories each participated in three sessions: an educational session (with options such as attending tutorials on composting or finding out about wind power), a service session (with options like planting trees or working in the Community Garden), and a reflection session (with options like silent walks or yoga). The day culminated with an all-school assembly, with presentations from each division. The weather was magnificent, we accomplished a great deal, and learned a lot while having fun.

See slidehow of the day...
See photo gallery...

"African Surprises" - SSFS parent Kirk Talbott and junior Ava Talbott's article from the Takoma Voice about their trip to Africa last summer

Kirk Talbott is the President and CEO of the World Affairs Councils of America, whose mission is as follows: "The World Affairs Councils of America represents and supports the largest national non-partisan network of local councils that are dedicated to educating, inspiring and engaging Americans in international affairs and the critical global issues of our times." He and his daughter, SSFS junior Ava Talbott, spent two weeks traveling through Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda, witnessing beautiful wildlife and scenery, as well as recovery from recent crises in these African countries. Read the article in the US Newsletter...

2010 Celebration of Science

After a year without the Celebration of Science, the Sandy Spring Friends School Community enthusiastically welcomed this event back to campus on March 4th and 5th.

The main Celebration of Science event took place in Yarnall Hall on Thursday evening, March 4th. There was a reception for the students and families who prepared individual projects or anyone who wanted to learn more about science. The reception included refreshments and a group hands-on activity this year. Everyone was invited to decorate and later watch a 3' to 4' volcano erupt with red lava. It was a big hit, especially for the younger participants. On Friday, each class toured the exhibits and enjoyed age-appropriate presentations and demonstrations. The displays in Yarnall included student and family projects, exhibits by professional scientists, and exhibits of scientific hobbies. With the diversity of projects and participants involved, there was something of interest for every student at SSFS!

Understanding, Enthusiasm, Imagination — that is what Celebration of Science is about!

The Celebration of Science is not a traditional science fair. There is no winner; instead, the review committee looks for the good in every project. Parent volunteers, many of whom have scientific degrees and professions, made up the review committee. Award recognitions were given to all participants. The purpose of the Sandy Spring Friends School Celebration of Science (COS) is to show the FUN in FUNdamental science. It is an opportunity for students and their families to have fun exploring a scientific topic and teaching others what they learn. Participation is voluntary and projects do not have to be experiment-based. Research projects and ones that use the arts to teach others about scientific principles or facts were also welcome in the celebration. This year COS drew participants with projects that used art, poetry, song, dance, drama, games, or reports to teach others about scientific principles or facts. Some participants made a collection, invented a game, or looked closely at nature's surprises outdoors.

Cooperation, Diversity, Celebration — that is what Celebration of Science is about!

All Lower School students participated in class projects. Lower School students, with or without their families, also had the opportunity to present individual or family projects. Individual and family projects were not formally reviewed. All 7th grade students participated. Middle School and Upper School students elected to work on individual or group projects. Middle School and Upper School projects were reviewed, and were eligible for the COS Medallion. 229 students participated this year and there were over 60 individual projects from all three divisions. Thank you so much to this year's coordinators Donna Zankowski and Susan Courtney Faruqee for organizing a fabulous event.

See photos from this year's Celebration of Science here...

SSFS Alum Featured in New York Times Magazine
SSFS alum and former staff member Rob Jones '00 was quoted extensively in a recent article in the New York Times Magazine about his highly successful efforts to organize a grassroots effort to help organic farmers in NC through "Crop Mobbing." Another great example of the impact our students have on the world...

See the New York Times Magazine article here...

SSFS Alum Nominated for Grammy
SSFS alum and Takoma Park resident Trevor Higgins (SSFS '97) attended this year's Grammy Awards in Los Angeles at the Staples Center as a nominee in the Children's Music category for his collaboration in the recording of the CD "Banjo to Beat Box" by Maryland recording artists Cathy & Marcy, with guest Hip-Hop/Beatboxer from D.C., Christylez Bacon: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/cfinkmmarxer6

Working out of their Kensington studio, redesigned by Trevor last February, "Banjo to Beat Box" was tracked and mixed over three months with Cathy Fink on banjo and guitar, Marcy Marker on ukulele, mandolin, washboard, guitar and cello-banjo, plus the vocal talents of guest rapper Christylez Bacon on the mic, along with his tub player and an ensemble of children overlaid singing the choruses.

On the first day in Los Angeles, all nominees in the Children's Music category played a show at the Grammy museum. Though Ziggy Marley, son of the legendary Bob, took home this year's statuette, it was a huge honor to receive a Grammy nomination and attend the awards ceremony. Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer have had two Grammy-winning records and have been nominated 17 times.

From left to right in photo: Charlie Pilzer (mastering), Trevor Higgins (recording), Cathy Fink, Marcy Marxer, and Christylez Bacon at the Grammy museum.

See the New York Times Magazine article here...

Empty Bowl Dinner a Success
Because of your wonderful support, SSFS's Empty Bowl Dinner, held on February 21st, was a great success!

With the community preparing for the past two years for this event, neither giant snow drifts nor school closings could stop the process of giving to others. 800 bowls and 650 guests later, our celebration took in close to $8,000. All proceeds will go to hunger-fighting organizations: Feeding America, helping food-insecure households throughout our country, and Hope for Haiti, directly providing food and water to earthquake victims. Our community can feel proud that the three SSFS Empty Bowl events held over the years have netted a total of $18,000 for hunger-fighting causes.

The night was memorable, with parents, faculty, and students from every division delighting in the hunt for the perfect handmade bowl. Music, provided by the Lower School ensemble and the Upper School Faculty Band, added to the festive mood. Friends House residents and guests of SSFS families helped to fill the crowded dining hall with laughter and lively conversation, and all ages were represented on the dance floor.

There are so many to thank, including Outback Steak House, donating all of the potato soup and bread for the event, and local grocery stores helping with food supplies. Many, many tireless volunteers put their time and love into the effort, assisting with the endless details of this major event. But, most of all, a huge thank you goes to all of you who supported Empty Bowls by attending! Once again, we, as a caring and active community of friends, found a meaningful way to let our lives speak.

See photos from this event...

Lower School Wee Mail Delivers!
Excerpts adapted from the Kindergarten newsletter by Lori Ligon, Kindergarten teacher, and the Upper School online newsletter Features article by journalism student Jenny Lazo
The SSFS Kindergarten class didn't let the recent snow interfere with their annual Wee Mail Post Office, where they delivered a grand total of 2480 pieces of mail throughout the campus from February 16-19.

Wee Mail is an annual tradition that gives kindergarteners the opportunity to explore all areas of the curriculum. The students first learned about how a post office is run. They talked about the various components of a mailing address, including the street name and number, city, state, and zip code. In Language Arts, they learned how to write a letter beginning with a greeting, the body, and a closing, as well as how to address an envelope. Collecting and delivering Wee Mail allowed students to explore the geography of our campus while we visited all three divisions and all lower school classrooms. And of course, students use their math skills in sorting the mail, dividing it into groups of ten, tallying the totals, making predictions, and analyzing the data… not to mention selling stamps at two cents each!

Upper School students got involved in the action, too: each senior was given one of the personalized stamps (the kindergarteners make their stamps using Kid Pix computer software) to send their PK/K buddy a letter. The seniors enjoyed having the chance to communicate with their Lower School buddies, and the Lower School students enjoyed delivering mail to the "big kids."

Sandy Spring Friends School Responds to Crisis in Haiti
Since a massive earthquake struck Port-au-Prince in Haiti on January 12th, students in all divisions at Sandy Spring Friends School have been joining together to find ways to help.

In Lower School, students in the third grade came up with the idea "Cocoa for Haiti." The third grade students sold cocoa and coffee, donated by Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts, to students, parents and faculty in the morning before school. In the Middle School, students have undertaken two projects: a dance, and family movie evening, raising over $700 for the cause. The Upper School Meeting for Worship had the students hold Haiti in the Light, and, getting permission in advance, used their cell phones to do a group text to Haiti 90999 to benefit the Red Cross, and students are planning more fundraising events in the coming weeks. The Arts Department is organizing a benefit concert for Haitian recovery on February 5th from 7:00-9:00 p.m. featuring the Larry Brown Quintet, Kendra Holt, Outta Scope, the Rockville Singers and SSFS student San Fan.

In addition to the fundraising efforts led by students and faculty, Sandy Spring Friends School has admitted two Upper School students from Haiti for the second semester. After the devastating earthquake, the two students, a brother and sister, were sent to the United States by their mother and father to live with their uncle and aunt in Silver Spring. The uncle and aunt contacted SSFS and the two students will start school on Tuesday, February 2, the beginning of the second semester. The brother, in 11th grade, and the sister, in 9th grade, had been attending an international school in Haiti.

Sandy Spring Friends School would like to spread information about all the efforts our community is making to help send aid to Haiti. If you would like to share news about the action you are taking to help, please contact us at sarah.margolis@ssfs.org. Thank you.

Find out more and read the full article...

SSFS Welcomes Tom Gibian, our next Head of School!
Please meet our next Head of School, Thomas R. Gibian. Tom will assume leadership of Sandy Spring Friends School for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Tom comes to Sandy Spring Friends School after 10 years as chief executive officer, managing director, and founding partner of Emerging Capital Partners (ECP). ECP is the largest fund manager working across the African continent with offices in Johannesburg, Tunis, Casablanca, Abidjan, Lagos and Douala as well as Washington DC. Tom has managed the daily operations of the firm and overseen its rapid growth since its beginning in 2000. Prior to returning to the Washington area, Tom was Executive Director in the Asia-Pacific Region of Goldman Sachs (Asia) Limited from 1992-1995. Tom joined Goldman Sachs in 1987 as vice president. Prior to 1987 he was with Solomon Brothers beginning in 1983. Throughout his career, Tom has focused on staying true to his Quaker values and using them in the business world. Having served on both the Sandy Spring Friends School and the Sidwell School Boards, he has dedicated his volunteer efforts to the governance of Quaker schools.

Read more about Tom Gibian...

The Beestblog Has Launched!
Sandy Spring Friends School's new blog, "Beestblog," is now available online: http://beestblog.wordpress.com/. David Kahn, our resident blogger, has taught English at Sandy Spring Friends School since 1981. He has an undergraduate degree from Carleton College, and an MDiv degree from the Earlham School of Religion, where his focus was campus ministry and the literature of the intertestamental period.

David said this when asked to describe his intent for the blog: "One of my heroes, Richard Mitchell, editor of 'The Underground Grammarian' (a sort of ur-blog, from back when blogs took the form of newsletters) spoke of a worm that is inhabiting our brains and putting us slowly to sleep. It is the worm of 'insubstantial words, hazy and disembodied, [that] have fled utterly from things and ideas.' Mitchell said he was trying to stay awake, and wrote in part to help others do the same. That seems like a pretty good goal to me."

SSFS Families Can Join our "Green Neighborhood" at Clean Currents
Join our "Green Neighborhood" at Clean Currents (CC)!If you're a Pepco or BGE customer and live in Washington DC or Maryland, you can switch to wind power through Clean Currents and actually pay less per kilowatt hour for your electricity. AND if you make the switch and join the SSFS Green Neighborhood at Clean Currents before March 31st, Clean Currents will give SSFS $10 per household for a green project of our choice (we need a minimum of 5 sign-ups). Additionally, special prizes will be given for the highest number of sign-ups within a community, the highest percentage of sign-ups and the most innovative green project.

All you need to do to switch to their service is to go to their website: http://www.cleancurrents.com/index.php/Green-Neighborhood-Effect. You'll see SSFS is already a registered community. Click on "Sign Me Up" and follow the instructions. The only potential challenge is to enter your Pepco or BGE account number. You can get this from your Pepco or BGE monthly statement. If you don't know your account number, you can find out by calling Pepco at 202-833-7500 or BGE at 1-800-685-0123.)

If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy Leissa via email dorothy.leissa@ssfs.org or phone 301-774-7455 ext 148. Let's rock this challenge, save money and green our community!

Senior Signs to Play Division 1 Soccer
Senior soccer star Alyssa Lapp is scheduled to sign a letter of intent to play Division One soccer at St. Bonaventure University beginning next fall. St. Bonaventure is part of the Atlantic Ten Athletic Conference.

Alyssa is a four year starter on the women's varsity soccer team at center midfield. SSFS won the league championship three out of her four years on the team. She was selected to the All-Star Team all four years. Alyssa was selected as the tournament MVP her sophomore year and was the league and tournament MVP as a senior. She served as a co-captain her junior and senior years.

Alyssa started playing recreation soccer as a six year old and began playing on travel teams when she was nine. Her most memorable moment in soccer was last year when her travel team, the Laurel Lightning, won the state cup. She has travelled to such faraway places as San Diego and Phoenix with the Lightning. "Playing soccer has enabled me to build great relationships with both my teammates and my coaches. I don't know where I would be without these relationships that I have developed."

Alyssa is an academic stand out as well as a super athlete; she will leave a hole in the SSFS community that will be difficult to fill. We wish her the best of luck.

New Summer Programs at SSFS Offered
The new "Summer at Sandy Spring" website has launched, with many exciting new programs to offer for students of all ages: http://www.ssfs.org/summercamp/. Camp programs include Friends Camp for Grades PK-5, Creative Company, Sports Academy, and Springwood Adventures for grades 6-12, Skills and Thrills for grades 6-8, CIT program from grades 9-12, and the Summer Immersion Program for grades 9-12. Check it out!

SSFS Men's Soccer Honored by Gazette All-Decade Boys Soccer Team
In the Wednesday, December 23rd, issue of the Gazette Newspaper, the SSFS Men's Soccer Program was honored to have former striker, Chris Agorsor, named to their All-Decade Boys Soccer Team for his achievements as a 'Beest. Still the SSFS Single-Season Points record holder (87 points on 33 goals and 21 assists in 21 games in 2004), Chris (2006 NSCAA All-American and Maryland Player of the Year) now hones his craft for the 2009 NCAA Division 1 Champion Cavaliers of the University of Virginia. To visit Gazette.Net's All-Decade Teams directly click here: http://www.gazette.net/stories/12222009/olnespo85043_32557.php

SSFS Has a Facebook Page: Become a Fan!
SSFS now has a Facebook page! Currently our page has the highlights and photos from this fall's events. When you visit the page, be sure to hit the "Become a Fan" button! We will post a new item every week (usually Monday mornings) about the great things going on here at SSFS. Feel free to post comments, etc., as well. We want to hear from you! SSFS is beginning to use social networking tools, and we're hoping it will be a great interactive way to keep the community involved and reach out to people who may be interested in finding out more about SSFS.

The Empty Bowl Project at SSFS
The school community has been busy all fall making bowls for our upcoming Empty Bowl dinner, which will be held on February 21st, 2010 from 4-7. The February 2010 dinner will be Sandy Spring's third event. This fall the community has once again been busy offering their creative minds and hands to the business of making bowls in order to help others. Please feel welcome to join us at one of our bowl making and glazing sessions. You will find more information about the dates and the dinner at http://faculty.ssfs.org/~ksantori/art/.

This year our dinner will once again feature delicious soup made from vegetables donated by our students, inspired by the story of "Stone Soup" and cooked by dozens of volunteer parents. It will be supplemented with some cream of potato soup and honey wheat bread from the Outback Steakhouse in Aspen Hill, a supporter of our event. Student dancers and musicians will regale the diners after they have chosen their favorite bowl from the many hundred beautiful ones to pick from. Please join us on February 21st, in the Sandy Spring School cafeteria, at our third bi-annual Empty Bowl Dinner.

Read the full article, including how the Empty Bowl project got started, and about past Empty Bowl events...

Community Joins Together for the Help the Homeless Walkathon
On the morning of Saturday, November 21st, approximately 220 members of the SSFS community joined together to walk in the 22nd Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon in Washington, DC. Most of us arrived by buses driven by volunteer staff/faculty members, while others came by Metro. However, we all gathered for one purpose, to raise awareness and funds for homeless individuals.

In the D.C. metropolitan area, over 12,000 people are homeless. Through the efforts of parent Glenn Rubino, $50 per SSFS participant will be donated to a homeless charity by his employer, Fannie Mae. This means our group raised over $10,000 to help fund homeless organizations. Our participation, literally, put food on the table for many, many families in need. We showed that the simple act of getting out of bed, and taking a walk around the beautiful monuments of Washington, DC, is a gift of commitment and caring, helping others at a crucial time.

Thank you one and all who participated and made this a success, and thank you, too, to Dad's Diner, who provided the walkers with a warm, hearty lunch back on campus after the walk. (Photo by Ligia Molina-Gorton)

32 Upper School Students Receive Recognition for Academic Achievement
Sandy Spring Friends School congratulates students who have received word of awards for academic achievement. A total of thirty-two individual students received awards. Awards came from five different organizations. Head of the Upper School, David Hickson said, "We are a small school with graduating classes of between 60 and 65 students. It is wonderful to have so many Sandy Spring Friends School students recognized for outstanding academic achievement." Read more...

Fall Sports Wrap-Up
The women's varsity soccer team won two championship banners this fall. The girls went 10-0 in regular season league play to secure the reg. season championship and then beat the Field School in the final of the PVAC Tournament 4-1 to secure the second banner. Alyssa Lapp scored twice and Linnea Burgevin and Brenna Connell each had a goal in the Championship game. Senior Alyssa Lapp was named MVP of the game. Seniors Tobi Goss and Alyssa Lapp were voted first team All PVAC. Freshman Kaylin Spicknall and Brenna Connell were voted 2nd team All PVAC and Senior Taylor Milbrath earned Honorable Mention All League. Alyssa Lapp was named the 2009 PVAC Player of the Year. The girls finished the season with an overall record of 15-2-1. Tobi Goss finished her 4 year varsity career with 50 goals and 39 assists. In her four years, Alyssa Lapp had 53 goals and 32 assists.

Women's Varsity Volleyball gained the first ever Sandy Spring Volleyball PVAC Championship banner this year. The girls went 13-1 in league play and 15-3 overall.Juniors Avery Friedman and Tammy Bah earned First team All PVAC honors. Sophomore Paige Holmes was voted 2nd Team All PVAC and Senior Erin Hill earned Honorable Mention All PVAC honors.

Furthering a proud tradition of thirteen consecutive winning seasons, this year's SSFS Men's Varsity Soccer Team completed an overall campaign of 5-3-5 (5-2-3 in PVAC). In search of the program's tenth conference championship since 1999, the fourth seeded 'Beests entered the 2009 PVAC playoffs with six shutouts in twelve games (0.67 GAA), anchored by senior keeper and team MVP Brian Palmer, securing home-field advantage for the eleventh season in a row, while making their fourteenth consecutive playoff appearance under Coach Polon.

In recognition of their outstanding performance, three 'Beests were recognized among the top twenty-two conference all-star selections. Senior midfielder Luke Savonis (7 goals & 7 assists for 21 points in 18 games) was named to the All-PVAC First Team, while junior Drew Carneal (5 goals & 8 assists for 18 points in 10 games) and sophomore Braeden Kelly (8 goals & 5 assists for 21 points in 18 games) were both named to the All-PVAC Second Team. In addition, senior goalkeeper Brian Palmer received the designated honor of a Coach's selection for his Herculean consistency all season.

Sophomore Max Talisman Shines in Theater J's Production of "Lost in Yonkers"
Sophomore Max Talisman is currently appearing in Theater J's production of Neil Simon's hit play "Lost in Yonkers." The play is set in 1942 where two young Jewish boys are sent to live with their formidable grandmother in Yonkers. The cast of characters includes a somewhat clueless spinster aunt and a gangster uncle. Max plays Arty, the 13 year old younger brother.

The play has opened to great reviews, with Max being praised in the Washington Post for his performance. The play runs through November 21st at Theater J at Sixteenth and Q in the district.

8th Graders Weather the Storm on Assateague Trip
Although a coastal storm threatened to dampen the annual 8th grade trip to Assateague, the students and faculty were undaunted! They spent one night weathering the storm, and then, in true SSFS fashion, they were able to improvise and come up with great alternatives to a day spent on the beach, including a visit to the Ocean Hall at the Museum of Natural History. Read a first-hand account of the trip by an 8th grade student in the MS newsletter (page 5)...

5th Graders "Dig" Learning about Ancient Civilizations!
If you saw fifth graders digging in the sandbox this week, you may have wondered why. Our fifth grade is learning "hands-on" what it might feel like to be an archaeologist who has to rely on "piecing together" bits of history to learn more about the customs, beliefs, and daily lives of ancient cultures.

Our students painted small terra cotta pots in class using acrylic paints. When they returned to school the following Monday, their pots had been shattered and scattered throughout the sandbox on the playground. Using simple hand tools, but finding their own fingers to be their best tools, students dug gently through the sand to recover shards of pottery. The pottery was then gently washed and laid out to dry. The following day, students began the process of sorting through the shards to find pieces of their own pots. Students then attempted to reconstruct the pottery to its original splendor. It took time and patience, and a few extra trips back to the sandbox to find missing shards, but the pottery is taking shape, and students are learning that the science of archaeology is time-consuming and often frustrating, but can be extremely rewarding work!