Weekly Newsletter Emailed Each Sunday During The School Year.
Apr. 21, 2019 Celebrating Cultural Diversity At The Upper School World Fair On Thursday, April 18, 2019, our Upper School celebrated the diversity of our SSFS community at the Cultural World Fair. The event offered an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of some of our students' home countries as well as taste some of the cuisines. Congratulations to our SSFS Student Ambassadors for hosting this incredible student-led event!
Dive Into This Week's News Read The Latest News Across Our Divisions On The SSFS Website.
News At Your Fingertips Your Mobile-Friendly Email Digest Of Our Weekly Must-Know Information And More. ALL SCHOOL NEWS All-School "Must-Know" Info for Apr. 21 Newsletter The calendar information below is for all-school, multi-divisional, and/or Parent Association events and activities in the coming weeks. Please see the Lower School, Middle School, or Upper School sections for division-specific "must-know" info, or visit the Calendar web page to see the full calendar.
And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...
April 23: PA Coffee and Conversation Please join us for an all-school, Parents Association-led coffee and conversation on Tuesday, April 23 at 8:15 am in Scott House. We look forward to discussing a variety of topics and community building! Snacks and coffee will be provided. PA Auction 2019 – Buy Tickets Online, Childcare Coming Soon, & Upcoming Meetings Even the SSFS Green Board is excited about the upcoming SSFS Parents Association Annual Auction for Financial Aid! Join us for dinner, dancing, and SSFS’s biggest annual fundraiser! Where? Ten Oaks Ballroom in Clarksville, MD Join the PA Auction Committee in making this year's auction a roaring success! The next planning meeting will be in the Scott House conference room on April 17, from 8:15-9:30 am. May Meeting Dates: May 1st and May 8th. Volunteer opportunities still available! Auction Volunteer Sign Ups HERE. It’s Black-Eyed Susan Book Voting Time! May 7: Join the SSFS PA and Counselors for a Screening of "Like" The SSFS Parents Association and the School Counselors are excited to present a screening of Like, a documentary that explores the impact of social media on our lives. After the screening, there will be a panel of experts to answer questions from the audience. WHEN: Tuesday, May 7th, 2019 from 7:00-9:00 PM
Nominating for the PA Executive Committee: Assistant Treasurer and Recording Clerk Needed Are you a wiz with numbers? Or do you know anyone who is? The nominating committee is close to finishing its task, but we still need to fill the role of Assistant Treasurer. If you or anyone you know would like to take on this position, please nominate them! The assistant treasurer will work with the treasurer to manage the finances for the PA. We are also in need of a recording clerk who can take minutes at the Executive Meetings and PA Meetings. Please make nominations through this nominating form. FriendsFest Do you love FriendsFest? If so, see how can you help out! We are looking for co-clerks for many different areas and would love your help. If you are interested, please contact PA.Clerk@ssfs.org. Spring Cleaning? Redecorating? Moving? ICYMI: Have treasures that you no longer want or need? Gift your stuff to us! In support of several SSFS PA events, we are collecting new or gently-used items. (Click here to see a list of items we are especially looking for.) Look for the collection boxes labeled “Secret Shop” in the carpool drop off circles of the Lower School, Middle School, and Upper School. For questions email: pa.clerk@ssfs.org Thank you! SSFS PA
LOWER SCHOOL NEWS Lower School "Must-Know" Info for Apr. 21 Newsletter For questions or more information about an event, please contact Pam Gilmer, LS Administrative Assistant, at ext. 112 or pam.gilmer@ssfs.org, or visit the Calendar web page to see full calendar.
And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...
The Lower School Celebrates Holi We are grateful that the weather cooperated for our celebration of Holi on Thursday afternoon! Holi ( /ˈhoʊliː/; Sanskrit: होली Holī) is a popular ancient Hindu festival, originating from the Indian subcontinent. ... Holi is popularly known as the Indian "festival of spring", the "festival of colours", or the "festival of love". Many thanks to the parents and teachers who arranged this colorful event! Tues, Apr. 23: Child/Parent Workshare and Cardboard Challenge We hope you will join us for our second annual Lower School Cardboard Challenge (and Parent-Child Workshare) on Tuesday, April 23, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Come and see how engineering meets design when the creative minds of our Lower School students put lots of cardboard to good use! (See a brief video from last year's Cardboard Challenge here...) Collecting Donations for the Montgomery County Humane Society Fifth graders Quinlan G-P. and Caitlin S., along with their Girl Scout troop, are working on their Bronze Award. Their Bronze Award project includes collecting donations for the Montgomery County Humane Society. Having toured the MCHS facility, the girls learned that there is a need for many things to help care for the animals there. Items needed are bath towels, AA batteries, paper towels or toilet paper, pet toys (no feathers), cat litter, and cat or dog food. Donation boxes are located in the Walbrooke lobby and in the upper level hallway of Tanglewood. Your help is greatly appreciated. Book Discussion Group for Parents of Students in Grades 4-8 ICYMI: Middle School Head David Blake is hosting a book discussion series for parents of students in grades 4-8 during the months of April and May. Over the course of seven weeks, the group will be discussing The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adair. Find out more, RSVP, and sign up to receive information shared during the sessions here.
MIDDLE SCHOOL NEWS Middle School "Must-Know" Info for Apr. 21 Newsletter 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, or visit the Calendar web page to see full calendar.
And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...
Mon, Apr. 22: Costa Rica and France Trip Mandatory Meetings Reminder! There is a mandatory meeting Monday, April 22, at 6:15 pm for the families of the students attending either the Costa Rica or the France trip in June. The Costa Rica trip meeting will be held in the Athletic Center Multi-Purpose Room; the France trip meeting will be held in Scott House. At the meetings, we will go over important details such as flight and hotel information, packing, and spending money. Following the meeting, we will have a notary present in order to sign a few important documents. If you are unable to attend this meeting, please let either Kristin M or Liz D. know ahead of time. 7th Grade Heads to Gettysburg THIS Wednesday This Wednesday, April 24, the 7th grade will soon be heading to Gettysburg for 3 days and 2 nights filled with education, entertainment, and last, but not least, fun! We will leave campus on Wednesday, April 24th at 2:00 pm and will return to campus on Friday, April 26th in time for normal participation in sports and electives before dismissal on Friday afternoon. We will be visiting the Shriver House Museum, Gettysburg Battlefields, the Visitor’s Center Museum, and will participate in the Ghostly Images Tour of the Jennie Wade House and the Orphanage House. You should have already contacted the Health Center if your child needs medicine or has health issues that will need to be addressed while on the trip. If you still need to speak with them, please do so first thing on Monday! You can reach Lisa Dyer (lisa.dyer@ssfs.org or x120) or Andrea Strom (andrea.strom@ssfs.org or x141) in the Health Center at 301-774-7455. John Schoffstall ’69 Returns to SSFS to Discuss Fiction Writing On Thursday, April 18, SSFS' Writing Center, Inquiry Guides, and Alumni Relations Office welcomed alumnus John Schoffstall back to campus. John visited to talk with MS and US English classes about his career as a fiction writer, particularly his publication of the celebrated quest narrative Half-Witch. This first novel was published to great reviews in July of 2018, but John explained the long road to publication. SSFS' Writing Center, Inquiry Guides, and Alumni Relations Office thanks John Schoffstall for giving us his time and wisdom. Half-Witch is set in a magical pre-industrial Europe and tells the story of Lizbet Lenz, a whip-smart daughter who must go on a quest to save her father from an evil overlord. You can read an excerpt of Half-Witch here and purchase it on Amazon.com. April 30: MS Book Club to Compete in the Battle of the Books On Tuesday, April 30th, the MS Book Club will participate in The Battle of the Books hosted by National Cathedral School in Northwest Washington, DC. The competition is structured similarly to a Quiz Bowl event with team mates able to confer before giving an answer. Questions (which always begin “In which book…”) can focus on character, setting, plot, theme or any other aspect. Our students have prepared by reading and meeting during lunch to discuss books including those selected for this year’s competition. Wish us luck as we compete against teams from other local independent schools! May 3: Eighth Grade Math and Science Trip Eighth grade mathematicians and scientists will spend time exploring the Maryland Science Center and attend enrichment programs on DNA discovery and statistics. Students will be able to observe and analyze their personal genetic traits, translate genetic code into traits to make a unique creature, and extract plant DNA to see what it looks like. The DNA discovery program has wonderful curricular tie-ins to the genetics unit the students will be engaging in throughout April. Students will also participate in a Stats Lab where they will supplement their classroom learning by collecting and analyzing statistical data generated by toys and games, calculate frequencies and probabilities, and compare predicted and observed outcomes. Students will then have the opportunity to explore the rest of the Science Center and apply what they have learned throughout the year. In the "Cells: The Universe Inside Us" and the "Your Body: The Inside Story" exhibits, students can participate in a special version of Dance, Dance Revolution to find out how exercise helps their bones, brain, and heart; walk into a giant, human heart; squeeze a large intestine and hear some interesting digestive sounds; and test their balance and chart their reaction to stress! The trip will take place on Friday, May 3rd. We will depart SSFS at 8:30 am and return by 3:00 pm for students to participate in sports and electives before regular dismissal time. May 9-10: Sixth Grade Trip Sixth Grade parents recently received a letter about our upcoming spring trip on May 9-10 to Calvert Cliffs and Sandy Point State Parks. We will drive to Calvert Cliffs State Park Thursday morning and spend the day hiking, playing, looking for fossils, and learning about the geology of the area. Later that afternoon, we will drive to the Sandy Point State Park to have dinner, camp, play games, and eat s’mores. Friday we will stay at the park until about 1:15 p.m. before heading back to SSFS in time for sports practice or electives. Please contact the Health Center by April 26th to discuss any health needs and to make arrangements to bring in any medication your child may need during the trip by May 1st. Middle School Book Discussion Series ICYMI: Middle School Head David Blake is hosting a book discussion series for parents of students in grades 4-8 during the months of April and May. Over the course of seven weeks, the group will be discussing The Big Disconnect: Protecting Childhood and Family Relationships in the Digital Age by Catherine Steiner-Adair. Find out more, RSVP, and sign up to receive information shared during the sessions here. Donate Old Toys and Games to the MS Art Room! ICYMI: The MS Art Room is ISO the following items:
Questions? Email Michelle Puhl Price.
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS Upper School "Must-Know" Info for Apr. 21 Newsletter Below is information about upcoming US and all-school activities and events in the coming weeks. For questions or more information about an event, please contact Kerry Foley, US Administrative Assistant, at ext. 109 or kerry.foley@ssfs.org, or visit the Calendar web page to see full calendar.
And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...
Mon, Apr. 22: Quiz Bowl Club Semifinals Following some dramatic quarterfinal contests, only four teams remain, seeded into two brackets, and poised to compete against one another in single elimination matches during the Academic Help period on Monday, April 22, from 3:10 to 3:40 pm, in the Quiz Bowl Club semifinals.
Spectators are welcome from 3:10 to 3:40 pm in Moore Hall, Room 105 (Eduardo’s classroom) and Room 111 (Anne’s classroom). Better yet, come feel the excitement at either of the upcoming Quiz Bowl showcases on May 20 & 21. Read more here... John Schoffstall ’69 Returns to SSFS to Discuss Fiction Writing On Thursday, April 18, SSFS' Writing Center, Inquiry Guides, and Alumni Relations Office welcomed alumnus John Schoffstall back to campus. John visited to talk with MS and US English classes about his career as a fiction writer, particularly his publication of the celebrated quest narrative Half-Witch. This first novel was published to great reviews in July of 2018, but John explained the long road to publication. SSFS' Writing Center, Inquiry Guides, and Alumni Relations Office thanks John Schoffstall for giving us his time and wisdom. Half-Witch is set in a magical pre-industrial Europe and tells the story of Lizbet Lenz, a whip-smart daughter who must go on a quest to save her father from an evil overlord. You can read an excerpt of Half-Witch here and purchase it on Amazon.com. 2019 Upper School Intersession Presentations This Tuesday, the Upper School gathered as a community to celebrate and share our experiences on Intersession. Many groups shared videos that encapsulated their time. Others shared history, lessons learned, and highlights of their trips. The videos can be found on the Intersession Presentation Playlist on the SSFS YouTube channel. Wed, Apr. 24: College Admissions Info Session - Mock Admissions Committee The College Counseling office invites all juniors and their families to join us for a Mock Admissions committee. This event is designed to show students and families how admissions officers make their decisions. Admissions officers from 5 colleges will lead students and parents in making admissions decisions on four applicants. The event will take place on Wednesday, April 24th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm in Yarnall Library. If you have questions, contact Candice Ashton. May 2-4: Upper School Musical Production The 2019 spring musical by the Upper school musical production class is THE BOY FRIEND. Written by Sandy Wilson, THE BOY FRIEND is a sweet, fun, and innocent 1920’s style musical appropriate for all ages. Performances are scheduled for May 2-4 at 7:15 pm in the PAC theater. Read more here, or for more information about the musical production class or this year’s musical, contact stage director, Carlo Grossman. Letter from Senior Alicia A '19 Published in the New York Times Look for SSFS senior Alicia Argueta’s writing in The New York Times Opinion section on Sunday, April 21. After submitting a powerful letter to the editor, Alicia was selected as one of the winners of a national contest for high school students. What began as a simple English class assignment will now have the opportunity to be read by the world – words and life speaking together. Congratulations, Alicia! Junior Charles L Selected as Citizen Ambassador to China SSFS junior Charles L. has been chosen from a highly selective national applicant pool of thousands by the U.S. Department of State as part of their National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program to represent the United States as a citizen ambassador to China. Charles will travel to Xiamen University, Shanghai, and Beijing on a full merit scholarship for 6 weeks this summer in an effort to improve Americans' ability to engage with people from around the world and build lasting international relationships. The National Security Language program initiative plays an important role in preparing U.S. students for the 21st century's globalized workforce, increasing American competitiveness, and contributing to national security. While there, Charles will continue to engage in the rigorous study of Mandarin--a language critical to U.S. national security and prosperity. Upon his return, he will be part of the alumni association and represent the Mid-Atlantic region in events and opportunities pertaining to continued critical language study, professional development, networking and community service. Congratulations to Alicia A - Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship Recipient! Big congratulations to SSFS senior Alicia A., who is a recipient of Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s prestigious College Scholarship Program award! Alicia was one of 106 high-achieving high school students who were selected from 5,500 applicants nationwide. As noted on the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation website, "the foundation evaluated each submission based on academic ability, persistence, leadership, and service to others." Alicia will be attending Smith College next year. We congratulate her on this exceptional recognition, and wish her all the best in her college career and beyond! Upper School Student Ambassador Leadership Opportunity ICYMI: SSFS Upper School students have created a student-led organization called the SSFS Student Ambassadors Program. The goal of this program is to help new students adjust to our school, integrate into our community, and build a strong network between current SSFS students and SSFS alumni. Student applicants should email Greg or Fernanda by Friday, May 3. See full article here. Young World Leaders Cultural Immersion Program: July 7-Aug. 3 ICYMI: International students ages 14-19 years old are invited to join fellow students from across the globe in an exciting, American academic and cultural learning experience. Young World Leaders (YWL) is a 4-week Cultural Immersion Program from July 7 – August 3, 2019, hosted at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Residential and day programs available. See full article, or
Be sure to check the Athletics Today page for up-to-date info about games! Monday - April 22, 2019 4:30 PM St. Andrew's Episcopal School Tuesday - April 23, 2019 4:00 PM McLean School of Maryland Thursday - April 25, 2019 4:00 PM McLean School of Maryland Monday - April 29, 2019 4:30 PM
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