Middle School Blast Oct 2, 2026
Key Dates
Friday, Oct. 2 — A4. Between The Pages Author Visit
Monday, Oct. 5 — B4
Tuesday, Oct. 6 — A5. Middle and Upper Choral Concert, 7-8:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 7 — B5. Parent Association Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8 & Friday, Oct. 9 — No School. Fall Break
Monday, Oct. 12 — No School. Records Day
Tuesday, Oct. 13 — No School. Faculty Professional Development Day. LEAD Together Event: “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning,” 5:30 p.m. College Money Method Workshop: “Applying for Financial Aid and Scholarships in Senior Year,” 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 — A1. Picture Retake Day. Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 15 — B1
Friday, Oct. 16 — A2
Photos of the Week
Seventh grade English classes work in groups to brainstorm sensory language as part of a lesson about descriptive writing.
NEW! Listen to The Blast
Click the play button below to listen to this week’s Middle School Blast, read by an automated reader. Please note that the Key Dates section is not included in this audio.
What to Know Now
“Between the Pages” Author Visit — TODAY, Oct. 2
We are excited to have multi-award-winning young adult author Andrea L. Rogers visit Seven Hills today, Oct. 2! Early, Lower, Middle, and Upper School students will have a chance to hear Ms. Rogers speak and have books signed. Books are available for purchase today from a local bookstore, The Bookmatters. Students are welcome to charge book purchases to their school library account or pay via cash or card. We encourage you to have a conversation with your child beforehand about which books are best for them and whether or not they will be purchasing any. Please email Middle and Upper School librarian Megan Whitt with any questions!
Books by Andrea L. Rogers:
- “Man Made Monsters”: $12.81
- “The Art Thieves”: $17.08
- “Mary and the Trail of Tears”: $8.54
- “Death in the Tall Grass”: $16.22
- “Legendary Frybread Drive-In” (anthology): $17.08
- “Ancestor Approved” (anthology): $8.54
Choral Concert — Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.
The fall choral concert for Middle and Upper School is Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Performers should report to the chorus room at 6:30 p.m. dressed for the performance. Middle School students should wear black on the bottom and white on top, with boys in a tie (any color). Upper students should wear their concert attire. Hope to see you there!
Upcoming LEAD Together Event: “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning” — Tuesday, Oct. 13
Our next LEAD Together event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Young Family Library. Come hear from Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D., a leading voice in mind, brain, and education, about “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning.” Tracey will be working with our teachers throughout the school day, and this evening event is an opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn from her as well. Parents and caregivers of children of all ages — from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 — are welcome. Sign up for the event to let us know you’re coming. Need childcare? No problem! Sign up by Oct. 6 to secure childcare.
A New College Funding Resource for Seven Hills Families — First Workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 13
Families recently received an email from the Upper School college counseling department about a new resource to help families learn about saving, planning, and paying for college. We have partnered with Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method, to give families access to expert guidance on college pricing, financial aid, merit scholarships, saving, borrowing, and planning. College Money Method gives families two ways to learn: a series of live online workshops and a dedicated Seven Hills School Resource Center.
The first workshop, “Applying for Financial Aid and Scholarships in Senior Year” is Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 7 p.m. The College Money Method is linked in the Veracross Parent Portal (password: shscmm). Questions? Please reach out to Co-Directors of College Counseling Alex Catalan or Julie DiRoma.
Update to Planned Absence Reporting
Here is the updated procedure for parents and students regarding the Planned Absence Form for Middle School:
When to Use
Complete the Planned Absence Form whenever you know in advance that your student will be missing a full day of school for a vacation or other family event. Students must see Victor Harris, dean of students, for a copy of the form.
Parent Responsibility
Parents must:
- Enter the absence into Veracross and sign the form.
Student Responsibilities
Students must:
- Speak with their teachers regarding the classes they will miss.
- Obtain all required signatures and initials from teachers, family, and the dean of students.
- Return the completed form to Victor Harris two days before the scheduled absence. He will provide a copy of the document for the student.
- Complete and submit all missed work upon their return, as work missed due to a planned absence is due immediately after returning.
Eighth Grade Parents Looking Ahead to Upper School
Thanks to all who attended one of our two “Eighth Grade Parents Looking Ahead to Upper School” events this week. If you missed it, or would like to access the content again, feel free to review the presentation slideshow. We hope the information was helpful, and look forward to answering any questions as they come up.
If there are general questions that we can address during the year, please share them through this Google Form. You may also email our Head of Upper School Rick Tate directly or get in touch with Jaclyn Evans, our assistant director of admission, grades 6-12. We look forward to helping you in this journey.
Parent Association News
Navigating Social Dynamics: Coffee with Mr. J. — Friday, Oct. 2, from 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Join us in the sixth grade commons for a morning coffee with Middle School Head James Jessup. Grab a cup, connect with other Middle School parents, and bring whatever is on your mind — with a special focus this session on navigating social dynamics in middle school.
Coffee’s on us, and no formality is required. Come for a few minutes or stay the whole hour!
Pizza and A Play — Friday, Oct. 23, in Stoehr Gym
Before the Middle School fall play “The Day the Internet Died,” we’re bringing students together for pizza and a little pre-show energy in Stoehr Gym! All sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students are welcome — this is a fully chaperoned event. Students attending Encore will be picked up by a chaperone at 6 p.m. and walked directly to the gym. Students attending the event (but not Encore) should check in at Stoehr Gym at 6 p.m. (no early arrivals).
After dinner, chaperones will accompany students to the theater at 6:50 p.m. for the 7 p.m. performance. Parents should plan to pick up their student(s) at The Schiff Center at 8:30 p.m.
If your student will be arriving later than 6 p.m., contact Lindsay Cassady. Only students with tickets purchased through Pizza and A Play will be chaperoned by our volunteers. Purchase Pizza and a Play tickets and sign up to chaperone the event.
Thank You
A big thank you to Sara Ramprasad and Vivian Bastos for hosting the Seventh Grade Parent Social on Saturday night. We had a great turnout and a great time!
Interested in Getting Involved?
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
Real Talk Series: “Rites of Passage” — Friday, Nov. 6
As part of our school’s commitment to building a community where everyone feels safe, seen, and successful, we’re preparing the first panel of our Real Talk Series. This series brings together powerful stories and perspectives from people with different lived experiences. Designed exclusively for the Middle School student body, these conversations spark curiosity, open minds, and help us all better understand and celebrate the diversity that makes our Seven Hills community so special.
The first of this year’s two panel discussions, “Rites of Passage,” will be preceded by Advisory activities that introduce students to the topic. Around the world, people mark the passage from childhood into adolescence and adulthood with celebrations and rituals, many rooted in religious or socio-cultural traditions. With that, we’d love to know: What rites of passage mark this transition within your cultural identity or community? Has your child participated in a rite of passage ceremony? If so, we’d love to have them consider joining the panel. Next week, all students in grades 6-12 will be invited to apply. Panelists will share their own experiences with the ceremonies and traditions that marked this time of transition in their lives.
All content is thoughtfully planned and age-appropriate, ensuring a respectful and supportive environment for students. The goal of this panel is to help students listen, ask thoughtful questions, and deepen their understanding of diverse experiences within our community.
We believe this is an important step in helping our students build empathy for one another. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to James Jessup, Jacky Kalubi, or Kristin Suer.
If you do not want your child to participate in the Rites of Passage programming, including the advisory activities and Real Talk panel presentation on the morning of Friday, Nov. 6, please print, sign, and return this form to your child’s adviser.