Doherty Blast Oct 20, 2023
Dear Doherty Families,
It has been a busy week. We said goodbye to our ISACS visiting team, which was referenced in last week’s Blast. They were a committed, experienced group, and hosting them on our campus was a pleasure.
Next week is Safety Week at Doherty. We schedule emergency drills all year long but use this week to do a run-through of various drills. Additionally, we invite community helpers such as police officers and firefighters to campus. The emergency vehicles are usually the thrill of Safety Week! The drill schedule for the week is as follows:
Tuesday, Oct. 24 — ALICE Drill, 10:15 a.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 25 — Tornado Drill, 10 a.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 — Fire Drill, 9 a.m.
Please understand that if you are on campus at these times, you will be required to participate in these drills.
Our teachers prepare our students for the drills in an age-appropriate manner. The ALICE drill is the protocol we would use in the event of an intruder or unknown person in the school. For our youngest students, it is simply about being safe and listening to your teacher. Our older students more clearly understand the purpose of the drill and are provided with more specific information. If your child is experiencing worries about any of our drills, please reach out to our counselor, Angie Bielecki, who is a great resource.
As we are moving closer to November, our weather is changing rapidly. Make sure to send your child to school with a jacket or sweatshirt to be sure they are comfortable at recess.
Our lost and found in Jones Hall is already overflowing. If your child is missing something, remind them to check the lost and found. Remember to label your child’s lunchbox, jackets, and sweatshirts, so we can get items back to them.
You should have received your sign-up information for Parent Conferences week. You must sign in to Veracross to sign up. If you have not received the email, please let us know.
Have a great weekend.
Tracy
Key Dates & Events
Sunday, Oct. 29 — Halloween Spooktacular, 3-5 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 31 — Halloween Parade, 8:40 a.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 1 — Parent Conferences, 12-8 p.m. No Classes.
Thursday, Nov. 2 — Parent Conferences, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. No Classes.
Friday, Nov. 3 — Professional Development. No School.
Tuesday, Nov. 7 — Election Day
Announcements
PC Corner
Doherty’s Halloween Spooktacular
The Doherty Halloween Spooktacular is on Sunday, Oct. 29, 3-5 p.m. The volunteers are hard at work putting this fun event together, and they need your help! Sign up HERE! The kids come in costume, and it’s a lot of fun — you won’t want to miss this family event!
Doherty Halloween Parade
The annual Halloween Parade will be on Tuesday morning, Oct. 31. Parents will gather after drop-off and wait for the students to parade down the driveway in their costumes at 8:40 a.m. You won’t want to miss this cute tradition; it only lasts about 10 minutes!
The Doherty Book Fair is Just Around the Corner!
We’re thrilled to announce that the Bookshelf in Madeira and the Doherty Library are teaming up to bring the Book Fair back to our school. From Nov. 1-13, during their library class, students will have the opportunity to preview the exciting books available at the Book Fair right in the Doherty Library. We welcome families to drop in and browse the fantastic book selection in the morning during drop-off between 8-8:30 a.m. For added convenience, we’ll also have book browsing available during parent-teacher conferences on Nov. 1 and 2. On Nov. 1, you’ll receive an email with a link to the website for ordering books. It’s a great way to explore even more options and make your selections. Most books ordered from the Book Fair will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom before winter break. Get ready for an exciting literary adventure at the Doherty Book Fair. Stay tuned for more updates and happy reading! If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Doherty Librarian, Jo Schnirring.
Donate Blood on Oct. 26 in the Upper School Library
According to the Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. The Upper School Red Cross Club and HOSA are partnering to host a blood drive on Oct. 26 in the Upper School library, 10:30 a.m.-3:15 p.m. Parents are encouraged to sign up here (and bring a friend!). Students 16 and older are also able to donate (16 year olds must bring a parent consent form signed by a parent).
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 here, under the Student Logistics request, and we can approve if space is available.
Holiday Care
Holiday Care on Nov. 1, 2, and 3 is now full! Please email Jill and Christina to be added to the waitlist.
Alternate Routes during Dismissal
During dismissal from the Hillsdale Campus, Red Bank Road can become quite backed up as cars head toward Red Bank Expressway. Did you know there are alternate routes to reach main roads like I-71 and Montgomery Road? This map highlights these alternate routes to ease your commute and cut down on traffic congestion as you leave campus. You can find a printable copy of the map here.
Walking Club — New Meet-Up Location
We are a group of parents that get together bi-weekly on Wednesdays after morning drop off, to talk and walk the Lower Field. All divisions are welcome and no RSVP is 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, and 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, Oct. 25 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Subsequent dates are 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)
October Parent Connext — brought to you by the Counseling Department
Seven Hills values partnering with parents to address the development of the whole child. Parent Connext allows us to explore some of today’s most relevant topics in your child’s social/emotional development while offering practical tools for parenting. View a Parent Connext Powerpoint Presentation here and a Parent Hub October Tips sheet here about bullying and resiliency factors. Please feel free to connect with your student’s building counselor if you would like more conversation or support around this topic.
Resale Shop
It’s time to clean out closets, cabinets, drawers, etc., and bring what you don’t need any more to the Resale Shop! We are in need of household items, clothing, artwork, furniture, linens, etc. We are open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and we are located across the street from the main entrance on the Hillsdale Campus.
We need your help
We encourage you to tell your friends, family members, and co-workers about upcoming admission events for prospective parents. Please refer interested families to 7hills.org for details and to register. Thank you in advance!