Lower School Newsletter - February 17, 2021

NEW AND UPDATED INFORMATION

Making the Learning Visible

In the Lower School, our teachers provide a learning environment where students are actively involved and encouraged to inquire, and the activities are interactive, hands-on and student-centered. Teachers also provide authentic learning opportunities that are relevant to the child’s life experiences. Choice is a great motivator for our students, and very frequently, the inquiry that ensues is based on the students’ interests and passions as a class. Below are some examples of the learning in 3C and fourth grade.

During their Language Arts unit on nonfiction and expository writing, students in 3C decided to create a class newspaper, The Husky Post. The project was student-led, and every student contributed an article on a topic of their selection. Students designed the layout of the paper and completed most of the editing. Students even determined how to add one of their classmates who was a virtual learner into their class picture, on the front page, using a green screen.

Friday was a special day for our fourth graders who celebrated their caring communities not only with the exchanging of thoughtful, creative and heartfelt valentines made at school, earlier in the week, but with a Valentine's Day Carnival as well. In the spirit of Caine's Arcade and the Global Day of Play, the fourth grade spent their day thinking like engineers — imagining, planning, designing, building, testing, improving, and then of course ... playing! They began by considering the questions "What kinds of things do you see and do at a carnival?" and "What might you like to build?" Then they used trash, recyclables and material scraps to bring their ideas to life.    

Flint Hill Virtual Drama Club Rehearsal and Performance Information

Calling all actors! The 5th and 6th Grade Virtual Drama Club will meet every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday after school, 4-5:30 p.m., and will begin Friday, February 19, ending with the Final Showcase Performance on Friday, April 16. All rehearsals and the performance will be online via Google Meet. This will be a combination of a drama club, where we play fun drama games, learn acting exercises and techniques, and rehearsals for our Final Showcase Performance. Details can be found here. Please email Holly Kelly with any questions.

Save the Date: Empty Bowls 2021

Empty Bowls will look a little different this year — the entire event will be online! The excitement kicks off on March 1, at 7 p.m., with a live Google Meet featuring DC Central Kitchen’s CEO Mike Curtin, Upper School Ceramics Teacher Julia Cardone and the students of the Clay Club. The event will also serve as the launch of our online auction/sale website. You can bid on one-of-a-kind items, or purchase bowls for a fixed price. Watch this space for a link to be shared soon!

Creativity Corner

As we make our way through winter, here are this week’s suggestions for fun and creative activities, for families to try at home, from our Department Chair for Innovation Joey Starnes.

Articles

Children’s Books to Celebrate Black History Month

Nurturing Your Child’s Independence

How Empowering Girls to Confront Conflict and Buck Perfection Helps Their Well-Being

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM THE LAST NEWSLETTER

Lower School Division Coffee, Thursday, February 18, 9 a.m.

The upcoming Lower School Coffee on Thursday, February 18, will focus on the Lower School Wellness Program, including the Second Step curriculum and mindfulness, as well as how we are supporting our students’ social and emotional well-being during COVID-19. Director of Counseling Ilana Reyes and Lower School Counselor Emily Sorbi will be hosting this event, and there will be time for an “open forum,” where parents may talk about topics of their choice or ask questions that they may have. We look forward to seeing you there! Here is a link to the Meet.

Update on Cohort Interactions During Outdoor Breaks

Starting this week, we will be expanding the cohorts to include the whole grade level only for outdoor break and recess. This will support our goal of broadening the students’ opportunities to build social connections with other students in the grade level. We will continue to follow our well-established protocols of handwashing/hand sanitizing before and after break and recess, wearing masks and physical distancing.

Time for a mask check! An Update from Director of Health Services, Mary Hart

Here are some things to consider when deciding if it's time to upgrade you or your student’s mask:

• Does it fit well?
• Does it cover your mouth and nose without constantly having to adjust it?
• Have you tried the light and candle test?
  • If you hold your mask up towards the light, can you see the light coming through the weave of the mask?
  • Can you blow a candle out while you are wearing your mask?

If you answered yes to the above two questions, it is best to wear a different mask or add another layer underneath. Even Dr. Fauci says he doubles up on his masks!

As a specific example, although super well-fitting and really nice looking, the popular Rothy’s masks may not be the best choice to wear alone. If you or your student/s own one of these masks, try the light and candle tests to see how well they fare. If they are just too comfortable to get rid of, then try adding a disposable mask or another layer or filter underneath.

The CDC reminds us to choose a mask that has:

• Two or more layers of breathable, washable fabric that completely covers your nose and mouth and fits snugly against your skin without gaps on the side.
• A double-layered disposable mask with a pliable metal piece that goes around your nose is another great option and is great for those of us who wear glasses!

As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Recordings for Recent Coffees

Recordings for the recent Learning Center Coffee and Fine Arts Coffee are now available on the 2020-21 Webinars Tile on the Resource Board in Husky Hub.

Dates for Virtual Game Night, Literacy and Engineering Nights — Please Note Change in Date for Grade 5 Game Night

We have been so impressed with the resilience, compassion and perseverance our Lower School students continue to show each day. We have been very closely monitoring their social and emotional well-being, cognizant that life is so different for them right now. While we continue to meet our goal of keeping our students safe in their cohorts, we have continued to look for innovative ways for them to interact socially and meet and strengthen social relationships with their peers throughout the grade level. We are excited to announce that we are planning a number of virtual Lower School events for the different grade levels over the next few months. Below is a list of the events. More specific details will be shared closer to the events.

• NEW DATE: Friday, February 19, 7-8 p.m. — Grade 5 Virtual Game Night
• Friday, February 26, 7-8 p.m. — Grade 4 Virtual Game Night
• Thursday, March 11, 6-6:30 p.m. — Grades JK-1 Virtual Literacy Night
• Thursday, March 11, 6:45-7:30 p.m. — Grades 2-3 Literacy Night
• Friday, April 9, 6-7 p.m. — Lower School Virtual Engineering Night
• Friday, April 23, 6-7 p.m. — Lower School Virtual Math Night