Lower School Newsletter - May 11, 2022
Message From Division Director
Starting on May 2, the Lower School Remote Learning Plan will focus on math, reading, science and social studies. Specialist classes will no longer have asynchronous assignments posted in Seesaw (JK-4)/Google Classroom (5/6) for remote learners to complete. The decision was based on what is developmentally appropriate for our students when they cannot produce their personal best while recuperating at home. Again, our specialist teachers will provide additional time to make up missing work.
The Grades 4-6 Transition Coffee on Wednesday, May 4, provided pertinent information regarding your child’s rising grade and areas of focus to prevent the “summer slide.” The independent skills mentioned during the presentations were designed for your child to be an active participant in grocery shopping, vacation planning, and offering solutions when plans must suddenly change. Please lookout for an email as I will send a recording of the presentation by the end of the week. The Grades K-3 Transition Coffee will take place on Monday, May 16, 9-10 a.m. We hope that you are able to attend to learn more about your child’s rising grade!
It was a pleasure to connect with Lower School Grandparents and Special Friends on Friday, May 6. The morning was filled with excitement in the hallways and classrooms as our Huskies had time to create wonderful memories with their guests. They participated in scavenger hunts, tours, selfies, and even viewed Lower School Morning Meeting to hear “Friday Fun Facts” about other grandparents. The laughter, happy tears, and love were evident.
On May 19, the Lower School will host our final Parent Coffee. The format will be an open forum to allow you to reflect on your child’s school year using the following questions: What went well? What are you wondering about? Are there items to consider in planning for next year? Director of Studies Emily Sanderson, Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion and Interim Director of Counseling Mia Burton, Interim Assistant Director of the Lower School Megan Dhar and I are looking forward to meeting with you.
Articles:
Calming End-of-the-Year Stress
How to Raise a Good Problem-Solver
How to Talk to Kids About Honesty
Videos:
Story Time: Respect and Responsibility
"What if I do this, what could happen?" — Thinking ahead can help kids avoid all sorts of trouble. This friendly Mulberry tree offers kids a helpful technique to remember to think BEFORE they act in a way that could hurt themselves or someone else.
Robyn M. Nichols
Interim Director of the Lower School
The Latest
Closing Meeting with Robyn
If you would like to schedule a meeting with Robyn Nichols, interim director of the Lower School, to discuss your child’s year and to ask about placement questions, please reach out to Donna Holaday.
Parent Volunteers for Field Day
As we race to the end of the school year, we are delighted to announce that we are looking for parent volunteers to assist our PE department at our end-of-year Field Day. It is on June 2 and will run from 8:30 a.m to 11:45 a.m.
If you are interested, please reach out to P.E. Department Chair Chris Brown at cbrown@flinthill.org. He will be able to assist you, and I know he will be thrilled to have you as volunteers.
Field Day is a special end of the year event, and it is always incredible to have the parents be on campus to assist that day.
Upcoming Local Field Trips
Lower School Closing Ceremony/Sixth Grade Promotion – 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 take place on Friday, June 3. We will provide final details about logistics (parking, arrival time, refreshments, etc.) closer to the event.
- 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.
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 (no spaghetti straps, please).
- 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).
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 pictures. Director of the Middle School Brian Lamont has a family engagement and will not be able to attend.
- 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.
Fifth and Sixth Grade Play Practice
The fifth and sixth graders are rehearsing for the Fifth and Sixth Grade Play. Also, note that some students will rehearse on Mondays and Wednesdays only, and others rehearse on Tuesdays and Thursdays only. These rehearsals will continue until the performance on May 19. If you have additional questions, please reach out to Director of Fine Arts James Venhaus.
The Community of Care
The Community of Care is an event designed for our community to engage in dialogue, create connections and build community. This year’s community conversation will focus on the Flint Hill Core Values. We invite you to join us as we connect across constituencies and build a more inclusive community, one conversation at a time. Our discussion will also inform our upcoming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programming.
This year’s event is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m.-noon in the Peterson Middle School. We invite students in Grades 7-12, alumni, parents, faculty, staff and leadership to join us for this important community event. Please save the date. Registration details will be provided in the upcoming weeks.
MAKING THE LEARNING VISIBLE
Connecting with the Natural World
Third grade students joined Mr. Atwood at the Upper School campus to explore the woods behind the athletic fields. They learned how acorns sprout baby Oak seedlings and noticed migrating birds and dissected an insect egg. Students even identified a hawk soaring, above, and tadpoles in the bog.
Kindergarten students continue to study living and non-living things. They recently planted marigold seeds and have been making regular observations of their growth and wondering about what they want to explore more deeply.
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.
Grades 5 and 6 Play Practice
Mondays/Tuesdays (Group 1) and Wednesdays/Thursdays (Group 2)
Grades 5-8 Spring Choral Concert
Thursday, May 12, 7-8:30 p.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Classroom Visits 2.0
Friday, May 13 (Grades JK-3), 8:15-8:45 a.m. (new date)
JK Family Picnic Sponsored by the Parents’ Association
Saturday, May 14, 5-7 p.m.
Rising Grades K-3 Transition Coffee
Monday, May 16, 9-10 a.m. (new date)
Two-Hour Delayed Opening, Faculty/Staff In-Service
Tuesday, May 17
Grades 5-6 Play
Thursday, May 19, 4:30 p.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m.
Tuesday, May 24, 4:30 p.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Wednesday, May 25, 8:30 a.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Wednesday, May 25, 10 a.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Friday, May 27, 8:30 a.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Monday, May 30
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
Volunteer at the Igloo Snack Bar!
In order to keep the Igloo open, parent volunteers are critical. Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift here.
Don’t Miss Your Chance To Join Us on the Links!
The Golf Invitational and Skills Clinic is right around the corner. Registration is filling up with very limited spots available for the tournament. Contact Tiffany Parry to sign up as an individual or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities.
There’s still space available in the Skills Clinic sponsored by AutoScandia, so grab a friend and sign up together to learn from the pros. All abilities are welcome, so grab your spot here!
Interested in volunteering? Sign up here.
New Excitement
Last Wednesday, we hosted more than 100 new families at the New Parent Information Night in the Peterson Middle School. These families have been accepted and have made their decision to come to Flint Hill. It was a fantastic evening to meet other new families and begin to get acquainted with all things Flint Hill. Read more.
School Store
New Youth Husky Logo Tee
Get ready for summer in this new dry-fit tee, designed just for our youngest huskies! Available in three bright summer shades, these t-shirts are lightweight, roomy, highly breathable and moisture-wicking.
How Do I Make an Exchange or Return?
Please email schoolstore@flinthill.org 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
