Middle School Blast Oct 23, 2026

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

The Middle School fall play, “The Day the Internet Died,” has showings tonight and tomorrow, and tickets are still available! Check out the flyer below for more information on how to purchase your tickets.

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 8-11:50 a.m. Sign-ups are available on your Veracross Parent Portal and will close tomorrow, Saturday, 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 creepy critters!

On Friday, parents can begin to arrive at 9:45 a.m. in Founders Hall. Activities will begin at 10 a.m. and wrap up by 11:30 a.m. Feel free to join whenever you can during that time. It is always a special memory for our sixth graders!

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.

Little Big Talks: Talking About School Safety — Thursday, Nov. 5, at 9 a.m.

In a continuation of our LEAD Together series, join us in the Doherty library for a community conversation about how to talk with students about school safety. Presented in partnership with our director of safety & security, counseling department, and office of DEI, this conversation will offer helpful books, resources, and guidance for discussing school safety with children.

While the conversation will be geared toward Early and Lower School families, parents and caregivers from all divisions may find it beneficial.

Please RSVP for the event to let us know you’ll be attending.

Save the Date: ScreenSmart at Seven Hills 2.0 — Thursday, Nov. 12, from 5:30-7 p.m.

Please join us as we connect with other parents and learn from Seven Hills faculty members and Upper School students about building healthy relationships with technology. We’ll have dedicated spaces for different age groups in Lotspeich and Upper School.

Childcare is provided for Early and Lower School students. Please RSVP to let us know you’re attending, and register before Nov. 5 for childcare.

Securly Home for Parents

As shared last week, parents of students in grades 6-12 can use the Securly Home app to gain additional visibility and control over their child’s school-issued device outside of the school day.

Through the app, parents can view their child’s online activity, pause internet access, create schedules for times such as bedtime or family time, and manage additional web rules available through the school’s filtering system. Parents with more than one child can manage their students from the same app.

Getting Started

Parents should have received an email this week from Securly with instructions for signing up. To get started, download the Securly Home app and register using the parent email address on file with Seven Hills. Your student will automatically be associated with your account.

For more information about using the app, log in to the Veracross Parent Portal and look for “How to Use Securly Home” under the General Information menu item at the top of the page. If you have questions, please contact Chief Technology & Innovation Officer Tony DePrato.

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.

As of 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.

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

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.

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.