Upper School Blast Jan 19, 2024
Dear Families,
I hope that you had a great Martin Luther King Day weekend and that the Upper Schoolers are feeling excited about the new semester (and today’s snow day!). Below you’ll find information about making any course changes for the new semester. Next week, we’ll share information about the course registration process for the next school year. Also, don’t miss Chris’s note this week, which offers a glimpse into the Upper School classrooms.
Best,
Matt
Key Dates & Events
Monday, Jan. 22 — A3. Advisory
Tuesday, Jan. 23 — B3. All School
Wednesday, Jan. 24 — A4. Experiential Learning Fair
Thursday, Jan. 25 — B4. Class Meetings
Friday, Jan. 26 — A5. Extra Help
Announcements
Re-enrollment Contracts Reminder
Re-enrollment contracts for the 2024-25 school year are available via your Veracross Parent Portal. To secure your student’s space for next fall, please submit the re-enrollment contract and deposit by Monday, Jan. 22. Thank you.
10th Grade Family College Counseling Meeting — Monday, Jan. 22
The Upper School college counseling department is holding a meeting for 10th grade families on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. via Zoom. In our experience, parents/guardians of sophomores have many questions about the months and years ahead. Those who have been through the process with older siblings tend to have different questions from those new to the modern world of college admissions. To encourage discussion and provide an opportunity to answer your questions, we will split the class into four small groups.
We’ll begin with an update about this academic year, offer advice for the months ahead, and then encourage you to ask questions or raise topics for discussion. Issues often of interest to 10th grade parents include testing timelines, how/when to conduct a college search, summer plans and programs, course scheduling/choices, grades vs. rigor, and higher education costs.
Since most parents/guardians of 10th graders are going through the admissions process for the first time, there will be three breakout rooms for first-time parents/guardians and one for parents who have been through the college admissions process at Seven Hills. Zoom links will be posted on the Class of 2026: College Counseling Schoology Group. We encourage you to ensure you can access the Schoology group and receive email notifications of posts, as it is the primary method by which the college counselors distribute messages and resources to all 10th grade students and family members.
Experiential Learning Fair
Next Wednesday, Jan. 24, the Upper School will host an Experiential Learning Fair. Thirty organizations from around Cincinnati will share an array of experiential learning opportunities. Upper Schoolers will have an extended lunch period on Wednesday, 11:05 a.m.-12:20 p.m., so all students have time to attend. Please encourage your child to see what our visitors have to offer!
Second Semester Class Schedules
Second semester classes begin on Tuesday, and schedules go live in Veracross on Saturday. Students have until Monday, Jan. 29 to complete any adds and/or drops of second semester courses.
To add or drop a class:
- Students must email Dr. Paull to be sure the changes will work.
- Parents must email Dr. Paull for approval for the requested changes.
- College counselors (or Mrs. Hausberger if the student is a ninth grader) must email Dr. Paull for approval for the requested changes.
Save the Date — Books for Lunch 2024!
The 2024 Books for Lunch committee, chaired by Seven Hills parents Lisa Briquet and Lalitha Chunduri, is honored to present this year’s guest author, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Andrew Sean Greer! Please join us in the Madisonville Ballroom at The Summit Hotel on Feb. 2 for lunch, community, and an engaging address from Greer. Please visit 7hills.org/BFL to purchase tickets and learn more about the events, Greer, and his work.
Annual Dumpling Party — Volunteers Needed!
With the Lunar New Year approaching on Feb. 10, 2024, the Chinese class is organizing their annual dumpling party! We are looking for one or two parent volunteers to help us with the dumplings for each class on Feb. 8 and 9. You do not have to be skilled in making dumplings; just plan to be there to help out and have fun. If you know how to make dumpling wrappers, please let us know! We can show the students your skills! To sign up for dumpling day, please fill in your name next to the sessions on the sign-up form. If you have any questions, please Wu Laoshi.
Spring Upper School Parent Community Meeting
Join us for coffee and muffins Thursday, Feb. 1, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in the Heffner Conference Room. Dr. Matt Bolton will share an overview of upcoming key milestones and events Upper School parents need to know for the spring semester. Topics include in depth coverage for 2024-25 class registration, key events, Arts Alive, exam weeks, spring trips, civic engagement, etc.
We will share the spring calendar of all Parent Community planned events and volunteer opportunities. A Zoom link will be provided via email and Schoology for those unable to attend in person.
Summer Program 2024 — Mark Your Calendars
Make 2024 the best summer ever! Make friends, discover new passions, and create memories that last a lifetime! With eight weeks of action packed camps, beginning June 17 through Aug. 9, there are all kinds of adventures and opportunities for your child to explore to make this the best summer ever. Priority registration for Seven Hills families opens at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13.