THE FLINT HILL NEWSLETTER WILL RETURN:
JANUARY 5, 2022
Lower School Newsletter - December 15, 2021
Message From Division Director
During Tuesday’s Lower School Morning Meeting, a fourth grade class shared about their personal winter traditions. As each student provided details to bring their tradition to life, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many Lower School events that we had to press pause on due to COVID. Although the roadblocks strengthened our resilience, I couldn’t be more excited about the wonderful changes coming in 2022! Due to our high vaccination rate, we are preparing to adjust our procedures and protocols on Tuesday, January 18, the start of the second semester. Please refer to the COVID tile in Husky Hub for specific details.
Although this Friday is Husky Pride, I shared with students that they have a few more attire options to celebrate before we leave for winter break:
- Free Dress (I asked students to consider outside temperatures since they will be outside for break and recess.)
- Funny Sweater or Sweatshirt
- Holiday Dress
- School Uniform
To notice their “smizes (smiling under their masks)” after the announcement made my week! Finally, whether you are remaining in the area or traveling during the holiday season, please have a wonderful time with your family and friends. I can finally say with confidence that I WILL see each of you in 2022!
With the fluctuation in temperatures, students are frequently misplacing jackets, sweatshirts and accessories. The Lower School office has compiled Lost and Found slides that will be regularly updated. If your child has lost an item, and you notice it on the slides, please inform their teacher or email Megan Dhar so that it may be returned to them. Your student may also make a visit to the rack of items, which is in Room 309A.
Robyn M. Nichols
Interim Director of the Lower School
The Latest
How to Back Up Your Child’s School Device
Over Winter Break, please back up and update your child's school device.
Here's how to back up your child's device using iCloud:
- Go to Settings > [your child's name] > iCloud > iCloud Backup.
- Turn on iCloud Backup if not already on. iCloud automatically backs up your iPad daily when it is connected to power, locked, and connected to Wi-Fi.
- To perform a manual backup, tap Back Up Now.
Here's how to turn on automatic updates on your child's device:
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update.
- Tap Automatic Updates, then turn on Download iOS Updates.
- Turn on Install iOS Updates. Your device will automatically update to the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Some updates might need to be installed manually.
Financial Aid Deadline Approaching
The financial aid application deadline is Monday, January 10, for families planning to apply for financial aid for the 2022-23 school year. Flint Hill’s financial aid application is available on the Financial Aid for Student Tuition (FAST) website. Families who complete the application process by January 10 will receive a notification of their financial aid award on Thursday, January 27, when re-enrollment contracts are issued to current families.
Annual Fund — #GivingTuesday and December Giving Days
Thank you to the many parents, alumni, faculty, staff, grandparents, alumni parents and friends of our school who supported this year’s Flint Hill Annual Fund during our December Giving Days, which kicked off on #GivingTuesday! This year, 105 donors committed more than $75,000 to the Annual Fund through these efforts. Your gifts bring learning to life for our students every day.
You’ve still got time to be part of the journey of discovery for every student at Flint Hill this year. Make your gift online, learn more about the Annual Fund or call Director of the Annual Fund Christine Kitzmiller, at 703.584.2349, to make a pledge or ask questions about The Flint Hill Annual Fund.
Thank you for your support!
The Giving Tree Event Continues This Week
We will celebrate the Giving Tree event December 13-17. We will be collecting coats in each division for the Cornerstones Coat Drive, as part of their north county hypothermia prevention program and their maxim that “no one should go without a coat.”
As part of this season of giving, we encourage families to look for opportunities to serve those in particular need in our community. We are sharing some service opportunities and donation requests for Flint Hill families to consider over the break. These include:
- Women Giving Back (WGB)—clean out your closets and help our community by donating freshly laundered women’s and children’s clothing and accessories in excellent, used and ready-to-wear condition. This organization specifically helps women and children in crisis by distributing clothing at no cost. WGB also has a holiday toy drive; for details about this, volunteering and donating, visit their website.
- Friends of Homeless Animals (FOHA)—collect much-needed supplies, volunteer, adopt, and/or attend an event to support this no-kill haven for homeless cats and dogs in Loudoun County. You can also shop or donate to the Treasure Hound Resale Shop located in Chantilly, VA, which supports FOHA.
- Bringing Resources and Aid to Women in Shelters (BRAWS)—purchase/donate in person or online women's sanitary supplies and undergarments to BRAWS, which provides menstrual supplies and undergarments to women and children in crisis who do not have access to these basic needs.
- The Lamb Center—sign up to prepare a meal for this religiously affiliated day shelter in Fairfax.
Please send photos to FHService@flinthill.org of your family adventure in community service!
Dressing for Cold Weather
In cold weather, a hat, gloves and a winter-weight coat are required attire to go outside. Barring a medical condition, all children will participate in outdoor recesses. If wind chill conditions cause temperatures to feel 20 degrees or less, students will remain inside for recess. Children who do not have the required outerwear will not be allowed to go outside. It would be appreciated if parents could ensure that their child/children have the appropriate clothing for break and recess.
Gifts to Faculty and Staff
As we approach the Winter Break, I wanted to remind you of the School’s recommendations concerning gifts to faculty and staff. Flint Hill encourages simplicity in the giving of gifts. The School discourages the collection of money from parents to provide teachers or coaches with gifts. Please note that holiday gift-giving is not an expectation, and individual families should decide what is best for them, keeping in mind that a sincere, heartfelt “thank you” often carries the greatest meaning.
FRIENDly REMINDERS
- The Giving Tree (coat drive) continues through this Friday, December 17.
- Nominations for the Driving Spirit Award are due by December 31
- Teacher Appreciation: share one word describing FH teachers
- Refer a Husky and the Admission team will reach out to them.
Making the Learning Visible
Fourth Grade Problem Solvers and Collaborators
In addition to our two Innovation Labs, fourth graders are fortunate enough to have a room exclusively for Innovation-related projects across from their classrooms this year.
Fourth graders have put their community-building skills from homeroom into practice, during Innovation, using thoughtful communication, collaboration, and cooperation to brainstorm, design, and create a solution to a problem each group was given using a variety of materials.
Our Huskies In Computer Science Class
In Kindergarten Computer Science, students have been learning to program a “Bee-Bot” robot. Using directional command cards, students are identifying right, left, backward, and forwards, and programming the bot to travel with multi-step directions to reach different letter landmarks on their coding quilt.
Upcoming Events
To help protect the integrity and privacy of virtual events, we have placed all the links to Google Meet virtual events in Husky Hub via the All-School Calendar.
Husky Pride Dress Day
Every Friday!
The Giving Tree Event
Monday, December 13-Friday, December, 17
Grade 5 Music Concert (live stream)
Thursday, December 16, 2 p.m.
Winter Break
December 20-December 31
JK-12 Classes Resume
Monday, January 3
Health Services
Reminder: Keep Everyone Healthy by Staying Home if Sick
If your student has fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea you should keep them home to recover. They must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to school.
The COVID-19 Health Information tile on the Resource Board has this year’s protocols and procedures.
The COVID-19 Case Dashboard has been updated.
Parents' Association
Opportunity: Host a Grade Level Parent Dinner!
The Parents’ Association is looking forward to hosting grade level parent dinners at people’s homes. Contact Sibel Unsal necatismom@gmail.com if you are interested in hosting!
My Favorite Holiday Tradition
For someone who does not “officially” celebrate Christmas, I’m its biggest fan! The lights, the presents, the cookies, midnight mass, matching pajamas — I am all in!
My most favorite tradition by far are all the holiday cards. Read more.
Parent Tracks
School Store
Holiday Shopping
The holiday season is upon us. To ensure that you or your loved ones receive Flint Hill spirit wear before winter break, please place your orders no later than noon on Thursday, December 16.
The School Store uses priority shipping, but please allow a week for local packages to be delivered and up to two weeks for packages mailed outside the DMV area.
Hoodies and Outerwear
We have a great selection of hoodies and outerwear for youth and adults. Click the links below to view our inventory.
How Do I Make an Exchange or Return?
Please email Adrienne Robinson within 30 days of your original purchase. Include your order number, the item(s) that didn’t work, and if you would like to return your items or exchange them. Exchanges may be made for the same item in a different size or for an item of equal value. We are happy to issue a refund for items that did not work for you.
NEWS ON THE HILL
