Flint Hill School Magazine - Fall/Winter 2023

REFLECTING ON OUR PAST

MAGAZINE FALL/WINTER 2023

FALL/WINTER 2023 MAGAZINE 3320 Jermantown Road, Oakton, VA 22124 FLINTHILL.ORG

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WHAT’S INSIDE 2

Campus Life

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Generating a New Frontier

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Masters of Education

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Transcending Textbooks: History Up Close

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Reflecting on Our Past

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Anatomy of a Homecoming

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Alumni Events

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Class Notes

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Lifecycles

BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2023–2024

Miss Lucia Anna Trigiani, Chair Mrs. Liza Wright Renner, Vice Chair Mr. John M. Wasson, Treasurer Mr. Patrick McHonett, Secretary Mr. Omar Balkissoon Ms. Alexandra L. Bettius ’03 Mr. Taylor O. Chess Mr. Nathaniel A. Davis Mr. H. Edward Dean III Mrs. Linnie M. Haynesworth Mr. Eric D. Hemmer Mrs. Miki Toliver King Mr. Scott McCandless Mr. Richard P. Moxley Mr. Joseph L. Musella Mrs. Kelly A Nakamoto Mr. Terry A. Nelson Mrs. Tanaia W. Parker Mr. Timothy R. Rupli Dr. Mahesh B. Shenai Mr. Hugh E. Taylor Dr. Howard-John Wesley Mr. David L. White Mr. David S. Wiley

TRUSTEES EMERITI

The late Mr. John T. Hazel Jr., Founding Chairman Emeritus Sister Martha Carpenter, O.S.F. Mr. Edward R. Carr Mr. Otis D. Coston Jr. Mr. John M. Dowd The Honorable Johanna L. Fitzpatrick Mr. Richard J. Hendrix Mr. Paul C. Kincheloe Jr. Mr. Michael C. McCarey Mr. William N. Melton Mr. Norris E. Mitchell Mr. John M. Thomas The late Reverend Edwin M. Ward

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EDITORS-IN-CHIEF Carmen Scott, Director of Marketing & Communications Eve Shade, Art Director MAGAZINE DESIGNER Eve Shade, Art Director STAFF CONTRIBUTORS Carmen Scott, Director of Marketing & Communications Maria Graceffa Taylor, Director of Alumni Relations Jackie Viteri, Senior Communications Specialist COPY EDITORS Lisa Campo, Director of Digital Engagement Jackie Viteri, Senior Communications Specialist ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Meredith Cook VanDuyne Please contact the Marketing and Communications Office at communications@flinthill.org with any questions.

LETTER FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL Flint Hill Community, I am thrilled to share with you the Fall/Winter issue of Flint Hill Magazine for the 2023-24 school year.

Flint Hill prides itself as being a student-centered community and relies heavily on the interpersonal relationships that are nurtured when great people band together for a shared purpose: the support of our students.

I see examples of our interconnectedness every day. I see it as Lower School students are greeted warmly at morning carpool, as Middle Schoolers engage and laugh within an advisory competition, and as Upper Schoolers wrestle with difficult topics alongside their expert teachers. It is also evident in the ways our parents show up to a Kaleidoscope Book Club discussion or a Parent Education Series event and when our alumni gather for meetups or reunite for Homecoming. In short, Flint Hill is better when we’re together.

As you flip through the pages of this issue, I hope you see those important relationships driving all the great work we do.

The one-of-a-kind experiences featured in our Campus Life section abound when exceptional teachers connect with promising students in small classes like ours. Our Masters of Education section celebrates the impact our teachers and administrators have outside of Flint Hill as they take their wisdom and expertise on the road to share with their greater professional community.

You’ll also read about ways in which we are leaning into the future, embracing dynamic new technology, like robotics and AI, that further education. That human-centered and innovative approach has been true to Flint Hill since our founding and throughout our evolution as a school. When we recognize where we’ve been, who we are, and what we — as a community — can become, amazing things happen. As you read through the history of Flint Hill in this issue, I hope you’ll appreciate how far we’ve come and take a moment to imagine what’s possible. With our Mission and Core Values as our guiding star, Flint Hill will continue to evolve to meet the challenges of the changing world around us, in support of every Husky, every day.

Our rich history, strong present, and bright future are among many of the reasons why my family and I are so proud to be home at Flint Hill. Whether you are new to our community or a Falcon from the 1960s, I hope you take the same pride in Flint Hill.

Go Huskies!

Patrick McHonett Head of School

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Explore the full collection of photos from these events and more at flinthill.org/flickr.

Enjoy bonus content using the QR Codes throughout the magazine.

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CAMPUS LIFE Students, teachers, and staff from all divisions assemble at the All-School Gathering in September.

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CAMPUS LIFE

TRADITION AND INNOVATION ON SEPTEMBER 13, Head of School Patrick McHonett led the All-School Gathering, the first assembly of the 2023-24 school year, bringing together students, teachers, and staff from all divisions.

He said, “This is a special place where we seek to balance both tradition and innovation to support you, our students, every day. Today, we gather as an entire community, the Husky Team so to speak, to kick off the school year together as one Husky community with the hopes and well-wishes for an outstanding school year.” Student speakers gave inspirational speeches, and senior “lifers” lit the traditional lantern to illuminate the way for everyone’s educational journey. The lantern will stay ignited until the end of the school year.

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We are all fortunate to be here and to call ourselves Huskies.

Every day when I arrive at school, I feel happy and excited.

I feel safe and joyful because I know I can be myself.

–MaKayla Kent ’30

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Signs of School “Hello Huskies,” “Welcome to the Tundra,” “Greetings,” and “Freshmen are Friends, Not Food” were among a variety of signs made for students to see and feel at home as they arrived on campus for the first time in the new school year. Along with the signs were smiles, hugs, fist bumps, waves, and high fives. And, in an instant, the students, teachers, and staff all jumped right into action together to begin making 2023-24 unique and special.

BIRDS OF A FEEDER Learning the science of animal biodiversity begins in the Lower School at Flint Hill. In the fall, 2nd graders studied the habits of birds and applied what they learned in their science lab, where they designed and built prototypes of bird feeders to attract specific types of birds based on what and how they eat. They considered important details, taking into account similarities — cardinals, finches, and jays eat seeds — and differences — a finch stands on a peg while the cardinal and jay like to stand on a tray while eating.

Each piece of information helped the students customize their bird feeders to create a safe environment for their feathered friends.

They even thought about design elements to keep cats away!

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CAMPUS LIFE

HOUSTON, WE HAVE A COSTUME The Middle School Makers class teamed up with Magic Wheelchair, a nonprofit organization that builds creative costumes for children who use wheelchairs, to make a local 17-year-old’s Halloween wish a reality. The students and their teacher, Chris Cook, built a space shuttle costume for Claire, a D.C. native with autism and a rare genetic condition. They unveiled her costume in front of the Discovery Space Shuttle at the Udvar-Hazy Center.

DIY BEACH:

BUILDING SHORE IS FUN!

The next time you long for the beach, ask a Lower School student for do-it-yourself tips to create your own! The Boardwalk was the theme for Day of Play 2023, and the students built boats, surfboards, sandcastles, fishing poles, a sand volleyball court, food stands, a variety of arcade games, and, of course, some sharks and whales. JK-6 Innovation Department Chair Joey Starnes, who coordinated the effort, says, “The Day of Play is an annual Flint Hill tradition that invites students to work together to plan, build, and play using recyclable materials and basic supplies like tape, glue, and their imagination! Each year we explore a new theme to focus our building and creating. The Day of Play allows the Lower School to come together as a community and to share in the spirit of making, engineering, and playing.”

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Ceramics II Starts to Raku In November, students in ceramics classes learned about raku, a unique technique that results in beautiful artwork with metallic finishes and crackle patterns. Students first mold and glaze their pieces in the studio.

After the pieces are fired in the outdoor kiln, they are taken out while still glowing red-hot and placed in newspaper. This technique starves the piece of oxygen, creating unique colors and patterns within the glaze.

INVOLVEMENT STARTS HERE

On September 1, Parents’ Association divisional ambassadors participated in a KickOff Meeting held at the Towers Crescent Conference Center in Vienna. For the 2023-24 school year, 81 parents volunteered as divisional ambassadors — a role that includes attending school events, hosting parent socials, volunteering, and encouraging others to get involved. Parents’ Association President Scott McCandless P’27, ’30, ’30 welcomed parents to the meeting, provided an overview of the divisional ambassador role, and introduced Flint Hill’s Advancement staff who work closely with the parents during the year. The ambassadors got to know one another better at the meeting through a series of team-building activities, signed up for various volunteer opportunities, and planned ahead for the rest of the school year. At the conclusion, Head of School Patrick McHonett thanked the parents for their partnership with Flint Hill and for serving in an important role in cultivating community.

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CAMPUS LIFE

Lending Us a Laugh In October, Olson Theater was alive with laughter as two talented casts, along with their hardworking crew, presented four performances of “Lend Me a Tenor.”

History Travelers

In Contemporary World History class, 9th graders studied the French Revolution in a way that transported them back to that time in history. In a simulation-based learning assignment, called the Future of France Debate, the students were assigned to be delegates in one of four groups — moderates who wanted to keep Louis XVI as king but have his power limited by a constitution; conservatives who wanted no change; radicals who wanted change; or the press reporting on the debate. The goal was to attempt to find a consensus among those different perspectives during the time of the French Revolution. Each group was also tasked with preparing a poster or political cartoon that captured their vision for the future of France.

History Teacher Emily Sanderson says, “Classroom simulations allow students to play with ideas and situations and gain a greater understanding of perspectives.”

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CELL-FIES —

AN INSIDER’S LOOK Our 8th graders took a pause from the external world of taking selfies to explore the kind of cell-fie that requires looking inward at what cells do inside the body.

In science class, students learned about the role of cells and applied their comprehension further through a project that produced creative outcomes. “Our cell organelle analogy project is one of our favorites of the year!” says Middle School Science Teacher Jesi Hessong Brown. “Students expand and stretch the knowledge they have learned about the organelles of a cell and connect their learning to everyday objects or systems that perform similar functions. Utilizing analogies is an effective method for simplifying complex concepts in science — as they draw parallels between something well-known and something less familiar — making the concept easier to understand.”

The students created unique posters for their project to draw comparisons to how cells function, including: Central Park; Gru’s lab from the movie “Despicable Me;” the Barbie Dreamhouse; a 3-D printer; a car engine; and a movie studio.

WEATHER ALERT

When WJLA meteorologist Brian van de Graaff visited Flint Hill, 3rd graders were weather alert and ready to ask questions, as they had been researching and giving class presentations about the science of severe weather types, including hurricanes, thunderstorms, blizzards, tornadoes, floods, and derechos. The students had the opportunity to be on live television and see how the StormTracker vehicle’s specialized technology is used for remote broadcasts.

When asked for his winter weather outlook, Mr. van de Graaff shared his optimism for snow days and won an uproarious applause.

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GENERATING A NEW FRONTIER What is the role of generative AI in schools?

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rom conversing with online chatbots to getting help from Alexa, many of us have already become accustomed to generative AI at home, but what about at school? Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer — otherwise known as ChatGPT — is an online AI system that generates original content on command. Classroom use of ChatGPT along with other generative AI tools like Bard, Scribe, and DALL-E has been met with both hype and hysteria.

All things considered, Joelle anticipates the inevitability of AI’s impact on education with optimism. “Generative AI can grade PDFs of physics worksheets that have graphs and handwritten answers,” Joelle says. “It’s better for AI to complete those tasks so teachers can focus more energy on students.” In November, she spoke on this topic at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ annual conference in Richmond. Her presentation, “Shaping Tomorrow’s Classrooms: Harnessing the Power of AI in Education” outlined the opportunities generative AI offers.

It’s being said that generative AI will have the same impact on education as the calculator. That’s an understatement, if you ask Middle and Upper School Computer Science Teacher Joelle Henry. “It’s way more disruptive than that,” she contends, predicting it’ll be more like the printing press and the internet in its potential to shake things up.

Aaron Proctor, who is in his first year at Flint Hill as the director of academics, believes that once teachers figure out how to leverage its advantages and mitigate its risks, generative AI can be a helpful resource for both students and teachers. As of press time, there is no fail-safe way to test whether AI has been used on assignments, although there are apps that purport to do so. For Proctor (he goes by his last name), this underscores the need to expose students to AI in a setting where teachers can guide them toward ethical usage. “We need to teach our kids how to cite it appropriately and how to scrutinize the content,” he says. And since the internet is replete with bias, so is generative AI. Students will need to learn how to spot it.

As she describes it, ChatGPT is essentially a computer that has been fed all the information available on the internet — from books and articles to images and videos — then trained to readily spit out content when prompted with human-like syntax. But while ChatGPT may sound like a human, it doesn’t think like one. “It can’t actually think,” Joelle says. And — in its current form — it’s prone to making mistakes. Referred to as hallucinations, mistakes are rendered with 100% confidence. That means students and teachers need critical thinking skills to analyze results.

Joelle thinks much of the anxiety surrounding ChatGPT stems from educators not having the time to learn more about it. “It’s moving at such a fast pace, and teachers are understandably concerned about things like safety, accountability, and transparency.”

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Technology and Instruction Department Chair Jennifer McKain is in the same camp as Proctor and Joelle. In her role leading the Technology and Instruction team at Flint Hill, Jennifer works with teachers to implement technology tools that both improve their practice and equip students to engage a tech-savvy world. She envisions a future where the workforce calls for the ability to use AI effectively and sees tremendous value in staying up to speed with it. She suggests that “teachers can use it to refine the questions they pose in the classroom and uncover richer layers of

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The highest quality education will always involve authentic interpersonal connection between teachers and students. What we teach, how we teach, and how we grow professionally — all three of these can be aided by generative AI. –Aaron Proctor, Director of Academics

analysis.” Jennifer anticipates that teachers will soon deploy generative AI to write rubrics, create worksheets, and grade papers, knocking out timeintensive tasks that take them away from students.

This fall, Joelle pitched the idea for an Upper School course called Introduction to Artificial Intelligence and used AI to write the proposal. “I uploaded our proposal form to ChatGPT, told it what level the students would be at, the duration of the course, and what topics I wanted to cover.”

The site then generated a proposal, which she reviewed, tweaked, and submitted. The course was approved for next year and will offer students the opportunity to study fundamental AI concepts, machine learning algorithms, and deep learning techniques – all with an emphasis on practical implementation and project-based learning.

Proctor is excited about AI’s potential to enhance the experience for teachers and students at Flint Hill. He’s not worried that AI will supplant the role of teachers in the classroom. “The highest quality education will always involve authentic interpersonal connection between teachers and students,” he says. “What we teach, how we teach, and how we grow professionally — all three of these can be aided by generative AI.” Educators have certainly traversed sudden landscape shifts before. When electronic mail streamlined student-teacher communication and search engines turned encyclopedias into artifacts, a generation of students had more time to soak up what they were learning. AI seems to offer this generation another leveling-up of their education.

Communicating with Robots AS WITH HUMANS, robots function better with effective two-way communication. Upper School computer science students learn that the more proficient they become with a language that robots comprehend, the more meaningful the response. In AP Computer Science class, students use Java language, object-oriented programming that gives robots directions to make specific movements.

Computer programming is one key part in the complex world of robotics. Another involves design engineering and creation of mechanical components — at Flint Hill, the Innovation Department oversees all of those areas of study to provide a robust and comprehensive program. As students progress into more advanced classes, two tracks — programming and design — are offered to hone their skills in those specialized areas.

One of the most challenging courses is Advanced Aerial Robotics Honors class, where students work in teams to design, build, and program a robot to face off in robotics competitions with other schools. “The programming team competes in their own programming competition while also writing the code for a drone built by the hardware team. In the spring, the whole team competes with the drone,” says Vicki Knickerbocker, Middle and Upper School Innovation Department Chair and Computer Science Teacher.

Ben Hinrichs ’24 is currently enrolled in both courses.

“Computer Science is challenging, but I’m learning so much,” he reports. “We took a diagnostic test at the beginning, and I knew nothing. If I took that test now, I’d knock it out of the park.” He appreciates that the coding skills he’s learning in Computer Science transfer over to his Aerial Robotics class, which he describes as “a lot of fun.” He also relishes the job-like environment Aerial Robotics offers. “Everything is team-based, and we have to learn to accomplish goals together.” Ben is a team lead and has banked valuable experience managing people and delegating tasks. Students in the class use Slack for messaging each other and Trello for project management, which means they’ll have competence with those widely used workplace systems once they get into the workforce.

These Innovation students aren’t just learning programming languages and engineering principles needed to work with robots; they’re refining skills needed to succeed and make an impact in our increasingly digital world.

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MASTERS OF EDUCATION Faculty and staff share their professional expertise with others

The wisdom and skill of Flint Hill employees don’t just benefit students and colleagues on campus. Our teachers and administrators enthusiastically seek opportunities to share their knowledge and skills beyond the confines of our school walls with a greater community of educators. In turn, they’re exposed to development and enrichment tools that expand their own expertise, which they then bring back to Flint Hill. Here’s what some of our faculty and staff have been doing recently.

BRAD SAVAGE, MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL CLASSICS DEPARTMENT

CHAIR & UPPER SCHOOL CLASSICS TEACHER In October, Brad presented “From Wall to Stone: Integrating Graffiti and Epitaphs in the Latin Classroom” at the Illinois Classical Conference in Chicago.

SARAH BURNETT, ENROLLMENT SERVICES MANAGER Sarah presented “Have It for When You Need It: Data Collection Best Practices for Operational Excellence” at the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals’ (AISAP) Annual Institute, in June, at La Jolla Country Day School in La Jolla, CA. At the Institute, she joined the AISAP data professionals cohort and meets virtually with the group during the school year. (below) LAUREN SOUTH, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT

MANAGEMENT Lauren presented “Increasing Inter-Division Retention Rates” at the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals’ Annual Institute, in June, at La Jolla Country Day School in La Jolla, CA. (below)

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VIRGINIA CADY, UPPER SCHOOL

HISTORY & SOCIAL SCIENCES TEACHER Virginia presented “Intercultural Competency in the Curriculum” at the Middle East Studies Association’s annual meeting in Montreal, Canada, in November, and “Best Practices for Teaching Middle East History at the High School Level” at the National Council for the Social Studies’ annual conference in Nashville, in December.

POLLY BEAM, MIDDLE SCHOOL ART TEACHER Polly co-presented “But I’m Not Creative!

An Arts-Integrated Approach to Learning for Non-Arts Teachers” at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ 50th anniversary conference in Richmond in November.

KRISTIN PIAZZA, UPPER SCHOOL

SPANISH TEACHER Kristin finished working with Klett World Languages on a unit of their Spanish textbook called “Reporteros 3,” the third of a series, and is now working as a contributing author on a unit for “Reporteros 4.” She said, “It’s an interesting way to see another side of teaching languages, learn about the world of publishing, and have the chance to work with people all over the world.

The added bonus to this work is the opportunity to continue to collaborate with former Flint Hill faculty member Sonia Josa Castro, as she is also a contributing author, working from her school in Lithuania.”

MEGAN SHARKEY, 2ND GRADE

TEACHER Megan conducted a study titled “A Phenomenological Analysis of the Lived Experience of Early Childhood Educators During the First Year of the COVID-19 Pandemic” in her first year as a doctoral student in George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development. In April, she presented the findings from that study at a roundtable session at the American Educational Research Association’s annual meeting in Chicago. In December, as part of a research team, she presented “How Teachers Respond to Student Wellness Needs: The Role of Training, Competency, and Supports Sought in Schools” at the National Center for School Mental Health’s Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health in New Orleans.

GARY SMILOWITZ, MIDDLE SCHOOL SCIENCE TEACHER & UPPER SCHOOL INNOVATION TEACHER Gary gave a two-hour presentation and demonstration on “Discovery of Engineering — The Course that Explores 20 Disciplines in One Semester!” at the Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ 50th anniversary conference in Richmond in November. (above) EMILY SANDERSON, UPPER SCHOOL HISTORY & SOCIAL

SCIENCES TEACHER Emily participated in the National Association of Independent Schools’ Think Tank to help plan the organization’s annual conference. She was part of a small group of teachers who gave feedback on topics and helped to facilitate at the conference.

MEREDITH VANDUYNE, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL

FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT Meredith presented “Campaign Collateral: Extending the Partnership With Your Design Firm,” in May, at the annual Virginia Association of Independent Schools’ Advancement Institute with Elise Robinson, AIA, principal, DLR Group | Bowie Gridley Architects — the firm that designed Flint Hill’s Peterson Middle School and the Upper School. (below)

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Transcending Textbooks: History Up Close

Continuing Charles Kenney’s Legacy of Honor and Service

“Lucky” is how Andrew McKee ’24 describes the feeling of being one of the four history students chosen to take part in the 2023 Charles Kenney WWII Legacy Trip. The trip, in its inaugural year at Flint Hill, offers students the opportunity to visit historic WWII sites in France to deepen their understanding of the sacrifices made generations ago.

Colin Bean ’24 still remembers the shock of learning that he’d earned a spot on the trip. “I really enjoy history; I have a passion for it, and for my teachers to recognize that and choose me for this opportunity, I’m still speechless about it.” Harriet Hosking ’25 has a similar reflection about being one of the four selected.

“I’m an avid history student, but I didn’t think it was going to be me,” she remembers. For Nia Ashenafi ’24, it was going to be her first time traveling to Europe.

“I was eager to experience not just the history but the culture as well: the architecture, the people, the language, the food.”

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After returning from Normandy, it is clear that the value of the trip is not in how it has served us as individuals, but rather as an investment in how we must go on to serve others.

–Andrew McKee ’24

The Charles Kenney WWII Legacy Trip wouldn’t exist without Charles Kenney and Randy Byrnes, two alumni of Belmont Hill School in Belmont, MA. Charles graduated from the prestigious New England boys school in 2006. Randy, a Flint Hill alumni parent, current grandparent, and former Board member, graduated from Belmont Hill 41 years prior.

“I read about Charles in the alumni magazine,” Randy recalls. The alumni story described Charles as a standout Belmont Hill athlete and school leader who loved history, WWII history in particular. “He also had a deep reverence for military service,” Randy says, “He noticed that kids from fortunate backgrounds, who had many options in life, didn’t choose military service in the same percentage as other kids who had fewer opportunities.” According to the Kenney family, that’s what spurred Charles to join the Marines directly after college. In August of 2012, two weeks before his scheduled deployment to Afghanistan, he suddenly and tragically passed away. His family created the Kenney Legacy Trip at his alma mater as a way to spread Charles’ love of country, history, and military service.

Randy was so moved by Charles’ story that he called Belmont Hill to learn how he could help expand his legacy. He ultimately got the Kenney family’s blessing to replicate the trip at the schools he’s connected to.

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Transcending Textbooks: History Up Close As of 2023, the gift from Randy makes this oneof-a-kind travel experience available to students and teachers from Flint Hill School, The Potomac School, and The Community School of Naples, FL. “Reading about WWII in history books or watching videos doesn’t really compare to being there physically,” Randy says. He speaks from experience, having made his way there this past spring. “It was heartwarming to be surrounded by all of that history, sad but also invigorating.”

Andrew, Colin, Harriet, and Nia, along with two Flint Hill faculty members, Amy Clement and Chris Cook, spent nine days this summer touring WWII battlefields and monuments in Normandy and Paris.

Their itinerary included visits to Pointe du Hoc, Utah Beach, Omaha Beach, and the Overlord Museum, which is named for the codename Allied forces used for their coordinated invasion of Normandy. Though it’s been 80 years since, remnants of war were visible everywhere. As Nia reflects, “We are privileged that

we don’t experience war here at home like other people do, so it was important to go to France and see the toll of war and its lasting impact.” Traveling through the local towns and neighborhoods, students observed a variety of remembrances still being maintained by the French people. On their first day, the group visited the Lafayette Escadrille Memorial Cemetery, the final resting place of 49 American combat aviators and two of the French officers they fought alongside. For Andrew, visiting the cemetery was the most impactful part of the trip. “The amount of care taken there illustrates the level of honor they continue to have for our fallen.”

Randy Byrnes, a former naval officer and the son of a WWII veteran, laments that the veneration for what took place over there has waned here in America through the generations. “I’m only one generation removed,” Randy says. “These kids are several generations removed. With each generation that goes by, we lose awareness of what it took to have the liberty we all enjoy.”

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The Charles Kenney WWII Legacy Trip is helping to fan that spirit of awareness. Randy hopes the students who went on the trip will share their experience with their Flint Hill classmates.

Colin, Harriet, Nia, and Andrew proclaim they’ll do just that. They welcomed Randy for a gratitude reception at Flint Hill this fall to thank him for his generosity and to illustrate how much the trip meant to them. “I can’t even begin to describe how little I understood before,” Harriet reflected. “You think you know something and then you see it in real life and the magnitude and gravity just hits you all at once.” One idea the students brought back was to start the Honoring Service Club for Upper Schoolers interested in writing letters of appreciation to veterans and active service members. As Andrew articulates, “After returning from Normandy, it is clear that the value of the trip is not in how it has served us as individuals, but rather as an investment in how we must go on to serve others.”

Flint Hill and Potomac students with Randy Byrnes (left to right): Andrew McKee ’24 , Harriet Hosking ’25, Colin Bean ’24, Randy Byrnes, Nia Ashenafi ’24, Zack Lighthammer, Maddie Magielnicki, Laith Weimer, Rachel Robbins

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With each generation that goes by we lose awareness of what it took to have the liberty we all enjoy.

–Randy Byrnes P’14, ’18, GP’35

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REFLECTING on our past Editors’ Note: This article illuminates aspects of Flint Hill’s unique 68-year history that may elicit a variety of emotions based on individual perspectives and backgrounds. Examining this part of the School’s history fosters understanding of the experiences of others, even if that history is difficult to confront.

In 1956, Flint Hill Preparatory School was founded in Leading up to Flint Hill Prep’s founding, Northern Virginia Fairfax as a K-12 private school for white students. That was going through a demographic transformation as same year, U.S. Senator Harry Byrd launched the Massive rural families migrated to the newly developed suburbs Resistance in Virginia, legislation enacted to evade Brown at a pace faster than the public schools could keep up v. Board’s mandate for school integration. Senator Byrd with. When Ann Cole Paciulli ’69 came to Flint Hill Prep is quoted as saying the Massive Resistance was designed for 9th grade, her parents were among those frustrated “to prevent a single Negro child from entering any white with the overcrowded classrooms and dilapidated public school.” In Fairfax County, the school board gave private school buildings. “My school was built in 1890, and it school tuition grants to white was impossible to accommodate students fleeing the newly everyone,” she says. “I could only We need to own where we’ve go to school for half the day, and integrated public school system.

In 1959, 44 of those grants went there were 40 kids in my class.” been in order to recognize to Flint Hill Prep students. else that provided how far we’ve come, as well Something momentum for the rise of Flint Hill Being straightforward about as chart a pathway forward. Prep was the fact that it offered Flint Hill’s segregational differentiated instruction, which founding is important to Head students did not get in public school.

–Patrick McHonett, Head of School of School Patrick McHonett.

It also offered kindergarten. At the “Acknowledging that part of our history is essential to time, the earliest children could begin their public school validating the impact it has had on our students, past education was 1st grade. Flint Hill Prep was an oasis for and present,” he says. “These are uncomfortable facts, white families wanting a better education for their children reflective of the time, and not something we should shy as well as for those seeking refuge from integration. away from.”

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The Miller Residence before it was purchased

by Don Niklason to become Flint Hill Prep.

A class of Flint Hill Prep students in the Nugent Room (in the Miller House) in the 1950s. This space now serves as the office of Alumni Relations.

Originally, students attended classes in what we now call the Miller House, an estate home Flint Hill Prep founder Don Niklason purchased from Helen Miller. Additional classroom buildings and a gym were added in the early 1960s. Ann remembers her time in those classrooms fondly.

“The teachers were so invested in us,” she recalls. “The Niklason family themselves were caring people. They were at every football game, cheering on the players, and getting to know the students in the stands.” As Flint Hill alum Kate Blaszack ’01 writes in her book, Flint Hill School: A History, Don Niklason saw Flint Hill Prep as a business venture that would provide Fairfax residents the excellent private school education he himself had received. Don grew up in Arlington and attended Devitt Preparatory School before going on to the University of Virginia. Kate writes that Don sought to “give other students the opportunities that a good education offers.”

Mia Burton, Director of Institutional Equity and Inclusion (IEI), refrains from using words like “nuanced” or “complex” to describe the school’s founding. The School didn’t admit students of color in those early years, she points out, stating, “Flint Hill functioned as a segregation academy whether that was Don Niklason’s motivation or not.”

“I didn’t know that about Flint Hill when I came here as a freshman,” Ida Guerami ’23 recalls. Ida’s first year at Flint Hill was marked by the arrival of COVID-19, the debut of

distance learning, and the racial reckoning ushered in by the summer of 2020. Dear Flint Hill emerged as a student-run social media account, giving voice to the unique challenges faced by students of color on campus. One issue brought up by that account was the School’s perceived silence around its founding. Ida says she scanned the yearbooks to see when students and faculty of color started coming to Flint Hill. She learned that the first Black student enrolled in 1972, and the first Black teacher joined the faculty in 1986. For her senior project, Ida proposed writing lesson plans that shed light on the School’s history for use in Flint Hill classrooms. “There’s so much value in kids knowing about this,” Ida says, adding, “We can’t go back and change it, but we can grow from it, and the only way to do that is through education.”

“A big sense of my activism comes from the fact that I am a first-generation American,” she says. Ida’s grandparents and parents emigrated from Iran during the Iranian Revolution.

“Talking about issues in Iran can land you in jail, so speaking openly about social issues here is a right I make sure to exercise.” Her lesson plans were approved by the faculty of the history department and will be taught in 7th and 11th grade classrooms this spring. Ida hopes that by delving into classroom discussions about the School’s founding, students will develop the dexterity to lean into difficult conversations concerning race and American history.

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REFLECTING ON OUR PAST By the early 70s, alum Ann Cole Paciulli ’69 had returned to Flint Hill as a 2nd grade teacher. Though she was delighted to find the same caliber of teachers and quality of education that she enjoyed as a student, the School was barely staying afloat financially. She recalls being paid intermittently and dealing with bounced paychecks. “I would’ve been happy to continue my career at Flint Hill, but I couldn’t live with that uncertainty,” she says. Her tenure lasted just two years. In 1986, the School began construction at its new location on Academic Drive in Oakton, conspicuously spending a quarter of a million dollars to bring the Miller House over to the new campus from Fairfax atop a flatbed truck.

We can’t go back and change it, but we can grow from it, and the only way to do that is through education.

– Ida Guerami ’23

The School’s most radical transformation came in 1990 when Chairman Emeritus John “Til” Hazel successfully reorganized the for-profit Flint Hill Preparatory School into the nonprofit Flint Hill School. “That happened the summer before my senior year,” Jamal Gallow ’91 remembers. He describes the switch to Flint Hill School as night and day, with the arrival of new teachers and new, state-of-the-art facilities.

Having the unique distinction of being both a Falcon and a Husky, Jamal has affection for both iterations of the School. He reminisces about the close-knit community feel of Flint Hill Prep and the fresh energy of the Flint Hill School faculty.

He credits both sets of teachers with imparting a true love for learning and helping him navigate his diagnosed learning difference.

“On some level, I didn’t think about the history of the School and its founding,” Jamal recalls.

“Representation was not something that was expected then. Plus, to be Black at a PWI (predominantly white institution) you had to not make waves.” He remembers experiencing instances of racism from members of the community, but his parents had prepared him for that and equipped him with how to respond. “That was the way of the world at that time. I didn’t expect Flint Hill to be any different.”

Like Jamal, alumni of color from that time report being one of one in their learning spaces, lacking the benefit that comes with having classmates and teachers who looked like them. Jamal says he contended with a lack of diverse texts to study and a shallow dating pool. “At one time there were just two Black girls in the entire Upper School,” he says.

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Ida Guerami ’23 talks about her senior project in the Falcon Room, a space in the Miller House now dedicated to the students who attended Flint Hill Prep from 1956-1991.

By the late 90s, Ann had returned again — this time, as a parent. “Same Miller House, different location,” she laughingly recalls. Her daughters

Ann Cole Paciulli ’69 returns to campus to meet with Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor to give a glimpse into her story as a Flint Hill Prep student and teacher, then later a Flint Hill parent.

Ann Cole Paciulli ’69

Jamal Gallow ’91

learned from teachers like Fred Atwood and Jody Patrick, teachers whom Ann describes as “role models for life.” She found the student population to be refreshingly more diverse. “There were so many different backgrounds represented; it created such a very rich experience for my children,” she says.

Today, 43% of Flint Hill’s student body identify as students of color. Director of IEI Mia Burton asserts, “That doesn’t mean our work is complete. Just because we have racial diversity that reflects our local community doesn’t mean there isn’t more we need to do.” In her role, Mia aims to raise and uphold the quality of each Husky’s lived experience. “Flint Hill hasn’t always seen the benefit of a diverse community, but we know now that the best learning environment is one where students are exposed to different perspectives, learn to approach the unknown with curiosity rather than prejudice, and build an awareness and empathy for the experience of others.”

Jamal has stayed connected to Flint Hill since graduating in 1991. He appreciates hearing about the School’s current IEI efforts, including the recent pivot away from using terms like “Headmaster” and “Founders Day.” “Addressing all of that

just was not a conversation that existed 30 years ago,” he says. “I’m proud to see that it exists now.” This fall, alumni of color were invited to gather for an affinity reception in Arlington where they could reconnect, socialize, and talk about their shared experience.

Head of School Patrick McHonett believes these conversations are key to the continued progress of the School. “Frankly, outstanding students we have on campus today would not have been welcome in our original incarnation. We need to own where we’ve been in order to recognize how far we’ve come, as well as chart a pathway forward.”

Patrick finds immense value in hearing the endearing and heartwarming stories Falcons tell him about Flint Hill Prep. “They originated the driving spirit and supportive community that our Huskies maintain today.”

“Ultimately,” he says, “the goal is for Ann, Jamal, Ida, and every other member of our community to have a place where they belong and are celebrated for who they are.

We’ve always been a caring community. Now, our priorities need to demonstrate what we’ve learned from our past, and how we’ve grown to live our Core Values, to be a just and equitable community for all.”

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Anatomy of a

homecoming From preparing for the large crowd to putting the “spirit” in Spirit Alley, orchestrating Homecoming at Flint Hill is a huge undertaking. We’re pulling back the curtain to give you a deeper appreciation for the inner workings of this beloved community-builder.

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pandemonium

with Purpose

Homecoming 2023 kicked off with a decibelpounding, energy-packed pep rally planned by the Upper School members of our Athletic Advisory Council. To prepare for a weekend of thrilling matchups with our athletic rivals, the AAC revved up the spirit of competition by pitting grade against grade with fun games like tug-of-war, dodgeball, musical chairs, and an epic dance-off.

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ANATOMY OF A HOMECOMING

off-the-field

MVPs

Flint Hill’s Homecoming would not be the success it is year-to-year without the enthusiastic dedication of our parent and faculty/staff volunteers. From working shifts in the Igloo and ringing up customers at the school store to handing out giveaways and pouring cups of hot chocolate, volunteers help create a festive and hospitable environment that offers something for everyone. This year’s festivities came together with the help of 77 indispensable volunteers.

Proceeds from all Homecoming concession sales went toward the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel.

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$7,600 raised for the Parents’ Association Endowment for Financial Aid in Honor of Sally Hazel

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cups of hot chocolate served

trained for

the Win

Homecoming games equal more fans, more energy, and more intensity from our student-athletes. Since that can also mean more opportunity for injury, the three members of Flint Hill’s expert athletic training staff are essential.

With Homecoming being such a high-profile event, players are often extra eager to perform for the pumped-up crowd and bring home the win. The weekend is an especially hectic time for the athletic trainers, with multiple games happening in succession. “We stay rooted in balanced energy and encourage our athletes to do the same,” says Athletic Trainer Ashley Williams. “We have to be that still tree in raging waters.”

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games and matches played

Each time Flint Hill athletes take the field or step onto the court, the athletic trainers are there to ensure that their health and safety is prioritized. “We show them how to connect the dots with preventive care techniques, which we teach them to take seriously,” Ashley explains. “That buy-in strengthens our partnership with keeping them healthy.” It’s important knowledge they carry with them beyond Flint Hill.

moonlighting on the Mic

Middle School Science students and Upper School Engineering students heard a familiar voice calling the Homecoming football game. It belongs to their teacher, Gary Smilowitz, who has been bringing familiarity and flair to the press box for two years now. His soundcheck method of calling for a “Husky Howl” now feels like a pregame tradition. Arriving early to ensure everything is prepared, Gary keeps the crowd informed, engaged, and entertained. In true Husky fashion, Gary shares credit when sharing credit is due. “I can’t do it without Coach Izzy Taylor, who calls out player names and teaches me more about the game,” Gary says.

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cars parked Flint Hill Magazine

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ANATOMY OF A HOMECOMING

bringing home

Members of the Field Hockey team dedicated their Homecoming game to Morgan’s Message, a nonprofit organization with a mission to strengthen student-athlete mental health. The organization is named for Morgan, a collegiate athlete who excelled in lacrosse while also suffering with mental health challenges. After she died by suicide, her family sought to advocate for equalizing the treatment of physical and mental health in athletics.

a Message

Prior to the game, Megan Jones ’25 and Mackenzie Murdock ’25, ambassadors and co-chairs of the Flint Hill chapter, took the field to announce the dedication. Both students have experienced loss linked to mental health.

“The goal of Flint Hill’s Morgan’s Message chapter is to create a safe space for all athletes,” Megan explains.

“Mental health around sports is something every athlete relates to no matter what they play.” Mackenzie adds, “A student-athlete’s mental health is a huge part of their ability to succeed both athletically and academically. It is important that athletes receive the support they need and that their community be a safe, stigma-free space to talk and ask for help.”

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glow sticks given out

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faces painted

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little stars, Big Stage

Homecoming may be a stage for Upper School student-athletes, but, for the second year in a row, our Lower Schoolers stole the spotlight at the football halftime show. Halftime featured 60 K-6th graders performing a routine choreographed by Elisabeth Morello ’26, who, along with her fellow Upper School Dance team members, prepped the Lower School dancers in two hours flat! Not only did our young Huskies take a meaningful risk by performing in front of a cheering crowd, they got to experience the transformative power of dance.

Needless to say, they executed the routine flawlessly — or should we say, adorably ­— which is the same thing. They left the field asking, “When do we do this again?”

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pumpkins decorated

From Husky families sparking new connections to alumni reuniting with cherished friends and teachers — Homecoming embodies the sense of community that Flint Hill holds so dear. We can’t wait to do it all again next year!

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Alumni Events

Jeremy Glover ’09, Josh Green ’10, Anisha Sharma ’09, Tess Boyer ’08, Tommy McCoy ’08

RIGHT PAGE

THIS FALL AND WINTER brought several opportunities for our alumni to get together.

From reuniting at Homecoming and our inaugural Alumni of Color Reception to reconnecting at our many College Dinners and Thanksgiving Happy Hour, they enjoyed catching up as fellow Falcons and Huskies.

TOP Board of Trustee member Miki Toliver King, Garnett Soles ’93, Jessica Aspinwall Springsteen ’93, George Springsteen MIDDLE, LEFT Rico Reed and Jordan Hairston ’19 MIDDLE, RIGHT Tamika Alexander ’16, Gwendolyn Murugu ’06, Makena Murugu ’14 BOTTOM, LEFT James Villemarette ’18, Mark Kim ’16, Connor Cuevo H’18 BOTTOM, RIGHT Arjun Gupta ’08

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Alumni of Color Reception On October 13, the Alumni Office hosted the inaugural Alumni of Color Reception. The goal of hosting this event every year is to create a space to celebrate this particular alumni identity and acknowledge unique experiences. All alumni were invited to attend — regardless of how they identify.

A special thank you to our host, Tommy McCoy ’08, who allowed us to use the beautiful space at his apartment building in Arlington, and to our amazing host committee.

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ALUMNI EVENTS

Homecoming Alumni gathered at the Alumni Fan Zone during Homecoming this year to visit with current and former faculty and staff and show their Husky pride!

Josh Green ’10, Calvin Soloman ’18, Ethan Jones ’19 Faculty members Melissa Buckner and Tracy Peterson, and alumni Mia Brown ’23, Laurel Waters ’23, Klondike, Andrew Avakian ’96

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Flint Hill School

Samantha Ynger ’07 and Suzy Chiarolanzio

Current and former faculty and staff, left to right: Fred Atwood, Catherine Huber, Doug Mourency, Tracy Peterson, Steph Batbouta, Amy Clement, Ellen Turner ’01, Howard Waxman, Rico Reed, Maia Schmidt, Suzy Chiarolanzio, Andrew Doll ’03, Derek Ross

Just before kickoff of the Homecoming football game, Varsity Fall Alumni Athletes were recognized on center field. It was great to celebrate alumni from the classes of 1967 to 2022!

Andrew Doll ’03, Ellen Turner ’01, Marilyn Peizer Brown ’11, Sarah Ball Gonyo ’06, Katia Bratichko Sanner ’06, Eliot Brenner ’67, Pete Peterson ’67, Peyton Murphy ’22, Howard Waxman, Julie DiBella ’00, Maria Taylor, Rico Reed

Kip Lynch ’18 and Fred Atwood

Andrew Doll ’03, Hillary Zelnick ’00, Howard Waxman, Julie DiBella ’00

Flint Hill Magazine

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ALUMNI EVENTS

College Dinners VIRGINIA TECH

Back row, left to right: Howard Chang, Matthew Trimble ’23, Gideon Bobb-Semple ’23, Vijay Mannava ’20, Connor Carrico ’23, Emad Said ’20, Brando Hellmer ’20, Tyler Swain ’20, Maria Taylor Front row: Olivia Nyarko-Odoom ’22, Caryn Gardner ’23, Riya Nilawar ’23, Lily Kyser ’19, Maya Jaffe ’20

JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY

Aidan Ratdke ’22, Brian Boyce ’22, Andrew Chow ’23, Howard Chang, Penelope Venhaus ’23, Reagan Pomeroy ’21, Maria Taylor

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NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

Jordan Houston ’19 and Rico Reed

PITTSBURGH COLLEGES

Sofia Yu ’23, Michael Lettieri ’23, Ethan Plaut ’23, Rico Reed, Omer Aziz Quintana ’23, Maria Taylor

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA Caroline Klein ’23 and Rico Reed

D.C. COLLEGES

Paras Bahnat ’23, Tyler Collo ’23, Vlad Kovtun ’23, Amy Clement, Summer Jeffery ’23, Rohini Kudva ’23, Dyuthi Harikar ’23

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ALUMNI EVENTS

WILLIAM & MARY

Ida Guerami ’23, Yasmeen Mogharbel ’23, Sasha Kovtun ’23

ELON UNIVERSITY

Rico Reed and Shal Jagannathan ’22

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

PENN STATE

Neha Matai ’22 and Tiffany Parry

CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

Will Ma ’20, Rico Reed, Ava Buffman ’20, Elizabeth Nehring ’23, Alan Rizkalla ’19, Chris Hendrix ’20

Back row, left to right: Howard Chang, Aahna Patel ’23, Audrey Herrick ’23, Sasha Osinovsky ’23, Alena Patel ’23, Lena Bruck ’23, Viraj Samant ’21, Mariella Silvia ’23, Yaj Mehta ’21, Tommy Qu ’21, Maria Taylor; Front row: Jordan Rupli ’23, Amelia Vineyard ’23, Nina Breen ’23

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Flint Hill School

Thanksgiving Happy Hour

The annual tradition continued this year with alumni from the classes of 2005-2019 gathering at Wilson Hardware the night after Thanksgiving. It was a great opportunity for alums to connect while they were in town for the holiday.

TOP: Back row: Ahren Ellison ’14, Tommy Doyle ’14, Dillon Foley ’14, Corey McCarten ’14, Brandon Alloy ’14, John Whitaker ’14, Phil Wellde ’14, Britton Anderson ’14 Front Row: Courtney Wiley ’14, Catie Chess ’14, Grace Cleland ’14, Ally Lucas ’14, Lizzy Schofield ’14, Alana Suter ’14 MIDDLE ROW, LEFT: Jyden Simms ’19, Natalie Plaut ’19, Julie Ellison ’19 MIDDLE ROW, RIGHT: Emily Schofield ’17, Kristen Springer’s sister, Kristen Springer ’16, Alana Suter ’14, Jeff Amankwah ’17, Lizzy Schofield ’14 BOTTOM: Jeff Amankwah ’17, Jordan Taylor ’16, Nick Wright ’17, Rico Reed, John Whitaker ’14, Britton Anderson ’14, Dillon Foley ’14, George Odoom ’16, Ethan Jones ’19

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CLASS NOTES

WANT TO BE IN THE MAGAZINE?

Lauren Copeland ’09 and her husband, Cameron Hamilton, share their Husky news.

See p. 39

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Flint Hill School

To be included in Alumni Class Notes, email the Alumni Office at alumni@flinthill.org with news of a union, birth of a child, adoption, professional developments, travels, or anything you’d like to share with your classmates. If you would like to include a photo with your submission, please note that digital photographs must be high-resolution JPEG images (1MB+) to appear in print.

Flint Hill Magazine editorial staff reserves the right to edit submissions for clarity and length.

BECOME AN AMBASSADOR We’re looking for Alumni Ambassadors to gather Class Notes from your fellow alumni. This exciting addition to our Alumni Program will help you stay connected to classmates and us stay connected to you!

CLASSES OF 1956-1966

CLASS OF 1977

Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 1967

Steve Horvath ’77 retired this summer from Berkeley Capital Advisors, the company he started 27 years ago. During his retirement, Steve plans to do some nonprofit work to help individuals experiencing homelessness find “earn-while-youlearn” positions that lead to careers not just jobs. He’s also planning to travel, have fun, and experience plenty!

The picture of Steve and his wife, Kathy, was at Wrightsville beach for his niece’s wedding. (below)

1967 Alumni Ambassadors: Eliot Brenner, eliotb@cox.net; Greg Wells, gregwells@cfl.rr.com

Carolyn Bohling ’67 is still sewing after all these years. She is president of the Fredericksburg Modern Quilt Guild and lives at Lake of the Woods.

CLASS OF 1968 1968 Alumni Ambassadors: Fair Kirk Pickel, fpickel64@gmail.com

Fair Pickel ’68 writes, “My husband David and I enjoyed celebrating July 4th with Cathy and Skip Todd at their home in Wintergreen, VA.” (below)

CLASSES OF 1969–1976 1971 Alumni Ambassador: Rod Brown, rodbrown4@gmail.com 1972 Alumni Ambassador: Ace Ernst, acemd@verizon.net 1976 Alumni Ambassadors: Vince Salazar, vincesalazar@comcast.net; David Schoen, schoenlawfirm@gmail.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASSES OF 1978–1979 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

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CLASS NOTES CLASS OF 1980 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Juan Sierra ’80 writes, “I share pics of my last summer in Tulum, Mexico, with my family. I remember my school with love.” (below)

partner, Michelle Hundley, and I are Certified Financial Planner™ professionals who work with high-net worth families to tailor comprehensive financial life management solutions that align with their goals and values. We opened our doors in fall 2023 and have a diverse client base and also specialize in working with women experiencing life transitions, future and current retirees, executives with stock compensation, and small business owners.”

Dev Sethi ’02 was recently honored as a member of Sports Business Journal’s 2023 Forty Under 40 class. The occasion was marked by an awards gala in Las Vegas, in October, where Dev was joined by his fellow honorees to celebrate the impact they have made in the sports industry. (left)

CLASSES OF 1981–1992 1981 Alumni Ambassador: Chuck Papas, ike_papas@hotmail.com 1985 Alumni Ambassador: Sharon Weinstein Goldberg, sgoldberg@sevenhills.org 1991 Alumni Ambassador: Blair Gormley, b_gormley@yahoo.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 1993 1993 Alumni Ambassador: Garnett Soles, garnett.soles@gmail.com

Garnett Soles ’93 writes, “​​I am currently working as a pediatric speech-language pathologist in Washington, D.C., and proud to be not only a Flint Hill alum but also the parent of a Lower School Husky!”

CLASSES OF 1994–2001 1995 Alumni Ambassador: Zack Krug, zkrug@flinthill.org 2000 Alumni Ambassador: Julie DiBella, julie.dibella@gmail.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 2002 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Kevin McLoughlin ’02 writes, “I am the chief investment officer and co-founder of an independent fee-only financial planning and investment management firm, named Trio Wealth Management, LLC, in Great Falls, VA. My

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Flint Hill School

CLASSES OF 2003–2004 2003 Alumni Ambassador: Suzie Grand Pré, SGPre@yahoo.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 2005 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Scott Schillereff ’05 and his wife, Brittany, were delighted to welcome the arrival of their daughter, Sarah Vail Schillereff, in July 2023. Sarah was named after Scott’s sister who passed away unexpectedly in December 2015. (below)

CLASSES OF 2006–2007

CLASS OF 2009

Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 2008

Lauren Copeland ’09 and her husband, Cameron Hamilton, welcomed Cal Wendell CopelandHamilton in June 2023. Check out the adorable picture of “future Husky” Cal with their Husky pup.

Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

In May 2023, Jeff Zeberlein ’08 graduated from Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, D.C., with a master’s in international public policy. He moved back to Lemoore, CA, as a department head for Strike Fighter Squadron 151, where he flies and teaches tactics for the F/A-18 Super Hornet. Previously, he graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) and lived in Japan as a training officer deployed on the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier. (below)

(See photo on p. 36)

Catherine Schlegel ’09 married Maxwell Efrus in September 2023, in Afton, VA. It was a beautiful sunny day celebrated with longtime friends from Flint Hill! Alumni in attendance were, from left to right: Sara Schlegel ’08, Tyler O’Connor ’09, Carly Marcks ’09, Catherine Schlegel ’09, Maxwell Efrus, Jessica Johnson ’09, Amanda Firestone ’09, Michael Libonati ’09, and Christina Schlegel ’04. (below)

Taylor Swart Ruff ’08 and her husband, Doug Ruff, were married in Middleburg, VA, in September 2022. Her sister, Kimberly Swart ’12, was her Maid of Honor and her brother Jack Swart ’15 was a groomsman. Dani Dutta ’08 and Stephanie Phillips ’08 were also bridesmaids. Taylor is a pediatric nurse practitioner at Capital Area Pediatrics in Falls Church and also serves as the secretary of the Northern Virginia Pediatric Society. She was recently recognized as a Top Nurse Practitioner in Virginia for 2023.

CLASSES OF 2010–2012 2010 Alumni Ambassador: Natasha Chadha, nc2600@tc.columbia.edu 2011 Alumni Ambassador: Woojin Kim, woojin.kim.13@gmail.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

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CLASS NOTES CLASS OF 2013 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Joey Lane ’13 made his PGA Tour debut at the 2023 Wyndham Championship. (right)

CLASS OF 2014 2014 Alumni Ambassadors: Reagan Fox, reagan@piersonrealestate.com; Ally Lucas, Alucas6@vt.edu; Philip Wellde, pcwellde7@gmail.com

CLASS OF 2015 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Sonia Schmidt ’17 married Devan Geib ’17. They participated in a Hindu wedding ceremony at the Stone Tower Winery in Leesburg, in August 2023, followed by a Catholic Ceremony at St. Matthew the Apostle Cathedral in Washington, D.C. A reception was held at the Willard Hotel. There were several Flint Hill alums among the bridal party: Olivia Hernandez ’17 was Maid of Honor, Jack Harrington ’17 was Best Man, Claire Briggs ’17, Lara Geib ’21 and Marisa Geib ’21 were bridesmaids, and John Nault ’19 was a groomsman. The couple honeymooned in Rome, Pompeii, and Sorrento, Italy. Sonia graduated from Haverford College in 2021 with a B.A. in religion, a minor in political science, and a concentration in peace, justice, and human rights. Devan graduated from Swarthmore College in 2021 with a B.A. in economics.

Sonia is a 3rd year law student at the George Washington University Law School, and Devan is a consultant at the Boston Consulting Group. (below)

Kathryn Phillips ’15 writes, “Celebrating one of our most special days made even more special because we were celebrating as a soonto-be family of three!

We were so happy that our son was able to be a part of our day.” (left) Julia Everstine Gonsalves ’15 writes, “I’ve known Kathryn Phillips ’15 since 5th grade at Flint Hill Middle School, and we’ve been through so much together. It was such a joy to stand by her side and have my daughter as her flower girl at her wedding this past June! (left)

CLASSES OF 2015–2016 2016 Alumni Ambassador: Kristen Springer, kristennspringer@gmail.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 2017 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

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Flint Hill School

Tom Burr ’17 graduated from Drew University where he played baseball all four years and was captain his senior year.

After graduation, Tom was accepted to the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School and graduated this past May. He was assigned to the Coast Guard’s special force division called the Maritime Security Response Team (MSRT) and is based in Chesapeake, VA. He will continue his training over the next six months in both Charleston, SC, and Camp Lejeune, NC.

CLASSES OF 2018–2019 2018 Alumni Ambassador: Aidan Wheeler, Aidan.wheeler.18@cnu.edu Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

CLASS OF 2020 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Cadence Hinnant ’20 was recently featured for his musical talents in Nashville Voyager Magazine. In the article, he gives a shout out to a few of his Flint Hill teachers who he credits for helping him get to where he is, “I’m fortunate to have had a lot of big cheerleaders throughout my life though — my entire family is amazing, not just my parents. I’ve had a lot of amazing teachers as well, Greg Holloway, Tracy Peterson, and Rob Taylor to name just a small handful. Those are three people who really made my grade school education special and set me up on the right path to be successful after graduating.” (top left)

CLASS OF 2021 Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year.

Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

Mackenzie Fitzgerald ’21 and Kelli Giuliani ’22 met up at the women’s lacrosse play day at the United States Naval Academy this fall. Mackenzie is a junior on The Ohio State University lacrosse team, and Kelli is a sophomore on the United States Naval Academy basketball team. (bottom left)

CLASSES OF 2022–2023 2022 Alumni Ambassador: Hudson Eaton, hudseaton@gmail.com Become an Alumni Ambassador for your class year. Send in your news and updates for the next issue: alumni@flinthill.org.

EMAIL ALUMNI@FLINTHILL.ORG TO LET US KNOW:

Getting married?

We’ll send you a Flint Hill Alumni banner for a photo op with all your Husky friends!

Had a baby?

We’d love to send a special gift your way!

CONNECT WITH FLINT HILL ALUMNI ON LINKEDIN AND INSTAGRAM TODAY! • Remember to add Flint Hill to your LinkedIn profile and join the Flint Hill School Alumni Group.

• Stay in the loop and follow @flinthillalumni on Instagram.

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LIFECYCLES

InWIN Memory of PALMER IN SEPTEMBER, the Flint Hill community was saddened to learn

about the loss of former Athletic Director Win Palmer. Coach Palmer joined Flint Hill from St. Stephens in 1990 and served as the athletic director as well as the head coach of the boys’ basketball and golf program until 2001, when he moved to Sewickley Academy in Pittsburgh. During his time with the Huskies, the boy’s basketball team won the 1994-95 state championship, amassing a 27-1 record that season. He also led the team to nine other semifinal or quarterfinal finishes along with many Sweet 16 appearances. Under Win’s leadership in the Athletics Department, Flint Hill completed the construction of a brand new gym designed by him, saw multiple success stories in football, and experienced growth in middle school sports. Win was also paramount in establishing the Mid-Atlantic Conference (MAC) back then, consisting of many of the schools that still belong today.

“

Coach Palmer exemplified character first. He was always more concerned with the type of people we were becoming than the players we were on the court.

– Jim Fitzpatrick ’95 42

Flint Hill School

In his eulogy, at Coach Palmer’s Celebration of Life in September, former Flint Hill Coach Howard Waxman said, “What we all experienced by knowing, working, and learning from Win in all of our unique situations is very personal. My dear friend leaves us with one more lesson about life — be true to your life’s work and enjoy what you do. Treat people the way you would like to be treated in life. Always comport yourself with dignity and class in every situation.

Take the time to tell the most important people in your life that you love and appreciate them.”

Jim Fitzpatrick ’95, former player for Coach Palmer and former basketball coach, reflects: “Coach Palmer exemplified character first. He was always more concerned with the type of people we were becoming than the players we were on the court.”

Former Basketball Coach and Director of Facilities Dennis Giuliani recalls that “the things that made Win special were his preparation and attention to detail. We would meet in late August at least once a week to talk about every student-athlete, their academics, athletic ability, basketball ability, and the type of teammate they would be.

He cared about every player and how each could help the team and how we as coaches could help them.”

Coach Palmer is survived by his two sons, Matt H’06 and Tyler H’10.

LIFECYCLES MARRIAGES

IN MEMORIAM

Taylor Swart Ruff ’08 and Doug Ruff September 2022

Jason W. Brantley ’97 August 27, 2023

Matthew E. Stemen ’02 June 12, 2023

Michael W. Corrigan October 14, 2023 Father of Katie Corrigan ’15

Gail M. Tomlinson August 19, 2023 Former Faculty Mother of Nicolas Tomlinson-St. Juste ’14

Catherine Schlegel ’09 and Maxwell Efrus September 2023 Kathryn Phillips ’15 and Brandon Macer June 2023

Juanita Csontos November 10, 2023 Former Faculty, Mother of Tim Csontos ’95

Sonia Schmit ’17 and Devan Geib ’17 August 2023

Rudi Ernst VIII 2023 Father of Rudi Ernst IX ’27

BIRTHS/ADOPTIONS

Kristin M. Parnell Krewson ’09 September 11, 2023

Scott Schillereff ’05 and Brittany: Sarah, July 2023

Matthew S. Lewis January 25, 2023 Former Faculty

Lauren Copeland ’09 and Cameron Hamilton: Cal, June 2023

Winthrop R. Palmer August 31, 2023 Former Faculty

FROM THE ARCHIVES

Can anyone identify the alumni below? Email Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org.

Flint Hill Magazine

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THESE 2024 EVENTS...

REUNION 2024 Friday, April 26–Saturday, April 27

Night on the Hill

It’s all about the friends and faculty

Friday, April 26

TWO DAYS OF REUNIONS, RECEPTIONS AND ACTIVITIES

8:00–10:00 p.m.

Whether you are celebrating your 50th Reunion or your 5th — or somewhere in between — come back to campus to reconnect with old friends and see your former teachers.

If you would like to help plan your Reunion, please contact Director of Alumni Relations Maria Taylor at mtaylor@flinthill.org.

You’re invited to an adults-only celebration for a fun night of socializing and dancing.

Look for your electronic invitation this spring.

Grandparents and Special Friends Day

FLINT HILL GOLF INVITATIONAL & SKILLS CLINIC

Friday, May 10

Thursday, May 23

Join us for a morning in the life of your student and get a special glimpse into the classroom experience at Flint Hill.

This event is for grandparents and special friends of Lower School students in grades JK-6.

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More information to follow.

Flint Hill School

Westfields Golf Club, Clifton, VA Parents, alumni parents, alumni, and friends of Flint Hill come together for a beautiful day on the links. Not up for a full 18? Play in the skills clinic!

Registration and sponsorships open early 2024.

More information to follow.

Support our students and teachers by giving back to what’s most meaningful to you.

By joining in, you’ll show how much each student and teacher matters.

Give to what you love

Flint Hill Magazine

45

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

3320 Jermantown Road Oakton, VA 22124

Permit No. 643 Merrifield, VA

JUNE 10 – AUGUST 16, 2024

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Flint Hill School

FLINTHILL.ORG/SUMMER-ON-THE-HILL