Middle School Blast Aug 21, 2026
Key Dates
Tuesday, Aug. 25 — Special Schedule, First Day of School
Tuesday, Aug. 25 — Grades 4-12 Opening Assembly, 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 26 — A1
Thursday, Aug. 27 — B1
Friday, Aug. 28 — A2. Show Your Spirit! Spirit Wear Day with Mr. Snowie at lunch
Monday, Aug. 31 — B2
Tuesday, Sept. 1 — A3. Middle School Parent Night 6-7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 2 — B3. Parent Association Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3 — A4
Friday, Sept. 4 — B4. Grade 6 & 7 Retreats
Monday, Sept. 7 — Labor Day. No School
Wednesday, Sept. 9 — Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Week of Sept. 14 — Spirit Week!
Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19 — Homecoming
Friday, Sept. 18 — Family Grill-Out, 5-7 p.m.
Photos of the Week
During an afternoon at nearby French Park, faculty and staff across divisions share laughs and catch up with one another before the excitement of a new school year begins.
What to Know Now
Medication Drop-off
The school nurses will be collecting medications for students in first through 12th grade, such as daily medications given at lunch and emergency medications. The nurses will be on the sidewalk at a table under the columns in front of the Upper School entrance on:
- Today, Aug. 21, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Please Note:
- Medication must be in the original container from the pharmacy.
- All prescription medication forms must be uploaded to Magnus Health.
- No paper forms will be accepted.
- We would appreciate receiving all medications in advance of the first day of school.
Middle School Pick-Up Times and Details
Car Signs
Parents are to pick up their Middle Schoolers between 3:15-3:30 p.m. at the bottom of the Middle School steps. You must have an 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper with your child’s last name in large, bold letters, preferably hanging from the passenger side rear view mirror. The signs help with a safe and efficient dismissal. It is important that parents do not arrange to pick up their Middle Schooler at any other non-designated area on campus.
Exceptions
The exception is for those Middle Schoolers who have siblings on campus. For Middle Schoolers with Upper siblings, the Middle Schooler may walk to meet their sibling at the Upper School. For Middle Schoolers with Lower School siblings, the Middle Schooler may walk to meet their sibling at the Red Barn. During the opening week and as needed, we will have a Middle School representative walk the students over to meet their younger siblings and carpool from the Red Barn.
Shuttle/Bus
The Doherty shuttle and Mason bus will continue to collect students from the bottom of the Middle School steps (in front of The Schiff Center).
Communicating Dismissal Changes
Please make sure your child knows their plan for dismissal. Changes to those plans after 2 p.m. are difficult to communicate and cannot be guaranteed. You should always email your child those changes when they are known. Students are encouraged to check their email at the end of the day in advisory.
Encore After School Program
For parents unable to pick up their Middle Schoolers by 3:30 p.m., after-school supervision, known as The Encore Club, will again be offered free of charge. When school is dismissed at 3:15 p.m., students are expected to leave campus property unless they are under the supervision of a teacher or a coach. Students who are not picked up by 3:30 p.m. and are not involved in an adult-supervised activity (e.g., sports practice or play rehearsal) are to go to The Encore Club inside the Middle School in room 213. When parents arrive at school to pick up their child from Encore, they should either come to sign out their child from room 213 or text/call the Encore supervisor at 513.600.0007. Students will not be released from Encore until the Encore supervisor has confirmed the dismissal with the student’s parents.
Student Lanyards & Technology
Our safety policy requires all students and employees to wear lanyards at all times while on campus. Your students should have received an email earlier this week from our technology department regarding what they should do if they are unable to locate their lanyards before school begins. Please have them refer to this email with any questions they may have regarding their tech or have them speak with their advisor for assistance.
New Year, New Gear – Spirit Day on Friday, Aug. 28
The first week of school is always buzzing with excitement — and this year, we’re adding more spirit to the mix! Next week, every student will receive a new piece of Seven Hills spirit wear as a gift from the school to kick off the 2026-27 year.
We hope they’ll wear their new Seven Hills shirt on Friday, Aug. 28, for our first Spirit Day of the year. We can’t wait to see everyone’s Stinger Pride and to celebrate a great first week in style!
Parent Association News
The Seven Hills Spirit Shop Is Back!
Get ready to show your Stinger pride — the Spirit Shop is opening its doors before the school year even begins! We’re hosting three special back-to-school shopping sessions so you can stock up on all your favorite Seven Hills gear before the first bell rings.
Back-to-School Opening Dates
- Friday, Aug. 21, 9-10:30 a.m. — In the Spirit Shop
- Monday, Aug. 24, 1-3 p.m. — Pop-up at Lotspeich Event/Spirit Shop
- Monday, Aug. 24, 1-2:30 p.m. — Pop-up at Doherty Event
Where to Find Us
The Spirit Shop is located in the lobby of the Kalnow Gym on the Hillsdale Campus. During the school year, we’re open most school days from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Can’t make it in person? Shop anytime at our online store.
Want to Get Involved?
The Spirit Shop runs on the enthusiasm of our community — and we’d love your help! We’re looking for volunteers who can commit to a once-a-month shift during regular shop hours as well as folks who’d enjoy helping out at our occasional pop-up events throughout the year. If you’re interested in either opportunity, sign up to volunteer here!
Email us if you have Spirit Shop questions. We’d love to have you on the team. Go Stingers!
— Leesa Pruett Ceron & Lindsay Cassady
First MSPA Meeting — Parent Association Kickoff
Get excited for the year ahead with Middle School Head James Jessup on Friday, Sept. 4, at 8:30 a.m. in the sixth grade commons. All parents are welcome; coffee is on us.
MSPA runs entirely on parent volunteers — help organize a single event, show up and chaperone, or simply come to a coffee and meet other parents — every bit matters. We hope you will find your way this year, however that looks for you.
Middle School Parent Social — Saturday, Sept. 12, 7-10 p.m.
Join the fun at Oakley Greens and socialize with other Middle School parents in a private outdoor cabana to enjoy light bites and a cash bar while socializing and cheering on FCC. We will have a raffle and prizes, as well as free mini golf for anyone who wants to. Look for the blue and yellow balloons!
Tickets to join are $10 per person; please make your payment here to RSVP. If you have questions about the event, please contact Lindsay Cassady or Meg Niederhelman.
Note: If the cost of attending this event prevents you from participating, please contact Head of Middle School James Jessup to discuss financial assistance. All requests are strictly confidential.
What sounds fun to you?
We’re shaping the 2026-27 year right now, and your input directly influences what we build. Take two minutes, fill out the PA survey, and help us make this the best year yet for Middle School families at Seven Hills.
Interested in Getting Involved?
We are looking forward to collecting survey responses and learning how you want to connect and contribute. There is no better way to feel connected to Middle School than to get involved — reach out to Lindsay Cassady and let’s find the right fit for you.
Announcements
Soccer Showcase — Thursday, Sept. 3
Save the date for a Soccer Showcase on Sept. 3. Our junior varsity and varsity boys and girls soccer teams will be playing at the same time on the upper and lower fields. Come out and support our soccer teams!
Sixth Grade Off-Campus Class Retreat — Friday, Sept. 4
The sixth grade will hold our annual retreat on Friday, Sept. 4. The primary focus of our retreat is to get to know each other better! We will spend a bit of time in the morning doing a variety of activities on campus and then head to Main Event in West Chester. We will return to school in time for dismissal. The retreat is a fun and relaxed time for your child to get to know their new classmates and teachers. We will have pizza for lunch provided by Main Event. If you have questions/concerns, please contact Jennifer Licata, sixth grade team leader.
Seventh Grade Class Retreat — Friday, Sept. 4
On Friday, Sept. 4, the seventh grade will have an on-campus retreat, a day for us to do fun activities and bond. The school will provide snacks and Papa John’s pizza for lunch. If you have any questions, please get in touch with seventh grade team leader Carri Haskins.
Picture Day — Sept. 8 & 9
Picture Day is Sept. 8 & 9. Please refer to the flyer below for more details. Bring your smiles!
Eighth Grade Adventure Trek — Sept. 14-17
The eighth-grade trip to North Carolina is coming soon. We will leave at 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, and return around 10 p.m. on Sept. 17. All forms are due on Friday, Aug. 28.
Forms can be found on the Middle School parent page in Veracross and were sent in a direct email to eighth-grade parents. Please complete and sign them as soon as possible. Digital forms can be emailed to Hannah Hanley.
Homecoming — Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19
Save the date for Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, for a fun weekend of homecoming festivities.
Library News from Head Librarian Megan Whitt
At The Seven Hills School, we strive to include a wide variety of high-quality books in our libraries. As professionals in our field, librarians use our many years of expertise to select the best titles for our students. Because the Middle School shares The Young Family Library space with the Upper School, our library collection includes young adult (YA) books. Some young adult books contain mature content, like strong language and graphic descriptions. Middle School students can explore all areas of the library at various times throughout the day, including homeroom, after school, and with their English classes. Students are reminded at the beginning of every year that, while they have access to YA titles, books with mature subject matter may not be for everyone.
Students are encouraged to be responsible, use their best judgment, and have conversations with parents and guardians about their personal comfort level with YA books. Middle School is a great time for students to explore and learn about themselves and others, and books are an excellent way to do this. Many of our students read above their age level and are ready to challenge themselves with mature themes and content. However, we understand not every student is ready for that. Middle School students have their own section within the library with age-appropriate books and magazines. Reading above their age or grade level is a personal choice, and talking with your children about the books they are reading is a great way to connect with them.