Upper School Newsletter - May 18, 2022
Message From Division Director
Starting approximately two weeks ago it felt like we were getting more positive cases daily, both at school and in Fairfax County. I am thankful that we have reached a point where we are getting far more quarantined students and staff returning to school than leaving school. Like many of you, I am hoping this trend continues and this latest wave of cases continues to be on the downslope of the crest.
The teachers have been working hard to adapt their last assessments and activities to help accommodate the students who were in quarantine these last few weeks. Also, academic departments are considering if any changes need to be made to the final exams being held at the end of the year. By this point, the review guides for exams have been posted, so teachers will communicate clearly with students if any reductions or adjustments to the exam emerge. We are confident, however, that the scheduled review days and the Reading Day provide ample time to work with students in preparation for their exams. Please continue to encourage your student to utilize office hours for any questions that they might have regarding their exam.
Don Paige
Director of the Upper School
THE LATEST
Upper School Closing Ceremony
Friday, June 3, noon-2 p.m., Upper School Gym
- All Upper School students should arrive at the Upper School Campus by 11 a.m. and report to their advisory.
- Parents attending the event should park in the Upper School visiting parking or faculty parking and walk over to the Upper School gym.
- The closing ceremony program includes the presentation of a variety of Flint Hill endowed awards, college book awards, community awards, and the announcement of cum laude.
- Parents and relatives are invited to attend.
- Recommended Dress for students — a collared shirt or blouse with khaki-style or dress pants; skirt with a blouse, or sundress.
- Students are dismissed from school immediately after the ceremony.
- Please note that there is no bus service on this day.
Prom 2022: Under the Stars
Prom will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 8-11 p.m, at The River View at Occoquan in Lorton, Virginia. This is a private event; the venue will be alcohol-free, and only approved ticket holders will be permitted to attend. In addition, no smoking (cigars, e-cigarettes, cigarettes, vapes/Juuls, etc.) will be permitted at this event. All students must arrive no later than 9 p.m. and must stay until at least 10:30 p.m. The event will be chaperoned by Flint Hill staff and security.
Prom Ticket Sales Information:
Tickets are available for purchase online at www.flinthill.org/prom, from Monday, April 25, until Friday, May 27. Tickets are $45 per person for seniors and $50 per person for juniors and guests.
Prom Guest Information:
Here is a link to the Prom Guest Form for students who would like to bring a guest from outside of Flint Hill. Forms are due to either Ms. Melissa Turner or Mr. Howard Chang before purchasing a guest ticket, by Friday, May 27. All guests must have a completed form on file to attend the prom by this date.
If your guest must leave the prom before 10:30 p.m., his or her parent/guardian must email both Ms. Melissa Turner and Mr. Howard Chang. In order to receive permission to leave early, you must also inform both Ms. Turner and Mr. Chang of your individual transportation arrangements from the prom. Entire groups will not be excused to leave prom early because one person within the group has an early curfew. Please contact Ms. Turner and Mr. Chang with any questions.
Reading Day Attendance Policies
Reading Day is a unique school day from the rest of the year. On that day, we create open periods of time for students to review material with their teachers in advance of their semester exams. We require ninth graders to attend school that day to make sure they take advantage of this great opportunity. Tenth graders and eleventh graders have optional attendance on that day.
However, we do not allow students to leave and return to campus that day. To make sure that we have accurate attendance on that open day, we require students to stay on campus until the end of the day once they arrive. Tenth and eleventh graders may show up at any time that day (making sure they sign in through SchoolPass), but once on campus they must stay until 2:45 p.m.
Spring Exam Schedule
Here is the Upper School exam schedule. A more precise schedule with times will be released as we get closer to exams.
- May 25: Reading Day (required for Grade 9) — students from other grades can attend optionally.
- May 26: Language Exams
- May 27: English Exams
- May 31: Math Exams
- June 1: History Exams
- June 2: Science Exams
- June 3: Upper School Closing Ceremony
Daily Bell Schedule for Exam Days (May 26-June 2)
- 9 a.m.-noon: Standard exam time
- Noon-3 p.m.: Extra time for students with accommodations
Spring Exam Schedule
- May 25: Reading Day (required for Grade 9) — students from other grades can attend optionally.
- May 26: Language Exams
- May 27: English Exams
- May 31: Math Exams
- June 1: History Exams
- June 2: Science Exams
- June 3 and June 6: Makeup Exams (Scheduled by Academic Dean)
Daily Bell Schedule for Exam Days (May 26-June 2)
- Students should arrive no later than 8:45 a.m. on exam mornings to insure they are seated and ready to begin on time.
- 9 a.m.-noon: Standard exam time
- Noon-3 p.m.: Extra time for students with accommodations
The Community of Care
This event is currently postponed until the fall. Please email Miles Henderson if you have any questions.
Friendly Reminders
- Refer a Husky and the Admission team will reach out to them.
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.
Spring Athletic Awards Ceremony
Friday, May 20, 8:25 a.m.
Community of Care: The Flint Hill Mission
Postponed until fall 2022.
Reading Day (Required attendance for ninth graders)
Wednesday, May 25
Memorial Day — Flint Hill Offices Closed
Monday, May 30
Parents’ Association Volunteer Appreciation Social
Wednesday, June 1, 8:15-9:15 a.m., John M. Thomas Terrace, Peterson Middle School
Health Services
Helpful Links
Flint Hill Positive Case and Close Contact Exposure Protocols
COVID-19 Vaccination Status Dashboard
All of these links can be found on the COVID-19 Health Information tile on the Resource Board.
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.
Parents' Association
Parent Volunteers: You’re Invited!
We want to recognize and thank you for your service to our School community. Join us on June 1, 8:15-9:15 a.m., for a breakfast reception on the John M. Thomas Terrace. Invitations were emailed, but you can also RSVP by emailing Olivia Landrum. We hope to see you there!
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers are needed to help us create a fun day of community building at the Golf Invitational on May 26. There are many opportunities to help before and during the tournament, and volunteers get to be part of all the action. No golf experience required! Sign up to volunteer. Volunteers are invited to come before their shift for lunch or stay afterward for dinner.
Want to play? A few spots have opened up for the tournament, and we are looking for an Upper School, Middle School and Lower School parent to fill a few open spaces. Come out for some friendly golf and make some new connections! There is still space available in the Skills Clinic. Contact Tiffany Parry or visit flinthill.org/golf to register.
The deadline to register for both the Tournament and Skills Clinic is Friday, May 20.
Volunteer at the Igloo Snack Bar!
We appreciate parent volunteers helping at the Igloo! Sign up for a morning or afternoon shift here.
Full Circle
Now a Flint Hill alum, Matthew McClements ’18 was the first Flint Hill Upper School student I really got to know. I can’t remember exactly when, but about eight years ago, I met his father, Mike McClements P’18, ’26 on a volunteer committee. Fast forward to present day, I now consider all the McClements part of my family. Read more.
NEWS ON THE HILL
