Upper School Blast Feb 6, 2026
Key Dates
Friday, Feb. 6 — Books for Lunch
Saturday, Feb. 7 — Winter Formal, 8-11 p.m.
Monday, Feb. 9 — Ninth Grade College Counseling Meeting, 7 p.m., Zoom
Friday, Feb. 13 — No School. Faculty Records Day
Monday, Feb. 16 — No School. Presidents Day
Wednesday, Feb. 18 — Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Photos of the Week
The Mock Trial Team A is having a wonderful season and will compete at the regional round of the state competition later this month. Junior Will Stock, second from left, and junior Sakshum Vij, not pictured, won best attorney for their trials at the district competition.
What to Know Now
Get Tickets for the Upper Theater Departments Winter Play — The Laramie Project, Feb. 7
Join the Upper theater department for the winter play, “The Laramie Project” by Moises Kaufman on Feb. 7 in Schiff 102, the theater classroom. Seating is extremely limited and advanced tickets can be purchased via TicketLeap.
The production runs approximately two hours plus an intermission and is rated 14+ due to language and content. Join us for this challenging and beautiful documentary style play.
Winter Formal — Saturday, Feb. 7, 8-11 p.m.
Unofficial Transcripts Now Available on Parent Portal
Change for Pizza Delivery Days
Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 11, the choice of pizza in the Stingers Cafe will be LaRosa’s hand tossed cheese or pepperoni every Wednesday on pizza delivery day. The Early Childhood Center will serve LaRosa’s cheese pizza. For allergy and ingredient information, please check Nurtislice.
Ninth Grade Parents and Guardians College Counseling Meeting — Monday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., Zoom
Parents and guardians of ninth graders are invited to join the college counseling team on Monday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. via Zoom to discuss our four-year college counseling program, class registration, testing, activities, experiential learning, and more. A link to the meeting is available on the Class of 2029 College Counseling Canvas group. A recording of the program will be shared on Canvas for those unable to attend.
Summer Program Important Dates
- Feb. 10 — Registration will open at 9 a.m. Use code: prioritysevenhills2026
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.
Parent Community News
February Programing Alert: Course Selection and Department Overviews
RSVP today for the Beyond the Syllabus program led by Rick Tate and the Seven Hills Team. This highly attended session has been updated since last year to include department overviews and insights. The team will delve into the course selection process and the academic offerings at the school. They will also be on hand to answer questions and connect. There are multiple sessions to accommodate all schedules. The program will not be recorded.
Please note in the Evite comments which session you plan to attend: Feb. 18 morning, in person (Hillsdale Commons), Feb. 18 evening, via Zoom, or Feb. 19 evening, in person (Young Family Library).
If you have any questions, please reach out: us.pa@7hills.org
Announcements
Visitor Kiosk in Middle School Office
There is a new visitor check-in system in the Middle School office. Middle School visitors will now need to present a driver’s license or government-issued ID when visiting campus. We are currently piloting this new system in the Middle School before rolling it out to all divisions later this spring. Thank you for your patience as we test this new security feature.
Spring Music Showcase — March 8
The Upper School Music Department is excited to present its first Spring Music Showcase, open to all Upper School musicians. The event will be held on Sunday, March 8, at 2 p.m. in The Schiff Center. Musicians of all backgrounds are encouraged to participate — no matter your level of experience.
Students who are interested in performing must arrange a time to audition with Mr. Rising or Mrs. Kuhlman during the week of Feb. 17-20. Music should be polished and ready to go. Schedule your audition today!
International Travel Information Night on Zoom — Feb. 25, 6:30 p.m.
Are you looking for an opportunity for your child to host a student from another country, participate in an international educational opportunity, or both? Join us on Zoom on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m. to hear about student travel opportunities for 2026-27 and visit breakout rooms to learn more about opportunities including French or Danish exchange trips, science research in Costa Rica, a trip to the Globe Theatre to study and see Shakespeare live, or the biannual performing arts musical tour. While the meeting won’t be recorded, we will have materials available in The Blast.
LEAD Together Sessions for Second Semester
Please join other parents, faculty members and administrators to discuss topics around parenting. These are great opportunities to learn together. Please note that we are offering free childcare for the ISACS webinars with experts on Feb. 26 and April 22. Please register now!
Join Students for a Special Ramadan Iftar — March 4
Our Upper School Muslim Student Association has expressed a heartfelt desire to share a meal with their school community during Ramadan, and we are honored to provide a space for that gathering. On March 4 from 6-8 p.m., Muslim families are invited to come together from across the school community to connect and share in the traditions and spirit of Ramadan. This is an opportunity for students and families to see and support one another, voice their experiences, and feel a sense of belonging. If you would like to attend or support, RSVP now.
Upper School Experiential Learning Day — Friday, March 6
Two core aspects of Experiential Ed are learning by doing and gaining understanding through real-world experiences. We have an active day planned for students — and some opportunities for parent involvement as well!
Ninth Grade Service Learning Day
Developing empathy and insights into the lives of others is essential to meaningful service that does good without doing harm. During our Service Learning Day, we will continue to develop that level of connection and understanding, building upon our work throughout the year. Students will participate in activities at the Ozanam Center to gain new perspectives on poverty. They will also visit the Linden Grove School to engage with students and teachers during lessons and play. Linden Grove’s director of therapeutic services will work with ninth graders earlier in the week in preparation for this visit. Thanks to several parents who have volunteered to help on this busy day! Please contact Karen Glum if you haven’t signed up but would still like to volunteer.
10th Grade Cultural Immersion Day
This festive day exploring South Asian culture is planned by juniors Noor Arif and Avery Wang with support from Mr. Beyreis. Morning activities include Chinese dance, arts and crafts, and a visit to a mosque. A rotation of afternoon activities includes film, food, henna, games, music and dance, and sports. Parents who would like to share experiences or skills related to Asian culture are encouraged to reach out to Mark Beyreis for more information.
11th Grade Sustainability Day
What does sustainability look like across industries and organizations in Greater Cincinnati? 11th graders will explore this question through small group field trips to a variety of private, public, and nonprofit entities, on-campus guest speakers, and a visit to the zoo — a local leader in sustainability. Is sustainability part of your professional role? Reach out to Brian Wabler if you’d like to join or support us on this day.
12th Grade College Life 101
College apps are finished, and acceptances are rolling in. The hard part is over. Or is it? The realities of college living, from getting along with your roommates to managing money, can be daunting. Seniors will spend this day focused on the non-academic aspects of college. Through role-play, games, and other activities, students will prepare for their next steps into “adulting.”
Students have requested the following topics: If you have expertise and are willing to lead or co-lead one of these hands-on sessions as an outside expert, please sign up via the Google Form or reach out to Rick Tate.
- Adulting basics: insurance, taxes, and forms
- Building a resume/how to interview for a job
- Finding friends in college
- Getting involved in campus life
- How to cook in a dorm
- How to deal with college professors
- How to network
- Knowing your rights and responsibilities
- Living with roommates
- Personal finance 101
- Study skills that actually work in college
Free Practice PSAT for Ninth and 10th Graders — Saturday, March 7, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
The college counseling department is offering a free practice PSAT exam through Revolution Prep, one of the nation’s leading test prep organizations. Seven Hills ninth and 10th graders can take this full-length, proctored practice test from home at no cost. Afterward, Revolution Prep will provide a free, detailed score report with personalized feedback and preparation recommendations. While the PSAT is not used in college admission and scores are not sent to colleges, students may benefit from taking a practice exam to gain valuable test-taking experience in a supportive, low-pressure setting. Visit Revolution Prep’s website for information on how to register and to learn more.
Want to Learn More About Discipline with the Brain in Mind?
Thanks to our partnership with ISACS (Independent Schools of Central States), we have access to a webinar with Tina Payne Bryson. Bryson is a pediatric psychotherapist and wrote “No Drama Discipline” and “The Whole Brain Child,” to name a few. Please view the webinar. This recording will remain available through June 30.