Upper School Newsletter - NOVEMBER 10, 2021
Message From Division Director
As we approach the end of the semester, I want to take a moment to remind families that the Flint Hill Upper School decided to remove winter exams from the yearly schedule back in January of 2020. This will be our second year of using those days as classroom teaching days as opposed to examination days. In some of my informal conversations with many parents, I found out that many families attributed the change to the conditions during the pandemic, therefore, assuming we would return to giving semester exams this winter. I thought it would be useful to utilize my weekly newsletter slot to clarify this confusion and also remind the community why we decided to replace winter exams with teaching days.
The movement away from winter exams has been happening in many schools across the country. Though winter exams certainly have pedagogical value, many schools simultaneously and independently came to the conclusion that their value doesn’t outweigh what could be gained from having an extra week of classroom time. First, winter exams have a timing predicament involving whether you hold them in January or December, both of which are problematic. Another reason involves the loss of class time. Advanced curriculums, particularly advanced placement curriculums, contain a robust amount of information to cover. The use of winter exams not only removed a week from the teaching schedule but also the ancillary preparation and review days. In short, to have exams was to trade approximately five of six classroom meetings for a single test. Lastly, schools recognized that keeping the semester exams held in June provided the opportunity to keep exposing students to that experience while regaining the lost days in December and January.
So, look for my exam tips for parents sometime in April! As for now, parents can focus on the feedback and ideas exchanged during the conference days to take the success their children already showed in the first quarter and build upon it for the second quarter.
Don Paige
Director of the Upper School
THE LATEST
The Nutcracker — November 12 and 13
Reminder: come see “The Nutcracker” — there are performances on both Friday and Saturday, November 12 and 13, and many brilliant and talented performers in this year’s show! A note from Director of the Upper School Don Paige: “Though I will be performing in the show, I don’t count myself among that talented list; I am more comic relief!” Tickets for “The Nutcracker” are available now. Tickets are free, but the best seats are going fast, so make your reservation today. Click here to reserve your tickets.
Calling All Bakers! Volunteers Needed: Bake Mini Pies for Teachers and Staff
Every day, we are thankful for our faculty and staff. Join us to give them a slice of our appreciation! Sign up here to bake mini pies or to volunteer to help arrange! Pies will be distributed to faculty and staff on Thursday, November 18, and Friday, November 19. Once you sign up, we will contact you and coordinate the drop-off of the mini-pie tins to bake in. Once you have baked them, you can drop them off during carpool on the morning of Thursday, November 19. Contact Sibel Unsal P’22 with any questions!
Reminder to Order Your Tip-Off Tournament T-shirt Before Tomorrow's 11 p.m. Deadline
Show your Husky spirit and order your 2021 Basketball Tip-Off Classic Tournament shirt! Click here to place your order, and be sure to select your student’s homeroom teacher — t-shirts will be delivered to those classrooms on Thursday, December 2. The shirts are available in youth and adult sizes. The 17th Annual Tip-Off Classic Tournament is the official kick-off to Flint Hill’s varsity basketball season with games played on December 3 and 4. From time to time to show our School spirit, special attire theme days are organized by the Upper School Student Athletic Advisory Council. To celebrate the Tip-Off Tournament, everyone’s invited to wear white, including the optional special edition Tip-Off t-shirt, on Friday, December 3.
Spirit and Service — Parents Can Make a Difference!
This year, Flint Hill is hosting a community-wide meal pack to benefit Food for Others on Friday, December 3, from 4 to 8 p.m., during the 17th Annual Tip Off Classic Varsity Basketball tournament. Parents are invited to donate food that will be collected at morning carpool during the Week of Thankful Giving (Monday, November 29-Wednesday, December 1). Let’s join together to make a difference.
This year, Flint Hill is hosting a community-wide meal pack to benefit Food for Others on Friday, December 3, from 4 to 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.
All food will be served and enjoyed outside and masks are required to be worn while inside the Upper School building.
Donate Food
Parent food donation sign up
Upper School student food donation sign up
Middle School students will receive information from Mr. Lamont.
Human Sexuality Program — November 17-18
As a part of our continued effort to educate our students about safety, Jenna Beckwith Messman, sexual health program coordinator at the University of Maryland Health Center, will speak to juniors and seniors about sexual health and wellness during our annual Human Sexuality week. Utilizing the National Sex Ed Standards, Jenna will provide sexual health education and will lead students through a variety of discussions and activities. A follow-up email will be sent to students and their parents to help drive ongoing discussions at home.
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.
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.
Winter Athletics Begins
Wednesday, November 10
The Nutcracker
Friday, November 12, 7 p.m., and Saturday, November 13, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., Olson Theater
Winter Percussion Concert
Wednesday, November 17, 7 p.m.
Thanksgiving Break
Monday, November 22-Friday, November 26
Classes Resume
Monday, November 29
Week of Thankful Giving
Monday, November 29-Wednesday, December 1
Students will have the opportunity in advisory to sign up to bring an item for donation to Food for Others.
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.
Stay Up To Date: Review This Year’s COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures
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.
Parents' Association
Gratitude for Flint Hill Yearbook Ads
After watching John Thomas’ newsletter video last week about the flooding of memories, and the power some objects have to bring us back to places and times in our life, it made me think of something that has become very special to me — the Flint Hill yearbook. I love it! 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
Holiday Shopping
The holiday season is upon us. To ensure you or your loved ones receive their 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.
Spiritwear for Tip-Off Tournament
Are you in need of white spiritwear to celebrate the Tip-Off Tournament? Click here to shop a great selection of white t-shirts and hoodies.
Sweatshirts and Outerwear
We have a great selection of sweatshirts and outerwear to keep you warm. Click the links below to order.
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.
