Lower School Newsletter - May 18, 2022
Message From Division Director
The Rising Grades K-6 Transition Coffees are a snapshot into the window of your child’s upcoming school year. I understand how challenging it was for many of you to attend, so please refer to these recordings to view at your leisure: Rising Grades K-3 and Rising Grades 4-6. As always, reach out anytime if you have additional questions.
On Thursday, May 19, at 8:45 a.m., the Lower School will host our final Parent Coffee. To ensure that you are able to be part of the conversation, we host the Open Forum virtually 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 look 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:
Video: What Is Compassion?
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
Rising K-6 Transition Coffee Recordings
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.
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 Sixth Grade 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
This event is currently postponed until the fall. Please email Miles Henderson if you have any questions.
Grandparents and Special Friends Day Photos
We were so thrilled to welcome grandparents and special friends back to campus on May 6! The halls were filled with happy sounds as guests explored the building with their students and got a glimpse into the classroom experience. Enjoy these photos from the day. Photos have also been emailed to grandparents and special friends who attended.
MAKING THE LEARNING VISIBLE
Exciting Lower School Field Trips
Our Huskies have been embarking on field trips over the last few weeks. The fourth graders recently took a field trip to Difficult Run Stream to observe and look closely at the water quality, storm runoff and erosion. Students took samples to study over time and with variables.
Last Friday, the fifth graders traveled to the Upper School for the Upper School Art Show, where they had student docents take them on a guided tour. On Tuesday, they embarked on a beekeeper’s adventure, visiting a local beehive and deepening their understanding, from their recent studies in class, of bees and the pollination process. Students asked questions and experienced the work of a beekeeper firsthand.
On Wednesday morning, the Kindergarteners journeyed to Nottoway Park to take their scientific observational skills on the road and explore the natural environment while enjoying their snack as an outdoor picnic.
Third grade continues their endeavors with Mr. Atwood and visit his Upper School Lab to see his birds and snake and learn more about his studies as an ornithologist and naturalist.
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.
Virtual Open Forum Parent Coffee
Thursday, May 19, 8:45 a.m.
Grades 5-6 Play
Thursday, May 19, 4:30 p.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Community of Care: The Flint Hill Mission
Postponed until fall 2022.
Grades 5-8 Spring Orchestra Concert — rescheduled from May 3
Tuesday, May 24, 4:30 p.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Grades JK-1 Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 25, 8:30 a.m.
Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Grades 2-3 Spring Concert
Wednesday, May 25, 10 a.m.
Olson Theater – Lower School Campus
Grade 4 Spring Concert
Friday, May 27, 8:30 a.m.
Olson Theater – Lower School Campus
Memorial Day — Flint Hill Offices Closed
Monday, May 30
Parents’ Association Volunteer Appreciation Social
Wednesday, June 1, 8:15-9:15 a.m., John M. Thomas Terrace, Peterson Middle School
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
Parent Volunteers: You’re Invited!
We want to recognize and thank you for your service to our School community. Join us on June 1, 8:15-9:15 a.m., for a breakfast reception on the John M. Thomas Terrace. Invitations were emailed, but you can also RSVP by emailing Olivia Landrum. We hope to see you there!
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers are needed to help us create a fun day of community building at the Golf Invitational on May 26. There are many opportunities to help before and during the tournament, and volunteers get to be part of all the action. No golf experience required! Sign up to volunteer. Volunteers are invited to come before their shift for lunch or stay afterward for dinner.
Want to play? A few spots have opened up for the tournament, and we are looking for an Upper School, Middle School and Lower School parent to fill a few open spaces. Come out for some friendly golf and make some new connections! There is still space available in the Skills Clinic. Contact Tiffany Parry or visit flinthill.org/golf to register.
The deadline to register for both the Tournament and Skills Clinic is Friday, May 20.
Volunteer at the Igloo Snack Bar!
We appreciate parent volunteers helping at the Igloo! Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift here.
Full Circle
Now a Flint Hill alum, Matthew McClements ’18 was the first Flint Hill Upper School student I really got to know. I can’t remember exactly when, but about eight years ago, I met his father, Mike McClements P’18, ’26 on a volunteer committee. Fast forward to present day, I now consider all the McClements part of my family. 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
