We are happy your new Husky is joining us for school soon! Flint Hill is the school where teachers model an innovative mindset every day, so our students are inspired to take meaningful risks and blaze trails of their own.
We hope you enjoy this view into the Flint Hill Lower School and get a glimpse of what your child can look forward to next year!
YOUR TRAIL STARTS HERE:
Take a virtual tour of our campuses...
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Click on a image below to get a glimpse of our students interaction day to day here at Flint Hill.
JK International Airport
Now boarding at the Lower School gate — a passport for students to reach for the sky! When JK students requested making an airport for dramatic play activities, their teachers supported the idea. The class researched the different parts of an airport and decided what they wanted to include and build. Using their literacy, math, maker/engineering, and communication skills, the JK students worked collaboratively to create the props and determine the different roles needed to staff their airport. On grand opening day, parents visited the airport virtually and Lower School specialists were welcomed inside the classroom.
First Grade Innovators
First-grade students have actively engaged in the design process and bringing their imaginations to life. Over several class sessions, Innovation teacher Joey Starnes noticed their keen interest in building and design, so she introduced concepts of 3D design elements essential computer-assisted design skills — the first time she has done so with first grade students. Students used Tinkercad to bring to life drawings and sketches they had done in previous lessons into 3D models including buildings, figures, or even abstract shapes. They each chose one of their designs to print on the 3D printer.
Growing and Sharing Passions in Second Grade
Second grade students selected an interest area ranging from soccer and gymnastics to biology, career interests and historical figures. Each student came up with a research question to study. They had to find two digital and two text resources and gather information. Later, they integrated skills they had been practicing in language arts including writing paragraphs and asking questions to interview a primary source. Each student wrote a summary of their findings. Students had the opportunity to host virtual meetings with community members about their topics- from alums to faculty to parents. Afterwards, they presented to their class to teach each other about their passions and made Google Slideshows to share. Above Alia F. ’31 interviewed Flint Hill alumna Marlo Sweatman ’13, who is a professional soccer player in Budapest. Students were impressed to hear about all the countries she has played in and her experience as a professional athlete.
Coding Cars in Third Grade
It's a busy time for young mathematicians and programmers in the Lower School! Mrs. Henry shares that in third grade computer science, students are learning about the properties of rectangles through code. Students write programs using side and angle measures to code their robot cars to draw polygons. In sixth grade, students are discovering the algorithm for the multiplication of rational numbers! Mrs. Henry says, "Huskies are always encouraged to demonstrate their understanding of mathematics in a variety of ways, and our future mathematicians know that there is more than one way to derive the answer." Click here to watch the results of their programming.
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All the World's a Stage in Fourth Grade
As part of their in-depth study of Shakespeare, one fourth grade class performed scenes from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” “Macbeth. And “A MidSummer Nights Dream.” Students collaborated with one another in-person and virtually to bring Shakespeare to the Olson Theatre. Watch the full A MidSummer Nights Dream scene here.
Amazing Authors
While studying US History, 4A students wrote and illustrated a book, “Amazing Abolitionists.” They used persuasive writing skills to email the book to outside organizations to encourage them to read their book and send feedback. Read the entire book here.
Take a Gallery Walk with Fifth Grade!
Take a virtual gallery walk and enjoy fifth-grade self-portraits! Based on the self-portrait of Frida Kahlo titled “Self-Portrait with Loose Hair” (Autorretrato con el Pelo Suelto), students made their proportionately accurate self-portraits in art class and, as Kahlo did in her self-portrait, added personal information about themselves in Spanish.
Sweet Soundwaves in Sixth Grade!
Sixth graders studied wave motion and energy transfer by constructing a mechanism out of gummy bears and skewers. This is just one example of how teacher Mr. Smilowitz shares his enthusiasm for science with lab projects that are educational, fun and memorable. After the students put together their "gummy bear wave machine," they observed the characteristics of waves, including amplitude and wavelength, that they studied in class.
Bringing a New Tradition To Sixth Grade
In their final year as Lower School students, our sixth graders have their graduating-class year prominently displayed on the Lower School campus. The numbers for this year’s sixth graders were hung on the barn, after representatives from the class of ’27 designed, sketched and painted a large “2” and “7” with artwork reflective of their student-life experiences, including masks and hand sanitizers alongside books and other educational materials. “The painting team, led by Aceline Owusu, the artist of the winning design and project manager, worked together in such an inclusive and respectful way throughout the process,” said Assistant Director of the Lower School Robyn Nichols. “To ensure that all of the students were part of the memorable moment, they signed their names during recess, and students were thoughtful enough to write the virtual learners' names!”
Middle Schoolers Making a Difference
After being matched through Magic Wheelchair, an organization that builds "epic" costumes for children, students in one of Mr. Cook's Makers classes surprised 11-year-old Numa with a custom built tie fighter they designed to fit around his chair. Numa loved Star Wars before becoming wheelchair bound at the age of 7, so the Darth Vader-inspired design was a perfect "fit." See the reveal as covered by a local news station.
Upper School: Visiting Writers
In the Middle School Broadcasting Communications class, students critique and create in both audio and visual mediums. They recorded podcasts about how the pandemic changed their daily lives including sound effects, interviews with family members, and even quotations from psychologists. In their next project, they storyboarded, shot, and edited a short movie trailer to show off the film techniques they watched and discussed in class. In this hands-on course, students gain skills communicating, collaborating, and creating engaging audio and visual projects. One highlight of the semester is when students get to experiment with the new green screen room in the Middle School to set their films in faraway places or add visually-appealing special effects.
A Glimpse into Upper School Computer Science
Upper School Computer Science students engage in the creation of computer programs including games, apps, interactive media, and simple robotics with popular programming languages and microprocessors. The course supports students’ development as creative computational thinkers and supports the development of personal connections to computing, by drawing upon creativity, imagination, and interests. Try out a side scroller game Mira F. ’25 built in Studio Code.
Artists in Action: Arts Jam 2021
The Peterson Middle School terrace provided the perfect spot for performing artists trying to get just the right angles for the videos they are submitting to this year’s virtual Arts Jam.
Student Leaders Keep Spirits Lifted in Upper School
The Student Council Association (SCA) is one of several leadership opportunities for Upper School students. In this elected leadership position, students become involved in the administrative and operational affairs of the School. The SCA is responsible for coordinating school events including dances and upholding school traditions in partnership with administration.They have been especially creative in their engagement and support of fellow students over the last year. Check out this creative video they shared to remind everyone of our core values and vision.
Watch “The Nutcracker” Reimagined: Curiosity and Innovation in Action!
Curiosity and innovation in action! While the current climate did not allow for traditional performances or sharing of supplies, Flint Hill is all about creating solutions and finding ways to support students. Dancers were filmed in front of a green screen one or two at a time, at a safe physical distance, wearing masks (sequined masks, no less). Upper School Filmmaking students edited the dances together with unique digital backgrounds to create a “Nutcracker” ballet unlike any you have ever seen. Watch the production here!
