Middle School Blast Apr 5, 2024
Note from Bill…
Despite what the calendar and weather may indicate, we are in full spring swing! Sports teams are on the fields, the recent break is a distant memory, and the planning for many traditional trips and events is coming to fruition. I strongly urge parents to carefully read each week’s Blast so that nothing is overlooked.
On Friday, April 12, all Seven Hills families are welcome to celebrate our spring athletes while having fun! Our sixth grade spring athletes will be recognized at 6:30 p.m. on the lower field. Food will be available for purchase from four delicious food trucks: Big Dogs Pizza, Maya Indian Food, Kona Ice (at the Pavilion), and Quite Frankly (at the baseball field). As a Middle School community, we will be observing the eclipse on Monday, April 8. As noted below, we will be preparing students for this event and will be gathering outside to witness this rare celestial occurrence. Our sixth and seventh graders are in the process of getting ready for their respective trips to Indianapolis and Washington, D.C., and eighth graders are beginning to set their sights on the end of their Middle School journey (exams, closing activities, etc.). Between all of these events, the regular rhythms of life “in the Middle” keep on pulsing, where no two days are ever the same. Buckle-up!
Key Dates & Events
Monday, April 8 — Late Dismissal for Eclipse, 3:25 p.m.
Thursday, April 18-Friday, April 19 — Sixth Grade Trip to Indianapolis
Friday, April 26 — Arts Alive
Saturday, May 4 — Instrumental Concert, The Schiff Center, 2 p.m.
Wednesday, May 15 — Choral Concert, The Schiff Center, 7:30 p.m.
Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24 — Seventh Grade Trip to Washington, D.C.
Monday, May 27 — Memorial Day. No School
Monday, June 3 — Last Day of Classes
Monday, June 3 — Seventh and Eighth Grade Dance, 7-9:30 p.m.
Tuesday, June 4 — Eighth Grade Closing Program and Reception, 9-10:30 a.m
Announcements
Solar Eclipse
We’re excited to announce the Middle School’s upcoming solar eclipse celebration on April 8! Prior to the eclipse, we’ll host a special assembly featuring the science behind the eclipse and safety precautions. We will have a regular schedule until 2:45 p.m. and then, all students will receive eclipse viewing glasses, and together, we’ll witness this historic event outdoors. We will delay our dismissal until 3:25 p.m. to allow students the time to view and safely return to their divisions and gather their belongings. Don’t miss this opportunity for an enriching and memorable experience.
Note on Transportation for Monday, April 8
The Seven Hills Shuttle will be running late to accommodate the later dismissal times due to the solar eclipse. Mason School busses will be providing morning and afternoon bussing and are aware of the later dismissal times. The Forest Hills Schools busses will not be running.
Notes from the Middle School Office
As we enter the final quarter please continue (or begin) to clearly display your family name in your car during pick up at 3:15 p.m. Please remember to enter any attendance changes in Veracross. This is extremely helpful when navigating the morning rush and alerting our teachers to daily absences and departures. Key Dates for the 2024-25 year are available on your Veracross parent portal. The document can be found under the grey “Files” tab on the lower right side of the portal.
Parent Survey About Academic Communication
Parents should have received, via email, a survey from the office soliciting your thoughts on the effectiveness of communication about your child’s academic progress at Seven Hills. If you have not yet filled out this brief survey, please take a moment to do so. Your efforts will help us make appropriate improvements in the future. Thanks!
Family Food Truck and Youth Spirit Night — Friday, April 12
All Seven Hills families are welcome to come celebrate our spring athletes and have some fun! Cheer on the Upper School baseball, girls lacrosse, softball, and tennis teams. Youth spring athletes in kindergarten through sixth grade will be recognized at 6:30 p.m. on the lower field. Food will be available for purchase from four delicious food trucks: Big Dogs Pizza, Maya Indian Food, Kona Ice (at the Pavilion) and Quite Frankly (at the baseball field). Check out the Family Food Truck and Youth Spirit Night flyer for more details. See you there!
Seven Hills Middle School Fourth Annual Walk-a-Thon
In a few weeks, The Seven Hills Middle School will hold our fourth Annual Walk-a-Thon to raise money that will be split between two organizations, one local and one global.
The Caring Place was established in 1982 to provide services to residents of some local neighborhoods including Kennedy Heights, Golf Manor, Pleasant Ridge, and Silverton. The Middle School has maintained a relationship with The Caring Place for more than 30 years.
Water for Life is a project by Leja Bulela, Inc. to respond to the lack of water experienced by the people of Tshibombo in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Residents of this area, especially women and girls, walk several kilometers daily to reach a water source. They carry 3 to 5 gallon jugs of water weighing between 15 and 35 lbs several times a day to satisfy their family’s needs. The water is used for bathing, cooking, washing dishes, flushing the toilet, drinking, etc.
The Walk-a-Thon will run during two designated homerooms per week from April 22-May 10 (for a total of six days). Participation is completely voluntary, but we are hopeful that ALL Middle School students will choose to participate.
Pledge/donation sheets were given to each student this past Monday by their adviser. Students should ask family and friends to sponsor them in the Walk-a-Thon by pledging a per lap amount or a flat donation. Pledge sheets must be signed by a parent to get permission to participate and sheets must be completed and returned by Wednesday, April 17 to the Middle School office. This deadline is firm. Extra pledge sheets are available in the Middle School office.
Each Monday during the weeks of the Walk-a-Thon, our Student Council will announce the two designated days to walk that week (weather will help determine these days). Students will have the opportunity to walk during six homerooms (assuming the weather cooperates) and they will have a card that is punched for each lap they complete during this time. After the final day of walking, students will receive their pledge sheets with a total of how many laps they have completed and will be ready to collect their pledges/donations. Donations will be due to the Middle School office by Wednesday, May 29.
Any student who participates and turns in at least $15 in donations by the due date will receive an official Walk-a-Thon T-shirt!
Students who raise and turn in at least $75 in donations by the due date will get lunch provided (pizza, drink, etc.) during the final days of school along with the T-shirt.
The students who raise and turn in the most donations will be invited to play in a dodgeball game against faculty the last week of school, and the student who raises the most money per grade will get to “pie” a faculty member in the face.
Please encourage your child(ren) to participate in the Walk-a-Thon and to raise as much money as we can for The Caring Place and Water for Life!
Sixth Grade Overnight Indianapolis Trip — Thursday, April 18-Friday, April 19
Thanks to everyone who has completed the required forms for the upcoming overnight field trip. Next week some final details will be sent home in a separate email to sixth grade parents and the students will attend a class meeting about the trip.
Eighth Grade Science Exam
To help students manage preparations with less stress, the eighth grade will take the science exam ahead of the May exam week on April 26. The exam will take place during the regular school day (8:20 a.m.-3:15 p.m.). We will spend the next few weeks discussing time management and study skills during advisory time and in classes to help all students feel adequately prepared for this important experience. Please contact J. Neidlein-Dial with any questions.
Arts Alive Coming Soon!
Mark your calendars for the third annual Arts Alive celebration. On Friday, April 26, from 3:30-8:40 p.m., first through 12th grade students will showcase their artistic talents throughout the Hillsdale Campus. There will be games, arts and crafts, live performances, food trucks, and much more! Join us for an evening of festivities for the entire family. Food trucks and desserts will be available from 3:30-8 p.m. Stay tuned for more details. View the schedule.
Eighth Grade Field Trip
The eighth grade will visit the Holocaust Museum at the Cincinnati Museum Center on April 29. We will be off campus from approximately 9:40 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Lunch will be on campus. Please contact J. Neidlein-Dial with any questions.
Eighth Grade Picture Request
Please submit a baby/toddler picture and a current picture of your eighth grader to Hannah Hanley. These will be compiled into a slideshow to view during the Eighth Grade Closing Ceremony at the end of the year. Pictures are due by May 3.
Instrumental Concert
The big spring instrumental concert is in The Schiff Center Saturday, May 4 at 2 p.m. Performers should aim to arrive by 1:40 p.m., looking good and smelling neutral. More details will follow and will also be on Schoology. If you have questions/concerns, please contact Mr. Rising.
Eighth Grade Closing Ceremony — June 4
Planning is well underway for our traditional end of the year Eighth Grade Closing Ceremony. Please note the following:
- Students will be allowed to have six guests attend this event.
- Students should be in The Schiff Center at 8:15 a.m. on June 4 for their class photograph.
- The Closing Ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and usually lasts between 60-90 minutes.
- At the conclusion of the ceremony, there is a reception for our eighth graders and their families in the lobby of The Schiff Center. In the past, we have served finger-food and drinks.
- Listed below are the specific dress suggestions for the Closing Ceremony that have served as a guideline for previous Middle School Closing Ceremonies:
- Dresses/outfits that are mid-thigh in length and are white, off-white, or pastel in color (this can include subtle patterns, etc.), no spaghetti straps or strapless tops, appropriate shoes/sandals.
- Khaki pants, dark/blue blazer, or an appropriately colored/styled suit, white or off-white dress shirt, tie (or bow-tie!), dark dress socks, shoes (i.e. no sneakers, tennis shoes, sandals, etc.).
Seeking Host Families for International Students
The Seven Hills Upper School is pleased to be welcoming new students from China for the 2024-25 school year. We are seeking families within the Seven Hills community to host these students. If you would like to learn more about the responsibilities and rewards of welcoming an international student into your home, please contact Nancy Clark. Interested families will be connected with an approved agency that will share program details and monthly stipend information.
Be Great With Us! (Bedding Drive)
As part of the Upper School’s “Give, Grow, and Be Great” service-learning May Term, Upper students will work with Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children without one. The need for beds in the Greater Cincinnati area is startlingly high, and while building the beds is an enormous help, beds without pillows, mattress pads, sheets, and blankets don’t solve the problem. Please consider donating new bedding to help our efforts make a difference. You can purchase items directly from this Amazon wishlist or send donations to the Upper Office. Please make checks payable to The Seven Hills School with “bedding drive” in the memo line. Donations will be accepted from now until the end of May, but why wait? Be great today! Questions? Contact Karen Glum.
April Parent Connext: Getting Kids Outdoors — From the Counseling Department
Seven Hills values partnering with parents to address the development of the whole child. Parent Connext allows us to explore some of today’s most relevant topics in your child’s social-emotional development, while offering practical tools for parenting. Please feel free to connect with your student’s building counselor if you would like more conversation or support around this month’s topic, Getting Kids Outdoors.
Middle School Parent Community Upcoming Events and Happenings
Many thanks to those who attended the spring social event. What a fun afternoon!
MS Parent Community Meetings
Future MSPC meeting dates are as follows in the Sixth Grade Commons:
- 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.