Middle School Blast Sep 5, 2025
Key Dates
Today, Friday, Sept. 5 — A1. Middle School Picture Day. Parent Community Meeting, 8:15 a.m.
Monday, Sept. 8 — B1. Eighth Graders Leave for Adventure Treks. Parent Training on Canvas In-person, 7-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 9 — A2. Eighth Grade Adventure Treks Trip. Parent Training on Canvas In-person, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 10 — B2. Eighth Grade Adventure Treks Trip. Parent Training on Canvas Zoom, 7-8 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 11 — Eighth Graders return from Adventure Treks Trip
Friday, Sept. 12 — B3. No School for Eighth Grade
Monday, Sept. 15-Friday, Sept 19 — Homecoming Spirit Week
Wednesday, Sept. 17 — Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 19 — Homecoming and All Family Cookout, 5-9 p.m. The Cookout ends at 7 p.m.
Photos of the Week
Seventh graders answer questions in a trivia relay race as part of their on-campus retreat.
What to Know Now
Eighth Grade Adventure Treks — Sept 8-11
The eighth grade trip to North Carolina is next week. We will leave at 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 8, and return around 10 p.m. on Sept. 11. All forms should be turned in. For any questions please contact eighth grade team leader Judith Neidlein-Dial.
Canvas for Parents — Trainings on Sept. 8, 9, and 10
Parents are invited to attend either an in-person or Zoom meeting, giving a brief overview of the system and how to utilize its functionality. Please bring a personal device such as a laptop or tablet to make it easier to create your account.
- In-Person Options in Founders Hall
Monday, Sept. 8, 7-8 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 9, 8:30-9:30 a.m. - Zoom Option
Wednesday, Sept. 10, 7-8 p.m
See below for how to set up an account and gain observer status. Here is a PDF version of the instructions.
Important Attendance Reminder
We would like to take a moment to remind you of the Middle School’s tardy policy. Classes begin promptly at 8:20 a.m. Arriving on time ensures that students are physically settled, mentally ready, and prepared to learn. Even a few minutes late can cause a rushed, distracted start for the student and disrupt the learning environment for others.
Tardy Policy and Consequences:
- Fifth unexcused tardy: Lunchtime detention
- Each additional unexcused tardy: Additional lunchtime detention
- Eighth unexcused tardy and beyond: Before-school detentions
Our goal is to help students avoid detentions by encouraging consistent, on-time arrival. Families can support this by setting earlier alarms, adjusting transportation routines, or preparing school materials the night before.
Please note that traffic delays — except in extreme circumstances such as weather, major accidents, or closures — are not considered an excused reason for tardiness. We strongly encourage you to plan for extra time in the morning routine to account for unexpected delays.
If you have any questions about this policy or would like to discuss ways we can support your child’s success, please feel free to reach out to Dean of Students Victor Harris directly.
Thank you for your partnership in helping all students begin each day ready to learn.
Homecoming Spirit Week
Show us your spirit the week of Sept. 15-19! Here are our themed days for Homecoming:
Homecoming — Sept. 19-20
Homecoming is Friday, Sept. 19 to Saturday, Sept. 20. Check out the full schedule of Homecoming events. We hope to see you to celebrate this joyous occasion! Go Stingers!
Parent Community News
Middle School Parent Community Meeting — Today, Friday, Sept. 5
The first Parent Community meeting of this year will be held on Friday, Sept. 5, at 8:15 a.m. in the Sixth Grade Commons. We are excited to welcome Mr. Jessup, who will share his vision for the Middle School and answer parent questions. We hope you’ll join us!
Parent community meetings will be on the following dates at 8:15 a.m. in the Sixth Grade Commons:
- Nov. 21
- Feb. 19, evening meeting at 6 p.m.
- April 24
All Middle School Parent Social — Saturday, Sept. 6, 6-9 p.m.
Calling all Middle School parents! Join us for a fun night of trivia and socializing on Saturday, Sept. 6, 6-9 p.m. at the Little Miami Brewing Company. Come hang out with fellow Seven Hills Middle School parents for a relaxed, fun-filled evening. Tickets are $15. This includes a private bartender, trivia by Approximate Knowledge Institute of Cincinnati, yummy food, and one drink ticket. Additional beverages will be available for purchase. See exciting event details and reserve your spot!
Parent Walking Group: Step into the Conversation — Monday, Sept. 8
This group consists of Seven Hills parents from all divisions with the occasional faculty visitor. This is a casual and welcoming group. We get our steps in while meeting new people and learning more about what is happening at school. Our next meetup will be on Monday, Sept. 8, after morning drop off on the lower soccer field on the Hillsdale Campus. Very casual. Very fun. Please use this link to join the WhatsApp Chat for the meeting schedule and details.
Join SHARE, Our LGBTQIA+ Parent and Ally Events List!
Are you a parent who is LGBTQIA+, has an LGBTQIA+ child, or is an ally looking to support and connect with others in our Seven Hills community? We’re putting together and updating our contact list for families interested in LGBTQIA+ events, meetups, and resources throughout the year. If you’d like to stay in the loop, we’d love to include you! Fill out the contact form. Let’s build a welcoming, inclusive, and supportive community — together.
Volunteer with the Seven Hills Spirit Shop
Help us spread school spirit! We need volunteers to help make Seven Hills gear available more often! We are looking for shop pop-up event volunteers and a couple more people to fill monthly in-store openings. If you’d like to be contacted, fill out the Spirit Shop Volunteer Inquiry Form.
We have been updating our Spirit Shop Online Store daily. See our new hats, kids tees, and sweatshirts! Questions? Send us an email at spirit.shop@7hills.org.
Questions or interested in volunteering with the Middle School PC?
Contact Susan Schaefer (mom of sixth grader Drew)
Announcements
Social Media Slide Presentation
If you missed either of the social media presentations for parents of sixth graders and new students, please view the slides used for the presentations.
Middle School Pick-Up Times and Details
Parents are to pick up their Middle Schoolers between 3:15-3:30 p.m. at the bottom of the Middle School steps. It is extremely important that you have a sheet of paper with your child’s last name in large, bold letters, preferably hanging from the passenger side mirror. The signs help with a safe and efficient dismissal. It is important that parents do not arrange to pick-up their Middle Schooler at any other nondesignated area on campus. The exception is for those Middle Schoolers who have siblings on campus. For Middle Schoolers with Upper siblings, it is OK to have the Middle Schooler walk to meet their sibling at the Upper School.
Please note, this year the Middle Schoolers who have siblings in Lotspeich will dismiss with Lotspeich students at the Red Barn. We will have a Middle School representative at the Red Barn to make sure all of the students are safely dismissed.
Shuttle and Bus Info
The Doherty Shuttle and Mason bus will continue to collect students from the bottom of the Middle School steps (in front of Schiff). Please make sure your child knows their plan for dismissal. Changes to those plans after 2 p.m. are difficult to communicate and cannot be guaranteed. You should always email your child those changes when they are known. Students are encouraged to check their email at the end of the day in Advisory.