Middle School Blast Jan 26, 2024
Note from Bill…
With the snow day last Friday, students were a bit rested as they began yet another busy and fun week in the Middle School! Our first ever Middle School basketball bash event occurred yesterday after school and featured a variety of fun activities, free pizza (!), and competitive basketball contests that our students cheered on. Thanks to Mrs. Licata, Mrs. Hanley, and our Student Council members for providing such a fun community event. Please read through this week’s Blast, as there is much on the horizon for the coming weeks.
One feature of our Middle School program is our ongoing work with Healthy Visions, a local organization whose mission is to “provide quality youth educational programs and content that inspire, educate, assist, and empower youth to make decisions toward optimal health (social, emotional, mental, intellectual, and physical) for a happier, healthier, and more hopeful future.” Healthy Visions visits our sixth, seventh, and eighth grades at specified times throughout the school year to work individually with each of these grades on a variety of topics that serve to empower our students to make informed and healthy choices. Our sixth graders focus on the effective use of technology and communication with their peers. Seventh graders explored the issues of healthy and unhealthy friendships last week. Our eighth graders focus on the issues related to healthy and unhealthy dating relationships. For Middle Schoolers, understanding how to effectively and appropriately communicate with peers is foundational to the ability to create a community that values each and every individual.
Key Dates & Events
Sunday, Jan. 28 — STEAM Fair at the Middle School
Week of Jan. 29 — Prevention Solutions Week
February — Black History Month
Friday, Feb. 16 — Faculty Professional Development Day. No Classes.
Monday, Feb. 19 — Presidents Day. No School. All buildings and offices are closed.
Announcements
Dismissal Signs
Deteriorating weather conditions make our already challenging dismissal even more difficult. We will do our best to keep your students as warm and dry as possible. We ask that you continue (or start) displaying large, bold, easily visible signs with your family name. The best spot for seeing this is hanging from the passenger rear view mirror, or being held up until your student is ready to get in the car. Signs on dashboards are not visible. Signs should be in a large black marker or large print. The bigger the better. Thank you so much for your help with this request, as it will help expedite a safe and speedy dismissal.
Seventh Grade Students Working with Prevention Solutions
As part of The Seven Hills School’s counseling program and ongoing commitment to prevention and wellness, we have invited a health educator from FCD Prevention Solutions to work with our community from Jan. 29 to Feb. 2. View this FCD Prevention Solutions flyer for more information about this important program.
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 event, Greer, and his work.
Delay The Phone! Parent Meeting — Feb. 8, 2024
All Middle School parents are invited to a community meeting on Feb. 8, starting at 7 p.m. in The Schiff Center, to understand the serious and detrimental effects that smartphones and social media have on our children’s social and emotional development. As a part of understanding this important issue, Bill Waskowitz will also be introducing the Wait Until 8th parent program to help reduce the pressure felt by both students and parents over kids having smartphones. No need to RSVP; just show up for this important meeting that is focused on what is best for our children.
Come Watch “Space Jam: A New Legacy with LeBron James” — Friday, Feb. 9
The Upper School’s African American Awareness Club invites all Middle School students to come watch “Space Jam: A New Legacy with LeBron James” on Friday, Feb. 9, starting at 6 p.m. in The Schiff Center theater classroom. A snack pack for $5 can be purchased that includes a slice of pizza (cheese or pepperoni), a drink box, chips, and a piece of candy. Show up, relax, and enjoy this classic movie with fellow Middle School students!
Getting ready for Global Education Day
On Friday, March 8, the Seven Hills Middle School will celebrate our Annual Global Education Day. Students will attend three 40 minute sessions during the morning, between 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. to increase information and awareness of our global community. In the past, sessions have included topics such as: travel, cuisine, or other elements of culture from around the world (facilities could be available to prepare foods), conducting business in a global world, technological advances and their impact on the world, science and conservation, etc. The ideas are limitless! We are looking for members of the Seven Hills community (and beyond) to conduct these sessions. If you are interested in being a presenter or know someone who would like to present, please contact Jennifer Licata at your earliest convenience.
Seventh Grade Washington, D.C. Trip — Save The Date!
The seventh grade will be traveling to Washington, D.C. 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.
Middle School Parent Community Upcoming Events and Happenings
Stay tuned for more event details on our upcoming Winter Social Event in early March!
MS Parent Community Meetings
Future MSPC meeting dates are as follows in the Sixth Grade Commons:
March 1 — 8:30 a.m. Note: This is a date change.
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.