Lotspeich Blast Oct 2, 2026
Key Dates
Friday, Oct. 2 — Between The Pages Author Visit
Wednesday, Oct. 7 — Parent Association Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8 & Friday, Oct. 9 — No School. Fall Break
Monday, Oct. 12 — No School. Records Day
Tuesday, Oct. 13 — No School. Faculty Professional Development Day. LEAD Together Event: “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning,” 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 14 — Grade 3 Field Trip to Makino Park. Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 20 — Picture Retake Day
Saturday, Oct. 24 — Doherty Lotspeich Combined Trunk or Treat, 4-6 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 30 — Parent Coffee, 8:30 a.m. Halloween Parade, 9:15 a.m.
Photos of the Week
A second grade student in Katey Parks’ class takes part in a library scavenger hunt inspired by the book "Sam and Dave Dig a Hole."
NEW! Listen to The Blast
Click the play button below to listen to this week’s Lotspeich Blast, read by an automated reader. Please note that the Key Dates section is not included in this audio.
What to Know Now
Announcement Labels:
ES – Pre-kindergarten families
LS – Kindergarten through fifth-grade families
ES/LS – Pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade families
ES/LS: “Between the Pages” Author Visit — TODAY, Oct. 2
We are excited to welcome multi-award-winning author Andrea L. Rogers to the Lotspeich Library on Oct. 2! Pre-k and kindergarten students will have a special opportunity to hear Ms. Rogers read her Caldecott-winning book, “Chooch Helped,” and learn a little more about her as an author.
Fifth grade students from Lotspeich and Doherty will also have the opportunity to meet Ms. Rogers and discuss her work, including her short story from “Ancestor Approved,” which students read in preparation for her visit. We look forward to sharing this special experience with our students! Please email Middle and Upper School librarian Megan Whitt with any questions!
ES/LS: Upcoming LEAD Together Event: “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning” — Tuesday, Oct. 13
Our next LEAD Together event takes place on Tuesday, Oct. 13, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Young Family Library. Come hear from Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D., a leading voice in mind, brain, and education, about “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning.” Tracey will be working with our teachers throughout the school day, and this evening event is an opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn from her as well. Parents and caregivers of children of all ages, from pre-kindergarten through grade 12, are welcome. Sign up for the event to let us know you’re coming. Need childcare? No problem! Sign up by Oct. 6 to secure childcare.
LS: Morning Drop-off
We love seeing our families and welcoming students to Lotspeich each morning! As a quick reminder, the school day for students in grades 1-5 officially begins at 8:15 a.m.
If you would like to walk your child to their classroom, please plan to arrive between 8-8:15 a.m. At 8:15 a.m., building and classroom doors will close as students begin their school day. After that time, parents will be asked to drop students off at the front doors by the office and stop in the office to receive a tardy slip. For safety and consistency, parents will not be able to walk students to their classrooms after 8:15 a.m.
Thank you for helping us make morning drop-off a smooth and welcoming start to the school day for everyone!
Parent Association News
What’s Coming Up
ES: Early School Monthly Coffee in the Commons — TODAY, 8-9 a.m.
Stay after drop-off today, Oct. 2, for coffee and conversation with other Early School parents. No sign-up, just come as you are.
ES/LS: Trunk or Treat — Saturday, Oct. 24, on the Doherty Campus
Trunk or Treat is all about opening up our space and having fun together as a big community! Families decorate their trunks and hand out treats in the parking lot to give our kids a safe, fun spot to trick-or-treat with their classmates. See the Trunk or Treat flyer for more information.
Know Before You Go
- Costumes are encouraged but totally optional. Prizes will be awarded for costumes and trunks. Please follow school rules regarding scary costumes and weapons.
- You do not have to decorate a trunk or dress in costume to attend. All Doherty and Lotspeich families are invited.
- Not into decorating your trunk? No problem! Please park in the carpool lanes of Doherty or on Keys Crescent.
- What’s for dinner? LaRosa’s pizza will be available for $1 per slice.
Decorating a Trunk? Please Read Below
- Parking spots are limited! Sign up to decorate your trunk today.
- If you’re planning to participate, please make note of one very important detail: all trunks must be parked and in place by 3:45 p.m. — no exceptions. This is a firm deadline for the safety of our kids and families. We are unable to allow vehicles into the lot after that time. If there’s any chance you can’t make the 3:45 p.m. cutoff, we kindly ask that you hold off on signing up to decorate this year. We want the event to be safe and fun for everyone. Thank you for understanding!
- Passing out nut-free candy as well as non-candy treats is encouraged.
Day-of Hosting Team
An event like this comes together when we build it together! We’re looking for a few hands to help set up the parking lot and welcome families on the day of the event. If you’d like to jump in and help host, email Lauren Bonaminio and Emily Emeneker.
ES/LS: Halloween Parade, Parent Coffee, and Time with Kerryn Hinds — Friday, Oct. 30
On Friday, Oct. 30, Kerryn Hinds, our new Head of Lower School, will be available for a meet-and-greet from 8-8:30 a.m., followed by Parent Association coffee from 8:30-9 a.m. Afterward, you can find your spot for the annual Lotspeich Halloween parade.
ES/LS: Lotspeich Parent Association Quarterly Meeting — Friday, Nov. 13
Lori Suffield, the Lotspeich librarian, joins us as our guest. All Lotspeich parents are welcome, and coffee will be available. There are only four of these meetings all year, so it is worth putting on the calendar now. Time and room to follow.
All Year
ES/LS: Where We Could Use A Hand
Three co-chair spots are open right now: Trunk or Treat, the Family Winter Dance, and May Fete. The Trunk or Treat and Winter Dance co-chairs work alongside the Doherty team, since both events are joint. None of them requires a year-long commitment. If one sounds like your thing, email Lauren Bonaminio and Emily Emeneker.
Announcements
ES/LS: Picture Retake Day — Tuesday, Oct. 20
We expect to send school picture packets home the week of Oct. 12. Picture retake day will be Tuesday, Oct. 20.
Retakes are available for students who were absent on the original picture day or whose photos were affected by a photographer error, such as a glare or an out-of-focus image. If you simply prefer to have your child’s photo retaken because you are not satisfied with the original, you may do so; however, please note that there will be a charge for the new photo package.
If your child is having a retake, please send their original picture packet back to school with them on Tuesday, Oct. 20. Thank you for helping us make picture retake day run smoothly!
ES/LS: Halloween Costume Parade at Lotspeich — Friday, Oct. 30, at 9:15 a.m.
One of our fall traditions here at Seven Hills is our Halloween costume parade. Each class will parade around the track with their class to show off their Halloween costumes. While we understand that most families celebrate Halloween, we do want to acknowledge and respect the fact that other families do not celebrate. If you are a family that does not want your child to participate in the costume parade, please email Kerryn Hinds, and we will be happy to provide an alternative fall activity for your child.
A Note About Costumes
We ask that students avoid bringing props or costume pieces that we would not permit as play equipment in school (guns, swords, arrows, etc.). When choosing a costume, please also keep in mind that children will need to navigate steps and move along a parade route. We have found that large box costumes or very bulky outfits can make this particularly difficult.
Additionally, please do not send makeup to school or have your child wear makeup, as it may become itchy or distracting throughout the day.
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. Thank you!
ES/LS: After The Bell (ATB)
ATB Drop-in
We are currently at capacity for ATB drop-in for:
- Pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds
Stinger Staycation (Formerly Known as Holiday Care)
Doherty and Lotspeich students will join together at Lotspeich for Stinger Staycation.
- Waitlist: Oct. 12 & 13
View all 2026-27 Stinger Staycation dates.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Jill Romerill.