Doherty Blast Oct 31, 2025

Halloween Parade — Today, Oct. 31

Today at 8:40 a.m., the students will parade in their Halloween costumes through the buildings then out the doors to the driveway. They will then parade down to the gym where teachers and students will get a closer look at the costumes, then return to their classrooms. Parents are invited to line the driveway to watch all the ghouls and goblins go by. Coffee will be provided by the Doherty PC.

When choosing a costume, please do not allow weapons or masks of any kind to come to school. This includes anything that may be part of a costume such as pirate swords, Thor’s hammer, or Michael Myers’ mask!

ATB is Closing at 5 p.m. Today

Please plan to pick up by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 so everyone can get home safely for Trick or Treat!

Growing Together: Doherty Oak Tree Planting Event

Don’t miss an exciting opportunity to help plant the Doherty Oak saplings at Lotspeich to grow until the new Lower School site is ready for the trees. In addition to planting (accessible for all ages), we’ll have Lower School site tours with Dr. Matt Bolton, kid-friendly activities with the Upper Sustainability team, Doherty Green Team, the Lotspeich ECC teachers, and more! Stop by or stay for the whole time! We’ll have coffee, snacks, and swag! We can’t wait to help our campus green space grow with more history and beauty!

Pumpkins and Popsicles with S.H.A.R.E. — Saturday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m.

All are welcome to S.H.A.R.E.’s fun family event on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m. at the Pavilion on the Hillsdale Campus. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with family activities, including decorating pumpkins with words of kindness in honor of World Kindness Day. S.H.A.R.E. stands for Seven Hills Association of Rainbow Events. We are an affinity group for anyone with a family member or who is an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. Let us know you are coming by emailing SHARE@7hills.org.

Parent-Teacher Conference Registration

The parent-teacher conference sign-ups are live and available online through your Veracross Parent Portal until Monday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. If you have specific teachers, times and dates that you would like, we encourage you to register early.

The Lower School Book Fair is Just Around the Corner!

We’re thrilled to announce that The Bookshelf in Madeira and the Lower School libraries are teaming up to bring the Book Fair back to our school. Here are all the important details:

• Dates: Nov. 5-16
• Location: Lotspeich and Doherty libraries
• For Students: During their library class, students will have the opportunity to preview the exciting books available at the Book Fair right in the Lotspeich and Doherty libraries.
• For Families: For added convenience, we’ll also have book browsing available during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Nov. 12-13.
• Online Orders: On Nov. 5, you’ll receive an email with a link to the website for ordering books.
• Delivery: Most books ordered from the Book Fair will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom before winter break.

Questions? If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Lotspeich librarian Lori Suffield or Doherty librarian Jo Schnirring.

Special Persons’ Day — New Schedule this Year!

This year, based on thoughtful feedback from some of our Special People and their families, we are excited to announce a new format for Special Persons’ Day.

Rather than following a set schedule, we will host the event in an open house style. Special guests are welcome to come and go at any time during the designated hours and are not required to stay for an entire hour or hour and a half in a single classroom.

Each class will feature a special project or program for guests to enjoy. This new format offers more flexibility, allowing families with multiple students in different grades to visit multiple classrooms more easily. With thoughtful planning, guests should be able to enjoy time with each student without long waits or multiple trips up and down the stairs.

Please note: There will be no lunch with Unit III students and their Special Persons on this day, and it will remain a full school day. Families are welcome to take their students home after the program if they wish.

We hope this new structure makes the day more enjoyable and accessible for everyone!

Invitations to your child’s special persons were emailed on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Waitlist for November Holiday Care

We are currently on a waitlist for November Holiday Care. Please email Jill and Christina if you would like to be added.  If you are bringing your child during conferences, Holiday Care if not a drop in option. Thanks for your understanding!

Enrichment begins Nov. 3!

We still have spots in the following programs:

• Let it Grow: Fall Plants and More — Mondays for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
• Sportsmanship and Soccer — Tuesdays for Grades 1 to 5 at Lotspeich
• Totally 90s Club — Thursdays for Grades 1 to 5 at Lotspeich

Please check your Parent Portal to register!