Middle School Newsletter – August 20, 2025
August 20, 2025
Letter From the Division Director
I’m sure the energy is rising in your households as your children — like all of us — experience the range of emotions common to the start of school. After spending a week with our new faculty and staff, we welcomed back all of the adults this week for pre-planning meetings and final preparations. We are very excited to meet with you and your children next week and officially kick off the 2025-26 school year!
Here are a few reminders from the previous newsletter:
- Consider joining me on Monday, August 25, at 9:00 a.m., for a parent virtual orientation. It may be most helpful for new parents, but it can also be a good refresher and opportunity for questions from everyone. Please join using this Google Meet link.
- Please remember to use the link I sent via email on Monday, August 11, to sign up for Parent-Advisor Conferences on Monday, August 25, or Tuesday, August 26. You are welcome to bring your child to school on either of these days for a self-guided tour if they would benefit from visiting the building before the first official day!
- The first official day for students is Wednesday, August 27. Our orientation and community-building activities for students are built into the first three days of school to ensure a smooth transition. We will do plenty of outdoor active play and talk about what to expect with athletics; formal athletic practices begin on Tuesday, September 2.
- Make sure to review the arrival and dismissal procedures in the Preparing for the 2025-26 School Year section below. Please note that students should be ready to exit cars in the morning when the car is stopped anywhere along the front of the building — not just directly in front — and that passing is not permitted. This allows us to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently. We will distribute carpool signs for afternoon dismissal during your Parent-Advisor Conference. If you are not meeting with your child's advisor in person on Monday or Tuesday, please make a temporary sign with your child's name to use for the first day of school on Wednesday.
Our Middle School Back-to-School Night is on Thursday, September 4, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Please join us to walk through your child’s schedule and hear about each course from their teachers. We will provide bottled water but not food. Additional details about parking, class times, etc., will be included in the September 3 newsletter. Please note that this is not an evening for students.
Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle 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.
- View the General Middle School Daily Schedule.
Student Device Information
All new students and returning 7th graders will be issued their school-owned MacBook Air laptops during the first week of school. Parents of these students received an email from tech@flinthill.org with their child’s Google login information. Please email helpdesk@flinthill.org with any questions.
Lunch Information
In collaboration with Fairfax Food Service, we provide a buffet-style lunch every day that is included in tuition. Salad bar and sandwich options are available daily as well as complete menus and nutritional/allergen information.
Snack Bar During Morning Break
We have a morning break every day, 10:20-10:40 a.m., and encourage students to eat a snack at that time, particularly if they have second lunch. Students may bring snacks from home to keep in their backpacks. Students may also purchase a snack at school during break, choosing from the intentionally limited menu below. All items cost $1; cash only.
- Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers
- Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars (Vegan) — blueberry, strawberry, and apple cinnamon
- Bare Baked Crunchy Apple Fruit Snack (Gluten Free)
- Nature Valley Protein Granola Bars
- SunChips multigrain variety pack
- GoGo Squeez applesauce (gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free)
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!
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.
Middle School Picture Day — Wednesday, September 3
Remember that Wednesday, September 3, is Picture Day for students in the Middle School.
Middle School Back-to-School Night — Thursday, September 4
Please join us on Thursday, September 4, 7:00-9:00 p.m., at the Peterson Middle School to walk through your child’s schedule and hear about each course from their teachers. We will provide bottled water but not food. Additional details about parking, class times, etc., will be included in the September 3 newsletter. Please note that this is not an evening for students.
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.
Parent Education Series: Academic Assessment Philosophy and Practice
All parents are invited to join us for a presentation with Director of Academics Aaron Proctor on Wednesday, September 17, 8:30-9:30 a.m,. in the Upper School Multipurpose Room to learn about the latest updates to our Middle and Upper School academic assessment philosophies and practices. Attending this session will offer a deeper understanding of how Flint Hill measures student progress and allow parents to participate in a Q&A.
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.
Announcements
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.
Middle School Parent Virtual Orientation — Monday, August 25
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. You should’ve received a sign-up link 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 First Day of Class — Wednesday, August 27
The first day for Middle School students is Wednesday, August 27, 8:00 a.m. - 3:20 p.m. Please reference the email you received on Friday to review drop-off and pickup instructions.
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 students are responsible for the following school supplies:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Middle School Parent Virtual Orientation
Monday, August 25
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Google Meet Link
Middle School Parent-Advisor Conferences
Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26
Link to register was sent to parents via email on Monday, August 11.
School Store Open
Monday, August 25, and Tuesday, August 26
Hazel Lower School Room 112, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Middle School First Day of Class
Wednesday, August 27
8:00 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Labor Day — Grades JK-12, No Classes
Monday, September 1
Middle School Athletics Practices Begin
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
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.
Register
All-School Gathering — Student Event
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 Multipurpose Room, 8:30-9:30 a.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.
