Lotspeich Blast Oct 31, 2025

Halloween at Lotspeich — Today, Friday, Oct. 31

Today, Friday, Oct. 31, we will hold our annual Halloween Parade beginning at 9:15 a.m. Students will parade around the upper track by grade levels, beginning with our pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds students. All parents are invited to attend, watching the parade from the field in the center of the track, where there is plenty of space to spread out to see all of the children. Parking is available at the Field House and along Ellmarie Drive. Students can wear their costumes to school in the morning. They will have recess and PE later in the day and are, therefore, able to change after the parade if necessary. If the weather should not cooperate, we will hold this event in Kalnow Gym.

Costuming Requests for Halloween

We would appreciate your help in not providing props or costume pieces that we would not permit as play equipment in school (guns, swords, arrows, etc.). Similarly, we need your help in being sensitive to the children’s need to maintain a parade route. We have found that large box costumes or very bulky outfits can be particularly problematic for the children. Makeup is difficult for the children to apply, so please do not send any to school. Of course, we ask that no child come to school in make-up as well.

There are lots of costumes to wear that celebrate Halloween. Please help us ensure that our children’s costumes do not stereotype, mock, or poke fun at another person/group or human condition.

ATB is Closing at 5 p.m. Today

Please plan to pick up by 5 p.m. on Oct. 31 so everyone can get home safely for Trick or Treat!

Growing Together: Doherty Oak Tree Planting Event

Don’t miss an exciting opportunity to help plant the Doherty Oak saplings at Lotspeich to grow until the new Lower School site is ready for the trees. In addition to planting (accessible for all ages), we’ll have Lower School site tours with Dr. Matt Bolton, kid-friendly activities with the Upper Sustainability team, Doherty Green Team, the Lotspeich ECC teachers, and more! Stop by or stay for the whole time! We’ll have coffee, snacks, and swag! We can’t wait to help our campus green space grow with more history and beauty!

Pumpkins and Popsicles with S.H.A.R.E. — Saturday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m.

All are welcome to S.H.A.R.E.’s fun family event on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m. at the Pavilion on the Hillsdale Campus. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with family activities, including decorating pumpkins with words of kindness in honor of World Kindness Day. S.H.A.R.E. stands for Seven Hills Association of Rainbow Events. We are an affinity group for anyone with a family member or who is an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. Let us know you are coming by emailing SHARE@7hills.org.

The Lower School Book Fair is Just Around the Corner!

We’re thrilled to announce that The Bookshelf in Madeira and the Lower School libraries are teaming up to bring the Book Fair back to our school. Here are all the important details:

• Dates: Nov. 5-16
• Location: Lotspeich and Doherty libraries
• For Students: During their library class, students will have the opportunity to preview the exciting books available at the Book Fair right in the Lotspeich and Doherty libraries.
• For Families: For added convenience, we’ll also have book browsing available during Parent-Teacher Conferences on Nov. 12-13.
• Online Orders: On Nov. 5, you’ll receive an email with a link to the website for ordering books.
• Delivery: Most books ordered from the Book Fair will be delivered directly to your child’s classroom before winter break.

Questions? If you have any questions or need more information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Lotspeich librarian Lori Suffield or Doherty librarian Jo Schnirring. 

November Food Drive

The Lostpeich Lower School Hives, ECC, and the Upper School Service Club will hold their annual Thanksgiving Food Drive this November. If you would like to contribute, we will have bins in the ECC and Lotspeich buildings to drop donations. This year, we are collecting for La Soupe, and we are concentrating on collecting rice, pasta, dried beans, lentils, and tomato paste. 

Early Care Reading Wednesdays For Grades 1-5

Ms. Wilson and Ms. Berting are turning Wednesdays into Reading Day at Early Care. If you join on Wednesday, bring a book and be ready to cozy up and read! 

Seven Hills Unplugged — Every Tuesday

Back by popular demand, Seven Hills Unplugged returns to the Hillsdale Campus this fall every Tuesday! Families from pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds through eighth grade are welcome to enjoy some after-school open play and screen-free fun! The ECC playground space is available for ECC families to connect! See the flyer for details. Rain-out locations will be shared each week, as needed.

Waitlist for November Holiday Care

We are currently on a waitlist for November Holiday Care. Please email Jill and Christina if you would like to be added.  If you are bringing your child during conferences, Holiday Care if not a drop in option. Thanks for your understanding!

Enrichment begins Nov. 3!

We still have spots in the following programs:

• Let it Grow: Fall Plants and More — Mondays for Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten
• Sportsmanship and Soccer — Tuesdays for Grades 1 to 5 at Lotspeich
• Totally 90s Club — Thursdays for Grades 1 to 5 at Lotspeich

Please check your Parent Portal to register!

Parent-Teacher Conference Registration

The parent-teacher conference sign-ups are live and available online through your Veracross Parent Portal until Monday, Nov. 10, at 5 p.m. If you have specific teachers, times and dates that you would like, we encourage you to register early.

Volunteers Needed for Seven Hills FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifying Event — Dec. 6

Are you ready for a high-energy day filled with kids, creativity, and robots?

We are excited to invite you to volunteer at this year’s Seven Hills FIRST® LEGO® League Qualifying Event on Saturday, Dec. 6! This is a unique opportunity to be part of an inspiring, joy-filled experience where students showcase their learning, innovation, and teamwork.

To make the day a success, we need many helping hands — and there’s a role for everyone! Sign-up for a volunteer position.

Event Overview

This year’s theme, “Unearthed,” challenges teams to uncover the past to discover the future. Students have been designing robots, researching innovative projects, and practicing gracious professionalism as they prepare to compete and share their work.

The morning features team presentations for judges, while the afternoon is all about the Robot Game — a fast-paced, crowd-energizing competition where robots complete as many missions as possible in two and a half minutes.

Volunteer Opportunities

Whether you enjoy working directly with kids or keeping things organized behind the scenes, there’s a role that fits your interests and schedule. Positions include:

• Field Reset (9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
• Team Queuer (Shift A: 8–11a.m./Shift B: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.)
• Score Keeper / Score Entry
• Referee
• Judge (Technical, Project, or Core Values) – Must be 25 or older.
• Check-In /Concessions
• Floater (various shifts)

All volunteers receive training and support throughout the day. Most importantly, you’ll get to be part of an unforgettable event where students’ creativity and teamwork take center stage.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the team for a day of robotics, fun, and celebration!