Upper School Blast Oct 27, 2023
Dear Families,
It’s perfectly natural for kids to be nervous on the morning of the PSATs; this year, however, we teachers and administrators were more than a little nervous ourselves. As I mentioned a few weeks ago, the College Board has transitioned to a new, online format this year. Over the past month, there have been some alarming national headlines about schools struggling with technological glitches and setbacks in rolling out the new test. So, it’s with an audible sigh of relief that I say … we had a great PSAT experience here at Seven Hills! Moreover, many of our Upper Schoolers reported that they preferred this new format. A big thanks to the college counselors, to all of the teachers and proctors, and to the Upper Schoolers themselves for adapting so well to this new format.
As we start our second quarter, there’s a lot to celebrate here in the Upper School. Last weekend, we had our fall play, the uproariously funny “Clue!,” based on the classic board game. Here’s one of my favorite parts of this show: the turn-out for auditions was so strong that the theater teachers decided to double-cast the show, with two entirely different casts performing on alternating nights. I believe this speaks to the depth of talent and spirit of inclusivity that is a fact of life in the Upper School. It’s also been a thrilling week in athletics, with the varsity boys soccer team scoring decisive wins in Saturday’s and last Tuesday’s games and advancing to Districts tomorrow.
A winning streak in academics, athletics, and the arts — that’s life in the Upper School during this busy, but exciting, fall.
Best,
Matt
Key Dates & Events
Monday, Oct. 30 — A3. Advisory
Tuesday, Oct. 31 — B3. All School Meeting
Wednesday, Nov 1 — A4. Extra Help
Thursday, Nov. 2 — B4. Class Meetings
Friday, Nov. 3 – Professional Development Day. No School.
Announcements
Parking Lot Reminder: Numbered Spaces Reserved for Students
Parking spaces with numbers are assigned spaces for students. Please do not park in any numbered space. If you are a visiting parent, please park in the short-term parking spots in Lot A (the main lot adjacent to the Upper School and Lotspeich) or the spaces without numbers near the Resale Shop. Additionally, spots 201-208 across from the Red Barn are unassigned and available for visitors.
Student/Family Volunteer Opportunity
As part of People Working Cooperatively’s “Prepare Affair” event, Stingers, their friends, and families will come together on Saturday, Nov. 18, to rake leaves for people who are elderly or living with physical limitations. We’ll meet in the Resale Shop parking lot across from the school at 10 a.m. Gloves, rakes, and bags will be provided for each volunteer so be sure to register each person separately. Please note — you will need your own transportation between school and the homes where you will rake leaves. Make the following selections when registering:
- Sign up as a “crew member” by Wednesday, Nov. 15
- Crew leader name: Karen Glum
- Volunteer team name: The Seven Hills School
- Nov. 18, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (or when finished)
- Please use this registration link. Be sure to select “next,” then review and hit “submit” on the next page. You should receive an email confirmation of your registration.
Community Service and Challenge Requirements
The end of the quarter is a great time to check up on your child’s progress toward meeting the Community Service and Personal Challenge Project requirements. You can find the general deadlines here. Your child’s progress toward meeting the requirements is tracked in the Schoology “Community Service” and “Challenge Project” courses into which they are enrolled. Contact Karen Glum with questions.
Walking Club — New meet-up location
We are a group of parents that get together bi-weekly on Wednesdays after morning drop off to talk and walk the lower soccer field. All divisions are welcome and no RSVP required. This group provides you a great opportunity to connect with other community members all while getting your steps in! Please park in the lower field parking area, campus guest passes will be passed out to ensure visibility, for security purposes. When inclement weather occurs, we gather at Element Eatery to chat. Our next meet-up is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 8, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Subsequent dates are Nov. 29, Dec. 13, and Jan. 10, 2024. I look forward to chatting with you soon. Carolyn Klein (mom of Spencer, 11th grade, and Courtney, seventh grade)
October Parent Connext — brought to you by the Counseling Department
Seven Hills values partnering with parents to address the development of the whole child. Parent Connext allows us to explore some of today’s most relevant topics in your child’s social/emotional development while offering practical tools for parenting. View a Parent Connext Powerpoint Presentation here and a Parent Hub October Tips sheet here about bullying and resiliency factors. Please feel free to connect with your student’s building counselor if you would like more conversation or support around this topic.
Resale Shop
It’s time to clean out closets, cabinets, drawers, etc., and bring what you don’t need any more to the Resale Shop! We are in need of household items, clothing, artwork, furniture, linens, etc. We are open from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and we are located across the street from the main entrance on the Hillsdale Campus.