Seven Hills Fall 2018 Magazine

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The Though tful Design of Upper School Educati on at Seven Hills

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Counting Our Blessings

By Head of School Christopher P. Garten

Boundless: The Thoughtful Design of Upper School Education at Seven Hills By Karla Dejean School News School News - Sports School News - Arts Alumni News and Class Notes Upcoming Alumni Events Front cover photo: Freshman Harper Gable is all smiles as she makes her way through Four Corners to her next class on a cold December morning.

Fall 2018

Special thanks to Keith Neu for his sports photography.

Seven Hills Magazine is a publication of The Seven Hills School.

Christopher P. Garten Head of School Margo Kirstein Director of Development

Chris Hedges Director of Marketing & Communications

Karla Dejean Writer & Project Manager, photographer

Sarah Ott Lautar ’05 Director of Alumni Engagement

Taylor Evans Communications Specialist, photographer Š 2018 The Seven Hills School

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Christopher P. Garten HEAD OF SCHOOL

COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS This fall, led by our Board of Trustees, Seven Hills has embarked on another round of strategic planning, to plot the future course of this institution over the next five years.

An important part of that process has been gathering feedback from our key constituencies—college-age alumni, students and their parents, and our loyal and dedicated faculty and staff. We have also gathered reams of quantitative data, benchmarking Seven Hills against some of the nation’s very finest schools in virtually every area of operation.

All of this information, along with dozens of conversations in stakeholder groups this fall, has provided an invaluable opportunity to reflect on the qualities that make this community so special.

As I read through survey responses, I was struck by three common themes.

The first is this school’s abiding commitment to continuous improvement. Over and over, our students, alumni, and their families enthusiastically recognized the efforts the faculty have made to innovate, to add new programs, to experiment with new approaches, and to be, as one respondent put it, “the best at getting better.”

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Secondly, respondents celebrated the caliber of the individuals associated with this school: the talent, drive, and kindness of our students; the skill and dedication of the faculty and staff; and the visionary leadership of the school’s division heads, the administrative team, and the Board.

But the characteristic that, for most folks, truly defines Seven Hills is the strength of our community. Asked to enumerate what they value most about the school, our faculty, students, parents, and alumni speak with one voice. This, they said, is a very special place. A special place to work, to grow, and to learn. As intrigued as many of our constituents are about the host of innovative new programs the school might develop in the coming years, there was also a clarion call to make a priority of preserving the warm and inclusive culture that has always defined this community.

It has been thrilling, this fall, to watch the construction of The Schiff Center, with its 500-seat auditorium and ample rehearsal spaces. It has been equally thrilling to watch the rapid progress of our new four-court field house that is, as I write, rising over the soccer field at the north end of our campus.

I and the faculty are tremendously inspired by these new facilities, energized to initiate exciting new

programs and learning experiences for our students. But, for me, the real benefit of these fabulous new spaces is the role they will play in bringing us together as a community.

Again this fall, I have had dozens of opportunities to witness the many ways community is built on our campuses— assemblies and pep rallies, impassioned classroom debates, student-initiated clubs and activities, new friendships being made, close-knit athletic teams, and committed troupes of musical and theater performers, united in a common purpose. Coming together to celebrate one another’s achievements is at the heart of this community.

So, it is thrilling to contemplate how these new facilities will provide more opportunities to forge all those close relationships on which our community depends.

I have also been struck, again this fall, with how blessed we are in the strength of the individuals who have devoted their lives to this school. Our deeply committed Board of Trustees has provided the strategic vision and secured the resources to bring these projects to life. Our faculty has brought the creativity and the initiative to strengthen, year after year, the breadth of our program.

And we are blessed—none more than I—in the superb team of administrative

leaders who will help guide this school into the future.

This issue of the magazine celebrates the impact of one of those leaders, our Head of Upper School, Dr. Matt Bolton. Matt, who begins his fifth year at the helm, has done a wonderful job of galvanizing the energies of a superb Upper School faculty to generate a host of new programs and pedagogies that meet, even more fully, the evolving needs of our Upper School students.

Similarly, we are blessed this year to welcome two new school leaders who have, in their short time with us, already made an indelible mark. Building on the legacy of her predecessor, Patti Guethlein, our new Head of Doherty, Tracy Murch, has brought an exciting new vision to the Doherty Campus, a focus on making learning even more relevant, interdisciplinary, engaging, and fun. And, inheriting the mantle of Duke Snyder and Brian Phelps, our new Athletic Director, Scott Willard, has quickly brought his own sense of professionalism and managerial brio to our athletic department.

Later this year, we will be rolling out our new strategic plan to articulate a bold new vision for the continuing evolution of this school. But before we embark on our next steps together, it is a great time to reflect on all the blessings that make this school what it is and recognize we have a great deal to celebrate together!

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The Thoughtful Design of Upper School Education at Seven Hills

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n most cases in the Western world, the high school experience comprises a classroom of four walls, chairs, a chalkboard or whiteboard, and a teacher who teaches. Students move from class to class in a six-hour timespan, break for lunch, sif t off to extracurricular commitments, then head home.

discussion, challenging--and in some cases, toppling-what some consider to be barriers to true learning.

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number of signature programs unique to Seven Hills, along with the vision of a supportive administration and leaders who disrupt the status quo of archaic educational practices, positions the Upper School as a budding model for the future of high school education.

the Upper School, a community of learners who pair cornerstone traditions with a fervent commitment to flex to the needs of young adult learners.

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n a national scale, now more than ever, high schools are facing a crossroads, when it comes to being able to prepare students for a world that is increasingly pluralistic, global, and fast-moving.

We tare achingly close to realizing this, the latest iteration of our evolving dream a time when nationally recognized though t of Seven Hills’ future...And when our work is done, we can all take pride in what leaders are reconsidering haveofbuilt, not only forn our the we benefits this agethis current issue, thestudents, spectrum but for the generations even Hills’ School oldof educational model, who will walk young people these halls long after we have left Upper our mark. of the Seven Hills

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Seven Hills’ Upper School has already arrived for the

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is ready.

Informed by the past; Inspired by the future

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H E L A S T I N G I M PAC T O F A SE VEN HILL S UPPER S C H O O L E D U C AT I O N I S R O OT E D I N T H E S C H O O L’ S COLLEC TIVE BLEND OF EQUAL PA R T S T R A D I T I O N A N D I N N O VAT I O N , F U EL ED BY T H E B EL I EF T H AT L E A R N I N G I S A H I G H LY S O CI A L P R O CE S S , A N D BY T H E P R O M I S E A M O N G FAC U LT Y A N D A D M I N I S T R AT I O N TO A LWAY S B E O P EN TO CH A N G E .

The Seven Hills School community, past and present, experiences this balance in the way recent graduates easily adapt to the demands of college life, in the confidence parents have in Seven Hills’ four-year college counseling program, and in the space Upper School teachers have been given to evolve teaching models and take their classrooms beyond the walls of 5400 Red Bank Road.

That blend is what makes Seven Hills, Seven Hills, said Assistant Head of School Susan Marrs. She said she repeatedly hears a similar theme that mirrors the intentionality of Seven Hills’ focus on academics and socialization from recent graduates who often make it back to their high school alma mater during the holidays.

“Again and again, they say they feel so well prepared for college,” said Marrs. “And those who are now in the work world talk about the sense of community that was so important to them. One student told me, ‘I felt heard as an adolescent, and I know now how important and how rare that is.’”

Judge Jeffrey Sutton & Zaki Anwar

Older Seven Hills alumni say their connection to Seven Hills continues to inform the quality of their daily lives.

Seven Hills Alumnus Zaki Anwar ’07 said, from his home in the Washington, D.C., area, that his most memorable learning experience took place in history teacher Bob Turansky’s political theory seminars.

“It was the first time I thought carefully about topics like liberty, fairness, justice, and virtue,” said Anwar, who received degrees in economics and political science from Columbia University, and later a law degree from Harvard University. “Each class discussion forced me to revisit my assumptions about those first principles and reason through complicated topics in a disciplined way. Mr. Turansky also taught me how to express my ideas through my writing, simply and clearly. Those are the same skills

I used to make it through law school and continue to draw upon in my job.”

The presence of Upper School signature programs, such as Seven Hills’ four-year college counseling, Experiential Learning, class advisory discussions, and myriad other learning opportunities in and out of the classroom, teaches students the importance and scope of finding one’s purpose and nurturing and maintaining human connections.

“The best thing about Seven Hills is the people,” said Anwar, who will serve next year as clerk for Chief Justice John G. Roberts of the Supreme Court. “To this day, many of my closest friends are those I spent hours learning calculus with in class, running sprints with at basketball practice, and cracking jokes with in the senior lounge. The teachers took a real interest in my growth, not just as a student, but as a young man, and keep in close touch with me today. The school’s support system is unique, and it gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams. There are so many great schools in Cincinnati, but I would not be where I am today without the people of Seven Hills.”

It is the human connections, said Seven Hills parent Ronna Schneider, that make a definitive and lasting impact on everyone in the school community.

“The way the Upper School is set up, they teach the students how to manage their life and time,” said Schneider, mother of a Seven Hills alumna, a senior, and two freshmen.

“I’m always impressed with how students are given some free time. It’s like college.”

Schneider said Seven Hills’ Upper School’s advisory system, in which the same group of students discuss teacher-guided social and academic subjects together throughout the Continued on page 8

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The Thou ghtf ul Desi gn of Uppe r Scho ol Educ atio n at Seve n Hills

year, also help freshmen ease into the high school experience. The confidence students gain when they ask Seven Hills teachers for extra help prepares them to walk in front of 400 students after class and talk to a college professor, she said.

Learning program and the school’s first May Term intensives, launched in spring of 2018.

The best way to explain it, said Bolton, is to

Did you

know?

Schneider said students also feel at home in the ways they define themselves, and supported by their teachers to share the ways they identify within the school community.

“There are so many different clubs and they are started by students, which truly promotes an appreciation for diversity,” said Schneider. “We keep the Sabbath and I have a line of kids who want to come to our home for Shabbat dinner. During Sabbath we don’t use our phones. So, in our home we have our children’s friends from school all sitting down and talking to each other. And, regardless of their faith background, they ask for blessings from our children. When you make people feel comfortable, they will do the same. That is a very big theme at Seven Hills.”

CHANGE AGENT

Since he moved into his post as Head of Upper School in 2014, Matt Bolton has rolled out a very specific vision for creating spaces, opportunities, and connections conducive to the way teens and young adults learn. He has hired a faculty with expertise both in advanced subject areas and in working with adolescents, whose collective goals center around creating learning experiences for students that compel them to continuously grow, identify, and develop their talents, help others, and graduate with a sense of community and purpose.

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The prevalence of thought leadership is not only a component of Seven Hills’ Upper School; it is a presence that fuels offcampus field studies, and ignites big-picture initiatives, such as Seven Hills’ Experiential

S

EVEN HILLS’ HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL MATT BOLTON IS CONSIDERED TO BE A THOUGHT

LEADER IN UNDERSTANDING THE FUTURE OF AN EXCELLENT HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE. BOLTON WAS INVITED TO DELIVER A PRESENTATION, TITLED, “MODELING COLLABORATION THROUGH TEAM TEACHING,” AT THE 2017 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

them to make and to see those connections and find out how what they’re doing in one subject informs what they’re doing in another area. By the same token, we also want them to understand how their experiences in the classroom connect to issues in their community and in the world.”

The Upper School has found many ways to identify and build on such connections. By engaging in a multiyear curriculum mapping process, teachers developed units and projects that reinforce skills and content across the disciplines. In addition to making connections within the existing curriculum, faculty members have created new courses that explore emerging fields of study, including biotechnology, computer engineering, entrepreneurship, and environmental studies.

The Upper School has also become increasingly connected to the many MEMBER, IS A NONPROFIT ASSOCIATION THAT resources that Cincinnati has to PROVIDES SERVICES TO MORE THAN 1,800 SCHOOLS offer. Whether it is the ninth-graders AND ASSOCIATIONS OF SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED traveling to Ethicon as part of their STATES AND ABROAD, INCLUDING MORE THAN 1,500 study of biology, the tenth-graders INDEPENDENT PRIVATE KINDERGARTEN THROUGH being coached by actors from the 12TH GRADE SCHOOLS IN THE UNITED STATES. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company, or any number of other trips and guest visits, the Seven Hills Upper School look at the way adults who have been in the students are learning from experts in the workforce and out in the world process and field. They are also learning about the role learn new concepts. Essentially, said Bolton, they can play in addressing critical issues in people learn by being exposed to something, Cincinnati and the world. Bolton said new determining that it is of value to them, delving into that thing, finding purpose in it, and collaborating with others who share that interest and purpose.

THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS (NAIS), OF WHICH SEVEN HILLS IS A

“One of the exciting things happening in high schools today, and specifically at Seven Hills, is we’re really invested in establishing connections among the various areas students are studying,” said Bolton. “Our focus is to help

How we learn UPPER SC HOOL S ARE C HANGING. TAKE A LOOK AT WHERE UPPER SC HOOL S WERE , ARE , AND WILL BE. IN MANY WAYS, SEVE N HILL S’ UPPER SC HOOL RE SE M BLE S THE C HARACTERISTICS OF HIGH SC HOOL S OF THE FUTURE , RIGHT NOW. MOST UPPER SC HOOL S

SEVE N HILL S UPPER SC HOOL

SEVEN HILLS UPPER SCHOOL IN

15 Years Ago

now

• Upper school students attended several 45-minute classes throughout the day.

• Upper School students attend 80-minute classes in block scheduling, exploring more deeply fewer subjects throughout the day.

• Students will draw on their own emerging expertise to serve as teaching assistants and in other capacities that go beyond the traditional role of the student.

• Classes such as Environmental Studies and Entrepreneurship explore fields of study that cut across several disciplines. Departments also collaborate to explore shared topics. For example, the English and history departments may work together to study topics like Athenian Democracy, the Industrial Revolution, or Post-Colonialism. Teachers make enrichment opportunities available to all students.

• Strict divisions between subject areas will become blurred, as students integrate information and skills from several disciplines and apply them to projects and studies.

• Students studied strictly by academic subject and showed their knowledge by taking tests in each.

• Teachers identified certain students who seemed like candidates for academic enrichment.

• A select number of students were able to land internships, based on their parents’ connections.

the Near Future

• Students will drive their own learning on a more regular basis and learn how to carve out their own areas of study.

• Students will engage in studying and addressing issues of local and global significance.

• Teachers reach out to alumni and community members who could potentially offer internships to students.

• Students learned about social-emotional issues a few times a year during special assemblies.

• Schools will devote resources to create internship programs, in which large groups of students participate over the summer.

• Students learn about social-emotional issues during routine advisory meetings throughout the year.

• Social-emotional topics will be woven into the daily interactions and curriculum.

• May Term courses immerse students in an interdisciplinary, team-taught study of an important issue that involves communities, institutions, and resources beyond our campus.

Children’s Hospital, and the Contemporary Arts Center.

May Term intensives are another manifestation of Seven Hills’ forwardthinking curriculum. In 2018, Bolton and Experiential Learning Director Nick Francis launched the weeklong program Bolton called “profoundly important.”

During the annual program, students delved into courses in everything from exploring careers in medicine, to designing and building furniture, to partnering with the Innocence Project to study wrongful convictions. The May Terms led Seven Hills to partner with a host of important local institutions, including FC Cincinnati,

“The May Term is a good example of the direction in which we think education is really going,” said Bolton. “It’s interdisciplinary, involving students in projects and fields that require many different skills and perspectives. The seminars are team-taught, so that students see firsthand how adults collaborate on projects. And the seminars immerse students in important issues and institutions beyond our own campus.”

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“ One lunchtime I saw a Middle School student fall on the floor and spill food everywhere. A group of seniors stepped in right away and asked the younger student if he was OK. They cleaned the floor and made sure he had a new lunch. They didn’t know him but they helped him like he was a sibling. Things like this happen all the time.”

- Upper School Mandarin Chinese language teacher Mia Wu

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“Students are having these powerful learning experiences when they aren’t dividing their time among many different things. We want our Upper School o alumni—m n t ov e students to have these m e ou sh r experiences now so that they nt and curre gr ad know to look for it as they get ua

While they are learning how to put their empathy into action to help others, students are finding pathways to better know themselves and their world, with Seven Hills’ Experiential Learning, an individualized Upper School program that connects students to what they most want to learn. The longstanding Personal Challenge project is a prime example of experiential learning, calling on each student to design and complete a project that is deeply meaningful to them. Through the Experiential Learning program, students may also set up summer internships and job shadows, or elect to pursue an ol—from ho interdisciplinary Concentration Sc

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in an area such as Global Citizenship, Sustainability, or Civic Engagement.

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events like the annual Day of Service involve students in better understanding the needs of disenfranchised people in our city and of working directly to address those needs.

• Students will use technology, research, and design principles to address issues across a range of subject areas and topics.

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The Thou ghtf ul Desi gn of Uppe r Scho ol Educ atio n at Seve n Hills

older,” said Bolton. “And while traditional class structure is valuable and important in some areas, having the opportunity to do a deep-dive into a really compelling single project is really how we all learn.”

As he looks back at what high schools used to be, where we are, and where we’re headed, Bolton said students who attend progressive high schools like Seven Hills will be given more time to pursue their interests and be more instrumental in the way they consume and process their knowledge in a given area of study. Education will involve students developing their individual interests and talents, collaborating with peers, and contributing to the broader community.

Connection and community A quick walk by Upper School Room 261 reveals a mysterious flash of familiar clutter, old couches and armchairs, casually placed belongings, and a constant in-and-out buzz of young adults who spirit themselves away, for a bit, from the outside world.

Senior Rachel Michelman, a theater student with a penchant for comedy writing, spends a lot of time in the legendary senior lounge in the Upper School, a spatial denouement of her 15 years as a Seven Hills student. In fact, said Michelman, the historical rite of passage reserved only for students in their

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juniors, and freshmen. I think Seven Hills provides the ability for us to become friends with people you wouldn’t expect yourself to become friends with.”

last, hard-earned Upper School year is one of the more tangible displays of the way students are able to pursue, maintain, and value a sense of connection, respect, and community.

Some enter the senior lounge for a quiet moment. Others, for anything but that. It depends on when they enter. It is a room of anything and everything in a given day. For some, the senior lounge is the only place where one may see a good friend for a few minutes. It’s a special kind of study hall or impromptu space where ideas flow and a helpful peer is always there—or just around the corner.

It’s true that Seven Hills Upper School mirrors the academic rigor and selfdirection of a college campus. But, in many ways, the senior lounge is a physical example of how the Upper School operates at Seven Hills for all of its students, in the sense of connection that every student has a place, and every student is truly heard.

If Seven Hills’ Upper School is like a college campus, individual teachers’ classrooms and offices are like little filling stations along

“I know a lot of students from other larger high schools who tell me about how their friends are only in their grade,” said Michelman. “Here, I am friends with sophomores,

“When you make people feel comfortable, they will do the same.

That is a very big theme at Seven Hills.”

“Among other wonderful qualities, I think one of the most important things that makes Seven Hills, Seven Hills, is that our teachers love to teach and our kids love to learn.”

- Seven Hills Upper School parent Ronna Schneider

- Assistant Head of School Susan Marrs

the way, each housing direct access to insights, knowledge, and support in a number of areas. Throughout their school days, students stop by, seeking answers and humor, stress relief, and validation.

Some days, they’re looking for a safe space to vent or share, or just sit. Classes are small and students enjoy stress-free zones, therapy dog sessions, and events like Funuary—a February fun-filled winter doldrum-buster and Spooktoberfest—a cross between a fall festival and Halloween parade for big kids.

Like the senior lounge, Seven Hills’ Upper School, itself, provides a place for everyone.

In a close-knit school of 350 students, there are more than 40 student-run clubs across a spectrum of interests. In Seven Hills’ Upper School, respect is currency— students support each other’s differences and are open to education when they feel there is a need to grow. Extra help is offered

by all teachers throughout the week. And, classrooms are sanctuaries just as much as they are learning spaces. Just within the past few months, teachers have held brownbag discussions about anything from LGBTQ issues, to a talkback about a movie outing hosted by the African-American Awareness Club, to topical discussions about social justice, during grade-based student advisory sessions.

“Upper School students need adults who will listen to their problems without having an agenda,” said Anna Works-McKinney, math department chair and adviser for Seven Hills’ Gender Sexuality Alliance. “Not someone who will say, ‘Wait until the real world.’ This is their real world. Right now.”

When students need a break, not just one person knows it; the needle on the meter sort of goes up, because, in so many ways, each grade of about 90 students is engaged, crossing paths in many organic ways, many intentional. It all works because

one can quickly see it in the way connections are formed. Seven Hills’ Upper School is being continuously designed, and reassessed to speak to the needs of its students, not the other way around. It is one of the reasons why junior Curtis Harrison, a basketball player and nonprofit entrepreneur, said he feels like he is in his comfort zone at

Seven Hills, no matter where he is.

“All of the teachers are really enthusiastic and make me feel really welcome,” said Harrison. “When I was younger, I was kind of a timid kid and my mom always tells me I need to be an advocate for myself and ask questions in class. I did that sometimes but not all the time. The teachers in the Upper School are amazing here like my Continued on page 13

“It’s easy to tell someone interested in acting that they should have a plan B. But I don’t have a plan B, because theater is my passion. No one at Seven Hills questions what I want to pursue here. There’s no judgment.”

Senior Rachel Michelman

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The Thou ghtf ul Desi gn of Uppe r Scho ol Educ atio n at Seve n Hills

# Thats so

Sevenhi lls

SEVEN HILLS’ UPPER SCHOOL IS FULL OF MANY PROGRAMS, TRADITIONS, AND UNIQUE PROJECTS THAT SET THE SCHOOL APART. WE ARE SHARING EXPERIENCES AND EVENTS THAT ARE SURE TO MAKE OUR STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SAY, #THATSSOSEVENHILLS!

Take a look:

Personal Challenge - A graduation requirement and passion project all rolled up in one.

Funuary- Every February, students and teachers engage in an advisory-based competition to shake off the winter blues.

Four Corners - It’s the point just outside the main office, where students converge to check postings, drop off something in the office, or give high-fives to (Upper School administrative assistant) Mrs. Hepp.

Experiential Learning Program - Designed to help students know who they are and what motivates them, this student-driven, teacher-guided program takes students on a journey from core curriculum to introspection, exploration, and possible Concentrations in a particular area of study.

Freshmen retreat - Ninth-graders spend their first few weeks of school together, getting to know the lay of the land, and each other for two days at Camp Ernst in Burlington, Kentucky.

Senior Culminating Experience - Each year, during their last two days of school, seniors participate in a unique event that asks students to give back to their community and reflect.

Senior lounge - It’s a very cool place designated only for seniors. Read more about it on page 8.

Four-year college counseling - Freshmen at Seven Hills meet their college counselor and get an early—and amazing—start on their college path. The same counselor helps them along the way for the next three years until they hone their interests and find the right college for them.

“Whether it is the ninth-grade advisory program, developing skills for academic success, or designing curriculum that creates a sense of relevancy, our Middle School students find the Upper School a welcoming 12

community that is both comfortably ‘familiar’ and purposefully exciting.”

- Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz

The nurturing, nonjudgmental atmosphere students like Harrison and Michelman experience is a daily, intentional focus all Seven Hills Upper School teachers work to achieve and maintain, said WorksMcKinney.

math teacher Mrs. Cassie Levesque. I can ask her questions in class without it being embarrassing.”

Harrison said students at Seven Hills also feel supported to pursue their passion and purpose. Four years ago, Harrison, along with junior Spencer Boyd and other friends in the community, started a nonprofit organization, Sole Bros Inc., which to date, has helped collect and donate more than 7,000 shoes to underserved children locally and throughout the world. He said Experiential Learning Director Nick Francis has always been a supportive partner in getting the word out and promoting the work of his organization.

“Mr. Francis and Seven Hills always back us up,” said Harrison. “Last year, he even nominated us for an award from 4C for Children. When we have Upper School assemblies, he announces us, plays our videos, and lets everyone know we need help from the community.”

“The teachers work so hard to get to know the students on a personal level,” said WorksMcKinney. “I know the actual math facts students learn in my class will fall by the wayside when they graduate.

I am more interested in instilling the love for one another, kindness, and compassion. My job is more than math. I know it is about helping them become wellrounded citizens of the world. The Upper

School is the last place where we can give them that opportunity and that leeway. It’s not long before they become adults.”

Bolton said this social process is a cornerstone of Seven Hills’ Upper School, and one of the reasons why students and faculty maintain lasting and meaningful friendships after graduation.

“The Upper School is a forum for relationships,” said Bolton. “When you look at the panoply of programs that make Seven Hills, Seven Hills, relationships are what drive our lessons forward. It is all about involving students in a socially networked learning space and in joint enterprises.

We’re preparing our students to work together in a future that has already arrived.”

“Current Seven Hills students should use high school to scratch as many itches as possible. Within a matter of hours, you can go from studying Spanish, to physics, to literature, and from lacrosse practice, to theater rehearsal, to policy debate. Never again will it be so easy to explore so many different ideas and passions so seamlessly. It’s easy to stick to what you find most familiar, but real growth occurs when you push yourself out of your comfort zone and try new things.”

-Zaki Anwar ’07, clerk for Judge Sri Srinivasan of the United States Circuit Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

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SCHOOL NEWS

NEW FACES AT SEVEN HILLS We are pleased to welcome new Seven Hills faculty and staff!

Kristen Bowman Upper School Physical Education Teacher

Kristen received her B.A. in physical education and health from Northern Kentucky University and her M.Ed. in curriculum instruction from California Coast University. She most recently held the position of virtual health and physical education teacher, teaching grades nine through 12, and Alliance Cincinnati Soccer Club coach and assistant director. Bowman has also served as a high school health and physical education teacher and grades one and two physical education teacher for Lebanon City Schools. She has an extensive background in athletics, including serving as an assistant soccer coach for Xavier University’s women’s team and as the youth director and soccer trainer for the Beechmont Soccer Club.

Josh Brock Hillsdale Campus Maintenance

Josh studied mechanical engineering at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College.

He most recently worked at Phipps Reprographics, Inc., where he delivered print orders and completed other printing-related tasks. Josh previously worked at Fresh Market, Urban Active, and Staples. He has a background and skills in time management, problem-solving, and customer service.

Max Christiansen Upper School Computer Science Teacher

Max received his Bachelor of Arts in environmental science from Colorado College and his Master of Science in curriculum and instruction from University of WisconsinMilwaukee. He also holds a

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post-baccalaureate teaching certificate from University Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He most recently held the position of sixth- through eighth-grade math teacher at Glasgow Middle School in Virginia, where he worked with English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) students. Max has also worked as a kindergarten and elementary teacher and served as a middle school science and computer science teacher at the American School of Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico. Max is bilingual, speaking both English and Spanish.

Julie DiRoma Upper School College Counselor

Julie received her B.A. in environmental studies from Hamilton College. She most recently held the position of associate director of admissions in the Skidmore College Admissions Office.

At Skidmore, she also worked as the assistant director of admissions from 2011 to 2016. DiRoma has held positions at W.W. Norton & Company and Hamilton College.

Julie, who has worked in college admissions since 2009, enjoys working with students and helping them find their educational niche.

Rebecca Harnage Lotspeich Third-grade Teacher

Rebecca received her Bachelor of Science in

human ecology, with a focus on early childhood education, from the Ohio State University and her Master of Science in teaching from Pace University.

She most recently held the position of third-grade teacher at P.S. 130, The Parkside School in Brooklyn, New York, where she taught general studies in a collaborative team-teaching setting. At P.S. 130, Rebecca also taught second and fourth grade, and also participated in Teach for America. Rebecca has attended the Academy for Teachers Master Class, PBS Learning Media Master teachers workshop, and was accepted into Google Educator

Certification Training. In 2016, her classroom was featured in a New York Times article titled “Teaching Peace in Elementary School.”

Madison Hoffman First-grade, Encore, and Holiday Care teacher

Madison received her B.A. in early childhood education from Ohio Northern University. She most recently held the position of pre-kindergarten teacher at Kids First Academy in Amelia, where she created curriculum and activities for students, and implemented individualized behavior plans and classroom management strategies. Madison completed her student teaching at Monroe Elementary, working with first-graders in the classroom. She has more than 150 hours of field experience, working with students in prekindergarten through third grade. She has planned and taught lessons in math, science, social studies, music, and art.

Steve Kroeger Director of Transportation and Security

Steve most recently worked at Loveland City Schools as a bus driver. He has worked in various fields, including serving as a driver, security, special events assistant, and general manager at Lafferty Lawn Care. He also worked as a territory manager at Mikesell’s Snack Food Company.

Glenn Manning Weekend Maintenance and Security

Glenn received his associate degree in business administration from Northern Kentucky University and later obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Thomas More College. He most recently held the position of inventory control specialist at New Flyer, where he was responsible for inventory of more than 25,000 products for the bus parts

SCHOOL NEWS

industry. He also held the position of senior logistics analyst, VMI support analyst, and channel inventory account manager at various businesses in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Anna Meece Lotspeich Pre-kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Anna received her B.A. in early childhood education from Coastal Carolina University. She most recently held the position of nanny in Cincinnati, caring for two young children. She completed her student teaching in South Carolina, working with second-graders in a variety of areas and participating in curriculum data, staff and grade level meetings, and professional development opportunities. She has also completed practicums in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten classrooms. Anna worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL) tutor while attending college.

Rosalind Moody-Lanton Resale Shop Assistant

Rosalind received her B.A. in English, with minors in psychology and Spanish, from Miami University and her continuing education certification in financial institutions from Kent State University. She most recently held the position of teller at U.S. Bank, where she executed financial transactions and practiced excellent customer service.

Rosalind also worked at Delta Airlines in a variety of positions, including international special member services, specialty sales and support representative, and reservations customer service representative. In total, she has 37 years of sales and management experience.

Sarah Mullan Upper School Mathematics Teacher

Sarah received her B.S. in secondary education and mathematics from Vanderbilt University, as well as her M.S. in mathematics from Purdue University. She most recently held the positions of adjunct instructor of math and applied calculus at University of Cincinnati and math teacher at Covington Latin School, where she taught AP Calculus AB, geometry/trigonometry, and Algebra I. While at Covington Latin, Sarah served as the math department chair and faculty adviser for student council. She previously worked as an instructor and teaching assistant at Purdue University. Sarah completed her student teaching at middle and high schools in Tennessee. She is also proficient in spoken and written French.

Tracy Murch Head of Doherty

Tracy received her B.A. in education from St. Michael’s College, her M.Ed. in special education from Notre Dame College, and her Educational Leadership Certification from Plymouth State University. She most recently held the position of Head of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation at GEMS Dubai American Academy, a prekindergarten through 12th-grade American school in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

At the academy, Tracy developed strategies that enhanced learning experiences across the school, oversaw the student support department, and conducted and disseminated research and analysis on technology, instructional design theory, and approaches. She has worked all over the world, formerly serving as Elementary Principal at GEMS Nations Academy in Dubai and the Head of Lower School at TASIS England, both American international schools. She has also worked as an elementary school principal, special education director, and teacher at schools around New

Hampshire. Tracy has experience with STEM programs as well as 21st Century Learning Models.

In 2011, she received the Outstanding Role Model Award from the New Hampshire Association of School Principals.

Marc Raia Upper School Theatre Teacher

Marc received his B.A. in communications from John Carroll University and his Master of Fine Arts in acting and theater from Ohio University. He holds secondary certifications in theater, speech, communication, and English from Northern Kentucky University. He most recently held the position of independent contractor and manager at Mike’s Music, where he sold vintage and collectable guitars, amps, and basses. Marc has taught drama and speech at Walnut Hills High School and was the director of the theater department, as well as a teacher, at Amelia High School. He has extensive acting experience, appearing on stage and television. Marc is a member of Actors’ Equity and the Screen Actors Guild. He is trained in stage combat.

Kathryn Rosenberg Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher

Kathryn received her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Tulane University and her Master of Education in teaching and learning world languages from The Ohio State University. She most recently held the position of honors Spanish student teacher at Upper Arlington High School. At the school, she co-taught and conducted solo lessons incorporating theories and practices from her M.Ed. program and planned and developed curriculum.

Kathryn previously worked at the Columbus School for Girls as a middle school Spanish teacher and critical reading teacher, and taught middle school Spanish at Hilton Head Preparatory School.

She participated in study abroad programs in Madrid and Cádiz, Spain.

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SCHOOL NEWS

NEW FACES AT SEVEN HILLS Continued . . .

Lee Sellinger Lotspeich Administrative Assistant

Lee received her B.A. in international relations from Boston University, her Master of Education Administration from Xavier University, and her Master of Science in elementary education from College of Saint Rose.

She most recently worked at Seven Hills as a substitute teacher, teaching in the Lower, Middle, and Upper schools. Lee has extensive teaching experience, serving as an adjunct professor at Chatfield College and working in elementary schools as a fifth-grade and third-grade teacher. She has also served as a curriculum consultant for the New York State Archives and Virginia Center for Digital History.

Kristin Suer Middle School Science Teacher

Kristin received her Bachelor of Arts in communication studies from Texas State University and her Master of Arts in teaching, with a focus on seventh- through 12th-grade life and earth science, from Miami University. She most recently held the position of eighth-grade integrated science teacher and technology teacher at Delhi Middle School, where she taught general and honors level multi-subject courses, including earth science, physical science, and biology.

She has worked in schools around Ohio and Kentucky, including St. Xavier High School as a science teacher and completed her student teaching placement in Cleves. During her time at Miami University, she completed ecology and geology field research in California, Mexico, and Oklahoma.

Keith Topmiller Middle School Study Hall Supervisor

Keith most recently held the position of manager and personal trainer at Terry Bryan’s Training Center in Cincinnati. He held the position for

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seven years and has worked in the fitness industry for 19 years.

Keith has also trained Mt. Notre Dame’s varsity dance team and has taught children’s boot camps. He has experience in inventory control, training center management, and membership sales.

for teens, parents, and educators. She has held other positions within the library, including library services assistant and digital services assistant.

Megan has served on Young Adult Library Services Association committees, the public library’s social media team, and the museum and history committee for the Cincinnati Observatory Center.

Kylene Utah Upper School Chemistry Teacher

Kaitlin received her B.S. in Spanish education from Miami University and her teaching endorsement in culturally and linguistically diverse education from Regis University/University of Northern Colorado. She is currently enrolled in graduate-level classes to receive her gifted and talented endorsement from Adams State University. Kaitlin most recently held the position of Spanish teacher at Stargate Charter School. At the school, Kaitlin assessed, placed, and delivered group instruction to English language learners in kindergarten through 11th grade. She has also taught Spanish at Excel Academy Charter School and completed her student teaching at Mt. Healthy High School.

Kylene received her B.A. in art history, with a minor in chemistry, from Pennsylvania State University and her master’s in secondary education from Xavier University. She most recently taught Advanced Placement (AP), advanced, and honors chemistry at Mother of Mercy High School, where she conducted small group and individual classroom activities, worked in a professional community, and planned laboratory activities. Kylene has also served as a home-school teacher and practicum teacher at Northwest High School. She has participated in AP chemistry workshops at the University of Louisville and University of Cincinnati.

Megan Whitt Middle and Upper School Head Librarian

Megan received her Bachelor of Fine Arts, with a focus on sculpture, art history, and English literature, from Xavier University and her master’s in library and information science from Kent State University. She most recently held the position of teen librarian at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. At the library, Megan worked in the TeenSpot department, providing reference assistance and readers’ advisory

Kaitlin Link Middle and Upper School Spanish Teacher

Rachel Willard Resale Shop Lead Sales Associate

Rachel received her B.A. in psychology from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. She most recently held the position of sales associate at a maternity center in Boston, Massachusetts, where she managed inventory, assisted customers, and trained new staff members. Rachel has also worked as a case manager at Riverbend Community Mental Health and as a restaurant manager in New Hampshire.

SCHOOL NEWS

Scott Willard Athletic Director

Scott received his B.A. in economics from Kenyon College and his M.A. in educational leadership from Plymouth State University. He most recently held the position of athletic director and head boys basketball coach at Christ School in North Carolina. At the school, he oversaw 50 athletic and activity programs for the eighth- through 12th-grade boarding school. He managed a department of five people and a coaching staff of 50. He also coached a nationally ranked Nike Elite basketball program. Scott has worked in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Louisville, Kentucky, as an athletic director. He was an assistant basketball coach on Team USA, assisting NBA coaches in Manheim, Germany, over a two-week period.

Christina Zaffiro Assistant Director of Enrichment and Summer Programs

Christina received her Bachelor of Science in education, with a focus on early childhood education, from Miami University.

She most recently held the position of youth and family program director at Mayerson Jewish Community Center, where she managed childcare programs for children from birth to school-age. Before becoming a program director, Christina also worked as the manager of child enrichment programs, Quest unit head, and preschool teacher at the Mayerson JCC. She has also volunteered as a Girls on the Run head coach.

Nanyue Zhu Upper School Chinese Teacher

Nanyue received her B.A. in English literature from Fujian Normal University in Fuzhou, China, and earned her graduate diploma in education from University of Western Sydney in Sydney, Australia. She also

earned a certificate of completion in Chinese teaching courses from the Beijing Culture and Language University. She most recently worked toward her community interpreter qualification at Catholic Charities. She has taught Chinese around the world, working in Hong Kong and New Zealand, and teaching online courses at United World College. She has participated in several professional development workshops and trainings, including a conference in the Philippines and running an English as a Second Language (ESL) workshop at Xiamen International School.

Familiar Faces, New Places Cicely Knecht Lotspeich Second-grade Teacher

Cicely received her bachelor’s degree in secondary social studies education, with concentrations in history, sociology, and psychology, from Indiana University and a master’s degree in early childhood education from Mount St. Joseph University. She began her time at Seven Hills in 2008 as an early childhood extended day teacher.

She previously held the position of human resources assistant at the Quarasan Group. She completed her student teaching at Kinneil Primary School in Scotland, where she spent eight weeks teaching, and at a middle school in the Carmel Clay school district in Indiana. She also has field experience in a high school environment.

Anne Simpson Lotspeich Pre-Kindergarten Teacher

Anne received her B.S. in early childhood education from the University of Georgia. She began teaching at Seven Hills as a prekindergarten for 2-year-olds assistant teacher in the Early Childhood Center in the 2017-18 school year. She previously held the position of first-grade teacher at St. Gabriel Consolidated

School in Glendale, Ohio. At St. Gabriel, she also taught fourth-grade math and science from 2011-13. She has worked as a first-grade student teacher at Barrow Elementary in Georgia. Anne has participated in several professional development activities, including a literacy conference and a workshop focusing on new works of children’s literature.

Becky Swain

Lotspeich Kindergarten Teacher Becky received her B.S. in elementary education from Xavier University and her M. Ed. in educational leadership from Bank Street College of Education. She has taught second grade at Lotspeich since 2013. She previously held the position of substitute and summer program teacher at Seven Hills and substitute at Northwest Local School District. She has taught at schools in Cincinnati and New York City, New York, teaching kindergarten, first, and second grade. Becky has experience in developing kindergarten curriculum, curriculum mapping, and guiding teachers in lesson planning and room environments.

Amaris White Upper School Support Services and History Teacher Amaris received her B.A. in history from the University of Florida and her M.A. in history from Michigan State University. She joined Seven Hills in the 2017-18 school year as a member of the learning support department. Amaris will have a dual role at Seven Hills, continuing her work in the learning support department and teaching classes in the Upper School history department. She previously held the position of adjunct faculty in social science at Western Governors University. She also held various positions within Eureka Learners, an in-home tutoring company in Georgia, serving as assistant academic director from 2013-15. With a background in history, she has taught courses in U.S. and world history. She has served as a guest lecturer, conference presenter, and has been published.

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SCHOOL NEWS

NATIONAL MERIT AND AP SCHOLARS Seven Hills Congratulates National Merit Achievers & AP Scholars Seven Hills continues its tradition of excellence with 18 students who received recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Eight students were named Semifinalists, and 10 were named Commended Students in the 2019 National Merit Program.

National Merit Semifinalists Seven Hills National Merit Semifinalists are George Eng, Ari Gleich, Eddie Hatfield, Aryan Katneni, Max Lane, Chris Nathan, Susanna Spooner, and Max Yuan.

ARYAN KATNENI, CHRIS NATHAN, ARI GLEICH, MAX YUAN, MAX LANE, SUSANNA SPOONER, EDDIE HATFIELD, and GEORGE ENG

FRONT: ANDREW BROWN, AISHWARYA VARMA, ABBY MARKWORTH, AMISHA MITTAL, and PATRICK KILCOYNE BACK: ROHAN SACHDEVA, MICHAEL GLUM, FELIX KARTHIK, MICHAEL WEIRICH, and GREG KALIN

National Merit Commended National Merit Commended Students are Andrew Brown, Michael Glum, Greg Kalin, Felix Karthik, Patrick Kilcoyne, Abby Markworth, Amisha Mittal, Rohan Sachdeva, Aishwarya Varma, and Michael Weirich.

AP Scholars

92% of AP Exam scores qualify for advanced standing in college Of the 155 Seven Hills students who took 323 Advanced Placement exams in 19 subjects, taken by in May 2018, 92 percent qualified for advanced college standing by receiving a score of 3 or better on the 1-5 national scale on at least one exam.

Among those who qualified, 78 were named AP Scholars* by the College Board for their exceptional achievements of scoring 3 or higher on more than three exams.

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Receiving National AP Scholar Awards for average scores of at least 4 or higher on all AP Exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more are 2018 graduates Michael Barresi, Lucy Callard, Ruichen Cao, Tindar Cyr, Alex Kreines, Nick Purple, Nate Rising, and Curtis Sun.

Receiving AP Scholar with Distinction Awards for average scores of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more are seniors Andrew Brown, Greg Kalin, Felix Karthik, Aryan Katneni, Amisha Mittal, Christopher Nathan, Varshini Odayar, Aishwarya Varma, Kevin Wang, and Max Yuan. Class of 2018 graduates who received AP Scholar with Distinction awards are Lucy Callard, Ruichen Cao, Natalie Choo, Matthew Cook, Tindar Cyr, Nina Dizenhuz, Charlie Dwight, Carly Jones, Alex Kreines, Matthew Maring, Bretton Miller, Jessica Nordlund, Mary Grace Ramsay, Garrett Reich, Nate Rising, Max Routh, Caitlin Shaw, Kate Stein, John Stewart, Curtis Sun, Avni Varshneya, Yuou Wang, Nicholas Williams, Sarah Zhang, and Zhikai Zhong.

Receiving AP Scholar with Honor Awards for average scores of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on

four or more are seniors Dottie Callard, Ari Gleich, Maxwell Lane, Rachel Michelman, Stratton Papakirk, Rohan Sachdeva, Andrew Santamarina, Susanna Spooner, and Grant Veldhuis. Class of 2018 graduates who received AP Scholar with Honor Awards are Ryan Curnow, Jonathan Harsh, Robert Kanter, Zoe Parlier, Timothy Santos-Heiman, and Robby Shaffer.

Receiving AP Scholar Awards for scoring 3 or higher on three or more exams are seniors Emaan Asghar, Brennan Callow, Claire Harrison, Eddie Hatfield, Michael Nordlund, Neda Tehrani, Drew Vecellio, and Ian Venerable. Class of 2018 graduates who received AP Scholar Awards are Benjamin Agin, Leah Blatt, Mary Ellen Bryans, Kaleb Kemp, Maggie Kersting, Louann Kovach, Ryann Pedoto, Soren Smail, and Xinyi Zi. *Based on scores received in August 2018

SCHOOL NEWS

BOOKS FOR LUNCH 2019

photographer Nic Bishop

adventurer Sy Montgomery. Montgomery, called “part Indiana Jones and part Emily Dickinson” by The Boston Globe, is the author of a number of books, such as “Soul of an Octopus,” “Birdology,” and “Search for the Golden Moon Bear.”

The 2019 Books for Lunch committee, co-chaired by Seven Hills parents Shelly Smith and Teresa Weirich, is honored to present this year’s guest author New York Times best-selling author, naturalist, and

“Montgomery’s books are so entertaining, yet highly academic—a wonderful blend for readers who want to learn more about the magic and mystery of the animal kingdom,” said Smith. “A book like ‘Birdology’ is a perfect read because its short story format fits in the precious few moments free for reading.

After you finish the book, you will be laughing and, in the process, you’ll be way smarter than before.”

In its 33rd year, Books for Lunch invites noted authors to Seven Hills for a morning with Upper School students and a luncheon with parents and the Greater Cincinnati community. If you haven’t participated before, you are invited to come and see what it is all about. And if you have, please join us again for what promises to be an extraordinary, inspiring event.

Save the date for the Feb. 8, 2019, luncheon at Xavier University’s Cintas Center. Tickets are $50. Please visit www.7hills.org/BooksForLunch for more information about Montgomery and her work.

LOTSPEICH BUILDING NAMED IN HONOR OF FORMER TEACHER An always-bustling building on the Hillsdale Campus received a very special name in late August. During a ceremony, the Lotspeich art, music, and Spanish building was named the Ingeborg R. Meckel Center for Language and Fine Arts, a tribute to former Seven Hills teacher Ingeborg Meckel, fondly known as Frau Meckel. Accompanied by music teacher Robin Wilson, the gathered crowd of Lotspeich students and faculty sang “Give a Cheer for Lotspeich” to start the festivities. Head of School Chris Garten shared words about Meckel’s impact at Seven Hills, which started when she came to the school in 1967 as a German teacher. She would travel with groups of students to Europe to share her

love of language and culture. “We have a great deal of love and affection for Frau Meckel,” Garten said. Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox worked with Meckel during her tenure and thanked Meckel’s family for attending the ceremony. Meckel’s son, Tim Meckel ’77, who attended Seven Hills starting in pre-kindergarten, also spoke.

“Thank you so much,” he told students and faculty. “We hope you enjoy future classes.” Tim Meckel was joined at the ceremony by his children, Caroline, Stephanie, and Andrew, as well as his cousin Kara Mackley de Name and her son, William Name. The family enjoyed a tour of the building after the dedication.

Pictured above, from left, are Head of School Chris Garten, Tim Meckel ’77, his children, Stephanie, Caroline, and Andrew Meckel, and his relatives William Name and Kara Mackley de Name.

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SCHOOL NEWS

HOMECOMING 2 0 1 8

The Seven Hills School community came together for a high-spirited Homecoming 2018.

Let’s go Stingers!

1. The cafeteria staff serves up the Homecoming family picnic 2. Students enjoy the Homecoming cookout 3. An amazing fireworks display closed out the evening 4. Spirit gear!

5. Books for Lunch volunteers promote author Sy Montgomery 6. Volleyball clinic 7. Fun in the photo booth 8. Cheerleading clinic 9. It wouldn’t be Homecoming without our traditional shootout 10. Golf clinic 11. Shootout!

12. High fives at the soccer clinic 13. Smiles all around 14. Soccer clinic

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SCHOOL NEWS

DRURY FACULTY CHAIR AWARDED TO BRIAN WABLER excellence of his teaching. Wabler has served as chair of the history department and is in his 18th year of teaching Upper School history at Seven Hills.

The Drury Faculty Chair is awarded every four years to a distinguished teacher of history.

The Seven Hills School has awarded one of its highest faculty honors, the Mary Drury Faculty Chair in History, to Brian Wabler, in recognition of the

In his remarks upon receiving the Drury Chair, Wabler told faculty and staff, “We are living in a tumultuous moment in history—one that underscores the need to understand our shared past and to recognize how it informs our present and our future.”

During the event, Head of School Chris Garten called Wabler a natural problem-solver who approaches each of his classes and the study of history itself with characteristic reason,

curiosity, and wit, creating among his students a spirit of shared inquiry and exploration.

“From building a critical-skills focus into the ninth-grade curriculum, to designing and teaching new upper-level electives like Global Issues and Environmental History, to recruiting and mentoring a stellar group of new teachers, Brian has led the history department to meet students’ evolving needs and interests,” said Garten. “He has ensured that Seven Hills continues to offer its students an education in history that is relevant and interesting, one that prepares them to engage in a complex and interconnected world.”

CLASS OF 1956 FUND FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDED TO BRIAN ARNOLD

The Hillsdale Class of 1956 Award is given to a member of Seven Hills’ Upper School Faculty who fosters a love of, and excitement about, learning among Seven Hills students.

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During a faculty and staff meeting last spring, Head of School Chris Garten announced the recipient of the Class of 1956 Fund for Excellence in Teaching Award, saying, “He brings to his classroom a vast array of expertise,

experience, knowledge, and skills. Yet, these are not the first words most of us associate with Brian Arnold. Rather, the qualities that spring to mind when we think of Brian are his depth of kindness toward and concern for his students. He is invested in each of them as learners and as people, and he creates, in his classroom and his advisory, a sense of belonging and of community. His computer programming lab demonstrates this quality in abundance. With its inviting lighting, musical instruments, and thriving plants, it is a welcoming space that draws students in and makes them feel at home.

“Brian has found so many other ways to welcome students to the world of

computers, coding, and design thinking—from working in the Middle School Innovation Lab, to creating new electives like computer engineering, to running wildly popular activities like Tech Olympics,” said Garten, adding that Arnold has been the critical factor not just in building an Upper School computer science program, but in shaping the culture of the program.

“Brian is a tireless advocate for the value of studying technology and of applying logic, empathy, and creativity to solving problems,” said Garten.

“Indeed, he has become, for so many of his students and his colleagues, a prime example of how technical skills and people skills, expertise and empathy, can go hand-in-hand.”

SCHOOL NEWS

BRODIE GRANTS HONOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE Two teachers are recipients of Brodie Grants for Excellence in Teaching from the Brodie Family Faculty Betterment Fund—Lower School Spanish teacher Megan Hayes and Middle School math teacher Theresa Keller. The Brodie Fund is an endowed trust that provides professional development opportunities for faculty and recognizes outstanding teachers at both early and later stages of their careers.

Megan Hayes

Megan Hayes’ teaching is remarkable for the sheer amount of vigor and excitement she brings to each multisensory lesson. Students don’t just learn Spanish—they act it out, sing it, repeat it, chant it, and watch it unfold.

Megan employs story listening to enrich students’ learning. As she stands

enthusiasm, and her finely tuned sensitivity to the needs of learners of different ages: all these contribute to a uniquely memorable language learning experience,” Garten said. “And Megan herself is a lifelong learner, continually striving to hone her craft, to learn new techniques, and to refine her approach.”

Garten added that learning a new language can be daunting at any age.

“Megan’s unique mixture of warmth and empathy, passion, and persistence helps her students conquer those fears,” he said.

Theresa Keller at the whiteboard, Megan tells, and draws, a familiar story or fable in Spanish that immerses students in a compelling and captivating linguistic experience.

When presenting the Brodie Junior award, Head of School Chris Garten said Megan is the greatest resource for all of her lessons. “Her seemingly boundless energy, her creativity and imagination, her contagious

Theresa Keller imbues every day, every math lesson with compassion, patience, love, and respect for her students. She truly teaches from her soul, helping students outside of the classroom and creating math projects grounded in their life experiences. As a sixth-grade adviser, she makes students feel at home, especially the youngest and most vulnerable students, turning her classroom into a cozy, welcoming place for them to flourish.

Head of School Chris Garten quoted the Russian mathematician Sofia Kovalesvskaya when awarding Theresa the Brodie Senior award, “It is impossible to be a mathematician without being a poet in the soul.”

He said of Theresa, “She finds occasions, large and small, to excite students about math, framing March 14 as a division-wide celebration of the magic of pi. She finds ways, too, to build community, encouraging our shyer students to join MATHCOUNTS, to experience camaraderie and connection through math games, puzzles, and competition. It is a pleasure to honor, with the Brodie award, a teacher like Theresa, who brings such a genuine love and energy to all that she does for our community.”

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SCHOOL NEWS

#STINGERPRIDE DAY KICKS OFF 2018 SCHOOL YEAR The first week of school is exciting, and the Seven Hills community commemorated, and kicked off, the start of the 2018 academic year with #StingerPride Day! Students in fourth grade and up celebrated the new school year at the event, emceed by Upper School science teacher Tim Drew, cheering and hitting thundersticks together in excitement.

Students in all divisions, faculty, and staff

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received special #StingerPride Day shirts to wear at a celebration in Kalnow Gym. Head of School Chris Garten spoke and introduced new Athletic Director Scott Willard. Willard asked students to give seven people around them a high five and to be welcoming to this year’s new students.

Upper School students then introduced science teacher Bryce Carlson. Last

ocean, he beat the previous record by more than two weeks, traversing the Atlantic in 38 days, six hours, and 49 minutes. Carlson spoke about how he was driven by curiosity.

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knowledge and skills will build.” It was truly an inspiring way to launch the new year!

“I found myself asking, ‘Why not?’” Carlson said. “I didn’t just want to read about it and think about it.”

summer, Carlson undertook an amazing

He told students that life is essentially a video

feat—rowing across the Northern Atlantic

game, and the goal is to earn points through

Ocean. Carlson not only rowed across the

skill, knowledge, and real-world experiences.

“All you need to get started in this game is

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curiosity,” Carlson said. “Start now and your

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Doherty kindergarteners show their #StingerPride!

Tim Drew emcees the #StingerPride Day celebration Jumping for joy!

Upper School teacher Bryce Carlson speaks about his record-setting summer Pre-kindergarteners run on the track Head of School Chris Garten speaks Snow cones on Doherty Campus Thundersticks!

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SCHOOL NEWS - SPORTS

FALL SPORTS HONORS Talented teams, competitive players, and great matchups.

The fall sports season was marked by talented teams, competitive players, and great matchups. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches who made the fall 2018 sports season successful, and for receiving well-deserved recognition during the fall sports awards ceremony, held Oct. 30.

The varsity boys soccer team tied with Cincinnati Country Day for the title of Miami Valley Conference (MVC). They were also named the sectional and district champs. The team ended the regular season 13-1-1 overall, winning every home game, with big wins over Mariemont, Madeira, Troy Christian, and Summit Country Day. Brennan Callow was named Player of the Year by the MVC and a LaRosa’s MVP of the Week. Stratton Papakirk, Josh Nelson, and Callow were named to the MVC’s First Team.

overall. Earlier in the season, the team won the Pickerington Tournament.

Cross country runners Riley Jones and Dhruv Mahajan had standout fall seasons. Jones was named First Team All-Conference and placed fifth in the MVC’s girls cross country category with a time of 22:10.99. Mahajan finished fifth in the boys competition with a time of 18:27.65.

The varsity girls soccer team exhibits strong leadership going into the 2019 fall season. This year, the team was led

by Captains Dottie Callard, Emma Shuppert, and Katie Remaklus.

Shuppert and Remaklus were named to the MVC’s First Team.

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Girls varsity volleyball finished the regular season 19-3 overall and 14-2 in the conference.

Led by Ava Romerill, Avani Seshiah, and Max Creech, the team beat Summit Country Day twice. Seshiah was named Co-Player of the Year in districts.

The varsity golf team proved to be tough competition last fall, with six players going to state at 6 NorthStar Golf Club in Sunbury, Ohio. Max Lane, Egan Dewitt, Michael Weirich, Jacob Joffe, Andrew Yang, and Taylor Greenwald competed. Lane shot 75-76, for a two-day total of 151. He was named Second Team All-State and placed seventh overall in the state of Ohio. Coach Nate Hirsch was named Coach of the Year by the Miami Valley Conference.

The girls tennis team had a strong showing this season. The team was 10-4 26

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Max Lane received the Dick Snyder Sportsmanship Award, which is awarded to students who display integrity and general sportsmanship throughout the season.

Seven Hills had a total of 89 Scholar Athlete award recipients this season.

To qualify, recipients must be a varsity athlete and have a minimum first quarter GPA of 3.495.

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Boys Soccer team Brennan Callow Volleyball team Avani Seshiah Golf team Max Lane Girls Tennis team Cross country team Girls soccer team

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SCHOOL NEWS

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SCOTT WILLARD Q & A

I have three daughters—sixth-grader Sammy, first-grader Haley, and kindergartener Lexi—who are all very active so I’m sure you will be seeing them buzzing around campus quite a bit!

Q: Are there any new initiatives in the athletics department?

A: Our department’s first initiative

Q: What do you like best about the Seven Hills community?

A: As the athletic director, I love the

fact that we have students involved in multiple sports, in addition to keeping a focus on their academics. I have been very impressed with our coaches and the emphasis they put on sportsmanship, respect, and hard work.

As a parent of three new Seven Hills students, I have been amazed by this welcoming environment and the steps the administration and teachers have made to communicate, motivate, and inspire our kids.

was to introduce the new fan site GoStingers.org this summer. This new site was created to serve as an athletic dashboard filled with up-to-date schedules, announcements, scores, photos, articles, and more. Another initiative tied to the new site is working to improve both our athletics department and athletic teams’ social media platforms. Finally, we are working with University of Cincinnati’s sports administration program to develop a sustainable internship program and partnership within our department.

Q: Is there a motto you live by?

A: College basketball coach Mike

Krzyzewski once said, “If what you did yesterday still looks big to you, you haven’t done much today.” I feel that each day we have an opportunity to get better and that if we string enough solid days of effort together we can accomplish great things!

Q: Who do you root for on game day?

A: Great question! Obviously, the Stingers! And, having coached basketball for so long, I have around 20 former players playing college basketball now and a few in the pros, so my family definitely roots for their colleges and teams on game days when we can.

Having been a season ticket holder back in the day, the only professional team I consistently root for is the Chicago Cubs.

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: My wife, Rachel, is loving her time working in the Resale Shop and is looking forward to coaching both the Middle and Upper School girls lacrosse teams this spring. She played lacrosse in college and recently coached for the Asheville Edge girls lacrosse program.

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Pictured above is Athletic Director Scott Willard wit h, from left, his children, Lex his wife Rachel, as well as i, Haley, and Sammy, and the family’s dogs Wrigley and Scooter.

SCHOOL NEWS

HEAD OF DOHERTY TRACY MURCH Q & A

Q: Tell us about your family.

A: My husband, Mike, and I have a

Q: If you could be a character in one of your favorite children’s books, who would you be?

A: I would definitely be Charlie from

Roald Dahl’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” I could not imagine anything more fun than the adventures he had. And I would take all of my Doherty students along with me!

son, Garrett, who is a sophomore in Vermont, at Norwich University—the oldest military university in the country.

Garrett is interested in enlisting in the Air Force when he graduates. He is studying computer science with a specialization in cyberterrorism and cybersecurity. Mike and I recently adopted a furry family member, a 5-month-old rescue puppy, Maizy, who is a cross between a German shorthaired pointer and a spaniel. Maizy keeps us very busy with trips to the dog park and a lot of long walks!

Q: What was your favorite school

lesson in your lower/elementary school?

A: When I was a child living in Hawaii, our third-grade class went on a Menehune hunt. The Menehune are

mythical small people—they could fit in your hand—who were said to live in the forests and valleys of Hawaii. We had to have an understanding of the ecological and geographical makeup of the forest in order to have the best opportunity to find the Menehune, which was based on where they lived, the vegetation, and what they ate. The Menehune are excellent at hiding.

We never did find them.

Q: What inspires you?

A: Our Doherty students and

teachers inspire me. Our teachers’ intuitive instruction and collegiality lay a daily foundation of greatness upon which our students build their academic and social lives. Our students demonstrate, daily, what community is all about; they see the value in learning and growing together and it shows. I see magic happen every day, and it is all because of our students and teachers.

Q: What does it mean to be a Seven Hills Lower School student?

A: It means being a small part of a

bigger community. It means that you are kind to others, living our values. It means that you try your hardest and recognize that not getting something the first time is the best part of learning.

Q: What is the most “Cincinnati” thing you have done so far?

A: I went to a Reds game! Being a

New Englander, going anywhere but to Red Sox games is edging into dangerous territory!

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SCHOOL NEWS

SEVEN HILLS ABROAD France

Seven Hills Upper School students hosted 26 students and three teachers from France last fall, as part of a cultural exchange partnership with Institution Croix Blanche, a school located in the northern part of the French city, Lille.

From Oct. 12 to 23, our visitors from France joined the Seven Hills community and were immersed in its culture and routine. Exchange students attended

“

Students experience a new culture firsthand, use their language skills with a native speaker, and make a new friend in the process.

-Ann Griep

classes across disciplines with their host students, experiencing the day-to-day life of a Stinger. They had opportunities to tour the Hillsdale Campus and participate in meetings and other events.

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Exchange students also took day trips.

They visited the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in downtown Cincinnati, and later in the week, they went to Matthew 25: Ministries.

As part of the exchange, Seven Hills students will travel to Lille in the spring and stay with students from Institution Croix Blanche, allowing Seven Hills students to learn more about and experience French culture. Upper

School French teacher Ann Griep said the French exchange is truly a great opportunity for students from Cincinnati and France.

“The exchange program has such a positive impact on all who participate,” Griep said. “Students experience a new culture firsthand, use their language skills with a native speaker, and make a new friend in the process. It brings the lessons they learn in the classroom to life!”

SCHOOL NEWS

CREATING CONVERSATIONS SPEAKER SERIES

Our annual speaker series features experts in their fields relating to raising bright, healthy, happy children.

As part of Seven Hills’ three-part Creating Conversations series, Lower School counselors guided parents through simultaneous discussions on the Hillsdale and Doherty campuses about teaching children how to develop a growth mindset.

On the Hillsdale Campus, school counseling department chair Judy Arnold and Project Math teacher Liz Lorenz shared a number of helpful concepts and resources for Lower School students. Arnold shared the differences between growth and fixed mindsets. For example, someone with a fixed mindset may become frustrated when classmates are successful with a project or lesson and they are not, while someone with a growth mindset may seek out the successful student for help.

Arnold also shared that parents can teach children to have a growth mindset by commenting on their children’s efforts and hard work during the process, rather than praising them for a grade or end product. On the Doherty Campus, school counselor Angie Bielecki opened with an activity asking parents to vote whether they agreed or disagreed with a variety

of statements, leading to conversation about the views people have on various topics.

Bielecki said mindsets are on a continuum from “fixed” to “growth.” She also talked about neuroplasticity. “Your brain actually changes and when you learn a new skill, you’re creating new paths through which those neurons can grow,” she said. With a growth mindset, a person views failure as an opportunity while a fixed mindset views it as a permanent roadblock. “Failure isn’t a stopping point if you have a growth mindset,” Bielecki said.

More Creating Conversations speaker series are coming up in January and March.

On Thursday, Jan. 24, 2019, at 7 p.m., don’t miss the opportunity to attend a workshop on the basic principles of QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer)—an evidence-based intervention for suicide prevention designed to be used by anyone who works and/or lives with young people. Child Focus Director of Training Melanie Palmer will lead parents through the basics of the training and share simple instructions for parents to use at home.

On Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 7 p.m., researcher and founder of the Center for Resilient Leadership,

Donna Volpitta, Ed.D., will present basic neuroscience concepts, including ways parents can understand how the brain develops and learns, and to encourage independence and mindful decisionmaking. Volpitta, co-author of “The Resilience Formula: A Guide to Proactive, Not Reactive, Parenting,” will explain the why and the how. Participants will learn how to help children turn challenges into opportunities for growing resilience, and why this adaptive skill is so important to happiness and success.

The Seven Hills School speaker series, Creating Conversations, welcomes you, your family, and friends to attend these free-of-charge events. To register for the January event or learn more, visit www.7hills.org/CreatingConversations.

The Seven Hills School Speaker Series

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SCHOOL NEWS - ARTS

HIGH-PERFORMANCE TEAM “Every day our students inspire and collaborate. And laugh.”

-Seven Hills Lower School Creative Dramatics teacher Russell White

and performing arts at Seven Hills.

In late fall 2018, Breitenstein, Eynon, and White began working as a team on the musical, “Thwacked!,” their first-ever collaborative performing arts project for the fifth-grade musical that incorporates all three disciplines—visual arts, theater, and music. While Eynon will work with students on music and choreography, White will manage rewrites for the script and teach fifth-graders acting and technical theater. Breitenstein will guide her students through a stage and set design, in which they will paint three, nine-by-eight-foot panel backdrops.

Every day, three teachers on the Doherty Campus deliver lessons that challenge students to study the characteristics of painter Wassily Kandinsky, invite them to imagine themselves directors on a movie set, or insist they can run through “Cotton-Eyed Joe” two beats faster than they did the year before. To Seven Hills Doherty Campus students, they are Mrs. Donna Breitenstein, Mr. Russell White, and Mrs. Maria Eynon—a tireless trio of professional artists who, daily, discover new ways to teach our youngest students how to deftly navigate the world of fine

Shortly after Doherty’s fine and performing arts teaching team launched their project this fall, we dropped in on the trio for a fun Q&A.

that kind of combines a lot of classic fairy tales.

White (19 years at Seven Hills): I’m going to rewrite the script to adapt it to the personalities of our fifth-graders.

Donna (Breitenstein) is collaborating with us, which is awesome.

Breitenstein (two years at Seven Hills): It takes place partly in a school and I thought it would be a perfect way to teach the students perspective. My fifth-graders are going to be working on the backdrop. I’m so excited.

Q: Doherty students love the arts.

What happens when they enter your classrooms each day?

Q: The three of you are

collaborating on a performing arts project together—a first-time event for the Doherty Campus. Tell us about it!

A: Eynon (14 years at Seven

Hills): We’re putting on the musical, “Thwacked.” It’s a really great play

visual art drama music visual art 32

SCHOOL NEWS - ARTS

A: Breitenstein They turn on their

first play and I never stopped loving theater and acting since then. I felt like I had found my home.

creativity and imagination. They turn off their left brain and get their right brain going. I can see them kind of take a breath and become a little freer.

Eynon: The chatter increases, the energy level increases. The excitement is palpable. Walking into our classrooms is like walking through an open door. It’s spatial, kinesthetic, and tactile. They’re using all of their senses.

projects is packed with value and creativity. Highlight just one.

White: Even our youngest students can practice early acting skills during our photo gallery activity. I describe a scene and the students have three seconds to snap into a pose that describes the scene.

A: Eynon: Our second- through

Q: When did you know you were

White: They inspire and collaborate.

And laugh.

Q: We know every single one of your

fourth-graders create original line dances using their iPads and Google Drive to research steps and document their choreography. Then they teach their new moves to classmates—and to me!

Breitenstein: After studying American sculptor Alexander Calder this fall, our fifth-graders created figures based on Calder’s wire-figure circus, Cirque Calder, and worked with Assistant Head of Doherty Tracy Hickenlooper to rig their structures using a robotics program

by Lego.

Breitenstein: When I was in fourth grade, I remember finding the packaging from my mother’s make-up, which had a picture of half of a woman’s face illustrated on it. I drew the other half of the face to match the drawing on the package. I remember it distinctly as both a challenge and pleasure.

an artist?

A: Eynon: When I was 5, my

parents bought me a toy piano for Christmas. I was obsessed with playing it, to the point where my Mom had to bribe me to stop playing it. I’ve wanted to be a music teacher ever since.

White: I was a freshman at Wyoming High School when I took my first acting class. We were required to audition for the play, “Pygmalion.” That led to being in my

drama music visual art drama 33

SCHOOL NEWS

S A M P L E S

VISUALIZING WHAT THEIR MINDS SEE

In early fall, Unit II students on the Doherty Campus enjoyed reading and learning with a new iPad app called Epic!

Students listened to a book and responded

by drawing pictures in their reading notebooks of what they envisioned. “We learned that good readers use the skill of visualization,” said teacher Sherri Linville.

“Students built upon what their minds saw to further their comprehension as they listened to the story.” Linville said students also shared their pictures with classmates as they retold the story.

F R O M

O U R

fifth-graders built a variety of ecosystems in the Creation Studio. “Students learned about and worked their way through the engineering design process, asking questions about where a specific ecosystem is in the world, what homes look like in that ecosystem, what natural resources are available, and more,” said Assistant Head of Doherty Tracy Hickenlooper. “Then they imagined what their houses would look like, what materials they would use, and where it would be located. Next, they planned and created a prototype of their homes.”

Hickenlooper said the next step was to improve their prototypes, which is where Garcia came in. He consulted with students on their homes and helped them develop ideas on incorporating tech and robotics to make the homes “smart.”

N E W S L E T T E R

bat, which has a wingspan of six feet.

Edelen brought out the bats to demonstrate how they echolocate.

Kindergarteners were very excited about the lesson and had lots of questions!

FOURTH-GRADERS STUDY COMPUTER AND TABLET LITERACY

Fourth-graders in Melissa Foraker and Sara

BAT UNIT FLIES INTO KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarteners in the Early Childhood Center began their study of bats in early October. The lesson kicked off with some very special guests—Kathy Edelen, from

SEVEN HILLS PARENT SPEAKS TO UNIT III Seven Hills parent Jose Garcia, architect and owner of Jose Garcia Design, shared his expertise with Doherty Campus’ Unit III students in October. Fourth- and

the organization EchoBats, and two bats! To prepare for her visit, students read a story about bats and shared what they already knew about the mammal. Edelen has worked with bats for 20 years. She told students that bats live across the globe and have been around for 50 million years! She talked about the smallest bat, which only weighs as much as a penny, and the largest 34

O N L I N E

Snyder’s classes are learning the ins and outs of computer and tablet literacy this year. The classes work together every Wednesday and are taught by Lotspeich librarian Lori Suffield. Students are using iPads and apps, such as Nearpod, to become tech literate. “We will introduce and explore technology that will support learning and sharing of classroom lessons and units,” Suffield said. “Students participate in media literacy and digital literacy lessons because we believe it is important for our students to be smart digital consumers and ethical digital content creators.” The class also spends time coding and using a variety of digital content creation tools.

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EARTH SCIENCE CLASS CREATES AND STUDIES BUBBLES

Bubbles and science are a great pair! Kristin Suer’s seventh-grade earth science class learned this in the fall when they conducted an experiment using different types of

S A M P L E S

solutions to see which would create the largest bubble. Students first developed their hypothesis. They then mixed the solutions—plain water and dish soap, salt water and dish soap, and sugar water and dish soap—and blew a bubble into each.

When the bubble popped, they measured its diameter using the outline left behind.

Students graphed their results. Suer said the lesson was part of the seventh-grade’s “What is Science?” unit. “In this unit, first they learn about themselves and their learning styles so they can become logical, scientific thinkers,” Suer said. “Next, we discuss the four things that define science—testability, validity, tangibility, and reliability. Lastly, we explore the scientific method as just one way scientists formulate observations, hypotheses, theories, and laws.”

F R O M

O U R

N E W S L E T T E R

brainstormed ways they might contribute to efforts promoting equity and justice.

WORLD HISTORY CLASS EXAMINES ANCIENT ARTIFACTS

familial ties to the countries they studied, including Japan and South Korea. In Wu’s classes, she emphasizes the importance of not only language, but also the culture of the countries students study.

Katie Swinford’s World History class saw ancient artifacts up close in a fall lesson. Swinford teaches a unit called “Digging up Homer: the Archaeology of the Trojan War.” Using her connection to the University of Cincinnati Classic’s Department, where she completed her

LEARNING ABOUT PEACEFUL PROTEST

Juniors in the Upper School discussed American football quarterback Colin Kaepernick and the larger peaceful protest movement during an early September class meeting discussion. Led by class advisers, students explored the history of peaceful protest, both in the United States and internationally, and they viewed and discussed Nike’s fall 2018 ad campaign celebrating the 30th anniversary of the “Just Do It” slogan, which featured

EIGHTH-GRADE CHINESE LANGUAGE STUDENTS STUDY TRANSPORTATION IN ASIAN COUNTRIES

Mia Wu’s eighth-grade Chinese Language students partnered up in September to learn more about how people in Asian cities get around. The project asked students to work together to research two Asian cities, in China or other Asian countries, and their various modes of transportation, and then present their findings to their classmates using correct grammar and Chinese characters. Wu said some students have

O N L I N E

Kaepernick. Students debated the morality and practicality of Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem, and they

Ph.D. work, Swinford brought in artifacts from excavations of ancient cities Pylos and Troy. For the project, students read about the ancient Greek poet Homer, author of “The Iliad,” which recounts the last year of the Trojan War, and “The Odyssey.” Ninth-graders also read these books in their English classes. “I presented to them the archaeological evidence from Greece and Troy that corroborates, or doesn’t, Homer’s stories,” Swinford said. “The students wrote a short essay explaining if they believe there is enough archaeological evidence to prove or disprove that the Trojan War occurred.”

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SCHOOL NEWS

PERSONAL CHALLENGE Bricks and Ardor Aliyah Murph Over the past two years, junior Aliyah Murph has spent a lot of time looking up.

She has gazed at Buddhist temples in Malaysia, traced her eyes around the scattered lines of the Roman Forum, and taken in the almost fictional grandeur of Ashiya, Japan’s skyscrapers.

Murph’s love for architecture took root after she worked in a small group to construct a building to 1/8-inch scale during a week-long camp at University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP (Design, Architecture, Art, Planning) three years ago. After seeing the product of her hard work, she realized architecture was more than a casual interest.

“Working on models like this is tedious and rewarding,” said Murph. “I realized not only what it took to design and construct these buildings, but also what the roots of these designs were, where they came from.

I wanted to know more.”

After traveling to Greece and Italy with her classmates during one of Seven Hills’ five educational international trips, Murph found her passion.

“We visited the Acropolis and studied the Parthenon,” she said. “That was

when I started taking pictures of all the architecture I saw around me.”

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Murph said she was most taken with Hadrian’s Arch in Athens, Greece, because of its singularity, and for the way modern buildings and infrastructures are so closely nestled nearby.

“It was built more than 1,000 years ago, yet it stands in the middle of everyday life. People interact with these structures every day in Europe, and that is part of what inspires me so much,” said Murph. “After studying the ruins, I realized how much buildings everywhere are influenced by the ancient structures. Even the facade of Seven Hills’ Upper School incorporates “I could spend an afternoon staring up at pillars that look similar to something you the old buildings in Over-the-Rhine. I like would see in Ancient Rome, kind of like the Doric pillars on the Parthenon. It’s PERSONAL CHALLENGE IS A REQUIRED all inspired by EXPERIENCE THAT SPURS SEVEN HILLS something in a totally different STUDENTS TO EXPLORE A TALENT OR country that INTEREST, IN-DEPTH. PERSONAL CHALLENGE was built EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF SEVEN HILLS AND forever ago.”

ITS DEDICATION TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. Murph’s quest later took her STUDENTS MOVE OUTSIDE THEIR COMFORT to Asia to visit a Malaysian friend’s family. There, she took photos of to stand in the middle of Fountain Square serene Malaysian temples and and just look around,” said Murph. “The mosques, and green skyscrapers most exciting thing for me is knowing I that rose like trees of equal-parts have had the opportunity to understand steel and flora from the bustling, what design is all about. I’ve visited the eco-forward streets of Singapore. historical and the modern, and I feel like I now know how to make this something real After returning from her Asia in my life.” trip, Murph had accumulated a mental catalog of structures with which to compare and contrast.

Now, with a much more trained eye, Murph has studied buildings closer to home. Her trip to Fountain Square in Downtown Cincinnati this fall yielded a much more sophisticated appreciation Jesse Sprigg of architectural design, and how the buildings, themselves, influence the Jesse Sprigg’s hand-drawn, handwritten environment and the people who move comic book started out as a running joke about and within them. with a friend.

SCHOOL NEWS

PERSONAL CHALLENGE An Artistic Evolution Jesse Sprigg In his eighth-grade French class, Jesse Sprigg and a friend were tasked with creating a series of videos. The pair decided, why not make all of the videos about the same subject—redberries. When he started his Personal Challenge project roughly two years ago, Sprigg decided to incorporate the redberries into an illustrated, 21-page comic book that reads right to left like Japanese manga.

The result was “The Buried RedBerries that Fairy Barry Buried,” an impressive work featuring characters, except for the villain Corpso, all named some variation of Barry.

In the book, the protagonists, both named Barry, search for redberries buried by Fairy

“It’s a bit hard to keep drawing one thing, constantly over a period of time, rather than going off and doing other things,” Sprigg said.

Sprigg occasionally consulted with and showed pages to his junior year adviser and Upper School art teacher, Jason Knarr. Knarr called the Challenge project, “a tremendous undertaking” that has been attempted by many Seven Hills students in the past.

“Only a few students have been able to accomplish what Jesse has done,” Knarr said. “It’s amazing to watch the video of the drawings being rendered. You can see immediately how much time and care Jesse put into the work. It is as unique and creative as Jesse.”

ZONES TO REACH NEW ACHIEVEMENTS, DISCOVER THE THRILL OF MASTERY, AND SATISFY THEIR NATURAL CURIOSITIES. IN TWO STORIES, WE SHARE A GLIMPSE OF WHAT PERSONAL CHALLENGE HAS MEANT FOR TWO SEVEN HILLS UPPER CLASSMEN.

Barry. “The characters go through some struggles along the way and at the end, they find out it was all for naught,” Sprigg said.

“There were no redberries. It was just a big bottle of 7Up.”

Sprigg defended his Personal Challenge Project at the beginning of the school year. His senior year adviser, Tim Drew, was on the panel. Drew said the comic book is “inspirational” and Sprigg’s passion for character development is “unique.”

Sprigg’s book is also exceptional in the way it shows the evolution of an artist, and the reader can see the growth of his drawing style as they read. He plans to develop his talent into a career in art, whether it’s illustration, animation, or comics.

“I think I generally improved my artistic skills,” Sprigg said of his Personal Challenge project. “This was done over the course of a couple of years. You can see there’s a difference in quality between the first and the last pages.”

“One can see the personality in each character in Jesse’s comic book,” Drew said.

“He is a very talented artist and shared a small piece of his artistic impression during

Through outlining and spontaneous additions, Sprigg wrote the story and used the iPad app, Procreate, to illustrate the comic. He describes his style as cartoony with a little realism, but not too much.

Although most of the book is in black and white, the last page is in color.

Sprigg said he worked to perfect the composition, draw characters consistently, except in a few instances for comedic effect, and make the book look good, overall. Sometimes, he found it difficult to stick to just one project.

his presentation. The Challenge program allowed Jesse to dig deeper and the presentation left one wanting to see more.”

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ALUMNI NEWS

BUILDING THE SCHIFF CENTER

The Schiff Center, which will be completed in spring 2019, will house an auditorium with seating for approximately 500 people.

The Schiff Center, a stunning new space and epicenter of Seven Hills’ arts and leadership programs, is quickly rising. Construction crews have been working since April 2018 on the 45,000-square-foot building.

Throughout the winter months, construction has moved inside the building.

“It is a thrill, each day, to walk down to the site and survey the rapid progress of The Schiff Center,” Head of School Chris Garten said. “The construction of this new facility is the culmination of nearly two decades of planning. The Schiff Center will be a tremendous boon to our performing arts programs, but more than that, it will become—we know—the beating heart of our entire community, an inspiring place to come together to celebrate our students’ accomplishments in so many areas. We are deeply grateful for the leadership of our Board of Trustees and for the generosity of all those who helped bring our dream to fruition.”

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The space can bring the Seven Hills community together to be inspired, whether it’s through fine arts performances or captivating guest speakers. Students, from the Lower Schools to Upper School, will have a place to consider new ideas and points of view.

The state-of-the-art stage will include wing and fly spaces to support larger theatrical performances, as well as full-scale scenery. The center will also have rehearsal spaces, a green room and dressing room, and three large classrooms for theater, choral, and instrumental classes.

The Schiff Center will give Seven Hills’ fine and performing arts programs the space, resources, and technology they need to flourish.

The Schiff Center will also be a venue for students in all four divisions to showcase their work. Doherty and Lotspeich Lower School students will be able to

experience speakers and performances together. Those in the Middle and Upper Schools can hone their skills as presenters

and performers. There is no limit to what students can share and discover.

Follow the progress of The Schiff Center building project at www.7hills.org/SchiffBuildingProject.

ALUMNI NEWS

IN MEMORIAM: Helen Chatfield Black H’41 Helen Chatfield Black H’41, a longtime member of the Seven Hills family, passed away on June 8, 2018, at her home in Cincinnati at the age of 94. Preceded in death by her husband, the Honorable Robert L. Black Jr., Helen leaves her three sons, William Black L’59, Stephen Black L’60, and Luther Black L’64; three daughtersin-law; five grandchildren, including Heidi Black ’98, Charlie Black ’00, and Chris Black ’03; and great-grandchildren.

Helen loved nature and the outdoors from an early age, and she dedicated much of her life to conservation and environmental education.

She credited her passion for the environment to Mrs. LuLu Brand, her teacher at Lotspeich in the 1930s. After graduating from Vassar College and briefly teaching at Hillsdale School, Helen and her husband settled in Indian Hill and raised their three sons.

In the 1950s, as a member of the Indian Hill Garden Club, Helen formed the Indian Hill Beautification Committee. In the 1960s, she continued her successful conservation efforts by serving as a founding member of the Forest Preserve Council, now known as the Green Acres Advisory Committee. She was also the founding member and volunteer for the Cincinnati Nature Center, founder of the Little Miami Conservancy, and a founding member of the Redbird Hollow Association to protect a trail and 54-acre woodland in Indian Hill. She served as a volunteer at the Cincinnati Nature Center and

as a volunteer nature educator at The Seven Hills School and Indian Hill Elementary School.

Helen was recognized for her education and conservation efforts by numerous national and local organizations, including the Garden Club of America, the Greater Cincinnati Foundation, the Cincinnati Nature Center, the Village of Indian Hill, and the Ohio Environmental Council.

She was admitted to the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame in 1978 and the Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame in 2009. Most recently, in 2015, Indian Hill dedicated the Helen Black Educational Nature Trail, and in 2017, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ohio Environmental Council. Seven Hills also recognized Helen’s achievements, bestowing her with the Goodall Award for Distinguished Alumni in 1983.

Helen dedicated her life to protecting and conserving the natural world in her own community of Indian Hill and beyond. Her impact was felt within the Seven Hills community, from her early days as a Lotspeich School student, to her time as a parent, grandparent, and greatgrandparent of children at the school. Helen’s world, including Seven Hills, is better for her dedication to the causes she loved.

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ALUMNI NEWS

CATCHING UP WITH RACHEL HABBERT ’05 “It’s amazing to me that I’m still in touch with people I met at Seven Hills when I was 5 years old. We make a point to get together at least once a year, despite being spread out all over the country, and keep up to date with important happenings in our lives.”

Q: Please tell us about your education and career path after graduating from Seven Hills.

A: I left Cincinnati in 2005 to attend

Stanford University, and I have been in the Bay Area ever since. I spent five years at Stanford University, getting a B.S. and M.S. in Symbolic Systems, then another five years in Palo Alto working at a tech company called Medallia. During my time at Medallia, I worked in software implementations, as a customer-facing technical adviser, and in internal product support. In 2015, I moved across the bay to start a Ph.D. program in Management of Organizations at Haas Business School at Berkeley. I currently spend most of my time doing research, which includes large scale literature reviews, designing studies, analyzing data, and lots and lots of writing.

Soon I’ll be graduating and looking for jobs, so if you know of anyone who is hiring Ph.D.s in the Bay Area, feel free to get in touch!

Q: In what way has your new community become home?

A: My main activity outside of school is ultimate frisbee. I picked up the sport in college and then helped found a local women’s club team called Nightlock, a 40

team I’ve played with for the past seven years. We have been nationally successful, finishing in the top 10 every year since the team was established. It’s a great community. I’ve met my wife and most of my best friends through the sport.

I also tutor a first-grader in reading once a week through a program called Reading Partners. Tutoring is a habit I picked up while at Seven Hills and have maintained since then because of the immediate and tangible impact it has on the students with whom I work.

Q: In what way did your time at

Seven Hills (teachers, classes, or friends) influence your choice of career and community involvement?

A: Seven Hills taught me the value of a good education, and it taught me the writing skills I needed to pursue that education. In writing admissions essays for my college application, my master’s application, and my Ph.D. application, I was so grateful to have the strong writing background cultivated by the many caring and attentive English teachers I had over the years, including Terry Dubow, Meredith (Loveland) Brown, and Sandra Smythe.

Rachel Habbert ‘05

Athletics were also a huge part of my time at Seven Hills. Participating in sports in high school helped me learn how to manage my time and how to stay strong and healthy, two skills I have carried over into my college athletic career and beyond.

Q: If you could give your high school self one piece of advice, what would it be?

A: Laugh

OUR DIRECTOR OF ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT, SARAH LAUTAR ’05, CAUGHT UP WITH SEVEN HILLS ALUMNI RACHEL HABBERT ’05

more, worry less, and give your teachers less grief. You don’t know nearly as much as you think you do.

ALUMNI NEWS

CATCHING UP WITH ROHIT SUDARSHAN ’07 “Seven Hills gave its students a fair amount of flexibility with free bells and the campus itself was big enough, with places you could explore. My favorite memories were probably lunchtime with my group of friends. We were pretty vigilant about always eating outside even when it was cold to the point where it was ridiculous.”

Q: Please tell us about your

education and career path after graduating from Seven Hills.

A: After Seven Hills, I studied

political science at Kenyon. My first job after college was as a fellow at the Ohio Statehouse. It gave me a lot of insight into local politics, something that isn’t always given much attention in the news. I decided I wanted to focus on international politics in the future, so I attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. My graduate school gave me a lot of opportunities to travel for study and work in Europe and Southeast Asia, which I’ve really enjoyed.

Q: What brought you to Samoa?

A: I was lucky to get the opportunity

to work at the Samoan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and AND ROHIT Trade, SUDARSHAN ’07 TO ASK through a THEM ABOUT THEIR Fulbright EXPERIENCES SINCE grant with GRADUATING FROM the U.S. SEVEN HILLS. State Department. The grant, the Fulbright Public Policy Fellowship, is a bit different from other Fulbright grants in

that you work directly with another ministry. This makes it a bit more work focused, rather than research oriented. I chose Samoa because the Pacific islands are a very distant part of the world, a place I felt I’d rarely be able to see again.

Q: In what way did your time at

Seven Hills influence your career path?

A: It helped me a lot, particularly in

writing and research. At Seven Hills, I tended to favor English and history classes, both of which prepared me to read a variety of documents and books more thoroughly. I enjoyed world history a lot, which probably oriented me toward a career in international affairs. French classes at Seven Hills gave me some exposure to the French diaspora, and we covered current events around the world for our journalism class. Discussions with friends always helped. I got to know a lot of my fellow students well, so there was a lot of comfort in having pretty frank discussions about things we were studying and newsworthy events. The circumstances under which I started at Seven Hills were also fairly influential. I began at Seven Hills just a few days before 9/11, so students around me were all keenly following world news and American engagement abroad more carefully than before.

Rohit Sudarshan ‘07 and friends

Q:. In what way has your new community become home?

A: Though the country has its

challenges, it’s easy to feel a sense of community here. Samoans are very warm and friendly. Racquet sports have helped me get to know lots of locals.

There’s a good tennis and badminton scene here. I’ve also joined a running club. Stray dogs in Samoa are notoriously aggressive, so you pretty much have to run in groups for protection. I miss watching American sports, but Samoans are very much into rugby, which has really helped fill the void of the NFL and NBA. Every Saturday, their national stadium has a game of some kind, which brings a lot of people together.

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ALUMNI NEWS

GOODALL RECEPTION

Seven Hills Celebrates 2018 Goodall Award Recipient Eileen Ward Barrett H’69 On Oct. 3, 2018, Seven Hills celebrated the 2018 Goodall Award for Distinguished Alumni recipient Eileen Ward Barrett H’69 at the annual fall alumni reception.

Each year, the school bestows the Goodall Award on an alumna or alumnus who has achieved distinction bettering the lives of others in a public or private career or activity. Eileen volunteers her time generously with an array of causes and organizations, seeking to better the lives of her fellow Cincinnatians, sharing her expertise as both a leader and volunteer.

The reception was held in the Young Family Library in the Upper School, giving attendees an opportunity to view the construction of The Schiff Center from the windows overlooking the building site.

Before an audience of alumni and her friends and family, Marian Barrett Leibold H’73 introduced Eileen. Marian spoke about Eileen’s inspiring commitment to serving her community in many capacities. Accepting the award, Eileen addressed the assembled guests with memories of the many ways in which Hillsdale instilled in students the importance of service to others, encouraging the girls to volunteer their time with organizations around Cincinnati. She recognized the emphasis on community service in her days at Hillsdale as a source for her lifelong commitment to giving back.

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An excerpt from Marian Barrett Leibold H’73’s introductory remarks: “Life is a challenge for everyone, and those who recognize this and use their talents to make it a little better for others stand out. To notice, to care, and to act in a way that helps make individual lives better is what Eileen Barrett’s life is all about. In her own life, she has married the gift of privilege with the commitment to service. Eileen is a woman of action and has led many initiatives to successful completion.

“Eileen currently serves as president of both the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Board and La Soupe, Inc. She is a trustee of the Central Clinic Foundation Board. She is a past co-chairman for Ride Cincinnati and she currently serves as a co-chairman with her husband, John Barrett, to raise funds for the National Cancer Institute designation for the Barrett Cancer Center at the University of Cincinnati. Eileen is a breast cancer survivor and she has turned her experience for the good to help so many others who face this formidable disease. Eileen is also a trustee of Children’s Protective Services-Families Forward.

“I believe it is safe to say that her efforts have touched the lives of women and girls, those suffering with cancer and mental illness, the arts in our community, the environment, education, children in need of special services, and those from all walks of life who need support in our city.

“Eileen is a team player, a worker bee, and a leader. She has demonstrated her unique ability to foster the success of her teammates through hard work, a can-do attitude, and unwavering commitment. She also has the versatile ability to move from peer to leader when an individual, organization, or project calls for it. Many individuals function as followers or leaders, but few are as adept as Eileen at navigating both terrains seamlessly.”

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The classes of 2004, 2009, and 2014 will celebrate their reunions on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2019.

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ION 2 0 19 • • • • •

All events are free-of-charge, courtesy of your Alumni Association and the Alumni & Development Office.

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Class Representatives are still needed to help make this a special weekend for the classes of CPS and Hillsdale 2019 1964, Hillsdale 1974, and 1989. Please contact Director of Alumni Engagement Sarah Ott Lautar ’05 at sarah.lautar@7hills.org or 513.728.2432 to volunteer.

SEVEN HILLS classes of 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999

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All information is available at www.7hills.org/reunion.

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WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THIS SPRING!

LOTSPEICH classes of 1943, 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, and 1973

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April 5 & 6

CPS & HILLSDALE classes of 1944, 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974

• • • • •

Reunion 2019

20 NI O N

CONGRATUL ATIONS TO THE CL ASS OF 1994 ON CELEBRATING YOUR 25TH REUNION

1994

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ALUMNI NEWS

Reunion Schedule Friday, April 5

Saturday, April 6

11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

CLASSICS LUNCHEON & GOODALL AWARD PRESENTATION to Tim Wyant ’96 for CPS & Hillsdale classes of 1939-69 and Lotspeich alumni from 1938-63 Cincinnati Country Club 2348 Grandin Road, 45208

Blocks of rooms have been reserved at the following hotels:

2-3 p.m. CPS TOUR OF DOHERTY CAMPUS with Tracy Murch, new Head of Doherty Doherty Campus, 2726 Johnstone Place, 45206 5:30-6 p.m. TOUR OF UPPER SCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER Meet in front of the Upper School Hillsdale Campus, 5400 Red Bank Road, 45227 6-8 p.m. ALUMNI ART SHOW & REUNION RECEPTION for all Reunion classes and local alumni Hillsdale Campus, 5400 Red Bank Road, 45227 Come enjoy the fun, check out alumni art work and see friends in town for Reunion!

Reserved for class-specific celebrations.

HOTEL INFORMATION:

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT AT ROOKWOOD Reference “Seven Hills Reunion Group” for group rate before March 14, 2019.

Code SHASHAA for a king room or SHASHAB for a queen room if booking online at www.marriott.com/cvgnw. If over the phone at 800.533.0619, please reference the Seven Hills Reunion for the special rate. $139/night plus tax 3813 Edwards Road, 45209 513.672.7100 MARIEMONT INN Reference the “Seven Hills Reunion” when calling for a reservation. $170.10 for a king room; $179.10 for a queen room.

6880 Wooster Pike, 45227 513.271.2100

HILLSDALE 1969

CONGRATUL ATIONS TO THE CL ASS OF 1969 ON CELEBRATING YOUR 50TH REUNION

CPS 1969

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ALUMNI NEWS

Alums Cheer on FC Cincinnati!

Following the alumni tennis, volleyball, and men’s soccer games, alumni gathered at the FC Cincinnati soccer game on Saturday, Aug. 4. Despite the start of the game being delayed due to thunderstorms in the area, a strong crew of alums attended to cheer on Cincinnati’s newest professional team against Nashville SC.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Seven Hills Welcomes Alumni Athletes Back to the Home Field Alumnae returned to the field for the women’s alumnae soccer game on Saturday, July 28, a beautiful and not-too-hot day for the game. Eight alumnae laced up their cleats for the game, which the Seven Hills girls varsity team won, 4-3.

The following weekend, Saturday, Aug. 4, tennis players, volleyball players, and men’s soccer players returned to Hillsdale Campus for their alumni games. The tennis players had the chance to play on the new tennis courts to the north of the track. A heavy thunderstorm resulted in the men’s soccer game being called off at half time—when the alumni team was in the lead!

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ALUMNI NEWS

Next Chapter: Book Discussion with Curtis Sittenfeld ’93!

Seven Hills kicked off our new Next Chapter series alumni event with a book discussion and question-andanswer session with alumnae and New York Times best-selling author Curtis Sittenfeld ’93 on Oct. 18, 2018. A group of alumni and friends gathered for a discussion of Sittenfeld’s recentlypublished story collection, “You Think It, I’ll Say It.” Head of Upper School Matt Bolton helped to lead the discussion, and Curtis Sittenfeld joined the event via Facetime to answer questions about the stories in the collection, her writing process in general, and even what Reese Witherspoon is like in person!

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ALUMNI NEWS

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Hills students. I was able to see how many core values remained the same as when I was a student at the school.”

Asia: “Along with financial support, I’ve also been a class representative for the past few years. It doesn’t take much time, and it helps keep my Class of 2005 classmates connected to the school. Sending the notes to my classmates also reminds me of the importance of donations to the school.”

There are a number of ways to volunteer your time to Seven Hills, and even more reasons to do so! We asked two alumni volunteers, Janet Allen-Reid ’76 and Asia Reid Narayan ’05, who are mother and daughter, why they choose to give back to Seven Hills.

Q: In addition to your generous

financial contributions, in what ways do you give back to Seven Hills?

A: Janet: “I’ve done a number of

volunteer activities over the years, since graduating in 1976. Currently, I’m a class representative and on the Advisory Council. I’ve also planned class reunions, made annual giving phone calls, and served on Seven Hills’ Board of Trustees. As the parent of three Seven Hills graduates, I also had the opportunity to volunteer in many ways while our children were Seven

Q:. Everyone has a lot going on in

their lives and many causes compete for time and attention. Why do you continue to give your time to Seven Hills?

A: Janet: “I find that I keep up on a

regular basis with about 10 friends from my days as a student at Seven Hills, but there are many more people I really do enjoy being in contact with and reaching out to occasionally, as well as seeing them at reunions. I think the benefits of these connections far outweigh the time I give to Seven Hills.”

Asia: “I still look back at my time at Seven Hills as formative and wonderful. The encouragement I got to explore who I could be, the love of learning that was sparked by inspiring teachers, and the friendships that continue today have all had a lasting

impact on my life. I feel that giving back in small ways is the least I can do to express my gratitude, and hopefully make sure other students have the same opportunities I had.”

Thankful for Volunteer Support HELPING HANDS

Join fellow alumni and friends of Seven Hills to assist with mailings and catch up.

ANNUAL GIVING COMMIT TEES

Help support the Annual Fund by writing notes or making calls to encourage others to make a gift.

C L A S S R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S

Keep your class in touch with semiannual notes sharing news, encouraging Annual Fund support, and helping plan Reunions.

To volunteer, please contact the Development Office at 513.728.2430 or development@7hills.org.

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ALUMNI NEWS

Seven Hills Roadshow: Denver

The Seven Hills Roadshow made its first stop in Denver for an alumni reception at the home of Laura (Hoguet ’06) and Jeff Leonard ’06. Thanks to the hosts, the Leonards, Jenna Harris ’04, and Liza Zimmerman Krasner ’06, the crowd had a wonderful time reconnecting and hearing about the big updates to Hillsdale Campus.

DENVER

New York City

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NYC

NYC

NYC

NYC

Seven Hills Roadshow: New York City On Wednesday, Oct. 24, the Seven Hills Roadshow made a stop in New York City! Postponed from the original spring date due to a nor’easter, the reception took place at the Doubles Club in the Sherry-Netherland Hotel in the Big Apple.

NYC

In addition to catching up over cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, alumni also enjoyed a panel discussion among fellow alums from various career backgrounds, emceed by teacher and alumna Wynne McCarthy Curry H’71.

The panelists discussed topics ranging from surviving career downswings, thriving in new professions, and living and working in New York City. Thanks to Wynne Curry and the panelists: Brit Cowan ’03, screenwriter Adam Hayes ’94, managing director, Goldman Sachs DeeAnne Schroeder Hunstein H’57, owner at Hunstein Artist Services Eric Hunter ’86, VP of marketing strategy Medicx Media Solutions Evan Joiner ’03, neurosurgery resident Michael Laurence ’87, actor Sharon Liao ’12, associate at National Basketball Association Suzy Marquard H’68, board president and volunteer at GallopNYC

NYC

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NYC

NYC

ALUMNI NEWS

Seven Hills Roadshow: Boston On Thursday, Oct. 25, the Seven Hills Roadshow made a visit to Boston for a reception with Beantown alumni. Gathering at Post 390 near Copley Square, alumni caught up with special guest Wynne McCarthy Curry H’71, and shared special memories about the role Seven Hills has played in their lives.

Thanks to the wonderful hosts of the event: Christine Porter Barton ’83, Rebecca Lindy Coll ’83, Allison Wheeler Mattison ’89, Tim Meckel ’77, and Lisa Collins Winick ’85. The Boston Roadshow wouldn’t have been a success without your help and enthusiasm!

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1980s

Does the school still…?

Alumni often ask us if the school maintains events and traditions that they fondly remember from their own years at the school. Many times, our answer is, “Yes, we still do that!”

Lower School Halloween Parades

Each year, students at Doherty and Lotspeich Lower Schools choose and create Halloween costumes with great care. Not only are they used for trick-or-treating, they are also shown off in front of the school at the annual Halloween parade on each campus!

TH

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2018 ILL

The festivities are just as special at Doherty Lower School, where students arrive in costumes, ready for their big Halloween parade, led each year by librarian Linda Wolfe.

The parade begins with the Unit III students, with Unit II and Unit I students joining as the parade passes by their classrooms. Eventually, early childhood students join the procession and together the students parade up the driveway in front of a crowd of teachers, families, and special guests. Assistant Head of Doherty Tracy Hickenlooper said, “After the parade, our Unit III students walk down to St. Margaret Hall nursing home to parade for the residents. On this fun-filled day, students look forward to Halloween parties in their classrooms and the haunted house that parents create for Units II and III.”

Doherty

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The Halloween parade at Lotspeich Lower School has been a tradition since the 1950s. Each year, Lotspeich students and faculty dress up in costume and hold their parade in the Kalnow Gym in front of a crowd of family members, Middle and Upper School students, and faculty. “Mr. [Ted] Wuerfel, successor to Mrs. Lotspeich, would always encourage original, homemade costumes,” remembers Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox. “The playful and imaginative nature of Halloween has made it the perfect celebration for our children for decades. Students and teachers alike begin costume planning well in advance.

The Halloween Parade is a great time, and a fun way to celebrate everyone’s creative costumes!”

Lotspeich

2017

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ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES News from our Alumni 1940 Charles Thomas (L) (Cincinnati) wrote, “Just returned to Cincinnati after 20 years in Florida. Love being back.”

1956

1

Carol Wachs Kirby (H)(Cincinnati) wrote to us about the cruise she enjoyed earlier this year. Carol, who has been a dialysis patient for over a year, was able to travel on a cruise with a friend to celebrate their 80th birthdays.

The cruise accommodates dialysis, and Carol reports that the ship was “marvelous,” with a great dialysis center, efficient and caring nurses, and the reassurance of excellent medical care. As Carol noted, “With good planning, no one needs to be tied down. Everyone can enjoy the delightful experiences that I did.” 1

married a marvelous Englishman in 1963, has two children (in London and Philadelphia), and has lived in Exeter for the past 35 years (also six years in Japan).

Susan reports that Lynn now speaks with a definite English accent!

Dodgers to watch Seven Hills science teacher Bryce Carlson throw out the first pitch. Over that summer, Bryce set a world record with his solo row across the Atlantic Ocean. Judy Robinson Williams (H) (Cincinnati) kindly made tickets to the game available to Seven Hills faculty to watch Carlson’s pitch. 3 4

1967 Louise Walker 2 Borden’s (H) (Cincinnati) new nonfiction book, “Ski Soldier,” tells the true story of a soldier serving in the 10th Mountain Division in the Italian mountains during World War II, the same division in which former Hillsdale Headmaster Francis Lovett served as a medic. “Ski Soldier” is a Junior Library Guild selection and a Gold Medalist for a nonfiction award by the California Reading Association. 2

1997 Cincinnati Magazine’s September issue named Taglio and A Tavola, pizza restaurants owned and operated by Jared Wayne (Cincinnati) and his brother Nick Wayne ’99, as the top two places, respectively, to get pizza in Cincinnati! 5

1998

1957 Seeing each other for the first time after 55 years, in an almost surreal experience, Lynn Dunbar Guest (H) (Exeter, UK) and Susan Steman Laffoon (H) (Cincinnati) had an amazing dinner in Exeter, Devon, UK, in May 2018. Though not preplanned, the Hillsdale classmates had shared “digs” their junior college year at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland; Lynn from Sarah Lawrence College, Susan from Smith College. A May 2018 Smith Alumnae trip to the southwest of England provided a chance to reconnect. Lynn, who

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3

On Sept. 10, 2018, faculty and alumni attended the Cincinnati Reds game against the Los Angeles

Matthew Vitz (San Diego, 6 CA), who is a history professor at University of California San Diego, recently published his first book, “A City on a Lake: Urban Political Ecology and the Growth of Mexico City.”

Matthew acknowledges recently retired history teacher Bob Turansky for teaching him to think critically about class and social power and encouraging his interest in radical social theory. 6

1999 4

Congratulations to Jennifer Frey (Alexandria, VA), faculty in the Department of Special Education & Disability Studies and clinical director

5

In Memoriam Our condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

SHARE YOUR NEWS

New job? Recently married?

Written a book? If you have stories to share, please don’t hesitate! Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates.

Drop us a line and send high resolution photos (.jpeg format)

1941

8

Helen Chatfield Black (H)(Cincinnati) passed away on June 8, 2018.

1944

Jeanne Johnson McCarthy (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on Dec. 7, 2018.

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to sarah.lautar@7hills.org.

Shelley Lindner Henderson (H)(Annapolis, MD) passed away on March 10, 2018.

Dorothy “Dottie” Rodgers Werk (H) (Wilmington, NC) passed away on July 8, 2017.

of the Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders Unit at The George Washington University, on her promotion to associate professor with tenure!

The September issue of Cincinnati Magazine named Taglio and A Tavola, pizza restaurants owned and operated by Nick Wayne (Cincinnati) and his brother Jared Wayne ’97, as the top one and two places to get pizza in Cincinnati! 5

2001 Francie Comey Masani (London, England) and Zal Masani were married at the Camargo Club in Cincinnati on Oct. 7, 2017. The celebrations continued in Zal’s hometown of Mumbai, India. On Nov. 24, 2017, the couple had a Zoroastrian blessing 7

ceremony at the home of Zal’s aunt and uncle, followed by a reception at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel on Nov. 25. Francie (who graduated from Princeton University in 2005) and Zal (an alumnus of University of Texas class of 1998) live in London, where they both work in finance and always welcome visitors from home! 7 8

2002

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Nancy Blemker Yeaw (C)(Chatham, MA) passed away on March 12, 2018.

1958

Cynthia Terrill Berlinghof (H)(Wilmette, IL) passed away on Nov. 5, 2018.

1961

Melanie Maddox Hunt (C)(Cincinnati) passed away on Sept. 2, 2018.

Congratulations to Wesley Filardo (Cambridge, UK), who recently completed his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins University in computer science, natural language processing. Wesley accepted a two-year post-doctoral fellowship in computer security based on hardware design and now lives in the United Kingdom.

1964

2003

Claire Gace (Bainbridge Island, WA) passed away on June 28, 2018.

Gabe Davis (Cincinnati) recently joined the law firm of Frost Brown Todd as a senior 9

Robert Emmich (L)(New Richmond, OH) passed away on Jan. 20, 2018.

Friends of the School:

Frank Andress (Cincinnati) passed away on Dec. 15, 2018.

Jacqueline “Jacquie” Jones (El Cerrito, CA), formerly Jacquie Hasley, passed away on April 24, 2018.

Renee Lowther (Cincinnati) passed away on May 27, 2018.

Christopher Rowe (Cincinnati) passed away on Dec. 3, 2018.

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ALUMNI NEWS

CLASS NOTES News from our Alumni associate, where he will practice in the areas of corporate litigation, business litigation, and white-collar criminal defense. Gabe previously worked as a federal prosecutor in the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division in Washington, D.C. Congratulations, Gabe! 9

Congratulations to Brooke Richart (Cincinnati) and Jamie Escudero, who

Best wishes to Zack Conyne (Washington, DC) and Katy Pape, who celebrated their marriage on May 11, 2018, at The District Winery in Washington, D.C. Carter MacLeod ’05 served as best man, Benjamin van der Horst ’05 took part as groomsman, and Hannah Sheehy ’05 also attended. Zack and Katy live and work in Washington, DC. 12 13

2004 Lena Pearl Eastin (Union, NJ) married Shevanee Ricardo Levy on July 2, 2018, in

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celebrated their nuptials on Oct. 5, 2018, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Brooke is Seven Hills Middle School learning lab and MAST teacher and Jamie works as a copywriter at Rockfish Interactive. 11

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Montego Bay, Jamaica. Best wishes, Lena and Ricardo! 10

Ryan Stinnett (Echandens, Switzerland) tells us that he recently started a master’s program in Computer Science at EPFL in Switzerland after 10 years working as a software engineer.

2005

13

Drew Gibson (Baltimore, MD) has been working as a policy advisor for AIDS United, a national non profit founded in 1983, since 2016. He is also a regular contributor to thebody.com.

Rachel Habbert (Berkeley, CA) married Loryn Kanemaru in Oakland, California, on April 7, 2018, with sisters Caroline Habbert

INTERESTED IN BEING A REUNION REP FOR YOUR CL ASS?

Please Contact Sarah Ott Lautar ’05, Director of Alumni Engagement sarah.lautar@7hills.org

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513.728.2432 56 12

ALUMNI NEWS

2006 Ahmad Muhammad (Portland, ME) recently released a new album entitled “Beholding” under the name Kafori. The album features Ahmad’s original piano compositions, and it is available on bandcamp.com.

2007 15

Romash ‘00 and Julie Habbert ‘08 by her side as bridesmaids. Joining the celebration were Mary Wulsin Zema ‘05, Beth Krone ‘05, Asia Reid Narayan ‘05, Annie Rittgers ‘05, and Sarah Ott Lautar ‘05. Rachel is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Management of Organizations at University of California Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, traveling the country to compete in ultimate frisbee tournaments, and enjoying spending her free time with her wife and their dog, Ollie. 14 15 Sam James (New York, NY) published a photo essay about copper mining in Arizona in the August issue of Harper’s magazine. 16 16

Sarah Margaret Gibson (Fairlie, North Ayrshire, Scotland) and her husband, Lee Craigmile, live in Fairlie, North Ayrshire, west of Glasgow in Scotland and within walking distance to the coast. Both Sarah Margaret and Lee are building their careers as artists. Lee specializes in landscapes and Sarah Margaret specializes in portraiture and still-life. Sarah Margaret is on the faculty of the Edinburgh Atelier of Fine Art. She is the anatomy instructor and has recently begun teaching other parts of the curriculum. Lee and Sarah Margaret were in Cincinnati in March 2018 for a successful exhibition of their work at the Ran Gallery in Hyde Park. 17

SHARE YOUR NEWS

New job? Recently married?

Written a book? If you have stories to share, please don’t hesitate! Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates.

Drop us a line and send high resolution photos (.jpeg format) to sarah.lautar@7hills.org.

17

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

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ALUMNI NEWS

#THROWBACK Cincinnati Winters of 1977 and 1978 It’s been about 40 years since two winters in the late 1970s secured places in Cincinnati’s history books as the coldest and snowiest on record.

While January 1977 holds the record as the coldest month that Ohio has ever seen (indeed, so cold that the Ohio River froze enough to walk across), January 1978 is remembered for the colossal blizzard that struck Cincinnati. We asked some alumni and former employees to share their recollections of these memorable winters.

In January 1977, the frozen Ohio River resulted in a fuel shortage, as barges were unable to deliver coal. Glenn Shillinger,

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retired Seven Hills director of transportation, recalls that the school shut down for about a week, due to the cold and snow. And challenges remained after school resumed. In an effort to conserve energy, the school held classes at the homes of Seven Hills families. Shillinger remembers driving students to families’ houses for class, and that Duke Snyder took students to the Shaffer family’s home for gym classes. Bob Shaffer ’86, who was a Lotspeich student at the time said, “I remember a week or two when Seven Hills held half-days of school at my family’s house. As a kid, it was pretty exciting to have school at my house!” At least one alum found adventure in the frozen river.

Gail Gettler ’78 walked with her mother across the frozen Ohio River to Kentucky.

In the following year, Jan. 25 and 26, 1978, brought a record-breaking blizzard, which dropped 7 inches of snow on Cincinnati. The storm added to the 14 inches already on the ground and caused drifts as high as 12 feet.

The whiteout conditions and heavy snow stranded drivers on the roads, shut down I-75 for three days, stopped mail delivery, and caused power outages due to downed trees. While the storm certainly caused damage across the state, some alumni hold fond memories of the big snowstorm.

like the only people on earth. We tied the rope to the back of the car and took turns flying through the sleeping neighborhoods.

The depth and softness of the snow made it perfectly dreamlike to be dragged way too fast behind the car, even face first, through the streets. As the sky began to lighten, maybe around 6 a.m., we pulled into the Busken Bakery parking lot. We stopped next to a patrol car, and the officer gave us news that had never sounded so sweet— ‘School’s canceled!’”

Members of the Class of 1978 found ways to have fun with the major snowfall. Ellie Fabe ’78 remembers that the heavy snow throughout that winter made for a lot of snow days. In the days of phone trees, Fabe remembers, “It was snowing so much all the time and so heavily, we didn’t have to wait until morning to get the ‘will-they-orwon’t-they’ snow day call; we just knew school was going to be canceled. Unfinished homework didn’t matter—you were off the hook. For me and my procrastinating ways, it made for a winter miracle.”

By the end of January 1978, Cincinnati had seen 31.5 inches of snow, with a total of 53.9 inches blanketing the region over the entire winter.

Howard Tomb ’78 shared a fond memory from the big blizzard. “In a heavy snowstorm and with a foot or two of powder already on the ground, four of us set out on a school night in my ’66 Mustang with 150 feet of rope. The roads, sidewalks, and yards had become one—silent and trackless. We felt

ALUMNI NEWS

Alumni Calendar 2017-18 Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2019 Career Networking Panel & Cocktail Hour 6-8 p.m.

Donovan Arts Center Hillsdale Campus 5400 Red Bank Road Thursday, March 21, 2019 San Francisco Alumni Reception 6-8 p.m.

Private residence – details to come Friday, April 5, 2019 Reunion Classics Luncheon & Goodall Award Presentation 11:30 am.-1 p.m.

Cincinnati Country Club 2348 Grandin Road Cincinnati, OH 45208

Thursday, April 11, 2019 Washington, D.C. Alumni Reception 6-8 p.m.

Location TBD - details to come Spring 2019 Next Chapter: Art Class Event Date and details to come Thursday, June 20, 2019 Seattle Alumni Reception 6-8 p.m.

Loulay Kitchen and Bar 600 Union Street Seattle, Washington 98101

Alumni Arts Show & Reunion Reception 6-8 p.m.

Hillsdale Commons, Hillsdale Campus 5400 Red Bank Road Saturday, April 6, 2019 Reunion Individual class events More information to come from your class rep!

2018-19 Seven Hills Board of Trustees Photo on back cover Bottom Row 1: Jennifer Dauer, Amy DeWitt, Lalitha Chunduri, Jennifer Stein, Karen Callard ’80, Karen Meyer, Sherry Holcomb Row 2: Dan Schimberg ’80, Andrew Quinn, Christopher Garten, Ron DeLyons, John Schneider Row 3: Tom Garber ’96, Peter Cha, Lair Kennedy, Sashi Kilaru Row 4: Nolan Bean, Scott Carroll ’85, Michael Nordlund, Abram Gordon, Theo Nelson Top Row 5: Dobbs Ackermann, Jim Jurgensen Not pictured: Rob Anning ’86, Dorothy Corbett ’84, Marc Fisher, Ben Glassman ’93, Jutta Lafley

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The Seven Hills School Hillsdale Campus 5400 Red Bank Road Cincinnati, Ohio 45227