Upper School Newsletter - April 28, 2021

NEW/UPDATED INFORMATION

 

Quote of the Week

“Careers, like rockets, don’t always take off on schedule. The key is to keep working the engines.” — Gary Sinise

Interesting Article

Five Practices to Help Students Make Stress Work For Them

 

AP Exams

Students are expected to come to campus to take their Advanced Placement Exams, May 3-17. The members of our freshman and sophomore classes will experience school virtually during the AP Exam period. Freshmen and sophomores will return to the on-campus learning platform on Tuesday, May 18.

 

Student Virtual Trivia Night for Rising Grades 5-12
Wednesday, May 19, at 7 p.m.

Students currently in grades 4 through 11 are invited to a Trivia Night! Similar to the parent event yesterday, the event will be hosted by Trivia Hub and will feature a live host. Students new to Flint Hill next year are also joining in on the fun. To help students make new connections, we will randomly create grade level teams that include both new and current students. Teams will huddle in breakout rooms as they discuss their answers so the evening will be a combination of time with all participants and small group fun.

Sign Up here to participate. The registration deadline is Wednesday, May 12.

 

 

A Reminder from Health Services

On Tuesday, we shared a reminder with Middle and Upper School students, faculty and staff regarding our COVID-19 mitigation protocols. We understand we’re all seeing the same headlines about anticipated changes to guidance for mask-wearing and distancing as vaccinations increase. And the day we sent the email, the CDC updated its guidance on mask-wearing outdoors for vaccinated individuals.

We want to remind our families that at Flint Hill, we are still following the guidance of our local health department, and the safety protocols that have brought us this far in the school year.

We want to make sure that our students can have a strong finish to the school year and avoid quarantines and preventable disruptions after we’ve come so far!

Here are the reminders we shared with your students:

• Everyone is still required to wear a mask at all times, except in instances in which a teacher or staff member is alone in a classroom or office. In those instances, masks can be removed. Students may remove their masks during meals and scheduled mask breaks. This is still the case regardless of vaccination status.
• Between athletics and divisional outdoor activities, there is a range of approaches among students and adults when it comes to physical distancing and wearing masks outdoors. The default should always be to wear masks and maintain a safe distance during athletic practices, recess and other outdoor activities. However, our Director of Health Services Mary Hart has worked with the division directors on division-specific guidelines regarding mask-wearing and distancing outdoors, and families are encouraged to contact them if you have specific questions.

 

We are so close to ending this year on a high note and if we work together, we can do exactly that. Thank you in advance for your help!

 

2021 Virtual Fine Arts Awards are Now Online

In this special video, each of our Upper School Fine Arts awardees has been interviewed by their nominating teacher. Their stories about their experiences as artists at Flint Hill School are inspiring and illuminating. Congratulations to all of our Fine Arts award winners, and their teachers.

 

The Path to $15,000 Annual Fund Challenge

You’ve put us on our way to meet our challenge: raise $15,000 for the Annual Fund, and a trustee will match it with an additional gift of $15,000!

Your support of the Annual Fund ensures that our students and teachers have the necessary tools and resources to solve any problem that comes their way and that they can find multiple paths to a solution.

Will you be part of our solution to this challenge? Be counted with your gift to the Annual Fund and help our students reach their full potential. Make your gift today!

 

 

Athletics Corner

Welcome to the Athletics Corner! Find all your Flint Hill Athletic weekly updates here!

Spring Sport Schedule

• We are excited that spring sports start and compete this week!!!!
• Schedule:
  • 4/30 Boys' Tennis vs GDS, 4:15 p.m.
  • 4/30 Boys' Lacrosse vs GDS, 4:15 p.m.
  • 4/30 Girls' Softball vs GDS, 4:15 p.m.
  • 4/30 Boys' JV Baseball vs Potomac, 4:15 p.m.
  • 4/30 Girls' Basketball vs Bullis, away, 5 p.m.
  • 4/30 Boys' Basketball vs Bullis, 5 p.m.
  • 5/1 Girls' Softball vs SSSA, away, 1 p.m.
  • 5/1 Home Track Meet vs GDS, 10 p.m.
  • 5/1 Girls' Lacrosse vs Epsicopal, away, 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
  • 5/1 Boys' Baseball vs GDS, 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

We are hoping to stream these matches on our Flint Hill YouTube channel 

Spectator Policy

Great News! Our leagues the Mid Atlantic Conference (MAC) and the Interscholastic School League (ISL) have approved spectators for the upcoming Spring Season. The leagues have approved two spectators (family members/guests) for each home athlete only. Family members/guests or students from visiting/non-host schools are not permitted, and no other outside spectators are permitted.

In accordance with our respective leagues, Flint Hill has approved the following spectator policy for the spring sports:

• Two immediate family members per Flint Hill player are allowed. No other spectators are permitted.
  • Family members must sign up prior to each game so we have an accurate list of spectators attending the match.
  • Please find the sign-up form for spectators here.
  • If a student has more than two parents/guardians, please reach out to Ms. Parente to discuss options.

Spring Sports Covid-19 Testing

• Student-athletes will continue to be tested on Thursdays before practice. This Covid-19 testing schedule will allow us to schedule competitions on Fridays and Saturdays with other schools that are also testing. All in-season athletes must complete Covid-19 testing each week in order to practice or compete.
• Students must test on Thursday to play in matches or games.

Husky Highlights

• Bela Aguilar - Coach Davis has this to say about Bela: “Bela Aguilar is a four-year participant in outdoor track and field. Throughout her career she's stepped up and helped the team by running different events when an emergency arose. Her goal this season is to break the school record in the discus and throw 100 feet.”
• Dusty Raymond - Coach Horne has this to say about Dusty: “Over the past four years, Dusty Raymond has developed into the quintessential leader for the boys' lacrosse team, for he is selfless, skilled, and dedicated. After three games, Dusty is the team's leading scorer, and he has already taken on multiple roles within the offense as both an attackman and midfielder.  or seven years, we have passed the #23 jersey down to the young man who embodies a positive competitive spirit and selfless dedication to his team.  This year, Dusty has been bestowed with this honor, and he represents it well each and every day on and off the field.”

• Congratulations to our Girls' Lacrosse, Boys' Baseball, Boys' Tennis, Boys' Lacrosse and Girls' Softball teams, which all won their matches last weekend!

Social Media

• Please follow our social media accounts @flinthillathletics on Instagram and @Athletics_FHS on Twitter for fun challenges between our athletes, Husky Highlights, and photos from our athletic events!

 

 

The Dangers Associated with Vaping and Juuling

As part of our continued effort to provide our community with education about safety and wellness. Here are a few important factors about vaping and juuling:

• A Vape, short for vaporizer, is a small electronic smoking cessation device that is used to vape (smoke), flavoring, nicotine, marijuana or other substances.
• 81% of current youth e-cigarette users cited the availability of appealing flavors as the primary reason for use.
• In Virginia, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy, sell or possess vapor products.
• Vaping produces a vapor that quickly dissipates into the air. Typically, people vape flavoring mixed with nicotine. The scent of the flavoring can make it hard to detect.
• Teenagers are at a particular risk to quickly become addicted to nicotine and for nicotine to impact their brains because brain development is not complete until the age of 25.
• Teenagers can easily access information online about how to obtain a vape, how to vape discreetly to avoid getting caught, where to hide a vape, and how to vape substances other than nicotine and flavoring.
• The Juul, a popular vape, is a small USB-sized device that contains a pack of cigarettes worth of nicotine in each pod.
• Many teenagers mistakenly believe that the chemicals in vaporizer flavors are not harmful however when the mixture of chemicals is heated, they become a group of harmful compounds known as carbonyls.
• It is important for parents to talk to their kids about their views on vaping and to encourage them to make healthy choices.

 

Resources

How to talk with teenagers about vaping

Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes:  A Tip Sheet for Parents

Schools Fret as Teens Take to Vaping, Even in Classrooms

 

 

Virtual Clay Camp: CLAY-ZY Days of Summer

This camp will get you hooked on CLAY! So, get fired up! Come explore the exciting world of ceramics in this two-week virtual program. Live instructor demonstrations, practice and group discussions will occur in our Google Hangout Meets. Clay campers will have an opportunity to work both independently and collaboratively throughout each meeting with both peers and instructors. This camp offers exposure to a wide range of techniques and projects while developing good relationships throughout our studio community. Clay Camp is designed to offer opportunities for all skill levels to develop their technical ability with clay while finding their unique voice as a maker. Individual instruction will promote creative expression and skill development. Each camper will complete a body of work they can both use and admire for many years to come.

No experience is necessary and all levels are welcome. Our session will end with a celebratory online exhibition of selected works.

Materials:

All clay, glaze materials and firings are included in the camp fee. Each camper will need to pick up a 50lb box of clay prior to the first day of camp (included in camp). Participants will also be supplied with a beginner tool kit and supplies.

Session:    June 14-25

Time:        9-11 a.m.

Grades:    Rising grades 5-12

Cost:        $500

 

 

UPDATES AND REMINDERS FROM LAST WEEK...

 

Spring Exam Schedule

Here is the Upper School exam schedule:

• May 27:  Reading Day (required for Grades 9 and 10) — this is a change, as we used to only require Grade 9. In other years, students from other grades could attend optionally.
• May 28: Math Exams
• June 1:  Upper School History Exams and 9/10 English Essay Exams
• June 2:  Science Exams
• June 3:  Language Exams
• June 4:  Closing Ceremony

 

 

Please Complete the STUDENT VACCINATION FORM

Let's all do our part! Vaccine appointments are open to everyone 16 and older. Let’s protect ourselves and each other. Another benefit is that any student or employee who received their final vaccine dose 14 days or more before exposure does not have to quarantine per CDC guidelines.

Students and employees who have been fully vaccinated 14 days or more before exposure to a person who tests positive will be exempt from quarantine if the Student COVID-19 Vaccination Form has been completed. In the event of a positive case, the list of students for whom this information is on file will be reviewed in advance of a Red Group Notification being sent. Those individuals will not receive the Red Group Notification message.

If your student has already been vaccinated, please complete the form now. Otherwise please complete it at the time the final dose is administered. 

 

 

Transportation

Bus service to and from Flint Hill is an important logistical component for many of our families.  We are working toward providing bus service for the 2021-22 school year for Middle and Upper School students only.

If you are interested in bus service for the 2021-22 school year, please complete the bus service interest form by Friday, May 7. Information on cost, possible routes, stops and pick-up/drop-off times is included on the bus service interest form.

The final list of available bus routes will be determined by ridership demand and is subject to change.