Upper School Newsletter – February 18, 2025

PES: Academic Planning for Parents of Rising 10th-12th Graders

Join us on Wednesday, February 25, 1:00-2:00 p.m. for a Parent Education Series session focused on academic planning for rising 10th through 12th graders. Upper School Director Chris Tennyson and Director of Academics Aaron Proctor will explain the timeline, process, and resources available to support returning students as they plan for the upcoming school year. This is a great opportunity to learn more about course selection and the systems in place to support your student’s continued success in the Upper School.

Senior Workshop: The More You Know — Friday, February 27

The Upper School Counseling Team is excited to announce "The More You Know," a series of optional workshops for each grade level on health and well-being topics. This semester, the counselors will host workshops for seniors during flex block or office hours on topics such as sexual health, consent, substance use, decision-making, and redefining masculinity. Interested seniors can sign up to attend a workshop of their choice. Sign-up information will be sent to seniors a few days before the workshop. For the first workshop on Friday, February 27, seniors may choose from two options: sexual health and redefining masculinity.

Winter Athletics Awards Ceremony — Wednesday, March 4

Join us on Wednesday, March 4, in the Upper School Gym from 1:15-2:30 p.m. as we recognize our 2025-26 Winter sports athletes and their accomplishments.

2026-27 Program Guide Now Available

Students and parents are invited to review the 2026-27 Upper School Program Guide on the Resource Board. Course selection for Rising MS and US students will take place after Spring Break. More information on that timeline can be found here on the Resource Board.

Senior Parent Dinner & Commencement Announcements

Parents of the Class of 2026 are invited to a senior parent dinner on Tuesday, March 10, 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the Middle School Commons. This parents-only event will feature Head of School Patrick McHonett and other leaders sharing insights on how to help your senior finish their final year with strength and confidence. RSVP by Friday, February 20, and reach out to Wendy Seetaram with any questions or specific dietary restrictions.

Herff Jones offers personalized graduation announcements that showcase Flint Hill's crest and detailed ceremony information, including your student’s name, and can serve as treasured keepsakes of this memorable event. Announcement orders are shipped directly to your home. Place your order here. Contact Herff Jones directly with any questions, 804.598.0971.

Parents' Association Pickleball Social — Wednesday, March 11

Whether you're a seasoned pickleball player or a first-timer, this is a great chance to connect with other families and enjoy some friendly competition. Join us on Wednesday, March 11, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., at the Country Club of Fairfax, 5110 Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA. All skill levels are welcome! Registration is limited to 30 players, and a waitlist will be available once full. This popular event fills up quickly, so grab your spot! Contact Assistant Director of Engagement Olivia Landrum ‘11 with any questions.

Special Upper School Schedule and No Bus Service — Friday, March 13

The Upper School follows a special schedule on Friday, March 13, the last day before Spring Break. We use that day to administer the pre-ACT to the 10th grade students. We don’t hold classes for the other three grade levels on that day, so they are excused from attending school. Important Note: There will be no bus service on that day.

Practice ACT — Friday, March 13

On Friday, March 13, our 10th grade class will be taking a diagnostic ACT on campus, administered by Compass Education Group. Flint Hill has registered all students for the test. Read more about the diagnostic test.

Compass Education Group is also offering a webinar, “Navigating College Admissions Tests,” for Flint Hill families on Tuesday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m. Learn what you need to know about the latest developments in SAT/ACT Digital Transitions; crafting a personalized testing and prep timeline; and more. Registration is required.

Spring Uniform & Spirit Wear Exchange — Friday, March 13

Time for some spring cleaning! Mark your calendars for the Spring Uniform Exchange on Friday, March 13, 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., in Hazel Lower School, Room 101. The Exchange is intentionally scheduled to coincide with Lower School Parent Conferences. There is no cost for this event, and you do not have to donate to participate. Item availability is based on donations and will be first-come, first-served.

Donation Drop-off: Parents may drop off gently used, clean uniforms and spirit wear on the Miller House front porch from Monday, March 2, to Friday, March 6, between 8:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Kindly launder items before donating. Middle and Upper School parents are welcome to donate and/or shop for spirit wear.

Parent volunteers are needed to help sort and organize donations on Tuesday, March 10, and during the Exchange on Friday, March 13. Sign up to volunteer and get the first chance to shop!

Coming Soon — Golf Invitational and Skills Social

Calling all golf enthusiasts and novices! Join the Flint Hill community on Thursday, May 21, for a fun day on the links, with an 18-hole scramble and skills social for all levels. Parents, alumni parents, grandparents, and alumni are all welcome for a day that brings our community together to benefit the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid, helping students whose families face unexpected financial hardship.

Registration opens soon, but mark your calendars now! Interested in learning about sponsorship opportunities? Reach out to Assistant Director of Engagement Olivia Landrum ‘11 for more information.

Does Your Work Involve City Planning, Animals, or Space?

From time to time, teachers would like to bring in a presenter to enhance the classroom curriculum. Given the extensive levels of expertise within the parent and alumni community, we’d like to make these opportunities more broadly accessible.

We have a current need for speakers who would briefly present on the following topics in an age-appropriate way for 1st graders:

• City Planning: We are looking for someone who can share how cities are planned, possibly connecting it to the problem-solving process or writing process.
• Animals/Plants: Help facilitate a nature walk and spark curiosity about animals and the planet before we begin or during those learning units.
• Space: Having learned about day and night patterns, and following a planetarium visit, we are looking for someone who can share more info about space.

Contact Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement Meredith VanDuyne to learn more (no obligations).

Thank you for helping students and teachers make these real-world connections!

Beyond the Reminders and Announcements

Since this newsletter is always full of parent need-to-knows, we want to tell you where to find more of the fun stuff! Our social media channels (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) are the best place to see real-time highlights of student life. Follow our dedicated athletics account for all things Husky sports!

We’re also sharing in-depth stories on our Husky Highlights blog and spotlighting alumni journeys on Flint Hill Futures. Did we mention Flint Hill started a podcast featuring insights from our expert faculty and staff? We hope these channels offer a vivid window into our community and a deeper connection to the Husky experience.