Lotspeich Blast Dec 8, 2023
Dear Parents,
This week, our students had the opportunity to hear our Upper School Chorus in a brief concert just for our Lotspeich students. In addition to enjoying the musical numbers, our students were enthralled by our Upper School students’ ability to sing in several different languages. Our faculty always enjoys seeing their former students develop their passions and skills and shine on stage again!
In addition, our fourth and fifth graders experienced School House Symphony, which all other grades have been a part of earlier this year. This program brings professional musicians to our music room to partner with Mrs. Wilson in helping our students experience a number of different instruments up close while developing a deeper understanding of music from different cultures, all to instill a deeper appreciation for music. Thank you, Mrs. Wilson, for your continued dedication to ensuring our students have a wide variety of experiences with music.
We have a lot going on between now and Winter Break! Please take a moment to read the newsletters that our teachers carefully craft each week so you are aware of the upcoming events for your child’s grade. You can find them in Veracross.
Enjoy the weekend ahead. And Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate this holiday!
Warmly,
Susan
Key Dates & Events
Wednesday, Dec. 13 — Second Grade Bridges Day, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 15 — Winter Break Begins 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
Monday, Jan. 8 — Re-enrollment Contracts Issued
Monday, Jan. 15 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No School.
Monday, Jan. 15 — Flexible Tuition Forms Due
Monday, Jan. 22 — Re-enrollment Contracts Expire
Announcements
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 DepartmentSeven 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.
Robotics Competition Volunteers Wanted
After a successful event last year, Seven Hills fifth grade will once again be hosting a robotics competition. One thing that made it so successful was the many volunteers who helped out. We are looking for volunteers for this year’s event. Please see all the details and sign up via SignUpGenius.
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.
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 place on 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.
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.
Parent Community News
Thanks to everyone who donated Halloween costumes. We’ll likely do another round of donations next September. There are no more Parent Community activities through the remainder of the calendar year, but we’re gearing up for an exciting 2024! Please be sure to mark your calendars!
Save the Date
- Euchre Night — Jan. 18
- Parent Community Meeting — Friday, Jan. 26
- Lower School STEAM Fair — Sunday, Jan. 28
- Teacher Appreciation Week — Valentine’s Day week
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.
The Official Start of Grade Level Meetups — Turn on Schoology Notifications!
Please be sure to turn on your email and text notifications for Schoology. All announcements and updates about grade level meetups will be shared via Schoology in the grade level group of your child. We don’t want anyone to miss out, so please download Schoology and adjust your settings. If you have any questions, please reach out to Alisa Pitocco or Kelly Carrier.
Our hope is that these new grade level meetups can serve as a supplement to other Parent Community activities and give families an opportunity to enjoy some quality time with just their grade.
Staff Appreciation Notes — Spread the Love!
Take two minutes to say “thanks” with a staff appreciation note! Make someone smile with a staff appreciation note!
Yearbook Photos — Please Submit!
The yearbook needs your pictures! Please send photos to lotspeichyearbook@7hills.org to be added to the yearbook!
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 SignUp Genius is required.
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. 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, from 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)
Volunteer Survey
As always, if you’re interested in volunteering, please reach out to us or fill out the volunteer survey and we’ll pass along your information to the committee chairperson.