Dear Flint Hill School Families,

Wow! Last weekend was a spectacular Homecoming Weekend. The crowds on Friday nearly overwhelmed the School Store, which was packed all night long. And the bonfire, the band playing up on the hill, the Powder Puff Football game, and the outstanding Pep Rally all contributed to the festivities.

Throughout the day Saturday, there was a spirit and excitement that could be felt schoolwide. From the young children enjoying the inflatables and getting their faces painted to the delicious food and outstanding performances by our scholar-athletes, all of it made for one of the most spectacular Homecomings in our history.

One of the highlights from the weekend was the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the renovated Upper School Fitness Center. With its new equipment, fresh paint and motivational murals, the updated facility helps support the efforts of our great student-athletes and our emphasis on the importance of physical fitness. This tremendous update is one of the many things made possible for our students through the Annual Fund. Just as Homecoming marks the end of the first quarter, it also coincides with the early stages of fundraising for the new fiscal year.

I’m certain you share my belief that every student should have access to the best resources to learn and grow in and outside the classroom. And that every faculty member should have the opportunity to pursue professional development that enhances his/her ability to provide leading-edge instruction to our students. The Annual Fund makes all of that possible. In recent years, gifts to the Annual Fund have led to the installation of new playgrounds on the Lower and Middle School Campus, the new Lower School Innovation Lab, Maker Spaces for the Middle School, the renovated Robotics Lab in the Upper School, the conversion of the Upper School Library to the Learning Commons, and now, the renovation of the Upper School Fitness Center. The Annual Fund has also allowed members of our faculty to explore countless opportunities for professional development and growth, both in the U.S. and abroad. Thank you all for your commitment, support, and generosity.

This year’s campaign is in full swing. Our Board of Trustees led the way by achieving 100% participation in the Annual Fund earlier this school year. Just last week, our faculty and staff, the people who bring life to our school each and every day, reached 100% participation. And on Monday, the parents in Junior Kindergarten achieved 100% participation. Participation is significant. Every gift matters and is a tangible demonstration of your commitment to our students. It shows how important this community is to all of us. If you haven’t already, I hope you will join us. How wonderful would it be to achieve 100% parent participation in this year’s Annual Fund? And thank you to Annual Fund Parent Chair Marci Nelson and our corp of parent volunteers for their hard work in supporting us in this effort.

Enjoy the fall. As the year continues, we will continue to host lots of big events like this weekend’s Special Olympics Soccer Tournament, a Latin Certamen, and the end-of-the-fall athletics season, with a number of our teams in serious contention for conference and state championships. Looking ahead, all parents will have the opportunity to come in for parent-teacher conferences on Friday, November 2. It will allow you the chance to talk one-on-one with your children’s teachers about their experiences in the classroom. And the Holiday Shoppes is also right around the corner!!

Again, thank you for all your support and help. I look forward to seeing you on campus soon!

Best wishes to you!

Sincerely,

 

John M. Thomas
Headmaster