Lotspeich Blast Feb 20, 2026
Key Dates
Wednesday, March 4 — Parent Community Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 5 — Grades 1-5 Early Dismissal at 11:30 a.m. Conferences from 12:30-8 p.m. Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Regular School Day. Conferences from 4:30-8 p.m.
Friday, March 6 — Lower School Conferences. No School
Sunday, March 8 — Daylight Saving Time Begins (move clocks ahead one hour)
Friday, March 13 — Spring Break Begins at 3:15 p.m.
Monday-Friday, March 16-27 — Spring Break. No School
Monday, March 30 — Faculty Professional Development Day. No School
Tuesday, March 31 — School Resumes
Friday, April 17 — VIP Day, Early Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.
Photos of the Week
First graders in Ashley Kohn’s class worked with numbers on a life-size timeline.
What to Know Now
Girls on the Run — Registration Close Feb. 22
We are SO excited to have another season of Girls on the Run for third to fifth graders on the Hillsdale Campus! Registration runs through Feb. 22. Remember, this is a lottery run through GOTR and not run through the school! Use the Pinwheel link to join the lottery!
Practices will begin the first week of March and the season is eight weeks long. We will practice right after school on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Join us for our next LEAD Together event with David Yeager — Thursday, Feb. 26
If you’ve ever wondered how to push your child toward their potential without it feeling like pressure, or how to give feedback that actually lands, we have an evening designed for you.
We’re bringing parents, faculty, and staff together for a webinar on Thursday, Feb. 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m., in the Lotspeich Library with David Yeager, one of the country’s leading researchers on adolescent motivation. His work centers on a powerful idea: young people thrive when the adults in their lives hold high expectations and communicate genuine belief in their ability to meet them. There’s real science behind what makes it work … and real practices you can bring home.
This isn’t a presentation. It’s also a conversation we’re having together, because the most powerful thing we can do for our students is to be on the same page about how to support them.
Free childcare and dinner is available. Please register now!
Note Regarding Dismissal
Now that the snow is gone, we returned to using all three lanes for dismissal procedures at the Red Barn.
Students will exit from the early care/extended day door at the front of the building. The first wave of students will enter their cars from the crosswalk at the corner of the former Briggs Building towards the Red Barn. If you are behind the crosswalk, your student will load in the second wave.
Parent Association News
Early Childhood Parent Community “Think Tank” Meeting — Feb. 24
Please join us on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9-10 a.m., for the first meeting of the Early Childhood Community “Think Tank.” We will have coffee and discuss how to make the Early Childhood Parent Community a success in 2027!
Where? Doherty Campus, Jones Hall
When? Tuesday, Feb. 24, 9-10 a.m.
How much of a commitment is this? Attending one meeting does not require attendance at future meetings. Even if you can only come once, we would love to have you and hear your ideas.
Can’t make it? We will offer at least one more meeting date in the afternoon or evening this semester. You can also join virtually on Google Meet. Email Lauren Burns. for the Google Meet information.
Questions? Also email Lauren Burns.
Conference Dinner Volunteers
We are looking for a handful of volunteers to organize conference night dinners for our teachers! This is a very low-time commitment way to get involved and show some extra appreciation.
- Setup volunteers accept the dinner delivery and organize food in the Teachers Lounge
- Cleanup volunteers make sure the lounge is cleaned back up after dinner
This is a great opportunity to tag on before or after an evening conference appointment! Sign up via SignUpGenius.
Neurodivergent Parent Community Kick-Off — March 7
Come meet other parents and share your hopes for how this group can provide help and support. Lunch will be provided. See the flyer for more details.
Walking Group
Join this WhatsApp group for dates and information! This is an ongoing, casual walking group that meets (weather permitting) on certain days after dropoff.
Call for Yearbook Pictures
Yearbook pictures are collected all school year! If you are volunteering at an event, chaperoning a field trip or watching a sporting event, don’t forget to send your best photos to lotspeichyearbook@7hills.org.
Announcements
Lower School Conferences — March 5-6
Lower School conferences will be held on March 5-6. We look forward to the opportunity to connect with you and share more about your child’s progress.
Information has been sent with details on how and when to sign up for conferences.
- Thursday, March 5
- Grades 1-5: Early dismissal at 11:30 a.m., conferences from 12:30-8 p.m.
- Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten:Regular school day, conferences from 4:30-8 p.m. ECC morning pick up will still happen at 11:30 a.m. as usual.
- Important: There will be no shuttle, school district buses, or ECC carline at 11:30 a.m. Please pick up your child(ren) at the Red Barn. If you use a private transportation service, please plan accordingly.
- Friday, March 6
- No school for all Lower School students.
- Conferences from 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Please note that Ms. Hyland and our third grade team will offer alternative conference dates to accommodate some wonderful professional growth opportunities, so please be sure to double-check the calendar when you sign up.
Please note the following regarding Mrs. Bird’s availability:
- Lotspeich Campus: March 5
- Doherty Campus: March 6
When registering, we kindly ask families to double-check that they are selecting the correct campus.
Thank you for your partnership and support. We look forward to seeing you at conferences!
Holiday Care in March
We will have Holiday Care the following dates in March if we have enough interest:
- Thursday, March 5 for Grades 1-5, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m. (Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten have a regular school day and ATB)
- Friday, March 6
- March 23-27
- March 30
Save the Date for VIP Day — April 17
Please save the date for our annual VIP Day on Friday, April 17. Students are invited to bring a grandparent or special guest to tour the school and share the morning together.
There will be an early dismissal at 11:30 a.m. to allow families additional time with their visitors. An official invitation with more details will be emailed late next week.
Field House Parking Lot — Temporary Traffic Flow Changes
