Middle School Newsletter - NOVEMBER  10, 2021

A few weeks ago, I spoke to students about the power of their words in hopes of making it very clear the types of comments, “jokes,” and topics that will have a different impact and consequences in Middle School and beyond. After dealing with a range of situations this fall involving physical contact and behavior, I gathered everyone together yesterday to address this topic in a similar vein.

Since the start of the year, we have seen a higher level of physicality from students than is typical. While generally good-natured in intent, the pushing, pulling, hitting and slapping has persisted despite reminders and interventions. I expect some of this is another impact of the pandemic — that a year of living physically distanced from other students has deprived them of the normal process of learning about judgment, boundaries, etc.

My message to students yesterday focused on the following points:

• Part of being 12-14 years old means that, like with words, the impact and outcomes for physical behavior can be more significant.
• “Roughhousing” and physical play at these ages can escalate (and has) to dangerous accidents and actual fighting — regardless of intent.
• Hitting, slapping and grabbing can fall (and has) into categories of sexual harassment and assault  — regardless of intent.
• For the sake of ensuring a safe and positive environment for all students, we will be focusing on physical behavior and taking all of these instances very seriously.

I appreciate your support in any follow-up conversations that may take place at home. And I promise that we do usually talk about more fun topics at school!

The Nutcracker

Tickets for The Nutcracker are available now. Tickets are free, but the best seats go fast, so make your reservation today. Performances are November 12 at 7 p.m. and November 13 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the Olson Theater. Click here to reserve your tickets.

Calling All Bakers! Volunteers Needed: Bake Mini Pies for Teachers and Staff

Every day, we are thankful for our faculty and staff. Join us to give them a slice of our appreciation! Sign up here to bake mini pies or to volunteer to help arrange! Pies will be distributed to faculty and staff on Thursday, November 18, and Friday, November 19. Once you sign up, we will contact you and coordinate the drop-off of the mini-pie tins to bake in. Once you have baked them, you can drop them off during carpool on the morning of Thursday, November 19. Contact Sibel Unsal P’22 with any questions!

Reminder to Order Your Tip-Off Tournament T-shirt Before Tomorrow's 11 p.m. Deadline

Show your Husky spirit and order your 2021 Basketball Tip-Off Classic Tournament shirt! Click here to place your order, and be sure to select your student’s homeroom teacher — t-shirts will be delivered to those classrooms on Thursday, December 2. The shirts are available in youth and adult sizes. The 17th Annual Tip-Off Classic Tournament is the official kick-off to Flint Hill’s varsity basketball season with games played on December 3 and 4. From time to time to show our School spirit, special attire theme days are organized by the Upper School Student Athletic Advisory Council. To celebrate the Tip-Off Tournament, everyone’s invited to wear white, including the optional special edition Tip-Off t-shirt, on Friday, December 3.

Spirit and Service — Parents Can Make a Difference! 

This year, Flint Hill is hosting a community-wide meal pack to benefit Food for Others on Friday, December 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., during the 17th Annual Tip Off Classic Varsity Basketball tournament. Parents are invited to donate food that will be collected at morning carpool during the Week of Thankful Giving (Monday, November 29-Wednesday, December 1). Let’s join together to make a difference.

This year, Flint Hill is hosting a community-wide meal pack to benefit Food for Others on Friday, December 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., during the Tip-Off Classic basketball tournament. Parents are invited to donate food and volunteer time to pack meals.

The Igloo will move outside on both days to create the Igloo Outpost, a festive outdoor eating area with seating and heaters. Friday will even feature two food trucks: Roaming Coyote and Rocklands BBQ.

Come volunteer, grab snacks at the Igloo Outpost and support our varsity basketball teams as they compete during this favorite Flint Hill tradition! Check out the schedule and learn how you can help.

All food will be served and enjoyed outside and masks are required to be worn while inside the Upper School building. 

Class of 2026 Parents: Reserve Your Space Now to Meet with Upper School Administrators in November!

Class of 2026 Parents, you are invited to meet with Upper School administrators this month to ask questions about the academic and extracurricular opportunities that are available to your student over the next four years. Spaces are filling up quickly, so we recommend reserving a spot soon.

• Schedule your meeting with the Director of the Upper School Don Paige here.
• Schedule your meeting with Upper School Assistant Director and Academic Dean Debbie Ayers here.
• Schedule your meeting with Upper School Dean of Students Howard Chang here.
• Schedule your meeting with Freshman Class Dean Andrew Kane here.

Middle School Activity Night

Our first Middle School Activity Night is coming up the week we return from Thanksgiving Break. All students are encouraged to attend the activities on Friday, December 3, which will begin immediately after school and involve a trip to the Upper School gym to support our Girls’ Varsity Basketball team as part of the FH Basketball Tip-Off Classic. This is a great opportunity to socialize and connect with the Upper School program. See below for the general information, and stay tuned for more in next week’s newsletter.

3:30–5:45 p.m. activities and pizza in the Middle School building.

5:45–7:45 p.m. basketball game in the Upper School gym.

8 p.m. parents pick up in the Middle School carpool line. With prior communication, parents may also meet their child at the Upper School to remain for the boys’ game, or transfer responsibility to another parent who will be present. Students may not remain for the boys' game without adult supervision.

A Special Thank You from the Admission Team

Our Admission Team would like to extend a special thank you to our current parents. It’s clear you’ve been spreading the word about Flint Hill as an educational partner! Many of you have shared your impactful stories and insights at admission events or on the phone with prospective families. We continue to receive several Refer-a-Husky submissions every week, and last week we held a completely full Upper School event (with a waitlist!). We are so grateful for your ambassadorship and partnership in enrolling mission-appropriate families.

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.  

Middle School Winter Athletics Begin
Friday, November 12

The Nutcracker
Friday, November 12, 7 p.m., and Saturday, November 13, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Olson Theater
Tickets for The Nutcracker are available now. Tickets are free, but the best seats are going fast, so make your reservation today. Click here to reserve your tickets.

Thanksgiving Break
Monday, November 22–Friday, November 26

Classes Resume
Monday, November 29

Week of Thankful Giving
Monday, November 29–Wednesday, December 1
We will be collecting items to put together for Power Packs for Kids (P3) through Food For Others.

Middle School Activity Night
Friday, December 3, 3:30–8 p.m.

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.

Stay Up To Date: Review This Year’s COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures

The COVID-19 Health Information tile on the Resource Board has this year’s protocols and procedures.

Flint Hill strongly encourages everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated. 

The COVID-19 Case Dashboard has been updated.

Gratitude for Flint Hill Yearbook Ads

After watching John Thomas’ newsletter video last week about the flooding of memories, and the power some objects have to bring us back to places and times in our life, it made me think of something that has become very special to me — the Flint Hill yearbook. I love it! Read more.