Middle School Newsletter - November 18, 2020

NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION

 

Week of Thankful Giving — postponed to the week of November 30

Like other familiar school traditions, we will continue with the spirit of our Week of Thankful Giving and remain mindful of those in our community who are in need. This year, the Middle School will partner with Food for Others. Through advisory activities, students will learn about the important work Food for Others does in our area to support those who are food insecure. And we encourage students to bring a maximum of two canned items, from the list below, to a no-touch collection box in their advisory, November 30-December 3.

• Canned chili
• Canned chicken
• Canned fruit
• Canned spaghetti sauce
• Canned gravy
• Canned sweet potatoes
• Canned vegetables
• Canned pie filling

In addition to the efforts through school, we encourage families to consider supporting Food for Others as well as Fairfax County Animal Shelter, another partner organization in particular need.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact DeShauna Curry at dcurry@flinthill.org.

 

Articles for Middle School Parents

In the interest of sharing issues and perspectives relevant to the challenges of parenting young adolescents, here are a few articles that you might find helpful.

Holidays During the Pandemic

Signs of Depression During the Pandemic

 

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK

 

Online Ordering for Virtual Learners and Middle School Make-Up Portraits Now Available

Portraits of virtual learners, photographed on October 28, and make-up portraits of Middle School students, photographed on November 5, are now available online for ordering. If you did not receive an email from Freed Photography with your student's private gallery information, please contact them at support@freedphoto.com or call 301.652.5452.

 

School Store Updates

We have some great new items on the way and need to make room in our inventory. Check out our sale items and browse new items in the “Featured Products” section. Returns and exchanges are quick and easy, but items that are returned must sit in quarantine before they go back into 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.

Miller House front porch pick-up is still available any time after morning carpool and before afternoon carpool. Questions? Contact Adrienne Robinson at arobinson@flinthill.org.

 

The second meeting of the virtual Kaleidoscope Book Club is scheduled for Monday, December 7, 9-9:45 a.m. We will discuss “All We Ever Wanted” by Emily Giffin. 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 first meeting and/or be added to our email list. Please contact All-School Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Miles Henderson if you have any questions.

 

Academic Planning Day for Faculty on December 9 — No Classes

On Wednesday, December 9, faculty will participate in an academic planning day. School will be closed to students that day, and no classes will be held.

Driving Spirit Award Nominations Due December 11

Send your nominations to Ana Yarbrough.

The Driving Spirit Award recognizes current Flint Hill teachers and staff who have demonstrated ethical leadership, diligent intellectual scholarship and a commitment to teaching, coaching and mentoring students. Recipients are recognized for their contributions to the “Driving Spirit,” which makes our School the special and unique place we all value — a place that honors excellence while emphasizing the importance of our core values: respect and value all equally, lead and support with compassion, act with integrity, imagine what’s possible and blaze the trail. These teachers and staff members lead by example through their dedication and ability to energize and inspire Flint Hill’s community to new heights of learning and leadership, both inside and outside the classroom.

Please think about the great current teachers and staff members in the Flint Hill community whom you believe fit this description. Emails and letters should be sent to Ana Yarbrough by Friday, December 11.