Doherty Blast Dec 8, 2023
Dear Doherty Families,
This week has been another busy week. We have had many exciting events happening.
Our kindergarten students have been actively using their time, literacy knowledge, and reasoning skills to analyze a variety of stories written about gingerbread characters (surprisingly, there are many). After comparing the stories, they have developed an extensive list of their findings. This week, while they were reading, the gingerbread people they made escaped, prompting them to utilize clues in a search to find them.
Mr. Twyford’s Upper School students collaborated with the fourth and fifth graders in Unit III. The four senior students conducted a session where they tasked the fourth and fifth graders with:
- Creating programs that respond to timed events
- Developing programs that respond to user input
- Generating dance animations using code
They worked hard and are certainly a creative group!
Throughout the week, our teachers engaged in their own professional development. Hannah Fernweh, our visiting literacy consultant, led an in-depth exploration of the science of reading. The remarkable conversations and profound reflections on literacy were truly impressive.
The upcoming week will bring our Winter Program. The performance tailored for pre-kindergarten families only, is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. in the Doherty cafeteria. This inclusive event encompasses all students from pre-k through fifth grades. Please note that the 2-year-olds will not be participating in the performances.
The Winter Program performance for families of students in grades kindergarten through grade five will be Friday, Dec. 15, at 9:30 a.m. in The Schiff Center on the Hillsdale Campus. Please read through the packet of FAQs and return this dismissal form if you have not already done so. Our students are looking forward to sharing their musical talents and songs with you.
Have a great weekend.
Tracy
Key Dates & Events
Wednesday, Dec. 13 — Winter Program for Pre-kindergarten Parents at 9 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 15 — Winter Program for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade Parents. Dismissal at 11:30 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 16-Monday, Jan. 1 — Winter Break
Tuesday, Jan. 2 — Faculty Professional Development Day. No School.
Wednesday, Jan. 3 — School Resumes
Thursday, Jan. 11 — New Parent Cocktail Social, 5:30-7 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 15 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No School.
Announcements
Winter Spirit Week
The week of Dec. 11 will be winter spirit week. If your student would like to, they may dress up according to the following schedule:
Monday — Winter Doodad Day. Wear festive headbands, earrings, hats, socks, ties, etc.
Tuesday — PJ Day
Wednesday — Dress for Program
Thursday — Festive Holiday Sweater
Friday — Dress for Program
Doherty Winter Programs
The Winter Program performance for pre-k parents to attend will be Wednesday, Dec. 13, at 9 a.m. in the Doherty cafeteria. This will include all students in pre-k through fifth grades.
The Winter Program performance for parents of grades kindergarten through grade five will be Friday, Dec. 15, at 9:30 a.m. in The Schiff Center on the Hillsdale Campus. Please look for a packet of FAQs and a dismissal form in your child’s folder.
View this flyer for more information about both programs.
Spring Sports Registration
The athletics department is excited to announce that registration is still open for the 2024 spring sports programs. Parents of students in kindergarten through grade 12 can log into the Veracross parent portal and follow the appropriate link (located in the parent links section) to register and complete payment by the deadline of Friday, Dec.15. If you had already registered for kindergarten through sixth grade please log back in and register again and complete payment. Veracross had a glitch that has now been fixed. Thank you!
2024 Baseball (Grades 1-6): Team practices are scheduled to start tentatively the week of March 4, with sessions taking place twice per week at the Hillsdale Campus. Games will be held during the week and on weekends.
2024 Lacrosse (Grades 3-6): Team practices are set to begin tentatively the week of March 4, taking place twice per week at the Hillsdale Campus, with games scheduled on weekends.
2024 Softball (Grades 1-6): Practices will be held twice per week starting tentatively the week of March 4 at the Hillsdale Campus, with games during the week and on weekends.
2023 Track and Field (Grades K-6): New this year! We’re thrilled to extend our track and field program to kindergartners this year. Practices are generally once per week, starting around the week of March 4 at the Hillsdale Campus, with meets scheduled on Saturdays throughout April and May.
We look forward to an exciting and active spring season. Your participation and support make these programs a success. Should you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process, please don’t hesitate to contact Amy Ilg. Thank you for your attention to these deadlines and for encouraging your children to participate in our spring sports.
December 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. Please feel free to connect with your student’s building counselor if you would like more conversation or support around this topic.
Lower School STEAM Fair
Attention kindergarten through fifth grade families! Please mark your calendars for the annual Seven Hills Lower School STEAM Fair, which will take Sunday morning, Jan. 28 at the Middle School. Plans are underway for this fun and educational event — you won’t want to miss it! Stay tuned for more details.
Summer Program 2024 — Mark Your Calendars
Make 2024 the best summer ever! Make friends, discover new passions, and create memories that last a lifetime! With eight weeks of action packed camps, beginning June 17 through Aug. 9, there are all kinds of adventures and opportunities for your child to explore to make this the best summer ever. Priority registration for Seven Hills families opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2024.
Save the Date — Books for Lunch 2024!
The 2024 Books for Lunch committee, chaired by Seven Hills parents Lisa Briquet and Lalitha Chunduri, is honored to present this year’s guest author, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer! Please join us in the Madisonville Ballroom at The Summit Hotel on Feb. 2 for lunch, community, and an engaging address from Greer. Please visit 7hills.org/BFL to purchase tickets and learn more about the events, Greer, and his work.
PC Corner
Parent Euchre Night Is Back!
Doherty and Lotspeich parents: join us for a night of parental socializing (and cards) at MadTree! If you’re new to the glorious game of euchre, don’t fret — it’s (relatively) easy to learn, and you’ll be among patient Midwesterners. The hardest part is not getting wing sauce on the cards. Let us know you’re coming by grabbing a “euchre player” slot in the sign ups here. See you at the table with the blue and yellow balloons! No interest in cards but still want to hang? Come on out! Our next one is Jan. 18 – mark your calendars now and sign up early, so we can gauge interest.
Save the Date(s) — February Events
We have two February events for you to put on your calendar: Books for Lunch on Friday, Feb. 2, at The Summit Hotel (this is an adults-only lunch event), and the Winter Family Social on Friday, Feb. 16, 10 a.m.-12 p.m., at Urban Air (bring the whole fam!). More details to come.
Parent Walking Club
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 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; 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, Dec. 13, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Our subsequent date is Jan. 10, 2024. I look forward to chatting with you soon. Carolyn Klein (Mom of Spencer, 11th grade, and Courtney, seventh grade)