Lotspeich Blast Sep 29, 2023
Dear Parents,
Last weekend we celebrated the long-standing tradition of Homecoming with our family picnic, soccer shoot outs, kickball game, and amazing fireworks. Any time we have the opportunity to gather as an entire Seven Hills community is a good time in my opinion.
This year brings with it a significant milestone as we celebrate Seven Hills’ 50th year. While each individual school — the College Preparatory School begun by Mary Doherty, the Clifton Open-Air School started by Helen Lotspeich, and the Hillsdale School started by Miriam Titcomb — has been in existence for quite a long time before, it was 1974 when they combined forces to become The Seven Hills School we know and love today.
This fall, our fifth graders will undertake a design thinking project with the following challenge statement: Design a way for Lotspeich students to celebrate Seven Hills’ 50th anniversary in a way that is fun, educational, and builds community. They will begin by interviewing a number of people from our community — Chris Garten and members of the faculty, both past and present. The teachers visited the archives to gather information from primary sources — former yearbooks, photographs, and even a Lotspeich letter jacket from 1959 — to share with the students. Students will spend time exploring the 50th anniversary website to gather additional information to develop their ideas as they complete this challenge.
We all look forward to hearing their ideas of how to commemorate this significant event in our school’s history.
Enjoy your weekend!
Susan
Key Dates & Events
Tuesday, Oct. 3 — First Grade Field Trip: Gorman Heritage Farm
Thursday-Friday, Oct. 5-6 — 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
Winter Sports Registration — Last Call
Friday, Sept. 29 is the last day to register for winter sports. Please log in to your Veracross Parent Portal to complete registration forms.
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!
After the Bell Updates
Encore
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.
Holiday Care
We are offering Holiday Care on Nov. 1, 2, and 3. These programs run from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Please note, these are all held on the Hillsdale Campus and run by our After the Bell staff. In order to be enrolled, you must complete payment. If you have not paid and completed the registration, enrollment is not official. You can register in your parent portal.
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/explore for details and to register. Thank you in advance!
Donate Blood on Oct. 26 in the Upper School Library — Save a Life!
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 (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).
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.
Parent Community News
Fall Parent Socials — Please RSVP ASAP!
Thanks to everyone who attended the PreK parent social! We have several socials coming up. If you haven’t already, please RSVP for each adult attending or not attending. It will help our volunteers manage final headcounts. Thanks!
- 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
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.
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, Oct. 11 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Subsequent dates are Oct. 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)
Halloween Trunk or Treat Event — Saturday, Oct. 28, 3-5 p.m., Field House Parking Lot
Celebrate Halloween 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. Parent Community will provide coffee at the Pavilion near the Lotspeich playground. See flyer.
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 Hillsdale 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.
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!
Staff Appreciation Notes — Fill Their Buckets!
Take two minutes to brighten someone’s day! As part of our ongoing appreciation efforts, we’ve created this form for parents to shower the Seven Hills staff 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! Make someone smile — submit out an appreciation note!
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!
Volunteers for Diwali Celebrations
Interested in helping plan Diwali celebrations and activities for our students across Seven Hills? Our student planning committee would welcome your ideas, talents, and collaboration. Please fill out a volunteer form to be part of the 2023 Diwali planning team!