Middle School Blast Feb 13, 2026

Course Electives for 2026-27 School Year

Current Sixth Grade (Rising Seventh Grade) Parents

We are approaching a point in our planning where we need your assistance in determining a program choice for next year. All sixth grade students will be placed in our semester-long visual and theater arts courses, but they will be able to choose their music course. Please see the music course information and the seventh grade registration form. Please look over this information and discuss with your child any preferences they might have regarding these music choices. Once you have made your decision, please fill out the course selection form by Friday, March 6. 

Current Seventh Grade (Rising Eighth Grade) Parents

Students entering the eighth grade will elect courses to fulfill their fine and performing arts requirement. The course electives give students the opportunity to tailor their program of study to their own particular interests. Students will elect courses in visual art, tech art, music, theater, writing, and computer science. We will make every attempt to provide students with their top choices, but it may not be possible due to scheduling and/or staffing constraints.

Current seventh grade students had a class meeting and were given descriptions of the courses and requirements. These students were also given a grade eight electives document to help them with their choices. If you have not yet talked with your child about the eighth grade electives, now is the time to do so. After your child has made their decisions, please complete the eighth grade electives form given to your child and return it to the Middle School Office by Friday, March 6. You may reply in any of the following manners:

• Paper: Please send the paper copy to the office with your child
• Scan: Please send a copy of the eighth grade electives form to andy.mcgarvey@7hills.org
• Mail: please send a copy of the eighth grade electives form to:
  • Seven Hills School, Middle School Office, Attn: Andy McGarvey, 5400 Red Bank Road, Cincinnati, OH 45227

Register for the Summer Program at Seven Hills!

Seven Hills families have priority registration beginning Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. until Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. The priority code is prioritysevenhills2026. All registration is done through Ultracamp.

General registration opens Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. Programs will fill up quickly, so be sure to register as soon as you can. Many programs are already at capacity. For early childhood programs, you can add yourself to the waitlist in Ultracamp if a program is full. For all other programs, you must email summer@7hills.org to be added to the waitlist.

Tips to help with registration

1.  Registration is based on the grade your child will be in for the 2026-27 school year.
2. Children who are rising second graders can be in Hive Flyers or Create Your Summer and can pick and choose by week.
3. Children who are rising fifth graders can begin taking Middle School programs, but they can still take Create Your Summer programs as well.
4. Programs will fill quickly. For early childhood programs, you can add yourself to the waitlist if a program is full. For all other programs, you must email summer@7hills.org to be added to the waitlist. 

When you register, please note that some programs do have age restrictions! 

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to ask. However, please allow at least 24 hours response time as registration is a busy time for us!

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.

Boba Tea Sale — Feb. 17

On Tuesday, Feb. 17, we will be celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year by selling boba tea in the Hillsdale Commons from 12:45-1:15 p.m. The vendor is Boba Cha and the Upper Chinese Club will be volunteering at the event. Stop by to say hello and enjoy a delicious cup of boba!

Payment: Please bring cash or a credit card. Each drink is $6.

Allergy Notice: If you have any allergies, please review the ingredients below before purchasing.

Drink Options:

• Hokkaido Milk Tea: Brewed oolong tea, condensed milk, creamer, Hokkaido powder, sugar, and ice
• Matcha Latte: Brewed green tea, condensed milk, creamer, matcha powder, sugar, and ice
• Orange-Cranberry Tea: Orange juice, cranberry juice, brewed jasmine tea, orange slices, sugar, and ice
• Mango-Coconut Milk Tea: Mango purée, condensed milk, creamer, coconut milk, brewed oolong tea, sugar, and ice

We hope to see you there!

Course Request/Registration Timeline for Current Eighth Grade Parents

The 2026-27 Upper School Program of Studies is now available. Please see the Course Registration Timeline for important dates.  Parents with students in eighth through 11th grade are invited to one of three informational sessions to help understand how you can help your students thrive as they request courses for next year.

• Feb. 18 — 8:15 a.m. in the Hillsdale Commons (next to Kalnow gym)
• Feb. 18 — 6:30 p.m. via Zoom. The Zoom link and information are in the Veracross Parent Portal.
• Feb. 19 — 7:15 p.m. Young Family Library in the Upper School building

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

Next Friday, Feb. 20, is the Seventh and Eighth Grade Winter Dance. Admission will be $7 at the door and will be cash only. The dance is in Founders Hall from 7-9:30 p.m. Please be sure you have a ride promptly at 9:30 p.m.!

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 openly share about their day-to-day lived experiences, including the challenges and celebrations of being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, the courage and resilience they’ve demonstrated, and any insights that may help address common misconceptions. 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 opt out form to your child’s adviser 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.

LEAD Together Sessions for Second Semester

Please join other parents, faculty members and administrators to discuss topics around parenting. These are great opportunities to learn together. Please note that we are offering free childcare for the ISACS webinars with experts on Feb. 26 and April 22. Please register now!

Want to Learn More About Discipline with the Brain in Mind?

Thanks to our partnership with ISACS (Independent Schools of Central States), we have access to a webinar with Tina Payne Bryson. Bryson is a pediatric psychotherapist and wrote “No Drama Discipline” and “The Whole Brain Child,” to name a few. Please view the webinar. This recording will remain available through June 30.