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.

• Thurs-Sat, Dec. 7-9: Upper School Dance Concert (all invited to attend!), 7:15 pm, PAC
• Fri, Dec. 8: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Fri, Dec. 15: Lower School-NO CLASSES; Early Dismissal Time (1:00 pm) for Middle and Upper School
• Mon, Dec. 18-Tues, Jan. 2: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
• Wed, Jan. 3: Classes Resume
• Fri, Jan. 5: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 Scott House Conference Room
• Wed, Jan. 10: Admissions "Discover SSFS" event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP online here)

As the holidays draw near, this year's junior class has been finding itself getting into the spirit of the season. In this spirit, the Class of 2019 has agreed to try to make a small difference in a unique way. Please feel welcome to participate in the following charitable opportunity, which is open to the whole community. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR DONATION DROP-OFF HAS BEEN EXTENDED TO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8, AT 3:00 PM!

S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat) is an interfaith organization based in D.C. that provides meals, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, and so much more to those in need. To learn more, click here.

SHOEBOX GIFTS: A shoebox gift is a shoebox filled with new personal items useful to a homeless man, woman, or child. Please use either a man's large shoebox or an athletic shoebox, not a shirt box, and PLEASE WRAP THE LID AND BOX SEPARATELY. This will help S.O.M.E. staff and volunteers to ensure that the shoebox contents are equitable. If possible, choose wrapping paper that is non-denominational. Also, please place a tag on the outside of each box designating whether it is for a "MAN", "WOMAN", or "CHILD." In the case of a shoebox gift for a child, please also indicate the age range (and gender, if applicable) of the intended recipient. Finally, please consider that S.O.M.E. serves many more men than women. Consequently, S.O.M.E. needs more men's shoeboxes than women's shoeboxes.

A complete box should include:
CLOTHING (each box should contain the following):
____ 1 hat (Sm/Med/Lg)
____ 1 pair of gloves (Sm/Med/Lg)
____ 1 scarf
____ 1 pair of socks (limit 2 pairs)
____ 1 pair of underwear (Sm/Med/Lg)
TOILETRIES (each box should contain the following):
____ 1 toothbrush
____ 1 travel size toothpaste
____ 2 razors
____ 1 travel size deodorant
____ 1 bar of soap
____ 1 travel size bottle of shampoo
____ 1 travel size bottle of lotion
For women: ____ 5-10 sanitary napkins
For child: _____ a small gift or toy
PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE: cash, food, candy or mouthwash

ON PARTICIPATION: Contributing to this charitable outreach is not mandatory, though it is hoped that in the spirit of giving our community will choose to participate in one form or another to help make this meaningful service project a success. The extent to which you participate is your prerogative. Some may choose to contribute more than one shoebox gift; others may elect to team up with friends and contribute one shoebox gift together. Others might be able to provide empty shoeboxes and/or wrapping paper to assist with the cause. Still others might be able to contribute with the actual wrapping of unfinished shoebox gifts and/or loading up the gifts come the day of delivery. Most importantly, no one should feel obligated beyond one's means, but all are encouraged to get involved in this grassroots endeavor.

DROP-OFF LOCATIONS: For convenience, Shoebox Gifts and/or loose items can be dropped-off any time prior to the due date (see below) at any of the following campus locations:

For a captivating evening of creativity and dance, come see the Winter Dance Concert, Thursday, Dec. 7th, Friday, Dec. 8th, and Saturday, Dec. 9th @ 7:15 pm in the PAC Theater. On Thursday, December 7th only, from 6:45-7:15 pm, students in various visual arts classes will be present to share and discuss their works of art at a "Meet the Artist Reception." Click here for flyer.

The dance concert brings three classes (Modern Dance, Advanced Modern Dance, and Stagecraft) together to assemble an enthralling production. The show is bursting with talent and creativity. The show consists of 85% original student choreography. There will be something for everyone. Cultural dances and styles include, but are not limited to, Bellydance, Bollywood, Contemporary, Chinese Fan Dance, K-Pop, Music Theater, Ribbon Dance and Shadow dance. See photos online here.

Admission is free, and the event is appropriate for all ages. Don't miss it!

The November 1, 2017, PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) talk "Problem Solving with Teens" with Robbye Fox at Sandy Spring Friends School has been uploaded to Vimeo here. (Password is SSFS.) Enjoy, and keep an eye out for an upcoming video from the Nov. 29 presentation, "Morning Mayhem," in which the presenter gives great tips and tools for trying to tame the morning chaos and working with your child to get out of the house on time (and tear-free)!

There are two more PEP speaker events scheduled for the 2017-18 school year, one on February 7 and one on April 4. The topics are managing stress and dealing with technology More information about the PEP talks are here. Tickets for these talks often go for $35/each--and, thanks to our SSFS Parents Association, we have access to these remarkable speakers for free! Be sure to mark your calendars and take advantage of this wonderful resource.

The Parent Association is made up of ALL school parents and guardians, so we look forward to seeing you at many upcoming events as the year unfolds. Please visit the PA Website to see the 2017-18 PA reps and sign up to volunteer at one of our many fun events throughout the year.

Winterfest's New Name: Friends Fest

Thank you all for a wonderful Winterfest. We are so appreciative of all of the wonderful volunteers and the community who made this event a great success. (For those who are wondering, the puppies were all adopted.) Coming soon: We will be requesting submissions for logos and ideas for next year's Friends Fest. See photos from the event here!


Upcoming Events (Click here to see other PA Events scheduled for 2017-18)

• Fri, Dec. 8: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Fri, Jan. 5: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 am, Scott House Conference Room

The Beest Café and Bookstore has some wonderful new apparel items: Under Armour sweatshirts and sweatpants, quarter zip jackets, capri yoga pants, and much more. We also have cozy winter gear like hats, gloves, ear warmers, and fleece blankets. Stop by and get your favorite SSFS student a holiday gift!

Did you know that only about 15% of underprivileged children are involved in athletics? The rising cost of sports equipment and participation continues to widen the gap between those who can afford to play and those who cannot. Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a Silver Spring-based non-profit working to give all children the opportunity to play. LPF works within our community to collect gently used/excess sporting equipment to help ensure that every kid living in and around the DMV can enjoy the benefits of athletic involvement. You can help by cleaning out your garage and donating your old or outgrown gear!

Sporting goods will be collected at SSFS from 12/1 – 12/ 15. Donation bins will be located in the Athletic Center, the Performing Arts Center, The Beestro, and the Ken & Jan Smith Collection Space (Middle School).

• LPF accepts: Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football (except helmets), Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball, Soccer, and Tennis equipment. They also accept PE/Recess items that schools can use, such as playground balls, hula hoops, and jump ropes. Please make sure donated gear is clean and in usable condition.
• LPF CANNOT accept: any athletic clothing (including hats, jerseys, socks, and swimwear), football helmets, roller blades, bicycles, shoes (except cleats), fishing gear, basketball hoops, or badminton and racquetball equipment. Please do not donate excessively dirty or unusable equipment.

To find out more about the organization, please visit their website at www.levelingtheplayingfield.org. If you have questions about the SSFS donation drive, please contact Quinn Bittinger-Esser ('19) (see Directory) or US Community Service Director Bim Schauffler. Thank you!

Thinking about applying to SSFS for another child? We encourage admission applications for siblings to be submitted as soon as possible, and certainly by December 15th. Once the application is received, we'll reach out to schedule a shadow visit. If you have any questions or if we can be of assistance as you begin this process, please e-mail admission@ssfs.org or call us at 301-774-7455.

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.

• Thurs, Dec. 7: LS Parent-Student Workshare, 3:30-5:00 pm, LS Classrooms
• Fri, Dec. 8: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Fri, Dec. 8: "Run Like a Beest" Club Mini-Meet, 3:45 pm, outside the PAC
• Mon, Dec. 11: LS Winter Program Rehearsal, 8:30-10:00 am
• Wed, Dec. 13: LS Winter Program Rehearsal, 8:30-10:00 am
• Thurs, Dec. 14: LS Winter Program, 8:30-10:00 am, PAC
• Fri, Dec. 15: LS - NO CLASSES, LS Student Review
• Mon, Dec. 18-Tues, Jan. 2: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
• Wed, Jan. 3: Classes Resume
• Wed, Jan. 10: Admissions "Discover SSFS" event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP here)
• Fri, Jan. 12: LS Coffee & Conversation, 8:30 am, Scott House

Parents are invited to attend the LS Child/Parent Workshare on Thursday, Dec. 7. This is a wonderful opportunity to visit your child's classroom and have them tour you through what they have been doing in school. Classrooms will be open from 3:30 until 5:00 pm for you to drop in and sneak a peek at their accomplishments this semester.

You're invited to the Run Like a Beest Club's Mini Meet TOMORROW, Friday afternoon, 12/8, outside of the PAC! Club members have been running for the past few weeks in preparation for this culminating club event. Plan on stopping by to cheer on our runners! The races will begin at 3:45. We hope to see you there!

Attention Smart Sacks volunteers! We will be packing tomorrow, Friday, December 8th. We will meet in Westview cafeteria at 8:15 am, immediately after drop off. Find out more about this community service project here. Thank you!

Rehearsals for the Winter Program will take place on Monday morning, December 11th, and on Wednesday, December 13th, at 8:30 am. Students should arrive at school on time in order to go together with their class for rehearsals.

Our annual LS Winter Program will be on Thursday morning, December 14th, at 8:30 am in the PAC. Please remember that students are requested to wear dark pants or skirts and white tops for this assembly. This is a special event with most of our LS families in attendance, so please make sure that you give yourself time to find a parking space and arrive in the PAC on time. There is parking in the lot behind the Performing Arts Center.

Our Fall Club session ends this week. Information on our Winter Club offerings will be coming your way in the coming weeks! There will some new and exciting clubs as well as some returning favorites – stay tuned!

It's that time of year! The Junior class is again coordinating an all-school, community-wide service project: shoebox gifts to donate to S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat), an interfaith organization based in D.C. that provides meals, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, and so much more to those in need. A shoebox gift is a shoebox filled with new personal items useful to a homeless man, woman, or child. Please click here to find out more about this special annual service project.

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 Erin Ryan, MS Administrative Assistant, at ext. 160 or erin.ryan@ssfs.org.

• Fri, Dec. 8: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Wed, Dec. 13: 7th Grade to London Town & Gardens (see more below)
• Fri, Dec. 15: MS & US Early Dismissal at 1:00 pm for Winter Break ** NO MIDDLE SCHOOL AFTERCARE **
• Mon, Dec. 18-Tues, Jan. 2: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
• Wed, Jan. 3: Classes Resume
• Tues, Jan. 9: Middle School Summer Service Trip Info Session, 7:15 pm, Middle School Collection Space

Plans are underway for the Middle School 2018 Summer Service Trip! Aimee Farley (Middle School Humanities) will be leading the trip, which will give students an opportunity to develop their outdoor leadership skills, go camping with their peers, and of course to do some community service. The trip is open to all current 7th and 8th graders. The group will be heading to Acadia National Park in Maine from June 18-23. The estimated cost is between $1,200-$1,600. An information meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 9th at 7:15 pm in the Middle School Collection Space. Please join us to learn more! You may also contact Aimee with any questions.

Please mark your calendars for the annual Middle School International Lunch, which will be held on Friday, January 12. This annual potluck lunch is a chance for our students to taste some delicious cuisines from around the world and to celebrate the diversity of our school community. Each middle school student will be asked to bring in a dish (details coming soon), and we will also need lots of volunteers to make this year's event a success. Please be on the lookout for a Sign-Up Genius coming your way soon, and thanks in advance for your help. Gracias and merci!

Do you have a minute? The Middle School would like to provide a "shout out!" to Julie Mendez in the Communications Department for her hard work producing and posting the Middle School Minute. The Middle School Minute is new this school year and provides an opportunity for faculty and students to inform parents and the community about all the exciting things we are doing here in Grades 6-8 at SSFS. Be sure to "like us" on Facebook, or click here to see a playlist of all the videos that have been posted so far. Thanks, Julie!!

To inspire a deeper understanding of life in the early colonies, all seventh grade students will visit Historic London Town and Gardens, a living history site, on Wednesday, December 13th. There they will witness daily activities centered around the c. 1760 William Brown House Colonial Tavern and reconstructions of the Lord Mayor's Tenement and Carpenter Shop. The group will depart from campus at 8:15 am, and expect to return by 3:30 pm. * Please note the return arrival time is later than the typical Wednesday dismissal time of 2:35 pm, and as a result families are asked to make arrangements regarding their child's transportation home that afternoon. Drop-in aftercare until 6:30 P is available at no additional charge. Please email Kiki by Monday, December 11th if you would like to utilize aftercare, or if you have any other questions about the trip. Students are asked to dress appropriately for the weather and to wear walking shoes (much of the field trip will involve walking outdoors). A bag lunch and snacks will be provided by SSFS.

It's that time of year! The Junior class is again coordinating an all-school, community-wide service project: shoebox gifts to donate to S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat), an interfaith organization based in D.C. that provides meals, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, and so much more to those in need. A shoebox gift is a shoebox filled with new personal items useful to a homeless man, woman, or child. Please click here to find out more about this special annual service project.

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

• Thurs-Sat, Dec, 7-9: US Dance Concert, 7:15 pm, PAC Theater
• Fri, Dec. 8: PA Community Connections Committee Meeting, 8:00-9:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Tues, Dec. 12: Dorm Holiday Dinner, 6:00-7:30 pm, Westview
• Fri, Dec. 15: MS & US Early Dismissal at 1:00 pm for Winter Break
• Mon, Dec. 18-Tues, Jan. 2: NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
• Tues, Jan. 2: Dorm Re-Opens at 12:00 noon
• Wed, Jan. 3: Classes Resume
• Thurs, Jan. 4: US Coffee & Conversation, 8:15-9:30 am, Scott House Living Room
• Tues, Jan. 9: US College Info Session - College Overview for 11th Grade Students and Families, 6:30 pm, Yarnall Library

For a captivating evening of creativity and dance, come see the Winter Dance Concert, Thursday, Dec. 7th, Friday, Dec. 8th, and Saturday, Dec. 9th @ 7:15 pm in the PAC Theater. On Thursday, December 7th only, from 6:45-7:15 pm, students in various visual arts classes will be present to share and discuss their works of art at a "Meet the Artist Reception." Click here for flyer.

The dance concert brings three classes (Modern Dance, Advanced Modern Dance, and Stagecraft) together to assemble an enthralling production. The show is bursting with talent and creativity. The show consists of 85% original student choreography. There will be something for everyone. Cultural dances and styles include, but are not limited to, Bellydance, Bollywood, Contemporary, Chinese Fan Dance, K-Pop, Music Theater, Ribbon Dance and Shadow dance. See photos online here.

Admission is free, and the event is appropriate for all ages. Don't miss it!

As a student athlete, do you find it harder to manage homework once your sport season begins? Would you like to gain insight on ways to better develop your time management and organizational skills? Consider the Flex Program! Your Flex session can be used to

• get homework done;
• create a schedule for the upcoming week/month;
• learn how to prioritize assignments;
• find resources/tools to remind you of work that needs to be completed, and more!

It's all up to you! "Reclaim your time" by registering for a drop in Flex session today!

Did you know that only about 15% of underprivileged children are involved in athletics? The rising cost of sports equipment and participation continues to widen the gap between those who can afford to play and those who cannot. Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) is a Silver Spring-based non-profit working to give all children the opportunity to play. LPF works within our community to collect gently used/excess sporting equipment to help ensure that every kid living in and around the DMV can enjoy the benefits of athletic involvement. You can help by cleaning out your garage and donating your old or outgrown gear!

Sporting goods will be collected at SSFS from 12/1 – 12/ 15. Donation bins will be located in the Athletic Center, the Performing Arts Center, The Beestro, and the Ken & Jan Smith Collection Space (Middle School).

• LPF accepts: Baseball, Basketball, Field Hockey, Football (except helmets), Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Softball, Soccer, and Tennis equipment. They also accept PE/Recess items that schools can use, such as playground balls, hula hoops, and jump ropes. Please make sure donated gear is clean and in usable condition.
• LPF CANNOT accept: any athletic clothing (including hats, jerseys, socks, and swimwear), football helmets, roller blades, bicycles, shoes (except cleats), fishing gear, basketball hoops, or badminton and racquetball equipment. Please do not donate excessively dirty or unusable equipment.

To find out more about the organization, please visit their website at www.levelingtheplayingfield.org. If you have questions about the SSFS donation drive, please contact Quinn Bittinger-Esser ('19) (see Directory) or US Community Service Director Bim Schauffler. Thank you!

It's that time of year! The Junior class is again coordinating an all-school, community-wide service project: shoebox gifts to donate to S.O.M.E. (So Others Might Eat), an interfaith organization based in D.C. that provides meals, clothing, shelter, rehabilitation, counseling, and so much more to those in need. A shoebox gift is a shoebox filled with new personal items useful to a homeless man, woman, or child. Please click here to find out more about this special annual service project.

Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting invites faculty, staff, parents and students of SSFS to join us for our annual Christmas Pageant on 12/17/16 at 10:00 in the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting House, followed by potluck lunch in the community house. Children of all ages are invited to participate in the pageant and can join us for rehearsal at 11:00 am on 12/10/16 at the Meeting House. Many of the Junior Young Friends (Middle Schoolers) will be at a JYF Con (Junior Young Friends Conference) and will have their rehearsal at 9:00 on 12/17/16. Musicians are welcome to join the band, practice is at 9:00 am on 12/17/16 at SSMM. Many current, former and possibly future SSFS students, faculty, parents and staff will be in attendance and we welcome our f/Friends from SSFS. Questions can be shared with coordinators Julie Eagle jmeisnereagle@yahoo.com and Jen Cort jencortedcon@gmail.com.

Our very own athletic trainer, Julie Tucker, has been named the lead athletic trainer for the Maccabi Youth Games this summer in Israel. She will be hosting a fundraiser at Chipotle in Olney December 12th from 5pm to 9pm. To show your support, please show this flyer to the cashier and the proceeds will go towards the fundraiser. We look forward to seeing you there!

Do you ever wish you had a way to "connect" to the SSFS community of families about topics not part of the traditional school day or school related events? Maybe you've wondered if any of those nice high school students babysit, or if any parents know of a good violin teacher. Maybe you are looking for a plumber, a travel agent, or someone to work out with? Want to start a hiking group, a meditation group, or need help moving furniture??

Online communities abound these days, so the SSFS PA has created one (via Shutterfly) for our wonderful community of families. This is an opt-in choice open to current and alumni families for all divisions, home stay and boarding parents. The site is moderated by parent volunteers to ensure we don't misuse the tool for problems an online community can't address, and don't duplicate or replace what is official school business that belongs on other communication sites.

We hope this tool will be an additional way to support connections across this diverse community of families who share the choice of SSFS for their children. Please fill out this quick online form to opt-in. Questions? Please contact Nikol Jackson or Kathleen Landers.