SSFS Weekly Newsletter | Sandy Spring Friends School

All School News

All-School "Must-Know" Info⁠ for Jan. 19, 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.

Mon, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL;
PA MLK, Jr. Day of Service 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Find out more here
Tues, Jan. 21: NO LOWER SCHOOL CLASSES; MS and US in session
Fri, Jan. 24: All Library Materials Due Back - See more here
Mon, Jan. 27: NO MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL CLASSES; LS in session

And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...

Tues, Jan. 28: Lunar New Year Celebration, 6:00-7:30 pm, Westview Dining Hall - Find out more, and RSVP here
Wed, Jan. 29: 1:00 pm Early Dismissal for Professional Development
Thurs, Jan. 30: PA Meeting (6:00-7:00 pm) followed by Head of School Open Forum (7:15 pm) - Read more and RSVP
Fri-Tues, Feb. 14-18: No School - Mid-Winter Break/Professional Day

MLK Jr Day of Service at SSFS: Jan. 20, 2020

Jan. 20 MLK Day of Service: We Need Your Help!

Jan. 30: PA Meeting and Head of School Parent Forum

Jan. 28: Lunar New Year Celebration

All Library Materials are Due Back Fri, Jan. 24

Join Us: PA Nominations are Underway!

SSFS Alumni with Art Works - Community Art Show

SSFS Community Art Show

Lower School News

Lower School "Must-Know" Info⁠ for Jan. 19, 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.

Mon, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL;
PA MLK, Jr. Day of Service, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Find out more here
Tues, Jan. 21: NO LOWER SCHOOL CLASSES (Report Writing ay); MS and US in session
Thurs, Jan. 23: LS Parent Education Forum, 8:15-9:15 am (NOTE NEW TIME!), Scott House Living Room. Topic: "Reading, Reading, Reading"
Fri, Jan. 24: 4th Grade Play, 8:30 am, Clifton
Fri, Jan. 24: All Library Materials Due Back - find out more here

And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...

Tues, Jan. 28: Bowling Outing for 4th, 5th & 6th Grades
Wed, Jan. 29: 1:00 pm Early Dismissal for Professional Development
Thurs, Jan. 30: PA Meeting (6:00-7:00 pm) followed by Head of School Open Forum (7:15 pm) - Read more and RSVP
Fri, Jan. 31: Smart Sack Packing (4B & 1B), 8:30-9:00 am
Fri, Feb. 7: Lower School Wee Mail Begins
Sat, Feb. 8: Pre-Middle-School-Play Dinner for 4th and 5th Grade Families (more info to come), 5:00 pm dinner in Westview, 6:00 pm MS play in PAC.
Fri-Tues, Feb. 14-18: No School - Mid-Winter Break/Professional Day

Message from Liza Long, Head of Lower School - Jan. 2020

Winter Clubs Are Underway!

2nd Grade Family Journey Days

LS Parent Ed Forum - 8:15 am on Thurs, Jan. 23

Jan. 23: LS Parent Education Forum – NEW TIME at 8:15 am

LS Library Materials Due Back Jan. 24

Jan. 28: 4th/5th/6th Grade Outing

Middle School News

Middle School "Must-Know" Info⁠ for Jan. 19, 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.

Mon, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL;
PA MLK, Jr. Day of Service, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Find out more here
Thurs, Jan. 23: Middle School Winter Arts Night (students arrive 6:30 pm, performance starts at 7:15 pm)
Fri, Jan. 24: All Library Materials Due Back - find out more here
Mon, Jan. 27: NO MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL CLASSES; LS in session
Mon, Jan. 27: EastEd Middle School Student Diversity Leadership Conference

And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...

Tues, Jan. 28: Bowling Outing for 4th, 5th & 6th Grades
Wed, Jan. 29: 1:00 pm Early Dismissal for Professional Development
Thurs, Jan. 30: PA Meeting (6:00-7:00 pm) followed by Head of School Open Forum (7:15 pm) - Read more and RSVP
Fri, Feb. 7: MS Sportsplex Day
Sat, Feb. 8: Middle School Play, 6:00 pm, PAC
Wed, Feb. 12: Middle School Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:30 pm
Thurs, Feb, 13: MS Winter Sports End
Fri-Tues, Feb. 14-18: No School - Mid-Winter Break/Professional Day

International Potluck – Thank You, Gracias, and Merci to our Families!

The Middle School's International Potluck Lunch on Friday, Jan. 17 was a HUGE success! We greatly appreciate the support of our families in assisting their students in preparing all of the delicious dishes. We also offer a special note of thanks to all the parent volunteers who donated many hours of time for set-up, serving, and clean-up. This event is a wonderful tradition that our community looks forward to each year. Again, gracias and merci to everyone who made it possible! See a selection of photos online, and more photos are available for download in Vidigami (after login).

Jan. 23: MS Winter Arts Evening

ICYMI: Be sure your calendar is marked for the Middle School Winter Arts Evening THIS 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.

MS Library Materials Due Back Jan. 24

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...

Jan. 27: EastEd Middle School Student Diversity Conference

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 News

Upper School "Must-Know" Info⁠ for Jan. 19, 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.

Mon, Jan. 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - NO SCHOOL;
PA MLK, Jr. Day of Service, 10:00 am - 1:00 pm - Find out more here
Tues-Fri, Jan 21-24: US Mid-Term Exams - Schedule here
Fri, Jan. 24: All Library Materials Due Back - find out more here
Mon, Jan. 27: NO MIDDLE/UPPER SCHOOL CLASSES; LS in session

And coming up soon/to keep on your radar...

Tues, Jan. 28: 2nd Semester Begins
Tues, Jan. 28: Lunar New Year Celebration, 6:00-7:30 pm, Westview Dining Hall - Find out more, and RSVP here
Wed, Jan. 29: Upper School Coffee & Conversation, 8:15 am, Scott House
Wed, Jan. 29: 1:00 pm Early Dismissal for Professional Development
Thurs, Jan. 30: PA Meeting (6:00-7:00 pm) followed by Head of School Open Forum (7:15 pm) - Read more and RSVP
Mon, Feb. 3: US Drop-Add Period Ends
Wed, Feb. 5: US Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
Wed, Feb. 12: US Parent-Teacher Conferences, 2:45-5:00 pm
Fri-Tues, Feb. 14-18: No School - Mid-Winter Break/Professional Day

Jan. 8 Junior College Night Program

On January 8, the College Counseling Office hosted its Winter Junior College Night program. The college counselors explained how they will support the juniors in their college search process, and guest speakers James Massey from the University of Maryland-College Park, Thomas Perich (alumna - SSFS ’19) and Bryan Murray (SSFS Parent ’15, ’17) shared various insights on the college search and selection process and how students and parents work together navigate the experience. The program was recorded and can be accessed on the SSFS YouTube channel here.

Tues, Jan. 28: Come Celebrate the Lunar New Year

The SSFS community will celebrate the Lunar New Year Festival with food and fun in Westview dining hall on Tuesday, January 28, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. We will have traditional Asian food, student performances, and games! Students and families are invited. Please RSVP here with number of attendees so that we can make sure we order enough food. We hope to see you there!

US Library Materials Due Back Jan. 24

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...

Upper School Mid-Term Exam Schedule 2020

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.

Midterm Exam Attendance Expectations

US families were recently sent information about the US Exam Attendance Policy. As a reminder: during midterms week, students are not required to be at school if they do not have an academic obligation. Furthermore, students may leave school after they have completed their last exam for the day. If a student has only one exam, they can go home following the exam, or come in late to take an afternoon exam. See more here...

Friends Mart

Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting Silent Announcements for Jan. 19

Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting

10:51 AM

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. 19 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 Training Offered

Erin Ryan

11:05 AM

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...

Jan 18: Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting Dinner & Talent Show

Michelle Yates

3:55 PM

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.

Sun, Jan. 26: BYM Camp Info Session at Sidwell Friends

Michelle Bird

4:10 PM

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! Questions? Contact Michelle Bird.

PA Community Connections Online Bulletin Board

PA Community Connections Committee

2:27 PM

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.