Weekly Newsletter Emailed Each Sunday During The School Year.
May 19, 2019 Lower School Farm Club Lower School Farm Club members were delighted to harvest and taste their recently-planted radishes and lettuce this week. Log in to the website and then click here to view more photos from the Farm Club on Vidigami. As spring crops come in, expect to see more fresh greens from the farm in the salad bar in Westview!
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 May 19th 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...
Wed, May 22: Bring a Water Bottle and Sunscreen for Our People, Our Planet Day! On Wednesday, May 22, our whole school will come together for a day dedicated to a dual focus of environmental literacy and greater understanding of the unique social, global, and cultural composition of all SSFS community members. This is our third year of celebrating an expanded version of our traditional Earth Stewardship Day held annually each spring, and will include Upper School student presenters on topics including current events, diversity, and international awareness. Each class or advisory will participate in service, education, and reflection sessions. We will be spending time outside, so all students should plan to wear/bring sunscreen, bring a water bottle, and dress for being outside in nature! Let’s hear it for the student leaders, Ted Talks, Cultural and Environmental workshops led by parents, board members, and US students! Get ready to see our community at work as we spend the day being lifelong learners. Click here to see photos from last year's Our People, Our Planet Day. PA Executive Committee for 2019-2020 Finalized On Wednesday, May 15 at our final PA meeting, we approved our Executive Committee for the 2019-2020 school year. Thanks to everyone who submitted a nomination for a community member or shared their own interest in being part of the Executive Committee or to serve as a Grade Representative. Also, thanks to the Nominating Committee who provided guidance in selecting the final Executive Committee members for next year. Moving forward, we are finalizing Grade Representative positions for next year. If you have an interest in being a grade representative or volunteering for one of the many PA events, please contact pa.clerk@ssfs.org. Seeking Sewing Machines for New Course in Fabrication and Design Beginning in 2019-2020, the Upper School Science Department will offer two brand-new intermediate engineering courses: "Advanced Techniques in Fabrication and Design" (heretofore abbreviated as “ATFD”) and "Robotics." (Read more about these courses here...) In order to offer these new courses, we are in the process of acquiring a variety of new tools, materials, and equipment. if you have (or know someone who has) an outgrown but functional sewing machine that you'd be willing to donate, please contact Sharon Wall. Read full article here... Updated Information for International Wire Transfers As of May 20, 2019 our bank will no longer use Pacific Coast Bankers Bank (PCBB) to process incoming international wires. Please click here for the updated wire instructions. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jessica Rothfeld. May 24: Last 5:45 pm Activity Bus Shuttle of the Year A reminder that our final day of providing the 5:45 pm afternoon activity shuttle bus to the metro station is Friday, May 24. Please plan accordingly. Thanks! 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 May 19th 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...
Message from Brenda Crawley, Lower School Head Dear Lower School Friends, Click here to read Brenda's full letter with details about the many Lower School events in May, and upcoming activities as we head towards the end of the school year... May 23: 5th Grade Parents Invited to a Prep for Middle School Informational Coffee & Conversation Fifth Grade parents should have received an e-mail invitation for Coffee and Conversation with David Blake, Head of Middle School, along with some members of the Middle School Faculty. Join us on Thursday, May 23rd at 8:15 am in the Scott House Collection Space, where we will present useful information on preparing for the transition to Middle School and answer any lingering questions you may have before the summer gets underway. Contact Erin Ryan, Middle School Administrative Assistant, at x160 or erin.ryan@ssfs.org with any questions. June 6: The Last Day of the 2018-2019 School Year & Lower School Traditions The end of a school year holds many amazing SSFS traditions, and the last day of school involves many of those traditions. The last day of our 2018-2019 school year is Thursday, June 6. All PK3 – Grade 5 students are expected to arrive at the usual time and stay until dismissal at 1:00 pm. This will allow their full participation in year-end activities with their classmates and give us ample time for closure and goodbyes.
Please make every effort to ensure that your child can stay until our 1:00 pm dismissal on June 6. Like structure and routine, closure is important to our young SSFS wildebeests! Super Silly Creatures Find Their Way Home The annual parade of Super Silly Creatures took place on Wednesday, May 15! Under the guidance of Kate Santorineos, our 1st grade artists created these magical, mystical beings. The 5th grade recorder troupe provided the music and other 5th grade students helped carry the creatures as the parade wended down from the Art Barn to the Library, Scott House, and to Walbrooke, where we'll all get to enjoy seeing these colorful, fantastical creatures until the end of the school year. See the photos of students creating their Super Silly Creatures here, and more photos of the Super Silly Creatures Parade here. (Remember to log in to the website first to access these Vidigami album links.) Lower School Farm Club Harvest Lower School Farm Club members were delighted to harvest and taste their recently-planted radishes and lettuce this week. Log in to the website and then click here to view more photos from the Farm Club on Vidigami. As spring crops come in, expect to see more fresh greens from the farm in the salad bar in Westview! Important Library News Regarding End of Year ICYMI: As the year begins to wind down, please note that all books are due back to the library by Friday, May 24. 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 May 19th 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...
Middle School Spring Arts Evening is THIS Thurs, May 23! The Middle School Spring Arts Evening is this coming Thursday, May 23rd at 7:15 pm in the PAC. This event is the culmination of a semester’s worth of work and study, and the majority of Middle School students will be performing or will have their work on display in the Performing Arts Center Lobby. For Music, Movement, and Drama students, attendance and participation is essential and required. Students in those classes must arrive by 6:30 pm. Full details are being sent to families via e-mail, and parents may e-mail Michelle Puhl-Price with any questions. Middle Schoolers to Perform at the Senior Recital on May 21st Middle school students from seventh and eighth grade Movement were given the exciting opportunity to participate in US dances choreographed by Seniors Abby Baldwin and Maeve Friedman. Seventh graders Abby T., Aleeza, Alessandra, Aniya, Jessica, Kairava, Suutumee and eighth graders Emma, Peace, Sarah D., Shelby, Siri, and Sydney have committed time outside of class to learn and rehearse these original choreographic works. The US-MS collaboration dance pieces will be performed on Tuesday night, May 21st in the PAC starting promptly at 7:15 pm. Please come support our middle school dancers and enjoy all of the amazing performances that night! Eighth Grade Heads Back to AFI for a Screening of A Raisin in the Sun On Friday, May 24th, the eighth grade, along with members of the Middle School faculty, will be going to the AFI in Silver Spring for a special viewing of A Raisin in the Sun on the big screen. We will depart campus at 9:00 am and return in time for students to attend their regularly-scheduled afternoon classes. Seventh Grade Solar Car Project Seventh graders have been hard at work designing and engineering solar cars! This is a several-week project in which the students collaborate with their peers to apply their knowledge of circuits, gears, and energy transformations in order to create a working solar car. The culmination of this work is a race among classmates to claim the title of fastest car! The seventh graders will compete with each other on campus Tuesday, May 28th (rain/cloud date May 30th) between 10 am and 12 pm. We invite all those interested in cheering along our racers to join us! The Scoop from the Sixth Grade - May 19 Update The sixth grade students (and teachers) had a blast on our overnight trip! We were very fortunate that Mother Nature cooperated, and our time at the beach at Calvert Cliffs was sunny and warm. The stars also came out while we ate our evening s’mores at Sandy Point. At the worship share we had in the meeting house upon our return, many students named the beach and roller skating as highlights of the trip, as well as stargazing, s’mores, and some silliness in the tents. In short, it was a fabulous trip! 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.
UPPER SCHOOL NEWS Upper School "Must-Know" Info for May 19th 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...
SSFS Quiz Bowl Team Advances to Finals on It’s Academic Inspired by the championing roar of supportive ‘Beest Boosters, SSFS earned an impressive It’s Academic semifinal victory on Saturday, May 11. En route to a nail-biting and historic victory, SSFS scored 550 points, on 23 of 26 questions answered correctly, defeating Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (520 points) and Langley High School (435 points), to advance to the championship match on Saturday, May 18. From an original field of 81 schools, SSFS now finds itself deservedly among the top three teams in the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan Area, vying for bragging rights on It's Academic, “recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running quiz program in TV history.” Returning to the NBC4 Studios on Saturday, May 18, SSFS will square off against Blair and Rockville high schools in the It’s Academic Final (studio doors open at 11:15am). In an Intercity Match-up, the winner will play the Baltimore and Central Virginia area champions, immediately afterwards, that same day, in the It’s Academic Superbowl. Spring/Summer College Fairs Summer is an excellent time to begin your college search and explore the possibilities. There are local opportunities for rising seniors and juniors to attend college fairs this spring and summer. Here are a few:
SSFS Varsity Baseball Team Season Highlights The SSFS Varsity Baseball Team finished the regular season on Wednesday, May 15, with a heartbreaking loss in the Conference Championship. St. Anselm’s hit a 2-run homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and win the game. Senior Kevin Martin pitched 6 innings and had the game-tying rbi at the top of the 7th inning. Senior Jason Sobel had played a great defensive game in centerfield. The Wildebeests finished 9-3 in the PVAC Conference. All Conference recognition went to junior catcher Ben Gruodis-Gimbel (1st Team), P/1b Senior Ben Davis (1st Team), Senior P/1b Kevin Martin (2nd Team) and Senior 3b, SS, Justis Dixon (honorable mention). The 2019 seniors compiled an 8-3 playoff record over 4 years. See photos of the team seniors, as well as updated team photos with Ben Uzzell's number "10" newly-embroidered onto the team jerseys... Ice Hockey Co-op Team Has Best Season in Team's History It was another great season for the Ice Hockey Team! Ice Hockey players from Sandy Spring participate each year in the Maryland Scholastic Hockey League as members of a Co-op team with students from other area high schools. SSFS was represented by five players on the “Griffins,” joining students from six other public and private schools. Joining Seniors Quinn B-E (Team Captain) and Alan B. (Asst. Captain, 2nd Team All-Conference), were Juniors Aidan C. and Jimmy H., and Sophomore Remy P. Quinn, Jimmy, and Aidan were significant contributors to the team’s offense – scoring nearly 50% of the team’s goals, with Alan and Remy anchoring a defense that frustrated opponents all season. This year’s team was the most successful in team history, posting an 8-6 record. Highlights included sweeping season series against rivals Blair and Sherwood, and posting our first ever post-season victory - defeating Woodrow Wilson in the quarterfinals in an exciting 8-7 overtime match - before being defeated by eventual division champion Damascus in the semifinals. The team would like to thank the SSFS fans who showed up to cheer them on, especially faculty members Cathy & Tom Harrison and Eduardo Polon, who appeared at almost every game! Tues, May 21: Quiz Bowl Club Championship Match Following two months of regular season play and two rounds of head-to-head playoffs that pit the top Quizards against one another in single elimination format, only two teams remain to vie for the ultimate prize: the SSFS Quiz Bowl Cup. SSFS Quiz Bowl Cup Congratulations to this year's finalists, and "may the odds be ever in your favor":
Come see what the buzz is about at this championship game, or the SSFS Quiz Bowl All-Star Assembly on Monday, May 20th. Read more here... Senior Recital and Art Showcase Celebrate our Senior Artists! Tuesday, May 21 @ 7:15 pm in the PAC:
Also, don't forget to come to the US Music & Dance Informal- Thursday, May 30 & Friday, May 31 @ 7:15pm in the PAC! Important Dates & End of Year Information for Seniors As the end of the academic year draws near, don't forget to review the email sent on April 22 from Meredith Shankle listing information and details about the various senior events and activities leading up to and including graduation. We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2019! AP Environmental Science Students win Best in State in Video Contest Congratulations to SSFS AP Environmental Science class students Allison Dixon, Jane Mikkelson, and Lucy Thomas, who won Best in State for Maryland in the "World of Seven Billion" video contest! Students in the AP Environmental Science were challenged to enter the World of Seven Billion video contest last January, where teams of students collaborated to create a 60-second video addressing a global challenge exasperated by human population growth. Allison, Jane, and Lucy's video was about "Healing Our Earth Through Bioenergy." Seeking Sewing Machines for New Course in Fabrication and Design Beginning in 2019-2020, the Upper School Science Department will offer two brand-new intermediate engineering courses: "Advanced Techniques in Fabrication and Design" (heretofore abbreviated as “ATFD”) and "Robotics." (Read more about these courses here...) In order to offer these new courses, we are in the process of acquiring a variety of new tools, materials, and equipment. if you have (or know someone who has) an outgrown but functional sewing machine that you'd be willing to donate, please contact Sharon Wall. Read full article here... Sandy Spring Museum Seeking Volunteers for the Strawberry Festival The Sandy Spring Museum is looking for student and adult volunteers to help with their annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2. Click here to find out how you can volunteer.
Be sure to check the Athletics Today page for up-to-date info about games!
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