Weekly Newsletter Emailed Each Sunday During The School Year.
Oct. 20, 2019 7th Grade Fall Signature Trip Middle School students have been enjoying their Signature Trips this fall. The 6th graders returned from a great trip to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation Oct. 10-11, and the 7th grade class kicked off their trip Thursday, Oct. 17, with a visit to the Adventure Park. They then watched the documentary Food, Inc., and camped out overnight, followed by a trip Friday morning to SSFS alum Kip Kelley's farm to see sustainable agriculture in action and help out with some harvesting. After a farm-to-table lunch of pizza using ingredients from the farm and a visit to a local creamery, they returned back to campus. See more photos in Vidigami here. (Remember to log in to your portal page first, as this is a password-protected site!)
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 "Must-Know" Info for Oct. 20, 2019
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.
RSVP here for our Fall Open House, where you will have the opportunity to tour our amazing 140 acre campus, meet our dynamic faculty, students, and parents, and visit our classrooms and facilities. Oct. 22: SSFS Parent Association Meeting, 6:00-7:00 pm The Parents Association (PA) will hold its first meeting of the year on Tues, Oct. 22 at 6:00 pm in Yarnall Library, and ALL parents are invited to attend. Food and childcare will be provided! Tom Gibian will host the Head of School Forum at 7:15 pm following the PA meeting. Questions? Ideas? Please email PA.Clerk@SSFS.org. Please RSVP by clicking here: PA Meeting & Head of School Forum RSVP. If you are unavailable to attend the PA meeting, you may dial in: Dial in number: 866.894.8254; Participant passcode: 7545542 Wed, Oct. 23: PA Auction Committee Meeting The SSFS PA Auction Committee meeting is Wednesday, October 23 at 8:15 am in the Scott House conference room. Come join the fun in planning the social event of the year! Financial Aid 2020-2021 ICYMI: The online TADS application is now available. Any families with questions related to the financial aid process are encouraged to contact Dawn Griffith, Director of Financial Aid, at dawn.griffith@ssfs.org or x231. Current families receiving financial assistance as well as families applying for consideration for the next school year should be complete the TADS financial aid application and submit all required tax documentation before December 1st. More information about TADS and the financial aid process is available on the SSFS website. Sun, Nov. 3: Empty Bowl Glazing Opportunity ICYMI: Come join us as we continue to prepare for our next Empty Bowl event, scheduled for 2021. Please click here to sign up to reserve a work space in the Art Barn on Sunday, November 3rd between 1-4. Friends, family, and neighbors, little and big, are all welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. All supplies and light refreshments are provided. See more... 2019 Grade Level Potlucks ICYMI: Every fall the PA encourages each class to hold a potluck or other child-free event for parents to get to know each other. Have a great time getting to know your class! The upcoming potluck schedule for the grades we have so far are listed below.
Sat, Nov. 9: SSFS FriendsFest! The PA's annual Fall FriendsFest is quickly approaching on Saturday, November 9! Before the festivities can begin, we need many volunteers like you to donate anything from baked goods to your time and talent for an hour or two during this all-school event that kicks off the holiday season. Show your community spirit and Sign Up to Volunteer TODAY! Read more about the day here. Nov. 12 and 19: Preschool-Kindergarten Snapshot Days ICYMI: Do you have a child about to enter preschool, or know someone who does? Our Preschool-Kindergarten Snapshot Days on Nov. 12 and 19 allow a first-hand peek into our classrooms. Preschoolers will spend an hour exploring our Preschool/Kindergarten classrooms while parents have an opportunity to speak with teachers, administrators, and other parents; ask questions; and see our program in action. Optional campus tours are also available. RSVP here. Nov. 15-16: SSFS Upper School Drama Class Presents "Radium Girls" Sandy Spring Friends School Upper School Presents: "Radium Girls" by D. W. Gregory, on November 15 and 16 @ 7:15 pm SSFS Community Stewardship Project – Crayola Colorcycle ICYMI: We are collecting dried up markers all over campus (Crayola and any other brand of plastic markers including Sharpies, Expo, and highlighters). We will be sending them in to repurpose and recycle the plastic thanks to the Crayola Colorcycle Program. Collection boxes will be at each division’s main office as well as one in Yarnall Library for markers coming in from home. Please don’t throw them away when you clean out at home, bring them in and send them with ours! SSFS Community Art Show ICYMI: SSFS is hosting an art and craft show for the adults in our community: parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and alumni. This is a non-juried show intended to reveal the many talents in our community. Find out more here, and complete the online submission form if you are interested in submitting a work.
Lower School "Must-Know" Info for Oct. 20, 2019
Below is information about upcoming LS and all-school activities and events in the coming weeks. 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...
Wed., Oct. 23 and Fri, Nov. 1: Parent-Teacher Conferences A reminder that our Fall Parent teacher conferences will take place on the afternoon of Wednesday, October 23 and also on Friday, November 1. If you have not already signed up, please click here to schedule your conference time slot. Lower School Upcoming Halloween Activities The annual SSFS Halloween Carnival, a fundraiser for the junior class, is happening on Saturday, October 26th, at 2-4 PM in Yarnall. Our annual LS Halloween Parade will take place on Thursday, October 31st at 2:30 pm. Find out more about both here... Sat, Oct. 26: Halloween Carnival for Lower School Students The Junior class is hosting a Halloween Carnival for all Lower School students! The day will include games, crafts, and food with friends. Get ready to enjoy the activities on Saturday, October 26th from 2:00-4:00pm in Yarnall Lobby. Tickets will be available for purchase at the festival ($1 for 4 tickets). Can’t wait to see you at this fun community event! See flyer... Tues, Oct. 29: Parent Education Forum The next LS Parent Education Forum will be held on Tuesday, October 29, from 6:30 – 7:30 pm in the Scott House Collection Space. Joel Gunzburg, LS Guidance Counselor, will present “The Social-Emotional Learning Approach in the Lower School.” We hope to see you there! Tues, Nov. 5: 5th Grade Parents Invited to Middle School Information Night SSFS 5th grade parents were recently sent an email invitation for the Middle School Information Night, which will be held on Tuesday, November 5, from 6:30-8:00 pm in the Middle School. Parents will be provided a light supper while they meet David Blake and members of our Middle School faculty and staff to learn about our programs and tour some classrooms. Please RSVP by October 29th using the link provided in the email invitation. Contact Erin Ryan, Middle School Administrative Assistant, at x160 or erin.ryan@ssfs.org with any questions. Smart Sacks Program - Volunteers Needed Our first Smart Sack packing of the school year will be on Friday, October 25th, in Westview Dining Hall immediately after drop off. We are seeking 3-4 parent volunteers to join our Smart Sacks team this year. Find out more about the Smart Sacks Program and how you can do something meaningful with the Lower School kids while providing a very worthwhile service to the community... Lower School Photos Payments - Due Now Many thanks to the families that have already turned in their photo money! If you have not already done so, please send in your payment (cash or check payable to Stone Photography), or you may return the unopened photo package to the LS office. Thank you!
Middle School "Must-Know" Info for Oct. 20, 2019
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 Grandfriends Day is THIS FRIDAY, Oct. 25 The Middle School is excited to be hosting Grandfriends Day this Friday, October 25! For those of you who are new to the community, Grandfriends Day is a bi-annual tradition where our Middle School students get to welcome their grandparents (or surrogate older adult) to visit during the school day. The Grandfriends are treated to a light breakfast, followed by a campus tour and classroom visits. Their time on campus concludes with a special lunch featuring some student performances and Meeting for Worship. The formal invitations were mailed, and RSVPs were due by October 16th. Please contact our Advancement office with any questions. Fall Sports and Electives End on Friday, October 25th Our Middle School Fall Sports and Electives season ends on Friday, October 25th! The Winter season will begin on Monday, November 11th, and students are in the process of making their selections. Just a friendly reminder to parents that dismissal for students will be at 3:40 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday during the Weeks of October 28th and November 4th. Aftercare is always available during these gap times between sports/electives seasons! The Scoop from 6th Grade: Oct. 18 Update The 6th Grade trip to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation was fabulous, and the kids received many compliments from the staff there on their attentiveness, intelligence, and awesome participation. We were so proud of them! At Sandy Point, students set up tents, had a cook-out, did some stargazing by the water, and ate s’mores. Find out more about the trip, and see photos... Eighth Grade is Heading to NYC on November 6! Full details about the eighth grade’s trip to New York City were recently emailed to parents. Students will be spending the three days bonding with classmates and enhancing their classroom learning with visits to Ellis Island, the Tenement Museum, and the Museum of Mathematics. If your child needs medicine or has health issues that will need to be addressed while on the trip, please contact Andrea Strom in the Health Center. Any medication to go on the trip must be brought to the Health Center by a parent or guardian no later than Wednesday, October 31. We’re looking forward to a great trip! Middle School Art Room Needs Your Recycled Materials ICYMI: The Middle School Art Room needs supplies such as cardboard, paper towel tubes, plastic containers and bottles, magazines, egg cartons, costume jewelry, and more. Click here for the full list...
Upper School "Must-Know" Info for Oct. 20, 2019
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...
Oct. 21: Upper School Intersession Survey Deadline Upper School Experiential Education Coordinator Sunshine Klein sent an email to all Upper School parents on Thursday, Oct. 10, with important information about the upcoming Intersession trip selection process for 2019-2020. (See the letter here.) Please remember that the Intersession Survey is DUE Monday, Oct. 21. Parent/guardian approval is needed for survey submission, and late submissions may result in students' not getting their preferred trip selection. Trip descriptions may be found online here. US Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up for Nov. 6 & 13 Upper School Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held on Wednesday, November 6th and Wednesday, November 13th from 2:45- 5:00 pm in the Westview Dining Hall. We will utilize the online scheduling system, PTCFAST. Please note that we will not be able to accommodate any “walk-ins.” In order to access the PTCFAST system, please click here. Find out more about conferences here... Tues, Oct. 29: College Info Night for Visual and Performing Arts ICYMI: On Tues, Oct. 29 at 6:30 pm in PAC - Studio B he SSFS College Counseling Office and Upper School Arts Department are hosting a panel discussion with college admissions representatives from four colleges and universities, focused on the application process for visual and performing arts. Topics will include visual art portfolio information and guidelines, performing arts supplements, and the admission process in arts programs. Students and families interested in the arts are welcome and encouraged to come! See flyer... SSFS Quiz Bowl Team Advances to It's Academic Playoffs Jan. 11 On Saturday, October 12th, the SSFS Quiz Bowl Team demonstrated continued academic excellence by advancing to the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years on It’s Academic. Inspired by a supportive crowd of ‘Beest Boosters and our beloved Wildebeest mascot, SSFS earned a commendable 510 points in defeating Paint Branch (365 points) and Bowie (220 points) to advance to the It's Academic playoffs. SSFS returns to the World MediaNet Studio at National Harbor to compete in the It’s Academic quarterfinals on Saturday, January 11th, at 1:45 pm against Poolesville and Georgetown Day high schools. Read more here... AP Environmental Science Classes Conduct DNA Analysis Students in AP Environmental Science are studying human impacts on ecosystems. On Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17-18, classes participated in a lab which was a case study on Chestnut tree blight, caused by a fungus. Students modeled using a virus as a biocontrol on the fungus that is killing off Chestnut trees. They used gel electrophoresis to analyze DNA in order to track the spread of the virus, with the goal of using this information to contain the blight on Chestnut trees. See more photos here... Nov. 15-16: Upper School Production of "Radium Girls" ICYMI: Sandy Spring Friends School Upper School Presents: "Radium Girls" by D. W. Gregory, on November 15 and 16 @ 7:15 pm (Upper School Assembly Performance on November 14) in the Performing Arts Center. In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girls traces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Rating: Parental Guidance is suggested as the play deals with adult topics. Find out more...
Be sure to check the Athletics Today page for up-to-date info about games! Monday - October 21, 2019 4:00 PM Tuesday - October 22, 2019 4:30 PM
Oct 26: Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting Halloween Potluck and Party Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting is hosting a Simple Dinner and Halloween Party in the Lyceum at Sandy Spring Meeting House (17715 Meeting House Road Sandy Spring, MD, 20860) on Saturday, October 26. There will be a Potluck Chili Dinner at 6:00 pm (bring a side dish to share) followed by the 7:00 pm Halloween Party. See flyer here... Join the Adventure Park Staff - A Great Opportunity for SSFS Parents! The Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School is looking for several people to join our team of Park Hosts and Supervisors. Come to work after drop-off, leave in time for pick-up! Learn More... This is an optional, opt-in virtual bulletin board for all members of the SSFS community to share resources and announcements about topics not part of the traditional school day or school related events (think: finding babysitters, repair service recommendations, hiking groups, etc.) Please fill in this quick online form to opt in.
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