Middle School Newsletter – October 4, 2023
October 4, 2023
Letter From The Division Director
It was great to see so many of you at our Homecoming festivities last weekend. Our middle schoolers brought a lot of energy and spirit throughout the week and did well to keep it in balance with their classwork. We have several things to look forward to beyond the upcoming long weekend. Please see below for information about:
- Our field trips to Washington D.C. on Tuesday, October 10 — regular arrival and dismissal times apply, and please remember to pack a bag lunch!
- Our first Middle School Division Coffee for parents on Wednesday, October 11, 8:15-9:15 a.m. in the Peterson Middle School Conference Room — meet our counseling team and discuss adolescent development, social-emotional learning, and our #WinAtSocial curriculum for students and families.
- The Parent Morning Mixer on Thursday, October 12, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Upper School deCamp Garden.
Brian Lamont
Director of the Middle School
Announcements
Social-Emotional Curriculum
As a supplement to our Advisory Program and Wellness curriculum, we partner with The Social Institute and use their #WinAtSocial curriculum with our students. #WinAtSocial is a gamified, student-led curriculum that focuses on navigating social-emotional health, social media, and technology in positive, high-character ways. The program also provides resources to parents, providing insight into social media, technology, and student experiences as well as offering family discussion prompts to continue the conversations from lessons at school. Here are ways you can get involved:
- Register for the Parent Toolkit by going to the Toolkit, clicking Activate Account, and entering our school code: 0c68D8101A666E
- Continue the conversation at home using the Family Huddles that correspond to our monthly lessons. Up to this point, students have completed the orientation activities and will engage in lessons under the learning standard of “Cyberback” during advisory next week.
- Learn more about how The Social Institute supports families, and contact Middle School Counselor John Magner if you have questions.
Parent Morning Mixer — Thursday, October 12
All JK-12 parents are invited to join us for an informal social in the deCamp Garden on the Upper School Campus on Thursday, October 12, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Stop by after morning carpool and get to know other parents across divisions. Rain location: Upper School Lobby.
School Photos Now Online and Picture Makeup Day is Monday, October 16
The Flint Hill student portraits, JK to 11th grade, are now online for viewing and purchasing. You should have received an email from Freed Photography with your student's private gallery information. If you have not received this (check your spam too), please contact them at support@freedphoto.com or call 301-652-5452.
Makeup Photo Day will take place on Monday, October 16 on all campuses for any student who missed Photo Day or would like a retake.
Update Your Information in Husky Hub
In an effort to help everyone in our parenting community get to know each other, we encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities you have to personalize how your information appears in Husky Hub. Please take a moment to upload your headshot and add your name pronunciation. We also invite you to review the formal salutation field, which the school uses when sending printed mailings. If you would like to make a change to that field, please email Sarah Burnett at sburnett@flinthill.org.
Reminders
Field Trips on Tuesday, October 10
One of our annual field trips are coming up — both grades spend the day in Washington, D.C. Please review the information below and note that regular arrival and dismissal times apply.
7th Grade Advisory Day
With the goals of connecting with each other and exploring key areas of our nation’s capital, advisory groups will engage in teambuilding activities and a scavenger hunt competition around the National Mall. Safety is our top priority, and the level of responsibility for both students and advisors is increased off campus, particularly in navigating busy city streets. We will be reviewing safety protocols with students — particularly in terms of staying together as a group, paying close attention to instructions about crossing streets, and respecting the thousands of others trying to move about the city. We appreciate your efforts to support these messages at home.
Advisory Day Reminders:
- Regular 8:00 a.m. arrival and 3:25 p.m. dismissal times.
- There are no academic classes but we will have athletic practices when we return.
- Students should be in regular school dress with comfortable walking shoes.
- Students should leave MacBooks at home.
- Students will need a daypack, water bottle, bag lunch, an additional snack, and a hat/sunscreen as needed.
- Please contact your child’s advisor if you have questions.
8th Grade Holocaust Museum Trip
As part of our unit on human rights, students will visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum to better appreciate and understand the events leading to, during, and after the Holocaust. We will prepare students for the trip using various in-class activities and readings. While the subject matter and images contained within the exhibition are sometimes disturbing, the most graphic footage is protected behind walls that must be looked over in order to see them. Therefore, unless a student so chooses, they will not be exposed to extremely graphic images. While we will talk with the students about this, please feel free to also discuss this option with your child. We encourage you to review information on the Permanent Exhibition we will be visiting.
Museum Trip Reminders:
- Regular 8:00 a.m. arrival and 3:25 p.m. dismissal times.
- There are no academic classes but we will have athletic practices when we return.
- Students should be in regular school dress with comfortable walking shoes.
- Students should leave MacBooks at home.
- Students will need a daypack, water bottle, bag lunch, an additional snack, and a hat/sunscreen as needed.
- Please contact your child's history teacher if you have questions.
Middle School Dance Clinic and Football Game Performance
All Middle School students are invited to join the Upper School Dance Team for a free workshop on Wednesday, October 18, and will get the opportunity to perform at halftime of a football game!
Students will practice skills, learn choreography, and also get to work with the Upper School team. The routine they learn will be performed at the Friday night football game on October 20!
Check out the schedule and register for the Dance Clinic. If you have any questions, please contact Head Dance Team Coach Olivia Landrum.
Parent Meetup: Register for Final Tennis Lesson and Open Play — Wednesday, October 25
There is one more opportunity to join us for some casual matches and tennis drills on the Middle and Upper School Tennis Courts.
Registration is limited to 30 parents for each date. Plan to bring your own balls and racket. Meetup Date: Wednesday, October 25, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Volunteer in the Igloo and Den — Help Us Open for More Games
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 the best view of a game on the Peterson Family Field.
We want to open for as many games as possible but rely on volunteers. Contact Olivia Landrum if you’re interested in volunteering at a game not listed on the schedule.
Sign Up for Shifts:
Refer Your Friends and Neighbors
Families referred by current Flint Hill families are among the most mission-aligned and strongest partners. We value your referrals! However, we have fewer and fewer spots available with each passing year. Encourage your interested colleagues, neighbors, and friends to connect with us sooner rather than later. Enrollment is most possible at our entry grades: JK, K, 5, 7, and 9.
If you know someone who would make a great Husky, submit the Refer a Husky form and consider inviting them to these upcoming admission events:
- Middle School Info Session — Thursday, October 12, 9:00-10:45 a.m.
- Upper School Info Session — Friday, October 13, 10:00-11:30 a.m.
- Lower School Morning Meeting & Tour — Tuesday, November 7, 8:00-9:15 a.m.
Reminder: Early Admission Applications for Siblings — Due Wednesday, November 1
We are offering members of our Husky family an early start to the admission process for siblings who do not currently attend Flint Hill and are interested in applying for the 2024-25 school year. (For future years, complete this interest form.)
If you have a child who is not currently enrolled at Flint Hill and you are interested in the application process for the 2024-25 school year, please submit the application form, recommendations, questionnaires, and last two year’s transcripts by Wednesday, November 1. Quarter grades, interview and student visit (grades 3-6) or Gesell and student visit (grades JK-2) must be completed by Thursday, November 30 to receive an admission notification in mid-December. For more information, please schedule an appointment with the admission team member for your division of interest.
Upcoming Events
Indigenous Peoples' Day
No School
Monday, October 9
Middle School Field Trips to Washington, D.C.
Tuesday, October 10
Dance Team Open Practices for Grades 7-12
Tuesday, October 10
Upper School Dance Studio, 3:45-5:45 p.m.
Register for this open practice
Middle School Division Coffee
Wednesday, October 11
Peterson Middle School Conference Room, 8:15-9:15 a.m.
Parents are invited to join Associate Director of Counseling and Middle School Counselor John Magner, Director of Counseling Tracie Epes, and Brian Lamont for a discussion about adolescent development, social-emotional learning, and counseling support.
Parent Morning Mixer
Thursday, October 12
Upper School, deCamp Garden, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Middle School Picture Make-Up Day
Monday, October 16
Dance Team Open Practice for Grades 7-12
Tuesday, October 17
Upper School Dance Studio, 3:45-5:45 p.m.
Register for this open practice
Middle School Dance Team Clinic
Wednesday, October 18, 3:30-5:45 p.m.
Upper School Dance Studio
Dance Team Open Practice for Grades 7-12
Tuesday, October 24
Upper School Dance Studio, 3:45-5:45 p.m.
Register for this open practice
New Parent Meetup: Tennis Lessons and Open Play
Wednesday, October 25
Middle and Upper School Tennis Courts, 9:00-10:30 a.m.
Register to attend
Grades JK-12 Parent Coffee: Equity and Inclusion
Thursday, October 26
Upper School Multipurpose Room, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Upper School Play, “Lend Me A Tenor”
Friday, October 27, 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 28, 2:00-4:30 p.m. and 7:00-9:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 29, 2:00-4:30 p.m.
Lower School Olson Theater
Details will be provided in the next newsletter.
Dance Team Open Practice for Grades 7-12
Tuesday, October 31
Upper School Dance Studio, 3:45-5:45 p.m.
Register for this open practice
Early Admission Application Deadline for Siblings
Wednesday, November 1
Parent Teacher Conference Days
No School
Thursday, November 2 and Friday November 3
Sign-up info will be included in the next newsletter.
Last Day of Fall Middle School Athletics
Monday, November 6
