Upper School Blast Jan 9, 2026

First Semester Grades in Veracross

The first semester for the Upper School concluded on Dec. 20 after exams. Semester one grades will be posted this afternoon at 3 p.m. on your Veracross portal. If a student earned less than a C in any particular course, you will also find details under the comments section in Veracross for that particular course. Please reach out to your child’s teacher or advisor with any specific questions.

Below you will find the official reporting dates for the second semester, which began on Monday, Jan. 5.

• Feb. 24 — Academic progress comments released for all students at 3 p.m.
• March 13 — Interim report cards and comments (C- or lower) distributed at 3 p.m.
• April 17 — Comments for students earning C- or lower in a course will be distributed at 3 p.m.
• May 19 — End of second semester
• May 20-27 — May Term (required attendance for students in ninth to 11th grade)
• June 5 — Final grades distributed at 3 p.m.

Junior Family College Counseling Meeting — Monday, Jan. 12, 7-8 p.m., Zoom

Parents/guardians of juniors are invited to join the College Counseling team on Monday, Jan. 12, 7-8 p.m., via Zoom for a follow-up to our fall presentation. We’ll review the college admissions calendar and key next steps, including how and when families meet with counselors, building a balanced college list, summer planning, college research, campus visits, understanding college costs, using SCOIR, and more. A Zoom link is available on the Class of 2027 College Counseling Canvas group. Slides and a recording will be posted on Canvas for families who are unable to attend.

MLK Day of Service – Monday, Jan. 19

The entire Seven Hills community is warmly invited to join us for our 13th Annual MLK Day On, Not Off. We’re excited to offer two service sites where volunteers can participate in meaningful, hands-on projects that honor Dr. King’s vision of service, unity, and community responsibility.

Please use the Google Form links below to let Seven Hills organizers know who and how many people will be attending and to fill out the registration forms for each organization.

We look forward to making this day of service a meaningful experience for members of our Seven Hills community.

Matthew 25: Ministries
Time: 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
Ages: Open to participants of all ages
Address: 11060 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242
Forms: Please register using the Matthew 25: Ministries Google Form. Returning volunteers can bring their MM25 ID card with them. 

Freestore Foodbank
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Ages: Open to volunteers 12 years and older
Address: Community Resource Distribution Center, 3401 Rosenthal Way, Cincinnati, OH45204
Forms: Please register using the Freestore Foodbank Google Form.

Note from Nurses — Respiratory Virus Prevention 

We are seeing an increase in flu and other respiratory illnesses in the community. To help reduce the spread of illness at school, please keep children home if they have symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, or vomiting. Students should be fever-free and free from vomiting for at least 24 hours (without medication) before returning to school. Thank you for reinforcing good hand hygiene and cough etiquette at home as we work together to keep our community healthy.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to your campus nurse if you have any questions or concerns.

Second Semester LEAD Together Events

Thanks to all who joined us for one or more of the LEAD Together events during the first semester. We are looking forward to learning alongside you with a new lineup of speakers and local experts who can support our journey in parenting and educating. Save the dates for our second semester LEAD Together programming! 

Join Us for a Fireside Book Discussion: Ariel Lawhon’s “The Frozen River”

Please RSVP to attend the Seven Hills Books For Lunch Fireside Discussion on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Upper School library. 

In this cozy, intimate setting, our Head of Upper School Rick Tate will be joined by English teacher Nate Gleiner for a lively discussion of Ariel Lawhon’s award-winning novel, “The Frozen River.”

Enjoy an evening discussing Lawson’s gripping historical mystery novel, inspired by the life and diary of Martha Ballard, a renowned 18th-century midwife who investigates a shocking murder that unhinges her small community.

The best part? You don’t have to have read the book to join the conversation! This is your shortcut to an engaging night full of ideas, insights, and lively conversation. Whether you’ve read “The Frozen River” or just enjoy exploring thought-provoking literature, you’ll find something valuable in the discussion.

RSVP today. The last day to RSVP is Jan. 19.

Free Virtual Practice ACT for 10th and 11th Grade Students — Jan. 24

Revolution Prep, one of the nation’s leading test prep organizations, is partnering with Seven Hills college counseling to offer free practice exams to 10th and 11th grade students on Saturday, Jan. 24, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. via Zoom. See more Information and test registration.

Students can take these digital, full-length, proctored practice tests from home at no cost. As the preferred test prep partner of the ACT, Rev Prep offers a practice test that mirrors the new digital version of the ACT. After the rest, Rev Prep will send a free, detailed score report and also offer a free 30-minute review with a Revolution Prep tutor to interpret the results.

Taking a practice ACT in 10th or 11th grade helps students become familiar with the test format, identify areas for improvement, and build confidence before the official exam. While some juniors choose to test earlier, most students take their first official ACT or SAT between December and March of 11th grade. Many then plan a second test in late spring or summer and, if needed, a final attempt in early fall of 12th grade before college application deadlines.

Additional free practice test dates for the ACT and SAT can be found on Revolution Prep’s website.

Reserve your Ticket to Books for Lunch!

Join us for the Seven Hills 39th Annual Books for Lunch on Feb. 6 at The Lightwell in Covington! Enjoy an engaging afternoon featuring New York Times bestselling author Ariel Lawhon as our keynote speaker. The cash bar opens at 11 a.m., followed by a delightful luncheon and Lawhon’s talk at 12 p.m. 

Don’t forget to snag your copy of “The Frozen River,” a Good Morning America book club pick, for a special signing after the event. Hurry, tickets are selling fast. Secure your ticket and book now. Sponsorship opportunities are available, please consider supporting this important event. 

Questions? Email us at booksforlunch@7hills.org.

2026 Summer Program — Priority Registration opens at 9 a.m. on Feb. 10!

Excitement is in the air as we gear up for another fantastic summer filled with fun, learning, and unforgettable experiences! We’re thrilled to announce that priority registration for our Summer Program will open at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, for Seven Hills families only. Use the priority registration code from the email sent on Dec. 3. 

The Seven Hills School Summer Program uses Ultracamp to streamline registration. 

• New Ultracamp users: We recommend creating an Ultracamp account prior to registration if you don’t have one already. Here is the Ultracamp account registration link.
• Returning Ultracamp users: Returning Ultracamp users will need their username and password to log in.

Global Ed Day Volunteer Presenters Needed … Middle School Needs Your Help!

On Friday, March 6, Middle School will celebrate our 17th Annual Global Education Day and we could use your help! As part of our morning activities, students will attend small group sessions. We are looking for members of the Seven Hills community (and beyond) to conduct these sessions. Students will attend three 40-minute sessions during the morning, between 10 a.m.-12:10 p.m. 

In the past, sessions have included topics such as travel, cuisine, or other elements of culture from around the world, conducting business in a global world, technological advances and their impact on the world, science and conservation, etc. The ideas are limitless! Facilities could be available to prepare foods. The number of students in a session can be limited if necessary due to space or recommendations from the presenter.  

If you are interested in being a presenter or know someone who you think would be a good fit for this day, please contact Jennifer Licata by no later than Friday, Feb. 13.

Senior Showcase Photo — Due April 30

We would love to showcase each senior’s achievements and post grad plans by displaying a senior photo of them in our showcase located outside of the Upper office. Along with their photo we will display their chosen college. 

Below are the guidelines we would like you to follow regarding the photo:

• 4×6
• Vertical
• Black & White OR color
• MUST be printed (we do not have the ability to print in house)

We would like to have these photos displayed before graduation to ensure your students are able to see the showcase and enjoy this traditional moment. The due date for this is April 30. Your students may bring this photo to Mrs. Minton in the Upper office.

We appreciate your assistance and attention to this. If you have any questions please contact upper.office@7hills.org.