Lotspeich Blast Sep 15, 2023
Dear Parents,
Seven Hills Homecoming is next week! This year is unique as we will also celebrate our 50th anniversary as Doherty, Lotspeich, and Hillsdale Schools all merged to become Seven Hills in 1973.
As we prepare for our Homecoming celebration, we will spend the week building school spirit. Each division is participating in theme dress-up days as follows:
- Monday — Pajama Day (please make sure your child has regular shoes for recess and PE)
- Tuesday — Dress Like a Teacher Day
- Wednesday — Sports/Jersey Day
- Thursday —Blockbuster Movie Character Day
- Friday — Seven Hills Spirit Wear
Homecoming is a fun-filled event with a number of events. We kick things off next Friday evening (Sept. 22) with a family picnic, a free event located behind our grades one to five building. Dinner is followed by a number of sports clinics run by many of our varsity athletes (more information to come) and a kickball game between coaches and team captains. The piece de resistance is the fireworks that conclude Friday’s celebrations.
On Saturday, there will be athletic events on our fields and alumni on campus. I count it an honor and privilege to be a part of our school on this momentous occasion, both as head of Lotspeich and as a parent. I hope to see you at the festivities next week!
In addition to Homecoming, our teachers are looking for ways to honor these last 50 years, connecting us to the past and learning about how things were, while also dreaming about what the next 50 years will bring. I believe Seven Hills has a future that is filled with hope and expectation that starts with your children.
Warmly,
Susan
Key Dates & Events
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 22-23 — Homecoming
Friday, Sept. 22 — Family Picnic, 5-7 p.m., Hillsdale Campus
Announcements
Spirit Week — Sept. 18-22
The week of Sept. 18-22 will be a Spirit Week in celebration of Homecoming. Check out the flyer for each day’s theme and prepare to show your Stinger pride!
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!
Veracross Tips and Training
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.
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.
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.
Enrichment
Enrichment options (after school classes) are now available to register. Check out the program offerings. Programs will begin the week of Sept. 18. There are options at both campuses, and students in first through fifth grade may ride the shuttle for programs after school. We are working out some kinks with registration so if you receive an error, let Jill or Christina know.
Holiday Care
We are pleased to offer Holiday Care for Fall Break, Oct. 5-6, and for the Teacher Inservice Day on Oct. 9. Please note, in order for us to offer the care, we need at least 20 children to register.
Programs are offered from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and take place on the Hillsdale Campus. The cost is $76 per day. Your children will enjoy fun filled days lead by our own ATB staff. More information to come upon registration. The registration link is now live in your parent portal.
Message from Athletic Director Scott Willard
I wanted to provide some helpful information and resources as it relates to following our Stinger Athletic Program.
Athletics Website
To access The Seven Hills School’s athletic website, go to Gostingers.org. From the athletic website you can find athletic announcements, athletic news, current season schedules with the most up-to-date information, team web pages, and directions to all athletic events. You will also be able to download athlete forms that include the current athletic handbook, campus maps, Lower and Middle School registration information and OHSAA physical forms.
Athletics Gostingers App
Download our Gostingers App to receive personalized notifications, watch live streamed events, view team schedules and rosters, and read articles featuring our amazing student athletes and coaches. Click the following links to get rolling:
Social Media
Please visit and follow our Instagram social media accounts using the tag @7hillsStingers. Our Facebook page is Seven Hills Athletics.
If you have any questions about the aforementioned information, please do not hesitate to reach out. Go Stingers!
Parent Committee
Thanks again to all the parents who were able to attend our first meeting! For those of you who couldn’t make this one, here’s a link with a recap in our meeting minutes. This document also has some useful Parent Community overview information, a list of our committee chairs for 2023-24, and a high-level calendar of events currently earmarked. For any questions, please reach out to the Lotspeich Parent Community Co-Chairs Alisa Pitocco or Kelly Carrier.
New this week
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 soccer field. 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)
Parent Euchre Night — MadTree Brewery, Thursday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m.
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. Cash bar and food available for purchase.
Staff Appreciation Notes
Want a quick, easy and free way to feel good by making someone else feel good? At Seven Hills, we’re fortunate to have faculty, administration, and support staff who are dedicated to the well-being, growth, and happiness of our children. They work tirelessly to help make our school community great! Let’s tell them how much they are appreciated!
As part of our ongoing appreciation efforts, throughout the year we’ll use this form to continually shower them with words of affirmation, thanks, and recognition for all the big and small things they do each day. To all the homeroom teachers, specials teachers, office staff, maintenance staff, admissions, development, marketing, etc, thank you!
Yearbook Photos —Please submit!
The yearbook needs your pictures! Please send your child(ren)’s first day of school and fall sports pictures to lotspeichyearbook@7hills.org to be added to the yearbook! Throughout the year, when you chaperone a field trip, spend a day in the classroom, or attend a school event, your pictures are a valuable addition!
Other Upcoming Events — Mark your calendars!
Fall Parent Socials
Parent Socials are a long-standing tradition at Seven Hills. They are adult-only events aimed to give parents an opportunity to meet and get to know each other in a fun kids-free environment. Evites will be sent by grade volunteers soon (if they have not already). Please save the date and secure your childcare!
- PreK — Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6-8 p.m.
- Kindergarten — Saturday, Oct. 21, 2 p.m.
- First Grade — Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
- Second Grade — Saturday, Oct. 14, 5 p.m.
- Third Grade — TBD
- Fourth Grade — TBD
- Fifth Grade — Saturday, Sept. 30, 5-7 p.m.
Halloween Trunk or Treat — Field House Parking Lot, Saturday, Oct. 28, 3-5 p.m.
Celebrate Halloween with classmates and families at this fun low-key Halloween event on campus. Come in your costumes, decorate your trunks, and bring treats to pass out (not required). See flyer for details, and use this SignUpGenius to RSVP.
Halloween Parade Parent Coffee — Pavilion, Tuesday, Oct. 31 8:30-9:15 a.m.
Mingle with other parents in between school drop-off and the annual Lotspeich Halloween Parade. Parent Community will provide coffee. It will be held at the Pavilion near the Lotspeich playground.
Parent Basketball Group
All parents are invited to join the Seven Hills Parent Basketball Group (PBG). The PBG is a weekly standing pickup basketball game at the Red Bank campus for parents of students in all divisions of the school. The court will be open to parents starting at 7:45 p.m. and the pickup game(s) will begin at 8 p.m. Day-of sign-up via SignUpGenius is required.
Lotspeich Parent Community Volunteer Signup:
Looking for ways to volunteer? We’re still seeking volunteers to lead/chair the STEAM Fair Event (January) and VIP Day (formerly Grandpersons’ Day) in April. Complete the survey here, or reach out to Alisa Pitocco or Kelly Carrier.
Still wondering what in the world is Parent Community?
Click here for an overview.