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Below please find the March 23, 2017 weekly all-school e-newsletter, sent out to all SSFS families each Thursday afternoon with news, photos, upcoming events, and "must-know" info. This information is also available on the website here (or click the links below--Lower School, Middle School, Upper School--to jump directly to a specific section of the bulletin.

Please note that we will not send out a newsletter next week (March 30), as we will be on Spring Break. Our next newsletter will be sent on Thursday, April 6. Have a safe, restful, and rejuvenating Spring Break!

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ALL SCHOOL NEWS

 
 
ALL-School "MUST-KNOW" Upcoming Events

The calendar information below is for all-school, cross-divisional events and activities in the coming weeks. Please see the Lower School, Middle School, or Upper School sections for division-specific "must-know" info.

  • Mon-Fri, Mar. 20-24: MS Immersion Week; US Intersession Week
  • Mon-Fri, Mar. 27-31: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
  • Mon, Apr. 3: Classes Resume
  • Thurs, Apr. 6: Foreign Relations Journalist Panel Discussion, 7:15 pm, Yarnall Library
  • Fri, Apr. 7: Last Day of 3rd Quarter
  • Mon, Apr. 10: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
  • Wed, Apr. 12: Admissions "Discover SSFS" event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP online)
  • Thurs, Apr. 13: "Our Planet, Our People" Day (a.k.a. Earth Stewardship Day)
  • Thurs-Sat, Apr. 27-29: Upper School Musical, "The Wiz," 7:15 pm, PAC
  • Fri, Apr. 18: PA Meeting for Worship, 8:15-9:15 am, Meeting House
  • Sat, May 6: Admissions Pre-Primary Spring Fling Event (Find out more and RSVP here)
  • Fri, May 12: SBP Memorial Concert and Dinner - More info coming soon!

Important Calendar Information: May 26 - No School

All SSFS families were sent the following announcement via email on Tuesday, March 22:

Dear SSFS Families,

Thus far a mild winter has meant that we have not used our scheduled snow days for the 2016-2017 calendar year. With this in mind, and assuming that we don't have any additional weather-related school closures, SSFS has decided to allow for a NON snow day "snow day" (i.e., no school) on Friday, May 26, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.


Kids After Hours and our Middle School after care will be available for child care during the school day on May 26 if needed. We will be in touch with more details after spring break.

While not exactly as spontaneous as the real thing, we hope that all members of our community will benefit from the gift of extra time to enjoy a slightly longer holiday weekend in May!


Middle School Head Search Update

The Middle School Head Search Committee invites you to check our web page for the latest updates and information about the search committee schedule and process.


SSFS Parents Association: Upcoming Meetings, Events, and Info

Upcoming Meetings and Events

  • Thurs, Apr. 6: Auction Committee Meeting, 8:15 am, Scott House (or dial in at 866-894-8254, passcode 7545542)
  • Sat, Apr. 8: Post-Prom Event - Sign up to volunteer here!
  • Fri, Apr. 14: Auction Committee Meeting, 8:15 am, Scott House (or dial in at 866-894-8254, passcode 7545542)

April 8: 2017 Post Prom - PLEASE SIGN UP TO HELP!
This year's Post Prom will take place on April 8, 2017 from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am in Yarnall Hall. All SSFS juniors and seniors (and their dates) are invited to our post-prom extravaganza from 11:00 pm – 7:00 am in Yarnall Hall. Watch your friends stick to the Velcro wall and play inflatable twister! We will even have a hypnotist performing shows all night long! With snacks, movies, video games, music, and other awesome entertainment, this is going to be a night to remember! There are great volunteer opportunities for parents in all divisions so please check out the SignUp Genius page to see how you can pitch in! A special thanks to GEICO for helping us fund the event. Please sign up to help with Post Prom here.

Looking to Get Involved?
Visit the PA Website to see the PA reps and sign up to volunteer at any one of our many fun events throughout the year. Note that some upcoming events that will need volunteers are starting to get up and running.

We are currently looking for a clerk or co-clerks for the Teacher Appreciation Luncheon in June. These clerks will help coordinate volunteers and food delivery. There is always a good group of people who will come out to help with this event but we would like to smooth the process by finding clerks before the end of year rush.

Affinity Programs
This year's grocery rewards program is up and running. Please click here to find out more about how to register yourself with participating stores, and earn money for the school every time you shop. The current programs include AmazonSmile, Harris Teeter, and Giant.

PA Reimbursements
If you have incurred any expenses on behalf of the SSFS Parents Association, please submit your receipts through our new on line reimbursement system. This is currently available thru the link https://tinyurl.com/SSFS-PA-Refunds. Instructions are provided at the link.

Who We Are
The SSFS Parent Association (the PA) is made up of all SSFS parents and guardians, no special membership required. We hope you will all join us in supporting the School and our kids at many upcoming events as the year unfolds! Some upcoming events are listed below. Please visit the PA website to see PA reps, and sign up to volunteer!


April 6: Foreign Relations Journalist Panel

How is America's role on the international stage changing? How have we gotten to this geopolitical stance, and where are we headed? How might the new administration protect or jeopardize our national interests? What's it like to spend your career writing about foreign relations?

This year's "Careers in Writing" event is a panel discussion entitled "First Draft of History: Writing about Foreign Relations." We'll host two experts in geopolitics and international relations.

David Wood is a veteran war correspondent with a Pulitzer Prize to his name and a new book called What Have We Done: The Moral Injury of America's Longest Wars. Steve LeVine is a long-time journalist on the intersection between technology, energy, and geopolitics, a Georgetown professor of Security Studies, and the author of The Powerhouse, Putin's Labyrinth and The Oil and the Glory. They'll speak with Upper School History department chair Kathy Laughlin, SSFS's own expert in Middle East Studies.

The event is part of an annual speaker series, sponsored by the SSFS Writing Center, which spotlights writing-related careers for students, parents, and faculty/staff. All community members are invited to join us at 7:15 pm on Thursday, April 6, in Yarnall Library. Refreshments will be available, and both panelists will be selling and signing books. Students should ask their history teachers about earning extra credit for attending. To reserve your spot, please write to Writing Center Director Ariel Voorhees: ariel.voorhees@ssfs.org.


May 13: PA Auction - Save the Date!

It's not too early to think spring! Plan to join us on Saturday, May 13 for Celebrating SPICES, the Parents Association's annual auction! Each year, this special event brings together SSFS families and raises critical support for financial aid—and we need your support as volunteers, item solicitors, committee members, and guests to be successful! Click here for more information and to RSVP. Questions? Email PA.AuctionClerk@ssfs.org.

The PA Auction Committee will be meeting at the following dates/times below. Anyone who can't attend in person is welcome to dial in at 866-894-8254, passcode 7545542.

  • Wed, Mar. 22: Auction Committee Meeting, 8:15 am, Scott House
  • Thurs, Apr. 6: Auction Committee Meeting, 8:15 am, Scott House
  • Fri, Apr. 14: Auction Committee Meeting, 8:15 am, Scott House

 
 
 
 
 

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS

 
 
LS "MUST-KNOW" Upcoming Events

Below is information about upcoming LS events. For questions or more information about an event, please contact Pam Gilmer, LS Administrative Assistant, at ext. 112 or pam.gilmer@ssfs.org.

  • Fri, Mar. 24: LS Talent Show - Group B, 8:30-10:00 am, Clifton
  • Mon-Fri, Mar. 27-31: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
  • Mon, Apr. 3: Classes Resume
  • Thurs, Apr. 6: Foreign Relations Journalist Panel Discussion, 7:15 pm, Yarnall Library
  • Fri, Apr. 7: Last Day of 3rd Quarter
  • Mon, Apr. 10: NO CLASSES - Professional Day, LS Parent-Teacher Conferences
  • Wed, Apr. 12: Admissions "Discover SSFS" Event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP online)
  • Thurs, Apr. 13: Our People, Our Planet Day (a.k.a. Earth Stewardship Day)
  • Tues, Apr. 25: LS Parent-Child Workshare, 3:30-5:00 pm
  • Thurs-Sat, Apr. 27-28: Upper School Musical, "The Wiz," 7:15 pm, PAC
  • Fri, Apr. 28: 4th Grade Camping Trip

LS Talent Show Off to a Great Start!

Our LS students showcased some fantastic performances this morning, including gymnastics, piano, dancing, singing, card tricks, and more! Congratulations to all of today's performers, and we look forward to seeing tomorrow's show, again in Clifton at 8:30 am. Fred Sisk will be putting together a video of both performances in the coming week. Meanwhile, photos have been uploaded to Vidigami, as well.


Calling All Pet Lovers

Did you know that the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center has a WISHLIST? The members of SPARK 2016-2017 are pet lovers, and we will be collecting donations for the dogs and cats in the Montgomery County Animal Services and Adoption Center. There will be a donation box in the lobby in Lower, Middle and Upper school from April 3rd to April 14th. If you are a pet lover, please read the list below and consider donating an item.

Dog Lovers:

  • Long-lasting chews like Bully Sticks or Pig Ears (U.S.A. manufactured, no rawhides please)
  • KONG toys and wobblers
  • Plush, Squeaky Toys and Rope Bones (No tennis balls please)
  • Waste bags, (a.k.a. "poop bags")

Cat Lovers:

  • Temptations cat treats (opened packages cannot be accepted)
  • Kitty KONG toys
  • Cat toys (plastic balls, crinkle toys, small plush, etc.)

All Pet Lovers:

  • Newspaper
  • Towels
  • Blankets
  • Bath Mats

Thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please contact Brenda Benjamin at (301) 774-7455 x204 or email Brenda.Benjamin@ssfs.org.


Important Calendar Information: May 26 - No School

All SSFS families were sent the following announcement via email on Tuesday, March 22:

Dear SSFS Families,

Thus far a mild winter has meant that we have not used our scheduled snow days for the 2016-2017 calendar year. With this in mind, and assuming that we don't have any additional weather-related school closures, SSFS has decided to allow for a NON snow day "snow day" (i.e., no school) on Friday, May 26, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.


Kids After Hours and our Middle School after care will be available for child care during the school day on May 26 if needed. We will be in touch with more details after spring break.

While not exactly as spontaneous as the real thing, we hope that all members of our community will benefit from the gift of extra time to enjoy a slightly longer holiday weekend in May!


Middle School Head Search Update

The Middle School Head Search Committee invites you to check our web page for the latest updates and information about the search committee schedule and process.


Spring Club Brochure Coming Your Way Soon!

We are currently lining up our spring offerings of clubs and will be sending information to you soon! The spring session of clubs will begin the week of April 11th. Look for club announcements during the last week of March!


April 5: Author Kate Hannigan Visits SSFS

Celebrated author and Black-Eyed Susan Nominee Kate Hannigan is coming to campus Wednesday, April 5th! She will be meeting with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes to talk about her book, The Detective's Assistant, and the writing process. To illustrate the importance of persistence and resilience to success, she'll be bringing "The Scroll of Doom," a 65-foot long roll of laminated rejection letters.

The Detective's AssistantMany of our students have already read The Detective's Assistant, an exciting tale of personal challenge and historical fiction. The library's four copies have been in constant circulation since winter break. If your child hasn't yet read The Detective's Assistant, consider making it a Spring Break read. They will get even more out of author's visit! Kate Hannigan will be happy to sign student copies of her book.

The Detective's Assistant is an adventure story at heart. Orphaned Nell arrives in Chicago to find that her not-so-happy-to-have-a-family aunt (based on the real Kate Warne) is a female detective working for the famous Pinkerton's National Detective agency! Strong-willed yet scared, tough but needy, Nell quickly makes herself indispensable; cracking codes and spying where no grown up could go. Set just before the civil war, the book's multiple story lines are enriched with the details from Hannigan's extensive research.


 
 
 
 
 

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

 
 
MS "MUST-KNOW" Upcoming Events

Below is information about upcoming MS and all-school activities and events in the coming weeks. For questions or more information about an event, please contact Meredith Shankle, MS Administrative Assistant, at ext. 160 or meredith.shankle@ssfs.org.

  • Mon, Mar. 20-24: MS Immersion Week
  • Mon-Fri, Mar. 27-31: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
  • Mon, Apr. 3: Classes Resume
  • Wed, Apr. 5: 7th Grade Science Field Trip to the Zoo
  • Thurs, Apr. 6: MS Coffee & Conversation, 8:15am, Scott House (rescheduled from 3.14)
  • Thurs, Apr. 6: Foreign Relations Journalist Panel Discussion, 7:15 pm, Yarnall Library
  • Fri, Apr. 7: Last Day of 3rd Quarter
  • Fri, Apr. 7: 7th & 8th Grade Dance, 7:30-9:30 pm, Middle School
  • Mon, Apr. 10: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
  • Thurs, Apr. 13: "Our People/Our Planet" Day (a.k.a., Earth Stewardship Day)
  • Wed-Fri, Apr. 19-21: 7th Grade Gettysburg Trip
  • Thurs-Fri, Apr. 20-21: 6th Grade Overnight Trip
  • Thurs-Sat, Apr. 27-29: Upper School Musical, "The Wiz," 7:15 pm, PAC Theater

Middle School Immersion Week

Middle School students and faculty have enjoyed the opportunity for hands-on and in-depth study of various topics, from boat-building and creating Rube Goldberg machines, to film-making, drama, geocaching, and much more. See some highlights below; more to come after spring break! You can also go to the Middle School Immersion Week Group in Vidigami (under Academics) to view more photos from the week--and click here to see a video from one of the Rube Goldberg building groups.

Outdoor Adventures!
By Kristin McCarthy

It turned out to be a great week to be outdoors, and the Outdoor Adventures workshop took full advantage of the sunny weather! Each of our four groups rotated through a variety of activities that took us outside and through the trails surrounding our beautiful campus. We learned and practiced the principles of Leave No Trace, and we were able to put those principles into context as we ventured through the woods and sometimes off-trail to search for geocaches hidden throughout the area. After a quick lesson on identifying macroinvertebrates and looking for signs of a stream´s health, we trekked down to the creek and conducted some observations and data collecting. Finally, our field trip took us over to Lake Needwood, where students were able to use the geocaching app and their directional skills to locate various caches in a less-familiar area. Thanks to all participants for their enthusiasm in picking up and examining the critters and for hiking through the mud!




America's Next Top Model
By Aimee Farley

The summer reading for the Middle School was the book The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. During this workshop, students viewed the movie Hugo, participated in group discussions, and built simple machines out of corrugated cardboard, straws, and skewers. The objective for these activities was for students to use their knowledge, interests, and creative juices to create a "model" using a scene, picture, chapter, etc, from the book/movie. The students definitely exceeded our expectations! We have models with intricate drawings, moving parts, paintings, and scale models with perspective. We are excited to see the FINAL products!!



Click here for more photos from the week!


Important Calendar Information: May 26 - No School

All SSFS families were sent the following announcement via email on Tuesday, March 22:

Dear SSFS Families,

Thus far a mild winter has meant that we have not used our scheduled snow days for the 2016-2017 calendar year. With this in mind, and assuming that we don't have any additional weather-related school closures, SSFS has decided to allow for a NON snow day "snow day" (i.e., no school) on Friday, May 26, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.


Kids After Hours and our Middle School after care will be available for child care during the school day on May 26 if needed. We will be in touch with more details after spring break.

While not exactly as spontaneous as the real thing, we hope that all members of our community will benefit from the gift of extra time to enjoy a slightly longer holiday weekend in May!


Middle School Head Search Update

The Middle School Head Search Committee invites you to check our web page for the latest updates and information about the search committee schedule and process.


New MS Spring Elective: Hear My Voice

The Middle School is excited to announce that a new elective will be offered this spring. Jonathan Gherman, US student and trained peer counselor, has arranged to lead Hear My Voice, a 3-4 week program for middle school students that focuses on active listening, self-advocacy, and communication skills. Along with additional trained upper school peer counselors, Jonathan will lead a series of activities to teach students about how to express their opinions in a constructive manner. "Our vision is for every kid to grow in active listening and communication skills, and to no longer struggle with how to express themselves or a problem." Hear My Voice will meet on Fridays from 3:05-3:35 beginning on 4/7/17. Drinks, snacks and t-shirts will be provided during the session. Hear My Voice is a venture project supported by Learn Serve International; for more information about LSI, go to http://learn-serve.org/. For more information on Hear My Voice, please contact Jonathan.Gherman@ssf.org.


Saturday, April 8th—It's Time for Post-Prom!

All SSFS juniors and seniors (and their dates) are invited to our post-prom extravaganza from 11:00 pm – 7:00 am in Yarnall Hall. Watch your friends stick to the Velcro wall and play inflatable twister! We will even have a hypnotist performing shows all night long! With snacks, movies, video games, music, and other awesome entertainment, this is going to be a night to remember! There are great volunteer opportunities for parents in all divisions so please check out the SignUp Genius page to see how you can pitch in. A special thanks to GEICO for helping us fund the event. Please sign up to help with Post Prom here.


April 5: Author Kate Hannigan Visits SSFS

Celebrated author and Black-Eyed Susan Nominee Kate Hannigan is coming to campus Wednesday, April 5th! She will be meeting with 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes to talk about her book, The Detective's Assistant, and the writing process. To illustrate the importance of persistence and resilience to success, she'll be bringing "The Scroll of Doom," a 65-foot long roll of laminated rejection letters.

The Detective's AssistantMany of our students have already read The Detective's Assistant, an exciting tale of personal challenge and historical fiction. The library's four copies have been in constant circulation since winter break. If your child hasn't yet read The Detective's Assistant, consider making it a Spring Break read. They will get even more out of author's visit! Kate Hannigan will be happy to sign student copies of her book.

The Detective's Assistant is an adventure story at heart. Orphaned Nell arrives in Chicago to find that her not-so-happy-to-have-a-family aunt (based on the real Kate Warne) is a female detective working for the famous Pinkerton's National Detective agency! Strong-willed yet scared, tough but needy, Nell quickly makes herself indispensable; cracking codes and spying where no grown up could go. Set just before the civil war, the book's multiple story lines are enriched with the details from Hannigan's extensive research.


The Middle School Helps Sarah's House

The Middle School Heart in Hand Committee is sponsoring a drive to collect items for Sarah's House. Their mission at Sarah's House is to provide safe shelter, daily meals, personal, as well as professional casework support for women and children in need. Sarah's House is located near Fort Meade and is one of seven shelters in the United States supported by Catholic Charities and the U.S. Army. As a supportive housing program for homeless families, Sarah's House is much more than just a safe place to sleep. Their goal is to effect positive change in the families they serve.

Each grade will focus on one area of donations. The collection begins on March 1st and ends on March 24th. The collection boxes are in each pod.

  • Sixth Grade: Kitchen supplies like disposable aluminum baking pans, paper plates, disposable forks, spoons, and knives, napkins, towels, and cooking utensils.
  • Seventh Grade: School supplies including pencils, pens, crayons, notebooks, erasers, paper, and gently used backpacks.
  • Eighth Grade: Diapers, pull-ups, and baby wipes.

Thank you for any help that you can provide!


 
 
 
 
 

UPPER SCHOOL NEWS

 
 
US "MUST-KNOW" Upcoming Events

Below is information about upcoming Upper School and all-school activities and events. For questions or more information about an event, please contact Shinae Byhouwer, US Administrative Assistant, at ext. 109 or shinae.byhouwer@ssfs.org.

  • Mon-Fri, Mar. 20-24: Intersession Week
  • Mon-Fri, Mar. 27-31: NO SCHOOL - Spring Break
  • Sun, Apr. 2: Dorm Re-Opens, 6:00 pm
  • Thurs, Apr. 6: Foreign Relations Journalist Panel Discussion, 7:15 pm, Yarnall Library
  • Fri, Apr. 7: Last Day of 3rd Quarter
  • Sat, Apr. 8: ACT Test Date
  • Sat, Apr. 8: Prom/Post-Prom
  • Mon, Apr. 10: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
  • Thurs, Apr. 13: "Our Planet, Our People" Day (a.k.a. Earth Stewardship Day)
  • Tues, Apr. 18: US College Info Panel, 6:30 pm, PAC - Studio B
  • Thurs, Apr. 20: US Coffee & Conversation, 8:15 am, Westview
  • Sat-Sun, Apr. 22-23: Upper School Musical Tech-In (10-4 Sat, 1-4 pm Sun)
  • Thurs-Sat, Apr. 27-29: Upper School Musical Performance - "The Wiz," 7:15 pm, PAC Theater

Upper School Intersession Week Updates

Reports and photos from around the globe have been coming in all week, as students, faculty and staff enjoy Intersession week 2017! From doing service work in our backyard here in the DC area to the Yucatan Peninsula; exploring the great outdoors in the western USA; and experiencing new cultures, languages, and foods in Spain, Italy, Ireland and around the world, you can read all about each trip's experiences online on the 2017 Upper School Intersession Blog page. You can also download photos from Vidigami. We look forward to hearing about everyone's adventures when we come together again after our spring break! Meanwhile, a few photos below:

Yucatan Peninsula

Big Sur - San Francisco

9th Grade - Florida Keys

West Virginia

Spain

Southwest Service




Important Calendar Information: May 26 - No School

All SSFS families were sent the following announcement via email on Tuesday, March 22:

Dear SSFS Families,

Thus far a mild winter has meant that we have not used our scheduled snow days for the 2016-2017 calendar year. With this in mind, and assuming that we don't have any additional weather-related school closures, SSFS has decided to allow for a NON snow day "snow day" (i.e., no school) on Friday, May 26, the Friday before Memorial Day weekend.


Kids After Hours and our Middle School after care will be available for child care during the school day on May 26 if needed. We will be in touch with more details after spring break.

While not exactly as spontaneous as the real thing, we hope that all members of our community will benefit from the gift of extra time to enjoy a slightly longer holiday weekend in May!


Prom Tickets Are On Sale Now!

Everyone's abuzz with excitement about this year's prom. Here are the important details:

  • Who? Juniors and Seniors
  • What? New York Lights Theme
  • When? Saturday, April 8th from 7:00 – 11:00 pm
  • Where? The Inn at Brookeville Farms
  • How? Buy your tickets now ($45 each—includes dinner!) from Ilene Lees or Leah Niepole.
  • Transportation? Students can sign up for bus transportation to and from the event, leaving from and returning to SSFS. Contact Ilene Lees to sign up once you have your tickets.

Saturday, April 8th—It's Time for Post-Prom!

All SSFS juniors and seniors (and their dates) are invited to our post-prom extravaganza from 11:00 pm – 7:00 am in Yarnall Hall. Watch your friends stick to the Velcro wall and play inflatable twister! We will even have a hypnotist performing shows all night long! With snacks, movies, video games, music, and other awesome entertainment, this is going to be a night to remember! There are great volunteer opportunities for parents in all divisions so please check out the SignUp Genius page to see how you can pitch in. A special thanks to GEICO for helping us fund the event. Please sign up to help with Post Prom here.


April 6: Foreign Relations Journalist Panel

How is America's role on the international stage changing? How have we gotten to this geopolitical stance, and where are we headed? How might the new administration protect or jeopardize our national interests? What's it like to spend your career writing about foreign relations?

This year's "Careers in Writing" event is a panel discussion entitled "First Draft of History: Writing about Foreign Relations." We'll host two experts in geopolitics and international relations.

David Wood is a veteran war correspondent with a Pulitzer Prize to his name and a new book called What Have We Done: The Moral Injury of America's Longest Wars. Steve LeVine is a long-time journalist on the intersection between technology, energy, and geopolitics, a Georgetown professor of Security Studies, and the author of The Powerhouse, Putin's Labyrinth and The Oil and the Glory. They'll speak with Upper School History department chair Kathy Laughlin, SSFS's own expert in Middle East Studies.

The event is part of an annual speaker series, sponsored by the SSFS Writing Center, which spotlights writing-related careers for students, parents, and faculty/staff. All community members are invited to join us at 7:15 pm on Thursday, April 6, in Yarnall Library. Refreshments will be available, and both panelists will be selling and signing books. Students should ask their history teachers about earning extra credit for attending. To reserve your spot, please write to Writing Center Director Ariel Voorhees: ariel.voorhees@ssfs.org.


Quiz Bowl Club (Season 6): Varsity Sport of the Mind

With a wonderful membership of 47 Quizards, Upper School Teachers Eduardo Polón (Spanish) and David Kahn (English) kicked-off SSFS Quiz Bowl Club (Season 6) on Tuesday, February 21st, to the free-for-all question: Appropriately, it was on March 4, 1932, that Virginia became the first state to ratify what-number amendment, also known as the "Lame Duck Amendment"? If you answered 20th, give yourself 10 points. Welcome to the world of academic competition.

A dynamic competition in the spirit of It's Academic, the longest running television quiz show in the world, teams – generally consisting of three or four members – face off to answer academic centered questions posed by a moderator for points. Providing camaraderie for kindred spirits while celebrating academic achievement, Quiz Bowl Club provides a healthy venue to foster friendships inspired by a mutual love of learning. Best of all it's fun!

This year the teams are divided into two conferences vying for the SSFS Quiz Bowl Cup and bragging rights:

POLÓN CONFERENCE:

  • Mad Max: Nerdy Road
  • Quizness as Usual
  • Gnu Champions
  • Les Quizerables
  • The Bum Brigadiers

KAHN-FERENCE:

  • Quizness Casual
  • The Washington Quizards
  • Kickin' CH3C00-(Acetate)
  • Asian Quizdom

Drawn by the buzz, spectators are welcome to standing room only on Tuesdays, from 3:05 to 3:3 5pm, in Moore Hall, Room 105 (Eduardo's classroom) and Hartshorne, Room 006 (David's classroom). Better yet, come feel the excitement at either of the upcoming Quiz Bowl showcases:

SSFS Quiz Bowl All-Star Assembly
Monday, May 15th
PAC Theater (8:55-9:45 am)
12th Grade vs. 11th Grade vs. 10th Grade vs. 9th Grade

SSFS Quiz Bowl Cup
Tuesday, May 16th
Championship Match (3:05-3:35 pm)
Caroline Hallowell Worth Memorial Library
For more information contact Quiz Bowl Coordinator Eduardo Polón at eduardo.polon@ssfs.org.


 
 
 
 
 

ATHLETIC EVENTS THIS WEEK

 
 
Friday - March 31, 2017
4:00 PM
 
Saturday - April 1, 2017
11:00 AM
 
 
 
 
 
 

FRIENDS MART

 
 
March 25 and April 1: Two Tree-Planting Opportunities

We need your help to plant over 3,000 hybrid American Chestnut Tree Seeds this spring. No experience required, all welcome! Handy items to bring: Gloves, bucket, planting trowel (we have spares if you need anything). So save the dates on your calendars and come out and help restore the American Chestnut. Please let Dave and Ron know if you can attend these work parties. Two planting opportunities: March 25 and April 1 - info below.


When: March 25th, 2017

WSSC Seed Orchard - 10AM

2600 Triadelphi Lake Road, Brookeville, MD

Contact Point - Ron Kuipers, m_rkuipers@yahoo.com, 240-838-9992
Click here for Google Map.

When: April 1st, 2017

Central MD Research & Education Center - 9:00AM

4000 Folly Quarter Road, Ellicott City, MD 21042

Contact Point - Dave Gill, Orchardsteward@gmail.com, 301-367-1361
Click here for Google Map.


Sat, April 1 - ACM Teen Summit: The Urgency of NOW!

DATE: Saturday, April 01, 2017

TIME: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm EDT

VENUE: Anacostia Community Museum

EVENT LOCATION: YMCA Anthony Bowen, Downtown, Washington, DC

DESCRIPTION: As part of the museum's new teen initiative, engage with area youth who will be discussing topics and trends in current national policy and how they are affected by them (e.g. immigration, LGBTQ rights, gender equality, the job market, continuing education, and the environment). Program is hosted by the museum's Youth Advisory Council and features Moderator Omar Eaton-Martinez, Smithsonian's American History Museum, and student co-moderators, Lailah Yarrish, Bishop MacNamara High School, and Donovan Diggs, Thurgood Marshall Public Charter High School (and museum Youth Advisory Council member). Program will be held at the downtown DC YMCA Anthony Bowen, 1325 W Street NW. The nearest metro is U Street (yellow or green line). Pizza and beverages served.

TO REGISTER: Call 202.633.4875 or 202.633.4868, or email ACMrsvp@si.edu


The Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Initiative: An Alumnus' Pursuit

We love it when our former students go on to do great things. We're excited to announce that a 2011 graduate of SSFS, Nikki Richards, is currently managing a new clean energy campaign for the 2018 state election cycle. The Maryland Clean Energy Jobs Initiative seeks to do three things:

  • Enact legislation to ensure that 50% of Maryland's electricity comes from clean sources by the year 2030
  • Invest in clean energy businesses owned by women and minorities to ensure that this growing economy is inclusive
  • Fund clean energy workforce development to establish career pathways for more Maryland workers to fill this growing industry

Nikki and her colleagues are attempting to push forth the above legislation in the 2018 election cycle and will hopefully pass their bill through the general assembly. Their campaign is of grassroots origin and will take a lot of people power to move forward--this means you!

For more information on how you can get involved, visit www.cleanenergyjobs.org. They are currently working on a Resolution which will lay out precise details for their bill (the legal jargon). You can sign the resolution in support of the initiative sometime next month--the campaign is so new that the document isn't out yet. Stay tuned to hear more about ways to get more involved in the movement.


​Family Camp Weekends at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camp Properties
  • April 28 – 30: Shiloh Quaker Camp (Hood, VA) Family Camp Weekend
  • May 12 – 14: Catoctin Quaker Camp (Thurmont, MD) Family Camp Weekend
  • June 2 – 4: Opequon Quaker Camp (Brucetown, VA) Family Camp Weekend

Family Camp Weekends at Baltimore Yearly Meeting Camp Properties offer us all a chance enjoy our beautiful camp properties during the greening up time of year. Individuals and families are invited to come and enjoy the camps for a day or for the weekend. This spring, we will have a program coordinator at each weekend who will plan camp-familiar activities for Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well as Saturday afternoon and evening. These may include things such as playing in the creek, a crafts project or hiking around one of the most precious places on earth. There will also be plenty of work projects to do! Work projects offer people with all kinds of skills the opportunity to enjoy some meaningful and satisfying work! We will enjoy meals together, have time to explore and even spend time around a camp fire in the evening. We invite you to join us for a BYM Quaker Camp experience, give the gift of your time, participate with children in activities and find yourself rejuvenated. Click here for flyer.


Countdown to Another Great Summer at Sandy Spring!

Spots are filling fast for what is surely going to be the best summer yet at Summer at Sandy Spring! We've added more options for teens and increased the number of weeks for our popular sewing and robotics offerings. Our Little Friends will remain on campus again this summer, and we've added archery and paper mache sculptures to the workshop offerings available for our campers.

Full details are available on our website – login to see for yourself that there is truly something for everyone this summer! Keep in mind that SSFS families can enter the code BEESTSATCAMP during registration for a 10% discount on camp fees.

If you have any questions or if we can be of assistance, please e-mail us at camp@ssfs.org or call 301-774-7455 x167.


​Donate your Unwanted Bicycle to a Good Cause!

Used, repairable bicycles can be put to good use by donating them to Bikes for the World, a local volunteer nonprofit organization that ships unwanted bicycles and parts to developing countries where they are used to support micro businesses, help students get to school, and transport people to their jobs and healthcare. Adult and children's bikes in most any condition are welcome (though not tricycles or scooters). To donate: send an email to David Hickson (Assistant Head of School, at david.hickson@ssfs.org) AND THEN drop the bike(s) off near his office in the Middle School, any school day between now and June 1. BfW appreciates (but does not require) a $10 donation per bike to help offset the program costs. If you wish to include a donation, make a check out to Bikes for the World and leave it with David. David will round up the bikes and get them to BfW during the spring. More info: www.bikesfortheworld.org or email David.


Sunday, May 6: The Nanty Narking Nearly 9K

The Nanty Narking Nearly 9K is a beautiful trail run and 2 Mile Fun Stroll that will highlight many historic sites in the Sandy Spring community (including SSFS!). The consists primarily of wooded paths, single-track fields and gravel access roads. It is a loop course that begins on the grounds of the Sandy Spring Friends School (SSFS), meanders through wooded trails of the Underground Railroad Experience Trail, circles the grounds of Woodlawn Manor, and passes the Sandy Spring, the 19th century home Harewood, and the historic Friends Meeting House and cemetery before returning to SSFS.

The NNN9K will start at 8:00 am on Sunday, May 6. Race Packet Pickup is at the Sandy Spring Friends School Athletic Center beginning at 7:00 am on race day. The 2 Mile Fun Stroll will begin at 8:10 am and will go to the Sandy Spring.

Find out more and register online. Questions? Contact the Sandy Spring Museum.


Simply Soccer Camp: June 19-23

Simply Soccer
SSFS and Simply Soccer are once again offering a week of soccer camp this summer! Directed by Jeff Rohrman, SSFS Boys Varsity Soccer Coach, the camp will run from June 19-23. For more information and to sign up, please visit the SSFS camp website.


 
 
 
 
 
 

PHOTO GALLERY

 
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Students, faculty, and staff in the Middle and Upper School have been enjoying immersive experiences on campus and around the globe this week, as they participate in the Middle School Immersion Week and Upper School Intersession Week! Be sure to check out the 2017 Intersession Album in Vidigami to see photos from Intersession groups, and the MS Immersion Week album to see photos of the MS students. You can also read about the adventures of the Upper School travelers on their Intersession Blog page, updated each day. 

Need to activate your Vidigami account? Send an activation request to margaret.rosser@ssfs.org.

  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Questions or suggestions about the eNewsletter? Please contact Margaret Rosser, margaret.rosser@ssfs.org or 301-774-7455 x117.

 
 
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