Weekly Newsletter Emailed Each Sunday During The School Year.
Jan. 5, 2020 Happy New Year! Our preschool students partnered with the Upper School Woodworking class to create individual snowmen with wood planks measured to each student's size. The preschool class then invited their US Woodworking friends to their classroom to display their final creations, decorated with brightly-colored textures and shapes. Keep an eye on the weather to see if we'll get to create some snow sculptures with real snow this winter! A reminder that the SSFS school policy for weather-related closures and delays is available here.
We hope all our families enjoyed a rejuvenating winter break, and we wish everyone a very happy, healthy 2020. We look forward to welcoming students back to campus as we head into the new year (classes resume Monday, Jan. 6).
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 Jan. 5, 2020
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...
We are looking forward to the MLK Day of Service on January 20, 2020, when the community comes together to share the important work and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by completing various service projects together. We need your help! Please see details for the day here. ICYMI: Thank you to all the families who submitted their TADS financial aid applications by the December 1st deadline. If you missed the December 1st financial aid deadline and intend to apply for financial aid, please contact Dawn Griffith prior to submitting the TADS financial aid application. ICYMI: Thank you to all the community members who participated in the Nov. 19 and Nov. 21 auditions for the 2020 Community Play, Matilda! The cast list has been announced; please click here to access the Matilda Google drive folder with cast list, rehearsal schedule, and more information and details. We're looking forward to a great show March 5-8, 2020! Weather-Related Delays and Closures Policy With winter weather upon us, a quick reminder that SSFS follows Montgomery County Schools for all weather-related delays and closures (but not early dismissals). If there is a weather-related delay or closure, that info will be posted on our website home page, and sent via text and email to all SSFS faculty, staff, and families. The MS/US 2-hour delay schedule can be found on our calendar page under the Printable Calendars tab, or simply click here. All families who have provided a cell phone number in MyBackpack should receive the emergency text notifications from One Call Now, unless you have opted out. Questions? Contact Margaret Rosser, Director of Communications. 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 Jan. 5, 2020
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...
Fourth and Fifth Grade parents are invited to join us for Coffee and Conversation on Friday, January 17th. Parents will have an opportunity to visit some classes in session, followed by coffee and Q&A with David Blake afterwards. Check-in starts at 8:00 am in the Middle School Conference Room, and the event will conclude by 10:00 am. Please RSVP by Monday, January 13th so we can make a name tag for you.
Middle School "Must-Know" Info for Jan. 5, 2020
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.
ICYMI: Every two years, MS students are given the option to participate in a summer service trip. This year’s trip will be to Smoky Mountains National Park! The planning is underway, and we are excited to welcome any current 7th or 8th grader on this trip. Please click here for more details, and mark your calendar to attend an Information Session on Wednesday, January 15th at 6:45 pm in the Middle School. Please mark your calendars for the annual Middle School International Lunch, which will be held on Friday, January 17. This annual potluck lunch is a chance for our students to taste some delicious cuisines from around the world and to celebrate the diversity of our school community. Each Middle School student will be asked to bring in a dish, and we will also need lots of parent volunteers on the 17th to make this year's event a success. Please see this letter for more details, and return the bottom portion by Jan. 9. Also, please click here to access the Sign-Up Genius page, where parents can sign up to volunteer. thanks in advance for your help. Gracias, merci, and thanks in advance for your help! Join us for Coffee and Conversation on Friday, January 17th. Parents will have an opportunity to visit some classes in session, followed by coffee and Q&A with David Blake afterwards. Check-in starts at 8:00 am in the Middle School Conference Room, and the event will conclude by 10:00 am. Please RSVP by Monday, January 13th so we can make a name tag for you. Be sure your calendar is marked for the Middle School Winter Arts Evening on Thursday, January 23, at 7:15 pm. This event is the culmination of a semester’s worth of work and study, and the majority of Middle School students will be performing. The Visual Art, Digital Media Arts, and Weaving classes 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 were sent in an e-mail communication to all Middle School parents, and parents may e-mail Michelle Puhl-Price with any questions. On Monday, January 27, Sandy Spring Friends School will again open its campus to theEastEd Middle School Student Diversity Leadership Conference for the 9th year. Over 200 students and adults from all over the DC/MD/VA area will attend the all-day conference. Participants will be attending sessions led by adults and by middle and upper school students. This is an excellent opportunity for students to begin and/or continue exploring diversity topics. The conference is open to ALL middle school students (6th, 7th , & 8th graders). If students are interested and/or have questions, please have them contact Aimee Farley (MS Diversity Coordinator). See flyer here...
Upper School "Must-Know" Info for Jan. 5, 2020
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...
The Upper School Mid-Term Exam schedule may be found online (as a Google doc) here. Please note that as per the Upper School’s Exams Week Attendance Policy, exams may not be rescheduled during Exam Week without the explicit permission of the Academic Dean. Travel-related or planned absences during exam week will likely not be accommodated. The 2020 Quaker Youth Leadership Conference will be held in Newtown, PA, from Jan. 30-Feb. 1 and is hosted by the George School. Johanna Modak (US Spanish) and Chris Miller (Director of College Counseling) will be the chaperones and the trip coordinators. All expenses for the conference will be paid by the School. Please email your te application to Johanna Modak by 1:00 pm on Friday, December 20th. You will be notified about your acceptance for attending the conference by January 8th. At that time, you will be sent further paperwork and forms to fill out. Find out more here... ICYMI: US Spanish teacher Leah Niepold is organizing a summer service trip to Puerto Rico to assist families still recovering from Hurricane Maria, open to current SSFS 9th–11th grade students. The trip will be 6/16/20–6/23/20. On the island, the group will tour San Juan and work with families in Villa Del Rio. In addition to visiting El Yunque National Rainforest and Luquillo beach, the trip includes a catamaran trip to Icacos Island for snorkeling and exploration. Students will complete a minimum of 30 community service hours through various work projects and put their Spanish to use in community-building activities, cultural tours, and service work. Please see the trip flyer for more detailed information and pricing. If interested, fill out this online application by January 13, 2020. A non-refundable $500 deposit to Global Works is due no later than January 31, 2020. For more information, contact Leah Niepold. ICYMI: The Ski Club is for Upper School students and 8th graders who have previously participated in snow sports of some kind. We purchase Night Tracker Passes that are good at Liberty Mountatin, Roundtop Mountain, and Whitetail Resorts. Ski Club takes six trips - mostly on Friday evenings, but you can use your Night Tracker Pass any other evenings you are willing to make a trip to the mountain! For more information, please click here. Questions? Contact Shannon Needham or Alison Cheetham.
Be sure to check the Athletics Today page for up-to-date info about games! Monday - January 6, 2020 4:30 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Thursday - January 9, 2020 3:30 PM Sandy Spring Friends School 4:00 PM Sandy Spring Friends School 5:00 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Friday - January 10, 2020 4:00 PM Sandy Spring Friends School 4:00 PM Model Secondary School for the Deaf 5:30 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Monday - January 13, 2020 4:00 PM Sandy Spring Friends School 5:30 PM Sandy Spring Friends School 5:45 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Tuesday - January 14, 2020 4:00 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Wednesday - January 15, 2020 4:30 PM St. Anselm's Abbey School
Youth Mental Health First Aid USA is an 8-hour public education program which introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge. Mental Health First Aid uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect young people to professional, peer, social, and self-help care. Training is offered free of charge through the MCPS Parent Academy. See flyer to find out 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.
|