The weekly e-newsletter is emailed to all SSFS families each Thursday afternoon during the school year with news, photos, upcoming events, and "must-know" info. Click the Lower School, Middle School, or Upper School sections below for division-specific information and articles. You can also filter articles within each section by clicking on specific categories such as arts, parents association, special events, and more. Archived newsletters are also available here.
Congratulations to the Middle School Girl's Lacrosse team, who have won their first two games of the season! Spring sports are in full swing; check out the Athletics Today page to see the schedule of upcoming games and come cheer on the 'Beests.
The calendar information below is for all-school, cross-divisional, and PA 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 full calendar.
Sandy Spring School Musical Production is pleased to present Pippin (the musical) at the Performing Arts Center On April 26-27-28.
With an infectiously unforgettable score from four-time Grammy winner, three-time Oscar winner and musical theatre giant Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell), Pippin is the story of one young man's journey to be extraordinary. Winner of four 2013 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival, this updated circus-inspired version of Pippin continues to captivate and appeal to the young at heart throughout the world.
We follow the journey of young prince Pippin, who is in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of the flesh and the intrigues of political power (after disposing of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavors, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day.
Audiences age 12 and up will enjoy this spectacular show and connect with Pippin’s universal message. All performances begin at 7:15 pm, and donations are appreciated.
Do you know a family that has been meaning to come and check out the school? The Admission Office is hosting a Spring Open House event on Tuesday, May 1st. Check-in is from 8:15-8:45 am. Parents take a campus tour to learn more about what makes Sandy Spring Friends School such an amazing place for personal and academic development. The event will conclude at 11:00 am. Spaces are limited so be sure to ask your friends to pre-register by Friday, April 27th.
When: Wednesday, May 2, at 7:15 pm
Where: Scott House Living Room
What: The final workshop in the series of PA-sponsored PEP (Parent Encouragement Parent) events. This workshop's topic is "Managing Stress and Pressure," with Caroline Bernhardt-Lanier. With so much to do, achieve and accomplish, children of all ages can get squeezed out of spontaneous play, exploration and daydreaming. And parents wonder how to keep their family connections strong and vital when schedules are packed and downtime is scarce. Examine common stress triggers and learn strategies to lower the pressure and help children achieve balance.
For Questions/More Info: Contact Kathleen Landers. See links to tip sheets and videos of the three other PEP workshops on the SSFS Parent Portal page.
Sandy Spring Friends School is delighted to present the fourth annual SBP Memorial Concert, held in honor and memory of Nan Schwarz Pricher '67 and Jane Schwarz Binger, on May 11 at 7:15 pm in the Performing Arts Center at SSFS. The 2018 SBP Memorial Concert features PostClassical Ensemble's "Music in the Shadow of War." Find out more here.
The Parent Association is made up of ALL school parents and guardians, so we look forward to seeing you at many upcoming events as the year unfolds. Please visit the PA Website to see the 2017-18 PA reps and sign up to volunteer at one of our many fun events throughout the year.
Upcoming Events (Click here to see other PA Events scheduled for 2017-18)
Thanks to all of you who supported Post Prom this past weekend, from dropping off snacks and hanging balloons to chaperoning in the wee hours and sweeping the floors in the early morning. By all accounts the night was a great success, and the kids had a really good time. Thanks especially to the chaperones and the cleanup crew, who sacrificed sleep and hours of their weekend for the cause, and a special shout out goes to Terri Hurley and Tony McCudden, who went above and beyond. All of your efforts are appreciated.
Our final PA meeting of the year will be 8:00 am on May 18 in Scott House. We will be celebrating all of the wonderful volunteers who have made this such a great year as well as approving the proposed budget for next year. The proposed budget is available here.
MAY 12, 2018 @ 7:00 pm
Each year, the members of the Sandy Spring Friends School Parents Association come together to lend their time, talent, and passion to raise critical funds for those students who would otherwise be unable to attend SSFS. We look forward to seeing you at Celebrating SPICES 2018!
This section ("In Case You Missed It") provides brief summaries and links to articles that have appeared in previous newsletters, but reference activities or events that are still upcoming and/or may be of interest to families. Links to the original articles are also available below.
On Tuesday, June 12, the PA will be hosting an appreciation lunch for our wonderful faculty and staff. Please take a moment to sign up to volunteer and show your gratitude! Also, look for a signup genius in the coming weeks for food donations. We appreciate your help!
The Parents Association is still seeking nominations for next year's PA. The best way to ensure a great, productive PA is with suggestions from the entire community, not merely a select few. Please take a moment to think of fellow parents who would be a good fit--we must emphasize that it can be anyone -- feel free to nominate yourself! Specifically, we are looking for individuals who excel at collaboration and participation, and who truly value the SSFS community. Nominations are completely anonymous and can be submitted HERE (we promise, it will only take a minute!)
This Spring, the PA is holding a school-wide search to design the logo for the newly-named FriendsFest. The search will be to the entire SSFS community, and the four finalists will be voted on via an online poll. Look for updates in upcoming newsletters, and get ready to get creative! Submissions can be made HERE.
Below is information about upcoming LS events. 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.
All Lower School families are invited to close out the school year with food, friends, and FUN! Join us on Sunday, June 3rd from 1-3 PM by the Lower School sport court (in the event of rain, the event will be moved to the Athletic Center). There will be inflatables, Italian ice, and activities for all ages and stages. We’ll also be welcoming our newly-admitted Lower School families to the community, so be sure to come out and meet some new friends!
Each class is being asked to bring a small snack. Stay tuned for the signup genius! Questions can be directed to Desiree Polyak at depolyak@yahoo.com.
Our spring session of clubs is underway and off to a great start! There is still room in Excite Soccer (PK4 – 2nd Grade), Simply Soccer (3rd – 5th grade) and Chess Wizards (1st – 5th Grade) if your student is interested in these clubs. Contact the LS office if you want to register.
The preschool and kindergarten classes got a fun visit with ducks, rabbits, a tortoise, a chicken, a guinea pig, and a pig name Cappy as "Squeals on Wheels" came to SSFS! See more photos of the Kindergarten classes with the animals on Vidigami.
We hope you will join us for our second annual Lower School Cardboard Challenge (and Parent-Child Workshare) on Tuesday, April 24, from 3:30 to 5:00 pm. Come and see how the creative minds of our Lower School students have put lots and lots of cardboard to good use.
Sandy Spring Friends School invites Lower School families in PK3-1st Grade to come--and bring a friend who may be interested in the Preschool Program at SSFS (for 3, 4, & 5 year olds)--to our Admissions Spring Fling event! We will be hosting the event on the campus of Sandy Spring Friends School on Saturday, May 5th, from 9-11 am. Please look for an invite to this event via a PaperlessPost email.
Join us for
Friends who attend this event will have their application fee waived if they apply to SSFS. Please have your friend RSVP on the website.
Unable to make it to our Spring Fling event but want to find out more about our preschool program? Click here for more information.
Smart SacksSave the dates for the following Smart Sack Packing opportunities this winter and spring. Packing for all dates begins at 8:15 am, right after drop-off, in Westview Dining Hall.
Smart Sacks is a county-wide program started by MANNA food center to help combat children's weekend hunger in Montgomery County. Twice monthly during the MCPS school year, volunteers pack donated food and deliver it to county elementary schools. Children who usually receive free meals at school take a bag of food home every Friday to ensure that they have adequate nutrition throughout the weekend. SSFS lower school students and volunteers support two local elementary schools in this initiative. This is a fun and easy way to do something meaningful with the lower school kids and provide a very worthwhile service to the community. If you are interested in helping out with this ongoing service project please contact KERRY-ANN FARMER at kerryann.farmer@yahoo.com.
Recently, Liza Long sent an email to all families in PK3-Grade 2 with information about a new opportunity for families to combine their academic year enrollment with the full 8-week summer camp program here at SSFS to receive a 25% discount on the summer camp costs. If you missed the email, and/or want to find out more, please click here to see the original communication, or see this FAQs sheet.
A reminder to all our Lower School families that Summer at Sandy Spring Camp registration is open, and SSFS families can enter the code BEESTSATCAMP during registration for a 10% discount. Camps and workshops are starting to fill up fast, so be sure to visit the website soon and reserve your spot.
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.
The 7th grade class arrived safely at Gettysburg yesterday, and we've received positive reports from the group. We're looking forward to hearing about their adventures when they return!
We are excited about the upcoming 8th grade overnight trip! As was outlined in an e-mail to parents, the group will be departing campus by 8:30 am on Thursday, April 26th and returning to campus on Friday, April 27th in time for regular participation in sports and electives before dismissal. This trip will center on ties with our humanities and arts curricula and particularly focus on how our young adults are growing up! Any medication to go on the trip must be dropped off to the Health Center by a parent or guardian by April 19th. Parents may contact Alice.Chmil@ssfs.org with any questions about the trip.
The 6th grade spring signature trip is just around the corner on May 10-11. Students will learn about both history and geology on this two-day, one-night camping trip. On Thursday, we will head down to Historic St. Mary’s City for a guided walking tour and lunch. Afterwards, we will head to Calvert Cliffs State Park for a night of camping and team-building. On Friday morning, students will hike down to the beach for a short, ranger-lead talk on the geology of the area, then hunt for fossils on the beach. After playing on the playground, we will depart, returning to campus in time for normal sports and electives on Friday. We are looking forward to a fun and educational trip.
In other news, students chose their language class this week for 7th and 8th grades. How exciting!
On the afternoon of May 2nd, members of the MS Book Club will be heading downtown to compete in the Battle of the Books. Two teams from Sandy Spring Friends School will be competing with 15 others from (host) Maret School, Green Hedges, National Cathedral School, St Patrick’s, and St Stephens and St. Agnes.
Students have prepared by reading and discussing set of 9 books selected for this year’s competition.
The competition is structured similarly to a Quiz Bowl event with teammates able to confer before giving an answer. Questions, which always begin “In which book…”, can focus on character, setting, plot, theme or any other aspect. SSFS is competing for the first time. The MS Book Club is excited to participate, have fun, and learn firsthand how the Battle of the Books plays out.
Be sure your calendar is marked for the Middle School Spring Arts Evening on Thursday, May 24th, 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 or 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 will be forthcoming in May, and parents may e-mail Michelle Puhl-Price with any questions.
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 Meredith Shankle, US Administrative Assistant, at ext. 109 or meredith.shankle@ssfs.org, or visit the Calendar web page to see full calendar.
Welcome to the world of academic competition. Following two months and five rounds of regular season play, the cream of this year’s Quiz Bowl Club continues to rise. Following some dramatic quarterfinal contests, only four teams remain, seeded into two brackets, and poised to compete against one another in single elimination matches during the Academic Help period on Monday, April 23rd, from 3:05-3:35pm, in the Quiz Bowl Club semifinals. Known as the Varsity Sport of the Mind, the SSFS Quiz Bowl Cup is the ultimate prize these teams covet:
A dynamic competition in the spirit of It’s Academic, the longest running television quiz show in the world, teams – generally consisting of three or four members – face off to answer academic centered questions posed by a moderator. Providing camaraderie for kindred spirits while celebrating academic achievement, Quiz Bowl Club provides a healthy venue to foster friendships inspired by a mutual love of learning. Best of all it’s fun!
Drawn by the buzz, spectators are welcome to standing room only on Monday, from 3:05 to 3:35pm, in Moore Hall, Room 105 and Hartshorne 003 (Eduardo and Kathy’s classrooms). Better yet, come feel the excitement at either of the upcoming Quiz Bowl showcases:
SSFS Quiz Bowl All-Star Assembly
Monday, May 21st
PAC Theater (9:55-10:45 am)
SSFS Quiz Bowl Cup
Tuesday, May 22nd
Championship Match (3:00-3:25 pm)
Yarnall's Caroline Hallowell Worth Memorial Library
For more information, contact Eduardo.
The Office of Auxiliary Programs is excited to launch a summer program on Georgetown’s campus for domestic and international students that expands their leadership potential and provides them with the skills they need to launch their own social ventures and take on some of the most persistent social issues in their communities. Sandy Spring Friends School has partnered with LearnServe International, a leading trainer of high school students worldwide in social entrepreneurship, to bring this year’s program to life. The program will be offered from July 8th to August 4th for students entering Grades 9 through 12.
“We are proud of our tradition as a Quaker institution, and this includes service to our community,” said Bill Mena, Director of Auxiliary Programs and International Admission. “Through this partnership with LearnServe International, we can train and inspire the young problem-solvers and changemakers of communities both abroad and in our backyard to begin making a difference through social enterprises now.”
Mena tapped Nick Boedicker, an experienced social entrepreneur, to be the inaugural Director of the Social Entrepreneurship program. Boedicker is the founder of the DC-based social enterprise Strategic Good and has experience working on social impact initiatives in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the U.S. Boedicker holds a bachelor's degree from Georgetown University and a master's degree in Social Enterprise from the School of International Service in Washington, DC.
This four-week program offers both day and boarding options. To learn more or to apply, please visit www.youngworldleaders.org or contact nick.boedicker@ssfs.org.
Young World Leaders (YWL) is a 4-week summer program operated by SSFS at Georgetown University, July 8-August 4, 2018. This enrichment program hosts 125 international students and provides an unforgettable interactive atmosphere for students who are looking to gain global leadership skills and/or improve their knowledge of the English language while traveling in North America.
We are seeking high energy and talented Junior Counselors (ages 17+) and High School Ambassador Volunteers (ages 15+) who enjoy working with students and are comfortable in implementing educational activities, as well as explaining rules and expectations in simple English. These positions serve as the support system for our Head Counselors to ensure that activities and excursions are enriching, fun, and safe.
Click here to apply to be part of our inspiring leadership team, or point your browser window to https://ssfs-staff.campbrainstaff.com/. Questions? Please email Dianna Whittle.
The Sandy Spring Monthly Meeting Community Life Committee would like to extend an invitation for an upcoming event to the SSFS community. We are having a potluck simple dinner and movie night on Saturday, April 21 in the SSFM Lyceum (17715 Meeting House Rd, Sandy Spring, MD 20860). The committee is providing hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner at 6:00 pm, and asking that desserts and sides are potluck. This will be followed by the movie Up at 7:00. See flyer here.
Come by The Elephant Shop at Friends House Annual Spring Sale on Saturday, May 5th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. Friends House is located at 17340 Quaker Lane, Sandy Spring, MD 20860, just off Norwood Rd between Doctor Bird Rd and Route 108. Come and check out the furniture, collectibles, plants, tools and adult clothing. Thanks for your support!
Got an old bike or two hanging around the basement or garage? Donate it to Bikes for the World (BfW) and help someone get to school or work! Assistant Head of School David Hickson collects bicycles on behalf of BfW – they ship the bikes to non-profit and micro business projects in developing regions to help students get to school, help workers get to work, help nurses get to patients, and help communities with a variety of transportation needs. WHAT TO DO: Drop off your bike and/or bike parts, in most any condition, with David Hickson in the Middle School. Email David so he knows to look for your bike(s). To learn more about BfW, check out their website.
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.
Summer at Sandy Spring is excited to announce that registration for the summer 2018 camp season is now open! Getting a jump on summer fun has never been easier; navigate to our website to check out all the new and amazing options for this season. We pride ourselves on the customization of camp for every family. So whether it's hand picking workshops, extended day, transportation options, or flexible lunch options, we are sure we can create just the right fit for your busy family this summer.
We heard the feedback and added more workshop options for each age group. Check out the website for the brand new workshop section where each workshop has its own page to tell you things like sample lessons, a week at a glance, mini descriptions, videos, and so much more. We are proud to introduce the partnering with Einstein by Design to create an amazing technology experience. We added rock climbing, Theatre, Outdoor Living Skills, Robotics to just name a few. Oh and we brought back our popular high flying, zip lining fun at the Adventure Park at Sandy Spring Friends School with our Adventure Challenge workshops and Aftercare in the Trees options. From tots to teens - there is truly something for everyone!
We encourage you to take some time this winter and go through the exciting programming you'll find on our completely revamped website. When you're ready to register, you'll find a link at the top right corner. SSFS families can enter the code BEESTSATCAMP during registration for a 10% discount.
If you have any questions or if we can be of assistance, please e-mail us at camp@ssfs.org or call 301-774-7455 x167.
