Upper School Blast Feb 20, 2026

International Travel Information Night on Zoom — Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m.

We will have a short informational presentation on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at 6:30 p.m. to learn about exchange, hosting, and travel opportunities for next year, including French or Danish exchange trips, science research in Costa Rica, a trip to the Globe Theatre to study and see Shakespeare live, or the biannual performing arts musical tour. The Zoom link and information are in the Veracross Parent Portal.  Follow-up materials will be available in next week’s Blast.

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!

Soul Food Lunch — Feb. 27

Next Friday, Feb. 27 the Upper School Black Student Union will be sponsoring a Soul Food Lunch in honor of Black History Month. Soul food has been a way for African Americans to celebrate their cultural heritage by expressing their pride in their identity through food. It also promotes community, culture, and is tied to the social and political lives of Black people. The food for this event will be donated by families in our Seven Hills community and catered. The cost of the lunch is $11 and can be paid for with the student lanyard, a credit card, or cash. It will be held in the cafeteria during normal lunch hours. Note with the food coming from multiple sources if your student has food allergies, it is not recommended that they purchase this meal.

Beyond the Syllabus Scheduling Information

Thank you to all who attended one of the scheduling information sessions this week. You can access the presentation or access the recorded video of the Zoom session (as well as other important scheduling information) on your Veracross Portal.

Free Practice PSAT for Ninth and 10th Graders — Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

The college counseling department is offering a free practice PSAT exam through Revolution Prep, one of the nation’s leading test prep organizations. Seven Hills ninth and 10th graders can take this full-length, proctored practice test from home at no cost. Afterward, Revolution Prep will provide a free, detailed score report with personalized feedback and preparation recommendations. While the PSAT is not used in college admission and scores are not sent to colleges, students may benefit from taking a practice exam to gain valuable test-taking experience in a supportive, low-pressure setting. Visit Revolution Prep’s website for information on how to register and to learn more. Additional dates for free full-length PSAT, ACT, and SAT practice tests can be found on Revolution Prep’s website.

Senior Diplomas — Name Preference

Senior parents, please know your students have received an email regarding the name they would like printed on their diploma. It is very important that students put their information into the 2026 Seniors Diploma Name document by March 1. A calligrapher does each diploma by hand and needs time to complete them all. Please note that if your student does NOT enter their desired name by the deadline, their first and last name in the system will be used. Please contact the Upper Office with questions.

Senior Showcase Photo — Due April 30

We would love to showcase each senior’s achievements and post grad plans by displaying a senior photo of them in our showcase located outside of the Upper office. Along with their photo we will display their chosen college.

Below are the guidelines we would like you to follow regarding the photo:

• 4×6
• Vertical
• Black & White OR Color
• MUST be Printed (we do not have the ability to print in house)

We would like to have these photos displayed before graduation to ensure your students are able to see the showcase and enjoy this traditional moment. The due date for this is April 30. Your students may bring this photo to Mrs. Minton in the Upper office.

We appreciate your assistance and attention to this. If you have any questions please contact upper.office@7hills.org.

Field House Parking Lot — Temporary Traffic Flow Changes