Upper School Newsletter - November 18, 2020

Interesting Articles

Just how important is a college admissions essay?

Learn from my mistakes: What I wish I had done to get more out of parent-teacher conferences

Week of Thankful Giving and Giving Tree

During dedicated advisory time over the next few weeks, students will be reviewing their understanding of our Upper School community service requirement through the US Community Service tile of our Husky Hub Resource Board. Additional advisory activities may lead to a greater awareness of need in our community, as well as an understanding of how to effectively advocate for those in need, and how to take action.

During this time, when we are limited by necessary safety precautions, we are asking interested families to independently support our School’s community partners to please donate goods to these organizations: Fairfax County Animal Shelter, Food for Others, and/or Northern Virginia Family Services. Lists of needed items are provided in the links.

The connection made to an organization today could become an ongoing avenue of support and advocacy for those members of our community who need it most. Please follow all CDC guidelines for safety when donating. If you have questions, please contact All-School Community Service Coordinator Linda Okoth.

Information provided courtesy of our student leaders in The NOVA Neighbors Club

Fall Signing Day

Earlier this week, we celebrated three of our student-athletes who have committed to playing their sports at the college level with an outdoor signing ceremony.

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK

Online Ordering for Virtual Learner Student Portraits Now Available

Portraits for virtual learners photographed on October 28 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.

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.