Middle School Blast Jan 23, 2026

Visitor Kiosk in Middle School Office

There is a new visitor check-in system in the Middle School office. Middle School visitors will now need to present a driver’s license or government-issued ID when visiting campus. We are currently piloting this new system in the Middle School before rolling it out to all divisions later this spring. Thank you for your patience as we test this new security feature.

Help Upper School Intern with Market Research!

Hello! My name is Maya Dant and I am completing an internship with the Seven Hills Spirit Shop. My internship focus is to gain a better understanding of the awareness and interests of Middle School families in our Spirit Shop. Please help me complete this work by taking a short market research survey.

Last Day to Purchase your Books for Lunch ticket is Jan. 28!

Upcoming Eighth Grade Field Trip — Feb. 10

The eighth grade will visit the exhibit “Auschwitz—Not long ago. Not far away.” at the Cincinnati Museum Center on Feb. 10. We will first hear from Steve Coppel, whose father, Werner, was an Auschwitz survivor, here at school, and leave campus at 9:30 a.m. to travel to Union Terminal. We will return to campus by lunchtime (12:40 p.m.), and no special provisions for lunch have to be made. Please contact Judith Neidlein-Dial for questions.

Seventh and Eighth Grade Winter Dance — Friday, Feb. 20, 7-9:30 p.m.

Student Council is planning a winter dance for seventh and eighth grade students on Friday, Feb. 20. The dance will take place in Founder’s Hall from 7-9:30 p.m. More details will be announced to students soon and included in future blasts.  

Global Ed Day Volunteer Presenters Needed … Middle School Needs Your Help!

On Friday, March 6, Middle School will celebrate our 17th Annual Global Education Day and we could use your help! As part of our morning activities, students will attend small group sessions. We are looking for members of the Seven Hills community (and beyond) to conduct these sessions. Students will attend three 40-minute sessions during the morning, between 10 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 

In the past, sessions have included topics such as travel, cuisine, or other elements of culture from around the world, conducting business in a global world, technological advances and their impact on the world, science and conservation, etc.  The ideas are limitless! Facilities could be available to prepare foods. The number of students in a session can be limited if necessary due to space or recommendations from the presenter.  

If you are interested in being a presenter or know someone who you think would be a good fit for this day, please contact Jennifer Licata by no later than Friday, Feb. 13.

LEAD Together Sessions for Second Semester

Real Talk Series “Rainbow Voices”

As part of our school’s commitment to building a community where everyone feels seen, valued, and included, we’re preparing the next panel of our Real Talk Series. This series is all about hearing powerful stories and perspectives from people with different experiences. These conversations are designed just for the Middle School student body — to spark curiosity, open minds, and help us all better understand and celebrate the diversity that makes our Seven Hills community so special.

The last panel discussion this year, “Rainbow Voices,” will focus on gender identity and sexuality and how individuals within the LGBTQIA+ community experience and express this aspect of themselves. Panelists will discuss challenges and stereotypes they may encounter in school, the workplace, and society more broadly. All content is carefully planned and age-appropriate to ensure a respectful and supportive environment for students. The goal of this panel is not to promote a particular viewpoint, but to help students listen, ask thoughtful questions, and better understand the diverse experiences represented by Rainbow Voices — both within our broader community and among people they may already know, including family members, friends, neighbors, or public figures they see in media and culture.

We believe this is an important step in helping our students develop empathy and respect for one another. Should you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to James Jessup, Madame Kalubi, or Kristin Suer. Please print, sign, and return the Real Talk Series Opt Out Form to your child’s advisor if you DO NOT want your child to participate in the Rainbow Voices Program. It will include advisory activities around this topic and the Real Talk panel presentation on the morning of Friday, March 6.

Save the Date: Seventh Grade Washington, D.C. Trip — May 18-21

Please mark your calendars for Monday, May 18, through Thursday, May 21, for the annual seventh grade overnight trip to Washington, D.C.! More details will be sent home as the trip gets closer!

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