Upper School Blast Sep 11, 2026
Key Dates
Monday, Sept. 14-Friday, Sept. 18 — Spirit Week!
Wednesday, Sept. 16 — Upper Parent Association General Assembly Meeting, 9-10 a.m.
Friday, Sept. 18 — Homecoming. Family Grill Out, 5-7 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 19 — Homecoming. Cross Country Senior Meet, 8:45 a.m. Homecoming Dance, 8-11 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 24 — Girls Tennis Senior Night, 4 p.m.
Monday, Sept. 28 — Girls Soccer Senior Night, 6 p.m. College Cost and Financial Aid Presentation, 7-8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept. 29 — Seven Hills Association of Rainbow Events (SHARE) Parent Forum, 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 30 — New Parent Cocktail Social, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 3 — Boys Soccer Senior Night, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 4 — Upper Parent and Faculty Social, 4-7 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 7 — Parent Association Board Meeting, 8:30 a.m.
Thursday, Oct. 8 & Friday, Oct. 9 — Fall Break
Monday, Oct. 12 — No School. Records Day
Tuesday, Oct. 13 — No School. Faculty Professional Development Day
Grade-Level Key Dates Docs
Ninth Grade
Tenth Grade
Eleventh Grade
Senior Experience Doc
Photos of the Week
AP Language and Composition students put their rhetorical analysis skills to the test — one cereal box at a time.
NEW! Listen to The Blast
Click the play button below to listen to this week’s Upper School Blast, read by an automated reader. Please note that the Key Dates section is not included in this audio.
What to Know Now
Add/Drop Deadline — TODAY
This is a gentle reminder that the add/drop deadline for fall courses is today. Students interested in changing or adding classes have a form that parents should sign to confirm the request. For more information on the add/drop process, please review the Schedules and Add/Drop Process document.
Spirit Week Dress Up Days — Sept. 14-18
The week leading up to Homecoming is a Spirit Week across divisions. Help your student(s) get involved (and earn Swarm points!). Check out the flyer below to see the daily themes.
Mark Your Calendars — Winter Sports Registration Opens Wednesday, Sept. 16
Registration for winter sports will open on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and close on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Be on the lookout for an email from the athletic department with a direct link to register. To find out more about the Seven Hills athletic program and our winter teams, visit gostingers.com.
If you’re already looking ahead to spring and fall 2027 sports, please note the registration dates below:
- Spring sports registration: Opens Dec. 2 and closes Dec. 16
- Fall 2027 sports registration: Opens April 14 and closes April 28
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. Check out the flyer below to see the full lineup of events!
Homecoming Dance — Saturday, Sept. 19, from 8-11 p.m.
The “Southern Nights” themed Homecoming dance is Saturday night from 8-11 p.m. For student safety, all students must arrive no later than 8:30 p.m. and leave no earlier than 10:30 p.m. The dance cost is $10 cash at the door, and students are welcome to bring one guest from another school if desired (but must submit a guest form by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17).
Instructions for Pairing Canvas Accounts
We are now ready for parents and guardians to begin pairing their Canvas accounts with their students. We intentionally waited to begin this process so that faculty members had the opportunity to pair with students first in their roles as advisors.
Canvas pairing codes are valid for six days from the time they are created and can only be used once. Because of this, students should generate a new code for each parent or guardian when they are ready to complete the pairing process.
You must have this six-digit code from your student. These codes are generated by students.
Each observer (parent) needs their own unique pairing code.
To generate a code:
- Have your student log into Canvas
- In Global Navigation in the top left, click Account (by your picture)
- Click Settings
- On the right side, click Pair with Observer
- Copy the six-digit pairing code (this code expires after seven days or its first use)
- Click OK
If you have an issue, please reach out to your student’s advisor/homeroom teacher.
This information — as well as frequently asked questions — can be referenced on the Seven Hills website Canvas page.
Parent Association News
The Seven Hills Network of African-American Parents (SNAAP) Back-to-School Cookout — Saturday, Sept. 12, 2-5 p.m.
SNAAP is kicking off the new school year with a Back-to-School Cookout on Saturday, Sept. 12, from 2-5 p.m. at the Winton Woods — Cherry Hill Shelter.
The event will bring together Seven Hills families from Early, Lower, Middle, and Upper School for an afternoon of food, fun, fellowship, and plenty of Stinger spirit! It will be a wonderful opportunity for families to connect, build community, and celebrate the start of another great school year.
Walking Group — Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8:15 a.m.
Start your morning with good conversation, great company, and a seamless connection to our school community! Whether you stay for the whole loop or just pop in for 20 minutes, all fitness levels and schedules are welcome.
Plus, we’ll wrap up our loop in time for anyone who wants to head over together for the Upper School PA Meeting right after.
- Next walk: Wednesday, Sept. 16, at 8:15 a.m.
- Stay in the loop: Join our WhatsApp Group for route updates, weather calls, and meeting details.
Come for the steps, stay for the connection!
Upper School Parent Association General Assembly Meeting — Wednesday, Sept. 16, from 9-10 a.m. in the Hillsdale Commons
Let’s start off the year hearing from Head of Upper School Rick Tate, Assistant Head of School Laura Leonard, Director of Safety & Security “Sheriff JC,” and the guest of honor, Cruz.
The meeting will be held in the Hillsdale Commons. Please RSVP via ParentSquare.
If you have any questions, reach out to us.
Seven Hills Association of Rainbow Events (SHARE) — Parent Forum on Tuesday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m.
All Seven Hills parents, caregivers, and staff are welcome to attend our kickoff event for the new school year. Whether you are an LGBTQ+ parent/caregiver, raising an LGBTQ+ child, or an ally, come join us in the Upper School library for a relaxed evening of meaningful conversation and light refreshments.
Register for the event and connect with fellow families, share experiences, ask questions, and build community.
Can’t make it to the parent forum but want to stay informed? Join the SHARE mailing list.
Parent and Faculty Social — Sunday, Oct. 4, from 4-7 p.m.
Join us at MadTree Brewery in Oakley for the Parent and Faculty Social. Attending benefits your student! The swarm with the most representation will receive a significant point prize. Go for the points, stay for the conversation. Learn more and RSVP on ParentSquare.
Parent Volunteers Needed for Resume Workshop: Saturday, Oct. 3, from 9:15 a.m.-12 p.m.
We are looking for parents to coach Class of 2027 students on creating and polishing a resume in our first resume workshop.
Training and tools are provided. The number of student slots will be based on the number of parent volunteers. Our goal is for every participant to leave with valuable feedback on their resume.
For more information and to sign up, scan the QR code below or fill out the parent volunteer form.
You Belong Here
One of the things that makes Seven Hills special is its strong sense of community, and the Parent Association helps bring that community to life. The best part? You’re already a member!
View the Parent Association brochure to meet your PA leaders and see what the PA looks like in each of our divisions.
Want to volunteer? Sign up to volunteer here.
Have questions? Reach out to us.
Announcements
A Parent’s Guide to the Upper School
A Parent’s Guide to the Upper School lays out programs, policies, and people to know. Keep it bookmarked to learn about attendance, intellectual integrity, and senior privileges. You can also find it on the Veracross Parent Portal. If you have any questions, reach out to Dan Polifka.
Introducing our LEAD Together Lineup for First Semester
We are excited to Learn, Educate, and Discuss (LEAD) Together with new programming for this year. Through these collaborative sessions, we hope to foster strong partnerships among families and educators to support student learning, belonging, and success.
As we get closer to each event, we will share more detailed information in the Blast. Please see this semester’s lineup on the flyer below, and RSVP for all events through this Google form.
Experiential Learning — Student Opportunities
Each week in Upper’s all-school assembly, Director of Experiential Learning Karen Glum shares new opportunities that have become available to students. Each week, a list of these opportunities will be shared in the Parent Blast as well, including links to additional information when possible and appropriate.
The following new opportunities were shared with students this week and are posted on the experiential learning bulletin board:
- Occupational Therapy Career Talk hosted by students in Xavier University’s Doctorate of Occupational Therapy Program (including Bridget Mulica, Seven Hills ’19): The presentation will occur at lunch TODAY, Sept. 11. Students interested in exploring healthcare careers are encouraged to attend.
- Community Shares Content Production Internships: During the all-school assembly on Tuesday, Devoe Sherman from Community Shares spoke with students about opportunities to get involved with their work in content production for nonprofit member organizations. Students receive training and can choose to focus on data analytics, graphic design, video editing and production, social media, or other areas. Additionally, students are matched with an organization whose mission aligns with their values. Community Shares has worked successfully with hundreds of regional college and high school students, and we are excited to bring this opportunity to Seven Hills.
- Active Minds Mental Health Advocacy Academy: A free national leadership opportunity for high school students who want to make a change in mental health. Applications are due Sunday, Sept. 13.