Lotspeich Blast Sep 22, 2023
Dear Parents,
We often talk about the importance of educating the whole child — focusing on academics along with social-emotional skills, physical skills, life skills, and soft skills. This approach to education is one that honors the humanity of each person and is critical to preparing each student to reach their full potential. It’s really about creating an environment where each student knows they belong, so they can both engage and thrive here at Lotspeich.
In recent weeks, I have seen this in action as our second graders read the book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today?,” a book that focuses on practicing kindness towards others. There are so many ways our buckets can be filled. Students talked about what specifically fills their buckets and shared that with their peers.
In fifth grade, I wandered into a classroom where they were explicitly talking about executive functioning skills: planning ahead to meet goals, displaying self-control, and staying focused despite distractions as examples. Students were acting out specific skills, developing their meta-cognition, and growing their awareness of how they can use these skills to experience academic success.
We have had such a great week showing our Homecoming spirit! Remember that tonight is our Homecoming Picnic right behind our Grades 1-5 building at 5 p.m. The evening ends with our Seven Hills fireworks display. Check out the full schedule.
Hope to see you this evening! And for those who celebrate Yom Kippur, “Gmar hatimah tovah.”
Susan
Key Dates & Events
Sunday, Sept. 24 — Yom Kippur Begins at Sundown
Monday, Sept. 25 — Yom Kippur
Thursday, Sept. 28 — Kindergarten Field Trip: Benton Family Farm
Friday, Sept. 29 — Winter Sports Registration Ends
Friday, Sept. 29 — Fifth Grade Book Club Attending Middle School for Author Visit
Tuesday, Oct. 3 — First Grade Field Trip: Gorman Heritage Farm
Thursday, Oct. 5 and Friday, Oct. 6 — Fall Break. No School
Monday, Oct. 9 — Faculty Professional Development Day. No School
Thursday, Oct. 12 — Fifth Grade Field Trip: Sharon Woods Ohio River Foundation
Tuesday, Oct. 17 — Kindergarten Field Trip: Cincinnati Nature Center
Friday, Oct. 20 — Second Grade Field Trip: Cincinnati Art Museum
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 on line:
- 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 Anna Karol will approve it.
- You will receive a response email that communicates that we are aware of the change. Once Anna approves the change, the teachers (including Specials 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!
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.
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.
Parent Community News
Fall Parent Socials — Please RSVP ASAP!
Pre-kindergarten and fifth grade socials start next week! Have you RSVP’ed? Our volunteer parent coordinators have been working hard to make it a fun parent event and would LOVE to see you! Reminder, invites were sent to all parent contacts’ emails, so to help manage headcount, please RSVP for each adult attending or not attending. Thanks!
- PreK — Wednesday, Sept 27, 6-8 p.m. RSVP here
- Kindergarten — Saturday, Oct. 21, 2-4:30 p.m. RSVP here
- First Grade — Wednesday, Oct. 11, 6:30-8:30 p.m. RSVP here
- Second Grade — Saturday, Oct. 14, 5-8 p.m. RSVP here
- Third Grade — Tuesday, Oct. 17, 6-8 p.m. RSVP here
- Fourth Grade — Saturday, Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. RSVP here
- Fifth Grade — Saturday, Sept. 30, 5-7 p.m. RSVP here
Save the Date! Parent Community Meeting — Friday, Nov. 17, EVENING!
Throughout the year, we typically hold only four Parent Community meetings where we discuss school updates, upcoming events, and gather ideas and feedback to continually evolve and improve the Parent Community. Based on parent feedback, we’re piloting an evening meeting this year. We’re still working through the logistics and more info will be shared soon, but please save the date!
Parent Euchre Night — Thursday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., MadTree Brewery
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, 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.
Halloween Trunk or Treat Event — Saturday, Oct. 28, 3-5 p.m., Field House Parking Lot
Celebrate Halloween with pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds through fifth grade 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 please use this SignUpGenius to RSVP.
Halloween Parade Parent Coffee — Tuesday, Oct. 31, 8:30-9:15 a.m., Pavilion
Mingle with other parents in between school drop-off and the annual Lotspeich Halloween Parade. The Parent Community will provide coffee. The event 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.
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. 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)
Staff Appreciation Notes — Spread the Love!!
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!
What’s the Parent Community?
Click here for an overview. 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.