Doherty Blast Sep 22, 2023
Dear Doherty Families,
We have had such a great week showing our Homecoming spirit! Remember that tonight is our Homecoming Picnic on the Hillsdale Campus at 5 p.m. The evening ends with our Seven Hills fireworks display. Check out the full schedule.
We have collected most of the beginning-of-the-year forms that we need. However, our nurse asks that you go into Veracross and check that you have completed the required “over-the-counter medication form.” These can be found under the Magnus Health Portal. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact Carolyn Vinzce.
There have been many changes this year with the transition to Veracross. Below are some valuable resources to assist you with becoming proficient in our new system:
- For a quick introduction to some of the basic features (My Children, My Calendar, Directories, and Updating Family Profile), watch this short video. Here are the slides from the video.
- To efficiently navigate teacher websites and locate teacher newsletters, watch this short video. Here are the slides seen in the video.
- If you have any questions or concerns, please contact techsupport@7hills.org.
- These resources will also be posted in the Parent Portal.
As some of you may have noticed, we are now closing the gate in the parking lot by the Kemper playground. This is to keep students safe if they need to cross the parking lot to use the restroom while at recess. If you get stuck in that part of the lot, simply open the gate, pull through, and then make sure you close the gate behind you.
We have a few dates coming up to get on your calendar:
- Fall break is from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9; school will resume on Oct. 10.
- Picture retake day and PK2 picture day is Oct. 12.
- The first Doherty Parent Social is Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. at OTR StillHouse.
I hope you have a great weekend.
Tracy
Key Dates & Events
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 22-23 — Homecoming
Friday, Sept. 22 — Family Picnic, 5-7 p.m., Hillsdale Campus
Thursday, Oct. 5 and Friday, Oct. 6 — Fall Break. No School
Monday, Oct. 9 — Faculty Professional Development Day. No School
Announcements
Homecoming Schedule
Please see the flyer for the detailed schedule of the Homecoming events on Friday, Sept. 22, and Saturday, Sept. 23. We hope to see you all there!
Winter Sports Registration
Winter sports registrations are now live. Please log in to your Veracross Parent Portal to complete registration forms before Friday, Sept. 29.
After the Bell Updates
Encore Club
Encore Club is in full swing! We are now launching a weekly sign up, with options to pick up at 4:15 p.m. or stay until 6 p.m. This is all available in your parent portal the Friday prior to the month starting. If you need a drop in, please fill out a request under the Student Logistics request, and we can approve if space is available. If you are signed up annually, there is no need for you to select an option each week, as you registered for the full year.
Holiday Care
The Holiday Care we were going to offer care on Oct. 5-6 did not meet enrollment requirements. These programs are now cancelled, and refunds will be issued as soon as possible. Oct. 9 will be in session, but we are currently on a waitlist. Please email Jill or Christina to be added.
Veracross Attendance
Did you know that the easiest, quickest way to alert the school office and teachers about absences, tardies, and early dismissals is to report them on the Veracross Parent Portal? This method is the preferred way to share any attendance changes. Here are the steps to report online:
- Visit the Veracoss Parent Portal.
- Click the Report Attendance button on the portal page, circled here:
- From here, choose the child who has a change, and fill out the form.
- The form will immediately be sent to the office, and Susan Coldiron will approve it.
- You will receive a response email that communicates we are aware of the change. Once Susan approves the change, the teachers (including Mapell teachers) will see the note under their teacher portal student list. This method cuts out additional communication between teachers and the office.
We hope you will check out this helpful tool on Veracross. We are currently working on implementing a similar tool for dismissal changes. Stay tuned!
MyKidsSpending Update
The Seven Hills Business Office would like to thank all our families for their patience as we integrate MyKidsSpending (MKS) in both our kitchen and Spirit Shop. Most families have been successful in loading funds onto their accounts, but for those families yet to deposit funds, please don’t hesitated to reach out to John Brooks via email or by phone at 513.728.2388 for assistance. You can also visit the Business Office with cash or a check, and we will be happy to deposit the funds into your student’s account.
Please note that funds deposited in MKS are available for use in both the kitchen and Spirit Shop. The transactions will be commingled together when you view your student’s transaction on the MKS website. If you prefer your student not to use their MKS account in the Spirit Shop, the store also takes cash and credit cards as forms of payment.
PC Corner
The Seven Hills Homecoming All School Family Picnic
The Seven Hills Homecoming All School Family Picnic will be Friday, Sept. 22, 5-7 p.m. at the Hillsdale Campus. Signs will designate a seating area during the picnic for each division to make it easier for families to find familiar faces. Afterward, there are sports clinics and then fireworks on the lower field from 8:45-9 p.m. Concessions will be open, and all families are encouraged to join!
Parents Euchre Night
This is a new initiative intended to give both Doherty and Lotspeich parents an opportunity to meet each other and socialize while playing a much-beloved and very social card game (which also is easy to learn). The hope is that we’ll garner enough interest to meet monthly, so come on out to MadTree on Thursday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. Look for the blue and yellow balloons. Sign up here by 5 p.m. on Sept. 28. Don’t play euchre, but still want to hang? Come on out. MadTree serves food and drinks — you’re on your own for those.
Doherty’s Halloween Spooktacular
The Halloween Spooktacular will be on Oct. 29, 3-5 p.m! We are currently looking for volunteers to help! Please use this SignUpGenuis to volunteer for the Spooktacular (and for other events throughout the year as well).
Fall Parent Social
Mark your calendars and book your sitters for the Fall Doherty Parent Social on Oct.14 from 7-10 p.m. at OTR StillHouse.
Walking Club — New Meet-Up Location
We are a group of parents who get together bi-weekly on Wednesdays after morning drop off to talk and walk the lower soccer field on the Hillsdale Campus. All divisions are welcome, and no RSVP required. This group provides you a great opportunity to connect with other community members all while getting your steps in! Please park in the lower field parking area. Campus guest passes will be passed out to ensure visibility, for security purposes. When inclement weather occurs, we gather at Element Eatery to chat. Our next meet up is scheduled for Wednesday, Sept 27 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Subsequent dates are Oct. 11 and 25, Nov. 8 and 29, Dec. 13, and Jan. 10, 2024. I look forward to chatting with you soon. Carolyn Klein (Mom of Spencer, 11th grade, and Courtney, seventh grade)