Lower School Newsletter - August 18, 2021

Preparing for the 2021-2022 School Year

Are you ready for the new school year? Get a head start with the checklists we’ve created for each division to help you and your students get ready for another great year!

You may access these checklists by clicking on the Preparing for the 2021-2022 School Year tile on the Resource Board of Husky Hub.

To access the Resource Board, visit www.flinthill.org/app, and log in with your username and password. Once logged in, click Resources on the top navigation bar, and then click on the Preparing for the 2021-2022 School Year tile. The tile will remain accessible through the start of the new school year.

If you haven’t already, please bookmark www.flinthill.org/app for quick, direct access to Husky Hub.

 

Fall Uniform Exchange

Thank you to all our families who donated to the Uniform Exchange. We are no longer accepting donations, but will make you aware when the next donation opportunity is available.

• Volunteering
  Monday, August 23
  Looking to volunteer?
  Additional volunteers are needed Tuesday, August 24; Wednesday, August 25; and Thursday, August 26. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents while helping to set up and organize donations for the event. Click here to volunteer.
• Shopping
  Tuesday, August 24 - Thursday, August 26
  Plan to “shop” the exchange at your convenience — Tuesday, August 24; Wednesday, August 25; and Thursday, August 26, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Enter the Lower School main entrance, and you will be directed to the Commons. There will be volunteers available to help you shop. If you find that an item you have taken home does not fit your child, please feel free to bring it back, and we’ll happily put it back in the exchange and help you find something that fits.
  Flint Hill polos, P.E. uniforms, athletic practice clothing and spirit wear, will be available for JK-8 families. Item availability is based on donations and will be first-come, first-served.

 

AfterCare

We are excited to welcome students registered for unlimited AfterCare and those registered for specific days beginning on the first day of classes. Please note, we are not offering AfterCare on a drop-in basis, unless there is a true emergency, until Monday, October 4. This will allow our new AfterCare staff to smoothly transition to the new school year. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Odell or Matt McCoart.

 

Class Placements for the 2021-2022 School Year

Specific class assignments are now available in Husky Hub. We have a very thorough and thoughtful process for class placements for our students. Many factors are considered, including the child’s academic, emotional and social needs, the student’s learning style and the different teachers’ teaching styles. Every effort is made to ensure that each student is in a learning environment in which he or she can flourish.

To access your child’s class placement, log in to the Husky Hub, click “Children” and select your child’s name. From the “Progress” page, scroll down to view your child’s classes and teachers.

If you have any questions, please contact Assistant to the Director and the Assistant Director of the Lower School Donna Holaday at 703.584.2360.

 

Textbooks and Supplies

Please refer to the Preparing for the School Year tile to purchase textbooks and resources through our Virtual Book Store. If you have any questions, please contact our Director of Studies Emily Sanderson.

 

Dress Guidelines

Please be sure to consult the Dress Guidelines, on the Resource Board, for information about uniforms. Please note that students may bring a hat/cap of any style or color to school, which may be worn outside for sun protection.

 

Lower School Parent-Teacher Virtual “Hopes and Dreams” Conferences

At the beginning of each school year, using the Responsive Classroom and Developmental Designs approaches, homeroom teachers and advisors build their classroom communities with intention and care, so that each child feels safe, respected, and that they belong. To gain a better understanding of each child and facilitate a strong partnership with parents for the school year ahead, homeroom teachers will host a 20-minute Virtual Hopes and Dreams Conference for parents on Monday, August 30, and Tuesday, August 31. These conferences give parents the opportunity to share their hopes, dreams and goals for their child for the new year. Parents are also encouraged to share any other information that would be helpful for the teacher to know about their child.

Parents can sign up for the virtual conferences, using our online scheduling system, beginning Monday, August 16. If you have any questions or need help with the online scheduling system, please contact Donna Holaday at 703.584.2360.

 

Lower School New Parent Orientation

To help new parents, as we prepare for the school year, Assistant Director of the Lower School Megan Dhar and Director of the Lower School Robyn Nichols will be hosting a virtual meeting on Thursday, August 31, at 9 a.m. Returning parents are also welcome to attend. The link to the Google Meet is available under Upcoming Events.

 

Making Our Dismissal More Efficient and Safer with SchoolPass

We have invested in an innovative, user-friendly system called SchoolPass to help manage school attendance, car pool and dismissal more efficiently and in real-time. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming days.