Lotspeich Blast Oct 16, 2026

Announcement Labels:

ES – Pre-kindergarten families
LS – Kindergarten through fifth-grade families
ES/LS – Pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade families

ES/LS: New Visitor Check-in System Across All Divisions

A new visitor check-in system is now in place across all divisions. Following a successful pilot at the Middle School earlier this year, we are expanding the process to strengthen campus safety and ensure we can account for visitors in case of an emergency.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, visitors coming to campus during school hours must check in at a designated kiosk in their division’s front office and present a driver’s license or other government-issued ID. This system is also used to conduct background checks for contractors and visitors. After checking in, visitors will receive a red visitor lanyard to be worn throughout their visit.

Visitors should park closest to the school building they are visiting, if space is available. If you are walking to and from buildings and not wearing your visitor lanyard, you may be stopped by a staff member. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but these measures are in place to ensure campus and student safety.

As we implement this new process across our community, we recognize that there may be questions and opportunities to make the experience smoother for everyone. If you would like to share a suggestion or ask a question, please contact Director of Safety & Security Jun Cho.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work together to make this process as effective and seamless as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When do parents need to use the new visitor check-in system?

Parents visiting campus during school hours (aside from drop off and pick up) must check in at the kiosk inside their division’s front office, present their ID, and wear a red visitor lanyard for the duration of their visit.

Are there any exceptions?

In the following instances, parents will not be expected to check in or wear lanyards:

• Parents dropping off or picking up their children, or dropping something off at the building entrance
• Parents attending events outside school hours, such as athletic events or parent meetings
• Parents attending large outdoor events during school hours where they remain outside (such as Pumpkin Day)

How does the process apply to Parent Association meetings or walking groups?

If a large turnout is expected for a Parent Association meeting, the administrative assistant(s) for your division will utilize a paper sign-in sheet instead of the kiosk. For smaller meetings, 10 people or fewer, parents will be expected to sign in at the kiosk as usual.

The Hillsdale walking group will meet with an Upper School representative at the track. They will utilize a paper sign-in sheet and be given red lanyards to wear while on campus.

ES/LS: Picture Retake Day — Tuesday, Oct. 20

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: Third Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest

You’re invited to join our Third Annual Pumpkin Decorating Contest! Early School and kindergarten students, teachers, classrooms, and families are all encouraged to participate by bringing a decorated — but uncarved — pumpkin to school by Wednesday, Oct. 21.

Students and families will vote for their favorites on Oct. 22 & 23 in the following categories: favorite overall, favorite family project, most adorable class entry, and best teacher creations. Winners will be announced on Oct. 26.

ES/LS: Campus Dining Enhancements & Culinary Updates

School-Wide Nutritional Improvements

We continue to prioritize fresh, nutritious offerings across both the Doherty and Hillsdale campuses. As part of this commitment, we are in the process of phasing out our prepackaged fruit and now provide fresh fruit daily at both campus kitchens. We are also phasing out our current inventory of caffeinated beverages at both locations.

Early School Dining Experience

To enhance the dining experience for our Early School students, lunches are now delivered family-style directly to each classroom in new Cambro insulated food carriers. This approach supports convenient, efficient meal service while bringing the dining experience directly to the students.

Elevated Hot Plate Lunches

Our hot plate lunch program continues to evolve with an expanded selection of homemade comfort foods designed to offer familiar favorites with a fresh, culinary-focused approach. Current offerings include homemade meatloaf, baked cod, black bean and chicken tinga tacos, Palak paneer, and turkey Manhattan, with additional selections to come as we continue developing and expanding our new recipe database.

Rotating Build-Your-Own Bar

We have introduced a rotating build-your-own bar that gives students more choice and variety throughout the week. Featured options include baked potatoes; chicken wings; gourmet hot dogs, brats, and metts; mac and cheese; and other selections, with a variety of toppings like steamed broccoli, fresh jalapeños, and grilled peppers. The menu rotates weekly, keeping the experience fresh, engaging, and exciting for students.

Fresh and Flavorful Grab-and-Go Options

Our grab-and-go program now features weekly chef-created specials, offering convenient, fresh alternatives for students on the move. Selections include fresh fruit paired with cheese and crackers, freshly prepared cold wraps, and a variety of salads. These options provide greater variety while maintaining our focus on freshness, quality, and convenience.

Freshly Sliced Deli Meats and Weekly Chef Specials

Beginning this week, we are pleased to announce that all deli meats will be freshly sliced in-house, further enhancing the freshness and quality of our deli offerings.

We are also introducing a rotating selection of weekly chef specials, created to bring new flavors and variety to the menu. This week’s featured special is our buffalo chicken wrap, kicking off an exciting lineup of fresh, chef-inspired selections to come.

Our Ongoing Commitment

These enhancements reflect our continued commitment to improving campus dining through fresh ingredients, expanded menu variety, chef-driven offerings, and attentive service tailored to the needs of each campus. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to elevate the dining experience for our students and school community.

LS: Lunch Pricing

With all of the new offerings in the kitchen, we would like to clarify lunch pricing. The prices will also be added to the lunch menu on Nutrislice.

Hot plate lunch – $7.75

Build-Your-Own Bar – $7.75

Soup/Salad Bar – $7.75

These items are priced individually and cannot be mixed and matched. For example, if a student gets the hot plate lunch and the BYO item, the cost is $15.50.

ES/LS: Volunteers Needed for Lotspeich Book Fair Distribution — Friday, Nov. 6

We’re looking for parent volunteers to help Lori Suffield, Lotspeich librarian, organize book fair orders and distribute books on the afternoon of Friday, Nov. 6. Sign up to volunteer!

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 who 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!

LS: Pathways for Prevention — Nov. 2-6

Seven Hills students in grades 5 and 7, along with all Upper School students, will participate in scheduled visits and lessons from our Pathways for Prevention specialist, Glenn Hall. “Mr. G,” as he is known to the kids, will deliver an evidence-based curriculum of developmentally appropriate education on substance misuse trends, healthy coping skills, peer pressure, and addiction.

Mr. G has a keen ability to build rapport and maintain elevated levels of student engagement. His sessions are filled with his personal recovery story as well as current information and trends to make this a relevant and informative experience for our Seven Hills students.

If you have questions or would like to know more, please access Pathways for Prevention’s website for more information or reach out to Seraphine Schomber, Lotspeich school counselor.

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

• View all 2026-27 Stinger Staycation dates.

Fall Enrichment

• Resumes on Wednesday, Oct. 14, and ends on Thursday, Nov. 12.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Jill Romerill.