Community Life

The Jaguar ROV (remotely operated underwater vehicle) team collaborates to launch its hand-built underwater robots. First graders descend upon Baker Beach to use engineering, science, and nature to craft the perfect sandcastle.

A Red Barn student pauses for a mindful minute outdoors.

Seventh and 8th grade students explore Planet Word in Washington D.C., a new museum where language comes to life, recommended by visiting author Jason Reynolds. Fifth graders engage in a lively retelling of our nation’s beginnings during their Walk Through American Revolution.

Coffee and Community parent gatherings hosted by the PIA return in the Heather Farm Park solar lot.

A Lower School Junior Librarian learns how to check books in and out for their class.

PIA Thrives and Shines

The Parent Involvement Association’s (PIA) theme for the 2021-22 school year, Thrive and Shine, acknowledged the hurdles families overcame during the pandemic and celebrated the collective strength, resilience, trust, and commitment of the Seven Hills community. Although parents were unable to gather or volunteer on campus for the majority of the school year, the PIA got creative and planned a variety of small, outdoor, off-campus events for parents to reconnect and make new friends, including: • A walk at the Lafayette Reservoir • Local hikes at Las Trampas, Borges Ranch, Shell

Ridge, and Castle Rock • Fitness boot camps at Heather Farm Park • A habitat restoration volunteer project at the

Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve with Middle

School students • Coffee & Community gatherings in the Heather

Farm Park solar lot In the spring, Seven Hills was thrilled to finally welcome parents onto campus again, with events including Campus Beautification Day, the auction, in-person PIA meetings, Astrogation Week rocket launch, and the Farewell and Promotion Assembly. Throughout all of these opportunities—whether virtual or in-person—the PIA remained committed to community and came through the year thriving and shining.

Celebrating the joy of childhood and the end of school in Rainbow style with Color Day!

Students cheer on their super speller classmates at the fun and competitive spelling bee.

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COMMUNITY LIFE

The return of cross-grade buddies means a moment to read together under the shade of a tree.

Middle School students and their parents volunteer with the East Bay Regional Park District for its habitat and grassland restoration project.

Middle School Jaguars Return to Competition

Many Middle School students took to the roads, courts, and fields this year with the highly anticipated return of Middle School athletics. Players engaged the spirit and built camaraderie through fitness and cross country, basketball, volleyball, golf, and a new girls’ soccer team. In a highlight of the athletics year, the 8th grade girls’ volleyball team bumped, set, spiked, and served its way to an undefeated season! While some of the players had previous club volleyball experience, just as many were brand-new to the sport. Coach Kristine Shargel said, “It was amazing to watch the team unfold and see how the older kids took the youngest kids under their wing to teach, help, and encourage them. They love volleyball deeply, love Seven Hills, and were so excited to represent their school.” Congrats to all the teams for their hard work. Go Jags!

The Seven Hills Jag gives a warm welcome during the New Family Welcome Celebration. Toasting togetherness at one of three (sm)All Community Parent Receptions in the fall.

Second graders make their votes count at the school election to name our new chickens.

Springtime joy of having parents back on campus! Kindergarteners take healthy risks on the Kinder playground rock climbing wall.

Say It Loud!

Kicking off the month of February, Director of Technology Muhammad Ramadan introduced an exciting new segment to students’ weekly virtual assemblies. In a special video segment called “Say It Loud,” Mr. Ramadan interviewed different members of the faculty and staff community.

The segment launched with interviews of several Black employees during Black History Month, and later women employees during Women’s History Month. As Mr. Ramadan interviewed his colleagues, students got to listen and learn about their job duties, home towns or native countries, and their own school-age experiences including the pop culture, music, clothing, and slang of the day. Second grade teacher Nancy Lane recalls, “When the first ‘Say It Loud’ episode came out, it was an amazing way for not only the students but us as colleagues, to learn something about one another, about our community. Sharing shared experiences and using humor is what truly brings so many people, cultures, and differences of opinion together. It gives us a common language, and I am so grateful for that.”