Middle School Blast Oct 31, 2025
Key Dates
Friday, Oct. 31 — Sixth Grade Creepy Critters. Pumpkin Day. Seventh Grade Movie: “The Martian”
Saturday, Nov. 1 — Growing Together Event, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. S.H.A.R.E. Pumpkins and Popsicles, 2-4 p.m.
Monday, Nov. 3 — A4
Tuesday, Nov. 4 — B4. Conference Sign-ups Close, 4 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 5 — A5
Thursday, Nov. 6 — Parent-Teacher Conferences. No Classes
Friday, Nov. 7 — Parent-Teacher Conferences. No Classes
Monday, Nov. 10 — B5. Eighth Grade Looking Ahead to Grades 9-12, 7 p.m., Zoom
Tuesday, Nov. 11 — A1. Eighth Grade Upper School Preview Day
Wednesday, Nov. 12 — B1. Eighth Grade Upper School Preview Day
Thursday, Nov. 13 — A2
Friday, Nov. 14 — Professional Development Day. No School.
Wednesday, Nov. 19 — Board of Trustees Meeting, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 25 — Thanksgiving Break begins at 3:15 p.m.
Wednesday, Nov. 26-Friday, Nov. 28 — Thanksgiving Break. No School
Photos of the Week
Middle Schoolers perform the one-act play “The Adventures of Rocky & Skye” for fourth and fifth graders from Doherty and Lotspeich.
What to Know Now
Sixth Grade Creepy Critters — Today, Friday, Oct. 31
Come spend part of the morning with your sixth grader(s) at Creepy Critters Day on Friday, Oct. 31! We will gather in Founders Hall and begin at 10 a.m. Parents can park around The Schiff Center loop if parking is limited in other places. We will wrap up the activities no later than 11:30 a.m. Please join us, even if you can only stay for part of the time!
Seventh Grade Movie — Today, Friday, Oct. 31
On Friday, Oct. 31, the seventh grade students will have the chance to watch the hit movie “The Martian” to continue their current study of astronomy. See Click a review of this movie from the website Common Sense Media. The movie is rated PG-13.
Eighth Grade Hunger Banquet — Today, Friday, Oct. 31
The Hunger Banquet is an educational simulation that helps students better understand global food distribution and inequality. This hands-on experience is designed to spark meaningful conversations about equity and global issues.
Allergy Information: While we are sensitive to food allergy concerns and will do our best to accommodate students’ needs, we ask that you please remind your child about any foods they cannot eat. If you have additional allergy information you’d like to share with us or have questions about the foods that will be served, please contact J. Neidlein-Dial.
Growing Together: Doherty Oak Tree Planting Event
Don’t miss an exciting opportunity to help plant the Doherty Oak saplings at Lotspeich to grow until the new Lower School site is ready for the trees. In addition to planting (accessible for all ages), we’ll have Lower School site tours with Dr. Matt Bolton, kid-friendly activities with the Upper Sustainability team, Doherty Green Team, the Lotspeich ECC teachers, and more! Stop by or stay for the whole time! We’ll have coffee, snacks, and swag! We can’t wait to help our campus green space grow with more history and beauty!
Pumpkins and Popsicles with S.H.A.R.E. — Saturday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m.
All are welcome to S.H.A.R.E.’s fun family event on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2-4 p.m. at the Pavilion on the Hillsdale Campus. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon with family activities, including decorating pumpkins with words of kindness in honor of World Kindness Day. S.H.A.R.E. stands for Seven Hills Association of Rainbow Events. We are an affinity group for anyone with a family member or who is an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community. Let us know you are coming by emailing SHARE@7hills.org.
Parent-Teacher Conference Registration
The Parent-Teacher Conference sign-ups will close on Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 5 p.m. If you have specific teachers, times and dates that you would like, we encourage you to register early.
Parent Association News
Sixth Grade Event at Activate Oakley — Wednesday, Nov 5
Sixth graders are invited to a private event at Activate Games in Oakley!
If your child has been to Activate before, you already know how much fun it is. If not, this is the perfect chance to check it out and we’ll have the whole place to ourselves! RSVP and sign your sixth grader up!
Event Details:
- Date: Wednesday, Nov. 5
- Transportation: Students will leave directly from school on the Seven Hills bus.
- Arrival at Activate: ~4:15 p.m.
- Activities: 75 minutes of games and time in the party room with snacks and drinks.
- Pickup: Please pick up your child at Activate no later than 5:45 p.m.
- Cost: $5 per student (regularly $24.99!)
- Waiver Required: A signed waiver is required for participation.
Chaperones Needed
We need sixth grade parent volunteers for two shifts. Please sign up.
- After-school supervision: 3:05-4:15 p.m.
- At Activate: 4-5:45 p.m.
Middle School Parent Community Meetings
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
Questions or interested in volunteering with the Middle School PC?
Contact Susan Schaefer (mom of sixth grader Drew)
Announcements
Upper School Preview Day — Nov. 11 and 12
The Upper School has a busy day planned for the eighth graders! Students will follow an Upper School class schedule, have a Dewey’s lunch in the Upper School Commons, check out Upper School clubs, engage in a Q&A activity with our Upper School Beekeepers, and much more!
- Tuesday, Nov. 11: Eighth grade students with last names beginning with the letters A-L.
- Wednesday, Nov. 12: Eighth grade students with last names beginning with the letters M-Z.
- See the invitation from the Upper School
Questions? Contact Vicky Hausberger.
Eighth Grade Movie — Nov. 11 and 12
On the day students will not preview the Upper School, they will take a history test and continue the eighth grade’s year-long community-focused unit on housing access, food insecurities, and equity. As part of the latter, we plan to show the movie “The Public,” which was filmed in the main branch of the Cincinnati Public Library (pre-renovation). The movie is rated PG-13. Please read the plot summary from IMDb.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child watching this movie and/or the day, please contact Judith Neidlein-Dial.
Seven Hills Unplugged — Every Tuesday
Back by popular demand, Seven Hills Unplugged returns to the Hillsdale Campus this fall every Tuesday! Families from pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds through eighth grade are welcome to enjoy some after-school open play and screen-free fun! The ECC playground space is available for ECC families to connect! See the flyer for details. Rain-out locations will be shared each week, as needed.