Upper School Newsletter – August 12, 2026

On Tuesday, September 1, 9th graders will travel by bus to the Madeira School, 8328 Georgetown Pike, McLean, VA, to participate in bonding and community-building activities through Calleva. Parents/guardians of 9th graders must complete this digital waiver by Monday, August 24. This is considered a regular school day, and attendance will be taken. Buses will return to campus by approximately 4:00 p.m.

On Monday, August 31, 10th graders will travel by bus to Camp Fraser, 101 Springvale Rd., Great Falls, VA 22066, to participate in bonding and community-building activities through Calleva, an innovative outdoor education and adventure program. Parents/guardians of 10th graders must complete this digital waiver by Monday, August 24. This is considered a regular school day, and attendance will be taken. Buses will return to campus by approximately 3:30 p.m.

On Monday, August 31, 11th graders will be going to Dave & Buster’s in Fairfax to kick off the 2026-27 school year with fun and games. Buses will return to campus by approximately 2:30 p.m. Juniors, please take a moment to fill out this lunch form if you need a vegetarian sandwich or plan to bring your own lunch due to allergies or other restrictions. You must be signed into your Flint Hill Google account.

On Tuesday, September 1, seniors are heading to Washington, D.C., for a full day of activities! Students will travel by bus and explore the city, so comfortable clothing and walking shoes or sneakers are suggested. Lunch money will be provided by the school. Please note that this is a regular, required school day, and attendance will be taken. Seniors are scheduled to return to campus by 3:15 p.m.

Students who are assigned a locker during any athletic season must provide their own lock to secure their belongings. Over the past several years, the Athletic Department has received feedback regarding challenges with the pre-installed locks. By allowing students to bring their own combination or key lock, we hope to provide greater flexibility while encouraging ownership and responsibility for securing personal belongings. Lockers will continue to be assigned at the beginning of each season. Students should only place locks on their assigned lockers. Any locks placed on unassigned lockers will be removed.

Fall athletic schedules for the 2026-27 school year are available on both Husky Hub and the Flint Hill Athletics website.

Tryout dates, preseason information, and team-specific details can be found on each team's Husky Hub page or in the Resources tab on Husky Hub. Families are encouraged to review this information before the start of the fall season to ensure a smooth transition into preseason activities.

If your child is registered for a fall sport, a link to their team page should appear on your Husky Hub homepage. If your child is still deciding which sport to play, information about all fall athletic offerings is available through the Athletics tile on the Husky Hub Resource Board. If your child would like to change their fall sport selection, please email athletic.registrations@flinthill.org.

All prospective student-athletes must complete their administrative and medical requirements before participating in fall tryouts or practices, including completion of the ImPACT Baseline Concussion Test.

• Testing Website: Impacttestonline.com/schools.
• Customer Code: ABAAC1948C

Parents should verify that the test has been fully completed before signing the form. Students with incomplete testing requirements may be ineligible to participate.

Join us for the Upper School Meet the Coaches Night on Friday, August 28, 5:45 p.m., in the Upper School Gym. This event is a great opportunity for student-athletes and their families to connect with our fall coaching staff and prepare for the upcoming school year. The evening will begin with remarks from Director of Athletics Dewayne Robinson and members of the Athletics Department, who will review important season information, policies, and procedures. Afterward, families will meet with their respective coaches to learn more about team expectations and the exciting season ahead.

Get ahead on your college applications with the College Advising team on Tuesday, August 25, and Thursday, August 27, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Drop by the Upper School Commons anytime during those hours for casual application work sessions, complete with free pizza, water, and snacks. Register here using your Flint Hill Google account.

All seniors must schedule an appointment for mandatory cap and gown portraits on campus on Monday, August 24, or Tuesday, August 25. Click here to schedule your session. Wear a dress shirt, scoop neck, or V-neck, avoiding high collars, crewnecks, bright clashing colors, or prominent logos that might show above the Flint Hill blue gown. A makeup day is set for September 24, or you can contact Freed Photography directly at support@freedphoto.com to book a private studio session.

• Christine Allred, MS and US English Department Chair and US English Teacher
• Lisa Campo, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
• Dan Johnson, Assistant Director of Security
• Joan Kade, US English Teacher and 9th Grade Class Dean
• Andrew Kane, Associate Director of College Advising and 12th Grade Class Dean
• Jackie Viteri, Senior Content Specialist

Robert “Bob” Aronstam — US Math Teacher
Bob has taught mathematics for over 20 years at three independent girls' schools in Baltimore and Washington. He has a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and an M.S. in industrial engineering from Penn State. Fun fact: Bob likes to bake desserts, especially cookies and cakes, and has two sons, ages 9 and 11, who love to eat their dad's homemade pumpkin pie.

Jake Berton — US History and Social Sciences Teacher
Jake previously taught at the Bryanston School in Blandford Forum, England, where he served as a teacher, boarding house resident, coach, and radio station supervisor. He earned a B.A. in American Studies and an M.A.T. in secondary social studies education from the University of Virginia. Fun fact: Jake is originally from Quakertown, Pennsylvania, the hometown of Sabrina Carpenter.

Lee Casson — US English Teacher
Lee has worked in education for 30 years, teaching English at Middle Tennessee State University for 18 years and at the Baylor School — a private day and boarding school — for 11 years, where he served as a master instructor and team lead. He has a B.S. in journalism and an Ed.S. in higher education administration from Middle Tennessee State University, an M.A. in English and an Ed.D. in leadership and learning from the University of Tennessee, and an M.L.A. in liberal arts from Johns Hopkins University. Fun fact: Lee's two best friends are his dogs, Wicked and Vicious.

Joe Clement — US History and Social Sciences Teacher
Joe has worked in public education for 32 years as a teacher, coach, and club and class sponsor, including 29 years at Chantilly High School. He has a B.A. in economics from James Madison University and an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction from George Mason University. Fun fact: Joe loves to fish and hike, and co-authored the book “Screen Schooled” about technology overuse in schools.

Larry Jordan — US Learning Specialist
Larry has worked in public education for 25 years as a special education teacher, school administrator, and track and field coach in Baltimore, Washington, and various Massachusetts cities, including Boston, Milton, and Brookline. He earned a B.A. in education and sociology from Lincoln University and an M.Ed. in leadership and teaching from the University of Notre Dame of Maryland. Fun fact: When not at work, Larry enjoys road and mountain cycling, gardening, and spending time with his family.

Kat Ohlmeyer — US Math Teacher
Kat has worked in public education for eight years, including six years at South County High School, one year at Edison High School, and as a long-term substitute. She also served as an instructor for the University of Idaho's Independent Study program for 10 years and served 4 years as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Air Force. Kat has a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, an M.A. in teaching from Liberty University, and is completing an M.A. in interdisciplinary studies at Liberty University. Fun fact: Kat has moved 10 times across 9 states since college, has cake decorating skills, has solo skydived from a perfectly good airplane, and has three kids and three cats.

Tyler O’Keefe — US English Teacher
Tyler worked at Fryeburg Academy for five years as an English teacher, dorm parent, and assistant track coach. He has a B.A. in English from the University of Maine. Fun fact: Tyler has never lost a staring contest.

Julia Painton — US Learning Specialist
Julia has worked in education for over 25 years in both public and independent schools. She earned a B.A. in English from Vassar College and an M.A.T. from Johns Hopkins University. Fun fact: Julia is a fifth-generation educator in her family.

Will Plaut ’22 — Facilities Management Associate
Will is a recent business school graduate with over four years of experience working in the facilities management and operations field. He holds a B.S.B.A. in management from Christopher Newport University. He graduated from Flint Hill in 2022. Fun fact: Will has played the drums for over 12 years.

Mikeira Spriggs — Advancement Operations Coordinator
Mikeira brings over seven years of administrative and human resources experience supporting operations in higher education, government, and private sector settings, most recently serving as a clinical coordinator at The Catholic University of America. She earned a B.S. in psychology from Old Dominion University. Fun fact: Mikeira loves to travel, explore new cities and countries, and runs her own floral business creating custom arrangements.

Aremi Tapia-Torres — Associate Director of College Advising
Aremi has worked in education for eight years at small liberal arts colleges and independent schools. She spent five years as a college counselor at the Community School of Naples, guiding students through every step of the college application process. She has a B.A. in global studies from Colby College and studied abroad in Rio de Janeiro. Fun fact: Aremi enjoys recreating macro-friendly sweet treat recipes from TikTok and loves spending time outdoors — whether at parks, hiking trails, beaches, or lakes.