Middle School Blast Oct 16, 2026

New Visitor Check-in System Across All Divisions

A new visitor check-in system is now in place across all divisions. Following a successful pilot at the Middle School earlier this year, we are expanding the process to strengthen campus safety and ensure we can account for visitors in case of an emergency.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, visitors coming to campus during school hours must check in at a designated kiosk in their division’s front office and present a driver’s license or other government-issued ID. This system is also used to conduct background checks for contractors and visitors. After checking in, visitors will receive a red visitor lanyard to be worn throughout their visit.

Visitors should park closest to the school building they are visiting, if space is available. If you are walking to and from buildings and not wearing your visitor lanyard, you may be stopped by a staff member. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but these measures are in place to ensure campus and student safety.

As we implement this new process across our community, we recognize that there may be questions and opportunities to make the experience smoother for everyone. If you would like to share a suggestion or ask a question, please contact Director of Safety & Security Jun Cho.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work together to make this process as effective and seamless as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When do parents need to use the new visitor check-in system?

Parents visiting campus during school hours (aside from drop off and pick up) must check in at the kiosk inside their division’s front office, present their ID, and wear a red visitor lanyard for the duration of their visit.

Are there any exceptions?

In the following instances, parents will not be expected to check in or wear lanyards:

• Parents dropping off or picking up their children, or dropping something off at the building entrance
• Parents attending events outside school hours, such as athletic events or parent meetings
• Parents attending large outdoor events during school hours where they remain outside (such as Pumpkin Day)

How does the process apply to Parent Association meetings or walking groups?

If a large turnout is expected for a Parent Association meeting, the administrative assistant(s) for your division will utilize a paper sign-in sheet instead of the kiosk. For smaller meetings, 10 people or fewer, parents will be expected to sign in at the kiosk as usual.

The Hillsdale walking group will meet with an Upper School representative at the track. They will utilize a paper sign-in sheet and be given red lanyards to wear while on campus.

Middle School Play — Friday, Oct. 23, and Saturday, Oct. 24

The Middle School fall play, “The Day the Internet Died,” is almost here! Check out the flyer below for more information on how to purchase your tickets.

Important note: If your student is attending Friday’s “Pizza and a Play” sponsored by the Parent Association, please purchase tickets and RSVP through the “Pizza and a Play” Square page. You do NOT need to purchase additional tickets through the link in the flyer below. More information about this fully chaperoned event can be found in the Parent Association section of this Blast.

iPad Updates

Next week, all streaming services will be disabled on the Middle School iPads. This is to ensure that students are using the iPads for academic purposes. The process could take the entire week to test and implement. We hope to be completely finished by next Friday, Oct. 23.

We will also begin rolling out Securly Home, an app designed to help parents support safe and responsible use of school-issued devices at home.

Securly gives parents greater visibility into how students are using their school-issued iPad and provides tools to help manage access to online content, both on and off campus.

Please watch for an email from Securly with more information about how the app works and instructions for getting started. If you have any questions, please contact Chief Technology & Innovation Officer Tony DePrato.

Campus Dining Enhancements & Culinary Updates

School-Wide Nutritional Improvements

We continue to prioritize fresh, nutritious offerings across both the Doherty and Hillsdale campuses. As part of this commitment, we are in the process of phasing out our prepackaged fruit and now provide fresh fruit daily at both campus kitchens. We are also phasing out our current inventory of caffeinated beverages at both locations.

Elevated Hot Plate Lunches

Our hot plate lunch program continues to evolve with an expanded selection of homemade comfort foods designed to offer familiar favorites with a fresh, culinary-focused approach. Current offerings include homemade meatloaf, baked cod, black bean and chicken tinga tacos, Palak paneer, and turkey Manhattan, with additional selections to come as we continue developing and expanding our new recipe database.

Rotating Build-Your-Own Bar

We have introduced a rotating build-your-own bar that gives students more choice and variety throughout the week. Featured options include baked potatoes; chicken wings; gourmet hot dogs, brats, and metts; mac and cheese; and other selections, with a variety of toppings like steamed broccoli, fresh jalapeños, and grilled peppers. The menu rotates weekly, keeping the experience fresh, engaging, and exciting for students.

Fresh and Flavorful Grab-and-Go Options

Our grab-and-go program now features weekly chef-created specials, offering convenient, fresh alternatives for students on the move. Selections include fresh fruit paired with cheese and crackers, freshly prepared cold wraps, and a variety of salads. These options provide greater variety while maintaining our focus on freshness, quality, and convenience.

Freshly Sliced Deli Meats and Weekly Chef Specials

Beginning this week, we are pleased to announce that all deli meats will be freshly sliced in-house, further enhancing the freshness and quality of our deli offerings.

We are also introducing a rotating selection of weekly chef specials, created to bring new flavors and variety to the menu. This week’s featured special is our buffalo chicken wrap, kicking off an exciting lineup of fresh, chef-inspired selections to come.

Our Ongoing Commitment

These enhancements reflect our continued commitment to improving campus dining through fresh ingredients, expanded menu variety, chef-driven offerings, and attentive service tailored to the needs of each campus. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to elevate the dining experience for our students and school community.

Lunch Pricing

With all of the new offerings in the kitchen, we would like to clarify lunch pricing. The prices will also be added to the lunch menu on Nutrislice.

Hot plate lunch – $7.75

Build-Your-Own Bar – $7.75

Soup/Salad Bar – $7.75

These items are priced individually and cannot be mixed and matched. For example, if a student gets the hot plate lunch and the BYO item, the cost is $15.50.

Middle and Upper School students can also purchase items from the Grab & Go section a la carte.

Parent Teacher Conferences — Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27

Parent teacher conferences will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Sign-ups are now available on the Veracross Parent Portal and will close on Oct. 24 at 3 p.m.

Those wishing to conference with Middle School Counselor Dayna Sargent should email her directly at dayna.sargent@7hills.org.

This year, members of the world language team will be available in the sixth grade commons throughout conferences. The team will be there to answer questions about the sixth grade language program and curriculum. In addition, they can answer any questions about the seventh and eighth grade language programs. Current seventh and eighth grade students will conference directly with their world language teachers.

As a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday and Tuesday.

Creepy Critters Coming Soon — Save the Date for Friday, Oct. 30

Sixth grade parents, you are invited to join your student(s) for a morning of fun and get to know their classmates and teachers a little better as we explore the world of creep critters!

To accommodate the Lotspeich and Doherty Halloween costume parades, our portion of the day for parents will begin around 10 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. Look for more details as the event gets closer.

Seventh Grade Movie Viewing of “The Martian” — Friday, Oct. 30

On Friday, Oct. 30, seventh grade students will have the chance to watch the hit movie, “The Martian,” to continue their current study of astronomy. Read a review of this movie from the website Common Sense Media.

The movie is rated PG-13. If you prefer that your child not see this film, please let Kristin Montalvo Suer know so that other arrangements can be made.

Pathways for Prevention — Nov. 2-6

Seven Hills students in grades 5 and 7, along with all Upper School students, will participate in scheduled visits and lessons from our Pathways for Prevention specialist, Glenn Hall. “Mr. G,” as he is known to the kids, will deliver an evidence-based curriculum of developmentally appropriate education on substance misuse trends, healthy coping skills, peer pressure, and addiction.

Mr. G has a keen ability to build rapport and maintain elevated levels of student engagement. His sessions are filled with his personal recovery story as well as current information and trends to make this a relevant and informative experience for our Seven Hills students.

If you have questions or would like to know more, please access Pathways for Prevention’s website for more information or reach out to Dayna Sargent, Middle School counselor.

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 Montalvo 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 adviser.

Update to Planned Absence Reporting

Here is the updated procedure for parents and students regarding the Planned Absence Form for Middle School:

When to Use

Complete the Planned Absence Form whenever you know in advance that your student will be missing a full day of school for a vacation or other family event. Students must see Victor Harris, dean of students, for a copy of the form.

Parent Responsibility

Parents must:

• Enter the absence into Veracross and sign the form.

Student Responsibilities

Students must:

• Speak with their teachers regarding the classes they will miss.
• Obtain all required signatures and initials from teachers, family, and the dean of students.
• Return the completed form to Victor Harris two days before the scheduled absence. He will provide a copy of the document for the student.
• Complete and submit all missed work upon their return, as work missed due to a planned absence is due immediately after returning.