Lower School Newsletter - June 1, 2022
Message From Division Director
As we bring the school year to an end, students are experiencing many emotions this week. Although they are excited about Move Up Day on June 1 and Field Day on June 2, another transition is on the horizon. I hope it has been a well-rounded experience for your child filled with teachable moments, laughs, learning, reflections, wonders and love. I hope you find the article below helpful as you continue supporting and guiding them toward the 22.23 school year.
The time has come for our Closing Ceremony and Grade 6 Promotion on Friday, June 3, in the Lower School gym. We ask that students begin to take items home. The only thing your child needs to bring is a smile (no backpacks needed)!
The division will operate a normal carpool with school beginning at 8:10 a.m (there will be no morning bus service). Feel free to park in the Lower School parking lot as we will begin promptly at 8:30 a.m. You are welcome to sit in the bleachers, and there will be signage to direct you on which side your child's grade level will be seated. I will share reflections from Grades JK-6 and then transition to our Grade 6 Promotion. We ask that JK-5 parents remain in the gym for the duration of the Promotion which will end at 9:30 a.m. Each student will receive an individually wrapped “Husky Paw” cookie with the ingredients noted. Students will return to their classrooms to reunite with their parents and officially begin summer vacation (there will be no afternoon carpool or bus service). At 9:50 a.m., teachers will leave campus to retrieve their cars via shuttle at the Middle School before the Upper School ceremony at noon. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Thank you for your partnership, support and love for the Flint Hill School community!
Articles:
Calming End-of-the-Year Stress
Robyn M. Nichols
Interim Director of the Lower School
The Latest
Summer Learning and Summer Reading
Summer Learning and Summer Reading information for all three divisions will be available on June 15 on the Preparing for the 2022-2023 School Year tile in Husky Hub. Summer Reading details the options for meeting our summer requirements. Summer Learning includes recommended resources for enrichment and skill maintenance across all disciplines.
Rising K-6 Transition Coffee Recordings
Field Day
We are so excited about Lower School Field Day, which will be from 8:30 to 10 a.m. for Grades JK-3 and from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. for Grades 4-6 (students should bring their lunch). As your child prepares for the exciting day, please refer to the helpful suggestions:
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All students MUST wear shorts and t-shirts, socks and sneakers (no open toe flip flops, sandals or crocs). Students should not wear tank tops or any similar clothing that does not have fabric on the front, back, sides and under the arms.
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Students can wear a bathing suit under their shirt and shorts if they like.
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Girls can wear a bathing suit under their shorts and t-shirts if they like. There are a lot of water stations.
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Please apply bug spray and sunscreen at home before coming to school. Students can wear a baseball cap if they would like but no sunglasses.
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Finally, remember to send a change of clothes and shoes for after Field Day. Students will be able to change once they are finished.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Chris Brown.
Lower School Closing and Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony – June 3, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
It is hard to believe we are nearing the end of the school year. Despite many emotions that an end can bring, we are excited about the year’s culminating events — with elements of traditional programming reimagined for our divisional alignment.
Please see below for general information about the Lower School Closing Ceremony and Grade 6 Promotion, which takes place on Friday, June 3. Our closing program will showcase reflections on the year before turning our focus to the sixth graders to be promoted to the Middle School.
- Parents and relatives are invited to attend.
- You will notice signage to direct you to the side where your child will be seated.
- Bleachers are reserved for parents.
Dress for JK-5 Huskies:
- School uniform.
Dress Options for Grade 6 Huskies:
- School uniform.
- Collared shirt or blouse with khaki-style dress pants; skirt with a blouse; or sundress with a cardigan.
- Appropriate footwear for the occasion is required. We recommend black or brown shoes with dark socks, tennis shoes, low-heeled shoes or flats. (Please be mindful that each student will need to walk across the stage to receive their certificate and shake Mr. Thomas' hand).
Before the Ceremony/Promotion:
- Grade 6 students are asked to meet Miss Nichols and Ms. Dhar in the Olson Theater by 7:45 a.m.
After the Ceremony/Promotion:
- Grade 6 Huskies will be escorted out of the Activities Building by Assistant Director of Counseling John Magner to the Miller House lawn for families to take pictures. Director of the Middle School Brian Lamont has a family engagement and will not be able to attend.
- Grades JK-5 Huskies will be escorted back to their classrooms by their teachers to gather items and go home with parents immediately following the ceremony.
We are looking forward to celebrating the Lower School Huskies, promoting the Sixth Grade and recognizing you for all of our support. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out anytime.
Lower School Class Placement Process
Our placement process is intentional and centered on the student, like everything else at Flint Hill. The process involves many voices and steps in creating a well-composed class that becomes a tight-knit community the following year. Read more.
Middle School Advisory Placement Process
In the Middle School, we recognize the unique challenges facing students in early adolescence and the importance of developing impactful, trusting relationships and a climate of physical, emotional and intellectual safety. Our Advisory Program fosters a sense of belonging and personal development for each student while building a community within the advisory group. Read more.
Medication Pick Up
Any medication sent to the School Clinic for this school year must be picked up on or before Friday, June 3, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., or Monday, June 6, between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
Emergency medication (EpiPens, inhalers, diabetic supplies) must be picked up by Monday, June 6.
Medications are not stored at the School over the summer.
All medication not picked up by June 6 will be discarded.
Please call the division clinic to schedule a time for you to pick up your child’s medication.
The phone numbers for the clinics are:
Lower School Clinic
703.584.2399
Middle School Clinic
703.584.2397
Upper School Clinic
703.584.2396
MAKING THE LEARNING VISIBLE
To culminate our Making the Learning Visible segment, the Grade 6 Physical Science course ends the year with a culminating mini-unit on rocketry that pulls together many of the concepts students learned throughout the year. Students build rockets out of soda bottles and test for stability in a wind tunnel before launching. Not only did they launch their finished products on Tuesday morning, but they also are preparing to launch to the Middle School in the fall. Go Huskies!!
FRIENDLY REMINDERS
- Use this form to request additional RFID tags for carpool.
- Refer a Husky and the Admission team will reach out to them.
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.
Lower School Field Day
Thursday, June 2, 8:30-11:45 a.m.
Lower School Closing and Sixth Grade Promotion Ceremony
Friday, June 3, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
(no morning bus service or 9:30 am carpool/bus service)
Commencement
Friday, June 10, 10 a.m.
Final Grade Reports Available Online
Wednesday, June 15, 4 p.m.
Summer Programs Begin
Tuesday, June 21
Health Services
Helpful Links
Flint Hill Positive Case and Close Contact Exposure Protocols
COVID-19 Vaccination Status Dashboard
All of these links can be found on the COVID-19 Health Information tile on the Resource Board.
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.
Parents' Association
Spring Cleaning: Drop Off Uniform Donations
It’s the end of the year and time to clean out any old uniforms. Parents can drop off uniform donations to the Miller House front porch each day, between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Our next uniform exchange will be in August before the start of the year.
Volunteer at the Igloo Snack Bar!
We appreciate parent volunteers helping at the Igloo! Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift here.
Thank you, Volunteers!
Thank you to all who participated and volunteered at the Flint Hill Golf Invitational. It was great to see everyone! For me, one of the best things about being a parent at Flint Hill is the opportunity to volunteer. Being able to see the school firsthand is so special, and being able to meet fellow parents and develop friendships is important. Read more.
NEWS ON THE HILL
