Dear Upper School Families,
I hope this letter finds you well, and that, with a month of summer yet to come, you have as much to reflect back on with a smile as you have to look forward to in the weeks ahead.
As is always the case at this time of year, we have important information that will help you plan for the school year that lies ahead. This "start-of-school" information is available to you here.
You will see that one of the folders contains information about accessing your daughter's course list and ordering text books. Students typically obtain their books through MBS Direct's online book ordering services or at the Used Book and Uniform Sale here at school (August 8, 8am-3pm). Please contact the US Office or MBS Direct should you have any questions. The online bookstore will open on Monday, August 7 with free shipping the first two weeks.
Please reference the course list when procuring books for the year (11th grade please see important information in the 11th grade folder cautioning you against repeat purchases of history textbooks that carry over from 10th grade).
Class Deans (Tucker Sowers 9, Kate Mitchell 10, Shay Squeglia 11, and Yolanda Keener 12) return to school on August 21, and will be available to meet with students at that time should the course list be inaccurate (we hope this is not the case!). The Student Course Registration process began in February and concluded in May so as to give students adequate time to make well considered decisions. Wherever possible, students have been placed into the electives requested. Course changes will be permitted in the event that a student's placement has changed (i.e. because of summer work completed in a specific discipline and a subsequent placement test) or to drop an elective. To preserve the carefully balanced section sizes at all grade levels and in all disciplines, any other request for changes will be considered only if section sizes and balance allow. Student schedules will be available September 1.
Two important updates regarding the coming year in Upper School:
- 1.You can also access and download the Summer Reading Lists and Math Packet. To locate the packet, click on the Upper School tab and then open the tab on the right side that says "Summer Work". Please encourage your daughter to take these on at a gentle pace. Our aim is to help them make a smooth re-entry in September, not to overtake their summer!
- While we will continue to administer one set of exams instead of two, we have decided to keep Review and Exam "Week" in January. Doing so will relieve stress caused by logistic and programmatic wrinkles during February and March (i.e. snow days, spring sports tryouts, performing arts and admissions events). After a Review Period and Reading Day, exams will take place on January 22, 23, 24, 25, and 26. Note: In the interest of enjoying a true vacation, studying over Winter Break will be strongly discouraged!
- We will continue with the mixed-grade level structure in our advisor program. As we move into the second year we feel the program will mature and expand as the girls and advisors get to know each other. It has given students many more opportunities to get to know students older and/or younger than themselves, to serve as role models for one another or to have someone to look up to as a big sister of sorts, to bring multiple perspectives to our conversations, and to build bridges and a sense of community across grade levels. In our advisory meetings, in addition to sharing "down time," we'll be discussing a wide range of timely (The Honor Code and Student Handbook, Spirit Week, report cards, conferences, exams and course selection) and timeless topics, including how to stay organized and maintain balance and a sense of wellness; growth and fixed mindsets and resilience; empathy, respect, and healthy and supportive friendships; online conduct and identity; community service and global citizenship; and kindness and gratitude.
The summer always gives me a chance to unwind a bit, reflect, and recharge my batteries; I hope that it has given you and your families the same. If you are interested in reading along with many of the faculty, we recommend Broadcasting Happiness by Michelle Gielan, Creative Schools by Ken Robinson and Lou Aronica, or Whistling Vivaldi by Claude Steele.
I look forward to seeing you all when school gets underway. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or, in my absence (July 27 – Aug 13), Adriane Anderson, our wonderful Upper School Administrative Assistant (301.365.6045). We are here to help.
Sincerely and with gratitude for being a member of this community,
Chris Lynch
Upper School Director
301.365.6089
For All Grade Levels:
1. Upper School Important Dates can be found on the school calendar
2. Late Opening for Professional Work dates (10 a.m.)
3. Student course list for 2017-2018 academic year and Textbook Purchasing through MBSDirect and Holton Used Book Sale
4. Attendance, form submission, and general questions email: upper@holton-arms.edu
5. Medical forms – Due June 30
6. Uniforms – time to inspect, repair, and replace if necessary; Holton blazer information (need update website 2016-2017)
7. Pre-Season Practice and Parent Meeting for all Upper School fall sports – August 21
8. Convocation and First Day of Classes – September 5
9. Upper School Back-to-School Night – September 19
10. Upper School Grade-Level Retreats – September 15 (Junior Retreat September 14-16)
1.. Student-Parent-Teacher Conferences: November 9 and 10 (all students participate)
12. Parking Permits: 11th and 12th Grade Students ONLY
13. Fingerprinting for parent volunteers/chaperones
2017-2018 Important Fall Dates for Upper School Students and Parents
Monday, August 21 Preseason for Fall Athletics Begins at 8 a.m.
(see further info at right)
Parent Meeting for All Fall Athletic Teams 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 1 9th Grade Fall Activity Day
(for all 9th graders not participating in a fall team sport at school; for further information, see "Grade 9" below)
Thursday, August 31 9th Grade Parent Orientation to Upper School, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, September 5 Convocation and First Day of Classes
Tuesday, September 5 12th Grade Parent Orientation to Senior Year, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, September 19 Upper School Back-to-School Night
Thursday and Friday, Upper School Conferences (students attend; please do not
November 9 and 10 schedule conflicting travel arrangements)
Professional Days and 10 a.m. Late Opening Dates – We will use this time for faculty professional work and collaboration time. Bus transportation will remain on a normal schedule; therefore, girls will arrive on campus at a normal school day time and the building will be open for their use.
Wednesday, September 20 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Friday, October 6 Professional Day- No Classes for students
Monday, October 16 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, November 15 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, December 13 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, January 3 Professional Day- No Classes for students
Monday, February 5 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Friday, February 16 Professional Day – No Classes for students
Wednesday, March 14 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Monday, April 9 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Wednesday, May 16 Classes start at 10 a.m.
Purchasing Textbooks:
MBS Direct, our online bookstore (new and used copies available for most books) will open for business on Monday, August 7. Please refer to the easy-to-follow directions, and contact the Upper School Office or MBS Direct should you have any questions.
Each year, the Alumnae Association hosts a Used Book Sale (August 8) which also has gently used uniforms on sale. While supplies are limited, the Used Book Sale is one way to cut down on start-up expenses for the school year. The sale will run one day from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Pool Lounge.
Note: Be sure to reference the exact ISBN number if you take advantage of any service other than MBS or the Alumnae Used Book Sale. ISBN numbers can be found through the Holton Bookstore on the MBS website. 11th Grade Parents: please see grade-specific note below so as to avoid repeat purchase of history texts!
UNIFORMS - Summer is the time to make sure that all clothing for school fits properly. Clothing is expected to be clean, in good repair, and appropriately sized. Skirts must fall at or below the finger tips when standing straight and should be big enough to be buttoned and zipped closed. In most cases, a skirt that fit properly in seventh grade no longer fits that same student entering her ninth grade year. Shirts should be long enough to be tucked into the skirt. Information about the Uniform can be found on the website (Current Families/Back to School) to find more information about ordering any part of the uniform.
BACK-to-SCHOOL NIGHT – Tuesday, September 19
We will send you more information about Back-to-School Night closer to the opening of school. The evening will include grade-level meetings with your Parent Grade Reps and Class Deans.
GRADE –LEVEL RETREATS – Friday, September 15 (The Junior Retreat will run from 9/14-9/16)
Each grade will spend the day in retreat, primarily off campus. Students and advisors engage in day-long activities; Class Deans will provide grade-specific details at the start of school.
PARENT CONFERENCES for all grade levels – November 9 and 10
Reminder: all Upper School students participate in conferences. Please do not schedule conflicting travel as we cannot accommodate requests for alternate dates.
To encourage and to equip our students to take responsibility for their learning and to advocate and speak for themselves as effectively as possible, we include students as active participants in the conferences that take place at the end of 1st quarter. The success of this format rests on our readiness to support our students as they assess their progress and reflect on their strengths, weaknesses and goals. With this in mind, we offer some suggestions for your summer reading pleasure:
Mindsets: The New Psychology of Success by Carol Dweck
How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough
The Blind Spot (Mahzarin R. Banaji and Anthony G. Greenwald)
PARENT FINGERPRINTING - While there are relatively few Upper School events or class trips for which a parent might be asked to chaperone, please know that all parents who will serve as chaperones should make arrangements to be fingerprinted. If you were fingerprinted last year, there is no need to have it done again this year. Please contact Mr. Kevin Wilson in Security for further information. fingerprinting@holton-arms.edu or 301-365-6070.
LAPTOP PICK-UP for any student who ordered through DSR
Computers need to be ordered by Friday July 14, 2017.
Computers will be available for pick-up at Holton during the week of August 28 – Sept 1. 2017.
The entire IT staff look forward to meeting you and working with you to ensure that you and your daughter understand how to care for her laptop so that she can rely on its multiple uses without interruption throughout the school year. The orientation session will introduce Holton's technology program, discuss digital citizenship, and discuss expectations for responsible use of technology while at Holton.
Please feel free to contact Mike Robertson, Director of Library and Information Services (mike.robertson@holton-arms.edu ) OR Mary Dobroth, Director of Academic Technology (mary.dobroth@holton-arms.edu) if you have any questions.
ORIENTATION and LAPTOP TRAINING for all 9th Grade and New Students – Friday September 1, 2017 from 8 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. (in uniform)
The purpose of Orientation is to help make the first days of transition to the Upper School as smooth as possible. Students will receive their planners, schedules, and locker assignments with combinations, and will have time to get acquainted with the facilities, their classrooms, and their Advisors and Peer Counselors. The day concludes with a 90-minute laptop training session during which 11th and 12th grade tech-savvy volunteers will introduce new Upper Schoolers to the essentials of course page navigation, email etiquette, and laptop care-and-feeding.
All 9th Graders and new students must arrive, in uniform, by 8 a.m. Students must also bring their laptops, which they will store in their lockers for the morning. Orientation will begin outside the Upper School Office, where students will pick up their 2017-2018 planner and locker number and combination.
Grade Specific Information for 9, 10, 11, & 12 can be found by going to Current Families pull-down menu and selecting the Back to school section. You may also click on this link here and then select the Upper School button and choose the appropriate grade link for your interest.