Lower School Newsletter - April 21, 2021

Recordings for Virtual Lower School Transition Coffee

Last Thursday, Assistant Director Robyn Nichols and I hosted the Lower School transition coffee. We discussed the transition from one grade level to the next, shared information about summer enrichment activities and explained this year’s summer learning. Here is a link to a playlist for the recording of the coffee and the individual breakouts by grade level.

Recording for Parent Education Webinar — Social Media, Tech, and Social-Emotional Health

Please enjoy our refreshing, practical, and eye-opening presentation about parenting in the digital age. In our Parent Education Webinar with the Social Institute, Laura shared the latest updates and best practices to:

• Strengthen communications with your children through student-respected conversation starters about social media and technology.
• Empower students to navigate social-emotional health, social media, and technology during this uncertain time.
• Discuss concerns related to the pandemic while learning insights shared by students and researchers.
• Develop shared family standards for balancing technology in healthy ways.
• Inspire everyday use of important lessons that seventh-eighth grade students will learn during advisory.

The link to the recording of the webinar is below along with the password to access it. It is also available on the 2020-21 Webinars tile on the Resource Board in Husky Hub.

Recorded Webinar Link 
Password: #FlintHill2021

Transportation

Bus service to and from Flint Hill is an important logistical component for many of our families.  We are working toward providing bus service for the 2021-22 school year for Middle and Upper School students only.

If you are interested in bus service for the 2021-22 school year, please complete the bus service interest form by Friday May 7. Information on cost, possible routes, stops and pick-up/drop-off times is included on the bus service interest form.

The final list of available bus routes will be determined by ridership demand and is subject to change.

Lower School Virtual Headmaster's Parent Discussion Series, Friday, April 23, 9-10 a.m.

Each year, Headmaster John Thomas offers sessions for parents in each division, sharing his insights as a parent, veteran educator, and former school counselor. These sessions will provide an opportunity to discuss how to raise children in today’s world. The early years in a school like ours are exciting, eventful, transformative and scary, and challenging at times. Here is the link to the meet.

Celebrating Grandparents and Special Friends

On April 13, we sent an email to Lower School parents with the subject line: We need your help to celebrate Flint Hill Grandparents and Special Friends! The email shared that, during the week of May 10, we’re sending a special email and mailing to celebrate our Lower School grandparents and special friends and included a link to update or provide grandparent and special friend contact information! We want to make sure your family doesn’t miss any of the fun. If you have already updated your information, thank you! If you have not had the opportunity and don’t recall the email, please use this link to ensure your child's grandparents or special friends are part of our celebration. The form will close tonight at midnight.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Alice Yates at 703.584.2314 or ayates@flinthill.org.

Thank you for helping us create a meaningful experience for our students, grandparents and special friends.

The Path to $15,000 Annual Fund Challenge

Did you hear the great news? A trustee has challenged us: if we can raise $15,000 for the Annual Fund, he will make an additional gift of $15,000 to match it!

This year, more than ever, the Annual Fund has helped Flint Hill to overcome many challenges, because we have had the necessary resources and, just like the first graders above, are committed to finding multiple paths to a solution.

Be counted! Your donation helps our students reach their full potential and demonstrates that everyone is part of the solution at Flint Hill. Make your gift today!

Making the Learning Visible

In the Lower School, our teachers provide a learning environment where students are actively involved and encouraged to inquire, and the activities are interactive, hands-on and student-centered. Teachers also provide authentic learning opportunities that are relevant to the child’s life experiences. Choice is a great motivator for our students, and very frequently, the inquiry that ensues is based on the students’ interests and passions as a class. Teachers are also intentional about providing field trip opportunities that enhance the learning experience.

On a drizzly Friday morning, JK and 4B got together outside for a scavenger hunt. The fourth graders created a list of different types of objects to find, such as something shaped like a circle or something that begins with /p/. The JK students noticed letters on the building, shapes in the playground, and colors in nature. The buddies had a great time working together and walking around despite the damp weather.

Second grade students have been learning about maps, the world, continents and oceans. They have also been learning about different types of landforms that form on the earth’s surface, over time, due to erosion. Students made a plan to construct a topographical map to show some of their favorite landforms. For a hands-on learning experience, they used different types of food on a paper plate to make their landforms. Along with their topographical map, students designed a map key and presented their landform work on Seesaw.

Articles

Encouraging Optimism

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK

Rising Seventh Grade Parent Coffee with Brian Lamont/Course Selection:

April is the month for rising seventh grade students and parents to receive helpful information about Middle School to ensure a positive transition.

• The Rising Grade 7 Virtual Division Coffee: Parent Orientation will take place on Thursday, April 22, 9-9:45 a.m. Middle School Director Brian Lamont will present the ins and outs of the grade and what you can expect as a family, as your rising seventh grader begins their Middle School journey.   Google Meet link
• The Rising Grade 7 Virtual Division Coffee: Course Selection will immediately follow, 9:45-10:30 a.m. As a continuation of the Parent Orientation (and using the same Meet link), Brian Lamont will review and discuss course selection for seventh grade. Google Meet link (same link as the previous session).
• In preparation for their course selection, your child will also receive pertinent information about seventh grade course selection, as Mr. Lamont will visit each advisory to discuss details and answer questions about the Middle School, the week of April 19.

Lower School Virtual Math Night, Friday, April 23, 6 p.m.

The Lower School Virtual Math Night will be held on Friday, April 23, 6-7 p.m. via Google Meet and will be hosted by the Lower School faculty and staff! Students in grades JK-6 should prepare themselves for an evening that all learners will enjoy. Students will be participating in various math activities that integrate movement, mathematics, logic, and creativity. Experience the joy that math can bring into our students’ worlds! Please use this link to register for the event, by the evening of Wednesday, April 21. Please note that students in grades JK-4 will need a deck of cards available.

Prior to Math Night, parents and students can enjoy ST Math’s Family Webinar. There are two options for this event — April 20 at 6 p.m. CLICK HERE to register or April 22 at 9 pm CLICK HERE to register.

Join the fun! JK-12 Virtual Parent Trivia Night

Tuesday, April 27, 7:30-9 p.m.

TODAY is the deadline to sign up to participate

Both newly-enrolled and current parents of students in grades JK-12 are invited to a night of fun and community-building! Whether you are a tough competitor who could compete in a Jeopardy championship or you’ve never won a Trivial Pursuit game in your life, all skill levels are welcome! The goal is to have fun and make connections with other Flint Hill families.
Sign up here to participate. The event will be hosted by Trivia Hub and will feature a live host. You have the option to sign up with a team or be randomly assigned to a grade level team. Teams will be in breakout rooms as they huddle up to determine their answers, so the evening will be a combination of time with all participants and small group fun.

And did we mention prizes? In addition to bragging rights, there will also be Flint Hill swag for the winners!

Sign up today! The deadline is TONIGHT at 8 p.m.

School Store Update