Lower School Newsletter - December 16, 2020

NEW AND UPDATED INFORMATION

 

Save the Date — Lower School Division Coffee, Thursday, January 21, 9 a.m.

The upcoming Lower School Coffee on Thursday, January 21, will focus on our divisional goal of utilizing best practices to build inclusive and equitable classroom communities. Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion Mia Burton will join us, as we examine how these practices cultivate empathy and awareness while allowing students to feel unique yet part of a group. We will also highlight how our ongoing JEDI (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) professional development enriches student engagement, inquiry, and reflection. We look forward to seeing you in the new year.

 

Creativity Corner

As winter approaches, our Department Chair for Innovation Joey Starnes will have weekly suggestions for fun and creative activities for families to try at home.

Exploding Boomerang with Craft Sticks

With just four craft sticks, you can make a fun “boomerang” to toss at a target. The boomerang will not actually return to you — it just has the same shape as a boomerang. You may use any size or color craft sticks.

Here’s how to put it together. Start off by holding one of the craft sticks in your left hand and then placing a second craft stick at a 45-55 degree angle. Your third craft stick will line up with the opposite edge of the first craft stick and should land to the halfway point of the second stick. Use your last craft stick, and place it underneath the first craft stick halfway between the two ends, then tuck it underneath the second stick to make a star shape.

You can watch this video to see an example!

Rainbow in a Jar

All you need for this amazing example of science is a mason jar, water, oil, and food coloring!

Here are the steps to make this fun project. Fill your jar 3/4 of the way full with warm water. In a separate bowl, mix 3/4 tablespoons of oil and several drops of different colors of food coloring. Use a fork to gently mix the oil and food coloring together. Pour the oil mixture into the jar. Then watch what happens — the food coloring will slowly sink out of the oil and into the water. When this happens, it will expand and begin to mix with the other colors.

To see images of these steps, check out these instructions.

The Tallest Structure

This activity takes us back to craft sticks. The only additional material is plastic or paper cups. Using just craft sticks and cups, how tall can you build a tower? Think of ways to use the two materials to make a sturdy, tall tower.

Here is one example:

Visit this site for more fun and easy engineering challenges!

 

Articles

5 Questions to Ask Before You Get Your Kid a Phone

Indoor Activity Ideas (and One Outdoor!) for This Winter

 

 

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM THE LAST NEWSLETTER

 

The Giving Tree

Although we continue to be limited in holding our usual collections for non-profit organizations in our area, there are ways our Flint Hill families can help at this time. Please consider independently donating goods to these community partners (lists of needed items are provided in the links): Women Giving Back, Cornerstones Winter Coat Drive, and/or Friends of Homeless Animals Donation Wishlist.  Please note that these organizations have multiple locations for drop off, as well as specific times for donation, due to pandemic limitations. These organizations need our support now more than ever!  Please follow all CDC guidelines for safety when donating. Questions? Please contact All-School Community Service Coordinator Linda Okoth, lokoth@flinthill.org.

 

Holiday Dress on Friday, December 18

As we prepare for the winter break and holidays, students may wear free dress with a holiday theme on Friday, December 18.

 

Financial Aid Deadline Approaching

The financial aid application deadline is Monday, January 11, for families planning to apply for financial aid for the 2021-22 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 11 will receive a notification of their financial aid award on Thursday, January 28, when re-enrollment contracts are issued to current families.

 

Discussion Sponsored by The Parents Council of Washington

The Parents Council of Washington (PCW) invites you to attend Talking to Kids About Racism on Thursday, January 14, at 7 p.m. Panelists from three PCW member schools will discuss productive ways to talk about racism, with kids of all ages, addressing both conversations between parents and their kids and conversations between schools and their students. The panelist presentations will be followed by a question and answer period with the audience.

All PCW member school parents, administrators, faculty, and staff are invited. Please use this link to register.

 

The third meeting of the virtual Kaleidoscope Book Club is scheduled for Monday, February 1, 9-9:45 a.m. We will discuss “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. We look forward to building and deepening relationships through this shared learning opportunity. All parents are welcome to attend regardless of your familiarity with the book selection. Please submit your name and email address, in this form, to RSVP for the meeting and/or be added to our email list. Please contact All-School Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Miles Henderson if you have any questions.

 

Flint Hill's Inclement Weather Policy

Flint Hill’s Inclement Weather Policy provides details on how we make decisions and notify the community about delays and school closures.

 

School Store Winter Preview

Holiday shopping made easy! Click here to view the School Store Winter Preview.

To receive your items in time for the holidays, please place your order no later than noon on Thursday, December 17. 

Returns and Exchanges

• • Please contact Adrienne Robinson within 30 days of your original purchase.
  • 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.