Lotspeich Blast Mar 15, 2024
Dear Parents,
It’s hard to believe that spring break is already upon us! Whether traveling or staying home, I hope the change in pace brings delight to you and your family.
We will hit the ground running when we return on Monday, April 1. Make sure to add the events from the below Key Dates and Events section to your calendar.
On April 8, Cincinnati will be near the path of totality of a rare solar eclipse, offering our students the chance to witness this awe-inspiring event. We won’t see another of its kind in the United States until 2099! As Chris mentioned in his previous email, we will be in session for a full day. However, parents are welcome to pick up their children early that day if you prefer.
The eclipse will occur from 1:52 to 4:25 p.m., reaching a magnitude of 99.68% at 3:09 p.m. Because of this, we will delay our dismissal to 3:30 p.m. on Monday, April 8. If you would prefer to pick up your child before that, we ask that you do so before 2:45 p.m.
During the eclipse, we will give students in grades 2-5 the opportunity to go outside to witness this historic event ONLY with parental permission. Otherwise, they will remain in their classrooms. Pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, and first graders will celebrate the eclipse while remaining in their classrooms as it is more difficult to ensure they keep the necessary glasses on.
The permission slip for all second to fifth graders will be sent home via email on Monday, April 1, and should be signed and returned by Wednesday, April 3. We ask that you fill out the permission form, so we know your plans for the day.
The school will be taking the appropriate measures to ensure the well-being of our students who are outdoors during this event. We will provide each student with ISO 12312-2:2015 certified solar viewing glasses to protect their eyes from harmful solar radiation during the eclipse. Faculty will be present to supervise students throughout the event, and prior to the eclipse, students will receive educational materials and instructions on how to safely observe the eclipse. If you have any questions, please let us know.
Enjoy these next two weeks!
Susan
Key Dates & Events
Friday, March 15, 3:10 p.m. — Spring Break Begins
Monday, April 1, 8:30 a.m. — School Resumes
Monday, April 8 — Solar Eclipse (Full day of school)
Thursday, April 11-12 —Fourth Grade to Camp Kern
Friday, April 12 — Family Food Truck Spirit Night, 4:30-7 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 — 50th Anniversary Celebration, 7-10 p.m. Advanced tickets required.
Monday, April 15-Friday April 19 — All School Culture Week
Friday, April 19, 8:30 a.m. — VIP Day (formerly Grandpersons Day)
Friday April 19, 11:30 a.m. — Early Dismissal for all Lotspeich Students (PK2 to Grade 5)
Friday, April 26 — Arts Alive, 3:30-8 p.m.
May 3-10 — Drama Showcases
Friday, May 3, 5:30 p.m. — May Fete in Kalnow Gym
Thursday, May 9-10 — Grade 5 to Dearborn, Michigan
Friday, May 24 — Grades 1-4 Spring Concert, The Schiff Center, 1:45 pm.
Announcements
VIP Day (Formerly Grandpersons’ Day)
One of our Lotspeich traditions is right around the corner — VIP Day (formerly Grandpersons’ Day)! We will welcome many very important people to campus to see our students in action. Families, please see and share our invitation to special visitors that you invite on behalf of your children. Please only RSVP once per family. Also note that we will have an early dismissal for all students pre-kindergarten through fifth grade at 11:30 a.m. to allow visitors to continue their day with the children. We look forward to welcoming our visitors on April 19 to campus!
Drama Spring Showcases for Kindergarten to Fourth Grade
Parents are welcome to join drama class this spring. This is an opportunity to observe the art of drama and the process the students go through from kindergarten to fourth grade at the lower school that works up to the fifth grade musical. Showcases will be during the students’ scheduled class times in the Red Barn. Here are the dates and times of the showcases.
- Kindergarten Schulteis — Wednesday, May 8, 12:50 p.m.
- Kindergarten Swain — Wednesday, May 8, 1:20 p.m.
- Kindergarten Schneider — Wednesday, May 8, 1:50 p.m.
- First Grade Burton — Thursday, May 9, 1:30 p.m.
- First Grade Kohn/Staiger — Friday, May 10, 10:15 a.m.
- Second Grade Tiller — Thursday, May 9, 2:35 p.m.
- Second Grade Knecht — Wednesday, May 8, 2:35 p.m.
- Third Grade Newman — Friday, May 3, 11 a.m.
- Third Grade Gaunt — Friday, May 3, 12:45 p.m.
- Fourth Grade Marsan — Thursday, May 9, 8:30 a.m.
- Fourth Grade Snyder — Friday, May 10, 8:30 a.m.
Spring Enrichment Dates
We will offer programs for pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, April 15-May 24. Registration will be available after Spring Break.
Holiday Care — Friday, April 19, VIP Day (Formerly Grandpersons’ Day)
Care will be offered for pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds to fifth grade from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Register for holiday care.
Seeking Host Families for International Students
The Seven Hills Upper School is pleased to be welcoming new students from China for the 2024-25 school year. We are seeking families within the Seven Hills community to host these students. If you would like to learn more about the responsibilities and rewards of welcoming an international student into your home, please contact Nancy Clark. Interested families will be connected with an approved agency that will share program details and monthly stipend information.
Join Seven Hills to Celebrate Our 50th Anniversary — April 13
The entire Seven Hills community is invited to the school’s 50th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, April 13, 7-10 p.m. in the Field House on the Hillsdale Campus! This momentous occasion commemorates 50 years since the merger of the College Preparatory School (CPS) and the Hillsdale-Lotspeich School in 1974. Featuring live entertainment by 13-piece band Soul Pocket and current Seven Hills students and alumni. Food and drinks provided by Eat Well. Tickets are $50 per person. Purchase your tickets now!
Arts Alive Coming Soon!
Mark your calendars for the third annual Arts Alive celebration. On Friday, April 26, from 3:30-8:40 p.m., first through 12th grade students will showcase their artistic talents throughout the Hillsdale Campus. There will be games, arts and crafts, live performances, food trucks, and much more! Join us for an evening of festivities for the entire family. Food trucks and desserts will be available from 3:30-8 p.m. Stay tuned for more details.
3:30-4:10 p.m.
The Schiff Center: Lotspeich First and Second Grade/Doherty Unit I Combined Musical Performance, Doherty Unit III Musical Performance, Seventh Grade Instrumental Ensemble, and Upper School Contemporary Ensemble
4:20-4:50 p.m.
Donovan Arts Center Black Box Theater: Lower School Strings
Schiff Room 102: Upper School Theater
Stage 1 (Next to the Lotspeich Fine Arts Building): Irish Dancers
Stage 2 (The Deck): Elan and Maya Little
5-5:40 p.m.
The Schiff Center: Lotspeich Third and Fourth Grade Musical Performance, Sixth Grade Instrumental Ensemble, Eighth Grade Instrumental Ensemble, and Upper School Symphonic Ensemble
5:50-6:20 p.m.
Donovan Arts Center Black Box Theater: Upper School Film and Animation
Schiff Room 102: Lower School Theater
Stage 1 (Next to the Lotspeich Fine Arts Building): Upper School Solo and Ensemble Performance
Stage 2 (The Deck): The Ceron Brothers Concert
6:30-7:10 p.m.
The Schiff Center: Lotspeich Fifth Grade Musical Performance, Doherty Unit II Musical Performance, Seventh and Eighth Grade Chorus, and Upper School Theater
7:20-7:50 p.m.
Donovan Arts Center Blackbox Theater: Upper School Film and Animation
Schiff Room 102: Middle School Theater
Stage 1 (Next to the Lotspeich Fine Arts Building): Junior Kyle Wang
Stage 2 (The Deck): Boot Reer Student Rock Band
8-8:40 p.m.
The Schiff Center: Sixth Grade Chorus, Middle School Theater, Junior Keliang Yao, and Upper School Chorus
3:30-8 p.m.
Donovan Arts Center: Upper School and 3D Middle School Art
The Schiff Center: Lower School and 2D Middle School Art
Between Donovan Arts Center and Kalnow Gym: Arts and Crafts Booths
Parent Community News
We hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable Spring Break! Please save the dates for our joint meeting and parent social with the Doherty Campus. We’re gearing up for a fabulous spring, and we’ll see you in April!
Save the Date — More details below!
- Parent Community Joint Meeting with Doherty at BonBonerie — Friday, April 12, after morning drop off
- VIP Day (Formerly Grandpersons’ Day) — Friday, April 19
- Spring Joint Parent Social with Doherty — Saturday, April 20, evening
- May Fete — Friday, May 3
- Fifth Grade Closing Ceremony — Monday, June 3
Parent Community Joint Meeting with Doherty at BonBonerie — Friday April 12, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Please join us at The BonBonerie for our final Parent Community meeting of the year. It will be a social-style meeting with our friends from the Doherty Campus. Yummy breakfast treats, coffee, and tea will be served and ALL parents of pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students are welcome and encouraged to attend!
Spring Joint Doherty + Lotspeich Parent Social – Friday, April 20, Evening, Adults Only
Secure your babysitters now! The spring joint Doherty + Lotspeich parent social is back again this year! All pre-kindergarten through fifth grade parents from both campuses are invited to come celebrate the end of the school year (before the mayhem of May begins!). Admission is free and includes appetizers and a cash bar. Details and a link to RSVP will be shared over Spring Break via Schoology.
Staff Appreciation Notes — Spread the Love!
Take two minutes to say “thanks” 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.