Weekly Newsletter Emailed Each Sunday During The School Year.
Jan. 12, 2020 A Taste of Snow Students enjoyed a taste of snow last week—enough to form some snowballs on Tuesday afternoon and cause a 2-hour delayed opening on Wednesday morning. A reminder to Lower School families that students must wear the "Magic 5" (coat, hat, gloves, snow-boots, and snow-pants) if they want to play in the snow during recess!
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. 12, 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 Monday, January 20, from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, 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 to make sure the day is a success! Sign up to help set up, clean up, and/or manage a service project here. We are also seeking donations of new/gently used shoes, children's books, linens, and baby products for charity organizations. Find out more... The SSFS Auction Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, January 15 at 8:15 am in the Scott House conference room. We need your help in pulling off one of the biggest events of the year! The librarians need your help! We are informing students of any materials overdue from the first half of the year. All library books and materials checked out are due Friday, January 24th. Student accounts will be billed for the replacement cost of the book or other material and a $5.00 processing fee per item on January 31st. Students with outstanding library materials will receive notification by Friday, January 17th. Find out more... ICYMI: It's time to begin selecting next year's PA Executive Committee. The Executive Committee includes the Mentoring Clerk, two Co-Clerks, two Assistant Co-Clerks, three Division Representatives for each division (LS, MS, and US), the Treasurer, and the Recording Clerk (see job descriptions HERE, after logging in). This process requires thoughtful consideration and an entire team of people to facilitate it. Nominations are anonymous and will be shared only with the Nominating Committee. We will also be taking suggestions for Grade Representatives and event clerks. Feel free to nominate yourself or anyone else that you think would have a positive impact. We would especially welcome new faces! Please consider joining us, and make nominations using this nominating form. The committee will begin meeting in January. 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. 12, 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...
Our Winter Club brochure was emailed to all PK4-5th grade families on Thursday, Jan. 9. Online registration is now open. Clubs begin the week of January 13th, with the exception of Indoor Excite Soccer which will begin on Thursday, January 23. Click here to register. PLEASE NOTE: The Lego Club and Ooey Gooey Club for 1st and 2nd grade are now CLOSED. 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. Our next LS Parent Education Forum will be held on Thursday, January 23rd from 8:15 – 9:15 am in Scott House. Please mark your calendars to come to this presentation, "Reading, Reading, Reading – How We Develop Reading Skills at Each Grade" with Courtney Benson and Bev DiTusa. We hope to see you there!
Middle School "Must-Know" Info for Jan. 12, 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.
And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...
Humanities Minimester 2020 course selections have been reviewed, and all students have been assigned to their classes. Rosters are posted in the Middle School, so please check in with your child to confirm placement. If questions or concerns arise, please communicate directly with your child's current teacher. You will receive a letter of introduction from your child’s new teachers in upcoming weeks. As a reminder, these new courses will begin at the start of Quarter 3, January 28, 2020. 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 THIS 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. 12, 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...
Come hear our talented musicians at the Upper School Music Evening on Thursday, Jan. 16 at 7:15 pm in the PAC Theater, featuring US Handbells, US Instrumental Music, and our combined US & MS Chorus, with music direction by Bryan Seith and Keith Adams. Poly-stylistic and genre bending... don't miss it! 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. 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.
Be sure to check the Athletics Today page for up-to-date info about games! 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 4:30 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Wednesday - January 15, 2020 4:30 PM St. Anselm's Abbey School Thursday - January 16, 2020 3:30 PM Sandy Spring Friends School 3:30 PM Washington Christian Academy Friday - January 17, 2020 3:30 PM Washington International School Tuesday - January 21, 2020 4:00 PM Sandy Spring Friends School Wednesday - January 22, 2020 3:30 PM Washington International School
Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting invites all SSFS families for Meetings for Worship at SSMM, and other community events and activities throughout the year. Please see the Jan. 12 Silent Announcements for information and details about SSMM goings-on in the coming weeks. Questions? Please contact the SSMM office at ssmm.rsf@gmail.com. Thank you! 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. Training is offered Jan. 15, 22, and 29 free of charge through the MCPS Parent Academy. See flyer to find out more... SSFS families are invited to the Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting's Simple Dinner and Talent Show on Saturday, Jan. 18 - to attend, perform, or both! See flyer here; please contact Michelle Yates if you are interested in performing. Representatives from Baltimore Yearly Friends (BYM) Quaker Camps will be on hand at the Bethesda Friends Meeting on Sunday, Jan 26, from 11:15 to 12:15 in the Groome Building on the Sidwell Lower School Campus. SSFS families are welcome to attend to find out more about summer camp experiences at Catoctin, Shiloh, Opequon, and Teen Adventure! 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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