Middle School Blast Jan 12, 2024
Note from Bill…
And just like that, we are back from Winter Break and marching forward into the New Year! The end of the second quarter occurs today and teachers will be preparing their grade books and writing comments (required for students earning a C and below) to be ready on Jan. 16. With the start of the new semester on Jan. 16, some student schedules will change with new elective courses; these students will receive their new schedules on Jan. 16 as well.
I encourage as many Middle School families (and friends) to participate in our annual Day On, Not Off community service event in observation of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday on Jan. 15. For more than a decade, the Middle School has sponsored this event, allowing our Middle School community to come together to support the spirit of this national holiday to address Dr. King’s challenge to all: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Please read below for more information and details on how to participate in this most important day “on,” not “off”!
Key Dates & Events
Friday, Jan. 12 — End of Second Quarter
Monday, Jan. 15 — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. No School. Day On, Not Off (see below)
Tuesday, Jan. 16-Friday, Jan. 19 — Seventh Grade Healthy Visions
Thursday, January 25 — Middle School Basketball Bash
Announcements
Day On, Not Off
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jan. 15, all Middle School families (and guests) are invited to take part in our annual community service effort at Matthew: 25 Ministries, 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242. We are scheduled to work from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Please register for this event. This annual event is a great way to answer Martin Luther King Jr.’s essential question: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” We look forward to seeing you, your family, and your friends on Jan. 15!
Middle School Basketball Bash — Thursday, Jan. 25
To promote spirit and a sense of community, the Middle School Student Council is planning special activities after school on Thursday, Jan. 25, before and during the Middle School basketball games. More details to follow! Mark your calendars!
Real Talk Series “Family Ties”
As part of the school’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, justice, and equity, the Middle School is continuing the Real Talk Series to create ongoing opportunities for students to hear directly from people of different backgrounds and points of view. We hope these conversations will give our students a chance to attain a certain level of understanding and acceptance of the diversity at Seven Hills. “Family Ties” is the second of three panelist discussions we will host this year. Advisory activities precede this presentation to familiarize our students with this topic. During this Real Talk discussion, panelists will discuss their family dynamics, sharing the joys and traditions that make their experiences special. They’ll also address any misconceptions about their family structures.
Please print, sign, and return this opt out form to your child’s adviser if you DO NOT want your child to participate in “Family Ties,” which includes Advisory activities around this topic and the Real Talk panel presentation on the morning of Jan. 26.
Save the Date — Books for Lunch 2024!
The 2024 Books for Lunch committee, chaired by Seven Hills parents Lisa Briquet and Lalitha Chunduri, is honored to present this year’s guest author, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer! Please join us in the Madisonville Ballroom at The Summit Hotel on Feb. 2 for lunch, community, and an engaging address from Greer. Please visit 7hills.org/BFL to purchase tickets and learn more about the events, Greer, and his work.
Sixth Grade Overnight Indianapolis Trip — Save The Date!
The sixth grade will be traveling to Indianapolis for our annual class trip from Thursday, April 18, to Friday, April 19. More details will be shared in upcoming email blasts, but if you have any immediate questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Jennifer Licata, sixth grade team leader.
Seventh Grade Washington, D.C., Trip — Save The Date!
The seventh grade will be traveling to Washington, D.C., from May 20-24. More details will be shared with all families later this quarter in upcoming Blasts, but if you have any immediate questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact Carri Haskins, seventh grade team leader.
Summer Program 2024 — Mark Your Calendars
Make 2024 the best summer ever! Make friends, discover new passions, and create memories that last a lifetime! With eight weeks of action packed camps, beginning June 17 through Aug. 9, there are all kinds of adventures and opportunities for your child to explore to make this the best summer ever. Priority registration for Seven Hills families opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13.
FC Cincinnati Soccer Camp — Register Now!
Seven Hills has partnered with FC Cincinnati for the summer of 2024 to offer a half-day summer camp option for Cincinnati kids ages seven to 14. The camp runs June 17-21, and families can register now. There will be other concurrent Summer Program options for June 17-21. Registration for the following camps opens in February.
Grades 2-6 Options
Morning: Ninja Warrior Training, Rockstar Rock Climbers 1, Singing and Dancing Around Town, and Wilderness Warriors.
Grades 9-11 Full Day Option
Community Service Sample
Best Point Education and Behavioral Health is happy to partner with Seven Hills to offer school-based mental health counseling services. School-based services are beneficial because providers are placed directly within schools, which prevents students from missing important class time due to travel.Haley Muth is a licensed professional counselor and the Best Point provider at Seven Hills. She has experience working with children, adolescents, and families in the mental health field. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Xavier University and her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Cincinnati. Haley is currently working towards being a licensed professional clinical counselor (LPCC). Haley’s office is currently located in the eighth grade wing of the Middle School, however she is capable of working with students in third through 12th grade.Haley offers services related to the following: depression/anxiety/ADHD, parenting strategies, learning strategies/classroom support, sleep problems, trauma, loss/grief, crisis intervention and response, family support/parenting support, impulsivity/aggression, relaxation techniques, practicing and applying new skills at home and at school.
Parents can access these services for their students contacting the school counselors or by submitting a referral on Best Point’s website. Submitting a referral takes about five to 10 minutes and will ask questions related to demographics, concerns, and insurance information. Once a referral is submitted, Haley will be in contact with a parent to discuss next steps for therapy. Call Best Point at 513.272.2800 if you need further assistance! Haley can be reached at muthh@bestpoint.org or 513.822.8512.
Welcome back, Parent Community! We hope everyone had a restful and joyous holiday. We are working hard to plan some exciting events for the remainder of the year. Please stay tuned for more info!
MS Parent Community Meetings
Thank you to all those who attended our November Parent Meeting this week. Future MSPC meeting dates are as follows in the Sixth Grade Commons:
- Feb. 23 — 8:30 a.m.
- April 5 — 8:30 a.m.
- May 3 — 8:30 a.m.
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 SignUpGenius is required.
LGBTQIA+ Parent Community Group
Last year, we launched a new space for LGBTQIA+ families, which is being offered as a continued push toward our goal of an inclusive school. It is a new year, and we want to bring the families back together and invite any new families into our community. If you are interested in being part of the LGBTQIA+ community, please fill out this interest form.