Upper School Newsletter - December 1, 2021
Message From Division Director
Welcome back everyone! I hope that everyone had a restful and energizing Thanksgiving break, wherever those days might have taken you. My family hopped in our car to drive over to Western Ohio to see relatives, and it was everything you would expect out of a Thanksgiving: happy kids playing with their cousins, way too much food, and a lot of family news updates.
As we come back from break, I want to send out an update on the Dress Guidelines project. I have compiled all of the data from the parent survey and submitted it to the Student Council Association (SCA). I have always found the Flint Hill community to have a wide set of beliefs, and the data from the parent survey showed this as well. Roughly one-third of the respondents felt the dress guidelines were just right, one-third of the respondents felt the guidelines were a little too relaxed, and one-third of the respondents felt the guidelines were far too relaxed. There were many great suggestions, and I have given this data to the SCA to reflect upon and propose possible solutions.
It is my intention to release two sets of dress guidelines over the holiday break. The first set of dress guidelines represents minor changes to this year’s rules to clarify a few items that are not appropriate for school. As I mentioned previously, I have heard fair feedback from families about not changing the dress guidelines dramatically mid-year because families have already purchased clothing for the year.
The second set of dress guidelines that I will release will represent what the dress guidelines will be in 2022-2023 and beyond. This will represent larger changes that move us closer to our previous dress guidelines, before COVID, but also takes into account some successful alterations to the code over the past few years.
I appreciate everyone who participated in this project and the understanding the community demonstrated by recognizing that we all have different opinions about the proper dress in a school environment in Northern Virginia in 2021. When I met with the students in the forum, I let them know that all of us will have something with which we disagree in the new guidelines because they represent a set of compromises and principles brought together from the varying viewpoints and backgrounds of the members of our community.
Don Paige
Director of the Upper School
THE LATEST
Gifts to Faculty and Staff
As we approach the Winter Break, I wanted to remind you of the School’s recommendations concerning gifts to faculty and staff. Flint Hill encourages simplicity in the giving of gifts. The School discourages the collection of money from parents to provide teachers or coaches with gifts. Please note that holiday gift giving is not an expectation, and individual families should decide what is best for them, keeping in mind that a sincere, heartfelt “thank you” often carries the greatest meaning.
Refer-a-Husky Today
Nearly every family who enrolls at Flint Hill was either referred by or talked with a current family during the admission process. Your perspective is critically important. You are in the best position to identify potential Huskies who are a great fit for our school.
Refer a Husky and the Admission team will reach out to invite them to learn more about Flint Hill.
Grades 7-12 Winter Choral Concert
Thursday, December 2, 7 p.m., Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Winter concert season continues with the Middle and Upper School Winter Choral Concert featuring selections from the smash Broadway musicals “Hamilton” and “Once” as well as a variety of classical and contemporary holiday favorites. And, there will be performances by two special surprise guests! The concert will be held in the Olson Theater on December 2 at 7 p.m. Don't miss it!
Spirit and Service — Parents Can Make a Difference!
Cheer on your Huskies at the 17th annual varsity basketball home opener and give back to the community on the same day!
This year, Flint Hill is hosting a community-wide meal pack to benefit Food for Others on Friday, December 3, from 4–8 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.
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.
Grades 7-12 Winter Choral Concert
Thursday, December 2, 7 p.m., Olson Theater — Lower School Campus
Health Services
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.
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.
Parent Resources
Sign Up! Free Virtual Event With Cara Peterson ’10
Grab a front-row seat to "Feminist Camp New Orleans," and check out Cara's presentation "Mental Health is Not a Contest: How the Effortless Perfection Myth Warps Our Understanding of What’s 'Allowed' to Count as Struggle,” on Saturday, December 4. Read more.
Parents Council of Washington Event: Speaker Series — Connectedness, A Discussion with Drs. Chris Thurber and Hendrie Weisinger.
The Parents Council of Washington (PCW) invites you to attend its upcoming virtual event on Tuesday, December 7, at 7 p.m. Psychologists and Co-Authors Drs. Thurber and Weisinger will discuss their new book, “The Unlikely Art of Parental Pressure: A Positive Approach to Pushing Your Child to Be Their Best Self.” This PCW Speaker Series event will address the biggest parenting dilemma of all time: how to push kids to succeed and find happiness in a challenging world without pushing them too far. Parents will learn how to transform unhealthy pressure into a powerful force that guides, encourages, motivates and inspires their children to be their best selves and will ultimately build a deeper connection with their child.
The discussion will be followed by a Q&A period. Please submit any questions you may have in advance to administration@parentscouncil.org. All parents, administrators, faculty and staff are invited. Register here.
Parents' Association
Thanksgiving Reflections and Looking Ahead
Arriving from Istanbul, Turkey, to Santa Ana, California, in the fall of 1958, my father did not speak English nor did he know anything about the American holiday of Thanksgiving. What he did know was: he had the day off from his English class, everywhere was closed, and he didn’t have a kitchen. Read more.
Volunteer at the Igloo Outpost
The Igloo is moving outside for the 17th Annual Tip-Off Classic Basketball Tournament on Friday and Saturday, December 3-4. Help us sell concessions in the deCamp Garden, and sign up for a shift here.
School Store
Tip-Off Tournament
Need spirit wear for the white-out? To receive your items for Friday, place your order no later than noon on Thursday, December 2. Select “Local Pickup” to have your order dropped off to your student’s division.
Pick up some great accessories and stocking stuffers at the School Store Accessory pop-up at the FH Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, December 3, from 2:30 to 7 p.m. We will have some of your favorite accessories including hats, tote bags, car stickers and more!
Stadium Seats
We have a few stadium seats left from Homecoming. Place your order today for Tip-Off!
Holiday Shopping
The holiday season is upon us. To ensure you or your loved ones receive Flint Hill spirit wear before winter break, please place your orders by Wednesday, December 15.
The School Store uses priority shipping, but please allow a week for local packages to be delivered and up to two weeks for packages mailed outside the DMV area.
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.
