Upper School Blast Aug 21, 2026
Key Dates
Friday, Aug. 21 — Ninth Grade Orientation & Parent Meeting, 8 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 23 — Senior Kickoff, 2-6 p.m.
Tuesday, Aug. 25 — Special Schedule, First Day of School
Tuesday, Aug. 25 — Grades 4-12 Opening Assembly, 9:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Aug. 26 — A1
Thursday, Aug. 27 — B1
Friday, Aug. 28 — A2. Show Your Spirit! Spirit Wear Day with Mr. Snowie at lunch
Monday, Aug. 31 — B2
Tuesday, Sept. 1 — A3
Wednesday, Sept. 2 — B3. Parent Association Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m. Upper School Parent Night (Meet the Teachers), 6:30-9:15 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 3 — A4. Upper Picture Day
Friday, Sept. 4 — B4. Upper Picture Day
Monday, Sept. 7 — Labor Day. No School
Tuesday, Sept. 8 — Senior Family Meeting with College Counselors, 7-8 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 9 — Coffee with a College Counselor, 9-10 a.m. Board of Trustees Meeting, 6:30 p.m.
Week of Sept. 14 — Spirit Week!
Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19 — Homecoming
Friday, Sept. 18 — Family Grill-Out, 5-7 p.m.
Photos of the Week
Katie Swinford, Upper School world language/history teacher, and Laura Dombek-Crain, Upper School learning specialist, are excited to welcome students back for the first day of school.
What to Know Now
Medication Drop-off
The school nurses will be collecting medications for students in first through 12th grade, such as daily medications given at lunch and emergency medications. The nurses will be on the sidewalk at a table under the columns in front of the Upper School entrance on:
- Today, Aug. 21, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
- Monday, Aug. 24, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Please Note:
- Medication must be in the original container from the pharmacy.
- All prescription medication forms must be uploaded to Magnus Health.
- No paper forms will be accepted.
- We would appreciate receiving all medications in advance of the first day of school.
First Day of School Schedule
The first day of school schedule will help you understand what to expect on Aug. 25.
Student Schedules
Your student should now be able to view their schedules for the upcoming year on their Veracross Portal. For information on how to locate the schedule and details about the add/drop process, please review the Schedules and Add/Drop Process document.
A Parent’s Guide to the Upper School
A Parent’s Guide to Upper School is a document that details key policies, programs, and people in the Upper School. This lives permanently on your Veracross portal. Please check it out and reach out with any questions.
On-Campus Student Parking
Students in grades 10-12 are welcome to park on campus as long as they have an active driver’s license. To obtain a parking spot, students must read and agree to the on-campus parking rules and complete a form (link inside the parking rules) providing information about their car.
Student Lanyards & Technology
Our safety policy requires all students and employees to wear lanyards at all times while on campus. Your students should have received an email earlier this week from our technology department regarding what they should do if they are unable to locate their lanyards before school begins. Please have them refer to this email with any questions they may have regarding their tech or have them speak with their advisor for assistance.
New Year, New Gear — Spirit Day on Friday, Aug. 28
The first week of school is always buzzing with excitement — and this year, we’re adding more spirit to the mix! Next week, every student will receive a new piece of Seven Hills spirit wear as a gift from the school to kick off the 2026-27 year.
We hope they’ll wear their new Seven Hills shirt on Friday, Aug. 28, for our first Spirit Day of the year. We can’t wait to see everyone’s Stinger Pride and to celebrate a great first week in style!
Parent Association News
“And so the adventure begins.” — George Reeves
Welcome back from the Upper School Parent Association! Please meet our team. We look forward to seeing you throughout the year!
- Chair: Katy Fraser (Mom to Lily ’27, Charlie, and Henry ’31)
- Vice Chair: Carrie Rathod (Mom to Valmik ’27 and Kaval ’30)
- Communications: Karen Hwang (Mom to Theo and Penelope ’27)
- Treasurer: Carolyn Klein (Mom to Spencer ’25 and Courtney ’29)
Share Your Talents
We have something for everyone! The Seven Hills community consists of incredible families with unique talents and perspectives. Please help support our students while growing the community by volunteering your time. There is an assortment of opportunities for all schedules. If you have an idea, we want to make it happen. Just reach out! Sign up to volunteer for the PA.
The Seven Hills Spirit Shop Is Back!
Get ready to show your Stinger pride — the Spirit Shop is opening its doors before the school year even begins! We’re hosting three special back-to-school shopping sessions so you can stock up on all your favorite Seven Hills gear before the first bell rings.
Back-to-School Opening Dates
- Friday, Aug. 21, 9-10:30 a.m. — In the Spirit Shop
- Monday, Aug. 24, 1-3 p.m. — Pop-up at Lotspeich Event/Spirit Shop
- Monday, Aug. 24, 1-2:30 p.m. — Pop-up at Doherty Event
Where to Find Us
The Spirit Shop is located in the lobby of the Kalnow Gym on the Hillsdale Campus. During the school year, we’re open most school days from 11 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
Can’t make it in person? Shop anytime at our online store.
Want to Get Involved?
The Spirit Shop runs on the enthusiasm of our community — and we’d love your help! We’re looking for volunteers who can commit to a once-a-month shift during regular shop hours as well as folks who’d enjoy helping out at our occasional pop-up events throughout the year. If you’re interested in either opportunity, sign up to volunteer here!
Email us if you have Spirit Shop questions. We’d love to have you on the team. Go Stingers!
— Leesa Pruett Ceron & Lindsay Cassady
Senior Corner: What’s Coming Up in Senior Year
Senior Preview Party
Thank you to all who attended, as well as Mr. Tate and team. This was an amazing community event that brought senior parents together as we learned about the year ahead. For those who could not attend, all of the information will be shared. Stay tuned or reach out any time!
Senior Kickoff — Sunday, Aug. 23, from 2-6 p.m.
Senior community event with food, music, and parking spot painting. This event is weather dependent. Event information and parking spot painting rules were emailed to students and parents by Dan Polifka. If you have any questions about the event, please email Dan Polifka. Family and friends are invited!
Senior Clap In — Tuesday, Aug. 25 (STUDENTS ONLY)
This is a Seven Hills tradition to welcome the students into their senior year. The entire campus claps them into the school. Amazing!
Thank You, Senior Parent Committee
Wow! We have a great team of parents focused on bringing fantastic ideas to life for our seniors. The role of the committee is to support the seniors as they navigate this year. The committee will be reaching out to the broader parent group for support for events through sign-ups and such. Lots more to come, so stay tuned. If you have questions, please contact Katy Fraser.
Upcoming Events
Mark your calendar!
Walking Group — First Walk on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 8:15 a.m.
Step into the school year together! Everyone is welcome to join the walking group, where we walk and talk. You can easily pop in or out depending on your schedule. Conversations are always interesting and varied. It is a fabulous way to start the day with a fun group of people. If the weather isn’t great, we go for coffee instead. Join the WhatsApp group to stay informed!
Upper Parent Association General Assembly Meeting — Sept. 16 from 9-10 a.m.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit the e-vite. You can also respond on ParentSquare!
Parent and Faculty Social — Oct. 4 from 4-7 p.m.
For more information or to RSVP, please visit the e-vite. You can also respond on ParentSquare! New this year, a prize will be given to swarms based on parent representation.
Announcements
Soccer Showcase — Thursday, Sept. 3
Save the date for a Soccer Showcase on Sept. 3. Our junior varsity and varsity boys and girls soccer teams will be playing at the same time on the upper and lower fields. Come out and support our soccer teams!
Upper Picture Day — Thursday, Sept 3 & Friday, Sept. 4
Upper picture day(s) will take place on Sept. 3 and 4. Students will be assigned a day based upon when their English class will meet. This schedule will be shared with them on Monday, Aug. 31, to ensure they are prepared for their photo.
Retakes will only be held for those who miss their photo due to circumstances out of their control. These will take place Oct. 14.
Homecoming — Friday, Sept. 18 & Saturday, Sept. 19
Save the date for Friday, Sept. 18, and Saturday, Sept. 19, for a fun weekend of homecoming festivities.