Middle School Newsletter – August 6, 2025

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August 6, 2025

Letter From the Division Director

I hope that you are enjoying time with your families during these final weeks of the summer. If your children are anything like me, they are feeling excited and ready for the start of the year at some moments and nervous about it at other times.

We appreciate that middle school is a uniquely wonderful and emotional period of time and that over half of our students will be new to our building — some from our Lower School and some brand new to Flint Hill. This informs our communications and programming in the next few weeks as well as the structure and activities of the first few days of school.

As we get excited for the 2025-26 school year, please review the information below. I look forward to seeing your children soon and partnering with you for another outstanding year.

Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle School

Student Schedules Available Online — Thursday, August 7

Specific teacher and class assignments will be available tomorrow morning, Thursday, August 7. To access your child’s class placement, log in to Husky Hub, click “Children,” and select your child’s name. Click on the "Schedule" tab to access your child's schedule.

We hope that providing this information several weeks before the first day of school is helpful to you and your child in the transition back to school. We’ve observed over the years that these details can create an emotional reaction for some students who were hoping or expecting to be placed with their best friends or particular teachers. This presents a challenge for parents who are trying to navigate this disappointment and help their children feel positive and optimistic about the year ahead. Here is some additional context about our process as well as some recommendations for parents.

Advisory Placement

Advisory Placement — Our goal is to create balanced groups of compatible students who have varying styles, personalities, genders, and interests. Each advisory has a combination of new and returning students, and those who are returning are generally mixed differently from the previous year to ensure a new experience and dynamic. While we generally avoid placing close friends in the same advisory group, we did incorporate student preferences for all returning students.

Class/Teacher Placements

Guidance for Parents

Guidance for Parents — Regardless of the fact that we aren’t trying to put your child with their close friends in advisory or classes, they still may be upset by this. This is just one situation of many we all encounter as parents — particularly during adolescence — and it presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Here is some guidance that aligns with messaging from local experts:

Listen actively to your child to help them express themselves and what they are feeling.
Validate their feelings as normal/understandable — it makes sense that they would want to be surrounded by their closest friends in advisory and classes.
Avoid the tendency to fix or solve it for them — both because we (at school) don’t change advisory or class groupings at this point and because, in order to build resilience, kids need to be able to sit with discomfort and know that the adults around them believe they are capable of handling it.

In their article 4 Ways to Help Your Child Adapt to Life’s Rapid Changes, Heather Tedesco, Jennifer Weaver, and Catherine McCarthy note: “Less is often more with parenting, and much of the time doing nothing is the hardest — and best — parenting move. Allow your child to feel hurt or afraid or uncomfortable. Be present, be empathetic, just don’t immediately intervene. A kid will only become adaptable when given the opportunities to do so. And they will sense a parent’s confidence in them in that pause.” Many of you heard them share those recommendations in November 2023, when they visited Flint Hill to present their book Raising a Kid Who Can: Simple Strategies to Build a Lifetime of Adaptability and Emotional Strength. They emphasize that “every time our child asks for certainty, we should take a cue from the emoji of the wondering, shrugging lady in the purple shirt. When we parent for adaptability, we are empathetic, supportive, but not overly involved or reactive.”

You heard similar sentiments from Jennifer Weaver and Amy Killy of Weaver and Associates when they visited Flint Hill in April 2024 as part of their presentation, Anxious Kids and Tolerating Big Feelings. Rather than activating on our natural tendency to “fix” the problem for our children, we should validate their feelings and emotions and convey that we believe they can handle this discomfort and uncertainty because they have done so before.

Please feel free to reach out to Director of the Middle School Brian Lamont, Middle School Counselor John Magner, or Director of Counseling Tracie Epes to consult about any of this, and here are a few additional resources to consider.

Additional Resources

Preparing for the 2025-26 School Year

Several resources are available to help your family prepare for the upcoming school year. Preparing for the 2025-26 School Year is a tile on the Husky Hub Resource Board with a comprehensive listing of back-to-school information. Here are some quick links we think you’ll be most interested in:

Please Review the 2025-26 Flint Hill Family Handbook

All families are required to review the Flint Hill Family Handbook for the 2025-26 school year. The Family Handbook outlines community standards and policies for all Flint Hill students and family members and is organized into three sections: “Respect for Self,” “Respect for Others,” and “Respect for Shared Environment.” The Flint Hill Family Handbook will live on the Resource Board for ease of reference. No other action is required, as enrollment at Flint Hill expects awareness and respect of these policies throughout the school year.

Bus Service Sign-Up Deadline — Friday, August 15

To sign your student up for bus service, please complete the Bus Service Registration Form by Friday, August 15.

Detailed information and a complete list of all morning, afternoon, and evening bus routes is on the Bus Service Information page. If you have any questions, please contact Director of Systems Operations and Systems Training Melissa Turner at bus@flinthill.org or by phone/text at 571.926.7502.

Optional: Join the Flint Hill Carpool Network

To assist families who have an interest in forming a new carpool or adding to an existing one, we have launched a carpool availability feature in the Student Directory on Husky Hub. This resource may be especially helpful to new families who are not served by one of our existing bus routes. From the main toolbar in Husky Hub, select “Directories.” Then select “Student,” under filters navigate to Carpool Availability, and select “Yes.” Use the other available filters to narrow your results as well as the map feature for an additional view.

Extended Day Sign-Up — Deadline Extended to Friday, August 15

The Extended Day program is a space for students to recharge after a structured school day, engage with fellow students, and complete their nightly homework. The program is available daily, 3:30-6:00 p.m. See the Extended Day page for details and to sign up. If you have any questions, please email Director of After School and Summer Programs Matt McCoart or contact by phone/text at 571.752.1630.

Textbooks and Supplies

Textbooks and workbooks for the 2025-26 school year are available for purchase via our eCampus textbook store. Please reference your child’s schedule on Husky Hub when you order textbooks. If you have textbook questions, please contact Executive Assistant to the Head of School Wendy Seetaram.

Middle School Supplies: Middle School students are responsible for the following school supplies:

Required:

Reusable water bottle
Earbuds/headphones
At least two 1” binders or refillable notebooks with pocket dividers
Lined paper and graph paper for binders
Pens, pencils, and highlighters
TI 84 graphing calculator - new or used

Recommended:

Small Post-it Notes or small tabs for marking novels/texts
At-home storage (e.g. accordion folder) for completed class materials
Index cards and organizer
Pencil pouch for daily materials
Colored pencils
Erasers

Health Forms — New and Returning Students

Completed health forms must be uploaded to the Magnus Health system and approved by the first day of classes, or your child may not attend school. If you have any questions regarding the health forms, please email Director of Health Services Mary Hart or call at 571.926.2818.

SchoolPass Steps To Complete Before School Starts

Flint Hill School uses SchoolPass, a user-friendly and real-time system that allows parents to easily notify the school of student absences, late arrivals, appointments, or changes to afternoon dismissal.

Returning Families

New Families

On August 4, you should have received an auto-generated “welcome” email from noreply-2300@schoolpass.com with instructions to download the application and create a profile. If you did not receive that email or need SchoolPass assistance in general, please email helpdesk@flinthill.org.

You will receive your car tags during your Hopes and Dreams Conference. During carpool, your tag will be scanned and confirmed by a staff member. This automatically notifies classroom teachers that you are in the carpool line, so they can send your child to the pickup area.

Subscribe to Flint Hill School Calendars

To better serve parents, our calendar events are split up by division. There are six different calendars that parents can subscribe to. There is a description of each calendar below, along with instructions for how to subscribe. We recommend that parents subscribe to their division’s calendar as well as:

2025-26 Parent Highlights Calendar: includes major school dates like start and end dates, breaks, and school holidays.
2025-26 All-School Events: includes events designed for the entire community, including some major Athletics, DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion), Fine Arts, and PA (Parents’ Association) events.

Parents may also want to subscribe to the Letter Days calendar, which helps families keep track of which letter day it is.

How to Subscribe

If you’re NOT a Google calendar user, you can subscribe to each calendar so that they populate on your personal calendar. Events for the past 2 months and the upcoming 12 months will be included in the feed. It may take up to an hour for any setting changes to be reflected in your external calendars.

iCal Feed Links

Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange, Parent Volunteers & School Store Pop-up

The Parents' Association's free Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange is on Wednesday, August 20, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at Hazel Lower School, Room 101. No donation is required to participate; items are first-come, first-served. Donate gently used, clean uniforms, spirit, or athletic wear at the Miller House front porch, Monday, August 11 — Friday, August 15, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Parent volunteers are needed to help sort Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange clothing before the event, assist during the Exchange, and help in the School Store. Sign up to volunteer. Please contact Assistant Director of Engagement Olivia Landrum with questions about the Uniform Exchange.

Purchase new spirit wear at the School Store pop-up during the exchange on Wednesday, August 20, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at Hazel Lower School, Room 112. Please contact Marina Matthes with questions about the School Store.

Register for Middle School Family Social — Tuesday, August 19

Middle School families are invited to register by Wednesday, August 13 for a casual party at Peterson Middle School on Tuesday, August 19, 5:30-6:45 p.m. Students will enjoy cold treats and play field games, board games, and on the playground. Parents are welcome to socialize and hear from Head of School Patrick McHonett and Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement Meredith VanDuyne. Contact the Admission Office at 703.584.2314 or admission@flinthill.org with any questions.

Medication Drop-Off — Thursday, August 21

For students requiring medication on campus, medication drop-off day is Thursday, August 21, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at the Upper School Circle. Pull into the circle, and a member of the team will collect medication and forms directly from your car.

Prescription Medication

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medication

Unable to drop off on August 21?

Middle School Parent Virtual Orientation

New and returning parents are invited to learn more about the transition to the school year and ask any remaining questions. This virtual session will be held on Monday, August 25, 9:00-10:00 a.m., via Google Meet.

Middle School Parent-Advisor In-Person Conferences

To facilitate the important partnership for the school year ahead, advisors will be hosting parent conferences on Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26. These 15-minute conferences will allow you to connect with your child’s advisor and share any helpful information. A sign-up link will be sent on Monday, August 11. If you have any difficulties or questions about the online scheduling system, please contact Michelle Keatley. You are welcome to bring your child to school either of these days for a self-guided tour if they would benefit from visiting the building before the first official day!

Middle School Athletics Practices Begin — Tuesday, September 2

We will have organizational meetings during the first week of school, and practices officially begin on Tuesday, September 2. Contact Assistant Director of Athletics Stefan Borowski with any questions, and visit Husky Hub for additional information on seasonal logistics. You can find all Upper School and Middle School fall game schedules by visiting the Athletics page of our website. In addition to the standard clothing that students need for practices (any FH logo top with any navy blue shorts or any gray or navy blue sweatpants), here are some additional clothing options and the sport-specific items that students will need to bring on September 2.

Athletic Clothing & Sport Specific Items

Cross Country: Families provide running shoes; students may also wear black or navy blue running tights.
Football: Families provide mouthguard and cleats.
Field Hockey: Families provide mouthguard, goggles, cleats, and stick.
Soccer: Families provide cleats and shin guards.
Volleyball: Families provide athletic shoes and knee pads; students may also wear black or navy blue spandex shorts.
Tennis: Families provide athletic shoes and racket; students may also wear white or navy blue skirts or shorts with pockets.

Action Required: Complimentary T-Shirts for 8th Graders

As your child prepares for their final year of Middle School, we're celebrating this important milestone with a gift! Each rising 8th grader will receive a Class of 2030 T-shirt at the start of the school year as they begin their journey to the Upper School. To ensure your child gets the perfect fit, please submit their size using this form by Monday, August 11.

New Roles and New Hires

We're thrilled to introduce the new faces joining our community this year, as well as several admin, faculty, and staff members who have taken on new roles.

New Roles

New Hires

We are delighted to welcome new Lower School faculty/staff and members of the Senior Leadership Team to the Flint Hill family.

Administration

Kevin Plourde — Director of Security
Kevin retired from the U.S. Secret Service as assistant special agent in charge after 25 years in federal law enforcement. He served as team leader of Special Operations, lead agent on the Presidential Protective Detail, and supervisor at the National Threat Assessment Center. Kevin loves to hunt and golf, and he also coached baseball for eight years. He has a B.A. in psychology from Saint Michael's College and an M.S. in national security strategy from the National War College.

All-School Staff

Stephanie Nicolas — Director of Advancement Systems and Operations
Stephanie has over ten years of experience in operations leadership. She most recently led critical development operations, drove cross-functional alignment, optimized systems, and ensured compliance at Greenpeace. Stephanie has a B.S. in criminology and psychology from Florida State University and an M.A. in global development and social justice from St. John’s University.

Middle School Faculty and Staff

LaMecca Coates — Middle School English Teacher
LaMecca brings over 20 years of experience working with middle and upper school students as a teacher, advisor, administrator, and DEI practitioner in both public and independent schools. She has a B.A. in economics and English and an M.S. in educational leadership and policy studies from the University at Albany, State University of New York, and an M.A. in teacher education-secondary education from American University. With a background in curriculum design and student engagement, she takes a thoughtful and intentional approach to teaching, emphasizing critical thinking, authentic expression, and student-centered learning. LaMecca is excited to continue fostering meaningful learning in the classroom this year. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling and relaxing near the water.

Carolyn Mshooshian — Middle School English Teacher
Carolyn worked in education for 10 years as a middle and high school English teacher in public and private schools. She has an M.A. in English from Simmons University and a B.A. in English and secondary education from Worcester State University. She recently worked in New York City and previously worked in Kuwait City and Massachusetts. Carolyn enjoys kayaking, weightlifting, and refurbishing furniture. She hopes to finish her novel this year.

Abby Rozmajzl — Middle School and Upper School Theatre Arts Teacher
Abby has worked with theatre students, ages 5-22, for the past seven years as a director, choreographer, fight director, and vocal/acting coach. She has a B.A. in theatre with a musical theatre concentration from Christopher Newport University. Abby used to go horseback riding across the Sahara desert every Friday when she lived in Egypt.

Karim Tamim — Middle School and Upper School Computer Science Teacher
Karim most recently worked at King Abdullah Academy as a computer science teacher. He has a B.A.S. in cybersecurity from George Mason University.

Welcome from Barbara O’Reilly, Parents' Association President

It’s almost time to kick off the 2025-26 school year! Whether this is your first year or you’re a “pro-level” Husky, I am glad you are part of this community. I look forward to a fantastic year ahead and connecting with Flint Hill families. There are many PA events planned for this year in addition to volunteer opportunities, and the newsletter is the best resource to see what’s on the horizon.

About Me

Our family joined Flint Hill in 2023, and we’ve been active in the community ever since. I have an Upper School Husky, Giulia ’27. What we’ve loved the most about Flint Hill is the sense of community and belonging. From the very first interaction we had with the school, we instantly felt part of a welcoming and inclusive community of educators, families, and students who are all committed to the students’ and the School’s success.

I’ve enjoyed serving as a Flint Hill Fund volunteer and a divisional ambassador. Whether it’s braving the surge of crowds at the Den at Homecoming or hungry Upper School students looking for a pick-me-up at the Igloo, calling FH families on behalf of the FH Fund, or serving as a resource at Admission events, I’ve gotten to see so many sides of the FH experience.

About the Parents’ Association (PA)

Every Flint Hill parent and guardian is automatically a PA member, and there are no membership fees. The PA strengthens the partnership between the School and Flint Hill families by encouraging parental involvement and engagement within our community. The PA Divisional Ambassadors are a group of over 80 volunteers who build community among parents and guardians. They are here to help you connect and are actively involved by attending school events, hosting parent socials, volunteering, and encouraging you to do the same. Meet the 2025-26 Divisional Ambassadors!

How to Get Involved

I hope you and your family enjoy the last few weeks of summer, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Student Schedules Available Online
Thursday, August 7

Parent-Advisor Conferences Sign-Up Link Sent to Parents
Monday, August 11

Uniform and Spirit Wear Drop-Off
Monday, August 11 – Friday, August 15
Lower School Campus, Miller House front porch, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Bus Service Sign-Up Deadline
Friday, August 15
Sign Up

Extended Day Sign-Up Deadline
Friday, August 15
Sign Up

Middle School Family Social
Tuesday, August 19
Peterson Middle School, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Register

Uniform and Spirit Wear Exchange and Parent Volunteer Fair
Wednesday, August 20
Hazel Lower School, Room 101, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

School Store Open on Lower School Campus
Wednesday, August 20
Hazel Lower School, Room 112, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Medication Drop-Off
Thursday, August 21
Upper School Front Circle, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Middle School Parent-Advisor Conferences

Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26
Link to register will be sent via email on Monday, August 11.

Middle School Parent Virtual Orientation

Monday, August 25
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Google Meet link

Middle School First Day of Class
Wednesday, August 27

Labor Day — Grades JK-12, No Classes
Monday, September 1

Middle School Athletics Practices Begin
Tuesday, September 2

Middle School Picture Day
Wednesday, September 3

Middle School Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 4
Peterson Middle School, 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Parents’ Association Divisional Ambassador Kickoff Meeting
Friday, September 5
Westwood Country Club, 8:45-11:45 a.m.

Parent Mixer
Monday, September 8
Peterson Middle School Terrace, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Parents’ Association Tennis Social
Friday, September 12
Upper School Tennis Courts, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

All-School Gathering
Monday, September 15
Upper School Building Gym, 1:15-2:15 p.m.

Parent Education Series: Middle School/Upper School Academic Assessment Philosophy and Practice
Wednesday, September 17
Upper School Building Multipurpose Room, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

Leadership Donor Reception
Friday, September 19
7:00-9:00 p.m.