Lower School Newsletter - January 4, 2023

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Message From Division Director

I hope that your family had a wonderful Winter Break!

If I had to pick a time during the school year that I enjoyed the most as a child, it was Winter Break. Although I enjoyed school, spending time with my relatives was the best. However, I did not enjoy resuming the scheduled bedtimes and other structures that my parents put into place. They were spot on for implementing the expectations, and, admittedly to this day, I still apply the routines to recalibrate so I can be refreshed and alert for work.

As we enter the second half of the school year, it continues to be our goal at the Lower School to be intentional and to position our Huskies for success. Below are a few tips to help your child transition back to school. Although some of the tips are applied prior to returning to school, you may find some benefit of continuing to apply them over the next few weeks:

Model the behavior you want your child to do.
Talk about going back to school and how it has been since returning to school.
Ease back into routines.
A good night’s sleep is critical.
Monitor your child’s stress level.
Schedule reading time.
Reduce screen time.

It may also be helpful to reach out to your child’s homeroom teacher to better understand how the reacclimation to school is going. Partnership is key to ensure a great working relationship and school year.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

In partnership,

Robyn M. Nichols
Interim Director of the Lower School

Announcements

Winter Clubs: Last Call!

Today is the last day to register for Winter Clubs! Space is available in the following clubs:

Lower School Classics Club: Heroes and Monsters (Grades K-6)
Ukulele Club Levels I & II (Grades 2-4)
Comic Book Club: )Grades 4-6)
Newspaper Club (Grades 4-6)
Dance Club (Grades 1-3)
Mixed Media Exploration (Grades 4-6)

For questions, please contact Matt McCoart.

Financial Aid Application Deadline — January 9

The financial aid application deadline for the 2023-2024 school year is Monday, January 9. Current families can expect their financial aid notifications on February 1. New student financial aid notifications will go out on March 3. Please email admission@flinthill.org or call 703.584.2314 with questions.

Kaleidoscope Book Club Meeting — January 9

The Kaleidoscope Parent Book Club will meet again on Monday, January 9 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Peterson Middle School to discuss “Tornado Brain” by Cat Patrick. Our monthly meetings allow us to share, connect and learn from different perspectives and experiences. We look forward to building and deepening relationships through this shared learning opportunity. Please contact Miles Henderson, All School Equity and Inclusion Coordinator, to join our email list.

Head of School Coffee: Budget — Thursday, January 12

Current families are invited to join Head of School Patrick McHonett and Associate Head of School for Finance & Operations Anne Peterson for our annual budget coffee on Thursday, January 12, at 8:15 a.m. in the Upper School multipurpose room.

Flint Hill Magazine – Fall/Winter Issue Online

We hope you enjoyed reading the Fall/Winter issue of Flint Hill Magazine sent by mail over the break. You can now view the issue online. Prefer receiving Flint Hill Magazine electronically only and not by mail? Complete this short form to confirm paperless only delivery for future issues.

Upcoming Events

Financial Aid Application Deadline
Monday, January 9

Kaleidoscope Book Club Meeting
Monday, January 9
Peterson Middle School, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Head of School Coffee: Budget
Thursday, January 12
Upper School Multipurpose Room, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.

End of First Semester
Friday, January 13

Martin Luther King Day
Grades JK-12 No Classes, Administrative Offices Closed
Monday, January 16

Parent Meetup: Women Giving Back
Thursday, January 19
Sign up to participate!

Parents’ Association

Winter Concessions — Volunteers Needed

Many volunteers are needed to sell concessions during the day, after school and during basketball games. It’s a great way to meet other parents and get a special glimpse into the Flint Hill experience. Check out the schedule and sign up for as many shifts as you'd like. Feel free to invite a friend to sign up with you too!

Next Parent Meetup: Women Giving Back — Thursday, January 19

Parent Meetups — for JK-12 parents — are small off-campus events focused on a shared activity or interest. The next Parent Meetup will focus on making a difference at Women Giving Back, an organization that supports women and children in crisis by providing quality clothing at no cost. On Thursday, January 19, join other FH parents to help sort donations at the Sterling warehouse. Sign up to participate! Questions? Contact Olivia Landrum ‘11 in the Advancement Office.

Parents Council of Washington — Mental Health Panel
Wednesday, January 25, 7:00 - 8:30 pm, The Field School

Are you wondering how to talk with your child/student about worries in a helpful and reassuring way?
Do you know what resources your school can provide to support the mental health of your child/student?
How can you tell if therapy is "working" and how do you find a right-fit therapist?

Flint Hill is a member of the Parents Council of Washington (PCW), a nonprofit organization that hosts programming for member schools throughout the school year. On Wednesday, January 25, FH parents are invited to attend a PCW event where a panel of expert psychologists and counselors will share first-hand observations and insights and explore the value of school-based student support systems as well as ways that parents/guardians can partner with schools to enhance a culture of wellness. Learn about the difference between anxiety and stress, social exclusion versus bullying, and the skills that need to be developed from interrupted schooling during the pandemic.

The panel includes: Lower and Middle School Counselor Adam Diaz from Landon School; School Psychologist and Upper School Counselor Dr. Holly Hinderlie from Holton-Arms School; and Upper School Counselor and Director of Student Support Josie Woods from The Potomac School. Dr. Heather Tedesco, psychologist, will be the moderator, and an audience Q&A will follow the panel discussion.

Register to attend this event, which will be held in person on January 25, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m., at the Field School, 2301 Foxhall Road NW, Washington, DC 20007.