Middle School Newsletter - October 12, 2022

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Message From Division Director

There is a lot of excitement to look forward to in the next few days. As we move through Spirit Days and into Homecoming events, we will continue to foster an atmosphere that maintains a focus on academics and character within the fun, community-building nature of the various events and activities. Please note that you should enjoy Homecoming events with your child. Students may not be dropped off and left unattended.

Please review the following reminders about Friday, and I look forward to seeing you this weekend.

We will run our regular dismissal process on Friday starting at 3:25 p.m.
As always, all Middle School students must be dismissed to the bus, to a parent, or to Extended Day at that time.
Middle School students may not stay after school on their own to watch Upper School games or the Bonfire; if they wish to attend, they must first be dismissed to a parent (their own, or another authorized adult).
A Middle School student who attends Extended Day must be picked up by a parent by 6:00 p.m.
Any Middle School student who attends the Bonfire (6:30 - 7:15 p.m.) must be accompanied by a parent.
Any Middle School student who attends Saturday’s events must be accompanied by a parent.
A full list of Homecoming events is available at flinthill.org/homecoming.

We hope to see you for these events and appreciate your help in ensuring that these fun and potentially chaotic events are safe and supervised. Please contact Marina Matthes or me with any questions.

Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle School

Announcements

Homecoming Spirit Dress Days — Week of October 10

These are the remaining Spirit Dress Days for this week. Students who choose not to participate in the theme of the day should be in regular school dress. Please note that we encourage students to wear Homecoming t-shirts on Saturday, October 15.

Thursday, October 13 — Jersey Day: Wear an athletic shirt or jersey with jeans or regular school dress bottoms.
Friday, October 14 — Color Day: Go all out in your class color! Grade 7 in Purple and Grade 8 in Pink.

Homecoming 2022 — October 14-15

The weekend kicks off with athletic games and our traditional Bonfire on Friday night and continues with more athletic events, spirit giveaways and activities for all ages on Saturday. On both days, The Den will be open for concessions and the School Store will open a Pop-Up Shop in the Peterson Middle School. Please note that parents should attend events with children rather than drop them off unattended. Visit flinthill.org/homecoming for a full schedule of events. Sign up to volunteer — a great way to make a difference and meet more Huskies!

Homecoming School Store Pop-up Shop

Stop by the School Store Pop-Up Shop in the Middle School Learning Commons this Friday, 4:00 - 6:30 p.m., or Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. — new inventory will launch exclusively in person! Preview the new inventory and other items available at the Pop-Up Shop.

Please be mindful that there are many online stores illegally selling Flint Hill gear and refrain from purchasing items from there; we have no affiliation with those stores. Shop through our official school store and any online store that we point you to, like the one selling our Homecoming t-shirts.

Parent Coffee: Equity and Inclusion — Thursday, October 20

All parents, JK-12, are invited to join us on Thursday, October 20, 8:30-9:30 a.m., in the Hazel Lower School, room 201, for a parent coffee highlighting our commitment to building inclusive, equitable classrooms in grades JK-12. This meaningful work supports the FH vision for all students to “Take Meaningful Risks. Be Yourself. Make a Difference.” Led by Mia Burton, director of institutional equity and inclusion, the discussion will also examine how equity practices support student engagement, inquiry and reflection.

Special Programming for Students on Wednesday, October 26

Coming up in two weeks is our second day (of three) of special programming for the year. We will have regular arrival and dismissal times and athletics but no academic classes.

Seventh Grade — will have a traditional Service Day. Students will learn about community service and its role at Flint Hill. They will put together Power Packs for Kids (P3) in partnership with Food For Others and travel to Cunningham Park, in Vienna, to engage in restoring the native habitat for birds and wildlife. Students will need a bag lunch and should wear long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Please contact Middle School Community Service Coordinator Ann Bazzarone with questions.

Eighth Grade — will have a combination of activities. Students will get an overview of their Independent Community Service Project; learn about the Upper School experience by touring the building, meeting with administrators, and speaking with students; and participate in choice-based sessions involving wellness, inclusivity, empowerment and community citizenship. Students should be in regular school dress and will have lunch provided at school. Please contact Director of the Middle School Brian Lamont with questions.

Parent Conferences — Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4

You will have the opportunity to meet in person with each teacher for a 10-minute conference about your child’s progress. I will send an email to all families on Thursday, October 20, at 10:00 a.m., with information and links to sign up.

Box Office Now Open for “Clue”

The hilarious whodunit, Clue, based on the cult-classic 1985 film and the iconic Hasbro board game will be live on stage later this month. We have two amazing casts of Upper School performers who bring this silly murder mystery to life. Tickets are free, but reservations are recommended. Use the links below to reserve your tickets today. Note to parents: Clue contains cartoon/slapstick violence and is recommended for grades 4 and up. All performances take place in the Olson Theater in the Hazel Lower School.

Blue Cast
Friday, October 28, at 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 29, at 2:00 p.m.

Green Cast
Saturday, October 29, at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 30, at 2:00 p.m.

Early Admission Process for Sibling Applications due November 1

As a reminder, we are offering members of our Husky family an early start to the admission process for siblings who do not currently attend Flint Hill and are interested in applying for the 2023-24 school year.

If you have a child who is not currently enrolled at Flint Hill and you are interested in the application process for the 2023-24 school year, please complete the admission process by the November 1 deadline. Applications completed by November 1 will receive an admission notification by mid-December. For more information, please schedule an appointment with the admission team member for your division of interest.

Community of Care and International Festival 2022

We invite you to attend two important community events on one special day! Join us on Saturday, November 12, 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., in the Peterson Middle School to engage in thoughtful discussions about our common mission at Flint Hill and to celebrate the diversity that strengthens our community. The day begins with The Community of Care at 9:00 a.m., followed by the International Festival which begins at 12:00 p.m. You are welcome to attend one or both of the events. There will be a short intermission (20-30 minutes) between events.

If you are interested in volunteering on that day, please complete the Volunteer Form. We are in need of discussion leaders for student, parent and faculty groups at the Community of Care in addition to country representatives for the International Festival. Additional information is provided on the Volunteer Form. Questions regarding this event? Please contact All-School Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Miles Henderson at mchenderson@flinthill.org.

Upcoming Events

Homecoming Festivities
Friday, October 14
Saturday, October 15
The full schedule of events is on the Homecoming website.

JK-12 Parent Mixer: Equity & Inclusion
Thursday, October 20
Hazel Lower School, Room 201, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

End of First Quarter
Monday, October 24

Special Programming for Students
Wednesday, October 26

Class of 2027 Parent Event: Upper School Preview
Thursday, October 27, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Register by October 20 and select the sessions you are most interested in joining at this event.

Upper School Production of Clue
Friday, October 28, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 29, 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, October 30, 2:00 p.m.

First Quarter Report Cards Available
Wednesday, November 2, 4:00 p.m.

Grades JK-12 Parent Conferences
Grades JK-12 No Classes
Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4

Daylight Savings Time Ends
Sunday, November 6
Remember to set your clocks back one hour!

Parent Morning Mixer
Thursday, November 10
Miller House, 8:15 - 9:15 a.m.

Community of Care: Connect & Celebrate
Thursday, November 10
Peterson Middle School, 9:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Parents’ Association

Message From Our Parents’ Association President

By now many of us have had an opportunity to meet our children’s teachers and fellow parents and to visit campus for events and activities. Homecoming is this weekend, and I encourage you join your Flint Hill community for a weekend filled with athletic events, food and fun for the entire family. Read more.

Homecoming This Weekend! October 14-15

We can’t wait to celebrate Homecoming with the entire Flint Hill community! Visit flinthill.org/homecoming for a full schedule of events. If you’re interested in volunteering, sign-up is quick and easy.

Helpful reminders:

Please note that parents should attend events with children rather than drop them off unattended.
We expect large crowds. Please allow additional time for parking. When the Upper and Middle School parking lots are full, overflow parking will be available on the Lower School campus and blue shuttle buses will run continuously on Friday night and Saturday.
Friday Activities Map
Saturday Activities Map

Programs for Independent School Parents

Flint Hill is a member of the Parents Council of Washington (PCW) — a non-profit organization that fosters communication within the greater Washington, D.C., independent school community. Their goal is to promote excellence in education by building a network among independent schools and their parent communities. Each year they host programs that are open to parents and staff at member schools. Thank you to Jennifer Butler P’24 who serves as Flint Hill’s representative. Please see below for upcoming events; you are invited to attend with other independent school parents in the region.

Tuesday, October 18, 7:00 p.m. — Speaker: Dr. Dalton (virtual via Zoom)
PCW is pleased to welcome Dr. Jonathan Dalton, founder and director of the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change. Dr. Dalton is a licensed psychologist, specializing in the use of evidence-based treatments for children and teens who find their lives impacted by anxiety. He is an expert in his field with over 20 years of experience and speaks frequently on mental health disorders impacting children and teens. All PCW member school parents, administrators, faculty and staff are invited. Time for Q&A will be provided after the presentation. REGISTER for this speaker event.

October 24-28 — Movie Screening: “Chasing Childhood” (virtual)
PCW is pleased to host an online viewing of “Chasing Childhood,” a feature-length documentary that explores how free play and independence have all but disappeared from kids’ lives, supplanted by relentless perfectionism leading to record rates of anxiety and depression, a situation compounded by the pandemic. Free play, unsupervised by adults, is critical for developing essential life skills: grit, independence and resourcefulness. The film explores how and why helicopter parenting became the norm in many communities across the United States. All PCW member school parents, administrators, faculty and staff are invited. REGISTER to receive the link to view the documentary.

Calling All Concessions Volunteers!

Parent volunteers are needed to help sell concessions in both The Igloo and The Den during the day and after school. More opportunities will be added throughout the year for each athletic season. Please sign up for as many shifts as you'd like, and feel free to invite a friend to sign up with you too.