Lower School Newsletter - December 8, 2021
Message From Division Director
When I was in sixth grade, my friends and I passed notes throughout the school day. I also remember counting the minutes until the end of the period so my friend could pass back a note from earlier in the day as we transitioned to the next class. Well, passing notes are a thing of the past, or as one of the students shared with me last week, “Miss Nichols, that’s what old people used to do.” Now, text messaging and group chats are the primary forms of communication among students as young as fourth grade. As we acknowledge the times in which we live, it is just as helpful for you to know how to best support and guide your child regarding social media. Please take some time to refer to Common Sense Media as you will be able to explore questions about Facebook, Instagram (a.k.a “The Gram”), and other platforms based on age. Also, here is another great article about how you can help your child keep social media use safe and productive. Lastly, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our Lower School Counselor, Emily Sorbi, or me anytime.
Do you or someone in your family have a career, passion or story you would like to bring to our Lower School Huskies? The Brown Bag Lunch Program is a long-standing tradition in the Lower School that enriches our students’ learning and exploration. Parents, alums, faculty and current Upper School students have hosted presentations to share about their career, passion or personal story. Historically, students signed up for sessions of high interest to them, and the lunch presentations were limited to space availability for an in-person presentation. As we operate under the current COVID guidelines, we look forward to opening these sessions virtually for as many students who would like to participate on a voluntary basis. If you would be interested in sharing with our Lower School Huskies and leading a virtual presentation, please email Interim Assistant Director of the Lower School Megan Dhar.
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.
The Giving Tree Event Begins December 13!
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.
Nominations for Driving Spirit Award Are Open!
Do you know a faculty or staff who has demonstrated the Driving Spirit qualities and who helps make our school special? Please take a moment to nominate them for the Driving Spirit Award by December 31, 2021. Read more about the award and how to submit your nomination.
Teacher Appreciation Surprise: What’s Your Word?
Please use this form to share one word describing Flint Hill teachers. Responses will be used for a special project that we look forward to sharing with you in 2022!
Kaleidoscope Parent Book Club Meeting
Join us on December 13, 8:30-9:30 a.m., for a discussion of the book "Somebody's Daughter" by Ashley Ford, led by Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion Mia Burton. The meeting will be held in the Peterson Middle School. Please email Miles Henderson for more information and to RSVP.
Refer-a-Husky Today
Nearly every family who enrolls at Flint Hill was either referred by or talked with a current family during the admission process. Your perspective is critically important. You are in the best position to identify potential Huskies who are a great fit for our school.
Refer a Husky and the Admission team will reach out to invite them to learn more about Flint Hill.
Making the Learning Visible
Second Graders Love Science
Second graders continue their study of materials and their uses in Science with an experiment focused on investigating insulators. During their time in the lab, students tested foil, sock mittens and styrofoam cup mittens over bottles of water. They took photos of their observations with their iPads and used Seesaw to document what they noticed. Students were encouraged to describe the properties of each of these materials and test their hypothesis to determine which one would provide the most insulation.
PARENT TO-DO's
Teacher Appreciation Surprise: What’s Your Word?
Please use this form to share one word describing Flint Hill teachers. Responses will be used for a special project that we look forward to sharing with you in 2022!
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
Lower School Information Session
Saturday, December 11, 8:30-10 a.m.
The Giving Tree Event
Monday, December 13 - Friday, December, 17
Kaleidoscope Parent Book Club Meeting
December 13, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Grades JK-4 Music Concert (live stream)
Wednesday, December 15, 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Grade 6 Music Concert (live stream)
Wednesday, December 15, 2 p.m.
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
We Are The Huskies!
Recently I have been contacted by quite a few Husky parents that joined our pack over the past couple of years. Covid has made it harder to connect and I am slowly catching up. My feelings about Flint Hill families have been re-affirmed, our school attracts the best people! Read More.
School Store
Holiday Shopping
The holiday season is upon us. To ensure you or your loved ones receive Flint Hill spirit wear before winter break, please place your orders by Wednesday, December 15.
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.
