Connections Fall 2021 by The Seven Hills School

FALL

CONNECTIONS

2021

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

School Snapshots 2

Family Spotlight 3

Focus on Faculty 4

Focus on Students 6

Community Life 8

Oh, the Places They’ll Go! 12

Alumni Events 15

2020-2021 Annual Report 18

Message from the Head of School Building Community to Promote our Culture of Belonging As I look back on last year, I can say without hesitation that in my 33 years in five different independent schools, the 2020-21 school year was the most unusual (and exciting) one yet. Coming together as a community, we accomplished a huge milestone in opening for in-person instruction five days a week and providing a safe and meaningful learning experience for our students, whether they were right in front of us or through a screen. I have so much pride in our forward-looking teachers, staff, and families who made sacrifices to achieve a remarkable year as well our donors who went above and beyond to support us along this unchartered journey. While the magnitude of opening in-person during the pandemic shaped the last year, it was in the small moments of joy, the quiet moments of learning and risk-taking, and the behind-the-scenes interactions between adults and students that our true sense of community shone through. Relationships stayed front and center (p.6), and our faculty and staff DEI work remained more relevant than ever as we fostered belonging through affinity group work (p. 4). We celebrated beginnings and endings, from a virtual All

EDITOR Corinne Hayhurst CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Amy Walters, Shoshana Ziblatt PHOTOGRAPHERS

Adam Lechner ’87, Barb Eaton, Kathleen McNamara, Rhys Miller, Seven Hills Faculty and Parents WRITERS Riki Gibson, Dan Murphy DESIGN RossTurnerDesign.com THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL

975 North San Carlos Drive Walnut Creek, CA 94598 (925) 933-0666 www.sevenhillsschool.org

Favorite Read Alouds

Community Parent Toast (P. 11) to an interactive virtual auction (p. 28) and an in-person graduation ceremony (p. 12). We also found new ways to connect with our passionate graduates (p. 12), engaged alumni (p. 15), and loyal donors (p. 20). The spirit of Seven Hills is alive and well because we never forgot who we are. While this retrospective and annual report remind me of all the ways things looked different last year (opening the year on Zoom) and still do (from COVID testing to maskwearing), what never changed is Seven Hills’ commitment to the whole child and each child, and meeting each family where they are. We welcomed over 420 students at the start of this year as part of our busiest admissions season ever. We continue to make progress on our strategic plan, Whole Child, Whole Community. We have the validation of our seven-year accreditation and our roadmap for the future. An ambitious building initiative is on the horizon to create an even stronger learning community. It is an exciting time to be at Seven Hills! I hope you enjoy this issue of Connections. Thank you for your endless trust and support and for your valuable contributions of time and resources. It is with deep gratitude that I look back on 2020-21 as a year of finding our way, together, while looking ahead with great expectation. With gratitude,

Kathleen McNamara Head of School

KATHLEEN’S READING LIST From Her Night Stand

MISSION STATEMENT The Seven Hills School is a learning community with the mission to develop the intellect, engage the spirit, and foster respect for, and responsibility to, our world.

SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS: 2021-22

year

COVID tests

a new series to explore parent education topics

accreditation for employees and students

$10 3,47 5 Rhys Miller Curriculum Grants for summer professional development

nd to ude Fu taff it t a r G s for the faculty and t r suppo

TEN 40

pounds

of pasta ordered by Epicurean each week

virtual book & movie chats

from CAIS

(the highest possible rating)

974 people

registered for the virtual Parent Lecture Series with Julie LythcottHaims

Green & White and All School Assemblies on Zoom

400

stadium chairs

and 5,700 square feet of turf to create outdoor learning spaces for cohorts

124

in-person school days for grades K-8

SUBMISSIONS

EMPLOYEES

attended the virtual NAIS People of Color Conference

100+

9,321

for the first annual Library Bookmark Design Challenge

FAMILY SPOTLIGHT Family Spotlight: The Olatunji Family

Ronke and Ernie Olatunji have been parents at Seven Hills since 2006, and by the time they “graduate” they will have been here for 24 years! Through their family’s longevity and history with the school, they have seen firsthand how the Seven Hills mission has served each of their children, understanding their different learning styles and tailoring their learning experiences accordingly. As their three children have gone through Seven Hills—Dami ’16 now in college, Feyi ’21 in high school, and Dara ’30 in Kindergarten, they have experienced how the school lives out its commitment to not just the whole child, but each child. Finding the right school for their oldest child Dami, who was a fluid thinker, was a family priority. So when Ronke and Ernie moved east through the tunnel when he was just a baby, they began exploring independent schools in the area. They learned about Seven Hills from Ernie’s mentor who had a son at the school. By the time they were ready to tour Pre-K programs, they’d heard so many good things that they were eager to visit. Ronke remembers seeing the big red barn on that first visit to campus and thinking, “This looks like an interesting and fun school on the hill.” As they observed the school during their tour, Ronke and Ernie picked up on the school’s whole child approach. Reflecting back on that visit, Ronke said, “the phrase ‘whole child’ hadn’t been coined yet, but that’s what we saw. Although we were looking for an academically challenging school, we also wanted a school that could allow our children to develop emotionally, socially, and intellectually. We appreciated the attention to building the child, the whole person. The children were really allowed to explore, learn through creativity, and think outside the box.” At the end of the family tour, four year old Dami didn’t want to leave, which affirmed their own growing sense that Seven Hills felt like the right place for their family, a place they could call home. When Dami’s sister Feyi started Red Barn four years later, Ernie and Ronke wondered how Seven Hills would adapt to her more structured and methodical learning style. They were amazed to watch as teachers focused on getting to know Feyi and tailored her learning experiences to her strengths and style. The fact that students were seen as individuals, were consistently challenged and encouraged at their pace, and had their learning styles celebrated, endeared the Olatunjis to the school even more. Ernie and Ronke also appreciate how Seven Hills continues

to evolve while staying committed to its philosophy. When their youngest child, Dara, came to Red Barn last year, they were very impressed by the confident conversations the children were having around their identities—building on empathy, appreciating their differences from the outside in, and celebrating who they are. As they experience Seven Hills with Dara, they appreciate and encourage talking about these topics at an early age, which will lead to well-rounded children who can adapt to any environment. Though each of their children’s journeys at Seven Hills has been different, there are some commonalities too. “It was important for us to make sure that our kids had a solid academic foundation along with developing their whole self,” says Ernie. They have seen that in their two oldest children, from learning through play in ECE to honing their writing, technological literacy, and public speaking skills through the culminating 8th grade position paper. Ronke and Ernie’s friends often compliment how comfortable their children are at seamlessly carrying on conversations on a variety of topics, a skill that will serve them for life. They are grateful to have the opportunity to experience this journey again through their youngest child. In addition to being working parents, Ronke joined the Board of Trustees a few years ago. She enjoys contributing to the strategy, planning, goal setting, and decisions made in the interest of students, and appreciates how Seven Hills seeks areas for growth and improvement for the betterment of students. As they reflect on their long journey with the school, the value for their family has been seeing their children grow up to be confident, well-versed, diverse, communicative, and empathetic Seven Hills graduates— ready for wherever their next path takes them.

FOCUS ON FACULTY Creating Space: Faculty and Staff Engage in Racial Affinity Work The logistical challenges of COVID did not get in the way of Seven Hills’ work to become an even more equitable and inclusive learning community. Building on its multi-year diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) professional development work, as well as a schoolwide theme around building community, Seven Hills launched employee racial affinity groups in the fall of 2020. “The theme for the 2020-21 school year—Building CommUnity in our Diversity—was inspired by the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and reminded us that our community is stronger for the diversity of experiences and perspectives that we each bring,” says Kathleen McNamara. The purpose of these smaller group spaces was to create opportunities for faculty to develop a common vocabulary around DEI, build racial literacy skills, and engage in courageous

employees broke out into two self-identifying affinity groups to start—a facilitated BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) educators group and a White educators allyship group. Short films, talks, and resources from experts including Ali Michael (cofounder of the Race Institute for K-12 educators), Nina Simone (musician and Civil Rights activist), Phil Vischer (speaker and filmmaker), and Howard Stevenson (professor and director of the Racial Empowerment Collaborative), sparked reflection on racial identity and discussions around shared experience. Open-ended

mir•ror

noun / allows for self-reflection of one’s own experience, helping to build and reflect our identity.

“We’re not born with a racial literacy skill set. We send teachers to math conferences so they can build upon their math literacy skills. As educators, we need spaces that provide mirrors and windows as well, to identify our own blind spots as we review our curriculum for identity, representation, bias, and voice. These skills are learned.” – Jase Turner, Assistant Head of School & Interim Head of Lower School

conversations. In doing this intentional work with each other, the Seven Hills adult community was able to be vulnerable, practicing with each other to better prepare for serving their students more fully. As part of this small group work diving into issues of race,

win•dow

noun / offers a view into someone else’s experience, and builds empathy for the fact that we all have different experiences.

questions such as How was race treated or discussed in your early development? opened the door for colleagues to examine the roots of how they see the world and consider their own socialization, learning journeys, and growth. Though new at Seven Hills, affinity groups have been supported by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) for many years as a means to provide students, employees, and families the community-building, mentorship, and strategies they need to navigate challenges that can arise in independent schools. Affinity work builds a healthy, happy, and whole faculty community and impacts how they show up in their jobs and in how and what they teach their students. “We send teachers to math conferences so they can build upon their math literacy skills,” says Jase Turner, Assistant Head of School & Interim Head of Lower School. “As educators, we need

2020-21 Virtual Parent Lecture Series Parents, educators, and community members tuned in to hear renowned speakers from the comfort of home.

Vision for Seven Hills Affinity Group Work • Facilitate opportunities for affirming, nurturing, and sharing lived experience; • Discuss issues related to racial/ethnic identity development in a safe environment where people who share that racial or ethnic identity can generate community, fellowship, and empowerment; • Envision and share strategies for greater racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Seven Hills School.

spaces that provide mirrors and windows for our racial literacy skills as well, to identify our own blind spots as we review our curriculum for identity, representation, bias, and voice. These skills are learned.” This year, Seven Hills employees will expand the scope of their affinity group work and engage in similar conversations around religion, gender, and socio-economic difference. Faculty will continue to assess their own scope and sequence for cultural competency and anti-bias, guided by questions such as How are students learning? What do they see in front of them? How do they see themselves, and what opportunities are there to bring in voices that are not in the room?

There’s no question—talking to our children about race and racism can be a difficult conversation. Julie Lythcott-Haims, activist and New York Times bestselling author of the parenting manifesto How to Raise an Adult and memoir Real American drew upon her own experiences as a biracial woman to share how we can start conversations at home with our children. National expert on raising sexually healthy kids and teens, Deborah Roffman spoke to parents on communicating about sexuality with young children in ways that keep them coming back for more. She is the author of three books including Talk to Me First.

Dr. Wendy Mogel, clinical psychologist, parenting

expert, bestselling author of The Blessing of a Skinned Knee, spoke to parents about her third book, Voice Lessons. She shared insights on cultivating the art of conversation in an age of hurry, worry, and digital distraction.

Many teachers are already thinking about how they might implement affinity groups with Middle School students as they look toward the pillars of our Portrait of a Graduate. As our strategic plan ensures that this work of community and belonging is never done, Seven Hills is more committed than ever to making school a place where every student feels seen and heard.

FOCUS ON STUDENTS Connection: A Foundation to Whole Child Education In August 2020, there was still plenty of uncertainty for the upcoming school year. While the possibility of teaching and learning remotely seemed daunting, so too did the task of bringing students back in person. Drawing on one of the core tenets of the Seven Hills creed, “be positive,” faculty, staff, and administrators rose to the occasion united by our commitment to whole-child education. Rather than focusing on what might be lost, we focused on creating connection and joyful learning wherever possible. Planning centered around two essential and mission-driven questions: • How will we run a program that is hands-on, relationship-based, and stays true to our whole child approach to education?

• How can we create community in an educational world of desks spaced six feet apart, masks, individualized materials, stable cohorts, and no schoolwide gatherings? From here, everything flowed. From meeting students for the first time in the online classroom in August to students trickling back to campus in October, we continued to revisit these essential questions. We reimagined favorite school traditions and discovered Zoom to be a great platform for Box City and Shark Tank. Many outdoor traditions like Astrogation week remained intact with just a little extra planning to ensure adequate distancing. Students took virtual field trips to new places from Yosemite to Levi’s Stadium. And of course, we allowed for students to innovate and

All-School Assemblies Deepen Student Belonging even more voices and deeper connections across grades.

By October 2020, classroom learning was looking remarkably normal. However, community gatherings were limited by the inability to come together in large groups. Rather than writing off the tradition of K-8 assemblies as another COVID loss, Seven Hills embraced Zoom and moved to a weekly instead of monthly assembly schedule. The new cadence revealed a silver lining—an opportunity to infuse

Each week, students and teachers were invited to share a piece of themselves—their interests, talents, playlists, upbringings, family members, identities, and cultural celebrations. Some favorite moments happened during Heritage and Awareness months, including celebrations of Black History, Deaf History, Ramadan, Pride, and Poetry Month. The virtual setting created a sense of intimacy, with up-close views of students sharing their personal stories. One Lower School student expressed after the Ramadan assembly, “Yesterday’s assembly filled me with joy. Thank you for sharing about this month with the whole school. I am beyond grateful.” By showing up more fully in front of their schoolmates and witnessing others do the same, students’ sense of belonging and understanding grew exponentially.

Rainbow Students Learn Found Preserving one of the pillars of Reggio Emilia education, the idea that children are collaborators and learn through interactions within their communities, our youngest learners practiced making connections while masked and made visitors feel welcome when physically distanced. Undeterred by COVID-19 restrictions, they explored: How do we greet others? What questions do we ask to get to know someone? How do we introduce ourselves? How do we say goodbye? From greeting the facilities crew or Epicurean team into their space with a “hello!” or “hola!” (or even a socially distanced dance party), to waving at siblings and other passersby from the gate, children in Rainbow modeled confidence, speaking skills, and kindness to make others feel welcome when they had to be physically apart.

dational Interpersonal Skills

create new traditions of their own—such as the Kindergarteners, who without adult direction, formed a “welcoming committee” to cheer for and welcome their peers during the morning carline. Throughout, faculty and students demonstrated qualities that Seven Hills touts as graduation outcomes—resiliency, creativity, and mindfulness. Whether on-campus or online, at the heart of the year was the foundation of our program that prioritizes the emotional and social health of our students along with the academics. In a tumultuous year, it’s what our students and community needed. At the end of the day, Seven Hills students’ learning outcomes were possible because of, not in spite of, the time spent on care and connection.

Middle School Students Deepen Sense of Connection As a return to campus approached, the Middle School faculty rethought and reframed what it meant to (re)launch a school year and rallied behind an approach that proved to be profoundly impactful. Connection would have to come first and would serve as the foundation upon which in-person learning would occur. Teachers came to campus to host small group activitybased orientations for the incoming sixth graders who would be entering Hunt Hall for the first time. Those who arrived with trepidation left with smiles and excitement about the transition to Middle School. Seventh and eighth graders also had a staggered entry to campus, with their first few days about making sure they felt connected and cared for. “We trusted the process,” says Dan Meyers, Head of Middle School. “We knew that using a few academic days at the onset would help create student capacity to learn and help everyone build the stamina required for on-campus school.”

COMMUNITY LIFE

Up, up and away, it’s 100 days! Kindergarteners celebrate 100 days of learning and laughing at school.

It takes a village! Posters and signs of gratitude, made with love by our families, blanket the campus to honor our village of faculty and staff.

At their own Festival of Colors, ECE students celebrate Holi, which announces the arrival of spring and the passing of winter in India.

Health Coordinator Mike Murphy and the team keep our community healthy, one COVID test at a time.

Head, shoulders, knees and toes, Mr. Bones and Mrs. Ory headed home for distance learning.

Gearing up for a successful Annual Fund, class captains show their million-dollar smiles at their virtual training session.

Sixth Graders Begin Edible Gardens A few years ago, a student on the Kids Green Committee came up with the idea to cultivate campus to become a source of what ended up on our plates at lunch. Based on her idea, a new Middle School elective was born. Sixth graders worked in an elective with Linden, Ms. McNamara, and Epicurean Chef Ryan to begin to transform underutilized areas of campus into spaces to cultivate fresh and nutritious herbs for our community lunch program. The beginnings of the edible gardens include garlic, calendulas, borage, dill, mint, oregano, sage, chives, and more. Students enjoyed the fruits of their labor with a special herb omelette brunch courtesy of Chef Ryan!

Newly admitted Seven Hills families are greeted with open arms (and the Jag!) during a special carline event.

COMMUNITY LIFE

Bringing Seven Hills home for the start of school, teachers load up students with materials and good cheer for distance learning.

Don’t Stop the Presses! With parents off-campus during the year and students separated into cohorts, two creative news features arose to highlight Seven Hills’ happenings. PIA presidents Narguess Farahi and Kym Johnson began each virtual PIA meeting with an entertaining presentation in the style of John Krasinski’s Some Good News. Some Good News: Seven Hills Edition showcased everything from family updates (pandemic puppies, distance learning vignettes, the month-long winter break) interviews of Seven Hills teachers, and recaps of parent and student happenings online and on campus. At home pumpkin carving kicks off our spooktacular (and reimagined!) Halloween Festival scavenger hunt.

In Middle School, student journalists worked steadfastly to produce SHS NEWS, a weekly digital newscast, to report in their weekly Town Hall. The news crew compiled their own website complete with top stories, breaking news, the weekly report, the lunch menu, and special segments to keep the community updated. That’s a wrap!

With Pixar cinematographer and Seven Hills parent Jeremy Lasky, students and parents got their popcorn ready and watched Wall-E together at the first virtual movie club event.

Cracking the case! Aspiring Middle School detectives solve a crime in 25 minutes in their new CSI Adventures elective.

Make no bones about it—our 7th graders show off their skeletal muscles knowledge.

Toasting Our Community In lieu of our annual All Community Parent Dinner, Seven Hills parents gathered over Zoom for the reimagined All Community Parent Toast to celebrate the start of the school year. More than 200 parents, trustees, administration, faculty, and staff virtually shared in gratitude, connected with one another during a cross-grade breakout session, and raised a glass to the Seven Hills community. During the evening, parents were encouraged to contribute their thanks to Seven Hills faculty and staff via a digital Padlet. Each parent or guardian received a custom Seven Hills wine tumbler to use during the event. Cheers!

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO! Celebrating Endings and Beginnings at Outdoor Graduation Ceremony As COVID-19 restrictions started to lift in the spring, Seven Hills was hard at work brainstorming how we would provide an inperson graduation ceremony for the Class of 2021 to honor their excellence in academics, leadership, and resilience in this most unusual year. The first celebration to return as an outdoor event was the 8th Grade Parent Dinner. On the evening before graduation, parents shared stories, laughed, cried a little, and reminisced about all that their children accomplished as individuals and as a grade. The next morning, the 58th graduation ceremony was held on the Lower Field for the first time under the picturesque backdrop of Mount Diablo. Immediate family members were seated together in socially distanced family “pods,” and a high-quality live stream of the event was shared with the Seven Hills student and parent body to watch from home.

“I hope you chase the questions and that you are open to where the answers take you.” – Adri Walker ’21

In keeping with tradition, the ceremony was marked by moving student speeches that shared stories of challenge, strength, and hope, remarks from Kathleen McNamara, and meaningful student quotes shared by each of the 47 graduates. Families also enjoyed a musical performance of Here Comes the Sun by graduates Ali and Giani Tamburrino ’21, with Mr. Davis and Mr. Lechner backing them up. Guests in attendance said that it all came together to be one of the most beautiful graduations Seven Hills has ever had. Finally, by unanimous declaration of the faculty and staff, the entire Class of 2021 was honored with the Distinguished Legacy Award, only bestowed three times in 22 years. We know that these student leaders will pave the way for Seven Hills students who will follow them at each of their new high schools. Congratulations Class of 2021!

“From having an unforgettable experience in Europe to thriving during a global pandemic, we have truly done it all. Our class has faced challenges and adversity and emerged even stronger.” – Lincoln Janopaul ’21

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO!

Class of 2021: High School Destinations Nicolas Berbon, Northgate High School Nicholas Luo, San Ramon Valley High School Michael Borovikov, The College Preparatory School Karlina Meyer, Carondelet High School Caroline Brown, Joseph Moore, Las Lomas High School San Ramon Valley High School Zach Moudi, The Athenian School Anderson Butner, Taft School Arjun Mulchandani, Jasper Buttles, De La Salle High School The College Preparatory School Karishma Caro del Castillo, Andover Clara Nemeth Gibson, Carondelet High School Maile Chinn, Carondelet High School Andrea Niculescu, Ryana Conroy, The Athenian School Carondelet High School Gillian Davis, Rodriguez High School Oluwafeyikemi Olatunji, Georgia Dayton-Ames, Carondelet High School Campolindo High School Faye Papadakis, Carondelet High School Piper Duff, Acalanes High School Tyler Pope, Carondelet High School Kyle Ettinger, College Park High School Joslyn Rich, Bentley School Joseph Fitzgerald, Head-Royce School Samantha Rubiano, Grady Fleming, Bentley School Carondelet High School Wesley Gholson, Michael Solomon, The Athenian School De La Salle High School Samuel Hecht, Lincoln Sovik, De La Salle High School James Spear, Bentley School De La Salle High School Hudson Hilal, Skyler Stratmore, Stevenson School The College Preparatory School Anton Sukhov, St. Peter’s School of York Christopher Hughes, De La Salle High School Alessandro Tamburrino, Nolan Hughes, The Athenian School De La Salle High School Giancarlo Tamburrino, The Athenian School Lincoln Janopaul, The Lawrenceville School Dylan Tawes, Head-Royce School Theodore Keith-Mahler, Sarah Vaughn, The Athenian School Carondelet High School Nisa Khoury, Bentley School Adri Walker, Carondelet High School Reese Lanzone, Westminster School Benjamin Walters, Northgate High School Claire Little, Carondelet High School

High School Seniors Share Wisdom with Class of 2021 The Class of 2021 was officially welcomed into the alumni ranks at the longstanding Alumni Welcome Luncheon, which returned as an on-campus event in the Student Commons. Four members of the Class of 2017—Micah Perry, Holden Hilal, Delaney Hughes, and Tony Baldacci—returned to offer their advice about the transition to high school and life beyond Seven Hills. Each speaker represented a different high school perspective, from public, parochial, and independent, and touched on everything from academics and extracurriculars to social life and peer pressure.

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO! Class of 2017: College Destinations Seven Hills alumni from the Class of 2017 have big plans and were accepted into top colleges and universities across the U.S. MIDWEST

NORTHEAST

Grinnell College Indiana University, Bloomington Oberlin College Purdue University University of Michigan Washington University, St. Louis Wheaton College

Class of 2017 Virtual Senior Send-Off Seven Hills celebrated the Class of 2017’s graduation from high school with a virtual version of the annual Senior Send-Off. More than 50 graduates and their parents and faculty reconnected over Zoom to share their next adventures, catch up in breakout rooms, and enjoy a short program with their class’s memories and accomplishments.

Bates College Carnegie Mellon University Colby College Dartmouth College Haverford College Rhode Island School of Design Swarthmore College Williams College

WEST

Chapman University Colorado State University Diablo Valley College Harvey Mudd College Occidental College Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego State University Santa Barbara City College Santa Clara University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis

SOUTH

Baylor University Wake Forest University University University University University University University

of of of of of of

California, Santa Barbara Colorado, Boulder Nevada, Las Vegas Oregon San Francisco Utah

ALUMNI EVENTS It was a busy and unique year of keeping our alumni network connected in the midst of a pandemic. From first-ever virtual events to a return to campus for our Alumni Reunion, Seven Hills was able to foster continuous engagement of our alumni community keeping up to date with their school and classmates. Thanks to the partnership of our Alumni Council, Seven Hills graduates and their families had many opportunities each year to reconnect and strengthen the relationships they have with each other and the school.

ALUMNI TRIVIA NIGHT! A wide mix of alumni and faculty logged in to engage in some friendly competition at the first Alumni Trivia Night in March, with a professional trivia host leading the way. Congratulations to Joe, Max, and Brian from the Class of 2004, along with Mr. and Mrs. E-B, for coming in 1st place!

CAREER PATHWAYS GOES VIRTUAL: NAVIGATING THE NEW WORKPLACE LANDSCAPE DURING A PANDEMIC Last Fall 2020, Seven Hills parents, alumni, alumni parents, and faculty and staff came together over Zoom for an executive panel discussion on key workplace topics that organizations were addressing during the uncertainty of COVID-19. The executive panel (spanning the e-commerce, financial services/software, and marketing/retail industries) shared how companies are navigating short and long-term business models, talent, hiring strategies, and the new remote workforce. The program was followed by an engaging Q&A session and virtual networking.

SPOTTED: ALUMNI AT GRADUATION Many young alumni had the opportunity to reconnect at the Class of 2021 graduation ceremony in June as they celebrated their siblings.

Diane Dietz, former CEO/President, Rodan + Fields; Greg Marsh, former Global Head of Recruiting, Square; and Tom Taira, President, Special Projects, Carvana.

With programming in its fourth year, Career Pathways continues to showcase the strength of the Seven Hills community by bringing together parents, alumni, alumni parents, and faculty and staff around key career development topics.

ALUMNI EVENTS ALUMNI REUNION The Saturday after graduation, the Alumni Reunion returned to campus for our first in-person alumni event of the year. Fully vaccinated guests including alumni from three decades, alumni parents and family members, faculty, and friends reconnected in

the outdoor Student Commons to honor the Seven Hills service of Scott Espinosa-Brown (26 years), Stephanie Sproul (24 years), and Ponce Yambao (14 years). Guests who were unable to attend tuned in to a live stream of the program and toasts.

ALUMNI EVENTS New Awards Honor Departing Leadership Rhys Miller Curriculum Grants In June, Seven Hills bid farewell to Rhys Miller, who began her well-deserved retirement after eight years as the Director of Teaching and Learning. Rhys was hired to be a mentor for teachers and help the school coordinate its curriculum across divisions. She worked closely with the Education Leadership team and every faculty member in service to our teaching and learning program and is leaving behind a stronger professional community of adults. Each spring, teachers at Seven Hills may apply for summer curriculum grants that provide the opportunity to take a deep dive into a specific subject area, collaborate on grade-level curriculum, or take advantage of local professional development. From now on, these summer curriculum grants will be known as Rhys Miller Curriculum Grants, to honor her commitment to teacher development and excellence. Last summer, 20 Rhys Miller Grants were awarded to teachers.

Alumni Events: Save the Date! Career Pathways November 16, 2021 Alumni Happy Hour February 16, 2022 Class of 2018 Senior Send-Off May 14, 2022 All Alumni Reunion June 11, 2022

Dan Rogoff Kindness Awards Dan Rogoff, Seven Hills’ Head of Lower School, said goodbye to the school after five years to accept a position at Marin Primary and Middle School. Dan enhanced the student experience with his commitment to our whole child (and each child) philosophy, his expertise in socialemotional learning, his voice for mindfulness, his promotion of collaboration, and his reminders of “being patient with the process.” In honor of Mr. Rogoff, Seven Hills established the Dan Rogoff Kindness Awards to be given to those members of grades 5, 6, and 7 that display kindness to their classmates and teachers and represent the very best attributes of a Seven Hills student. Congratulations to the first recipients of the Dan Rogoff Kindness Awards!

Alumni and Alumni Parents: Let’s Reconnect! Please visit the Alumni page of our website to complete a brief form that will help us update our records. As we continue to build our alumni program, keep an eye out for future meet-ups and ways to connect and have fun! We look forward to hearing from you.

2020-21 ANNUAL REPORT A Message from the Board Chair With the start of the 2021-22 school year, I’m reminded that we have much to appreciate as well as look forward to as Seven Hills emerges as a stronger community than ever. Our efforts last year, guided by the CDC and Contra Costa Health as well as counsel from campus and community partners, allowed us to safely reopen for full-time in-person learning. As one of the parents with a new graduate, the 2020-21 school year ended on a high note for many families. Yes, there were sacrifices made, such as the loss of capstone field trips, Extended Day, and middle school sports, but Seven Hills adroitly and safely delivered on the School’s whole child curriculum. Operating prudently and methodically, we are well prepared as a community to pivot and adjust to changing circumstances in the short and long term, balancing COVID-19 mitigation measures with the all-important social and emotional wellbeing of our students. Keeping this positive perspective in mind, as a trustee I also recognize the tremendous financial support provided by our community during the year: a record-breaking Annual Fund, the Gratitude Fund for our faculty and staff, a growing endowment that will increasingly offset the school’s operating expenses, and other leadership gifts to support the start of a campus master plan that will further enhance the student experience. The Board’s DEI Committee also made tremendous progress over the past year by doing a deep dive into relevant practices and policies throughout our community. This work culminated in the Board’s endorsement of a DEI statement that now resides on the school’s website. It is our collective belief that making Seven Hills an even more inclusive, welcoming community will help us attract mission-aligned families and allow student learning to be broader, deeper, and more fulfilling for all. In closing, I want to reaffirm my gratitude for the remarkable collective efforts on the part of this entire community to advance and fulfill our School’s mission. Our students, new and returning, have demonstrated joy and appreciation in the face of adversity. Our families continue to support and encourage us in this important work of educating children. And for the administration, faculty, and staff, my words have emotion. When our students see the adults acting with calm courage, navigating the challenges, and maintaining their composure with grace and resolve, we know that students too will stay steady, demonstrate resilience, and in turn learn by example how they will manage the crises that may arise for them at some point in their adult lives. This community has never been stronger, and I look forward to the year ahead. Warmest regards,

Matt Janopaul Chair, Board of Trustees

FINANCIALS

2021-22 Board of Trustees BOARD MEMBERS Sameer Advani Jamil Akoni Katie Alberts Heather Alumbaugh Pat Blake Paul Deeringer Joel Grossman Matt Janopaul Alexandra Lee Eric Littell Whitney Livermore ’00

Matt Macomber Greg Marsh Julie Meissner Ronke Olatunji Bryce Pinkos ’99 Chris Riley Marcela Robledo Rina Shah Del Stafford John Sween Kirsten Young

We thank the following trustees for their service through June 2021: Annette O’Donnell-Butner Candace Fleming Mackenzie Lesher Seiyonne Suriyakumar '02 Lisa Barnett Sween

OPERATING REVENUES Net Tuition1 $9,868,279 87.1% Annual Fund and Auction2 752,647 6.6% Other 464,319 4.1% Endowment Draw 240,583 2.1% Total $11,325,828 1. Net Tuition does not include Tuition Assistance 2. Does not include Raise the Paddle

$1,680,529 $103,475

OPERATING EXPENSES3 Salaries and Benefits $8,674,714 78.4% Instructional 985,325 8.9% General and Administrative 339,848 3.1% Fundraising 122,313 1.1% Plant 476,120 4.3% Debt Service 462,299 4.2% Total

$11,060,619

3. Excludes non-cash depreciation/amortization

$881,152

Capital Projects and Maintenance $94,757

Seven Hills is committed to investing in and enhancing the student experience while keeping tuition increases as low as possible. The Board of Trustees sets tuition annually and oversees the school’s finances with the dual goals of supporting mission-driven growth and promoting fiscal strength.

Endowment $6,528,541

The overall operating budget in 2020-21 was over $11 million. Faculty and staff salaries and benefits continued to account for more than 75 percent of the overall operating expenses, while tuition provided 87 percent of the overall operating revenue. Second to tuition, philanthropic support of the Annual Fund and auction combined was the largest source of operating revenue.

Note: capital expense is funded via operations, gifts, and reserves

Total Liabilities and Net Assets $31,069,067

These numbers reflect pre-audited financials. Audit will be available upon request as of December 2021.

HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 2020-21 Extraordinary Gratitude for an Extraordinary Year In what will be remembered as an extraordinary year, we have tremendous gratitude for our many philanthropic partners who went above and beyond to generously contribute to Seven Hills during the 2020-21 school year. Because of you, we continue to deliver on our promise of a whole child education guided by dedicated faculty who instill a love of learning, a sense of belonging, and a growth mindset. In the following pages, we recognize the collective generosity of parents, trustees, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni, foundations, friends, faculty, and staff who have made an extraordinary impact in the lives of our students.

Annual Fund Donors Hill’s Angels $30,000+

The Benevity Community Impact Fund Benjamin and Sara Clinger

Visionaries

$20,000 - $29,999 Anonymous Robert and Renee Little Schwab Charitable Fund

Leadership Circle $10,000 - $19,999

The Blackbaud Giving Fund Patrick and Alison Blake Christopher and Annette Butner Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

We are most grateful to our Annual Fund donors and the more than 92% of families who gave above and beyond the cost of tuition to create the best learning environment for students between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021. From big ticket items to the smallest details that set Seven Hills apart, the Annual Fund directly supports the people, programs, and experiences that we love and value most about a Seven Hills education—adding the extra in extraordinary.

Google Inc. Employee Giving Matthew and Marissa Janopaul Stephen and Mackenzie Lesher Richard and Patricia Marcogliese Gregory and Julie Marsh National Philanthropic Trust David and Emily Pottruck Andrew and Kathryn Solomon Del and Kimberly Stafford Patrick and Diane Suciu

Giving Champs $5,000 - $9,999

Bank of America Charitable Gift Fund

Bank of America Matching Gifts Program Dan Browne and Palwasha Barekzaie Alberto and Ana Bianchi BlackRock Matching Gift Program Jonathan and Kristin Butler Fermin and Sharda Caro Del Castillo Frank and Elizabeth Cassal Combined Jewish Philanthropies Brian and Kristen D’Arcy Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialists Inc Robert and Wendy Greer Joel and Holly Grossman Louis Grossman Jason and Anna Husk

Imran Junaid and Anita Bhat Tanveer and Sarah Khan Amar and Sheetal Kinkhabwala Jim and Shannon Lanzone Benjamin and Rashna Larson Cornel and Alexandra Lee Kurt and Leighanne Levensaler

Eric and Karen Littell Randall and Elizabeth Luskey Nicolo and Razia Manlapaz Drew and Kaeti McMillan Kathleen McNamara and Jihad Mirza David and Sylvia Pearlstein Gregory Pilarowski and Anna Gai Psychiatric Care Surender Punia and Ling-Chun Lin Juan Gaviria and Marcela Robledo Philipp Sack and Sukhwant Singh Kynan and Laura Scarr Yi Shi and Shangjie Zuo Morgan and Lisa Swiggett Thomas and Stephanie Taira Nghia and Pranom Tran Vanguard Charitable

Head’s Circle

$2,500 - $4,999 Sameer and Stella Advani Olakunle Ajayi and Jenny Sung Katherine Alberts and Lori Siegel Christina Alonso Susan Alonso Dennis Alumbaugh Jason and Nicole Ambrose Jonathan and Amanda Ambrose American Endowment Foundation Anonymous (4) Simon Ashiku and Annette Chen Christian Balzer and Shireen Ghorbani Nicholas and Andrea Bell Gregory and Sheren Bouchakian

$680,000 raised in a record-breaking year for the Annual Fund

100%

participation from the Board of Trustees, faculty, and staff

Dennis and Veronica Brinkmann Kevin Bui and Trina Dong Kimberly Carpenter Paul Chua and Grace Chan Rick and May Chuarta Spencer Crawford and Tiffany Obenchain Yi Dai and Yunzhi Xie Paul and Christa Deeringer Lindsay Delaney Samuel Deutsch Escalante and Cinzia Stella Alexander and Samantha Duff Eric and Stéphanie Ebel Lee and Candace Fleming Jonathan and Laura Forman Charles Gibson and Terezia Nemeth John and Khira Griscavage Jay and Genevieve Gudebski Karan and Ella Gupta Scot and Liann Hagey Jacques and Kimberly Herring Sameer and Melissa Hilal Thomas Houghton and Sindy Tew Frederick Hughes, Jr. Fred and Noel Hughes Andrew and Andrea Hutchison Brett and Kymberly Johnson Thomas and Danielle Kahl Jeffrey and Nicole Kangas Charles Killian and Michelle Watts Killian Kenneth and Jennie Klein

Mitchell Kumagai and Deborah Podberesky Douglas Lee and Michael Weiss David Fitzgerald and Haywon Lieh Matthew and Kamin Macomber Jay and Julie Meissner Fred and Cecilia Naranjo Jonathan and Sarah Naranjo Howard and Susan Overton Justin and Tracy Pajer Rahul Parikh and Rina Shah Robert and Margie Pearce Peter Peng and Mitzi Williams Blake and Ashley Petersen Pfizer Jeremy and Jennifer Rich Gay Lee Rubin Amit Sachdeva and Rebecca Rubin Salesforce.com Foundation Ross Schwaber and Catherine Fielding Jesal and Shachi Shah Simerjit Singh and Harmol Raikhy Steven and Susie Sovik STH Group LLC Edward and Devra Struzenberg Carlo Tamburrino and Paulette DeFalco Michael Tatara and Helen Kurtz Larry and Deveney Totten Glen Ryan and Vanessa Totten Ryan ’95 TPG

Ephraim Philip and Christine Tucker Ramon and Hilary Walker David and Joelle Weckerle Wells Fargo Foundation Educational Matching Gifts Program Simon and Alexis Whitcombe Yan Xia and Wei He Davis Yee and Nina Lee Wally and Kirsten Young

Benefactors

$1,000 - $2,499 Jamil and Cheryl Akoni Peter and Tina Andersen Anonymous (2) Maximilian and Lori Auffhammer Amir Axelrod and Sherry Wang-Axelrod Douglas Baloun and Traci Huahn Brian and Lisa Baskin Gordon and Diana Baty Ilya Borovikov and Victoria Holcomb Bright Funds Foundation Michael and Dara Buzzard Ronald and Fannie Chan Charities Aid Foundation of America Cisco Community Connection Matching Gifts Program The Clorox Company Foundation Luis Domínguez and Vanessa Torre Mario and Graciela Dueñas Mario and Tamara Dueñas Family Office Foundation, Inc.

Adding the Extra in Extraordinary: Your Gifts at Work! Extraordinary Opportunities

Christopher Frangos and Jennifer Jones Anne Gartner Sadegh and Narguess Ghorban Ibrahim Gokcen and Ozlem Karaman Gokcen Greater Horizons Thomas and Valerie Greeley Solomon Henik and Stacey Epstein Joseph Herger and Eugenia Kang Jason Ho and Amy Chow Paul Ho and Katherine Jue Andy and Barb Jaspar Thomas and Pauline Jeffers Jewish Community Federation and Endowment Fund Rahul Jolly and Richa Madan William Katakis and Milena Martinez Pamela Keith and Elizabeth Mahler Peter and Tara Khoury Andrew and Alana Kleinberger Jeremy Lasky and Michelle Fang Yong Jae Lee and Yaewon Kang Patrick and Darlet Lin Alexandr and Julia Lints Norman and Mo Livermore Whitney Livermore ’00 Carlos Lobo and Riki Gibson Zhonghui Luo and Li Huang Kathleen Manning

allow students to expand their horizons through a curriculum of art, world language, science, physical education, digital literacy, and technology.

Extraordinary Educators

inside and outside of the classroom collaborate to support individual learning styles to inspire each child’s success.

Extraordinary Re-Opening planning and investments ensure the health and safety of our community to make on-campus, in-person learning a reality.

Extraordinary Wellness

opportunities build empathy and resilience skills through an on-campus counselor, student care teams, mindfulness, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Extraordinary Technology provides students a vehicle for research, academic exploration, creativity, and a learning tool to transition between on-campus and distance learning.

2020-21 Annual Fund Class Captains With tireless enthusiasm and dedication, the Annual Fund Class Captains helped secure a solid 92% parent participation for the 2020-21 Annual Fund campaign by encouraging fellow parents to make their annual commitment. Many thanks to our Annual Fund Parent Chair Katie Alberts and the entire Class Captain team for ensuring a bright future for our students.

Rainbow Mario Dueñas

Red Barn Chris Riley

Kindergarten David Pearlstein

1st Ross Schwaber

2nd Wren Amos

3rd 4th 5th 6th

Andrew Bothwell Mark Cardella Jay Meissner & Justin Pajer Casey Conroy & Marissa Janopaul

7th Jason Husk

8th Vicky Holcomb

$6.5 million surpassed by the endowment

Ianthus and Xiomara Martin Paul and Kristina McCaffrey Kevin and Gillian McCracken James Mellor and Mimi Melton MGD Painting & Decorating, Inc. MKC Investments, LLC Clare Moore Henri and Lorena Moudi Nand and Sarbani Mulchandani Jon and Molly Ott Jason and Melissa Ovadia Bryce Pinkos ’99 and Shawn Wood Gregory and Liana Pope Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi Sean Ragasa and Thanh Tran Dunhill and Doroty Reyes Michael and Brianne Riley Dustin Rocke and Jacey Howard Sanjay and Tracy Roy George and Cheri Russell Jonathan and Kristina Sands Jay Saoud and Kristina Kramer

Scarborough Insurance Agency Armin Seifart Jonathan and Ali Singh John and Deborah Steinbuch Shahzad Sultan and Hina Ahmad John Sween and Lisa Barnett Sween Daniel and Lindsay Sweetnam The Walt Disney Company Foundation TIAA Ahmad Varoqua and Joanne Marzan Robert and Amy Walters Daniel and Barbara Wark Joshua and Tara Wellen Wellen Properties Steven and Linda Wight Arthur Woo and Emmelie Sabatte Workday Larry Wynn and Tootie Olsen Farhad Zamani and Georgina Jensen

Friends

Up to $999 Jeffrey and Heidi Abramson Nick Adamson and Carisa Harris Adamson Nyah Akoni ’18 Annie Allen David Ames Anonymous (13) Rodolfo and Virginia Arias David and Vivian Auslander Gene and Alicia Bakkum Andrew and Lauren Barbano Bayer/Monsanto Matching Gifts Program Cass and Carol Beals Lenora Beers Antonio and Seena Benavides Patrick and Min Berbon Nick and Clare Bisho Noah Blechman Stephanie Bolanos Dana Borelli Andrew and Kellen Bothwell Boxed Out LLC

Brent and Christiane Brinkerhoff Bill Butner and Bil Sullivan Jones Butner Bret and Sarah Cameto Mark and Kelly Cardella Adrian Carrillo and Michelle Barahona Lucien and Lauren Cazenave Steve and Lucy Chappell Charles Schwab Foundation Christopher and Amy Charlton Ronald Chinn Daniel and Kelley Cochran William and Cynthia Cogswell Casey Conroy and Diana Herrera-Conroy Kevin Considine and Christine Paige Considine Jeremy Coyne and Tet Salva Dawn Craig and Teresa Brink Kendall Craig ’18 Ryan and Nicole Crowley John and L. Adrienne Cupples

Annual Fund Parent Chair Katie Alberts

54 corporate matching gifts totaling more than

$65,000

Dan and Rebecca Cushing Brad and Cora Davidson Jason and Lisa Davis Pamela Dayton Charles and Mevis Demarest Yash Divekar and Priyanka Vaidya Amish and Shilpa Doshi Alice Duff Samuel East and Kristy McVey East Barbara Eaton Ekaterina Efimova and Iryna Ryzhankova Azeddine and Cate Ejjed Lauren Elkind Scott and Katherine Espinosa-Brown

120

Susanne Goldman Bob and Patty Gonser GoodAgent.org Mark and Christi Gotvald Doug and Susan Greenberg Benjamin and Joanna Grossman Brandon Guillen Zarmeen Gulgee Brian Gustafson and Elizaveta Vakhroucheva Russell and Jane Hall Travis and Corinne Hayhurst William and Kimberly Hecht Hernandez Janitorial Services

families support the Annual Fund at the leadership Head’s Circle level

Kurt and Sheryl Ettinger Paul and Laurel Evans Bejan and Torrey Farahbakhsh Marlon Fernandez and Wren Amos Cecilia Figueroa Scott Fink and Kathy Klein James and Marcie Fitzsimmons Jamaal Footman and Laney Erokan Mary Gaines Jeff and Kara Galbraith Gregory Gholson and Katherine Henderson Nicholas Giordano and Nidhi Chanani Laury Glasgow

Jesus and Lucy Hernandez Tony Hernandez Robbin and Elvina Hewitt Terence Heywood and Pamela Lesoganich- Heywood Douglas Hilmen and Joy Hirayama Spencer and Gina Hinck Patrick and Kimberly Hughes Innovex Environmental Management, Inc Liviu and Ana Ionescu Matthew and Nicole Jeffers Anthony Jerant and Nancy Palmer Matthew and Natalie Johns

Kaiser Permanente Community Giving Matching Gift Program Zahoor Kareem and Tanveer Alibhai Leah Karson Ron and Hope Katakis Megan Kaye ’09 Bryan and Jenifer Kester Edward and Christine Kim Lina Kim Jonathan Kirkham and Kelly Cabral-Kirkham Nathan Rynerson and Daphna Klugman Connie Komar Alexander and Victoria Kopelevich Chalis Kuba Scott and Kim Kumnick Carlton and Carrie La Cour Troy and Nancy Lane Adam ’87 and Shannon Lechner Elgin and Michele Leslie Tom and Jacqui Levey David Levin and Julie Scarpelli Sammy and Kate Levine Steve and Sarah Lewis Dale and Sylvia Lindstrom Carla Lo Coco ’92 Paresh and Veena Lohia Mohamed and Chelsea Lounnas Thomas and Denise Lyle Matthew and Shauna Maraccini Jennifer Marcus Jonathan and Gillian Marek Michael and Alisha Marsh Robert and Caroline Maruska Michael and Eileen McAndrews Marianne McBride John and Patty McCracken Philip McFann Hollie and Lydia McLeod James and Nina Meehan Michael and Leanne Mercado Neil Meyer and Stephanie Chiang

Dan Meyers and Andrea Cartwright Dan Michael and Lillian Leong Bill and Kristy Miller Neil and Rhys Miller Jason and Ginelle Mills John Anthony and Angela Miranda Khaled Monawar and Ogai Haider Monawar Kevin Moylan and Rania Berkeley Daniel Murphy Michael Murphy Cassian and Jeanette Naughton Carolyn Nelson Calin and Anca Niculescu Stacy Norman Kerry and Charlene O’Brien Jon and Tina Ory Giovanni Pace and Giuseppina Di Leo Pacific Gas & Electric Dasol Park and Jooyoung Kim Oliver and Amy Parker William and Heidi Plumb Joseph Pollock and Rebecca Demorest Don and Fern Prosnitz Robert and Gina Puljiz R Street Institute Matching Gifts Program Gustavo Rafaela and Samantha Buono Nicholas and Anna Rainsford Muhammad and Helena Ramadan Nathan and Kimberly Rapp Ralph Raulli Baptiste and Lindsey Ravache Jim and Tanya Reynolds David Rippon and Heather Alumbaugh Daniel and Kristine Rivera Cyrell Roberson Generra and Nicole Rocchi Jonathan and Jennifer Rodde

20%

increase in Annual Fund giving from last year with 36% of donors increasing their gift Phillip and Teri Rogers Daniel Rogoff and Laura Cox Michael Rubiano Colin Safreed and Xochitl Gonzalez Safreed Matthew Sager and Amanda Ashton-Sager Michael and Lauren Sanders Carlos and Camellia Santos Edward Scherr and Shelly Pozzi Susan Schnieders Steven Schwab Katerina Sellis Papadakis Mark Shapiro and Roberta Goldberg Norman and Elizabeth Shapiro Derrick and Beatrice Shelton Keith† and Deborah Shipherd Matthew and Jennifer Shump Angelina Sosa Stephanie Sproul Stephen and Katherine Stahl Corby and Heather Stead Jeff Steinberg and Kirsten Woods Diana Superfin

Seiyonne Suriyakumar ’02 and Anika Shah Jason and Adrienne Timmons Jase Turner and Miriam Jones Twilio, Inc. UBS Financial Linden Van Wert William and Kimberly Vaughn George Vukasin, Jr. ’86 Geoffrey and Beth Wadsworth Brian and Taryn Wardwell Wareham Property Group, Inc. Bob and Alison Wash Stephen Weeks Murray and Mari Weiss Emily Werner Eric ’96 and Emily Wight Taffy and Patricia Williams Robinson and Joanie Wills John and Lisa Woll Ponce and Lourdes Yambao Bernard Yin ‘76 and Rebecca Ramirez Mackenzie Young Megan Zeitler

The Seven Hills Endowment Surpasses $6.5 million

With an initial goal of growing the school’s endowment to $5 million by the year 2020, the Seven Hills endowment has surpassed its initial goal with more than $6.5 million strengthening the school’s financial foundation and ensuring that today’s students, as well as future generations, have continued access to student-centered teaching, engaging academic and co-curricular opportunities, and an inclusive community. Playing a critical role in the financial stability and sustainability of the school, the endowment is a pool of invested funds, protected in perpetuity, that produces a permanent flow of interest income beyond tuition revenue to support the school’s operating budget, with the remainder being reinvested in order to achieve further growth. We are grateful to the many families who have supported the endowment to help create enduring opportunities for our students. Jason and Nicole Ambrose Anonymous Steven Babiak ’07 The Benevity Community Impact Fund The Blackbaud Giving Fund Ilya Borovikov and Victoria Holcomb Christopher and Annette Butner Neil Meyer and Stephanie Chiang The Clorox Company Foundation Stephen Cohn and Rose Anne Critchfield Critchfield Cohn Family Fund at the East Bay Community Foundation Sydney Delgado ’17 David DeSilva Ross Fay Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Benjamin and Joanna Grossman Brian Hennessy ’04 Kevin and Elaine Hennessy Dewey Horton and Ann Hatanaka Paul and Deborah Jansen Pamela Keith and Elizabeth Mahler

Jerry and Gayle Klusky David Levin and Julie Scarpelli Norman and Mo Livermore James McDonnell and Linda Margulies Neil Menzies Bill and Kristy Miller Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc. Henri and Lorena Moudi MUFG Union Bank Matching Gifts Program Theresa Patterson Jerome and Jane Perez Harrold and Margaret Rust Fred and Susan Safipour The Jerome J. and Jane M. Perez Charitable Fund of the Ayco Charitable Foundation Robert and Amy Walters Wells Fargo Foundation Educational Matching Gifts Program

Named Endowment Funds

Named funds enable donors to create a lasting legacy that reflects their interests and priorities, and provides a giving opportunity to support Seven Hills in perpetuity. We are most grateful for those who have established a named fund and created an enduring legacy for the students of Seven Hills. The Barlow Family Endowed Fund The Brown Family Endowed Fund The Butner Family Endowed Fund Deborah Jansen General Endowment Fund The Hennessy Family Endowed Scholarship Fund The Hilal Family Endowed Fund Jim Clark Former Trustees Endowment Fund Joseph Family Minority Scholarship Fund

Julian Rettger Fund for Emotional Well-Being Karen Malin Endowment for Professional Development Matthews Music Scholarship The Scott Espinosa-Brown Endowed Fund for Student Life, Leadership, and Service The William H. Miller Endowment Fund

Named endowed funds can be established with a minimum gift of $50,000. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Director of Development Amy Walters at awalters@ sevenhillsschool.org or (925) 933-0666.

Julian Rettger Fund for Emotional Well-Being The Julian Rettger Fund for Emotional Well-Being was established in 2010 in honor of Seven Hills graduate Julian ’03 who passed away in June of that year. Now at more than $560,000, this fund supports the social and emotional wellbeing of students and has played a significant role in supporting our wholechild approach to education. Kathleen Manning Henri and Lorena Moudi Bryce Pinkos ‘99 and Shawn Wood

Philip Rettger Telos Academy The Walt Disney Company Foundation

Gratitude Fund Honors and Celebrates Faculty and Staff Through the pivot to distance learning in Spring 2020 and the transition to in-person classes in the fall, Seven Hills teachers truly led the way during the pandemic, working tirelessly to provide an essential, engaging, whole-child education. At last year’s auction, the Board of Trustees unanimously decided to make the auction Raise the Paddle all about the employees. Guests had the opportunity to raise their paddles for the new Gratitude Fund, an initiative to show appreciation to the 95 Seven Hills professionals whose efforts, care, and nurturing bring the joy of learning alive for students every day. The community

rallied together in appreciation and generosity to raise more than $100,000 to directly support teachers and provide them the opportunity to expand horizons, explore interests, and recharge batteries after an incredible year. As we think about all the ways we feel gratitude for the Seven Hills community, it is the dedication of the teachers and staff, the leadership of the Board of Trustees, and the trust and partnership of our parents that were the magic ingredients that made for a successful year.

2020-21 Hills Angels in Perpetuity Jeffrey and Heidi Abramson Ian Agol ’82 and Michelle McGuinness Annie Allen

Matthew and Kamin Macomber

Joseph and Rosalia Polizzi

Steve and Beth Marini

Christine Riley

Mark and Mindee Mastrov

Geoffrey and Lesleen Riley

Pat Matthews and Patti Paulson

Susan Rogers

Scott and Tomi Matthews Stephen and Nancy McCarthy Wendy McDermott James McDonnell and Linda Margulies

Stephen Cohn and Rose Anne Critchfield

John Gingrich and Christine Currie

Sheldon Kahn and Sarah Liron

Michael and Shirley Coke

Anthony Giordano and Theresa Klinger

Joseph and Odette Kardek

Kathleen McNamara and Jihad Mirza

Ross and Amy Kari

Daniel and Marina Miller

Charles and Alexis Glavin

Kevin McGuirk

Ingrid Ray

Andrew and Jinny Rudd Fred and Susan Safipour Edward Scherr and Shelly Pozzi Steven Schwab Larry and Cybille Scott Carl Shapiro Mark Shapiro and Roberta Goldberg Brian and Michelle Sharpes

Robert Allen

Alexander Copeland and Lolli Beall

Janet Katari

Bill and Kristy Miller

Susan Alonso

The Copeland Family

Kent and Diana Godfrey

Kevin and Michaela Katari

James and Dorothy Mills

Simon Ashiku and Annette Chen

John and Debby Cunningham

Bruce and Barbara Goodman

Jerry and Carolina Katz

Sam Mills

Philip Simon and Terry Neben

Mary Dalsin-Mills

Dan and Linda Gordon

Mitchell and Karen Kay

Tom and Julia Miner

Brian Atwood and Lynn Edminster

Brad and Amy Skepner

Richard and Lori Green

Abraham Mintz and Catherine Cutler

Elizabeth Solomon

Mathew and Sarah Bakulich

Steve and Celeste Danglade

Pamela Keith and Elizabeth Mahler

Kelly and Carrie Barlow

Daniel Delaney

Langdon and Elizabeth Morris

Ronald and Caryn Suber

Gretchen Bartzen

Lindsay Delaney

Stephen and Katy Gronowski

George and Bonnie Kennedy

Sebastian and Renee Bea

Charles and Nancy Deschane

Brad and Shiva Berman Patrick and Alison Blake Parke and Victoria Boneysteele Kevin Booth David and Emily Breach David and Kim Bridges Robert† and Alice Bridges Foundation Ryan and Nicole Brown George and Stephanie Buhalis Christopher and Annette Butner Philae Carver Mark Fosbury and Kristin Castagno James and Françoise Cervantes

John and Khira Griscavage

Patrick and Teresa Sullivan

Paul and Diane Morton

Kenneth and Jennie Klein

Clarence and Irene Mou

Amber DeSilva

Kenneth and Jeanifer Grullon

Steven and Rochelle Klein

William and Frances Myers

David DeSilva

Peter and Julie Gutzwiller

Bob Kliger

Brian and Patricia Napper

Bahman and Mardjan Taheripour

Scott and Deborah DeVries

John and Wendy Hammergren

Stuart and Anne Knowles

Subhendu Narayan and Kavitha Rao-Narayan

Carlo Tamburrino and Paulette DeFalco

Robert Dolinko and Laurie Bronson

Michael Han and Annie Hahn

John and Ruth Nelson

Ronald and Robyn Taylor Larry and Deveney Totten

Todd and Christine Dow

Terence Heywood and Pamela Lesoganich- Heywood

Brent and Elizabeth Nomura

Joseph and Holly Eiden Irwin and Vivian Eskanos Ira and Pamela Finch Charles Fiske and Karen Leo David Fitzgerald and Haywon Lieh

Mitchell Kumagai and Deborah Podberesky Jim and Shannon Lanzone David and Traci Lardner

David and Sally Nosal

Suri and Rushika Suriyakumar

Christopher Trinkus Richard and Karen Walker

Sameer and Melissa Hilal

Ari and Sheryl Lauer

Stephen and Maggie Oetgen

Diane Horton

Henry and Jennifer Leingang

Peter and Isabelle Op de Beeck

Stephen and Mackenzie Lesher

Ralph Pais and Gayl Huston

Keith and Susan Wilson

Charles and Adelaide Park

Douglas and Joyce Wing

Patrick and Darlet Lin

Shami and Lori Patel

Eric and Megan Lindberg

David and Sylvia Pearlstein

Bruce Woods and Nancy Frary-Woods

Abraham and Deanna Hsieh Frederick Hughes, Jr.

David and Jessie Flatt

Fred and Noel Hughes

Roger and Madeline Fleischmann

James and Laura Hulburd

John and Laura Furstenthal

Benjamin and Judy Kronick

Robert Ishii and Nancy Wallace

Robert and Renee Little

Dennis and Bonnie Wells Tom and Marla Williams

Glen and Elisa Yeung

Michael and Sherrie Littlejohn

Roy and Cathy Yih

Eric and Amy Peterson

Mark and Shawn Young

Norman and Mo Livermore

Joseph and Toni Petite

Wally and Kirsten Young

Gregory Pilarowski and Anna Gai

Paul and Deborah Jansen

Jeffrey and Jennifer Loomis

Ravikanth Ganapavarapu

Wendy Jordan

David and Connie Lowe

James and Kathy Clark

Shrikant and Ira Garde

Benjamin and Sara Clinger

W. Philip and June Gardner

Thomas and Mary Anne Jorde

James and Shari Lucas

Ronald and Susan Codd

Kimberly Gilmore

Matthew and Melissa Jose

Michael and Maria Walton

Jerome and Jane Perez

Sandra Gallo

Chung-Cheng and Jen-Kuei Chen

Corby and Heather Stead

Larry† and Julie Kirsch

Bob Gallo

Adam and Carol Chase

Murray and Christine Sheldon

Thor and Christine Grossen

Matthew and Marissa Janopaul

John† and Susan Chapman

In recognition of their enduring commitment to Seven Hills, we wish to give a special thanks to the Hills Angel donors who, over time, have contributed $25,000 or more cumulatively to Annual Giving. Your support has made a tremendous impact on generations of Seven Hills students for nearly 60 years!

John Lyngaas and Linda Noel

Scott Pipo and Gloria Pickhover Michelle Place

† deceased New Hills Angels Member

Heritage Society Understanding that the future success of Seven Hills depends on plans made today, the Heritage Society honors members of the community who have remembered the School in their estate planning. Thank you for your thoughtful planning and commitment. Pete Babiak and Laura Lippow Parents of Steven ’07 and Sydney ’11 Gretchen Bartzen Director of Development (1995–2012) Brad and Shiva Berman Parents of Daniela ’05 Jon and Lisa Blake Parents of Adam ’11 and Andrew ’12 John† and Susan Chapman Parents of Chris ’03 and Emma ’05 Jim and Laura Hulburd Parents of Alanna ’06 and Kyle ’09 Paul and Deborah Jansen Parents of Ben ’03 and Nicholas ’05 Thomas and Mary Ann Jorde Parents of Kevin ’01 and Christopher ’03 Joel King Director of Finance and Operations (2000–2011)

Jim and Karen Malin Head of Lower School (1992–2013) Kathleen McNamara Head of School (2015–present) Dan and Marina Miller Parents of Marshall ’01 Bill and Kristy Miller Headmaster (1992–2015) Parents of Hennessy ’04 and Keenan ’08 Abraham Mintz and Catherine Cutler Parents of Elizabeth ’13 and Zachary ’12 Philip Rettger Parent of Julian ’03† Linden Van Wert Faculty member since 1975, Librarian (1976–2015), Green Ombudsman (2015–present), Parent of Sara ’79 and Chris ’82 John and Alice Villanueva Parents of Amber ’96 and Erica ’99 † deceased

If you have included Seven Hills in your will or trust or are interested in learning more about how to do so, please contact Director of Development Amy Walters at awalters@sevenhillsschool.org or (925) 933-0666.

Introducing the Hale Society

In 2021, Seven Hills officially welcomed the first members of the newly established Hale Society. Named for the family who once owned the land on which Seven Hills flourishes today, the Hale Society recognizes the spirit of service of those trustees who have successfully completed at least one threeyear term of service. Permanent membership in this society honors their vision, willingness to serve, and generosity of spirit. As we celebrate our past and look towards our 60th anniversary and beyond, we honor these trustees who gave of their time, talent, treasure, and heart to ensure the future of the school for generations to come. Mary Anderson Kelly Barlow Shiva Berman Parke Boneysteele Milton Bruzzone Stephan Butler Annette O’Donnell Butner Jim Clark Steve Cohn Mike Coke Michele Cooper Joan Costello Cathy Cutler Mary Dalsin-Mills Scott DeVries Bob Dolinko Dick Eaton† Luzanne Engh Meribeth Farmer Jay Fischer R.J. Fleischmann Candace Fleming Laura Furstenthal Bob Gallo

Phil Gardner John Gingrich Anthony Giordano Kent Godfrey Khira Griscavage Anne Grodin Julie Gutzwiller Guy Henshaw Terry Heywood Sameer Hilal Bill Horton† Denise Howard Mary Ann Hruska Fred Hughes Jim Hulburd Ravi Hundal Charles Hunt† Deb Jansen Ruwani Jayasingha Gail Jern Mary Anne Jorde Michael Kamarck Ross Kari Kevin Katari Carolina Katz Julie Kirsch

David Lardner Lou Lavigne Alan Lefkof Mackenzie Lesher Patrick Lin Rob Little Sherrie Littlejohn Mo Livermore Teeda Locodo Beth Mahler Pat Matthews Bill Miller Jim Mills Julia Miner Gina Morris Ed Nemeth Jane Ord Ralph Pais Dick Palomba Shami Patel Grant Petersen Eric Peterson Lu Pilgrim David Pottruck Darlene Quinn Joanne Reichenbacher Susan Safipour Ed Scherr Ron Schmidt

Brian Sharpes Brad Skepner Beryl Smith Virginia Smith Patrick Sullivan Seiyonne Suriyakumar ’02 Suri Suriyakumar Lisa Barnett Sween Bahman Taheripour Lou Ann Terry Brian Thomas Peter Thomson Mary True Alice Villanueva George Vukasin Nancy Wallace Julie Anne Springman Wickes ’98 Roy Yih Shawn Young † deceased Board Chair

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. If we have made any errors or omissions, please bring them to the attention of Director of Development Amy Walters at (925) 933-0666.

AUCTION 2021

From Ms. Pac Man and Blinky, Professor Plum and Mrs. Peacock, to Pat Sajak and Vanna White, the Seven Hills community came together for one winning evening! For a second year, the Seven Hills auction, Game Night, went virtual due to the COVID-19 pandemic—but this was no ordinary Zoom. Creating a virtual Hunt Hall event space, guests could “join tables” to sit with their friends, table-hop, and have fun while watching the interactive livestreamed event. The Golden State Warriors’ Hype Man Franco Finn kicked off the evening as the event’s MC and kept the game going with The Price is Right grocery game, trivia, prizes, and by spinning the Wheel of Names to reveal the winners of the $5,000 tuition credit and INSPIRATO luxury vacation raffles. Professional auctioneer, Sharon Mor, had everyone raising their paddles for the Gratitude Fund in support of our faculty and staff, and our very own talented 7th grader, DJ Maggie Mercado, gave us an after-party to remember spinning some of our favorite songs.

With record attendance, Seven Hills hit the jackpot with more than $175,000 net raised to support our incredible programs, students, and teachers, including $103,000 for the Gratitude Fund. A huge thank you to our dedicated committee chairs who led the way with their team of volunteers to create another memorable auction. We are most grateful to everyone who put in countless volunteer hours, sponsored the event, entered the raffles, donated items, and raised their paddle in this most unusual year.

of Sciences Frank and Elizabeth Cassal Lucy Chappell Kelley Cochran

Auction Committee

Jessica Sylvester

Gallagher Insurance

Brian and Kristen D’Arcy

Li’l Bear Car Wash

Third Grade Parents

Stephanie Taira

Garrison Point Advisors

De La Salle High School

Fourth Grade Parents

The Bar Method East Bay

Pillar Legal

Dog Dynamics, Inc.

Limitless Escape Games Livermore

The Living Room Collective

RPM Mortgage

Tamara Dueñas

Carlos Lobo and Riki Gibson

Fifth Grade Parents

Sterne & Associates

Alexander and Samantha Duff

Randall and Elizabeth Luskey

Sixth Grade Parents

The Seven Hills School Board of Trustees

Dynasty Bistro

Madison Reed

Azeddine and Cate Ejjed

Shauna Maraccini

Seven Hills Girl Scout Troop 33835

Jennifer Marcus

Epicurean Team

Shadowbrook Winery

Marianne McBride

Laurel Evans

Kristine Shargel

Kelly McCargar

Favia Wines

Yi Shi and Shangjie Zuo

Philip McFann

Marlon Fernandez and Wren Amos

Jennifer Shump

Drew and Kaeti McMillan

Sienna Ranch

Kathleen McNamara

SkinSpirit Walnut Creek

Leanne Mercado

Skye Valley Training

Dan Meyers

Smile Power Orthodontics

Mike Hess Brewing

Angelina Sosa

Mod + Whimsy

Patrick and Diane Suciu

Todd Chittick

Aloha Pediatric Dentistry

Alissa Fogel

Frank Woodward, Coldwell Banker

Stephanie Taira

Board Liasons

Sweet Dreamz Slumber Party Switchback Ridge Winery

Veronica Brinkmann

Lisa Swiggett

Kindergarten Parents Second Grade Parents

Alliant Employment Benefits

Lori Siegel

Susan Glynn Studio

Red Barn Parents First Grade Parents

Lauren Barbano

Beatrice Shelton

Rainbow Parents

Level Up Online with Laurie LIFTED Balloons

FRIEND

Ross Schwaber

Elgin Leslie

Sarah Lewis

Tilden Properties

Jeanette Naughton

Dmitriy Sukhov and Nataliya Kushnir

William and Cynthia Cogswell

Carisa Harris Adamson

Elizabeth Luskey

Ross Schwaber and Catherine Fielding

Epicurean Group

Kristen D’Arcy

Rashna Larson

Cornel and Alexandra Lee

Cobain Orthodontics Picabou Bijoux Anne Newton Cane, Golden Gate Sotheby’s

Item Donations 360 Medical Weight Loss Specialists Ace Dance Academy

Cecilia Figueroa Franco Finn, The Warriors Hype Man James and Marcie Fitzsimmons

Thomas and Denise Lyle

Five Little Monkeys

Jeanette Naughton

Nicholas Giordano and Nidhi Chanani

Carolyn Nelson

Gorjana

Nordstrom Walnut Creek

Alexandra Lee

Annie Allen

Christi Gotvald

Tina Ory

Del Stafford

Susan Alonso

Joel and Holly Grossman

Auction Coordinator

ALTWELL

Jason and Anna Husk

Giovanni Pace and Giuseppina Di Leo

Amanda Ambrose

Nancy Palmer

Arista Winery

Andrew and Andrea Hutchison

Ashley Petersen Photography, LLC

Julie Pawloski Custom Skin and Brow

Picabou Bijoux

Avid4 Adventure

Pamela Keith and Elizabeth Mahler

Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi

Auction Database Dan Murphy

Business Sponsors GOLD First Republic Bank

Michelle Barahona Andrew and Lauren Barbano

Kelly Hood, M.D. Dermatology Kendra Scott Lina Kim

INSPIRATO

Bay Area Children’s Theatre

SILVER

Bel and Bunna’s Books

Kim Kumnick

ALTWELL

Clare Bisho

Nancy Lane

Armanino LLP

Boundary Oak Golf Course

REALIZE CPA

Gianna Bruno

Susanne Alonso, LCSW

Christiane Brinkerhoff

Lareen Fender’s The Ballet School Performing Arts

BRONZE

Cakebread Cellars

Boater’s Insurance Agency

California Academy

Daphna Klugman

Lauren Rosenthal, Birdieworld.com

Eighth Grade Parents

The Tox, Walnut Creek The Walt Disney Family Museum Nghia and Pranom Tran Truffle Shuffle Patti Turetzky Jase Turner Beth Wadsworth Ramon and Hilary Walker Robert and Amy Walters Joshua and Tara Wellen Emily Werner Joanie Wills Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

Nickel & Nickel Winery

Matt Macomber

Katherine Alberts and Lori Siegel

Riki Gibson

Seventh Grade Parents

Piatti Ristorante and Bar

SAVE THE DATE!

Heidi Plumb PREP Gina Puljiz Quantum Escapes Muhammad Ramadan Lindsey Ravache Gray and Brenda Reavis Tanya Reynolds Michael and Brianne Riley Kristine Rivera Generra Rocchi Dan Rogoff Camellia Santos

Seven Hills Auction

March 19, 2022 Details to Follow 29

2020-21 EVENTS January 15 Application Deadline

The Seven Hills School 975 North San Carlos Drive Walnut Creek, CA 94598

January 26 Parent Lecture Series

March 19 Auction

June 9 Graduation

June 11 All Alumni Reunion

Parents of Alumni: Please Forward This Publication

If your son or daughter no longer maintains a permanent address at your home, please notify Seven Hills of his/her new mailing and email address at dmurphy@ sevenhillsschool.org.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement Approved January 2021

At Seven Hills School we are a community of faculty, staff, students, families, and caregivers that is committed to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). We prepare our students to be lifelong advocates for change with the goal of creating a just and equitable global society. As the Seven Hills School community, we commit to: • Enriching the student experience and school community through cultural competency, which promotes understanding and respect for each person, and their individual experiences. • Promoting an inclusive environment for all regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, or ability. • Expanding accessibility and affordability through outreach, community service, and by removing financial barriers for families. We understand the importance of being a Diverse, Equitable, and Inclusive community. We know that multiple perspectives from varying backgrounds contribute to building a stronger community, which ultimately benefits our children in becoming better global citizens. Our Strategic Plan ensures a commitment to DEI as the work of empathy, advocacy, and community is never done.