SFS Performs at Body Music Festival
This past weekend, over 20 SFS students, alumni and teachers performed at the 4th Annual Body Music Festival held at the Yerba Buena Center. Find out more about the festival at http://www.internationalbodymusicfestival.com/artist-orff.html.

Portola Posters on Display at SFS
The Portola neighborhood has a rich and fascinating history which is depicted in the posters now on display on our campus fences. Local artists Oscar Melara and Kate Connell created the "Crossing the Street Project" poster series after conducting research and interviewing neighbors, business folk and some of our students. Out of gratitude for our efforts toward the Alemany Island Beautification Project, the Portola Neighborhood Steering Committee bestowed these stunning posters to SFS. Parent and artist Ian Green (Sean, North K and Juliana, 6th) mounted them on dibond for longevity and outdoor presentation, and Liza Pannozzo (Nathan, 6th) helped Ian mount them on the fence. We are grateful and fortunate to have these vibrant depictions of the Portola’s past and present on our campus! Thanks to all who made this possible!

Calling All SFS Parents to Participate in the Skills Survey
The San Francisco School relies on the talents and skills of our parent community in many different ways throughout each school year.

Thanks to all those who have taken the survey over the past two weeks. If you have not already done so, please take a moment to complete the (brief!) 2011-12 Parent/Guardian Skills Profile to share with us your professional background and areas where you have interest and proficiency, giving us an indication of your skills and talents. It will only take a few minutes and your feedback is greatly appreciated.

(Please fill out profiles individually – not one per household). Email Emily at egarlock@sfschool.org with questions.

Click to take the Skills Profile Survey
(or use this link: http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e4zm89rogtc2zwoz/start)

8th Grade Annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale
Yum! Please buy your Thanksgiving pies and treats at the Annual 8th Grade Pie Sale on Tuesday, November 22nd. Each year the pie sale helps support the 8th Grade Graduation and 8th Grade end-of-year activities. Support the SFS Class of 2012 and eat yummy treats! If you would like to preorder a pie to make sure we save you a particular kind, please email Leigh Kimberg (lkimberg@medsfgh.ucsf.edu). Preorders must be received by Wednesday, November 16th. We will be selling pies during AM carpool and after school as well.

Sibling Applications Due December 1st
If you have a child you are interested in enrolling for the 12-13 school year, please submit an online application before December 1st. Online applications can be found on our website at www.sfschool.org/admissions/apply. Please put ”SIBLING" in response to the question, "How did you hear about SFS?" and your preschool room preference in the "date of visit" field. If your child is currently enrolled in a school or daycare program, please also have his/her teacher complete a teacher evaluation form before the December 1st deadline and have him/her send the form directly to SFS. If your child is applying for grades 1-8, we will also need grades and test scores from his/her current school. All forms can be found on our website under Admissions: www.sfschool.org/admissions.

The preschool sibling assessment and interview will take place on January 4th at 3:30 PM. 1st-8th grade assessments will take place in February. We will let you know more details as the date approaches.

Feel free to contact Nina Wang or Paloma Herman at admissions@sfschool.org with any questions or concerns. Thank you!

Only $5,000 Left to Collect to Reach Our Walkathon Goal!
Thank you for all the amazing pledges and donations that have been collected and turned in in the past week. To date we collected approximately $21,400 of our pledged Walkathon total amount of $26,300!

All Donations Can Be Made Online!

Donations can be mailed to the school, turned in at the front desk, or donated directly online at www.sfschool.org/walkathon.

Tracking & Thanking Online Walkathon Donations
If you would like to track and thank your student’s online Walkathon sponsors, please contact Emily (egarlock@sfschool.org).

Special Parent Education Event: Discussing Gender Identity with Your Child
As parents we may hear statements like, “Mommy, only girls do that”, or “I can’t play with him, he’s a boy”. These are the types of comments that children may make as they are trying to develop a sense of their own and others’ gender identity. Please join the Diversity Committee as we discuss and explore this topic together as parents.

Parent Education Night: Discussing Gender Identity with Your Child
Wednesday, November 9th, in the SFS Activity Room
5:30 PM – Potluck Dinner; 6 - 8:15 PM – Program

Here are some of the questions/issues we will be exploring together:

Strategies for Re-Thinking and Discussing Gender Issues

• Be proactive in your conversations, bring up topics of gender and gender identity; don’t wait for your child to bring it up or for an experience or incident to talk about.
• Ask your child(ren) what they think of as "boy" things or "girl" things, and then ask why they think of those things that way. See if there are things they like which are assigned to the opposite gender and talk to them about how it feels to be told they can't wear or do certain things.
• Question and explore your own biases. For example, how do you feel about boys wearing long hair? Girls who “dress like boys?” Girls playing football or boys wearing earrings or fingernail polish? What messages are you giving your child(ren) about how they and others express themselves?
  

Housing Request
Tiphani Russell (North Class Teacher/Kindergarten Art) is looking for an apartment (Studio or 1 bedroom) or house to rent. Do you know anyone looking for a new tenant or do you have a place for rent? If so, please contact Tiphani (tmrussell@sfschool.org, 415-699-3679). Thanks!

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