Upper School Blast May 23, 2025

May Term Reminder

May Term is here! All students in grades nine to 11 must attend May Term during normal school hours. May Term wraps up on the last day of school, Friday, May 30.

Graduation FAQs

Tickets: Several parents have reached out to the Upper office regarding graduation tickets. We do NOT sell tickets to graduation and have no limit on the number of guests you can bring. Our graduation is hosted in the Field House, and we will provide plenty of seating for all guests. Please note that seating is first come first serve, and we will open the doors at approximately 5:15 p.m.

Reception: We invite all families to attend the reception held in the Upper courtyard after the ceremony ends. No RSVP necessary.

Photos: You will receive a photo package in the mail with a photo of your senior receiving their diploma, as well as a class photo. This package is included in your tuition.

Experiential Learning

Click below to learn what to do and know this summer in terms of Challenge Experience and Community Service based on grade level.

• Rising 10s
• Rising 11s
• Rising 12s

College Essay and Application Workshop — June 2

Join the college counselors on Monday, June 2, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. for a full-day, hands-on workshop to jumpstart the college personal statement and Common Application before summer begins. The workshop will be in Founders Hall and lunch will be included. Please RSVP by emailing your student’s college counselor.

This workshop is optional, but we strongly encourage all juniors to attend! Students will leave with meaningful progress on several parts of their application and a clearer sense of their story, building on the essay brainstorming exercises we have been working on over the past two months.

What to expect:

• Hear directly from Owen Grover, senior associate director at Boston College, a college admissions officer who reads applications from Seven Hills
• Create outlines for college essays
• Explore identities and communities and learn how to shape a compelling application story
• Begin filling out the Common App and learn what must be completed after August
• Build and refine the Common App activities list

So we can plan for lunch, please email Alex Catalan, Julie DiRoma, or Cheryl Dixon to RSVP.

ACT and PSAT Prep Courses This Summer

Seven Hills will be hosting ACT and PSAT prep courses by Thirty-Six Education this summer. Please see more information below.

Introduction to the ACT: July 21-25, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. daily

This 15-hour, in-person class will introduce students to the format and content of the English, math, and reading sections of the new Core ACT, as well as the optional science section. Students will take practice tests, learn key test-taking strategies, review high-impact content areas, and complete nightly homework. 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. Cost is $699 and students can register via Thirty-Six Education’s website.

Introduction to the PSAT: July 28-Aug. 1, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. daily

This 15-hour, in-person course will introduce students to the format and content of the PSAT reading/writing and math sections. Through proprietary Thirty-Six Education instructional materials and official College Board SAT/PSAT practice questions, students will learn the most commonly tested question types on the PSAT and key strategies for navigating the test. Students will complete nightly homework assignments to reinforce what they learn in class. Cost is $699 and students can register via Thirty-Six Education’s website.