Weekly Newsletter

The school calendar was recently updated to reflect May 27th as a Professional Day for Middle and Upper School Teachers. Students will not be provided with assignments on the 27th, and no synchronous classes will be held on this date.  We know this time has presented us all with many challenges, and we appreciate the flexibility and partnership of our families as we wrap up the school year virtually. 

In an effort to continue to keep our parents as updated as possible about our planning for the coming school year during these unprecedented times, David Blake will host a Parent Forum via Zoom at 7:15 pm on Thursday, May 28th. The zoom link and password was sent via email to families, and parents may contact Erin Ryan with any questions or if they need assistance. 

ICYMI: We may not be on campus, but we can still show our Sandy Spring spirit! Stay tuned for dates and details about how we will continue this tradition at home this year. Go 'Beests! 

For the Daily Double: This amazing SSFS Upper School English Teacher will appear on Jeopardy’s Teacher Tournament next Friday, May 29. 
Question: Who is Anne Pulju?

It’s true: SSFS’s very own Anne Pulju was selected to compete in the annual Jeopardy! Teachers Tournament this year. The tournament, which was filmed in California back in February, airs next week, May 25-June 5. Be sure to tune in on FRIDAY, MAY 29, for Anne’s quarterfinal air date. Anne says,“I had a fantastic time competing on Jeopardy! The studio experience was so much fun. I especially appreciate that the tournament is a true celebration of learning, and it was wonderful to meet inspiring teachers from around the country (we are still sharing trivia nights and virtual teaching tips over Zoom!).”

See the Jeopardy! promo for the tournament (Anne's tagline is "Appreciation Community!").

Friday, May 22, marked the last day of classes for our seniors! There are still a number of activities scheduled in honor of the amazing Class of 2020, though. Be sure these events are on your senior’s calendar. Zoom meeting info is available on the Parent Portal page.

ICYMI: While we've been away from campus, construction on the new Upper School building has been proceeding. See all the progress and take a floor-by-floor virtual tour with David Hickson and Julie Mendez. It's looking great! 

ICYMI: Head of School Tom Gibian recently sent an email to all Upper School students; in it, Tom stated that "these times demand an SSFS Virtual School Soundtrack Project, where faculty and staff join me in sharing songs that alert us to the common bond we share, that have opened our eyes. We'll be sharing out videos on a weekly basis via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube." See the video submissions from Tom Gibian, Kwame Darko, and Bob Hoch here. See the Spotify playlist here.

The US LRC has expanded their team to help support all of the Upper School students with the challenges of virtual classroom learning. Shannon, Ebe, Jenai, Kerry, and Sunshine are available daily to help all students with organization, study strategies, and content area support.  Go to this link to schedule a consultation session with a team member.

LRC Tip of the Week – Stay Focused
We all recognize how tiring online learning is. We all wish we were back on campus with our friends and teachers. This is the time to stay focused. The end is in sight, but don’t slow down now. We have come so far and have accomplished so much. Let’s wrap this school year up the best we can!

ICYMI: As we continue to celebrate Ben Uzzell’s life, members of the senior class have created a ‘YeahBen4L’ t-shirt. The idea of this shirt was to create something that Ben himself would wear, thus giving everyone who purchases a piece of Ben to hold with them forever. That very idea aligns with the print on the shirt ‘YeahBen4L”. The “#10” on the back of the shirt was his jersey number in basketball. Ben was extremely passionate about basketball and consistently excelled in it. The t-shirt provides an opportunity for those who purchase to donate to The Ben Uzzell ‘20 Scholarship Fund. Five dollars of every purchase will go to the The Ben Uzzell ‘20 Scholarship Fund (but note you are always welcome to donate directly to the fund). This t-shirt not only supports the scholarship, but allows for Ben’s legacy to live on. Sending a big thank you to all who purchase.

"Olney Together" is a grass roots effort founded by an SSFS parent to help families in the area facing challenges due to the COVID crisis. Olney together: 1. supports existing organizations with people power and 2. Fills in the gaps when other organizations are overwhelmed. Families in need who can usually get food/diapers/formula through other channels (or could pay for it themselves before being laid off) now need support. For more info, to volunteer, or to express need, please visit the website. Contact Joslyne directly with questions.

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.