Upper School Blast Jan 26, 2024
Dear Families,
This week representatives from more than 30 local agencies and nonprofit organizations visited the Upper School to take part in our Experiential Learning Fair. All of the Upper Schoolers had a chance to learn more about opportunities to become volunteers, interns, or employees at these organizations. It was also inspiring to see many of our own students staffing tables for groups in which they play a leadership role. I hope that students left the event with an idea for how they might fill their service requirement this summer, a connection to a summer job, or a new perspective on how to make a difference in Cincinnati and the world. Please encourage your child to reach out to Director of Experiential Learning Karen Glum if they would like to talk more about any of the opportunities or organizations that we featured this week.
Next week we’ll host our annual Books for Lunch event, featuring Pulitzer Prize winner Andrew Sean Greer. A highlight of this event is the time the author spends with the Upper School students, and I’m looking forward to his speaking with us next Friday morning.
Best,
Matt
Key Dates & Events
Monday, Jan. 29 — Advisory
Tuesday, Jan. 30 — All School
Wednesday, Jan. 31 — Extra Help
Thursday, Feb. 1 — Class Meetings
Friday, Feb. 2 — Special Assembly for Books for Lunch. Extra Help.
Announcements
Report Cards Available
First semester report cards are now available on Veracross for students and parents.
Course Requests and Veracross
This year, we will begin using Veracross for student course requests for next year’s classes. Using this system will allow you to see (live on your portal) the courses for which your child has been approved, the courses they request in meeting with advisors and college counselors, and their final list of course requests. Parents play an important role throughout the course request process, and we encourage you to start talking with your child about what they hope to study next year. Toward the end of the process, you’ll receive a list of your child’s requested courses to review and sign.
We have also adjusted the course request calendar this year to give your students and their teachers more class time together before approvals for next year’s courses are made by each department. Encourage your student to begin to speak with their teachers now if they know they are interested in moving into a course that requires departmental approval, e.g. Honors, AP, or Advanced Topics.
The course request screen will be visible in your Veracross Parent Portal beginning February 15. More details to follow closer to that time.
If you have any questions, please contact our registrar, Dr. Caleb Paull.
AI (Artificial Intelligence) Policies
This school year, we’ve been navigating the brave new world of AI. As with other forms of technology, our goal is for the Upper students to be able to use this new invention responsibly, as an aid to thinking rather than a substitute for it. Over the course of the past semester, a task force of Upper School teachers, students, and administrators has met to develop a common sense policy regarding this AI, which we’d like to share with you.
Upper School Student Practices Regarding AI
Students will:
- Recognize that generative AI is a tool. All tools can be valuable or harmful, depending on how the user uses them.
- Be encouraged to explore generative AI thoughtfully.
- Not use generative AI on any assignments unless explicitly allowed by their teacher, and then only in the manner explicitly allowed.
- Acknowledge and properly reference any use of generative AI, as they would any other external/outside/secondary source.
- Abide by all school policies on academic integrity. Students must do their own work and be able to explain their process.
Spring Upper School Parent Community Meeting
Join us for coffee and muffins Thursday, Feb. 1, 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, including in depth coverage of 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.
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 event, Greer, and his work.
AAA Movie Night
AAA (African American Awareness) Club would like to invite Middle and Upper School students to a movie night on Feb. 9 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. It will be in The Schiff Center theater classroom and we will be offering a snack pack for $5 that includes a slice of pizza (cheese or pepperoni), a drink box, chips, and a piece of candy. We will be watching “Space Jam: A New Legacy” with LeBron James. We hope to see you there!
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.
Senior Graduation Information
Parents, the following information was sent to your senior in their student Blast regarding graduation.
Seniors:
- Cap and Gown: Reminder, your caps and tassels are yours to keep. The gown is rented and will need to be returned the night of graduation. You normally will receive your cap and gown during May Term week. We will keep you posted.
- Diploma: Please fill out the 2024 Seniors Names and Pronoun Preference form to enter in the name you would like on your diploma. The deadline for this is April 1. (Parents, please check this document to ensure your student has filled it out correctly.)
Senior Photos for the showcase are due the last week of April. The criteria for these are as follows
- 4×6
- Black & White or Color
- Vertical
- Printed, since we do not have the capacity to print these in the office.
Graduation announcements: As mentioned previously, we have traditionally ordered five announcements and envelopes per senior. We often end up with a full box of unclaimed announcements and would like to take a vote on if you would like us to order announcements for this year. Please fill out the online poll and vote on whether you would like to receive these announcements or plan on another avenue to announce your senior’s graduation. Majority vote will be used.
Please continue to check your emails daily. As we get closer to graduation you will receive several time-sensitive emails.
Upper Upcoming Performance
Advance tickets will go on sale this weekend for the 2024 Upper winter play, “Just a Bunch of Stars,” a new original play written by senior Mikul Wyer and directed by senior Susie Stahl. This Upper Main Stage production is Mikul Wyer’s Challenge Project! To purchase tickets, simply go to 7hills.ticketleap.com. Seating is very limited in Schiff 102, and all seats are general admission. We hope to see you there!