Upper School Blast Apr 26, 2024
Dear Families,
We hope to see you later today at Arts Alive, our school-wide celebration of the visual and performing arts. Of course, the Upper Schoolers will play a big role in this event, which features scenes from last week’s “Mamma Mia!,” performances by the chorus and orchestra, paintings, sculpture, photographs, and films from our Upper School visual artists, and more.
Yet the real gift of Arts Alive, in my opinion, is the chance to witness the progression in skills and abilities from our youngest students to our oldest. Quite simply, the event writes large the value of a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade arts-based education. By exposing students to the arts at an early age, we’re instilling in them skills and experiences that they will continue to build on all the way through to adolescence and adulthood. When we listen to the orchestra perform, for example, we’re hearing the product of years of instruction, practice, and performance. I hope that you’ll get a chance to enjoy all sorts of student performances today and that you’ll join in our celebration of the arts.
Best,
Matt
Key Dates & Events
Monday, April 29 — B1. Advisory
Tuesday, April 30 — All School
Wednesday, May 1 — B2. May Term Meetings
Thursday, May 2 — A3. Class Meeting
Friday, May 3 — B3. Extra Help
Announcements
Arts Alive is Tonight!
We hope to see you all tonight for the third annual Arts Alive celebration. From 3:30-8:40 p.m., first through 12th grade students will showcase their artistic talents throughout the Hillsdale Campus. There will be games, arts and crafts, live performances, food trucks, and much more! Join us for an evening of festivities for the entire family. Food trucks, desserts, and spirit wear will be available from 3:30-8 p.m. View the schedule and map.
Family Food Truck and Youth Spirit Night is Thursday, May 2
All Seven Hills families are welcome to come celebrate our spring athletes and have some fun on Thursday, May 2! Cheer on the boys tennis, boys Middle School lacrosse, and girls JV and varsity lacrosse teams. Youth spring athletes in kindergarten through sixth grade will be recognized after the girls JV lacrosse game. Food will be available for purchase from four delicious food trucks: Big Dogs Pizza and Kona Ice (at the Pavilion).
During the varsity baseball game at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, Quite Frankly will be available for purchase at the baseball field. Check out the Family Food Truck and Youth Spirit Night flyer for more details.
Call for Donations for Bethany House
The AAA (African American Awareness) club is holding a donation drive for Bethany House, a nonprofit that serves mothers and their children who have become homeless. The ultimate aim is to get these families settled into new homes. When they do settle them, they try to give them basic supplies to get them off on the right foot. These items are what AAA are asking students to bring in for the drive.
Items need to be new and include: pillows, full and twin size sheets and comforters, pillow and mattress bed bug covers, twin and full size air mattress, shower curtain/liner/rings, waste basket, toilet brush/plunger, towels (hand, wash, body), pots/pans, glassware/mugs, plastic mixing bowls, silverware, kitchen utensils, can opener, salt and pepper, dish towels/pot holders, trash can/bags, tupperware, dishes, laundry basket, broom/dustpan, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, dish soap, pack of paper towels, mop/bucket, and pack of toilet paper.
If your student is able to donate any of these items, we request they are brought in by Friday, May 3.
Semester Exam Schedule
The Upper School will hold second semester exams the week of May 20. It is important that the Upper Schoolers be in school for each of their closing exams. If a student is ill on the day of an exam, they must have a doctor’s note to be able to reschedule it. Please see the schedule below for more details:
Senior Graduation Reminders
- Diploma name preference entries have now been closed, as the deadline was April 1. If your senior did NOT enter in their preferred name, we have used their legal first and last name that we have in our system.
- The graduation announcement poll has also closed. As previously mentioned we will be going with the majority vote, which was to NOT receive announcements.
- 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.
- If you would like to receive a video of graduation, please use the 2024 Graduation Order Form
- 2024 Senior Key Dates and Events
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, as we do not have the capacity to print these in the office.
Fifth Annual Panel Discussion with Parents of “The Namesake”
This year, we are thrilled to again invite parents to join a panel discussion addressing issues related to immigration, culture and identity, and issues that appear in the 10th grade English class capstone text, Jhumpa Lahiri’s “The Namesake.” See the letter from Mark Beyreis, English department chair, and Matt Bolton, Head of Upper School, for more information about the event and volunteering for the panel.
Introduction to the ACT
Thirty-Six Education is offering an Introduction to the ACT prep course from July 29 to Aug. 2, 9:30-12:30 p.m. The class costs $699 and financial assistance is available to students who qualify. This 15-hour, in-person course will introduce students to the format and content of the English, math, reading, and science sections of the ACT. Students will learn key test-taking strategies, review high-impact content areas, and complete nightly homework assignments. Students will be given access to Thirty-Six Education’s extensive library of proprietary lessons, practice questions, and answer explanations, and they will receive personalized recommendations for areas of further study based on nightly homework assignments during the course. At the conclusion of the week, students will take a full, proctored practice ACT and receive a score report with detailed feedback to help guide further study. This course is perfect for rising juniors getting started with their test preparation. Class size will be limited to 12 students. Register for Introduction to the ACT.
Introduction to the dPSAT
Thirty-Six Education is offering an Introduction to the dPSAT prep course from Aug. 5-9, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. The class costs $699 and financial assistance is available to students who qualify. This 15-hour, in-person course will introduce students to the format and content of the digital SAT (dSAT) and PSAT (dPSAT) Reading and Writing and Math sections. Through proprietary Thirty-Six Education instructional materials and official College Board SAT/PSAT practice questions, students will learn the tests’ most commonly tested question types and key strategies for navigating the dSAT/dPSAT. Students will complete nightly homework assignments. This course is perfect for rising sophomores and juniors looking to familiarize themselves with the structure of and strategies for tackling the dPSAT in advance of its administration in October 2024. Class size will be limited to 12 students. Register for Introduction to the dPSAT.
Exciting Opportunity to Host Visiting Danish Students Next November
Next November, The Seven Hills Upper School will be welcoming a small group of students (17 to 19 years old) and teachers from Høje-Taastrup Gymnasium, just outside of Copenhagen. Dr. Caleb Paull will be coordinating and overseeing the visit along with faculty from Denmark. He will be in regular contact with host families and students prior to and during the stay. There will be virtual events in the time leading up to the visit and in-person events during the Danes’ time here.
This is the second time we are hosting students from this school, and the feedback from all involved was extremely positive the last time. We hope you will consider being a host family. Please see the letter from Dr. Paull for more information on the visit and on being a host family.
Volunteer Sign Up — 2024-25 School Year
Are you interested in volunteering for the Upper School Parent Community for the 2024-25 school year? Please sign up via SignUpGenuis for the role or committee that interests you.