Upper School Blast Feb 13, 2026

Register for the Summer Program at Seven Hills!

Seven Hills families have priority registration beginning Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. until Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. The priority code is prioritysevenhills2026. All registration is done through Ultracamp.

General registration opens Feb. 13 at 9 a.m. Programs will fill up quickly, so be sure to register as soon as you can. Many programs are already at capacity. For early childhood programs, you can add yourself to the waitlist in Ultracamp if a program is full. For all other programs, you must email summer@7hills.org to be added to the waitlist.

Tips to help with registration

1. Registration is based on the grade your child will be in for the 2026-27 school year.
2. Programs will fill quickly. For early childhood programs, you can add yourself to the waitlist if a program is full. For all other programs, you must email summer@7hills.org to be added to the waitlist. 

Summer P.E.

Pay special attention to Summer P.E., running July 20-31. This would help your rising 10th grader knock out their P.E. credit during the summer.

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.

Course Request/Registration Timeline

The 2026-27 Upper School Program of Studies is now available. Please see the Course Registration Timeline for important dates.  Parents with students in eighth through 11th grade are invited to one of three informational sessions to help understand how you can help your students thrive as they request courses for next year.

• Feb. 18 — 8:15 a.m. in the Hillsdale Commons (next to Kalnow gym)
• Feb. 18 — 7 p.m. via Zoom. The Zoom link and information are in the Veracross Parent Portal.
• Feb. 19 — 7:15 p.m. Young Family Library in the Upper School building

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. The Zoom link and information are in the Veracross Parent Portal. 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!

Senior Diplomas — Name Preference

Senior parents, please know your students have received an email regarding the name they would like printed on their diploma. It is very important that students put their information into the 2026 Seniors Diploma Name document by March 1. A calligrapher does each diploma by hand and needs time to complete them all. Please note that if your student does NOT enter their desired name by the deadline, their first and last name in the system will be used. Please contact the Upper Office with questions.

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.

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.

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.