Lower School Newsletter – August 20, 2025
August 20, 2025
Letter From the Division Director
Our faculty and staff have returned from summer break, and the building is already buzzing with energy and excitement! The only thing missing is the final, and most important, piece of the puzzle that makes Flint Hill such a special place to learn and grow: your children!
We hope our returning students have been enjoying their freshly delivered 2024-25 Flint Hill yearbooks! May those joyful images spark happy memories and inspire excitement for all the new adventures that await this school year.
As we approach the first days of school, I want to take a moment to thank you. The back-to-school season brings countless unseen to-do lists, labeling supplies, coordinating schedules, setting routines, and ensuring your child is ready to start strong. Your commitment to this process is seen by the Lower School, and it is deeply appreciated. Our combined efforts help create a safe and welcoming environment, and I’d like to offer a few reminders as we kick off the year together:
- Specialist Classes: The Lower School will not have specialist classes (e.g., Art, Music, P.E.) on the first two days of school, Wednesday and Thursday, so students can acclimate to their homerooms. Specials will begin on Friday, which is a B Day.
- P.E. and Ensembles for Grades 5 & 6: On Friday, 5th and 6th graders will have P.E. and Ensembles. Students should arrive dressed in their P.E. clothes. Please refer to the Lower School Student Dress Expectations for more details.
- Arrival Time: We encourage all students to arrive between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. to allow time to settle in. The school day begins promptly at 8:10 a.m..
- Carpool Safety: Safety is our top priority. As a reminder, phones should be put away while driving on campus, heads up, phones down. Our team will be posting photos on Seesaw throughout the day to help you stay connected.
- Morning Drop-Off: Please remain in your vehicle during carpool. If your child is having a hard time separating in the morning, kindly alert a staff member who will direct you to pull over so someone from our team can assist.
We are so excited to welcome your children back to nurture their curiosity, cheer on their discoveries, and support their growth. Together, let’s make this school year full of joyful learning and meaningful connections.
Happily,
Jess Henry
Director of the Lower School
Announcements
Daily Schedule and Letter Days
Each school day of the year has been assigned a letter (A, B, C, D, E, and F), and we will rotate the schedules accordingly. You are welcome to subscribe to the letter day calendar (Google calendar link, iCal feed link) or simply view your child's class schedule for any day of the year, which is helpful for scheduling appointments, etc.
- View Your Child's Class Schedule in Husky Hub: Log in to Husky Hub, click “Children” and select your child’s name. The default view is "Progress" to see your child's classes and teachers. If you click the "Schedule" tab instead, you will see the schedule for the week and can click "View Full Schedule" to see the current (or future) month's view.
School Store Open for In-Person Shopping
The School Store, in the Hazel Lower School, Room 112, will be open on Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please enter through the Lower School main entrance, and check in with security before visiting. Stop by to see the new merchandise!
Sign Up for Parent-Teacher “Hopes and Dreams” Conferences
Homeroom teachers will host 20-minute, in-person “Hopes and Dreams” Conferences for parents on Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26. This is an opportunity to share your hopes and goals for your child to help us build a strong partnership for the year ahead.
Sign-up instructions were emailed on Monday, August 11, and the link is also available on the Husky Hub Resource Board. Drop-in childcare for currently enrolled Lower School students will be available in Room 201 during your conference.
If you have any questions or need help with the online scheduling system, please email Donna Holaday or call her at 703.584.2360.
Lower School First Day of Class — Wednesday, August 27
The first day for Lower School students is Wednesday, August 27, 8:10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Students may be dropped off as early as 7:30 a.m. At that time, students will remain in the gym until classrooms are opened at 7:45 a.m. Please reference the email you received on Friday to review drop-off and pickup instructions.
Yay Menus Are Coming Soon. Have You Registered?
If you are interested in participating in the optional school lunch program, take a moment to:
- Register or update your account with The Yay Company.
- Get ready to browse the upcoming menu.
- Stay in the know with updates, ordering reminders, and special offers.
Check out Yay’s FAQs for all the details on how it works.
Snack in the Lower School
Parents are kindly asked to provide a daily, healthy snack from the snack list. Lean protein snacks are beneficial to both body and mind and aid students with alertness, attention, and productivity. It would be best to avoid snacks with artificial flavors/colors and with high sugar content. Each child should bring their own snack, as students are not permitted to share food, and the school does not provide snacks. Please also send in a reusable water bottle.
Lower School Picture Day — Tuesday, September 2
Picture Day at the Lower School is on Tuesday, September 2. Students will have their individual portraits as well as class photos taken. All students should wear their school uniform for the picture. 5th & 6th grade students who have P.E. should bring a school uniform with them to change into for the photo.
Parent Meetup: Walking Group
Meet up with fellow parents for walks through different trails and neighborhoods near the School. The location will vary and will be shared with the group before each walk. Register for each date you can attend. If you have any questions, please contact Divisional Ambassador Molisa Meholic P’29.
September Dates: Tuesday, September 2, and Friday, September 19, at 8:15 a.m.
October Dates: Friday, October 3, and Friday, October 24, at 8:15 a.m.
Register for the Parents’ Association Tennis Social — Friday, September 12
Whether you are advanced or new to the game, join fellow parents, alumni parents, and grandparents at the Parents’ Association Tennis Social on Friday, September 12, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., on the Middle and Upper School Campus Tennis Courts. Registration filled up quickly for the tournament, but there's still space available in the Skills and Drills Clinic! Join the waitlist for the tournament or register for the clinic, and contact Assistant Director of Engagement Olivia Landrum with questions.
Lower School Back-to-School Nights
Parents are invited to an evening focused on the Lower School curriculum. Teachers will welcome parents into their classrooms to learn about daily routines, expectations, curriculum, and upcoming highlights for the year ahead. Parent ID Badges will also be handed out at these events.
- Grades JK-3 Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 11, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Hazel Lower School - Grades 4-6 Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 18, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Hazel Lower School
Get Involved and Share Your Volunteer Interest
Looking for ways to get involved in our school community? Learn about some of the many volunteer opportunities, and share your interest by completing this form. We will contact you as each opportunity arises, and volunteer sign-up forms will be shared in the newsletter.
Sign Up to Volunteer in the Igloo and Den
One of the most frequent and fun volunteer opportunities is selling concessions in the Igloo or Den. It’s a great way to meet other parents, while getting a glimpse of life in the Upper School, or to get the best view of a game on Peterson Family Field.
The Igloo is located in the Upper School and is open for Upper School students during the day and after school. The Den is located at the Peterson Middle School on the John M. Thomas Terrace and is open during select athletic games. Proceeds benefit the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel, which supports financial aid for families of current students who experience unexpected financial hardship.
We are excited to open both concession stands for the school year and need many volunteers to operate! Shifts range from 45 to 90 minutes! Game shifts are typically 90 minutes to 2 hours long.
Special thanks to our Parent Concessions Leads: Stephanie Anderson P’28, Alex Castleberry P’24, ’27, ’31, Paula Currall P’27, ’31, Christie Hines P’27, Kesha Kingswell P’26, Molisa Meholic P’29, and Kasey Simons P’27, ’28, ’31, ’33.
Reminders
Medication Drop-Off — Tomorrow, 10:00-2:00 p.m.
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.
Lower School New Parent Orientation — Friday, August 29
New Lower School families are invited to a special session with Lower School administrators on Friday, August 29, 8:15-10:15 a.m., in the Olson Theater. This is a wonderful opportunity to receive helpful information, learn ways to get involved, and ensure a successful start to the school year.
Textbooks and Supplies
Textbooks and workbooks for the 2025-26 school year are available for purchase via our eCampus textbook store. Lower School students can purchase access to math and language arts resources through the online eCampus textbook store. If you have textbook questions, please contact Executive Assistant to the Head of School Wendy Seetaram.
Lower School supplies are furnished by the School and are included in tuition. It is recommended that all Lower School students bring reusable water bottles that are no more than nine inches tall to school every day.
Students in Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten are asked to purchase a backpack without wheels that is 16 inches high x 13 wide x 7 1/4 deep. Students in Junior Kindergarten should also have a small blanket for rest time (maximum size 40” x 40”).
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.
Important Action: Complete Visitor ID Registration
All Lower School parents and guardians are asked to complete the Visitor ID form. Submitting the form helps us streamline building entry and ensures you're ready for Back-to-School Night and other upcoming events. If you've already filled it out, you're all set! Thank you for your partnership in keeping our campus safe!
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.
Lower School Birthday Celebration Policy
Due to our commitment to fostering an equitable, inclusive, and safe environment for all students, we provide all birthday celebration items. Please remember that no outside food, treats, or favors are permitted on campus. We invite you to celebrate your child's special day by sending in photos or a slideshow to be shared with the class. Additionally, students will get a "Free Dress Day" (students may wear non-uniform clothing that reflects their personality and style) and be recognized during our morning meeting.
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 a Google calendar user, you can subscribe to each calendar so that they populate on your personal Google calendar by clicking the links below.
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.
Upcoming Events
Medication Drop-Off
Thursday, August 21
Upper School Circle, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Lower School New Family Social
Friday, August 22
Hazel Lower School, 2:00-3:00 p.m.
Parent-Teacher “Hopes and Dreams” Conferences
Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26
Hazel Lower School
School Store Open
Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26
Hazel Lower School Room 112, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Lower School First Day of Class
Wednesday, August 27
8:10 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Lower School New Parent Orientation
Friday, August 29
Hazel Lower School, Olson Theater, 8:15-10:15 a.m.
Labor Day — Grades JK-12, No Classes
Monday, September 1
Lower School Picture Day
Tuesday, September 2
Parent Meetup: Walking Group
Tuesday, September 2
8:15 a.m.
Location will be shared with the group before the walk.
Register
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.
Grades JK-3 Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 11
Hazel Lower School, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Parents’ Association Tennis Social
Friday, September 12
Upper School Tennis Courts, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Register
All-School Gathering — Student Event
Monday, September 15
Upper School Gym, 1:15-2:15 p.m.
Grades 4-6 Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 18
Hazel Lower School, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Parent Meetup: Walking Group
Friday, September 19
8:15 a.m.
Location will be shared with the group before the walk.
Register
Leadership Donor Reception
Friday, September 19
7:00-9:00 p.m.
