Middle School Newsletter – September 3, 2025
September 3, 2025
Letter From the Division Director
Congratulations to all of us for a successful start to the year! You and your children brought an incredible amount of positivity, and our teachers and advisors have worked thoughtfully and tirelessly to create a warm, welcoming environment. We are thrilled to welcome you to our Back-to-School Night tomorrow — Thursday, September 4, 7:00-9:00 p.m. — to give you a chance to walk your child’s schedule and hear from their teachers. Here are a few updates and final reminders to make sure your night goes smoothly.
- Earlier today, I emailed you a personalized schedule for the night — class times, room locations, etc. Please note that all sessions will take place in the Peterson Middle School (including the music and theater classes that typically meet in the Upper School).
- You may park in either the Middle School lot or the Upper School lot, according to this map. Please keep in mind that, while the Middle School lot is closer to the building, it has limited spots.
- You should report to your child’s Advisory by 7:00 p.m., and the program will conclude by 9:00 p.m. The Advisory location is the same room you went to for your advisor conference, and we are happy to give directions!
- For your planning, please note that we will provide water but not food.
- We will run a condensed schedule with Advisory, 10-minute class periods, and 2-minute passing time; each teacher will present an overview of their class.
- If your child takes two part-time electives (e.g. two classes in the same period), you will choose one session to attend during that particular period.
- In an effort to streamline the evening, teachers will not focus on the platforms being used for posting assignments and sharing class materials. Assignments will always be posted in Husky Hub, with additional specifics available to students in Google Classroom.
- Feel free to engage in the adolescent challenge of socializing while also making it to class on time!
As we gently ramp up the academic work, you may wish to preview our Parents’ Guide to Supporting Academic Growth in Middle School. This includes our approach at school, using your access to Husky Hub to view assignments and grades, our recommendations for supporting homework (e.g., let it be your child’s independent effort), and general guidance for navigating your tricky-but-awesome role as a Middle School parent!
Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle School
Announcements
Parent Mixer — Monday, September 8
The Parent Mixer is an informal social for JK-12 parents to get together on campus after morning carpool and is a great way to meet parents across divisions. Join us for coffee and conversation on Monday, September 8, 8:30-9:30 a.m., at the Peterson Middle School, John M. Thomas Terrace. Rain location: Mitchell Commons, Peterson Middle School
Save the Date: Homecoming Week Under the Lights
Join us Monday, September 29 through Friday, October 3 for a week filled with Husky pride as we cheer on our athletic teams and celebrate Homecoming! Throughout the week, support the athletes by attending games under the lights on Peterson Family Field. The celebration culminates on Friday night with traditional Homecoming festivities for the whole family, including the bonfire, Spirit Alley activities, face painting, inflatables, balloons, and a football game. Stay tuned for a full schedule of events and volunteer opportunities that will be shared on the website soon.
Games Under the Lights
- Monday, September 29, 6:00 p.m. — Varsity Field Hockey vs. Holton-Arms
- Tuesday, September 30, 6:00 p.m. — Girls' Varsity Soccer vs. Episcopal
- Wednesday, October 1, 6:00 p.m. — Junior/Senior Flag Football
- Thursday, October 2, 6:00 p.m. — Boys' Varsity Soccer vs. St. Andrew’s
- Friday, October 3, 7:00 p.m. — Varsity Football vs. Bullis
Self-Carry Medications
If your child is self-carrying their medications (inhalers and epi-pens), please remind them to carry those with them at all times. This includes when they are on their way to and from all practices/games, regardless of whether they are on or off campus. It must be easily accessible for them during their activity.
Game Cancellations Due to Inclement Weather
With the fall season comes the possibility of rain, leading to the potential for cancellations or delays. In the case of inclement weather, the Athletics Department will determine by 1:30 p.m. whether a home game/meet will be canceled. If there is an away game/meet, the decision to play lies with the opposing school and their field conditions. Once a home game/meet is canceled, Flint Hill coaches will notify parents and students. Husky Hub will also be updated and be the source for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Watch Middle and Upper School Sports via Live Stream
All games held on the Flint Hill Upper School campus will be live-streamed via Hudl TV. Once you have clicked the Hudl TV link, you will be able to see all the games streamed for that day and time. You can also access the livestream by typing fan.hudl.com into your browser and then searching for “Flint Hill.” Please check Husky Hub and/or the school website for game schedules.
First Day of School Photos on Flickr
Throughout the year, you’ll find photos from classroom and student life activities as well as Flint Hill events posted on our Flickr account. You can access Flickr via the floating camera icon on our newsletter sidebar. The link can also be found in the footer of our website and within the email signature of every Flint Hill faculty and staff member.
Reminders
Middle School Back-to-School Night — Thursday, September 4
We look forward to welcoming you tomorrow, 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. Note: This is not an evening for students. See details above in Brian Lamont’s letter.
Clarification about Dress Expectations — Pants, Skirts, and Shorts
There seems to be some confusion about the dress expectations of bottom wear for students during the academic day (separate from athletics). This is understandable as clothing categories have become more blurry, and it’s more difficult to define every acceptable option. Our stated Middle School Dress Expectations include the language “khaki or navy blue chino pants, skirts, or shorts.” The spirit of this is that students should not wear overly casual or athletic bottoms during the academic day.
For additional clarity, bottom wear should be:
- Color — tan/khaki or navy blue.
- Style — shorts and pants should be “chino” or “golf” style with front zippers, front pockets, and belt loops (though we don’t require belts or tucked in shirts).
- Material — any; cotton, polyester, or anything in between.
Students should not wear:
- Pull-on athletic shorts.
- Leggings by themselves.
- Cargo shorts or pants.
We will continue to remind students as well. While the focal part of our program is not about what students wear, we do need compliance with some basic expectations, and we appreciate your help with this.
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.
Parent Meetup: Walking Group
Enjoy different trails and neighborhoods near campus while connecting with fellow parents. Questions? Contact Divisional Ambassador Molisa Meholic P’29.
Upcoming Walks:
Please Use Carpool Signs in the Afternoon
To make our dismissal process as efficient as possible, please remember to place your carpool sign on the driver’s side dashboard.
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.
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)
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.
Help Needed in the Igloo and Den!
One of the most popular ways to get involved is selling concessions in the Igloo or Den — a fun spot to meet parents, catch Upper School life in action, and enjoy the best view of Peterson Family Field. Upper School students can volunteer, too, and earn service hours! Invite a friend to join you and sign up for a shift!
Upcoming Events
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.
Rain location: Mitchell Commons, Peterson Middle School
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.
Middle School Fall Athletics Team Picture Day
Thursday, September 18
Middle School Commons, 1:50 p.m.-2:15 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.
Parent Meetup: Tennis Open Play
Friday, September 26
Middle and Upper School Campus Tennis Courts, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Flint Hill Volleyball Invitational
Saturday, September 27
Upper School Gym, Time TBD
Homecoming Week Under the Lights
September 29 - October 3
Financial Aid Application Opens
Wednesday, October 1
Parent Education Series: Coffee and Conversation with Brian Lamont
Wednesday, October 1
8:15-9:15 a.m.
Virtual: Blaze the Trail at Flint Hill
Thursday, October 2
Virtual Event, 12:00-12:45 p.m.
Hear from students and parents about how Flint Hill teachers inspire Huskies to blaze their own trails. This event, designed for prospective families, is also open to current families interested in learning how this core value comes to life. Register and bring your questions.
Parent Meetup: Walking Group
Friday, October 3
8:15 a.m.
Location will be shared with the group before the walk.
Register
Homecoming Pep Rally
Friday, October 3
Upper School Gym, 1:15-2:30 p.m.
Homecoming Spirit Alley
Friday, October 3
4:00-6:00 p.m.
Homecoming Bonfire
Friday, October 3
6:00-6:30 p.m.
