Middle School Blast Aug 28, 2026

New Year, New Gear — Spirit Day TODAY

During the week, every student received a new piece of Seven Hills spirit wear as a gift from the school to kick off the 2026-27 year.

We hope they’ll wear their new Seven Hills shirt today, Friday, Aug. 28, for our first Spirit Day of the year. We can’t wait to see everyone’s Stinger Pride and to celebrate a great first week in style!

Girls Grades 4-7 Invited to STEM Event led by Upper School Student — Tomorrow, Aug. 29

Hi! My name is Lily Fraser. I am a senior at Seven Hills, and for my Challenge Experience, I created an organization called STEM ExploreHERs. We will host free, pop-up programs for girls in grades 4-7. The first one is this weekend, Aug. 29, from 2-3:30 p.m., and it is TAYLOR SWIFT THEMED! It is at Stephan Field Park in Indian Hill (meet at the pavilion).

If you can’t make it this weekend, no problem. Please sign up using the registration link, and I can email you about upcoming programs. We are working hard to empower girls to keep pursuing STEM.

You can also email us and follow our Instagram!

Parent Night — Tuesday, Sept. 1

Tuesday, Sept. 1, is Parent Night.

Registration for Parent Night kicks off at 5:30 p.m. in The Schiff Center lobby, followed by a brief program in The Schiff Center starting at 6 p.m. At 6:30 p.m., parents will transition to the Middle School. At 6:40 p.m., parents will begin their rotation through their student’s schedule. The last rotation will be from 8-8:07 p.m.

Soccer Showcase — Thursday, Sept. 3

Save the date for a Soccer Showcase on Sept. 3. Our junior varsity and varsity boys and girls soccer teams will be playing at the same time on the upper and lower fields. Come out and support our soccer teams! Junior varsity games begin at 5 p.m., and varsity games begin at 7 p.m.

Sixth Grade Off-Campus Class Retreat — Friday, Sept. 4

The sixth grade will hold our annual retreat on Friday, Sept. 4. The primary focus of our retreat is to get to know each other better! We will spend a bit of time in the morning doing a variety of activities on campus and then head to Main Event in West Chester. We will return to school in time for dismissal. The retreat is a fun and relaxed time for your child to get to know their new classmates and teachers. We will have pizza for lunch provided by Main Event. If you have questions/concerns, please contact Jennifer Licata, sixth grade team leader.

Seventh Grade Class Retreat — Friday, Sept. 4

On Friday, Sept. 4, the seventh grade will have an on-campus retreat, a day for us to do fun activities and bond. The school will provide snacks and Papa John’s pizza for lunch. If you have any questions, please get in touch with seventh grade team leader Carri Haskins.

Sixth Grade iPads

Sixth graders were given their school iPads on the first day of school, and we are slowly working to teach them about the expectations of iPad usage in Middle School. For the first few weeks of school, sixth graders will keep their iPads at school in their cubby each night. They will begin to bring them home for the first time on Tuesday, Sept. 8.

Introducing our LEAD Together Lineup for First Semester

We are excited to Learn, Educate, and Discuss (LEAD) Together with new programming for this year. Through these collaborative sessions, we hope to foster strong partnerships among families and educators to support student learning, belonging, and success.

As we get closer to each event, we will share more detailed information in the Blast. Please see this semester’s lineup on the flyer below, and RSVP for all events through this Google form.

Therapy Dog at Seven Hills

We are excited to welcome Cruz, our new school therapy dog, to the Seven Hills family! Cruz is a friendly, well-trained, double doodle mix — half Australian labradoodle and half goldendoodle. As he becomes familiar with his new surroundings and the school community, his time and activities on campus will gradually increase.

Participation in the therapy dog program is completely voluntary. If you prefer that your child not participate in activities involving Cruz, please complete our Therapy Dog Opt-Out Form. If you have questions about the program or the opt-out process, please reach out to Director of Safety & Security Jun Cho.

Calling All Parents

Are you interested in being interviewed as part of our schedule redesign process?

This year, we are redesigning our schedule across all divisions for the 2027-28 school year when we come together as a unified campus. As part of this process, we are shadowing students and interviewing faculty members, students, and parents. In these interviews, we are hoping to learn more about your experiences with how we use time at Seven Hills.

These 30-minute interviews are conducted one-on-one by a faculty member. If you’re interested in participating, please fill out a family interview interest form.

Questions? Reach out to Laura Leonard.

Deck by the Hillsdale Commons is Temporarily Closed

The deck situated between the Upper and Middle School buildings is temporarily closed while it undergoes maintenance. It is currently blocked off, and students have been notified.

Field House Lot Closed Remainder of School Year

As construction progresses on the new Lower School building, the Field House parking lot (Lot H) will be closed for the remainder of the school year. The drop-off and pick-up area and accessible parking spots are still available. A new parking lot recently opened off of Ellmarie Drive and is available for use while the Field House lot is closed.

Picture Day — Tuesday, Sept. 8, and Wednesday, Sept. 9

Picture day is Sept. 8 and 9. Please refer to the flyer below for more details. Bring your smiles!

Eighth Grade Adventure Trek — Sept. 14-17

The eighth-grade trip to North Carolina is coming soon. We will leave at 6 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, and return around 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17. All forms are due on Friday, Aug. 28.

Forms can be found on the Middle School parent page in Veracross and were sent in a direct email to eighth-grade parents. Please complete and sign them as soon as possible. Digital forms can be emailed to Hannah Hanley.

Homecoming — Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19

Save the date for Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, for a fun weekend of homecoming festivities.

Reminder: Middle School Pick-Up Times and Details

Car Signs

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 an 8 ½ x 11 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.

Exceptions

The exception is for those Middle Schoolers who have siblings on campus. For Middle Schoolers with Upper siblings, the Middle Schooler may walk to meet their sibling at the Upper School. For Middle Schoolers with Lower School siblings, the Middle Schooler may walk to meet their sibling at the Red Barn.

Shuttle/Bus Information

The Doherty shuttle and Mason bus will continue to collect students from the bottom of the Middle School steps (in front of The Schiff Center). Those buses depart campus at 3:20 p.m.

Communicating Dismissal Changes

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.

Encore After School Program

For parents unable to pick up their Middle Schoolers by 3:30 p.m., after-school supervision, known as The Encore Club, will again be offered free of charge. When school is dismissed at 3:15 p.m., students are expected to leave campus property unless they are under the supervision of a teacher or a coach. Students who are not picked up by 3:30 p.m. and are not involved in an adult-supervised activity (e.g., sports practice or play rehearsal) are to go to The Encore Club inside the Middle School in room 213. When parents arrive at school to pick up their child from Encore, they should call or text the Encore supervisor at 513.600.0007.

Library News from Head Librarian Megan Whitt

At The Seven Hills School, we strive to include a wide variety of high-quality books in our libraries. As professionals in our field, librarians use our many years of expertise to select the best titles for our students. Because the Middle School shares The Young Family Library space with the Upper School, our library collection includes young adult (YA) books. Some young adult books contain mature content, like strong language and graphic descriptions. Middle School students can explore all areas of the library at various times throughout the day, including homeroom, after school, and with their English classes. Students are reminded at the beginning of every year that, while they have access to YA titles, books with mature subject matter may not be for everyone.

Students are encouraged to be responsible, use their best judgment, and have conversations with parents and guardians about their personal comfort level with YA books. Middle School is a great time for students to explore and learn about themselves and others, and books are an excellent way to do this. Many of our students read above their age level and are ready to challenge themselves with mature themes and content. However, we understand not every student is ready for that. Middle School students have their own section within the library with age-appropriate books and magazines. Reading above their age or grade level is a personal choice, and talking with your children about the books they are reading is a great way to connect with them.