Lotspeich Blast Oct 23, 2026

Announcement Labels:

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

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: Officekeeping Announcements

Can you believe we are about to end the first trimester? Fall sports are wrapping up, and the weather is changing! With these changes, we wanted to send a couple of reminders to families:

• Please be sure to write your child’s name on sweatshirts, jackets, coats, and winter accessories. Both of our Lost and Founds are quickly filling up with a wonderful selection of apparel. Stop by to check it out if your child is missing something.
• To see your child’s daily schedule, navigate to your student’s daily schedule view in the Parent Portal. Afternoon transportation arrangements (such as Red Barn, ATB, etc.) are displayed here.
• If your child’s transportation schedule needs to be updated for the winter athletic or encore season, please send an email to Nyema Gray, who handles our daily transportation and dismissal plans.
• If your child is absent or going to be tardy, you must enter this information into Veracross. Any student who is not reported will receive a well check from our office staff.
• All dismissal changes must be entered into Veracross by 2 p.m. so we have enough time to communicate these changes to the teachers and children.

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: Little Big Talks: Talking About School Safety — Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m.

In a continuation of our LEAD Together series, join us in the Doherty library for a community conversation about how to talk with students about school safety. Presented in partnership with our director of safety & security, counseling department, and office of DEI, this conversation will offer helpful books, resources, and guidance for discussing school safety with children.

While the conversation will be geared toward Early and Lower School families, parents and caregivers from all divisions may find it beneficial.

Please RSVP for the event to let us know you’ll be attending.

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: Save the Date: ScreenSmart at Seven Hills 2.0 — Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30-7 p.m.

Please join us as we connect with other parents and learn from Seven Hills faculty members and Upper School students about building healthy relationships with technology. We’ll have dedicated spaces for different age groups in Lotspeich and Upper School.

Childcare is provided for Early and Lower School students. Please RSVP to let us know you’re attending, and register before Nov. 5 for childcare.

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.

Enrichment

Fall enrichment ends on Thursday, Nov. 12.

We will be offering winter enrichment sessions — dates coming soon!

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

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.

As of 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: 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

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.

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.