Middle School Blast Jan 9, 2026

Note from Nurses — Respiratory Virus Prevention

We are seeing an increase in flu and other respiratory illnesses in the community. To help reduce the spread of illness at school, please keep children home if they have symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, or vomiting. Students should be fever-free and free from vomiting for at least 24 hours (without medication) before returning to school. Thank you for reinforcing good hand hygiene and cough etiquette at home as we work together to keep our community healthy. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your campus nurse if you have any questions or concerns.

Carline Nametags

Please, please, please … refresh those car signs or create a new one for the first time. To help make the carline run as smooth as possible, please be sure to display your family name on the passenger side visor or dash board. Keep your sign simple and use large black letters on a white piece of paper. This simple sign will make dismissal much more safe and efficient. Thank you!

Attendance

Remember to enter any and all attendance changes in Veracross. This is the official school record and will alert all of your child’s teachers to your child’s plans. If your family plans to spend time away from school for multiple days or for non-medical reasons (vacation, travel, etc.), please email our Head of Middle School James Jessup to have these dates approved. Upon approval, please enter those dates in Veracross. Attendance entries without approval will not be excused.  

Transportation

In Middle School, as long as your student is aware of the plans, you do NOT need to enter changes to transportation in Veracross. If you need to inform your student of a last minute transportation change, please email Ms. Morelli as soon as possible and call the office at 513.728.2450. Please understand that after 2:30 p.m, we cannot guarantee delivery of messages.  

Basketball Bash — Wednesday, Jan. 14

Please join the Middle School Student Council and the Parent Community for our Third Annual Basketball Bash after school on Wednesday, Jan. 14! Students will cheer on our seventh and eighth grade boys and girls basketball programs, with the girls game starting at 4:30 p.m. and the boys at 5:30 p.m. Before the games, students can stay after school, hang out with friends and enjoy activities like putter ball, corn hole, Just Dance, board games, and more. Pizza will be provided, and there will be halftime games with prizes!

This event is FREE, but an RSVP is appreciated. We are also looking for parent volunteers to help with after-school activities and to work the concession stand during the games. RSVP or sign up to volunteer. We hope to see you there!

Sixth Grade Field Trip on Thursday, Jan. 15

This coming Thursday, Jan. 15, the sixth grade class will be heading off-campus to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, followed by a pizza lunch and ice skating at Elm Street Plaza. We will provide cheese and pepperoni pizza from Italianette Pizzeria and a drink. Students can also pack a lunch if this lunch option doesn’t work due to allergies, food sensitivities, or preference. Please keep an eye on the weather and help your child find appropriate clothing for being outside. Email Jennifer Licata if you have any questions. 

MLK Day of Service – Monday, Jan. 19

You are warmly invited to join us for our 13th Annual MLK Day On, Not Off. We’re excited to offer two service sites where volunteers can participate in meaningful, hands-on projects that honor Dr. King’s vision of service, unity, and community responsibility.

Please use the Google Form links below to let Seven Hills organizers know who and how many people will be attending and to fill out the registration forms for each organization. 

We look forward to making this day of service a meaningful experience for members of our Seven Hills community.

Matthew 25: Ministries
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Ages: Open to participants of all ages
Address: 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242
Forms: Please register using the Matthew 25: Ministries Google Form. Returning volunteers can bring their MM25 ID card with them.

Freestore Foodbank
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Ages: Open to volunteers 12 years and older
Address: Community Resource Distribution Center, 3401 Rosenthal Way, Cincinnati, OH 45204
Forms: Please register using the Freestore Foodbank Google Form.

Second Semester LEAD Together Events

Thanks to all who joined us for one or more of the LEAD Together events during the first semester. We are looking forward to learning alongside you with a new lineup of speakers and local experts who can support our journey in parenting and educating. Save the dates for our second semester LEAD Together programming! 

Heart and Sole — Self Esteem and Running Program for Girls

We are so excited to introduce Heart and Sole to our lineup of enrichment opportunities for Middle School girls in grades six to eight! This is an elevated version of Girls on the Run, is specifically targeted for middle school girls and will run twice weekly beginning in March and ending with a cumulative 5K in May! The season runs from March 3 to May 13!

We would love your girl to join us on Mondays and Wednesdays after school. Registration begins Feb. 9 and runs through Feb. 22.

If your child is interested in partaking, please reach out to Angie Bielecki so we know who to reach out to when registration begins. We would love to have your child join us!

Join Us for a Fireside Book Discussion: Ariel Lawhon’s “The Frozen River”

Please RSVP to attend the Seven Hills Books For Lunch Fireside Book Discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Upper School library. 

In this cozy, intimate setting, our Head of Upper School Rick Tate will be joined by English teacher Nate Gleiner for a lively discussion of Ariel Lawhon’s award-winning novel, “The Frozen River.”

Enjoy an evening discussing Lawson’s gripping historical mystery novel, inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.

The best part? You don’t have to have read the book to join the conversation! This is your shortcut to an engaging night full of ideas, insights, and lively conversation. Whether you’ve read “The Frozen River” or just enjoy exploring thought-provoking literature, you’ll find something valuable in the discussion.

RSVP today. The last day to RSVP is Jan. 19.

Reserve your Ticket to Books for Lunch!

Join us for the Seven Hills 39th Annual Books for Lunch on Feb. 6 at The Lightwell in Covington! Enjoy an engaging afternoon featuring New York Times bestselling author Ariel Lawhon as our keynote speaker. The cash bar opens at 11 a.m., followed by a delightful luncheon and Lawhon’s talk at 12 p.m.

Don’t forget to snag your copy of “The Frozen River,” a Good Morning America book club pick, for a special signing after the event. Hurry, tickets are selling fast. Secure your ticket and book now. Sponsorship opportunities are available, please consider supporting this important event. 

Questions? Email us at booksforlunch@7hills.org.

2026 Summer Program — Priority Registration opens at 9 a.m. on Feb. 10!

Excitement is in the air as we gear up for another fantastic summer filled with fun, learning, and unforgettable experiences! We’re thrilled to announce that priority registration for our Summer Program will open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for Seven Hills families only. Use the priority registration code from the email sent on Dec. 3. 

The Seven Hills School Summer Program uses Ultracamp to streamline registration. 

• New Ultracamp users: We recommend creating an Ultracamp account prior to registration if you don’t have one already. Here is the Ultracamp account registration link.
• Returning Ultracamp users: Returning Ultracamp users will need their username and password to log in.

Global Ed Day Volunteer Presenters Needed … Middle School Needs Your Help!

On Friday, March 6, Middle School will celebrate our 17th Annual Global Education Day and we could use your help! As part of our morning activities, students will attend small group sessions. We are looking for members of the Seven Hills community (and beyond) to conduct these sessions. Students will attend three 40-minute sessions during the morning, between 10 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 

In the past, sessions have included topics such as travel, cuisine, or other elements of culture from around the world, conducting business in a global world, technological advances and their impact on the world, science and conservation, etc. The ideas are limitless! Facilities could be available to prepare foods. The number of students in a session can be limited if necessary due to space or recommendations from the presenter.  

If you are interested in being a presenter or know someone who you think would be a good fit for this day, please contact Jennifer Licata by no later than Friday, Feb. 13.