Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2017

SEMESTER IN REVIEW

LOOKING BACK: FALL 2017

As we close the fall semester of 2017-18, we look back at some of the outstanding accomplishments that marked the first half of the school year.

OUTSTANDING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS AND MORE Congratulations to 10 Seven Hills seniors—11 percent of the 2018 senior class—who were just named National Merit Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. The Seven Hills School congratulates the following 2018 National Merit Semifinalists: Michael Barresi, Natalie Choo, Tindar Cyr, Charlie Dwight, Jonathan Harsh, Bobby Kanter, Nick Purple, Mary Grace Ramsay, John Stewart, and Curtis Sun.

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Two intermediate and one upper division Certamen teams competed in early December at the Miami

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University Certamen. The Seven Hills Upper team, consisting of senior Charlie Dwight and sophomore Kevin Wang, won first place in the round robin-style tournaments. “This is one of a series of local classics department-sponsored Certamina that occur during the year,” said Middle and Upper School Latin teacher Katie The Seven Hills School continues its tradition of excellence with eight seniors who recently were named National Merit Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Program. The Seven Hills School congratulates the following National Merit Commended Students: seniors Christine Cao, Kaleb Kemp, Matthew Maring, Jessica Nordlund, Robby Shaffer, Kate Stein, Nick Williams, and Sarah Zhang.

Swinford. “University of Cincinnati hosted a competition in November, Miami in December, and Xavier University in January.” ..........................................

Congratulations to the four Seven Hills students selected last fall, to join the Cincinnati symphony youth orchestra (CSYO) Philharmonic! The students are: freshmen Andrew Yang (violin) and Meg Yuan (cello), sophomores Aishwarya Varma (viola) and Max Yuan (viola), and senior Nick Purple (violin). Max and Andrew also play in Seven Hills Symphonic Ensemble, and Meg and Aishwarya play in Seven Hills chamber strings continued on page 2. . .

CLASS OF 2018 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

Seven Hills Class of 2018 produced the highest percentage of National Merit Semifinalists in Cincinnati After an analysis of the percentage of students named National Merit Semifinalists based on the graduating class size of schools in Cincinnati, Seven Hills announced, last fall, that the Class of 2018 produced the highest percentage of National Merit Semifinalists in Cincinnati, with 11 percent of the graduating class receiving this prestigious recognition. “We are so proud of our students and their remarkable record of success, as recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation,” said Head of Upper School Matt Bolton. “Twenty percent of our graduating class has earned National Merit recognition and 11 percent of them are Semifinalists, giving them the distinction of having the highest percentage in the city!”

Creating Conversations SPEAKER SERIES

The September kickoff for Creating Conversations featured The Seven Hills School counseling department’s presentation of Screenagers, a critically acclaimed documentary that is garnering the attention of scientists and parenting experts alike.

More than 160 Seven Hills families and community members gathered on Sept. 28, in Founders Hall on the Hillsdale Campus to watch the film, which shared scientific opinions that excessive screen time is permanently changing the brains of adolescents. Parents in attendance considered a number of ideas for reducing screen time, including, creating a contract that regulates the screen use of everyone in the family, establishing a family day to talk about technology, such as Tech Tuesdays, and setting clear expectations of the rules.

Examples of Learning through Inquiry, Yellow Springs in November. The students spent most of their time outdoors, where they were immersed in the natural world, exploring and investigating parts of the 1,000-acre outdoor classroom with Glen Helen naturalists as their teachers. “Throughout the three-day experience, fifth-graders were able to develop a relationship with nature, gain a better understanding of themselves and their peers, and have a greater respect for the environment around them,” said Tracy Hickenlooper, interim assistant Head of Doherty Lower School. club. Instrumental music teacher John Rising said, “It is a huge honor to play in the CSYO! This prestigious group is made up of the most talented and driven young musicians in the Cincinnati area and the fact that we have so many participants from a school our size is awesome.” ...............................

Congratulations to Seven Hills junior Max Yuan, who was selected last fall to play in the prestigious All-State Orchestra. Max, who also plays viola

GROWING UP IN THE DIGITAL AGE MYDOC PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS IN ASSOCIATION WITH INDIEFLIX A FILM BY DELANEY RUSTON “SCREENAGERS” DIRECTORS OF EDITED PHOTOGRAPHY GEOFF SCHAAF DAN MC COMB DELANEY RUSTON BY ERIK DUGGER DELANEY RUSTON EXECUTIVE MUSIC ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS GEN CHASE HEIDI PAIGE BY PAUL BRILL PRODUCERS SCILLA ANDREEN KARIN GORNICK LISA TABB PRODUCEDBY DELANEY RUSTON LISA TABB SCILLA ANDREEN DIRECTEDBY DELANEY RUSTON

Creating Conversations continued in mid-October, asscreenagersmovie.com Seven Hills’ school counseling department hosted two workshops titled, “The Importance of Play,” on the Doherty and Hillsdale campuses. Play therapist Glenda Conyers, who sees young patients dealing with anxiety and stress, said children are being given very little time to play freely, without guidelines and boundaries. “Because of the lack of free play, we are seeing an increase of anxiety, depression, and lack of coping mechanisms,” said Conyers. “This is coming not only from academics, but also from sports. Even vacations can be over-structured.” Conyers concluded the workshops with dynamic, interactive ideas for play while sharing the message, “slow down, play freely!”

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in Seven Hills Symphonic Ensemble, said he is truly excited about this unique opportunity. “I most look forward to playing challenging repertoire and meeting many amazing musicians at All-State,” said Yuan, adding that his musical interests keep him busy locally, as well. “I also belong to the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra Philharmonic, which rehearses every Sunday.”

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The Upper School Model UN club took 22 students to the University of Dayton Model UN Conference in early November. The theme of the conference was “Being Human,” and students attempted to solve global problems about human rights, ranging from the plight of the Rohingya refugees in Myanmar to the issues surrounding rural poverty. History department

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chair Brian Wabler said all of the students did

EXAMPLES OF LEARNING

including juniors Ari Gleich and Emaan Asghar,

THROUGH INQUIRY, HANDS-ON DISCOVERY, TECHNOLOGY, AND COLLABORATION Doherty fifth-graders spent three days at Glen Helen Outdoor Education Center near

well, and some were recognized with rewards, who won Best Position Paper for the Historic Security Council, juniors Varshini Odayar and Neda Tehrani, who won Honorable Mention for the Committee on the Status of Women, and

Hands-on Discovery, Technology, and Collaboration sophomore Chase Young, who won

tradition that honors the lives of those lost in

length on the fence. The guesses ranged from

Distinguished Delegate for UNICEF.

the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York City,

four to 50,” said Cohen. The lesson

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Washington, D.C., and Stonycreek Township,

incorporated history and math, as students

Pennsylvania.

practiced counting by 10s. Kindergarten

Before the Tunnel

teachers Diane Schulteis and Michelle

Walk, Unit III

Foster’s classes also completed Mayflower-

gathered to listen

themed activities, including painting and

to the story of

replicating the ship.

Stephen Siller, a

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New York City

In early December, the Middle School held its

firefighter who ran through Battery Tunnel toward Ground Zero with Pre-kindergarteners in Tyler McIlwraith’s

60 pounds of gear on his back. Siller saved

class proudly displayed the fruits, well,

many lives before losing his own

vegetables, of their labor during a lesson with

on Sept. 11. His bravery inspired

science teacher Natalie Wildfong in October.

Doherty’s Tunnel Walk and similar

Wildfong invited students to harvest any food

events across the country are held

they wanted from garden beds outside her

in his name. Students discussed

classroom, including basil, tomatoes, beans,

Siller’s courage and gave their own

green onions, and carrots. “Students were

definitions of the word, which they

super excited each time a carrot was pulled

had written down on paper badges

out of the ground because it was a huge

to carry with them during their

surprise as to how long each carrot was since

walk through the Doherty

they grow underground,” McIlwraith said. The

Campus. Students then walked

lesson tied into students’ study of where food

one mile and reflected quietly on

comes from, what foods can be grown, and

courage and much more. The

much more.

event ended in the courtyard,

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where students hung their badges of courage to commemorate those who passed away and the heroes of that day. .....................

On Sept. 11, 2017, Unit III students participated in the Tunnel Walk, a Doherty

triennial Hunger Banquet, an event that raises awareness about food insecurity, around the world and at home in Cincinnati, through a complex simulation of food distribution. The Hunger Banquet was organized by Jacky

Kalubi, Middle School French teacher and Upper School French and Spanish teacher, and Bill Waskowitz, Head of the Middle School. Alumna Isabelle Harper ’00 led the event, sharing that 795 million people around the world face chronic hunger and the Hunger

Lotspeich’s Theresa

Banquet serves as a metaphor for inequitable

Cohen and her

food distribution. Thank you to Seven Hills

kindergarteners gained

Network of African-American Parents

an understanding of the

(SNAAP), Dewey’s Pizza, Kroger, Seven Hills’

length of the

Equity and Justice Committee and its chair

Mayflower during a

Upper School English teacher Nate Gleiner,

unique measuring

Seven Hills parent Moira Weir of Hamilton

project in late

County Job and Family Services, and parent

November. “They estimated how many

Nupur Anand for cooking rice!

strings it would take to show the Mayflower’s

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Examples of Learning through Inquiry, Hands-on Discovery, Sophomore English honors students recently

by acting out the lyrics in mid-October.

out the function of each cell part so the rest of

presented opposing cases on how to deal with

“Charades is mostly just fun, but it gives

the class could guess the part,” Licata said.

the Pardoner, a character in Geoffrey

students a chance to solidify the meaning and

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Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales. The students,

their understanding,” Hayes said. “The time it

Doherty Unit I students geared up in goggles in

takes to act, or draw, helps provide the students with extra processing time.”

September to study the metamorphic science of the popcorn kernel. Working with teacher Amy

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Kulhavik, the students held a test tube filled with

As guests of the Upper School,

a few drops of oil over a flame. They learned that

exchange students and teachers from Spain immersed themselves in the culture and routine of Seven Hills in

when the kernel is heated to a certain point, the moisture in the kernel turns to steam and soon, they heard one loud pop. Following the

mid-September, enjoying a number of Stinger traditions, such as Spirit Week and Homecoming. Students also attended classes across disciplines and participated in meetings and other events. The exchange allowed Seven in October, prepared for their lively discussion by reading a large portion of Chaucer’s book, in which they learned about the Pardoner’s repugnant actions. During their research, they learned that the Pardoner stole money from a poor widow with starving children and made

Spanish culture by spending time as host families. This spring, the students from Spain will reciprocate by hosting the same Seven Hills Upper School students and teachers in Spain. ......................................

sexist and anti-Semitic comments, to name a

Sixth-graders in Jennifer Licata and Karen

few. English teacher Mark Beyreis asked

Glum’s science classes learned about the role

students to bring their findings before the

of cells, while playing a game of charades,

head of the Catholic Church, who would

during a special activity in mid-November.

ultimately decide the fate of the Pardoner,

“Each group had to come up with a plan to act

based on students’ remarks. Head of Upper School Matt Bolton played the head of the church. .......................

experiment, the students reviewed their hypotheses to determine their accuracy. The popcorn experiment is done as part of a study of scientific inquiry in Unit I. ................ .....................

Students in Brian Berning’s Upper School engineering class created tinker crates—DIY toy kits—for third-graders

Students in Megan Hayes’

on the Hillsdale and

Lotspeich Spanish class

Doherty campuses

had fun learning vocabulary

in December. The

as they listened to the silly

students used the

song, ¿Puedo ir al baño?

design thinking model

(Can I go to the

to create an activity

bathroom?) by Señor

based on a topic given

Wooly and played an

to them by the Lower

all-class game of charades

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Hills students to learn a great deal about

Technology, and Collaboration School teachers. Berning said the students

story,” said teacher Karla Dejean. “The

followed the model—empathy, define, ideate,

more ledes they write, the more

prototype, and test—by first interviewing

comfortable they will be with the

the Lower School students for background

journalistic process of building an article.”

information and their level of ability.

Middle and Upper School associate

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librarian Gail Bloom also taught students

In early November, Doug Huff’s Middle

how to log in to their free New York Times

School history class learned about the history of the two major political parties in the United States. Right before Election Day, the seventh-graders learned about the history of the Republican and Democratic parties. Huff said students answered questions about the

account, which is provided to every Upper School student. Dejean said she wanted students to be aware of the online access they have to various periodicals, to see examples of ledes, and to stay on top of current events.

parties and then took a Pew Research Center

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Survey to see where they fall on the political

Lotspeich second-graders wrapped up a

spectrum. After answering the brief,

semester-long study of bridges with the

11-question survey, students put a dash on the

culminating Morning with Bridges, held in

board to represent their results. The class then

mid-December. Family and friends were

had an in-depth discussion about the parties,

invited to view models of real-world bridges

which included demographics.

created by second-graders, who presented

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information about their models. Students spent time building their models and carefully researching their structure of choice. Students honed their geography and map skills earlier this semester by studying a bridge in their city, state, country, continent, and world. They examined other aspects as well, including the many types of bridges and their construction. Second-graders’ Morning with Bridges included the Chameau Bridge in Haiti,

Upper School journalism students learned

Australias’ Sydney Harbor

courageous acts in December, in preparation for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. convocation in January. Unit III teachers Claire Laughlin and Julie Guminey kicked off the study by reading I Have a Dream, by illustrator and author Kadir Nelson. The students then brainstormed examples of everyday courage and began writing poems for two voices. The poetry readings will take place during Doherty’s Martin Luther King Jr. convocation in January. ......................................

Middle Schoolers came together in October, to participate in the exciting new Lemonheads Club, a weekly creative counseling group led

by Middle School counselor Taylor Markovits.

The club’s namesake is Markovits’ hamster Lemon, who attends meetings. Markovits said Lemonheads gives students an opportunity to practice creative activities for self-expression and to process common Middle School issues.

The students took part in the Kindness Rock Project, a national movement that encourages random acts of kindness. “Students painted and drew messages of positive encouragement, affirmation, and inspiration

how to write a good lede, or the introductory

Bridge, and London’s Tower Bridge.

portion of a news article, designed to draw

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readers into their stories. During a November

From standing up for a classmate to the kind

find,” Markovits said.

of conviction that propelled the Greensboro

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lesson, students discussed the four types of ledes—summary, commentary, illustrative, and anecdotal. “Lede writing is difficult but necessary because it’s the door into the

on river stones and sticky notes and placed them throughout the school for others to

sit-ins, fourth- and fifth-graders on the Doherty Campus discussed a gamut of

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Celebrating Outstanding Sports Achievements The fall sports season was marked by talented teams, state competitions, and competitive student athletes holding their own in tough Varsity Golf

Girls varsity tennis players Natalie Choo and Jillian Blatt competed as a doubles team in the OHSAA Girls State Tennis Tournament. Blatt and Choo competed in the first round against a doubles team from Toledo Central Catholic.

Choo and Blatt placed first in the sectional tournaments, advancing through districts on to the state tournament. Singles players Neda Tehrani and Annika Alper and doubles team Anika Parameswaran and Lucy Callard also competed in the district tournament. The team came in second in the Miami Valley Conference (MVC), with a record of 4-2. .......................................

competitions. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches, who made the fall 2017 sports season successful, and for receiving welldeserved recognition during the fall sports awards ceremony, held in early November.

Varsity Tennis

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The boys varsity soccer team claimed the sectional championship. The team was 6-1-1 in the MVC and 10-5-3 overall, finishing third in the conference. Brennan Callow, Ricardo Godoy, and Carson Loring were named to First Team in the All Southwest District.

Godoy and Loring were also named Southwest Ohio Senior All-Star Representatives. .......................................

The boys varsity cross-country team had a strong showing. The team placed second in the SWDAB Cross-Country Championships.

Matthew Maring placed second overall in the MVC, with a time of 16:54. .......................................

Seven Hills girls varsity soccer ended a dynamic season with a record of 3-4-0 in the Miami Valley Conference and a record of 7-11-0 overall. Maggie Kersting and Jessica Nordlund were named All-City players.

Alexis Tucker received the Dick Snyder Sportsmanship Award, which is presented to student athletes who display integrity and general sportsmanship throughout the season.

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The Seven Hills varsity golf team made it to the state tournament for a second year in a row, competing at The Ohio State University’s Scarlet Course. The Stingers, led by coach Doug Huff, placed sixth out of 12 teams. Egan DeWitt had the lowest individual score of 76, and the team had a total score of 673. Max Lane was named First Team All-City and DeWitt was named Second Team All-City.

Team members included Lane, DeWitt, Louann Kovach, Ben Schiff, Michael Weirich, and John Stewart.

Stingers were led by Mary Ellen Bryans, Ava Romerill, Avani Seshiah, and Madeleine Creech.

The girls varsity volleyball team proved to be tough competition, competing in the sectional tournament at the end of the season. The team was 14-2 in the MVC, and 20-5 overall. The

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Seven Hills had a total of 84 Scholar Athlete award recipients throughout the fall season.

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

Varsity Soccer

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VA R SI T Y G O LF • VARS IT Y TE N N IS • VARS I T Y VOLLEYB ALL • VARS I T Y C ROS S-COU NT R Y • S O CC E R

Seven Hills Arts Sampler Seven Hills’ 32-member cast and 10-member

Congratulations to our talented Middle and

by Tina Kuhlman, fine and performing arts

crew of Our Town worked tirelessly this fall to

Upper School symphonic ensembles and the

chair, and accompanied by Seven Hills music

deliver a gorgeous play with the strong acting,

Upper contemporary ensemble for spirited

teacher Lynne Miller included the fruits of a

Our Town

powerful composition, and the simplicity Thornton Wilder prescribed. Congratulations to Upper School theater teacher Stephanie Park, technical theater director Trey Tatum, and our Upper School theater students for

performances in early December.

new program, that focuses on gender-specific

Under the direction of

issues related to studying music at a time

instrumental music teacher John

when boys’ voices are changing. Students in

Rising, the musicians performed a

the Upper School full chorus, women’s

variety of complex songs. In

chorus, men’s chorus, and chamber ensemble

addition to playing a number of

serenaded the audience with the beautiful

jazzy tunes, the Upper

sounds of the season during our annual winter

contemporary ensemble played

choral concert. Upper School students also

It’s Too Late, by Carol King, which

spread holiday cheer in early December, as

featured vocalist, senior

they participated in a concert tour throughout

Natalie Choo.

Cincinnati.

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Congratulations to our Middle and

Upper School Students in Daniel Vance’s class

Upper School choruses for lovely

produced substantial projects as a result of

performances during the Winter Concert,

their studies on the main forms of ceramics—

held in early December. The choirs, directed

continued on page 8. . .

Middle School Chorus

staging a wonderful show. .......................................

Middle School Instrumental

Upper School Chorus Upper School Instrumental

OUR TOWN • SYMPHONIC & CONTEMPORARY ENSEMBLES • CHORUS • CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

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Seven Hills Arts Sampler pinch pot, coiling, wheel throwing, and hand

Wilson and drama teacher Russell White,

building. Vance’s students, in November,

expertly told the story of a fairy tale king who

focused on hand building for a mask project,

loves clothes. In addition to Wilson and White, the production was staged with help from Upper School theater tech teacher Trey Tatum. ......................................

Fifth-graders on the Doherty Campus added bursts of color to their campus garden as

Ceramics

Doherty Holiday Program

part of a yarn bombing art project in Donna Breitenstein’s art class in late October. “I asked the students to wrap colorful yarn Fifth-grade art

which involved working from a 16-inch piece

in mid-December. Congratulations to our student musicians and to music teacher Maria Eynon. ......................................

of slab built clay, and working the clay into a detailed mask. Vance said some of the

Middle School students staged a heartfelt

students’ projects are inspired by Japanese

production of E.B. White’s children’s classic

and Native American masks. The masks were

Charlotte’s Web in early October. The talented

on display at the Upper School art show, held

young cast brought the childhood staple to life

in early January.

with great acting, detailed costumes, and special sound effects, made by a crew sitting

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next to stage, creating noises in real time. This

Lotspeich fifth-graders gave an exciting

technique is known as Foley art. “The entire

performance of the musical The Emperor’s

cast and crew for Charlotte’s Web did a tremendous job,” said Middle School theater

The Emperor’s New Clothes

teacher Jacob Hauser. “Putting this show tightly around bamboo sticks. We later

together required a wider variety of skills than

installed them in the garden,” said Breitenstein. “As the leaves fall and the color in the trees diminishes, these art pieces will add bright splashes of color to the landscape.” ......................................

Doherty students spread seasonal cheer New Clothes, based on the tale by Hans Christian Anderson in October. The student performers, directed by music teacher Robin

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during the annual Doherty Holiday Program, titled, Celebrating Peace and the Magic of the Season which launched the beginning of the winter break at Seven Hills

Charlotte’s Web

UPPER SCHOOL CERAMICS • THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES • YARN BOMBING • DOHERT Y HOLIDAY

Visual Arts previous shows. I was impressed with how seamlessly the various elements came together to tell a single, cohesive story. Everyone should be commended on a job well done.” With a cast of characters that consisted of several barnyard animals, Middle School art teacher Elissa Donovan designed puppets that served as an extension of actors playing animals. Theater tech teacher Trey Tatum also led a group of students in the tools of the tech trade, including lighting and sound. .....................................

Thirteen Lower School instrumental musicians performed beautifully in The Sassmannshaus Tradition winter string recital at Seven Hills in early-December. Kudos to our musicians! ......................................

Sassmannshaus string recital

The accomplished works of visual art students were on display in the Donovan Arts Center during the Upper School art show in January.

The students’ work was presented by art teachers Jason Knarr and Daniel Vance.

PR OG R A M • C HARLOT T E’S WEB • S AS S MANNS H AU S S TRI N G REC I TAL • U P P ER S C H OOL A R T S H OW

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Visual Arts, continued

Seven Hills’ Upper School art show featured more than 200 pieces of art, which included paintings, drawings, photography, ceramics, and graphic design.

Š 2018 The Seven Hills School

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