Family Skates Dec. 7, 15 and 22, Save the Date for JS Skating Party
The next Family Skates will be held  Friday, Dec. 7, from 7-9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 15, from 2-4 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 22, from 10 a.m.-noon in the McKnight Hockey Center on the Senior School campus. Students must provide their own skates and helmets (required, a bike helmet is sufficient). Please contact Erica Strauss at estrauss511@me.com with questions. Save the date for the Junior School Skating Party at the McKnight Hockey Center on the Senior School campus on Sunday, Jan. 13, from 2-5 p.m.

Thank Faculty & Staff with Holiday Cookie Trays
The Parents' Association's traditional holiday cookie trays will be distributed to faculty and staff on Tuesday, Dec. 18. Please consider bringing in two dozen cookies. Volunteers are needed to assist in putting the trays together and distributing. Please contact Brenda Ho with any questions or to sign up as a volunteer at brendaho918@gmail.com.

Middle School News

Form I & II Dance Dec. 7
Form I and II students are invited to a dance tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 7, in the cafetorium from 7-9:30 p.m., hosted by the Parents' Association.

Form II Homework Charts
Form II students have been given charts to track their homework for the next few weeks. Please try to assist them in remembering to fill it out with the time that it takes them to complete each subject each night. We will collect them all weekly and use the data that we gather to assess the amounts of time that individual children are spending, and also to learn the averages. Thank you for your help with this. 

Thank Faculty and Staff With Holiday Cookies
The annual Holiday Cookie Tray Day will be Dec. 19. Parents may donate two dozen baked treats to create cookie trays. Parent volunteers will collect them from the carpool line that morning and then assemble and hand deliver the trays. View the holiday tray flyer. Please contact Gabby Germinaro at gabs4@me.com with questions.

Form II Transition to Senior School
To help prepare Form II students as they transition to the Senior School for the 2013-2014 school year, there are a number of events planned. On Jan. 10, parents are invited to Rowe Hall on the Senior School campus for an information night. The Math Department will host an event on Jan. 13, presenting the Phillips Exeter Academy math curriculum. On April 18, current Senior School parents will host a roundtable to share their experiences at the Senior School. View the letter from Middle School Head Amy Nixon and Senior School Head Kate Vavpetic.

Holocaust Survivor Speaks to Form II Students
Holocaust survivor Howard Chandler spoke to Form II students on Dec. 4. Mr. Chandler was a boy living in Poland when he and his family were forced to live in a concentration camp. The visit gave students a human and personal connection to WWII and the Holocaust, which they will study in Ms. Girts' social studies class following Winter Break. The visit was arranged with Classrooms Without Borders. This summer, Academy President Tom Cangiano, two Senior School teachers and 10 students toured Poland with Mr. Chandler, visiting several concentration camps and other important historical locations.

Author Visits Students
Acclaimed local author Kathryn Miller Haines returned on Nov. 30 for her second annual pizza lunch with her readers. Haines novel, The Girl Is Murder, was nominated for the 2012 Edgar Award for best Young Adult Mystery, nominated for an American Library Association YALSA award and named one of the best books for young adults by the Texas State Library Association. Last summer Haines published a sequel, The Girl Is Trouble, and both novels have earned places on the SSA summer reading lists and as core books in English classes. During the lunch, Haines spoke about her interest in public perceptions of teenagers during different historical eras, answered questions about her writing process and her journey to publication, and even read and critiqued some original student writing. Haines was invited by Ms. Lucy Turner, a longtime friend, and Dr. Sara Kajder, who met Haines at the recent National Council of Teachers of English conference in Las Vegas.

Parents' Association Volunteer Opportunities
There are a number of ways to volunteer with the Parents' Association. View the Dates to Remember, sign up for Faculty Fridays or sign up for Bagel Days.

Senior School News

Holiday Giving Opportunities
Students have several opportunities to give during the holiday season. Gifts are being collected for the Holiday Project, organized by senior Christiana Jueng, which provides gifts to children served by the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families. Students should place new, unwrapped gifts under the tree outside of the Deans' Office by Tuesday, Dec. 11. Gifts must have the name attached. Advisee groups are also filling shoe boxes for local underprivileged children. Students should bring in small toys, toiletries and other small items to fill boxes.

No Soap Left Behind Collection
Toiletries are being collected for donation to a homeless shelter in Pittsburgh. If you are traveling over the holidays, remember those in need and bring home the free travel-size shampoos, soaps, etc. from your hotel room! A collection box is located in the Student Center. Contact Mrs. Ament or Mark Antosz with questions.

From the Deans' Office - Upcoming Formal Dress Days

• Friday, Dec. 21, for the Fides Assembly

From the College Counseling Office 

• Seniors, Term I grades (which serve as your “midyear report”) have been sent to every college to which you have applied. These grades will be included with all future applications as well.
• Find lots of helpful college information, including standardized testing dates and registration information, scholarship opportunities, etc. on the college counseling class pages on the Parent Portal (login required). Click on “College Counseling for [Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors or Seniors]” under My Child's Class Pages (MS/SS).
• The SSA College Counseling Facebook page has announcements and information related to the College Counseling process. We encourage all students and parents to “Like” us on Facebook.

First Season of SSA Farm a Successful Learning Experience
As the end of Term I closes, so does the first season of the SSA Farm. The first year was a great success based on the amount of produce harvested and the number of dedicated volunteers. More than 300 lbs. of produce were harvested, including basil, corn, cucumbers, green beans, onions, peppers, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes. The bulk of the harvest went directly to Metz and was served at the three SSA dining halls. Students sold a small portion of the produce at the Fox Chapel Farmers Market, which offset some of the start-up costs for the farm. In the fall term, eight students enrolled in Mr. Wagler's P.E. Farm class took over the work of the farm, harvesting beans, basil and tomatoes, constructing compost bins, preparing a straw bale maze for homecoming and building a fence. Lastly, they prepared the farm for winter by removing all dead plant material, tilling the soil by hand and covering the entire area with leaves. Plans will be included in future newsletters about next season and how you can get involved. Please contact Tina Nussbaum Wagler, director of SSA Farm, at tinanussbaumwagler@shadysideacademy.org with any questions or comments. View the SSA Farm 2012 slideshow.

Holocaust Survivor Speaks at Assembly
Holocaust survivor Howard Chandler spoke to students at an assembly on Dec. 4. Mr. Chandler was a boy living in Poland when he and his family were forced to live in a concentration camp. The visit was organized through Classrooms Without Borders. This summer, Academy President Tom Cangiano, two Senior School teachers and 10 students toured Poland with Mr. Chandler, visiting several concentration camps and other important historical locations. View the assembly slideshow.

Architecture Class Final Projects
Ms. Batchelar's Term I 3D Architecture class designed and built 3D models for both the SSA Farm shed and the Residential Design Project. The class page's media gallery provides a great opportunity to exhibit and share art produced by our students. As a teaching tool, the slideshow is used to critique current projects and view past class work. In addition students are able to see their work in a venue (a virtual gallery) that showcases it. View the 3D Architecture slideshow.

Bagel Days
Please consider sponsoring and/or helping to distribute bagels to students at their monthly Form meetings. The Parents' Association provides the students with a snack of bagels and bottled water to enjoy during their meetings. Each form advisor will announce the sponsor or co-sponsors, recognizing those families who provided the snacks for the meeting. Your assistance with Bagel Days is a great way to support the students! For more information and to sponsor and/or volunteer to help, please view the Bagel Days link on the Parents' Association tab on the Parent Portal or contact Ellen Jones at ellenjones@hotmail.com.

Upcoming Events

All Academy
Dec. 8 - The Nutcracker, Hillman Center, 2 p.m.
Dec. 8 - Bodhi Day (B)
Dec. 10 - Hanukkah (J) Begins at Sundown
Dec. 15 - 40% Tuition Due
Dec. 21 - Winter Break Begins at End of School Day

Junior School               
Dec. 7 - Parent Teacher Conference Day, NO CLASSES
Dec. 7 - After School Explorers In-Service Day Camp
Dec. 7 - Family Skate, McKnight Hockey Center, 7-9 p.m.
Dec. 12 - Admissions Open House for Prospective Parents, 9:15 a.m.
Dec. 13 - Fifth Grade Instrumental Performance at Schenley Gardens, 10 a.m.
Dec. 14 - Fourth Grade Immigration Food Festival, Cafeteria, 9 a.m.
Dec. 15 - Family Skate, McKnight Hockey Center, 2-4 p.m.
Dec. 18 - Holiday Cookie Trays for Faculty & Staff
Dec. 21 - Winter Festival of the Arts, 1:30 p.m.
Dec. 22 - Family Skate, McKnight Hockey Center, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Middle School
Dec. 7 - Form II Students Visit Senior School
Dec. 7 - Form I and II Dance, Cafetorium, 7-9:30 p.m.
Dec. 8 - FLL Robotics Regional Tournament, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Dec. 19 - Holiday Cookie Trays for Faculty & Staff
Dec. 19 - Holiday Concert, Hillman Center, 7:30 p.m.

Senior School
Dec. 11 - Holiday Project Gifts Due
Dec. 12 - Choral and Strings Concert, Memorial Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 21 - Fides Assembly, FORMAL DRESS

For up-to-date calendar information, please visit the calendar page.

If you have any questions about this newsletter, please send them to Manager of Web Communications Dana Sheehan at dsheehan@shadysideacademy.org