Below please find the February 1, 2018 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.

PHOTO of the WEEK

Students in PK4-Grade 5 are wrapping up their Climbing Wall/Traversing Unit in P.E., challenging and (literally) stretching themselves to reach their goals!

ALL SCHOOL NEWS

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.

• 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)
• Fri, Feb. 23: PA Post-Prom Planning Committee Meeting, 8:00 am, Scott House Conference Room
• 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)

Re-Enrollment Contracts will be emailed to families on Friday, Feb. 2 by 7:00 pm. We are excited to start planning for the 2018-19 academic year, and we sincerely hope that your family will continue to be a part of the SSFS community! We ask families to submit re-enrollment contracts by Friday, Feb. 16. Contracts will be available in via your MyBackPack account. Please select the "Enrollment/Re-Enrollment" link. Instructions for how to sign your enrollment contract are also available online here. If you have questions, please contact your division head or Dawn Griffith in the Admission Office at dawn.griffith@ssfs.org or ext. 231. Thank you!

More than 80 friends across our school and local Sandy Spring community came to explore the interesting topic of interracial marriage since Loving vs Virginia. NPR's Korva Coleman seamlessly moderated an open and honest conversation taking questions from the audience. Panelists generously shared a spectrum of their experiences as partners, extended family members, and parents, making it clear how important listening is in moving the world forward. At the close of the formal discussion, audience members, panelists, and our moderator lingered for an additional hour continuing the conversation over coffee and cake.

Thanks to parents and guardians who were able to attend the Jan. 25 State of the School—and get a sneak peek at some of the drawings for the new Upper School building! If you weren't able to make it, you can view the full recorded video on our YouTube channel here.

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)

• 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.)
• Fri, Feb. 23: PA Post-Prom Planning Committee Meeting, 8:00 am, Scott House Conference Room

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.

The EMPTY BOWL DINNER is next weekend, Sunday, Feb. 11! And we need your help!

Oooooh... the magic when kaolin, silica, and heat team up! Each time the kiln lid is lifted, it is similar to a gift-filled birthday party. When unwrapped, it might be the most coveted surprise or the dreaded pair of socks....you never know. The anticipation is part of the awesome fun! What IS known is that a huge collection of gorgeous bowls, close to 600, await your arrival at our upcoming Empty Bowl dinner and from which you can chose your favorite. No unwrapping needed. You will then have your choice of a vegetarian Stone Soup called American Bounty, Outback's Cream of Potato, a gluten free option, and possibly a Harvest soup. There will also be delicious fresh bread and orange wedges. The ceramic bowls will be available till we run out, after which soup can still be savored in cafeteria bowls while you enjoy music, camaraderie, and admire (and covet and bid on) the many amazing auction and specialty pieces.

But: WE NEED YOUR HELP!

• To make this special event a success, please consider volunteering here to help us as we pull this together. The deadline to volunteer is next Wednesday 2/7, and we can't do it without you!
• For a story about a delightful dragon bowl created by a faraway visitor, please click here.
  
• And for the perspective of EB by a new community member, please click here.
  
  
• We would also greatly appreciate your contribution to our Stone Soup, where the pot of deliciousness is crafted with small contributions from many. Please check out the list here to find out what vegetable you are asked to bring in next week to your division's office.

It's not too late for prospective families to come and learn about all that we have to offer here at Sandy Spring Friends School. We are still working with new inquiries, and Admission Team members will gladly take interested parents through the application process. A great place to start is our next Discover SSFS Information Session and Tour, which will be held on Thursday, February 22nd from 8:15-11:00 am. A Financial Aid Q&A will follow in Scott House. Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors who may be looking for a fantastic place for their child to learn and thrive. If possible, we request that guests RSVP.

The SSFS PA is proud to sponsor the third PEP (Parent Encouragement Program) workshop for 2017-2018 this Wednesday, February 7, at 7:15 pm in Scott House to talk about ways to manage stress for students and families. With so much to do, achieve, and accomplish, children of all ages can get squeezed out of spontaneous play, exploration, and daydreaming. And parents wonder how to keep their family connections strong and vital when schedules are packed and downtime is scarce. Examine common stress triggers and learn strategies to lower the pressure and help children achieve balance.

Note: Videos from our two past PEP workshops, "Problem Solving with Teens" and "Taming Morning Mayham" are available for SSFS families from the Parent Portal page of the website.

Middle School basketball playoffs start on Tuesday, Feb. 6, and Upper School basketball playoffs start the week of Feb. 20. Click the team schedules below to find out team schedules, and come cheer on our student athletes! #GoBeests!

• Middle School Boys Basketball - Gold
• Middle School Boys Basketball - Green
• Middle School Girls Basketball
• Upper School Varsity Girls Basketball
• Upper School Varsity Boys Basketball
• Upper School Junior Varsity Boys Basketball

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.

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)

LOWER SCHOOL NEWS

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, 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 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 (see more info below)
• 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)

It's hard to believe that Valentine's Day is just around the corner! The Wee Mail Post Office will open next Thursday, February 8th and run through Wednesday, February 14th. In order to keep our newly employed postal workers busy, we need your help! You and your child are encouraged to write letters and/or draw pictures to children in and out of his/her class. The letters can be placed in an envelope or folded over and stapled. We need a neatly written address consisting of first and last name as well as grade and section (Example: Mary Anne Peacock – KB or Suzie Smith – PK3). Stamps can be purchased before school from 7:45-8:10 am in the Lower School lobby from our Kindergarten postal workers.

The cost of a stamp is 2 cents. Please try to use small change (pennies, nickels and dimes). Stamp sales will be limited to 20 per day per student. After a letter is written, addressed, and stamped, it can be deposited in the mailbox in the lobby or in any of the classroom mailboxes. Mail pickup and delivery times will be in the afternoon.

We request that NO CANDY or TREATS be sent through Wee Mail, only cards or letters. The Lower School address book is located in each classroom as well as Kindergarten to help with names, classes, and sections. If you have questions, please visit the Wee Mail Post Office located in Kindergarten or ask a Kindergarten teacher or student. Happy writing! We thank you for your support!

The 2018 SSFS Library Reading program is about to launch! Inspired by our summer reading about Mildred and Richard Loving and their fight to marry legally and live in Virginia, we have planned a travel though time fueled by present day reading. For 28 days, from February 5 to March 4 Lower School and Middle School students and faculty will keep track of the time they spend reading outside of the school day. Each five minutes we read will equal 1 minute of time travel on a timeline that goes from 1958 when the Lovings got married to 1967 when the Supreme Court made interracial marriage legal throughout the United States. The wildebeest will fly his time machine along a timeline in the library to show our progress and there will also be an online timeline. Materials will go home with PK-2nd grade on Monday, and 3 – 8th grade will log their minutes on a poster in their classroom (LS) or advisory (MS). If you have any questions, or want to add to the timeline, call x145 or email elizt@ssfs.org.

The LS is in need of parent helpers for morning carpool and lunch/recess time. This is a great opportunity to spend some time on campus with a variety of LS children! Please click the link below to sign up:
SSFS Lower School Parent Helpers

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!

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS

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, Feb. 2: MS Sportsplex Day (see details below)
• 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)

Sportsplex Day has become a MS tradition and is essentially an indoor field day in the middle of the winter. Students should wear their team color (teams were posted on Wednesday), and should bring a water bottle and wear tennis shoes. Pizza and a variety of desserts will be provided. There will be gluten-free pizza and pizza without cheese available, and some of the desserts will cater to special dietary needs. Children with special dietary needs are also welcome to bring a bag lunch from home. We are watching the weather forecast carefully. If school is cancelled or if there is a delayed opening on Friday, Sportsplex Day will be rescheduled for another date.

Parent-teacher conferences will be offered on Wednesday, February 7, and Wednesday, February 21, from 2:45-5:30 pm in the Middle School. Please click here to register for conferences with those teachers with whom you would like to meet. These conferences are designed to be quick check-ins with your child's teachers. In order to keep everyone on schedule, please arrive promptly for your scheduled appointment time.

Sixth graders learned some entrepreneurial skills this month, as they teamed up to create products that would appeal to 4th and 5th grade students. As part of their business project, they created a label, a video commercial, and a poster for their product. They were also in charge of setting their price and figuring out how many of the products they would need to sell in order to be able to pay off the "loan" they had to take out to start their business. On Thursday, Feb. 1, 4th and 5th grade students were given a budget of $400 in stickers to buy items from the 6th grade students, and they had to select which items to purchase from the many items available.

The 2018 SSFS Library Reading program is about to launch! Inspired by our summer reading about Mildred and Richard Loving and their fight to marry legally and live in Virginia, we have planned a travel though time fueled by present day reading. For 28 days, from February 5 to March 4 Lower School and Middle School students and faculty will keep track of the time they spend reading outside of the school day. Each five minutes we read will equal 1 minute of time travel on a timeline that goes from 1958 when the Lovings got married to 1967 when the Supreme Court made interracial marriage legal throughout the United States. The wildebeest will fly his time machine along a timeline in the library to show our progress and there will also be an online timeline. Materials will go home with PK-2nd grade on Monday, and 3 – 8th grade will log their minutes on a poster in their classroom (LS) or advisory (MS). If you have any questions, or want to add to the timeline, call x145 or email elizt@ssfs.org.

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!

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: Thanks to all who have signed up for the pre-play dinner at 6:00 pm in Westview before the show! Please note that the RSVP deadline has now passed.

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

UPPER SCHOOL NEWS

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.

• Fri, Feb. 2: Re-Enrollment Contracts Available for Current Families After 7:00 pm
• 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
• Sat, Feb. 10: Upper School Dance (see details here)
• 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)

On Saturday, February 10th, the junior class will be hosting the Winter Dance in the Dining Hall from 8:00 – 11:00 pm. This dance is open to all Upper School students. The theme is Mardi Gras, and students can wear casual or semi-formal attire. Advanced tickets can be purchased for $10 from Candice Ashton, the Assistant Director of College Counseling. Tickets will be $12 at the door.

Below are some guidelines that I would like to emphasize to parents and students.

• Guests – Students who want to bring a guest to the dance must have the guest complete an Emergency Contact and Permission Form which students can get from Ben McClellan or download here.
• Behavior – All school events are substance free and adhere to a zero tolerance policy. Anyone caught violating this policy will have their parents contacted immediately and will be held until a parent or guardian picks them up.
• Students are expected to show respect to themselves and others. This also refers to the style of dress and dance of the students. Any dancing that is deemed overtly inappropriate by the chaperones will be stopped. This is an opportunity to have an important conversation with your young adult about standards of behavior and how they choose to present themselves.
• Once a student arrives at a dance, they will not be allowed to leave the immediate vicinity of the venue and return. If students leave the dining hall, they must leave campus immediately. The chaperones will establish the boundaries for each event.

The SSFS Robotics Club took their homemade robot ("BeestBot") to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, on Jan. 28, for their second robotics competition this year. Thanks to all who came out to support the club!

From athletics and arts to clubs and student life, senior Haoran "Breezy" Zhu provides a recap of some of the Upper School highlights from December 2017 through January 2018. Read it online here!

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.

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.

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.

ATHLETIC EVENTS THIS WEEK

FRIENDS MART

Join the PA Community Connections site to see other offerings from the SSFS community. 

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.

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