Middle School Newsletter – Aug 21, 2024
AUGUST 21, 2024
Letter From The Division Director
I’m sure the energy is rising in your households as your children — like all of us — experience the range of emotions common to the start of school. After spending a week with our new faculty and staff, we welcomed back all of the adults this week for preplanning meetings and final preparations. We are very excited to meet with you and your children next week and officially kick off the 2024-25 school year! Here are a few reminders from the previous newsletter:
- Consider joining me on Monday, August 26, at 9:00 a.m. for a parent virtual orientation. It may be most helpful for new parents but can be a good refresher and opportunity for questions from everyone. Please join using this Google Meet link.
- Please remember to use the link I sent via email to sign up for Parent-Advisor Conferences on Monday, August 26, or Tuesday, August 27. You are welcome to bring your child to school either of these days for a self-guided tour if they would benefit from visiting the building before the first official day!
- The first official day for students is Wednesday, August 28. Our orientation and community-building activities for students are built into the first three days of school to ensure a smooth transition. We will do plenty of outdoor active play and talk about what to expect with athletics; formal athletic practices begin on Tuesday, September 3.
- Make sure to review the arrival and dismissal procedures in the Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year section below. Please note that students should be ready to exit cars in the morning when the car is stopped anywhere along the front of the building — not just directly in front — and that passing is not permitted. This allows us to keep traffic moving safely and efficiently.
- Our Middle School Back-to-School Night is on Thursday, September 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m. Please join us to walk through your child’s schedule and hear about each course from their teachers. We will provide bottled water but not food. Additional details about parking, class times, etc., will be included in the September 4 newsletter. Please note that this is not an evening for students.
Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle School
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Daily Schedule and Letter Days
Each school day of the year has been assigned a letter (A, B, C, D, E, and F), and we will rotate the schedules accordingly. You are welcome to subscribe to the letter day calendar (Google calendar link, iCal feed link) or simply view your child's class schedule for any day of the year, which is helpful for scheduling appointments, etc.
- View Your Child's Class Schedule in Husky Hub: Log in to Husky Hub, click “Children” and select your child’s name. The default view is "Progress" to see your child's classes and teachers. If you click the "Schedule" tab instead, you will see the schedule for the week and can click "View Full Schedule" to see the current (or future) month's view.
- View the General Middle School Daily Schedule
Student Device Information
All 7th grade students and new 8th grade students will be issued their school-owned MacBook Air laptops during the first week of school. Parents of these students received an email from tech@flinthill.org with their child’s Google login information. Please email helpdesk@flinthill.org with any questions.
Lunch
In collaboration with Fairfax Food Service, we provide a buffet-style lunch every day that is included in tuition. Salad bar and sandwich options are available daily as well as complete menus and nutritional/allergen information.
Snack Bar During Morning Break
We have a morning break every day, 10:20-10:40 a.m., and encourage students to eat a snack at that time, particularly if they have second lunch. Students may bring snacks from home to keep in their backpacks. Students may also purchase a snack at school during break, choosing from the intentionally limited menu below. All items cost $1.00; cash only.
- Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cheddar Crackers
- Nature's Bakery Whole Wheat Fig Bars (Vegan) — blueberry, strawberry, and apple cinnamon
- Bare Baked Crunchy Apple Fruit Snack (Gluten Free)
- Nature Valley Protein Granola Bars
- SunChips multigrain variety pack
- GoGo Squeez applesauce (gluten-free, nut-free, and dairy-free)
Parents’ Association Middle School Volunteer Fair — Monday, August 26, and Tuesday, August 27
Looking for ways to get involved in our school community? Stop by the Parents’ Association table in the Middle School Lobby during Parent Advisor Conferences on Monday, August 26, and Tuesday, August 27, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., to learn about the many volunteer opportunities available. If you’re unable to attend, you may complete this form to share your general interest, and we will reach out to you as each opportunity arises.
Middle School Picture Day — Thursday, September 5
Remember that Thursday, September 5, is Picture Day for students in the Middle School.
Middle School Back-to-School Night — Thursday, September 5
Please join us on Thursday, September 5, 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Peterson Middle School to walk through your child’s schedule and hear about each course from their teachers. We will provide bottled water but not food. Additional details about parking, class times, etc., will be included in the September 4 newsletter. Please note that this is not an evening for students.
Register for the Parents’ Association Tennis Social — Friday, September 13
Whether you are advanced or new to the game, join fellow parents, alumni parents, and grandparents at the Parents’ Association Tennis Social on Friday, September 13, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., on the Middle and Upper School Campus Tennis Courts. It’s a wonderful opportunity to meet other families and enjoy some friendly competition. Players of all levels are welcome. Want to sharpen your skills and learn some tips from a pro? Sign up for the Skills and Drills Clinic. Or, register for the tournament where you’ll be matched with other parents for some mixed doubles. After a fun morning on the courts, plan to stay for a light lunch, raffles, and prizes. Learn more and register! Contact Advancement Officer Olivia Landrum '11 with questions.
Parent Morning Mixer — Tuesday, September 17
Parent Morning Mixers are informal socials for all JK-12 parents to get together on campus after morning carpool and are a great way to meet other parents across divisions. Parents from all divisions are welcome to attend regardless of the location. This year’s first Parent Morning Mixer is on Tuesday, September 17, 8:30-9:30 a.m., at the Upper School deCamp Garden.
Parents’ Association: Sign Up to Volunteer in the Igloo and Den!
One of the most frequent and fun volunteer opportunities is selling concessions in the Igloo or Den. It’s a great way to meet other parents, while getting a glimpse of life in the Upper School, or to get the best view of a game on the Peterson Family Field.
The Igloo is located in the Upper School and is open for Upper School students during the day and after school. The Den is located on the John M. Thomas Terrace and is open during select athletic games. The proceeds benefit the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel, which was established to support financial aid for families of current students who experience unexpected financial hardship. We are excited to open both concession stands for the school year and need many volunteers to operate!
Sign Up for Shifts:
Special thanks to our Concessions Leads!
Stephanie Anderson P’28
Wanda Bergeron P’25
Barbara Frank P’21, ’25
Kesha Kingswell P’26
Tanya Loyd P’25
Molisa Meholic P’29
Shamika Shahid P’25
Reminders
Middle School First Day of Class — Wednesday, August 28
The first day for Middle School students is Wednesday, August 28, 8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year
Several resources are available to help your family prepare for the upcoming school year. Preparing for the 2024-25 School Year is a tile on the Husky Hub Resource Board with a comprehensive listing of back-to-school information. Here are some quick links we think you’ll be most interested in:
Please Review the 2024-25 Flint Hill Family Handbook
All families are encouraged to review the Flint Hill Family Handbook for the 2024-25 school year. The Family Handbook outlines community standards and policies for all Flint Hill students and family members and is organized in three sections: “Respect for Self,” “Respect for Others,” and “Respect for Shared Environment.” The Flint Hill Family Handbook will live on the Resource Board for ease of reference. No other action is required, as enrollment at Flint Hill expects awareness and respect of these policies throughout the school year.
Health Forms — New and Returning Students
Completed health forms must be uploaded to the Magnus Health system and approved by the first day of classes, or your child may not attend school. If you have any questions regarding the health forms, please email Director of Health Services Mary Hart or call at 571.926.2818.
Medication Drop-Off — Tomorrow, Thursday, August 22
For students who will need to keep medication on campus during the school year, medication drop-off day is on Thursday, August 22, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., at the Upper School Circle.
NOTE THAT DROP-OFF TAKES PLACE AT THE UPPER SCHOOL CIRCLE.
Families will pull into the circle, and a nurse will come to your car to collect the medication and the appropriate forms. As a reminder, all prescription medication must be accompanied by the physician's order on the Medication Authorization Form, which must be completed and signed by the prescribing physician.
All medication must have the pharmacy label on it. All over-the-counter medication must be accompanied by the Medication Authorization Form and must be completed and signed by a parent or guardian. The medication must be in the original packaging and must be administered according to the package instructions, including the time and route to be administered.
If you are unable to come to the School on the medication drop-off day, please call to schedule an appointment with your division’s nurse prior to the start of school.
- Upper School Nurse: 703.584.2396
- Middle School Nurse: 703.584.2397
- Lower School Nurse: 703.584.2399
To drop off medication refills throughout the school year, please call and schedule an appointment with your division’s nurse.
Middle School Parent Virtual Orientation — Monday, August 26
New and returning parents are invited to learn more about the transition to the school year and ask any remaining questions. This virtual session will be held on Monday, August 26, 9:00-10:00 a.m. via Google Meet — meet.google.com/anq-zqgx-kif
Middle School Parent-Advisor Conferences — Monday, August 26 - Tuesday, August 27
To facilitate the important partnership for the school year ahead, advisors will be hosting parent conferences on Monday, August 26, and Tuesday, August 27. These 15-minute conferences will allow you to connect with your child’s advisor and share any helpful information. Parents should have received a sign-up link by email on Monday, August 12. If you have any difficulties or questions about the online scheduling system, please contact Michelle Keatley. You are welcome to bring your child to school either of these days for a self-guided tour if they would benefit from visiting the building before the first official day.
Middle School Athletics Practices Begin — Tuesday, September 3
We will have organizational meetings during the first week of school, and practices officially begin on Tuesday, September 3. Contact Associate Director of Athletics Adam Rice with any questions, and visit Husky Hub for additional information on seasonal logistics. You can find all Upper School and Middle School fall game schedules by visiting the Athletics page of our website.
Upcoming Events
Medication Drop-Off
Thursday, August 22
Upper School Circle, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Middle School Parent Virtual Orientation
Monday, August 26
9:00-10:00 a.m.
Google Meet Link
Middle School Parent-Advisor Conferences
Monday, August 26, and Tuesday, August 27
Link to register was sent via email on Monday, August 12.
Parents' Association Middle School Volunteer Fair
Monday, August 26, and Tuesday, August 27
Peterson Middle School Lobby, 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
If unable to attend, complete this form to share your general interest
Middle School First Day of Class
Wednesday, August 28
8:00 a.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Labor Day — Grades JK-12, No Classes
Monday, September 2
Middle School Athletics Practices Begin
Tuesday, September 3
Middle School Picture Day
Thursday, September 5
Middle School Back-to-School Night
Thursday, September 5
Peterson Middle School, 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Parents’ Association Divisional Ambassador Kickoff Meeting
Friday, September 6
Westwood Country Club, 8:45-11:45 a.m.
Parents’ Association Tennis Social
Friday, September 13
Middle and Upper School Campus Tennis Courts, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Learn More and Register
Parents of "Lifers" Reception
Monday, September 16
Upper School deCamp Garden, 12:15-1:15 p.m.
All-School Gathering
Monday, September 16
Upper School Gym, 1:15-2:15 p.m.
Parent Morning Mixer
Tuesday, September 17
Upper School deCamp Garden, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
FH Volleyball Invitational
Saturday, September 21
