Upper School Newsletter - March 1, 2023

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Message From Division Director

This morning, members of the Alumni Office lead our annual celebration of “100 Days to Graduation.” We surprise the seniors with the subterfuge of calling a class meeting, which is really a cover to get them to the gym so we can celebrate the milestone, and have them leave the gym through a faculty tunnel. Though 100 days might still seem like a substantial number, my experience from last year is that Spring Break and Senior Projects make those days fly by quickly.

When we reach the 100-day milestone, it also serves as a reminder of how close we are to the end of the year, prompting us to finalize discussions around any changes that we are considering for next year. One topic that comes up frequently in my meetings with families, whether at division coffees or during one-to-one conferences, is the school’s dress guidelines. As you can imagine, I hear a variety of opinions about what changes should be added to the dress guidelines, often in opposite directions of making it either more professional or more casual. I have already been working with the Student Council Association to hear their feedback and to brainstorm any possible changes for next year. In my next newsletter message, I will include a survey for parents regarding the dress guidelines so I can collect additional feedback and thoughts. If everyone could take a few moments next week to share thoughts on this topic, it will help me get a sense of what parents are experiencing and thinking regarding the dress guidelines for 2023-2024.

Don Paige
Director of the Upper School

Announcements

Upper School Course Selection for 2023-2024 Opens Monday, March 27

The online course selection module will officially open for one week on Monday, March 27. Here are the slides about Rising Grades 10-12 Course Selection from Assistant Director of the Upper School and Academic Dean Debbie Ayers’ presentation at this afternoon’s Rising Grades 10-12 Division Coffee: Academic Planning. For parents who have any questions, please contact your student’s advisor.

Kaleidoscope Parent Book Club Discussion, "Dress Coded" — Monday, March 6

The Kaleidoscope Book Club provides an opportunity for parents to connect and discuss a variety of topics through books. The group will discuss the book "Dress Coded" by Carrie Firestone on Monday, March 6, 8:30-9:30 a.m., in the Peterson Middle School Conference Room. You are welcome to attend even if you haven't read the book. We look forward to building and deepening relationships through this shared learning opportunity. Please contact Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator Miles Henderson if you have any questions.

Winter Sports Athletic Ceremony — Thursday, March 9

Our Winter Sports Award Ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 9, 8:25-9:25 a.m., in the Upper School Gym. Join us as we recognize and celebrate our Upper School winter athletic accomplishments. The ceremony is open to parents of winter sport athletes. The ceremony will also be live-streamed on the Flint Hill Athletics YouTube page. We hope to see you there.

A Message From the Yearbook Staff

Hello, Flint Hill parents! We are doing a flashback section in the yearbook this year and are offering the opportunity for you to submit old photos of your Flint Hill Husky. The pictures can be from Flint Hill or outside of Flint Hill. There is no age specification; any picture from before high school works!

If you’d like to participate, please email your photo to yearbook@flinthill.org and be sure to include the following information:

Your student’s full name.
Your relationship with them as the submitter (i.e. mom/dad).
Their current grade.

Upcoming Events

Parent Morning Mixer
Thursday, March 2
Miller House, 8:15-9:15 a.m.

Lower School Uniform Exchange Drop Off
Thursday, March 2 - Friday, March 3 & Monday, March 6
Miller House Front Porch, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Kaleidoscope Book Club
Monday, March 6
Peterson Middle School - Conference Room, 8:30-9:30 a.m.

End of Third Quarter
Wednesday, March 8

Winter Sports Athletic Ceremony
Thursday, March 9, 8:25-9:25 a.m.
Upper School Gym

School Store Open
Friday, March 10
Hazel Lower School - Room 112, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Spring Break, No School
Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 24

Upper School Course Selection for 2023-2024 Opens
Monday, March 27

Parents’ Association

Last Parent Morning Mixer — Tomorrow: Thursday, March 2

Join us tomorrow — Thursday, March 2, 8:15-9:15 a.m. on the Miller House front porch at the Lower School campus — for our last Parent Morning Mixer of the 2022-2023 school year. All JK-12 parents are invited to this informal social, after morning drop-off, to get together and visit with other parents. Rain location: Miller House cafeteria.

Spring Uniform Drop-Off — Thursday, March 2 - Friday, March 3 & Monday, March 6

Parents may drop off gently-used, clean uniforms, P.E./athletic and spirit wear on the Miller House front porch: Thursday, March 2 - Friday, March 3 and Monday, March 6, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Middle and Upper School parents are also welcome to donate.

Spring Uniform Exchange Next Week — Friday, March 10

Mark your calendars for the Spring Uniform Exchange on Friday, March 10, 8:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., in Room 101 of the Hazel Lower School. Enter the Lower School through the front entrance (Door 1) to check in with Security, and head down the stairs to Room 101. There is no cost for this event, and you do not have to donate uniforms in order to participate. Item availability is based on donations and will be first-come, first-served.

Parent Social hosted by Divisional Ambassadors — Tuesday, April 11

The Divisional Ambassadors are here to help you connect! They are actively involved in our community and will be encouraging you to get involved, too, by sharing information about volunteer opportunities and Parents’ Association events. Read about them on our website (click the “Divisional Ambassadors” tab).

Join the Divisional Ambassadors for an informal social on Tuesday, April 11, 10:00-10:30 a.m., at the Peterson Middle School, immediately following the Learning Center Coffee (JK-12), 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Save the Date for A Night on the Hill — Friday, April 14

All JK-12 parents, alumni parents and alumni are invited to A Night on the Hill for an all-adult, social evening at the Peterson Middle School – Friday, April 14, 7:30-10:00 p.m. An electronic invitation and more details will be sent soon.

Parents Council of Washington Speaker Series (Zoom): Ana Homayoun — Thursday, April 20

Flint Hill is a member of the Parents Council of Washington (PCW), a nonprofit organization that hosts programming for member schools throughout the school year. On Thursday, April 20, 7:00-8:30 p.m., FH parents are invited to a PCW webinar presentation—“Social Media Wellness: Helping Children and Adults Build Buoyancy in an Unbalanced Digital World.”

Noted author, speaker and educator Ana Homayoun will discuss modern parenting dilemmas in the age of smartphones and speak about the framework of the three Ss – healthy socialization, effective self-regulation, and overall safety – from her book, “Social Media Wellness: Helping Teens and Tweens Thrive in an Unbalanced Digital World.” Ana will offer practical solutions for parents, educators, and students of all ages as they navigate the ever-changing issues involving social networking and healthy child and teen development. Time for Q&A will be provided after the presentation. Please submit advance questions by Friday, April 14, to administration@parentscouncil.org.

It’s Tee Time at FH’s Golf Invitational and Skills Clinic — Thursday, May 25

Whether you're a once-a-week or a once-a-year golfer, join the Flint Hill community for a casual golf scramble that brings together our Huskies for a fun day on the links! Form your own team, or we can place you on one. This annual tradition has a history of selling out, so make plans early and register soon to play in the Invitational. And if you prefer to not play 18, sign up for our skills clinic and get some great tips from a pro!

Proceeds benefit the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel. Visit the Flint Hill Golf Invitational website to register, sign up to volunteer, or learn more about sponsorships opportunities. Contact Engagement and Stewardship Director Tiffany Parry with questions.

Concessions Volunteers Needed: Spring Schedule Available!

The spring schedule is now available for concessions volunteers at The Den, when it reopens for the spring athletics season. The Den is located on the John M. Thomas Terrace, the premiere spot to watch games. Additionally, The Igloo will remain open during the day for Upper School students until the end of the school year, so you can still sign up for a shift there as well. Volunteering in concessions is a fun way to make new connections with other parents across divisions. Check out the schedules and invite a friend to join you!