Middle School Blast Sep 25, 2026

Sixth Grade Canvas Scavenger Hunt — Due TODAY

Last week, the sixth graders were assigned a Canvas Scavenger Hunt to complete with their parents as a way for students to show them a bit about Canvas and how it is used in some of their sixth-grade courses. Parents and students should sit together with the child’s iPad and complete the assignment together. Sixth graders should turn in the completed paper to their advisor by Friday, Sept. 25!

Upcoming Parent Webinar: Executive Function Needed to “Do School” — Tuesday, Sept. 29

Our school has access to the 2026-27 ISACS Parent Series. This is a series of six webinars for independent school parents and caregivers.

The first webinar is with executive function expert Sarah Ward. She’ll go into greater detail about executive function skills, such as working memory, time awareness, and task initiation and organization. This webinar is great for parents of children in grades 3-12.

Register for the webinar to join live on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 7:30 p.m. or access the recording later.

For more details about this webinar and future webinars, please visit the ISACS Parent Series website.

Eighth Grade Parents Looking Ahead to Upper School — Wednesday, Sept. 30, at 8:15 a.m. (Hillsdale Commons) or Thursday, Oct. 1, at 7 p.m. (Young Family Library in the Upper School)

These events will provide an opportunity for parents of eighth-grade students to learn more about the Upper School. Brandon Williams (Athletic Director), Karen Glum (Director of Experiential Learning), our college counselors, and Rick Tate (Head of Upper School) will share highlights of the Upper School program. You’ll also hear from some current Upper School students about their experience. The event will end with a question-and-answer session. For more information, check out the parent letter (also in your Parent Portal). Please register here.

2026-27 Winter & Spring Sports Registration — Register by Wednesday, Sept. 30

Grade 6

Winter sports registration is officially open for grade 6! Please register your student(s) for the upcoming season through Veracross.

The exception is for sixth grade squash. Please register for sixth grade squash through Final Forms. If you are new to FinalForms, you will need to create an account. If you need assistance, please review these step-by-step instructions. If your student is not registered in FinalForms, they will not be placed on a roster or receive team communications.

Registration will close on Wednesday, Sept. 30. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact k6athletics@7hills.org. We can’t wait to see your student-athletes out there this winter!

Grades 7-12

This year, we are holding two registration periods for students in grades 7-12. Fall sports registration took place last spring, and this second registration period covers winter and spring sports. This approach helps us plan for the number of athletes participating throughout the rest of the school year.

Grades 7-12 must register through FinalForms. Please confirm that your student’s sport(s) are selected in FinalForms.

If you are new to FinalForms, you will need to create an account. If you need assistance, please review these step-by-step instructions. If your student is not registered in FinalForms, they will not be placed on a roster or receive team communications.

It is imperative that all forms are completed and a current physical is uploaded in FinalForms prior to the first practice. Any student-athlete who is not in compliance will be required to sit out until all forms and documents are submitted.

Registration will close on Wednesday, Sept. 30. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact athletics@7hills.org.

“Between the Pages” Author Visit — Friday, Oct. 2

We are excited to have multi-award-winning young adult author Andrea L. Rogers visit Seven Hills on Friday, Oct. 2! Lower, Middle, and Upper School students will have a chance to hear Ms. Rogers speak and have books signed. Books are available for purchase on the day of the event from a local bookstore, The Bookmatters. Students are welcome to charge book purchases to their school library account or pay via cash or card. We encourage you to have a conversation with your child ahead of the visit about which books are best for them and whether or not they will be purchasing any. Please email Megan Whitt with any questions!

Books by Andrea L. Rogers:

• “Man Made Monsters”: $12.81
• “The Art Thieves”: $17.08
• “Mary and the Trail of Tears”: $8.54
• “Death in the Tall Grass”: $16.22
• “Legendary Frybread Drive-In” (anthology): $17.08
• “Ancestor Approved” (anthology): $8.54

Choral Concert — Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m.

The fall choral concert for Middle and Upper School is Tuesday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome! Performers should report to the chorus room at 6:30 p.m. dressed for the performance. Middle School students should wear black on the bottom and white on top, with boys in a tie (any color). Upper students should wear their concert attire. Hope to see you there!

Upcoming LEAD Together Event: “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning” — Tuesday, Oct. 13

Our next LEAD Together event takes place on Oct. 13, starting at 5:30 p.m. in the Schiff Center. Come hear from Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D., a leading voice in mind, brain, and education, about “Neuromyths: False Ideas About the Brain and Learning.” Tracey will be working with our teachers throughout the school day, and this evening event is an opportunity for parents and caregivers to learn from her as well. Parents and caregivers of children of all ages — from pre-kindergarten through grade 12 — are welcome. Sign up for the event to let us know you’re coming. Need childcare? No problem! Sign up by Oct. 6 to secure childcare.

A New College Funding Resource for Seven Hills Families

Families received an email from the Upper School college counseling department yesterday about a new resource to help families learn about saving, planning, and paying for college. We have partnered with Paul Martin, founder of College Money Method, to give families access to expert guidance on college pricing, financial aid, merit scholarships, saving, borrowing, and planning. College Money Method gives families two ways to learn: a series of live online workshops and a dedicated Seven Hills School Resource Center.

The first workshop is Tuesday, Oct. 13. See yesterday’s email for a complete list of workshops. The College Money Method is linked in the Veracross Parent Portal (password: shscmm). Questions? Please reach out to Co-Directors of College Counseling Alex Catalan or Julie DiRoma.

Real Talk Series: “Rites of Passage” — Friday, Nov. 6

As part of our school’s commitment to building a community where everyone feels safe, seen, and successful, we’re preparing the first panel of our Real Talk Series. This series brings together powerful stories and perspectives from people with different lived experiences. Designed exclusively for the Middle School student body, these conversations spark curiosity, open minds, and help us all better understand and celebrate the diversity that makes our Seven Hills community so special.

The first of this year’s two panel discussions, “Rites of Passage,” will be preceded by Advisory activities that introduce students to the topic. Around the world, people mark the passage from childhood into adolescence and adulthood with celebrations and rituals, many rooted in religious or socio-cultural traditions. With that, we’d love to know: What rites of passage mark this transition within your cultural identity or community? Has your child participated in a rite of passage ceremony? If so, we’d love to have them consider joining the panel. Next week, all students in grades 6-12 will be invited to apply. Panelists will share their own experiences with the ceremonies and traditions that marked this time of transition in their lives.

All content is thoughtfully planned and age-appropriate, ensuring a respectful and supportive environment for students. The goal of this panel is to help students listen, ask thoughtful questions, and deepen their understanding of diverse experiences within our community.

We believe this is an important step in helping our students build empathy for one another. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to James Jessup, Jacky Kalubi, or Kristin Suer.

If you do not want your child to participate in the Rites of Passage programming, including the advisory activities and Real Talk panel presentation on the morning of Friday, Nov. 6, please print, sign, and return this form to your child’s advisor.

Priority Admission Deadlines

• Pre-kindergarten-Grade 5: Nov. 15
• Grades 6-12: Dec. 1

Because we have limited space in several grades and our application pool is quite competitive, we recommend completing the application process as early as possible. Sibling admission applications are given priority status within the applicant pool as long as we receive the admission application by Nov. 15 for pre-kindergarten-grade 5 and Dec. 1 for grades 6-12.

To submit an admission application for another child, please log in to your Veracross Parent Portal. Using the column icon at the top of the page, select “Admission,” then “Manage Candidate Applications.” You will then be able to select the box with a plus (+) sign, “Add a New Candidate/Applicant.” The application fee is waived for current families using the waiver code ABC.

Re-enrollment for the 2027-28 School Year for Currently Enrolled Students

Families of currently enrolled Seven Hills students do not need to submit an admission application for their children. You will receive detailed re-enrollment information in January.