Upper School Blast Oct 16, 2026

New Visitor Check-in System Across All Divisions

A new visitor check-in system is now in place across all divisions. Following a successful pilot at the Middle School earlier this year, we are expanding the process to strengthen campus safety and ensure we can account for visitors in case of an emergency.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, visitors coming to campus during school hours must check in at a designated kiosk in their division’s front office and present a driver’s license or other government-issued ID. This system is also used to conduct background checks for contractors and visitors. After checking in, visitors will receive a red visitor lanyard to be worn throughout their visit.

Visitors should park closest to the school building they are visiting, if space is available. If you are walking to and from buildings and not wearing your visitor lanyard, you may be stopped by a staff member. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but these measures are in place to ensure campus and student safety.

As we implement this new process across our community, we recognize that there may be questions and opportunities to make the experience smoother for everyone. If you would like to share a suggestion or ask a question, please contact Director of Safety & Security Jun Cho.

Thank you for your patience and partnership as we work together to make this process as effective and seamless as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions:

When do parents need to use the new visitor check-in system?

Parents visiting campus during school hours (aside from drop off and pick up) must check in at the kiosk inside their division’s front office, present their ID, and wear a red visitor lanyard for the duration of their visit.

Are there any exceptions?

In the following instances, parents will not be expected to check in or wear lanyards:

• Parents dropping off or picking up their children, or dropping something off at the building entrance
• Parents attending events outside school hours, such as athletic events or parent meetings
• Parents attending large outdoor events during school hours where they remain outside (such as Pumpkin Day)

How does the process apply to Parent Association meetings or walking groups?

If a large turnout is expected for a Parent Association meeting, the administrative assistant(s) for your division will utilize a paper sign-in sheet instead of the kiosk. For smaller meetings, 10 people or fewer, parents will be expected to sign in at the kiosk as usual.

The Hillsdale walking group will meet with an Upper School representative at the track. They will utilize a paper sign-in sheet and be given red lanyards to wear while on campus.

Securly Home — A New iPad Management App

Next week, we will begin rolling out Securly Home, an app designed to help parents support safe and responsible use of school-issued devices at home.

Securly gives parents greater visibility into how students are using their school-issued iPad and provides tools to help manage access to online content, both on and off campus.

Please watch for an email from Securly with more information about how the app works and instructions for getting started. If you have any questions, please contact Chief Technology & Innovation Officer Tony DePrato.

Campus Dining Enhancements & Culinary Updates

School-Wide Nutritional Improvements

We continue to prioritize fresh, nutritious offerings across both the Doherty and Hillsdale campuses. As part of this commitment, we are in the process of phasing out our prepackaged fruit and now provide fresh fruit daily at both campus kitchens. We are also phasing out our current inventory of caffeinated beverages at both locations.

Elevated Hot Plate Lunches

Our hot plate lunch program continues to evolve with an expanded selection of homemade comfort foods designed to offer familiar favorites with a fresh, culinary-focused approach. Current offerings include homemade meatloaf, baked cod, black bean and chicken tinga tacos, Palak paneer, and turkey Manhattan, with additional selections to come as we continue developing and expanding our new recipe database.

Rotating Build-Your-Own Bar

We have introduced a rotating build-your-own bar that gives students more choice and variety throughout the week. Featured options include baked potatoes; chicken wings; gourmet hot dogs, brats, and metts; mac and cheese; and other selections, with a variety of toppings like steamed broccoli, fresh jalapeños, and grilled peppers. The menu rotates weekly, keeping the experience fresh, engaging, and exciting for students.

Fresh and Flavorful Grab-and-Go Options

Our grab-and-go program now features weekly chef-created specials, offering convenient, fresh alternatives for students on the move. Selections include fresh fruit paired with cheese and crackers, freshly prepared cold wraps, and a variety of salads. These options provide greater variety while maintaining our focus on freshness, quality, and convenience.

Freshly Sliced Deli Meats and Weekly Chef Specials

Beginning this week, we are pleased to announce that all deli meats will be freshly sliced in-house, further enhancing the freshness and quality of our deli offerings.

We are also introducing a rotating selection of weekly chef specials, created to bring new flavors and variety to the menu. This week’s featured special is our buffalo chicken wrap, kicking off an exciting lineup of fresh, chef-inspired selections to come.

Our Ongoing Commitment

These enhancements reflect our continued commitment to improving campus dining through fresh ingredients, expanded menu variety, chef-driven offerings, and attentive service tailored to the needs of each campus. We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to elevate the dining experience for our students and school community.

Lunch Pricing

With all of the new offerings in the kitchen, we would like to clarify lunch pricing. The prices will also be added to the lunch menu on Nutrislice.

Hot plate lunch – $7.75

Build-Your-Own Bar – $7.75

Soup/Salad Bar – $7.75

These items are priced individually and cannot be mixed and matched. For example, if a student gets the hot plate lunch and the BYO item, the cost is $15.50.

Middle and Upper School students can also purchase items from the Grab & Go section a la carte.

Parent Teacher Conferences — Monday, Oct. 26, and Tuesday, Oct. 27

Parent teacher conferences will be held on Monday, Oct. 26, from 12-8 p.m. and Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Sign-ups are now available on the Veracross Parent Portal. Please note that an email sent earlier in the week contained incorrect dates.

Our school guidance counselors are also available for individual consultations. You can sign up for time with them by clicking on one of the links below:

• Sign up for an individual consultation with Vicky Hausberger, ninth and 10th grade school counselor
• Sign up for an individual consultation with Christine Stier, 11th and 12th grade school counselor

As a reminder, there is no school for students on Monday (and Tuesday for ninth grade students).

PSAT Testing for 10th and 11th Grade Students — Tuesday, Oct. 27

All 10th and 11th grade students will take the PSAT on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Students should arrive at their assigned location with their fully charged school-issued iPads at 8 a.m. Students will be dismissed based on their testing group at approximately the following times:

• Standard Time: 10:45 a.m.
• 50% Extended Time: 12 p.m.
• 100% Extended Time: 1 p.m.

College Application Work Day — Tuesday, Oct. 27

Tuesday, Oct. 27, is designated as a college application work day for seniors. The Hillsdale Commons will be available all day for seniors to work on college applications and essays. College counselors will be available to work with seniors from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Pathways for Prevention — Nov. 2-6

Seven Hills students in grades 5 and 7, along with all Upper School students, will participate in scheduled visits and lessons from our Pathways for Prevention specialist, Glenn Hall. “Mr. G,” as he is known to the kids, will deliver an evidence-based curriculum of developmentally appropriate education on substance misuse trends, healthy coping skills, peer pressure, and addiction.

Mr. G has a keen ability to build rapport and maintain elevated levels of student engagement. His sessions are filled with his personal recovery story as well as current information and trends to make this a relevant and informative experience for our Seven Hills students.

If you have questions or would like to know more, please access Pathways for Prevention’s website for more information or reach out to Upper School counselors Christine Stier or Vicky McGuinness Hausberger.