Weekly Newsletter

Before the school year officially , however, we'd like to invite any and all Lower School families who are in town and available to stop by campus on Monday, August 26, from 3:45-4:45 pm to enjoy a Kona Ice and an opportunity for an informal meet and greet with some of the new faces of the Lower School faculty and staff (see below for names and titles). No RSVP is needed - just stop by if you're in town.

Hope to see you there!

• Liza Long - Lower School Head
• Joel Gunzburg - Lower School Counselor
• Madeline Silber - 5th Grade Teacher
• Carla Nally - 5th Grade Teacher
• Nora Hand - 4th Grade Teacher
• Gasa Anderson - Lower School Resource Teacher

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.

• Tues, June 11: International Trip Final Meeting
• Tues, June 11: MS Meet and Greet, 3:30-4:30 pm - RSVP
• Wed, June 12: PA Faculty-Staff Appreciation Lunch, 12:00-2:00 pm, Westview - Click here to sign up to help! 
• Remember to complete your 2018-2019 Parent Satisfaction Survey
• Have a great summer and don't forget to bookmark your SSFS portal page for summer reading/assignments and back-to-school info! 

The 8th grade class gathered on Thursday, June 6, for their Recognition Night and special Meeting for Worship. We wish them all the best as they move on to Upper School! The 8th grade class photo is available on Vidigami here.  

I remember when I was in 5th and 6th grade, my best friend and I wrote to our favorite TV show “Big Blue Marble” in order to get pen-pals for the summer. That bond, started in the early 1980s, transformed into a lasting friendship over the decades. Today, students use email, text, and Snapchat to communicate brief messages. This year, an art teacher at the North American International School in Dubai asked if we could exchange Artist Trading Cards. Artist Trading Cards are not like baseball or Pokemon cards. No stats or averages, instead, they are individual, miniature examples of art. Approximately 2 X 3 inches, students used a variety of media and techniques to express themselves. Take a look at some of our SSFS 6th graders' creations. We received the shipment from Dubai and plan on sending our batch this week. The students enjoyed the activity so much they want to make it a tradition and hopefully find more schools to participate both nationally and internationally. 

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. 

• Wed, June 12: PA Faculty-Staff Appreciation Lunch, 12:00-2:00 pm, Westview - Click here to sign up to help! 
• Remember to complete your 2018-2019 Parent Satisfaction Survey
• Have a great summer and don't forget to bookmark your SSFS portal page for summer reading/assignments and back-to-school info! 

SSFS junior Charles L. has been chosen from a highly selective national applicant pool of thousands by the U.S. Department of State as part of their National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program to represent the United States as a citizen ambassador to China. Charles will travel to Xiamen University, Shanghai, and Beijing on a full merit scholarship for 6 weeks this summer in an effort to improve Americans' ability to engage with people from around the world and build lasting international relationships. 

The National Security Language program initiative plays an important role in preparing U.S. students for the 21st century's globalized workforce, increasing American competitiveness, and contributing to national security. While there, Charles will continue to engage in the rigorous study of Mandarin. Upon his return, he will be part of the alumni association and represent the Mid-Atlantic region in events and opportunities pertaining to continued critical language study, professional development, networking and community service.

Do you ever wish you had a way to "connect" to the SSFS community of families about topics not part of the traditional school day or school related events? Maybe you've wondered if any of those nice high school students babysit, or if any parents know of a good violin teacher. Maybe you are looking for a plumber, a travel agent, or someone to work out with? Want to start a hiking group, a meditation group, or need help moving furniture??

Online communities abound these days, so the SSFS PA has created one (via Shutterfly) for our wonderful community of families. This is an opt-in choice open to current and alumni families for all divisions, home stay and boarding parents. The site is moderated by parent volunteers to ensure we don't misuse the tool for problems an online community can't address, and don't duplicate or replace what is official school business that belongs on other communication sites.

We hope this tool will be an additional way to support connections across this diverse community of families who share the choice of SSFS for their children. Please fill out this quick online form to opt-in. Questions? Please contact Nikol Jackson or Kathleen Landers.