Middle School Newsletter - February 23, 2022
Message From Division Director
It’s hard to believe that we are just over two weeks away from our Spring Break. Please note that we have Parent Conferences on Friday, March 11. After having all of our conferences take place virtually over the past two years, we will split up the day and hold in-person conferences in the Peterson Middle School, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, and virtual conferences via Google Meet, from 12:40 p.m. to 4 p.m. I will send an email this Friday morning with links to sign up for conferences with each of your child’s teachers.
Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle School
THE LATEST
Course Selection for 2022-2023 (students in Grade 8)
The timeline for current students in Grade 8 will follow the Upper School process. The online course selection module will officially open on Monday, March 28. I encourage you to attend Friday’s Rising Grade 9 Virtual Division Coffee: Upper School Academic Planning, for more information. With the support of Assistant Director of the Upper School and Academic Dean Debbie Ayers, we will share information and discuss with students the week before Spring Break.
Course Selection for 2022-23 (students in Grades 6-7)
Shortly after Spring Break, we will begin the process of course selection — providing information about our Program Guide, options for students by grade level, guidance about selecting the appropriate courses and load, and Q&A sessions for students and parents.
Spring Athletics Information
Our winter athletic season ends Friday, February 25, and we begin the spring season on Monday, February 28, with an organizational meeting. Please see this letter for information about each sport option — practice location, team breakdowns and equipment needs.
The next meeting of the Kaleidoscope Book Club is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Peterson Middle School Conference Room. We will discuss “The Map of Salt and Stars'' by Zeyn Joukhdar. 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. Contact All-School Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Miles Henderson if you have any questions.
Parent Toolkit Resource Board Tile
The Parent Toolkit tile on the Husky Hub Resource Board is available. It is a resource with valuable information to help Flint Hill parents throughout the rest of the school year.
Friendly Reminders
- Use this form to request additional RFID tags for carpool.
- Refer a Husky and the Admission team will reach out to them.
PARENT TO-DO's
Reminder: Spring Cleaning? Donate Outgrown Uniforms
If you have Flint Hill polos, navy or khaki bottoms, spirit wear or P.E./athletic wear that your child has outgrown, please drop them off at your convenience on the Miller House front porch located on the Lower School campus on Thursday, February 24, and Friday, February 25. Thank you for contributing items that are either new or in good, used condition and have been recently laundered.
Questions? Please contact Adrienne Robinson in the Advancement Office.
PARENT RESOURCES
Some of you may have seen last week’s webinar from The Social Institute — Empowering your Child(ren) to Navigate Social Media, Technology, and Well-being Positively. In case you missed it or want to watch it again, you can access the recording here. Additionally, these are the free resources that were shared during the webinar:
- Why Is 13 the Minimum Age for Most Social Media Apps?
- Family Social Standards Agreement
- 22 Insights Report
- How Parents & Educators Can Support Healthy Teen Use of Social Media
- Student Ambassador Program
- Worried About Your Teen on Social Media? Here's How To Help
- Apple Screen Time Feature
- Android Family Link Feature
- The Social Institute — Parent Toolkit
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.
Uniform and Spirit Wear Donation Drop-Off
Thursday and Friday, February 24 and 25
Location: Porch, Miller House, Lower School Campus
Rising Grade 9 Virtual Division Coffee: Upper School Academic Planning
Friday, February 25, 8:45 a.m.
Last Day of Middle School Winter Athletics
Friday, February 25
Kaleidoscope Book Club
Tuesday, March 8, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Peterson Middle School Conference Room
End of Third Quarter
Wednesday, March 9
Grade reports will be available online on Thursday, March 10, at 4 p.m.
Lower and Middle School Parent Conferences — No Classes
Friday, March 11
Please note that the Upper School will still be in session. Conferences will be on-campus in the morning and virtual in the afternoon. We will send a signup link on February 25.
Spring Break
March 12-27
Classes Resume
Monday, March 28
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.
Update from Curriculum Committee
Flint Hill School’s Curriculum Committee is composed of academic department chairs, directors, and the all-school service coordinator. The curriculum committee meets several times a year to discuss new curriculum adoption, programmatic shifts and instructional and pedagogical effective practices. In preparation for the 2022-23 school year, the committee has completed work on revising our Program Guide to include curriculum for the upcoming year and clarifying the Upper School Activity Credit description.
The committee adopted three new courses which will be added to the 2022-23 Upper School Program Guide: Advanced Topics in Computer Science, Introduction to the Dance Arts, and Advanced Dance Arts. Advanced Topics in Computer Science will allow students to develop a portfolio of computer science projects and applications. Introduction to the Dance Arts and Advanced Dance Arts will allow students to study a broad range of dance arts and participate in a dance production each semester. We will explore a range of productions in the fall and the spring that connect to the broader dance curriculum these courses will offer. For the 2022-23 school year we will not produce “The Nutcracker.” While “The Nutcracker” has been a popular and valued co-curricular activity in the Lower School, shifting to a broader range of productions will better support the curricular needs of Upper School students enrolled in our dance courses.
The committee also approved clarifications to the Upper School Activity Credit. These clarifications include the following:
- Four activity credits must be earned during the Upper School experience.
- Non-school sponsored athletic activities may not substitute for any of the four activity credits.
- Some exemptions to the requirements were granted over the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting in the fall of 2022, all Upper School students will be required to fulfill the activity credit requirements as listed in the Program Guide.
- A list of school-sponsored activities that count for the Activity Credit can be found in the Program Guide.
Please connect with a division director or Director of Studies Emily Sanderson with any questions.
Parents' Association
The Flint Hill Golf Invitational and Skills Clinic Is Back!
The Flint Hill Golf Invitational and Skills Clinic is back! We can’t wait to spend a day on the course with fellow Huskies, parents and alumni — on May 26 at the Westfields Golf Club. This casual golf scramble brings together our community like no other, and all levels of golf ability are welcome. Registration and sponsorships are now open, so start creating your foursome or sign up on your own to make new connections! Not ready for a full 18? Play in the skills clinic or volunteer throughout the day. Visit flinthill.org/golf to register, sponsor, volunteer or learn more!
Opportunity: Host a Grade Level Parent Dinner!
The Parents’ Association is looking forward to hosting grade-level parent dinners at people’s homes. Contact Sibel Unsal necatismom@gmail.com if you are interested in hosting!
All About the Teachers!
I asked my son what he thinks is the one thing that separates Flint Hill from other schools. He was quick to answer: the teachers. When I asked what made them different, he said that they do more, know more and care more. I agree! Read more.
School Store
School Store Updates
We have great stock in youth and adult t-shirts. Choose from short sleeve or long sleeve and pair with a great jacket or ¼ zip.
Layer for the day with our youth and adult outerwear. We have some great ¼ zips and jackets for those cold mornings and warm afternoons.
Check out our last chance spirit wear and our sale items. With extremely limited quantities left, these sale items won’t last long.
How Do I Make an Exchange or Return?
Please email Adrienne Robinson 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
