Lotspeich Blast Apr 5, 2024
Dear Parents,
Welcome back! I hope you had a wonderful Spring Break, whether you stayed close to home or traveled far away. As much as I, too, enjoy the break and a more relaxed schedule, it’s so good to be back with our students and in our routine! We have hit the ground running this week … and will maintain a steady pace between now and the end of the school year.
On Monday, we launched our week by hearing from two of our Upper School students about Ramadan. Areej Arif and Aleesha Adhami shared the history of this important holiday and how it is celebrated with Lotspeich students. It is always magical when our older students come to share their cultures and experiences with us.
You should have received an email this week with information about our upcoming VIP Day (formerly Grandpersons’ Day). We look forward to welcoming a number of VIPs to campus on the morning of Friday, April 19. Please note there is an 11:30 a.m. dismissal for all students. Soon you will receive a permission slip letting us know how your child will be going home. We are not able to release any students to their VIPs without prior parental approval.
Next Tuesday, April 9, we have our annual author visit. Thanks to the hard work of Mrs. Suffield, our students will have the opportunity to hear from Nancy Churnin, a prolific author of picture books, many of which tell the stories of unique and important people in history.
On Friday, April 12, all Seven Hills families are welcome to celebrate our spring athletes while having fun! Our kindergarten through sixth grade spring athletes will be recognized at 6:30 p.m. on the lower field. Food will be available for purchase from four food trucks: Big Dogs Pizza, Maya Indian Food, Kona Ice (at the Pavilion), and Quite Frankly (at the baseball field).
Enjoy your weekend!
Susan
Key Dates & Events
Monday, April 8 — Solar Eclipse (full day of school)
Thursday, April 11-Friday, April 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. Advance tickets required.
Monday, April 15-Friday April 19 — All School Culture Week
Friday, April 19 — VIP Day (formerly Grandpersons’ Day), 8:30 a.m.
Friday April 19 — Early Dismissal for all Lotspeich Students (PK2 to Grade 5), 11:30 a.m.
Friday, April 26 — Arts Alive, 3:30-8:40 p.m.
May 3-10 — Drama Showcases
Friday, May 3 — May Fete in Kalnow Gym, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 9-Friday, May 10 — Grade 5 to Dearborn, Michigan
Friday, May 24 — Grades 1-4 Spring Concert, The Schiff Center, 1:45 pm.
Announcements
Visit Author Book Signing — April 7
The Lower School visiting author, Nancy Churnin, will be at the Reds Hall of Fame before the Reds game this Sunday, April 7 signing copies of her book “The William Hoy Story.” Interested families could meet Nancy there before she visits Doherty and Lotspeich on April 8 and 9. Please see the flyer for more information.
Note on Transportation for Monday, April 8
The Seven Hills Shuttle will be running late to accommodate the later dismissal times due to the solar eclipse. Mason School busses will be providing morning and afternoon bussing and are aware of the later dismissal times. The Forest Hills Schools busses will not be running.
Family Food Truck and Youth Spirit Night — Friday, April 12
All Seven Hills families are welcome to come celebrate our spring athletes and have some fun! Cheer on the Upper School baseball, girls lacrosse, softball, and tennis teams. Youth spring athletes in kindergarten through sixth grade will be recognized at 6:30 p.m. on the lower field. Food will be available for purchase from four delicious food trucks: Big Dogs Pizza, Maya Indian Food, Kona Ice (at the Pavilion) and Quite Frankly (at the baseball field). Check out the Family Food Truck and Youth Spirit Night flyer for more details. See you there!
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 will not have the Middle School steps, the Shuttle, or school district busses at 11:30 a.m. We will run the carline from the Red Barn and ECC only. We look forward to welcoming our visitors on April 19 to campus!
Holiday Care for VIP Day
Holiday care is available from 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. In order to stay after 11:30 a.m. that day, all Lotspeich students must be registered for Holiday Care.
Spring Enrichment Programs — April 15 to May 23
We are in the final session of our Spring Enrichment classes and we have an awesome line-up of after school activities for all ages! Register for Spring Enrichment Sessions.
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.
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.
Be Great With Us! (Bedding Drive)
As part of the Upper School’s “Give, Grow, and Be Great” service-learning May Term, Upper students will work with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children without one. The need for beds in the Greater Cincinnati area is startlingly high, and while building the beds is an enormous help, beds without pillows, mattress pads, sheets, and blankets don’t solve the problem. Please consider donating new bedding to help our efforts make a difference. You can purchase items directly from this Amazon wishlist or send donations to the Upper Office. Please make checks payable to The Seven Hills School with “bedding drive” in the memo line. Donations will be accepted from now until the end of May, but why wait? Be great today! Questions? Contact Karen Glum.
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. View the schedule.
April Parent Connext: Getting Kids Outdoors — From the Counseling Department
Seven 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 month’s topic, Getting Kids Outdoors.
Parent Community News
We hope everyone had a relaxing Spring Break. Welcome back!
Save the Date
- Parent Community Joint Meeting with Doherty at BonBonerie — Friday April 12, morning after drop off
- VIP Day (Formerly Grandpersons’ Day) — Friday, April 19
- 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.
All parents of pre-kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to 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. We hope to see you all there!
Stock the (Teachers’) Lounge – Final of the Year! Due Friday, April 12
Let’s end the year strong showing our teachers some love. Our final Stock the Lounge items can be purchased from this Amazon Wishlist. FYI, all items will be delivered to a central location (Kelly Carrier’s house) and volunteers will assist in transporting them to the lounges in the ECC and Lotspeich buildings.
May Fete — Call for Volunteers
May Fete is a fun-filled evening of carnival-style activities for the whole family to celebrate the end of the school year on Friday, May 3. It’s a free event open to Prekindergarten through fifth-grade families and typically includes games, raffles, inflatables and food. It takes place on the Seven Hills campus. We’ll need everyone’s help working at the game stations. New this year, each grade will be hosting a station. Please signup up using the May Fete Volunteers Form.
Communications Reminder — ways to stay in the loop!
As a spring refresher, here’s a reminder of ways you can stay in the know about all things Seven Hills.
- The Blast
- Schoology (be sure to turn on notifications and you can change how often you receive updates in the settings)
- Veracross calendar on the Veracross Parent Portal
- Homeroom teacher newsletters/updates Facebook
- Main Seven Hills Facebook page
- Instagram:
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.