Middle School Newsletter - December 16, 2020

NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION

 

Middle School Athletics

I know that there continue to be questions about if/when/how we will resume Middle School athletics. We recognize how important our athletics program is for students at this level — in terms of physical activity, sport-specific training, being part of a team, and social connections. Our Upper School teams have started offering conditioning workouts but have not been running practices; we also just learned that the leagues in which our varsity teams compete (the MAC and the ISL) have officially canceled the winter athletic season.

In the Middle School, we will continue to try to get students outside multiple times per day for physical activity — weather permitting — and we will consider ways to incorporate more structured physical activity using our turf field and track. However, we do not anticipate offering anything resembling sport-specific athletic practices at this time or in the near future. Our priority is, and has been, the academic program and mitigating risks to ensure that we can remain open for on-campus learning — which, as we have all experienced over the past six weeks, is very complicated. Trying to run athletic practices, particularly in indoor spaces shared with other divisions, adds a level of risk that we are choosing not to take on at this time.

 

Winter Break Reading Challenge!

The Middle School Book Club 
The Book Club has invited you to join the 2020 Winter Break Book Challenge! Much like the independent reading you do for English class, this challenge is aimed at getting you, your teachers, and your families reading during the break!  At the end of break, the book club will ask your advisors to tally and send your total number of points to Mrs. Kade or Ms. Bazz, so that the book club can determine the total number of points/books read by our middle school community during winter break!

 

 

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK

 

Giving Tree 2020

In the spirit of tradition and service to the community, our Giving Tree initiative will continue this year. We will not do collections at school, but rather encourage families to independently select an organization to donate items of support. The middle school has identified four partner organizations — Women Giving Back, Fairfax County Department of Family Services, Inova Children’s Hospital, and Cornerstones. If you have any questions, please contact our service coordinator DeShauna Curry.  

Thank you for all that you do to support the Flint Hill community!

• Women Giving Back — The organization supports women and children in crisis by providing quality clothing at no cost. If you would like to donate any of the listed items, they can be dropped off, or mailed, at any time in the large, blue donation bin, directly behind their warehouse or any of the additional donation locations. For more information about the organization, please visit their website.

Items they are currently accepting:

• • Winter coats (all sizes) for kids and teen boys.
  • Winter gloves and hats for kids, teen boys, and women.
  • New and unwrapped gifts for kids (infant-teen) (until Friday, December 11).
  • Girls clothing, sizes 6-18.
  • Boys clothing, sizes 6-18.
  • Infant boys clothing.
  • Teen boys clothing.
  • Snack packs (guide available upon request).
  • Unopened toiletries and toiletry kits (guide available upon request).
  • New underwear for kids, teen boys, and women.

• Fairfax County Department of Family Services Adopt-A-Family Holiday Program — The Adopt-a-Family Program works to help children and families who are in need of

clothing, food, and toys for the holidays. For more information, please visit the Department of Family Services Adopt-a family Holiday Program website.

• Inova Children’s Hospital Holiday Toy Donations — Toy donations are currently being accepted for children who will spend the holidays in the hospital. For a list of items please use this wishlist. All the items will be sent directly to the hospital and then dispersed to the patients if you proceed with the purchase and select “Gift Registry Address” as the shipping address. When you donate an item, there is an option to leave a message with the donation. In that message box, please include your email, name, and that you are a part of the Flint Hill community so that we are able to send you a thank you for your donation.

• Cornerstones Food Pantry — Cornerstones is a nonprofit organization that promotes self-sufficiency by providing support and advocacy for those in need of food, shelter, affordable housing, quality childcare, and other human services. Currently, the items of most need include the following:

• • Laundry detergent.
  • Shampoo and conditioner.
  • All donations can be delivered to: 11484 Washington Plaza W, Suite 120, Reston, VA 20190; if you have reservations about entering the public building, call 571-323-1410 and a staff member may be able to assist you outside.
  • For more information, please visit their website.

 

Dress Code for Virtual Learning

For those who are learning virtually, consistently or on occasion, I wanted to (belatedly) clarify the expectations for dress. Students may generally wear “free dress” with the following guidelines — no tank tops, pajamas, hats, or hoods; no references to political affiliations, drugs, alcohol, weapons, sexually explicit or offensive content.

 

Financial Aid Deadline Approaching

The financial aid application deadline is Monday, January 11, for families planning to apply for financial aid for the 2021-22 school year. Flint Hill’s financial aid application is available on the Financial Aid for Student Tuition (FAST) website. Families who complete the application process by January 11 will receive a notification of their financial aid award on Thursday, January 28, when re-enrollment contracts are issued to current families.

 

Discussion Sponsored by The Parents Council of Washington

The Parents Council of Washington (PCW) invites you to attend Talking to Kids About Racism on Thursday, January 14, at 7 p.m. Panelists from three PCW member schools will discuss productive ways to talk about racism, with kids of all ages, addressing both conversations between parents and their kids and conversations between schools and their students. The panelist presentations will be followed by a question and answer period with the audience.

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 scheduled for Monday, February 1, 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.

 

Dressing for Cold Weather and Preparing for Cancellations

As the temperatures drop, please be aware that we will generally have students go outside for break and lunch unless the real-feel temperature drops below 30 degrees. While early adolescents believe that a sweatshirt is all they need to fend off the elements, please send your child to school with appropriate clothing (jacket, hat, gloves).

As noted in previous newsletters, Flint Hill’s Inclement Weather Policy provides details on how we make decisions and notify the community about delays and school closures.

 

School Store Winter Preview

Holiday shopping made easy! Click here to view the School Store Winter Preview.

To receive your items in time for the holidays, please place your order no later than noon on Thursday, December 17. 

Returns and Exchanges

• • 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.