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, Jan. 25: State of the School Presentation, 6:00 pm, PAC (see more here)
• Thurs, Jan. 25: PA Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's Subs (get flyer here)
• Fri, Jan. 26: Lyle Denniston Assembly for Middle and Upper School (see more info here)
• Wed, Jan. 31: Evening Panel on Interracial Marriage moderated by NPR's Korva Coleman, 7:15 pm, Yarnall Library (see more info here)
• Fri, Feb. 2: Re-Enrollment Contracts Available for Current Families After 7:00 pm
• Sat, Feb. 3: Middle School Play, 7:15 pm, PAC
• Tues, Feb. 6: Continued discussion (from MLK Day of Service) of "Why Race Still Matters in Our World," 8:15 am, Scott House
• Tues, Feb. 6: Family Night at the Air and Space Museum for Grades 4-9 (RSVP here)
• Wed, Feb. 7: Middle and Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
• Wed, Feb. 7: PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) Event: Managing Stress and Pressure, 7:15 pm, Scott House Living Room
• Fri, Feb. 9: PA Meeting for Worship, 8:00-9:00 am, Meeting House
• Sun, Feb. 11: Empty Bowl Dinner, 4:00-7:00 pm, Westview Dining Hall (see more info here)
• Fri, Feb. 16: Re-Enrollment Contracts for Current Families Due
• Fri, Feb. 16: PA Community Connections Meeting, 8:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Sat-Sun, Feb. 17-18: Community Play Tech-In (10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday and 1:00-4:00 pm Sunday)
• Mon, Feb. 19: NO SCHOOL - President's Day
• Tues, Feb. 20: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
• Wed, Feb. 21: Middle and Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
• Thurs, Feb. 22: Admissions "Discover SSFS" Event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP here)
• Thurs-Sat, Feb. 22-24: Community Play, "The Sound of Music," 7:00 pm (NOTE: The performance begins at 7:00 pm; tickets are free but you must RSVP to guarantee a seat - click here for details and RSVP links.)
• Sun, Feb. 25: Community Play Matinee, 2:00 pm, PAC (RSVP for Sunday matinee here)

SSFS State of the School
Buffet dinner in Yarnall Lobby at 6:00 pm
Presentation by Tom Gibian in the Performing Arts Center at 7:00 pm

We hope that parents will take the opportunity at tonight's event to review questions often asked about SSFS, including its long-range plan, budgeting and the endowment, and—most often asked of all!—the status of the campaign for the new Upper School building and the project itself. Questions? Contact Lauren Mossman, Director of Advancement, at lauren.mossman@ssfs.org. We look forward to seeing you there!

Please note that since we are launching our first annual State of the School evening on Thursday, Jan. 25, we will NOT hold the Head of School Forum that was previously scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7:15 pm in Yarnall Library. The PA Meeting that was previously scheduled to be held just before the Open Forum with the Head of School will still be held on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in Yarnall Library, but the time has changed from 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm.

Friday, January 26th US/MS Assembly - Lyle Denniston, grandfather of Irene '21 and Vivian '28 will be speaking about his 58 years covering the Supreme Court without missing a case. His talk, highlighting the impact of precedence in the law will include discussion of Loving v. Virginia (1967), Obergefell v. Hodges (2015), and the so-called Wedding Cake Case before the court now. NYT article, National Constitution Center blog articles

Wednesday, January 31st 7:15 in the library- Evening Panel on Interracial Marriage since Loving v Virginia.

NPR's Korva Coleman moderates our panel of couples including Chandlee Offerman of Sandy Spring. Anti-miscegenation laws made it illegal for Chandlee and her husband Andy to marry in 1960s Maryland. Together the panel's experience of "mixed" marriage spans the 50 years since the United States Supreme Court struck down anti-miscegenation laws across the country.

Students, parents, and faculty in the SSFS Community, as well as those from the larger community, are invited to come and participate. Please note: this event is recommended for high school students and older. Middle school students may also attend; however, it is advised that they attend with a parent. See more details here, and download flyer.

We are very excited about this year's Community Play production, "The Sound of Music"! We have a large cast and are anticipating a big crowd (particularly for the Saturday evening performance), so although admission to the play is still free, ticket reservations are REQUIRED if you want to guarantee a seat. The Performing Arts Center has a strict seating limit of 384, and due to building code and fire regulations, we cannot exceed that number; so don't risk being turned away at the door, and please click on a show time below to reserve your seat. (Also please note that the evening shows begin at 7:00 pm--NOT our usual performance start time of 7:15!)

Community Play Show Times - Click to RSVP (Required for a guaranteed seat):

• Thursday, 2/22 @ 7:00 pm
• Friday, 2/23 @ 7:00 pm
• Saturday, 2/24 @ 7:00 pm
• Sunday, 2/25 @ 2:00 pm

Theater doors will open 15 minutes before the start of the show, and reservations are open seating. Your confirmation email will serve as your ticket, so please plan to bring a print-out or show the email on your phone at the performance(s).

Questions? Contact Julie Borsetti, Community Play Director.

NPR newscaster Korva Coleman will be moderating our Evening Panel Discussion on Interracial Marriage since Loving vs Virginia on Wednesday, January 31 at 7:15 pm in Yarnall Library. Students, faculty, parents, alumni, and friends are all welcome to join us for community, snacks, and conversation! See more here.

Two years of countless hours, by countless hands, and countless hearts comes to a conclusion in a few scant days! On Sunday, February 11th, from 4-7 p.m., the Empty Bowl Dinner is happening. We truly hope that you will consider joining us in this community effort to help others.

By 4 p.m. that Sunday, many hands will have skillfully transformed a healthy collection of vegetables into a delicious hearty meal our Chef Jason Rosewag is calling the American Bountiful Soup; tasty bread from Crest Hill Bakery will have been sliced and warmed, ready to sop up the delicious broth; and 600+ bowls will have emerged from their boxes where they have been waiting for this day for many months (years), and are now washed and ready to be filled.

Diners will come choose their favorite bowl from among the colorful hundreds; fill it with warm soup; enjoy the comradary of this wonderful community; help others by making a donation; and then take their bowl home to enjoy filled with other delicacies, while reminding themselves that for others, their dinner bowls remain empty, and that they tried to help.

But we are not quite there yet...We need your help to make this happen!

• Please contribute: Members of the community are asked to contribute something to our pot of soup. Because "Little things become a lot when they're shared and served up hot" – Tom Chapin's song "Stone Soup" on the Mother Earth Album. Please click here to find out what and how you can contribute.
• Please volunteer: We also need many hearts and hands to pull off an event of this magnitude. Please click here if you can offer a few hours of help either Saturday 2/10 or Sunday, 2/11. US students will also receive service hours alongside their feelings of well-being for having helped.
• Find out more: For information about the state of hunger, and the causes this effort serves, please click here.
• Please come: We hope to see you at the Empty Bowl Dinner. Everyone, friends and family, are welcome. Main seating's are at 4, 5, and 6 p.m., but you are welcome at any time, and no reservations are needed. There will be two silent auctions of some incredible bowls, platters and serving dishes: at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. Fruit, bread and soup will be abundant, including Outback's signature Cream of Potato, and bowls and bags will be available until we run out.

Thank you to the SSFS community for your donations of sporting gear through our month-long collection for the local non-profit Leveling the Playing Field. Your generous donations of 17 pairs of cleats, 4 pairs of hockey skates, 3 full supplies of hockey pads, 2 hockey bags, 1 field hockey stick, 4 lacrosse sticks, 2 lacrosse helmets, 1 hockey helmet, 3 footballs, 2 basketballs, 2 baseball bats, 2 baseball mitts, 1 frisbee, 7 tennis balls, 10 lacrosse balls, 5 golf balls, 8 baseballs, and 1 baseball bag will make a lot of children happy!

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.

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

• Thurs, Jan. 25: SSFS PA Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's Subs - show this flyer when you place your order and 15% of the proceeds will be donated back to SSFS!
• Wed, Feb. 7: PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) Event: Managing Stress and Pressure, 7:15 pm, Scott House Living Room
• Fri, Feb. 11: PA Meeting for Worship, 8:00-9:00 am, On-Campus Meeting House (NOTE: PA Meeting for Worship will be available on the 2nd Friday of each month through May 11.)

Nominating for the PA Executive Committee has started

It is that time of year again to start thinking about next year's PA Executive Committee. This process takes a lot of consideration and an entire team of people to make it happen. Nominations are anonymous and will be shared only with the Nominating Committee. All SSFS Community members should feel free to nominate anyone (even yourself) you feel would be a good fit for SSFS's PA executive committee. Please make nominations through this nominating form.

How does our community respond to the current climate in the U.S., and worldwide? SSFS Board of Trustees member Lauren Brownlee addresses this topic in a recent blog post, "Shining Our Collective Light." Along with being a member of the SSFS Board of Trustees, Lauren is also a member of Bethesda Friends Meeting, where she is an active member of the Peace and Social Justice Committee, and a member of the Baltimore Yearly Meeting Peace and Social Concerns and Growing Diverse Leadership committees. She is currently the Director of Social Action at Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. Lauren writes, "Not everyone at Sandy Spring Friends School shares the same religious faith, but we do share a faith in Quaker values. We share a faith in the belief that there is light in every person and thus we share a responsibility to support that light in growing, as our student leadership grows, from a spark to a flame to a torch." Read more here.

While the country is in the midst of a flu epidemic, here is some information and advice from The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention to assist our community in prevention of the flu.

How does the flu spread?
Flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through droplets made when people with the flu virus cough, sneeze, or talk. Flu viruses also may spread when people touch a surface contaminated with the flu virus and then touch their mouth, eyes, or nose. People infected with the flu may be able to infect others beginning one day before symptoms develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. That means you are able to spread the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick.

What are everyday preventive actions?

• Get a flu vaccination – it is not too late!
• Avoid close contact with sick people, if possible
• If you or your child gets sick with flu-like illness, do not return to work or school until you are fever free for 24 hours
• While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from spreading the infection
• Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue and dispose of it in a trash can; cough in to your elbow
• Frequent hand washing with soap and water, especially before meals. If soap and water are unavailable use an alcohol based substance (e.g. Purell)
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. This is how germs are spread.
• Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated (e.g. door handles, light switches and faucets)

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, Jan. 25: State of the School Presentation, 6:00 pm, PAC - See more info here
• Thurs, Jan. 25: PA Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's Subs (get flyer here)
• Mon, Jan. 29: 1st Grade to National Building Museum, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm
• Wed, Jan. 31: Evening Panel on Interracial Marriage moderated by NPR's Korva Coleman, 7:15 pm, Yarnall Library (see more info here)
• Fri, Feb. 2: Re-Enrollment Contracts Available for Current Families After 7:00 pm
• Sat, Feb. 3: Middle School Play, 7:15 pm, PAC (4th and 5th grade families: please RSVP online for the pre-play dinner at SSFS)
• Tues, Feb. 6: Family Science Night at the Air and Space Museum for Grades 4-9 (RSVP here)
• Wed, Feb. 7: Middle and Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
• Wed, Feb. 7: PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) Event: Managing Stress and Pressure, 7:15 pm, Scott House Living Room
• Thurs-Wed, Feb. 8-14: Lower School Wee Mail (details next week!)
• Sun, Feb. 11: Empty Bowl Dinner, 4:00-7:00 pm, Westview Dining Hall (see more info here)
• Tues, Feb. 13: 4th Grade to A Wider Circle
• Fri, Feb. 16: Re-Enrollment Contracts for Current Families Due
• Fri, Feb. 16: PA Community Connections Meeting, 8:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Fri, Feb. 16: 2nd Grade Play, 8:30 am , Clifton
• Sat-Sun, Feb. 17-18: Community Play Tech-In (10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday and 1:00-4:00 pm Sunday)
• Mon, Feb. 19: NO SCHOOL - President's Day
• Mon, Feb. 19: Girl's Basketball Clinic, 9:00-12:00, SSFS Gym (more info here)
• Tues, Feb. 20: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
• Thurs, Feb. 22: Admissions "Discover SSFS" Event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP here)
• Thurs-Sat, Feb. 22-24: Community Play, "The Sound of Music," 7:00 pm (NOTE: The performance begins at 7:00 pm; tickets are free but you must RSVP to guarantee a seat - click here for details and RSVP links.)
• Sun, Feb. 25: Community Play Matinee, 2:00 pm, PAC (RSVP for Sunday matinee here)

All students in grades 4-9 are invited with their families to an awesome evening at the Air and Space Museum in downtown D.C. On Tuesday evening, February 6th, The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education will be opening the museum to our school and a couple of others for a private presentation. Beginning at 6:45 pm, after it is closed to the general public, the museum will open its galleries to us. At 7:15 pm, we will begin a presentation from experts followed by a showing of one of the 3D IMAX movies. The program is free, and SSFS will provide a bus from school to the museum and back (first RSVP, first served). You will need to make sure your family has dinner with you or eats before arrival, as there won't be access to the café at the museum. It is important to remember that this is a family night. Your student must be accompanied by an adult. The faculty present are there to enjoy and engage; they are not chaperones. Please click here to RSVP for the event as we must have a minimum attendance in order for the event to happen.

Please note: We must enter the museum as one group, rather than dribble in. Therefore, if your family is electing not to ride the bus, please be prepared to watch for the bus, meet up with the larger group, and enter as one. Do not go to the museum on your own. Thank you!

The 3rd-5th Grade Excite Soccer Club needs 2 more students in order to run this session. This club will begin on Monday, 1/29. There is still a bit of room in Debate (4th/5th), Beest Basketball (3rd-5th), Chess Wizards (1st/5th). Please click here to register.

The 4th grade class is excited to perform their play "Tunji and the Giant" at Friends House this Friday, Jan. 26 at 2:00 pm. The story from the Yoruba people of West Africa tells of the power of music to connect a young boy to a scary giant. The students will wear their original homemade batik outfits, created with LS art teacher Kate Santorineos.

Save the date and pre-register now for the Girl's Basketball Clinic on Monday, Feb. 19 (President's Day - no school), from 9 am - 12 pm. More details below or in downloadable flyer/registration form. Please feel free to contact Amanda Hill with any additional questions. Thanks, and I hope your daughter can join in on the fun on the basketball court!

• What: President's Day Girl's Basketball Clinic, hosted by the US Women's Varsity Basketball Team
• Where: SSFS Athletic Center Gym
• When: Monday, Feb. 19 (President's Day), from 9 am - 12 pm
• Who: LS and MS Girls (grades PK4-Grade 8)
• Cost: $35/per person (t-shirt included!)
• What to Bring: Sneakers, a water bottle, and an attitude ready for basketball FUNdamentals!
• Registration: Click here for the registration form. Walk-ins accepted, but an email RSVP is appreciated.
• Questions: Contact Amanda Hill, amanda.hill@ssfs.org

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.

• Thurs, Jan. 25: State of the School Presentation, 6:00 pm, PAC - See more info here
• Thurs, Jan. 25: PA Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's Subs (get flyer here)
• Fri, Feb. 2: MS Sportsplex Day
• Fri, Feb. 2: Re-Enrollment Contracts Available for Current Families After 7:00 pm
• Sat, Feb. 3: Middle School Play, 7:15 pm, PAC
• Tues, Feb. 6: Family Science Night at the Air and Space Museum for Grades 4-9 (RSVP here)
• Wed, Feb. 7: Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
• Wed, Feb. 7: PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) Event: Managing Stress and Pressure, 7:15 pm, Scott House Living Room
• Sun, Feb. 11: Empty Bowl Dinner, 4:00-7:00 pm, Westview Dining Hall (see more info here)
• Fri, Feb. 16: Re-Enrollment Contracts for Current Families Due
• Fri, Feb. 16: PA Community Connections Meeting, 8:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Sat-Sun, Feb. 17-18: Community Play Tech-In (10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday and 1:00-4:00 pm Sunday)
• Mon, Feb. 19: NO SCHOOL - President's Day
• Mon, Feb. 19: Basketball Clinic for Lower and Middle School Girls, 9:00 am -12:00 noon, SSFS Gym (more info here)
• Tues, Feb. 20: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
• Wed, Feb. 21: Middle and Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
• Thurs, Feb. 22: Admissions "Discover SSFS" Event, 8:15-11:00 am (RSVP here)
• Thurs-Sat, Feb. 22-24: Community Play, "The Sound of Music," 7:00 pm (NOTE: The performance begins at 7:00 pm; tickets are free but you must RSVP to guarantee a seat - click here for details and RSVP links.)
• Sun, Feb. 25: Community Play Matinee, 2:00 pm, PAC (RSVP for Sunday matinee here)

All students in grades 4-9 are invited with their families to an awesome evening at the Air and Space Museum in downtown D.C. On Tuesday evening, February 6th, The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education will be opening the museum to our school and a couple of others for a private presentation. Beginning at 6:45 pm, after it is closed to the general public, the museum will open its galleries to us. At 7:15 pm, we will begin a presentation from experts followed by a showing of one of the 3D IMAX movies. The program is free, and SSFS will provide a bus from school to the museum and back (first RSVP, first served). You will need to make sure your family has dinner with you or eats before arrival, as there won't be access to the café at the museum. It is important to remember that this is a family night. Your student must be accompanied by an adult. The faculty present are there to enjoy and engage; they are not chaperones. Please click here to RSVP for the event as we must have a minimum attendance in order for the event to happen.

Please note: We must enter the museum as one group, rather than dribble in. Therefore, if your family is electing not to ride the bus, please be prepared to watch for the bus, meet up with the larger group, and enter as one. Do not go to the museum on your own. Thank you!

Each Professional Day, MS Aftercare takes enrolled students off campus for lunch and a fun activity. So far this year, they've been bowling and to the movies, and this week they went to ZavaZone! Students got to play trampoline dodgeball, basketball and jousting, as well as experience the ninja course! A great time was had by all. Parents are encouraged to contact Lindsay Kellogg, MS Aftercare Director, with any questions about this terrific resource for our busy families.

Sandy Spring Friends Middle School is presenting 67 Cinderellas in the PAC Theater on Saturday, February 3, 2018, at 7:15 pm. The play is a very funny twist on the famous Cinderella story. Admission is free and appropriate for all ages. Donations are welcome at the door. Fourth and fifth grade families: don't forget to RSVP here if you'd like to attend the pre-play dinner at 6:00 pm in Westview before the show!

Save the date and pre-register now for the Girl's Basketball Clinic on Monday, Feb. 19 (President's Day - no school), from 9 am - 12 pm. More details below or in downloadable flyer/registration form. Please feel free to contact Amanda Hill with any additional questions. Thanks, and I hope your daughter can join in on the fun on the basketball court!

• What: President's Day Girl's Basketball Clinic, hosted by the US Women's Varsity Basketball Team
• Where: SSFS Athletic Center Gym
• When: Monday, Feb. 19 (President's Day), from 9 am - 12 pm
• Who: LS and MS Girls (grades PK4-Grade 8)
• Cost: $35/per person (t-shirt included!)
• What to Bring: Sneakers, a water bottle, and an attitude ready for basketball FUNdamentals!
• Registration: Click here for the registration form. Walk-ins accepted, but an email RSVP is appreciated.
• Questions: Contact Amanda Hill, amanda.hill@ssfs.org

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, Jan. 25: State of the School Presentation, 6:00 pm, PAC- See more info here.
• Thurs, Jan. 25: PA Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's Subs (get flyer here)
• Thurs, Feb. 1: Upper School Coffee & Conversation (rescheduled from Jan. snow day), 8:15-9:30 am, Athletic Center Multipurpose Room (note change in location)
• Fri, Feb. 2: Re-Enrollment Contracts Available for Current Families After 7:00 pm
• Sat, Feb. 3: Middle School Play, 7:15 pm, PAC
• Tues, Feb. 6: Dorm Black History Month Celebration, 6:00-8:00 pm, Westview
• Tues, Feb. 6: Family Science Night at the Air and Space Museum for Grades 4-9 (RSVP here)
• Wed, Feb. 7: Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm (see more info below; sign up for your time slot here)
• Wed, Feb. 7: PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) Event: Managing Stress and Pressure, 7:15 pm, Scott House Living Room
• Sat, Feb. 10: ACT Test Date
• Sun, Feb. 11: Empty Bowl Dinner, 4:00-7:00 pm, Westview Dining Hall (see more info here)
• Fri, Feb. 16: Re-Enrollment Contracts for Current Families Due
• Fri, Feb. 16: PA Community Connections Meeting, 8:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• Sat-Sun, Feb. 17-18: Community Play Tech-In (10:00 am - 4:00 pm Saturday and 1:00-4:00 pm Sunday)
• Mon, Feb. 19: NO SCHOOL - President's Day
• Tues, Feb. 20: NO CLASSES - Professional Day
• Wed, Feb. 21: Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm (see more info below; sign up for your time slot here)
• Thurs, Feb. 22: PA Fundraiser at Jersey Mike's (show flyer to have a portion of proceeds donated to SSFS)
• Thurs-Sat, Feb. 22-24: Community Play, "The Sound of Music," 7:00 pm (NOTE: The performance begins at 7:00 pm; tickets are free but you must RSVP to guarantee a seat - click here for details and RSVP links.)
• Fri, Feb. 23: Upper School Winter Sports End
• Sun, Feb. 25: Community Play Matinee, 2:00 pm, PAC (RSVP for Sunday matinee here)

We have rescheduled our coffee and conversation from January's snow day. The new date is February 1st (8:15-9:30 am), and it will take place in the Athletic Center Multi-Purpose room.

For Upper School Parents, Guardians and Host Family Parents: Parent-Teacher conferences will be held on Wednesday, February 7th and Wednesday, February 21st from 2:45- 5:00 pm in Westview Dining Hall. As a reminder, these conferences will be scheduled. Please note that we will not be able to accommodate any "walk-ins."

These conferences are designed as an opportunity to have a quick check-in with your child's teachers and are limited to a seven-minute time slot, with a three-minute transition. While these may seem brief, if a longer conversation is needed, please contact that teacher directly to schedule an additional time on a mutually convenient date.

In order to access the PTCFAST system, please click here. Should you have any questions regarding the online scheduling system, please contact Meredith Shankle at 301.774.7455 ext. 109 or via e-mail at meredith.shankle@ssfs.org.

Having recently advanced to the playoffs of the MABL (Montgomery Academic Beltway League) for the fifth consecutive year, SSFS left another indelible impression on Saturday, January 13th, as our Quiz Bowl Team demonstrated continued academic excellence by advancing to the playoffs for the fourth time in five years on It's Academic, "recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running quiz program in TV history."

Inspired by a supportive crowd of 'Beest Boosters and our beloved Wildebeest mascot, SSFS earned a commendable 685 points in defeating Dominion (340 points) and Suitland (280 points) to advance to the It's Academic playoffs. Represented on stage by Captain Asa Kienitz-Kincade ('18), Assistant Captain Justis Dixon ('19) and Michelle Tobin ('19), three of this year's outstanding Quiz Bowl Team members, SSFS continues to make academic waves as this year's Quiz Bowl Team has a current overall record of 39-12-0, including 15-1-0 in this year's very competitive MABL (Montgomery Academic Beltway League). To relive the memorable moment on TV, this episode of It's Academic is slated to air on Saturday, March 17th, at 10:30am on NBC4.



From a field of 81 schools, SSFS now finds itself fittingly among an elite group of 27 teams vying for It's Academic bragging rights. Come and form part of the 'Beest roar as SSFS returns to the NBC4 Studios to compete in the It's Academic playoffs on Saturday, March 3rd at 1:30pm against W.T. Woodson and St. Stephen's & St. Agnes high schools.

Providing camaraderie for kindred spirits while celebrating academic achievement, intrascholastic Quiz Bowl Club (Spring) and interscholastic Quiz Bowl Team (Fall) provide healthy venues to foster friendships inspired by a mutual love of learning. Best of all, it's fun! Upper School students interested in academic competition are welcome to see firsthand what the buzz is all about on Tuesday and Friday afternoons during Academic Help (3:00pm-3:25pm) in Quiz Bowl Coordinator Eduardo Polón's classroom (Moore Hall 105). For more information contact Eduardo at eduardo.polon@ssfs.org and to learn more about It's Academic visit http://www.itsacademicquizshow.com/.

Welcome to 2018! It is not too early to start thinking about prom. The Junior and Senior Prom will be held on Saturday, April 14th from 7:00-11:00 pm at The Great Room of Savage Mill. The prom will include a buffet dinner, dessert, and dancing. The tickets will cost $50 and will be available for purchase from March 5th to April 6th. We will be using an online Google form this year and once the ticket sales end on April 6th, no more tickets can be purchased. Tickets can be charged to your SSFS account or paid with cash or check. We are excited for an amazing prom. Please let Ilene Lees, US Counselor know if you have any questions. Thank you.

Thank you to the SSFS community for your donations of sporting gear through our month-long collection for the local non-profit Leveling the Playing Field. Your generous donations of 17 pairs of cleats, 4 pairs of hockey skates, 3 full supplies of hockey pads, 2 hockey bags, 1 field hockey stick, 4 lacrosse sticks, 2 lacrosse helmets, 1 hockey helmet, 3 footballs, 2 basketballs, 2 baseball bats, 2 baseball mitts, 1 frisbee, 7 tennis balls, 10 lacrosse balls, 5 golf balls, 8 baseballs, and 1 baseball bag will make a lot of children happy!

Dorm students got some tasty treats during exam week study breaks: King cakes and ice cream bars helped the students power through their exam week study schedules!

The Upper School is very excited to announce a summer 2018 service opportunity in rural China. The trip will focus on running a summer camp for kids in an isolated and mountainous area of FengShan County, Guangxi province. In addition to the work in Guangxi, the trip will include travel to major sites in Southeast China, and will involve a homestay period in ShenZhen (next to Hong Kong) with SSFS alumni and current international students. The trip will be held from mid-July to early August, with a total cost of around $2800. Scholarships are also available via the Ari and Nancy Preuss Global Citizens Fund - contact Bim Shauffler for details. A student application is available at this link, to be submitted to either Brian Brubaker or Takisha Reece by Friday, February 9. Please see either Brian or Takisha with any questions.

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!

Do you love cats? Does your family want to try out cat parenthood? Upper School English teacher Ariel Voorhees is looking for 1-2 families to foster her two adult cats while she's overseas during May, June, and July. Dottie and Arlo are super snugglers, gentle with kids, patient with dogs, and fairly proficient mousers. They've been indoor cats so far, but Dottie would love to be let outside. They can be housed separately or together. If your family is interested in fostering one or both of these wonderful cats, contact Ariel at ariel.voorhees@ssfs.org.

You are invited to the Sandy Spring Museum's "Wellspring Visions" exhibit , which runs from Saturday, Jan. 13 through Saturday, Feb. 10. The museum hours are Wed. - Sat. from 10 am - 5 pm. This exhibit by Wellspring Artists, who are residents of Friends House, is mixed media, including paintings, prints, drawings, pastels, photography, ceramics and textiles. The Artists' Reception on Saturday, January 13, from 3-5 pm was a big success. Wellspring Artists issue a special invitation to this exhibition to SSFS students and their parents.

Summer at Sandy Spring is excited to announce that registration for the summer 2018 camp season is now open! Getting a jump on summer fun has never been easier; navigate to our website to check out all the new and amazing options for this season. We pride ourselves on the customization of camp for every family. So whether it's hand picking workshops, extended day, transportation options, or flexible lunch options, we are sure we can create just the right fit for your busy family this summer.

We heard the feedback and added more workshop options for each age group. Check out the website for the brand new workshop section where each workshop has its own page to tell you things like sample lessons, a week at a glance, mini descriptions, videos, and so much more. We are proud to introduce the partnering with Einstein by Design to create an amazing technology experience. We added rock climbing, Theatre, Outdoor Living Skills, Robotics to just name a few. Oh and we brought back our popular high flying, zip lining fun at the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School with our Adventure Challenge workshops and Aftercare in the Trees options. From tots to teens - there is truly something for everyone!

We encourage you to take some time this winter and go through the exciting programming you'll find on our completely revamped website. When you're ready to register, you'll find a link at the top right corner. SSFS families can enter the code BEESTSATCAMP during registration for a 10% discount.

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.

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.