Upper School Blast Oct 30, 2026

Experiential Learning Day — TODAY, Oct. 30

Today, Oct. 30, the Upper School will hold one of this school year’s two Experiential Learning Days, where students will be immersed in learning by doing. This Experiential Learning Day has a special focus on community, with each grade level exploring the theme in a different way in the morning, and then the whole school participating together in Halloween festivities in the afternoon. In the morning:

• Ninth graders will serve nonprofits around the city with their advisories.
• 10th graders will further develop their understanding of poverty in Greater Cincinnati by participating in workshops led by the Poverty Liberation Collective.
• 11th graders will explore the Freedom Center to better understand Cincinnati’s role as a hub in the Underground Railroad.
• 12th graders will begin the day with college counselors, attend the Lower School parades, then come together at Element Eatery for the first of many gatherings to mark and celebrate their culminating year at Seven Hills.

We’re excited to spend this time exploring community while in community with your children.

We encourage students to bring costumes for the afternoon Halloween events, sponsored by Student Government and 7-Up. There will be time at lunch to change into costumes, which should be appropriate for the school day and respectful of others’ identities. If you have any questions, please reach out to Dan Polifka or Racheal Quinn.

Visiting Students from Denmark — Oct. 30-Nov. 8

For the third time in the last six years, we are welcoming Danish students and teachers from Høje Taastrup Gymnasium, a high school just outside of Copenhagen. They will be with us all of next week, staying with Seven Hills host families, attending classes, and exploring Cincinnati.

As a new part of this exciting, growing partnership, Seven Hills students will be traveling to Denmark for 10 days during our Spring Break, staying with Danish host families, attending classes (their teachers have agreed to teach in English while we are there!), and exploring Copenhagen. Thank you to all the students and families involved in this cultural exchange.

We hope to offer similar opportunities in the future, so if your child is currently in ninth or 10th grade, be on the lookout and feel free to reach out to Caleb Paull with any questions.

School iPads — Update Required THIS WEEKEND

Please help your child update their school iPad to iPadOS 27.2 at home this weekend before returning to school on Monday, Nov. 2.

Our Technology Department has identified a software issue affecting ninth-generation iPads running iPadOS 27. Updating will help address this issue.

To complete the update:

1. Connect the iPad to home wi-fi and plug it into power.
2. Open Settings → General → Software Update
3. Install iPadOS 27.2, allowing time for the update and restart to finish.

Thank you for helping keep student devices ready for learning.

Thanksgiving Food Drive — Nov. 2-20

The Thanksgiving Food Drive kicks off next week! We encourage families and students to bring in non-perishable, non-expired food items (no glass, please) to benefit the Madisonville Education and Assistance Center (MEAC) Marketplace, a local food pantry.

Upper School students can bring their donations to their advisories.

Pathways for Prevention — Nov. 2-6

Seven Hills students in grades 5 and 7, along with all Upper School students, will participate in scheduled visits and lessons from our Pathways for Prevention specialist, Glenn Hall. “Mr. G,” as he is known to the kids, will deliver an evidence-based curriculum of developmentally appropriate education on substance misuse trends, healthy coping skills, peer pressure, and addiction.

Mr. G has a keen ability to build rapport and maintain elevated levels of student engagement. His sessions are filled with his personal recovery story as well as current information and trends to make this a relevant and informative experience for our Seven Hills students.

If you have questions or would like to know more, please visit Pathways for Prevention’s website for more information or reach out to Upper School counselors Christine Stier or Vicky Hausberger.

Little Big Talks: Talking About School Safety — Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m.

In a continuation of our LEAD Together series, join us in the Doherty library for a community conversation about how to talk with students about school safety. Presented in partnership with our director of safety & security (Sheriff Jun Cho), counseling department, and office of DEI, this conversation will offer helpful books, resources, and guidance for discussing school safety with children.

While the conversation will be geared toward Early and Lower School families, parents and caregivers from all divisions may find it beneficial.

RSVP for the event to let us know you’ll be attending.

Speed Limit Change on Red Bank Road

This week, the city of Cincinnati lowered the speed limit on Red Bank Road to 25 mph around campus. During drop-off and pick-up, the speed limit remains 20 mph.

Remembering Todd Benzinger

Many of you may have heard the difficult news of the passing of Todd Benzinger, a longtime Seven Hills parent and coach. We’d like to share the beautiful memories and stories we’ve been hearing over the last few days with Todd’s family.

If you’re interested in writing a note or capturing a favorite story, please submit a response to this Google Form. We will then compile the submissions and send them to Todd’s wife and children. Thank you for the outpouring of love for our community.

Save The Date: Junior Family College Counseling Meeting — Monday, Nov. 9, 7 p.m. on Zoom

This presentation marks the start of the college search process for our juniors. Over the coming weeks, the college counselors will begin meeting with their advisees more regularly. Early meetings will focus on academics, interests, and key moments from the first years of high school. Later meetings will focus on the college search and building an initial list.

All parents and guardians will be invited to meet with their student’s college counselor this winter. During the presentation, we will review current topics in college admissions and outline what to expect over the next year of college research and applications. We look forward to working with you throughout this process!

A link to access the meeting will be posted on the Class of 2028 Canvas group. A recording of the meeting will also be made available. A follow-up presentation for junior families will take place on Jan. 11. Junior families are strongly encouraged to attend both presentations.

HBCU Week — Nov. 9-15

HBCU Week 2026, a celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across Greater Cincinnati, is approaching! Throughout the week, students and families will have opportunities to connect with HBCU alumni, explore college and career pathways, and learn more about the rich history and opportunities these institutions offer.

Check out some upcoming events below.

HBCU Day College Access and Alumni Connection Reception — Monday, Nov. 9, from 6-8 p.m.

This informal gathering, hosted at the Seven Hills Upper School Library, is an opportunity for students and families to meet HBCU alumni, hear about their college experiences, ask questions, and learn more about academic programs, campus life, and the unique opportunities HBCUs offer. Light refreshments will be provided, and all are welcome. To RSVP, please email info@hbcuday.org.

Career Exploration Program at KAO Corporation — Tuesday, Nov. 10

Students in grades 10-12 are invited to explore career opportunities beyond high school through a field trip to KAO Corporation. Participants will tour the workplace, connect with professionals, and learn about potential career paths from high school to the corporate world. Space is limited, so interested students should speak with Racheal Quinn for more information.

Secure the Bag: The Inside Scoop on Scholarships — Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 p.m.

This virtual session, hosted on Zoom, allows attendees to hear from current HBCU student panelists, get insider tips on scholarships, ask questions live, and connect with HBCU students and alumni. To RSVP for this event, email info@hbcuday.org.

Learn More

Whether you’re actively considering an HBCU, interested in learning more, or simply looking to connect with the community, we encourage you to explore these opportunities. Visit HBCUDay.org for more information and the full schedule of events.

Save the Date: Screen Smart at Seven Hills 2.0 — Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30-7 p.m.

Join us in the Upper School Library to learn more about empowering healthy choices for the journey ahead with your children. At this event, you’ll hear from administrators, counselors, and Upper School students about making choices around technology use. We’ll have stations where you can learn more about AI, group chats, and our school recommendations for technology use. Light bites provided.

RSVP if you’re interested!

Upper School Fall Musical: “Chicago (Teen Edition) — Nov. 20-21

On Nov. 20-21, join us for the Upper School Fall Musical: “Chicago (Teen Edition).” The cast and crew have been working hard to create an amazing performance. Tickets go on sale today at 3 p.m. — visit this link to purchase your tickets. Check out the flyer for more information!

Save the Date! Growing Together: Building Community in Nature — Saturday, Dec. 5

As our community takes root, join families on Saturday, Dec. 5, from 9:15-11 a.m. to spend time in nature with activities led by faculty and upperclassmen. Activities include building bug hotels, a winter walk to the Lower School construction site, and other teacher-led activities.

Check out the flyer below for more information.

The Overture Awards 2027 Competition

The Overture Awards Competition is the area’s largest solo arts competition and offers awards in six artistic disciplines: creative writing, dance, instrumental music, theater, visual art, and vocal music. Students have the chance to win $4,000 (one awarded in each discipline) or a $1,500 finalist award (a total of 18 awarded).

We can send a total of 10 students across all disciplines, so if you are interested, please see John Rising, instrumental music teacher, before Nov. 13!

Winter Exam Schedule — Dec. 14-18

All students are required to take winter exams, which are offered on designated days to ensure equity and security. Morning exams begin at 8:30 a.m. each day; standard time exams are over by 10:45 a.m., after which students are excused.

Afternoon exams begin at 12:30 p.m. These are generally for students who are enrolled in more than one class in the same department (such as two science classes).

• Monday, Dec. 14: Science (and Computer Science in the afternoon)
• Tuesday, Dec. 15: English (and Science in the afternoon)
• Wednesday, Dec. 16: Math
• Thursday, Dec. 17: World Language
• Friday, Dec. 18: History

On rare occasions, families might have unmovable plans that prevent students from taking an exam on their designated day. In those cases, we offer a 6 a.m. make-up exam on Wednesday, Dec. 16. If you’re in that situation, please reach out to Rick Tate to confirm the alternative time.

Experiential Learning — Student Opportunities

Each week in Upper’s all-school assembly, Director of Experiential Learning Karen Glum shares new opportunities that have become available to students. A list of these opportunities will be shared in the parent Blast as well, including links to additional information when possible and appropriate.

The following new opportunities were shared with students this week and are posted on the experiential learning bulletin board.

Medical and Dental Job Shadow Opportunities

Students interested in any of the below opportunities should reach out to Karen Glum.

• Primary Health Solutions’ Mobile Dental Unit
• UC Health Emergency Department (Many thanks to Seven Hills parents Dr. Whitney Bryant for offering the shadow and Dr. Amit Jain for connecting Dr. Bryant to our career exploration program!)
• Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Shadow Opportunities (limited to specific dates)

High School Internships and Research

• The Ohio Intern Academy, part of the Strategic Ohio Council for Higher Education (SOCHE), helps connect high school students with internships in aerospace, agriculture, automotive, business operations, skilled trades, engineering, information technology, healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.
• The University of Cincinnati Cancer Research Scholars Program is a paid summer research fellowship open to rising college freshmen and undergrads. Apply by Feb. 1.

Service Opportunities

• Bethany House Services is looking for volunteers ages 15+ to help in their Kids Zone. Bethany House provides shelter, supportive services, and housing assistance for families experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.
• Taking Root needs volunteers to help with a Mini Forest planting in Camp Washington. Taking Root’s vision is a vibrant tree canopy in the Greater Cincinnati Tri-State region, now and for generations to come.