Lower School Newsletter - February 3, 2021
NEW AND UPDATED INFORMATION
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.
Last Friday, we hosted our first game night, and it was a great success thanks to the help of Lower School Assistant Director Robyn Nichols, Director of Counseling Ilana Reyes, Lower School Counselor Emily Sorbi and Technology Instruction Specialist and Computer Science and Math teacher Jess Henry. We had an excellent turn out of grade 6 students who participated in Kahoot, a game-based learning platform that included Famous Youtubers, Random Sports Trivia, Disney/Pixar Movies and Name that Tune as well as Drawful, an online Pictionary and Pictogram. Students' feedback included some constructive suggestions as well as comments, such as, “it was stellar” and “It was all so fun and a well-put-together evening.” We look forward to hosting our grade 5 game night on Friday, February 12.
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. Below are some photos from the examples of the learning I spoke about in my video.
Second grade students are bringing their fairy-tale writing to life and are in the process of producing a trailer to entice their audience to read their story. Using iMovie, they are making clips and photos of a scene from their story with Stikbot and LEGO Minifigures they have costumed to act out a scene. They look forward to sharing their trailers with their class community.
During science last week, sixth grade students constructed their class Gummy Bear Wave Machine to study mechanical waves. Their virtual classmates also made them at home!
This week I will be highlighting math in the Lower School.
The kindergarten classes are working hard on the Measuring and Counting unit in Investigations. The students are focusing on strategies for combining quantities — figuring out one more or one fewer of a given set, and modeling story problems through the use of manipulatives, illustrations, and numbers/symbols. Some of the activities students are participating in are Racing Bears and Double Compare. These activities are a fun way for students to master the learning targets in this unit.
The first grade is working on the Solving Story Problems unit in Investigations. Students are finding five combinations of two addends for a number up to 15. They are also working on combining two quantities, interpreting and solving addition and subtraction story problems. First graders continue to develop their number sense by counting a set of 40-50 objects, reading and writing numbers to 65, and even representing numbers by using equivalent expressions.
The second grade recently started the Addition, Subtraction, and the Number System unit in the Investigations program. Students are developing and using strategies to add several numbers in any order, using known combinations. They will interpret and solve subtraction and unknown change story problems with totals to 45. There is a focus on even and odd numbers in terms of groups of two or two equal groups. These learning targets strive to encourage students to use the count-on or break-apart strategies, to add two or more numbers up to a total of 45, in order to help students demonstrate fluency with addition combinations.
The third grade classes have just started the Line Plots and Surveys Investigation unit. The focus of this unit is data collection and analysis. Students are learning how to organize, represent, and describe categorical data, choosing categories that can help them make sense of the data. They are given the opportunity to create and analyze a variety of data representations, such as bar graphs and line plots. Through this process and other activities, students are able to describe and summarize the shape of the data in terms of where the data is clustered, the lowest and highest values in the data, the mode, and where there may be an outlier in the data set.
The fourth grade is finishing up their Fraction Squares and Decimal Squares: Rational Numbers unit. The students are learning to understand the meaning of fractions and decimal fractions. They are developing ideas about fractions by identifying fractions of an area, fractions of a group of objects, and decimal fractions. Students are comparing the value of fractions and decimal fractions by comparing fractions of different wholes and combining fractions using models and reasoning. Students are using representations to add rational numbers. They are accomplishing this by using 10 x 10 grids to represent, compare, and combine common decimals in the tenths and hundredths.
Fifth graders are finishing up the Investigations, What’s That Portion? Fractions and Percents unit. Students have learned conversions between fractions, decimals, and percents, in order to use fraction-percent equivalents, to solve problems about the percentage of a quantity. Students have participated in activities such as Roll Around the Clock and In Between to help them learn to order fractions with like and unlike denominators as well as adding fractions through reasoning about fraction equivalents and relationships.
The sixth grade math classes are working on the Let’s Be Rational: Understanding Fraction Operations unit. This is the second of three number units that focus on developing concepts and procedures for fractions, decimals, and percents. The goal of this unit is for students to focus on understanding and developing systematic ways to add, subtract, multiply, and divide fractions. While working on this unit, students will investigate many interesting problem situations that help them to develop algorithms for fraction computation. In addition, students will use number sense, benchmarks, and operation sense to estimate solutions, helping them to decide if exact answers are reasonable.
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
UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM THE LAST NEWSLETTER
Update from John Thomas: Planning for 2021-22
Dear Flint Hill Families,
While we are focused on having a strong second semester, we are also turning our attention to planning for the 2021-22 school year. I want to share some of our thinking with you while our plans continue to take shape.
First, I want to thank the many parent volunteers who have referred prospective Huskies to us for next year and have connected virtually with these families in the admission process. We have experienced consistent year-over-year growth in inquiries and applications during the past three years and are again seeing record interest for next year. Still, as we have in 2020-21, for the upcoming school year, we are planning to operate at a “COVID capacity” until the Virginia Department of Health permits otherwise. This means that our planning will continue to be informed by the need to maintain a distance of six feet between students in classroom spaces.
Our Lower and Middle School facilities and the sizes of those divisions continue to provide the greatest flexibility with capacity restrictions. To support the best learning environment for those young learners, we are currently planning to offer only on-campus learning for students in grades JK-8 in 2021-22. We understand that our Upper School students are eager to be on campus together five days a week and are continuing to monitor guidance from the Virginia Department of Health to make that possible, with our students’ health being the highest priority.
In the meantime, we are still planning to schedule fine arts and athletics activities according to a normal schedule for next year. Expanding the range of opportunities for our student artists and athletes to do what they love is one of our highest priorities for next year, and leadership in both of those departments is working hard to make that possible.
While the timing for a full return to pre-pandemic normalcy is uncertain, we continue to be hopeful and optimistic.
Best wishes to you!
John Thomas
Headmaster
Pull-Tab Donation
A fifth grade student is collecting metal pull tabs from cans, for donations to charity. All of the donations will be benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities and their mission. To ensure a contact-free donation, please collect your metal pull tabs at home in a zip lock bag — Monday, January 25 through Monday, February 1. All donations should be dropped off by Door #3 at carpool on Tuesday, February 2.
Dates for Virtual Game Night, Literacy and Engineering Nights
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.
- Friday, February 12, 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
Virtual Fine Arts Coffee
Tuesday, February 9, 9-10 a.m.
Parents are invited to join us for an informative session about our fine arts program. James Venhaus, our new director of fine arts, will share news about our fine arts classes in all three divisions and our spring performances, including Arts Jam. We will demonstrate how the fine arts faculty and students are providing creative solutions to the challenges that we face due to the pandemic, and we will share some exciting plans for the future. Parents and guardians can access the coffee here.
Updated Protocol for On-Campus Learners’ Temporary Transition to Virtual Learning
Here is updated information for on-campus learners when they have to temporarily transition to virtual learning due to illness.
Valentine’s Day
On Friday, February 12, we will celebrate Valentine's Day. Students may dress in Valentine's Day colors (red, pink or purple) with jeans. They also have the option to wear their school uniform if they prefer. To follow our COVID-19 protocols, students should not bring in cards or candy treats from home.
School Store Update
- Outerwear, sweatshirts and beanies are now available!
- Check out the new Last Chance Spirit Wear section of the School Store website. With extremely limited quantities left, these sale items won’t last long. Shop now before they are gone!
How do I make an exchange or return?
- Please contact Adrienne Robinson within 30 days of your original purchase.
- 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.
Parents Council of Washington Event: Speaker Series — Ron Lieber, The Price You Pay for College
The Parents Council of Washington (PCW) invites you to attend its upcoming virtual speaker series event on Wednesday, February 10, at 7 p.m. Ron Lieber, author, journalist, and New York Times’ Your Money columnist will discuss his new book, “The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make.”
All PCW member school parents, administrators, faculty, and staff are invited. Please use this link to register.
The third meeting of the virtual Kaleidoscope Book Club is rescheduled for Monday, February 8, 9-9:45 a.m. We will discuss “How to be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi. We look forward to building and deepening relationships through this shared learning opportunity. All parents are welcome to attend regardless of your familiarity with the book selection. Please submit your name and email address, in this form, to RSVP for the meeting and/or be added to our email list. Please contact All-School Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Miles Henderson if you have any questions.
Upcoming Events
Husky Pride Dress
Friday, February 5
JK-4 Virtual Student Supply Pick Up
Friday, February 5, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Add to Calendar
Enrollment Contracts Due — Current Students
Monday, February 8
Lower School Virtual Morning Meeting
Monday, February 8, 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Virtual Fine Arts Coffee
Tuesday, February 9, 9-10 a.m.
Google Meet Link
Add to Calendar
Valentine’s Day Dress
Friday, February 12
Grade 5 Games Night
Friday, February 12, 7-8 p.m.
Presidents Day
Grades JK-12 No Classes
Administrative Offices Closed
Monday, February 15
Lower School Virtual Division Coffee
Thursday, February 18, 9-10 a.m.
Add to Calendar
Husky Pride Dress
Friday, February 19
Grades 5-6 Virtual Supply Pick Up
Friday, February 19, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Add to Calendar
Parents’ Association Virtual Board Meeting
Friday, February 19, 10-11 a.m.
Empty Bowls Virtual Service Event
Saturday, February 20, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Lower School Virtual Morning Meeting
Monday, February 22, 8:15-8:30 a.m.
Grades JK-12 Virtual Parents Association Event: Wine Tasting with Victor Mendes from Vienna Vintner
Thursday, February 25, 7-8 p.m.
Grade 4 Games Night
Friday, February 26, 7-8 p.m.