Lower School Newsletter - May 19, 2021

NEW AND UPDATED INFORMATION

Last Day of School

Thursday, June 3, is the last day of school for grades JK-12. Please plan accordingly!

Grades JK-12 Virtual Parent Education Series: Supporting Grieving Children and Teens

Thursday, May 27, 7:30-8:30 p.m.

Over the past year, we have been surrounded by loss: loss of routine, loss of physical connection, and the loss of rituals. And for many the death of beloved family members or friends. People are having varied reactions and responses including increased anxiety, isolation, anger and sadness as we learn to exist within this new context and grieve these many losses. The uncertainty of the intensity and duration of this crisis can exacerbate underlying conditions or unhealthy coping techniques. For parents and caregivers, the challenge is how to support your children while navigating this yourself. It is kind of like building the plane while flying it. The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing will be facilitating a one-hour conversation about grief for parents. During this time, the Wendt Center will share about grief in the context of developmental stage, and ways that you can engage your child in a continued conversation about grief and support them as they navigate the uncertain time. Additionally, the Wendt Center will share about the impact on adults and provide realistic strategies to sustain yourself in the face of grief.

Google Meet link

Lower-School Issued Device Collection and Refresh

As we get closer to the end of the school year, here is some detailed information about returning your school-owned iPad to refresh and clean for grades JK-6.

On Friday, May 28, students will leave their school iPads, Logitech Crayons (grades 5 and 6 students only) and device cases in their classrooms for the remainder of the year. The iPads will be available to students during the school day, for academic purposes. On the afternoon of Friday, May 28, students will be sent home with a labeled, gallon-size storage bag. Please return the bag to school — on Tuesday, June 1 — with the following items: headphones (grades JK-3 only), power block, and charging cord. Please see the images below as a reminder of the charging block and cord that need to be returned to school.

Virtual learners should return their iPads, headphones (grades JK-3 only), power block, and charging cord on either Friday, June 4, or Monday, June 7 between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Data Migration

If you are interested in migrating your personal data from the iPad, you should move any pictures, videos, documents or other data into the student’s School Google Drive and then follow the steps for Google Takeout.

If you need any assistance or have questions, please contact helpdesk@flinthill.org.

Lower School Closing Ceremony and Promotion Ceremony, Friday, June 4

There will be no school for students in grades JK-5 on Friday, June 4. The Lower School Closing Ceremony will be released via email at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, June 4. The Lower School Promotion Ceremony (sixth grade only) will be held in person on Friday, June 4, at 10 a.m. on the Peterson Family Field.

Ice Cream Socials

As a sweet result of some persuasive writing from some Lower School Huskies, this week and next, John Thomas will host each grade level to a distanced walk through his garden, where students will enjoy a klondike bar or sunshine fruit bar and a little playground time.

Spring Virtual Visual Arts Show Now Open

In concert with Arts Jam, the annual Visual Arts Spring Show opened on May 13. Upper School students present highlights of their work in painting, drawing, ceramics, and digital arts in an exciting virtual gallery format. Links to these virtual art galleries as well as our Arts Jam concert are available here.

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. Teachers are also intentional about providing field trip opportunities that enhance the learning experience.

Bikes for the World Update

The JK class, during the 2018-2019 school year, embarked on a project that took them from collecting trash to visiting a landfill, volunteering with Bikes for the World, and finally hosting their own bike drive on the Lower School campus. The drive was held in the spring of 2019, and the students collected over 100 bikes that day! The JK students' (currently in first grade) and their fourth-grade buddies (now sixth graders) and parents helped them disassemble the bikes and pack them into the truck to go to the Bikes for the World office. Once there, the bikes were loaded on a shipping crate and set sail for Madagascar. Almost two years later the crate of bikes safely arrived in the Diana region of Madagascar, as seen in the photo of Mahery, who works with Bikes for the World in that region. How exciting that all these years later this act of kindness from the JK class continues to make an impact on the world.

School Store Update

Updates

• Check out our Featured and Last Chance items. Inventory is running low for all of these items. Get them before they’re gone!
• Please enjoy free shipping, as all orders will be shipped for the remainder of the year.
• Returns and exchanges are quick and easy, but all returned items must sit in quarantine before they are returned to inventory. Please order only the size you think you need so we can keep as much inventory in stock as possible. We are happy to change out the size quickly if it doesn’t fit.

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.