Upper School Blast Feb 23, 2024
Dear Families,
A few weeks ago, I wrote that this is the time of year in which we find ourselves looking both to the past and to the future. By looking back at how far they’ve already progressed this year, the Upper Schoolers can learn from their successes and their setbacks alike. At the same time, more of our collective attention begins to shift to planning for a great 2024-25 school year.
In the spirit of learning from the past, next week the students will receive comments about their progress in each of their current courses. As we move into the latter part of the year, we hope that this feedback will help the Upper Schoolers to build on their successes, to identify resources for overcoming challenges, and to set and meet new goals.
With an eye toward school year 2024-25, we’ve gotten the course request process underway. In advisory and other settings, faculty members are working with the students on selecting a challenging but manageable set of classes for next year. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to an adviser, teacher, or counselor to talk more about your child’s schedule next year.
Best,
Matt
Key Dates & Events
Monday, Feb. 26 — B4. Advisory
Tuesday, Feb. 27 — A5. All School
Wednesday, Feb. 28 — B5. Extra Help
Thursday, Feb. 29 — A1. Class Meeting
Friday, March 1 — B1. Stinger Day/Extra Help
Announcements
Taiwan Trip Meeting — Feb. 27
The Taiwan departure meeting will take place next Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. in Upper 278, the Chinese classroom. Both parents and students are encouraged to attend together. Please finish the E-sign documents, and bring the notarized form to the meeting if you have not done so yet.
Give a Gift … Get a Bee!
Our annual week-long community giving event Stinger Madness will be all the buzzzzz March 4 through 8. And we need you to help fill the hills! For every contribution you make to the Annual Fund, we’ll place a stinger bee on the hill of the campus your oldest child attends. If you’ve already made your Annual Fund gift this school year, thank you! No need to make another gift, your bee is already headed to the hill.
The Stinger Madness Trophy Competition
Each division — the Lower Schools, Middle School, and Upper School — will compete for the Stinger Madness trophy which will be awarded to the division that gives 50 new gifts to the Annual Fund! Don’t miss out — make your gift before 3:15 p.m. on Friday, March 8 and help us #FillTheHills! Visit www.7hills.org/StingerMadness to learn more and make your gift.
Arts Alive — Call for Performers
Are you interested in having your group perform at Arts Alive? We are looking for acts to perform on the outdoor stages and in the DAC Blackbox. Last year, we had some wonderful performances by student organized groups and we would love to have that continue this year. Arts Alive is intended to celebrate all of the artistry within our community. Please note that this is not a talent show, and that groups should have a couple of pieces, totaling approximately 10-25 minutes, performed as a set. If you would like to be considered, please complete the Arts Alive performers Google form and upload a video of your act. We will be accepting submissions from now through Feb. 20 and will let acts know if they are accepted by Spring Break. If you have any questions, contact Mr. Hauser.
February Parent Connext — A Message from 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. Please feel free to connect with your student’s building counselor if you would like more conversation or support around this month’s topic, emotional regulation.
Be Great With Us!
As part of the “Give, Grow, and Be Great” service-learning May Term, students will work with an organization called Sleep in Heavenly Peace to build beds for children without one. The need for beds in the Greater Cincinnati area is startlingly high, and while building the beds is an enormous help, beds without pillows, mattress pads, sheets, and blankets don’t solve the problem. That’s where you come in! Please consider donating new bedding to help our efforts make a difference. You can purchase items directly from this Amazon wishlist or send donations to the Upper Office. Please make checks payable to The Seven Hills School with “bedding drive” in the memo line. Donations will be accepted from now until the end of May — but why wait? Be great today! We appreciate your support! Questions? Contact Karen Glum.
LGBTQIA+ Parent Group and Spring Social
Last year, we inaugurated a Parent Community space for LGBTQIA+ families, making strides toward our inclusive school commitment. As we embark on a new year, we aim to reunite existing families and extend a warm welcome to new families joining our community. If you’re interested in becoming a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, please express your interest with this LGBTQIA+ PC Group interest form.
Additionally, we cordially invite all Seven Hills LGBTQIA+ families to our Spring Social on March 9, from 12-2 p.m. in The Schiff Center lobby. Kindly RSVP using the above interest form and bring your family to partake in the festivities.
Leave a Review of Seven Hills on Niche!
Help the school and prospective families — at the same time — by leaving a review on Niche! Niche is a website that parents and students can use to research schools (from primary schools to universities) based on student and parent reviews and data from sources like the National Center for Education Statistics. Sharing your perspective as a Seven Hills parent on the page helps in two ways: 1) Families who are researching schools can learn about the Seven Hills’ experience directly from current families, and 2) Reviews from parents contribute to the school’s ranking on Niche. To write a review, visit https://www.niche.com/k12/survey/, search for The Seven Hills School in the search bar, and click “Start survey.”
Volunteers Needed
The Graduation Committee is seeking Upper School parent volunteers to assist with the greenery arches and the sidewalk chalk activities on June 6 and 7. If you are interested in assisting, please reach out to Nupur Anand.
The ABCs of Artificial Intelligence
Join us Thursday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. in The Schiff Center. Director of Instructional Technology Kristina O’Connor will present an informational session for the Middle and Upper School Parent Communities on the integration of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the Seven Hills educational framework.
Reminder Walking Club
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 on the Hillsdale Campus. 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. When inclement weather occurs, we gather at Element Eatery to chat.
Our next meet up is scheduled for after Presidents Day weekend on March 6 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Subsequent dates are April 10 and April 24. I look forward to chatting with you soon. Carolyn Klein (mom of Spencer, 11th grade, and Courtney, seventh grade).