Connections Fall 2018

FALL

CONNECTIONS

2018

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WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE? School Snapshots 2

Family Spotlight 3

Focus on Faculty 4

Campus Guests 5

Message from the Head of School At Seven Hills we’ve settled into the routines of fall— students and teachers exercising curiosity and taking risks, learning and growing together—and I am reflecting on all that we have accomplished together.

Focus on Students 6

Community Life 8

Oh, the Places They’ll Go! 12

Alumni News 16

2017-18 Annual Report 18

EDITOR Corinne Hayhurst CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Amy Walters PHOTOGRAPHERS Matt Beardsley, John

King Photography, Adam Lechner, Barb Eaton, Kathleen McNamara, Rhys Miller, and Seven Hills Faculty

My third year at Seven Hills was one to remember, for sure. We introduced a new Lower School math curriculum (p. 6), new student electives in Middle School (p. 8), a new spring performing arts showcase (p. 9), new alumni opportunities (p. 16), and a new community lunch initiative (p. 25). With our unifying theme of “Building Community through Courageous Conversations,” we deepened our cultural competency work through our Parent Lecture Series (p. 5), Harvard’s #CommonGood Campaign and the NAIS AIM survey (p. 4).

If I think back to my introduction to Seven Hills and the Head of School search process, one of my earliest charges has been to help our community advance our goal in building a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive community. Three years later, we are making real headway. In addition to cultural competency skills, the school’s commitment to socioeconomic diversity has grown, and we have increased our tuition assistance budget to serve qualified students who would not otherwise be able to attend Seven Hills. Having all kinds of diversity in our community ensures that our

WRITERS Carolyn Cruz, Riki Gibson, Dan

Murphy

DESIGN RossTurnerDesign.com PRINTER Norco Printing THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL

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

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Ms. McNamara’s Photo Elective A highlight of my year was teaching a talented group of 8th grade students the art and science of photography during the newly-launched Middle School elective period.

Here are a few samples of their work.

learning environment reflects the broader society and prepares our students for the challenges that lie ahead in high school, college, and beyond.

This important inclusivity work is also in service to our school’s next strategic plan, Direction 60, which builds upon the groundwork laid in Approach 2020, and will serve as our strategic roadmap as we head toward our 60th anniversary in 2022. The plan will prioritize all aspects of our students’ education and Seven Hills’ long-term sustainability.

I look forward to sharing Direction 60 with you later this year.

All of the highlights in this issue—the learning, the discovery, and the joy—are supported by our generous community (p. 20). We continue to maintain more than 94 percent parent participation in the Annual Fund, grow our endowment, and achieve record-breaking numbers at the auction (p. 28). This philanthropic momentum helps us plan for a bright future of innovative teaching and learning practices, the high quality of student life, and that overall emotional well-being of our students and all the adults.

Thank you!

I hope you enjoy this issue of Connections and that it inspires you to re-commit to our mission—as a parent, grandparent, alumnus, alumni parent, donor, or friend. All of us at Seven Hills are delighted to look back on these memories, and create some new ones throughout the year.

With gratitude,

Kathleen McNamara Head of School

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.

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22 grade-level parent roundtables held

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9 1st place and 3rd place at the Bay Area Robotics Competition

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received holiday gifts from the PIA Support-a-Family

after school Middle School sports teams

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FAMILIES IN NEED

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years of the Japanese Exchange with Kita City

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taco sale for Puerto Rico hurricane victims

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SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS: 2017-18

current parents, alumni, and alumni parents attended the first Career Pathways Networking Event in San Francisco

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students at Seven Hills representing

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ZIP codes

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classroom visits for mindfulness practice

FAMILY SPOTLIGHT “We Want to Go There!”

An Interview with the Shirazi/Thorner Families Three years ago, sisters Ameneh and Leyla Khosrovani and their husbands, Shervine Shirazi and Todd Thorner, were looking for a new school to meet the needs of their children and all of their unique personalities. They were searching for a school that would provide not only academics, but a well-rounded education. They knew that in the busy, scheduled world, having their children go to school together would allow the cousins—JJ (4th), Teymour (2nd), Noor (1st) Thorner, and Cami (5th) and Ryan (2nd) Shirazi—to spend more time together.

Ameneh and Shervine first heard about Seven Hills through Shervine’s colleagues at Kaiser, who spoke highly about Seven Hills’ nurturing approach and whole child experience. The two families toured the school, and were drawn in by the campus, people, arts, sports, and robust calendar of school events. They remembered how the teachers were warm and the students looked to be engaged and thriving. “It was their approach to children,” says Leyla. “I could tell they weren’t just going to drill them academically, but would support their emotional and artistic needs.” They noticed artwork and quotes around the front office about being grateful for your blessings—a mantra they wanted their children exposed to.

The tenets of gratitude, humility, and celebrating each blessing resonated deeply for Ameneh and Leyla, who had to travel through many counties after the Iranian revolution—having educational experiences in Vienna, Rome, South Africa, and England—before arriving in the United States as teens. It was important to them to find a global environment where their children could all experience academics together.

As their Seven Hills journey began, both families modeled their value of giving back by quickly getting involved, whether serving lunch in Lower School or chaperoning class field trips. As they got to know the students and other volunteers in the school, they felt part of a family, part of a bigger picture.

Now in their third year at Seven Hills, the two families continue to see positive growth in their children. From the way working with new mediums in art class brought out Ryan’s artistic side,

to how Cami’s 4th grade teacher, Kirsten Woods, allowed each classmate to shine and build their confidence throughout the year. For Leyla, it’s the daily, special moments on campus, such as the way the students compete, yet cheer each other on, during Jump Rope for Heart. Both sisters reflect on the positive impact of the buddies program, and the way that children build their social interaction skills with a student of a different age and personality. It aligns with their family ethos of mutual respect, no matter one’s differences.

Although the five cousins are in 1st-5th grades, their parents are especially excited for the exposure to different cultures during the Middle School international trips and especially the 8th grade Japanese exchange. With Seven Hills now a true family affair, Ameneh, Shervine, Leyla, and Todd are looking forward to even more growth in their children in the years to come. “We come from a tough educational experience, so we’re so grateful that education is a happy experience at Seven Hills. We want to go to school there!” says Ameneh.

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FOCUS ON FACULTY Taking the Next Steps in Cultural Competency Seven Hills’ commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment for our students, parents, faculty, and staff is at the heart of our mission. Throughout the 2017-18 year, faculty and staff continued their deep-dive into cultural competency work with the theme of “Building Community through Courageous Conversations” and reflected on the questions: • What do we need to learn from and about each other?

• What do we need to learn about ourselves?

• What skills can we continue to build with cultural competency training?

• How does the larger national climate impact us, our work, our own families, and families at Seven Hills?

Expanding on the 2016-17 school year’s work of identifying our own “blind spots” and stereotypes, faculty and staff continued the shift from awareness to action as a learning community.

Seven Hills believes this work is crucial to becoming culturally competent leaders, educators, and community leaders. As we lean into our areas for growth, we give each other the space and grace for candid, caring, courageous conversations to happen.

Inclusive book selections in The Julian Rettger Memorial Library

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Highlights from 2017-18 • Over several training days with educational consultant Dr. Derrick Gay, faculty and staff explored their own values, attitudes, skills, and behaviors which enable effective work across cultures, and planned ways to expand their language and inclusivity.

• Ten faculty members and administrators attended the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference (PoCC) in Anaheim—the flagship event of NAIS’ commitment to equity in teaching and learning—packed with inspiring speakers, relevant workshops, and important identity work.

• Seven Hills signed on as an early leader in Harvard’s Caring Schools #CommonGood Campaign, which mobilizes middle and high schools across the country to take action to help prepare young people to be citizens who create a better world.

• To collect community feedback, Seven Hills engaged the entire community in the NAIS Assessment of Inclusion and Multiculturalism (AIM). This survey will provide the school with a deep understanding of the campus climate, with tangible data to measure progress and set goals.

CAMPUS GUESTS Spreading Joy Singing everything from jazz standards to modern pop hits, the world’s oldest underclassman a cappella group—The Yale Spizzwinks—dazzled students at a K-8 assembly. Following their performance, the group spent time with 5th-8th grade students to answer questions about singing, Yale, and college life.

Lower School students were delighted by internationally-acclaimed Unique Derique at April’s Green and White Day Assembly.

A Berkeley native, Derique’s high-energy one-man act included traditional clown, juggling, and unicycle entertainment, as well as the African roots and rhythms of Hambone body percussion.

Authors of Fred Korematsu Speaks Up, Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi, joined 4th8th grade students to discuss their story of a man who protested the Japanese Internment during World War II. The authors discussed Korematsu’s courage and tenacity in pursuing justice for those who had been wronged.

Kindergarten-6th grade students enjoyed special library presentations from Laurie Ann Thompson, author of Emmanuel’s Dream and Be A Changemaker: How to Start Something That Matters. She shared reasons why stories matter for every one of us and inspired students to dream big through real-world examples of young people making a difference.

Visiting Authors

Inspiring Parent Education Dr. Derrick Gay, educational consultant

on diversity and global citizenship, has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, 60 Minutes, and TEDx. Derrick kicked off the 2017-18 Parent Lecture Series by discussing the skills today’s children need to excel in our global society, and making the case for fostering cultural competency and empathy skills, at home and at school.

Olympian, coach, and author Jason Dorland shared how it took a devastating loss at the 1988 Olympic Games to shatter his results-driven ways of thinking, and reshape his views on what it truly means to win in sport and in life. He challenged the audience to rethink traditional perspectives on high-performance, and explained how to achieve personal success with greater fulfillment and joy.

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FOCUS ON STUDENTS Not a Math Brain, but a Math Mindset How often have you heard someone say, “I’m just not good at math?” Math negativity runs deep for many, but research shows that no one is born with a math brain. “Everyone can be good at math,” says Kellen Bothwell, Lower School math coordinator. “It’s about approaching math in the right way.”

Hands-on, exploratory math curriculum at Seven Hills engages students from ECE to Middle School. Last September, the Lower School adopted a new math curriculum, Investigations 3, with an inquiry-based approach to teaching this creative subject. Long gone are the “kill and drill” days of timed tests, traditional teacher lectures, and students solving problems by themselves. Instead, lessons are student-driven, and students work collaboratively on open-ended, investigative learning tasks in a workshop style.

Seven Hills’ openended math program allows students to engage in project-based learning. Here are a few examples of students applying math concepts in “real world” situations.

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Math classes are often fluid, differentiated small groups— students can transition from group to group based on their assignment, development, and effort. One of Seven Hills’ key goals is to build a mathematical mindset that helps children understand that there is more than one way to solve or approach a problem. Faculty celebrate when students share new ideas with their class. “I love seeing kids solve problems or show me things in a way I’ve never seen before,” says Middle School math teacher Stephanie Hough.

Math is Everywhere

Tiny House, Big Learning

In ECE, play with numbers and shapes is central to building mathematical competence. To build their number sense, Rainbow and Red Barn students had daily experiences with counting, comparison, and quantity using everything from cubes and blocks for measuring to beats and rhythm during music.

In 4th grade, students discovered how important math is to construction and building as they embarked on a tiny house project. Using graph paper to plan, design, and build, students applied their understanding of units, dimensions, area, perimeter, and geometry to design a home of their own.

FOCUS ON STUDENTS

Math at Seven Hills goes beyond calculations and emphasizes articulation of mathematical thinking. Teachers challenge their students to explain: How did you solve this problem? What do you notice? What do you wonder? With a focus on depth versus breadth, instead of 25 problems to solve, a student may have three richer problems that spark conversation. Students are often asked to explain their problem solving through technical writing—by communicating their own thought process in words, they make a stronger connection to the work.

Most importantly, faculty focus on the process of learning, rather than the outcome, to help increase students’ growth mindset.

Research pioneered by Carol Dweck found that students who believed that their ability and intelligence could grow and change outperformed those who thought that their ability was fixed. How we talk about math makes a difference—instead of saying “I’m not good at math,” students say, “I’m training my brain in math.” Mistakes are expected and respected as opportunities for discovery.

Seven Hills will continue to invest in delivering outstanding math instruction and a joyful experience—reminding students that math understanding is not based on the brains they were born with, but their approach, potential, and opportunities to learn.

“You’ve taught me to be a problem solver.”

Science, Math, and Sand

Barbie Bungee!

During the science sandcastle unit in preparation for their annual Baker Beach field trip, 1st graders had hands-on experience noticing and speaking about cylinders, cubes, and apexes—expressing mathematical terms in a fun activity.

As part of their unit on linear equations, 7th grade students dropped “Barbie bungees” from the second floor of Hunt Hall to calculate distance and slope, graph the data, and create a line of best fit— mathematical modeling in action.

– Class of 2018 graduate

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COMMUNITY LIFE

2nd graders share their family ancestry and traditions at their Cultural Connections Celebration.

New Middle School Electives Promote Student Choice

At the start of last year, the Middle School implemented a new rotating schedule for students, allowing for longer classes and more in-depth learning. Another advantage to the new schedule, Seven Hills was able to offer student elective classes for the first time, to increase student choice and voice into the overall learning experience. From magazine making, to “garden and egg,” to band and vocal ensemble, these weekly elective classes have become a popular opportunity to connect with faculty, with each other, and with a new passion.

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All smiles before the 1st grade musical performance of Frog and Road.

Revealing the Back to School auction theme with the help of the De La Salle Marching Band and Ethan Buckley ’16.

COMMUNITY LIFE

Honoring our veterans during the 7th grade trip to Washington, D.C.

Working together to make the campus shine during Campus Beautification Day.

Come one, come all, to the greatest Halloween Festival of all!

Inaugural Performing Arts Showcase a Success

An evening of celebration and connection at the All Community Parent Dinner.

In May, Kindergarten through 8th grade students took the Hofmann Theatre stage at the Lesher Center for the Arts for an inaugural year-end performance for their families, teachers, and fellow students. Named “A Journey through the Arts,� the goal of the event was to celebrate the arc of the Seven Hills public speaking and performing arts curriculum over the years. With upbeat energy and varied performances, it was a true community celebration!

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COMMUNITY LIFE

Run, run, as fast as you can — Kindergarteners catch the gingerbread man!

Showing Jaguar pride at the Walnut Festival Twilight Parade.

Teamwork, fun, and water abounds at Engage the Spirit.

Eighth graders give Dr. Derrick Gay a behind the scenes tour of Seven Hills.

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Our Japanese guests share their talents and culture with an exciting assembly performance.

Celebrating with heart during Jump Rope for Heart.

Kindergarteners enter their first K-8 assembly through a tunnel of 8th grade arms.

Green Kids Plant Seeds of Change The Lower School Green Kids Committee and Middle School Environmental Group met during lunch throughout the year to plan and promote positive changes all around campus. The student-led clubs implemented a number of ideas last year to make Seven Hills all the more green: • Producing a PSA video describing the environmental effects of plastic straws and suggesting alternatives • Spearheading an effort to “bring your own fork” from home to encourage reusables • Diverting wax from the landfill by establishing a crayon collection site to send used crayons to the Crayon Initiative to repurpose for children in hospitals • Feeding vegetable scraps from lunch to classroom guinea pigs, rabbits, and campus chickens Closing out a year of joyful learning at the ECE carnival!

• Updating a plan to include additional and more convenient sorting stations in Hunt Hall • Adding wooden chopsticks to the lunch line, a compostable option, instead of plastic sporks • Creating a “Promises to our Planet” mural with parent volunteers, displayed at Evening of Art, Innovation & Greenstival, to invite guests to make a “green” commitment • Raising more than $500 for the Climate Museum through a Middle School lunch sale of homemade lemony items

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OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO! Class of 2018 Receives Warm Send-Off at Graduation Ceremony Seven Hills bid a heartfelt farewell to the Class of 2018 at the community-wide graduation ceremony. As the music and ceremony began, the 50 graduating 8th grade students took their seats on the stage, more than ready for the adventures which lie ahead.

Head of School Kathleen McNamara welcomed the morning audience of extended family and friends to the ceremony, congratulating students for service in student councils, excellence in academics, leadership, and community service, and thanking their parents for all they’ve added to the school community. She encouraged the graduates to keep Seven Hills close to their heart and remember the most important lessons they learned here.

Finally, by unanimous declaration of the faculty and staff, the entire 8th grade was honored with the Distinguished Legacy Award, only bestowed twice in 22 years. Joining ranks with the Class of 2014, this class award honors exceptional effort, character, and mindset that reflect the school’s mission to “develop the intellect, engage the spirit and foster respect for, and responsibility to, our world.” A plaque will be placed in the Hunt Hall awards case for future classes to be inspired by their exceptional example. Congratulations Class of 2018!

“I’ve learned that kindness, responsibility, and effort are far more valuable than the score I earn on a test.”

– Grace Skepner ’18

“Regardless of whether our travels occurred within the pages of a book or through new experiences outside the classroom (sometimes country), Seven Hills teaches us that the world needs love, empathy, and connection.”

– Piper Fleming ’18 12

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO! Class of 2018: High School Destinations Nyah Akoni, Carondelet Mateo Benavides, Bentley Jasenia Berkeley, Carondelet Chloe Bobila, Carondelet Michael Buhalis, De La Salle Christopher Butner, St. Andrew’s Johnathan Catterton, San Ramon Valley Ryan Chan, College Preparatory Michael Coke, De La Salle Kendall Craig, Athenian Carson Dalziel, Campolindo Davis Dow, San Ramon Valley Piper Fleming, Bentley Cole Foster, Bentley Rory Furstenthal, Head Royce Sydney Griscavage, College Preparatory Morgan Gutzwiller, Athenian Elliot Hawkins, San Ramon Valley Arden Hilal, College Preparatory John Hoover, De La Salle Andrew Howard, San Ramon Valley Evelyn Howard, San Ramon Valley Frederick Hughes, De La Salle Daniel Katari, College Preparatory Isabel Keith-Mahler, Carondelet

Sana Khoury, Bentley Leslie Kwok, Head Royce Kalia Lai, College Preparatory Olivia Leighton, Carondelet Logan Lindberg, Campolindo Matthew Longstreet, San Ramon Valley Katharine Macomber, Bentley Madeline Macomber, Bentley Leo Marek, Athenian Islay Morrison, Carondelet Drake Nunez, De La Salle Mason Oetgen, Cate School Matthew Radell, Campolindo Olivia Rhee, Miramonte Steele Riter, De La Salle Jackson Rubiano, Bentley Emily Sandberg, Head Royce Naomi Seivold, Carondelet Timothy Shargel, Las Lomas Grace Skepner, Bentley Trevor Toma, De La Salle Aneesha Wijesuriya, Carondelet Richard Williams, Miramonte Madeline Woo, Bentley Natalie Yeung, College Preparatory

A big thank you to Ryan Booth ’14, Izzy Baldacci ’14, Sofia Earle ’14, and Ishani Synghal ’11 for returning to share wisdom.

Alumni Share Wisdom with the Class of 2018 On the Friday prior to graduation, the 8th grade class was welcomed into the Alumni Association at the Alumni Welcome Luncheon, a longstanding tradition. Four Seven Hills alumni returned to campus to offer sage advice for transitioning to high school, including, “don’t be afraid to ask questions,” “make a difference in your school by getting involved,” and “solve problems that others have been too afraid to dive into.” Most importantly, they shared perspective on what it means to be one of more than 1,000 alumni of Seven Hills who are making a difference in the world. In closing the afternoon, Scott Espinosa-Brown encouraged the incoming alumni to stay involved, to give back, and to come visit and say hello.

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OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO! The Class of 2014 Returns for Senior Send Off

Class of 2014 College Destinations Seven Hills graduates from the Class of 2014 have big plans and are now in colleges and universities across the United States.

MIDWEST

Carleton College Indiana University Marion University Oberlin College Wheaton College

NORTHEAST

Brown University Columbia University Emerson College New York University Northeastern University Princeton University Swarthmore College University of Pennsylvania

WEST Seven Hills welcomed back the Class of 2014 to congratulate them on their recent high school graduation and wish them well as they prepare for their next adventure. More than 30 alumni, alumni parents, faculty and staff attended, sharing brunch as well as stories and catching up on college and gap year destinations. We look forward to staying in touch!

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California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Diablo Valley College Lake Tahoe Community College Loyola Marymount University Saint Mary’s College of California San Diego State University Scripps College University of California, Berkeley University of California, Davis

OVERSEAS

SOUTH

University of California, Duke University Santa Barbara Southern Methodist University University of Nevada, University of Georgia Las Vegas Vanderbilt University University of Oregon University of San Francisco University of Southern California

The American University of Paris; University of St. Andrews, Scotland; The University of Edinburgh

ALUMNI EVENTS Alumni Celebrate their Jaguar Pride at All-Alumni Reunion Seventy alumni, alumni families, and faculty returned to campus for the annual AllAlumni Reunion. Festive green and white decor, a photo booth, faculty bartenders, and a delicious appetizer spread welcomed guests into Tenvold. Returning alumni ranged from 1998 to the recently graduated Class of 2018. Sharing stories and memories, attendees also recognized Michael Sandberg for his 25 years of service as a Middle School history teacher. It was a social afternoon of connecting with old friends, and celebrating the bond as Seven Hills alumni who pave the way for future classes.

Alumni Events: Save the Date

Oct 27 ​Fall Happy Hour

Dec 4​ Career Pathways Networking Event (SF)

Feb 1 Care Package Party

Apr 6 Spring Happy Hour

May 18​ ​​Class of 2015 Senior Send Off

May 31 Alumni Welcome Luncheon

Jun 8 All-Alumni Reunion

Career Pathways Networking Event Tuesday, December 4, 2018 6:00 – 8:00pm San Francisco With special keynote by Amity Millhiser, Vice Chair and Chief Clients Officer, PwC Aunt to Toria ’15 and Amity ’17 Stahl See sevenhillsschool.org this fall for details.

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ALUMNI EVENTS Career Pathways Networking Event Debuts in San Francisco

Career Pathways Expands to Include 8th Grade and Alumni In the 2016-17 school year, Seven Hills launched the Career Pathways program to 6th grade students who had the opportunity to connect with Seven Hills parents and learn about a wide range of professions and careers. This past spring, the “career day style” event expanded to include 8th grade students and alumni guest speakers who leveraged their educational and professional experiences.

The morning opened with keynote speaker, Amity Millhiser, Vice Chair and Chief Clients Officer for PwC and the aunt of alumni Toria ’15 and Amity ’17 Stahl. After the opening session, 6th graders had the opportunity to meet in panels with 20 parents

On November 28, 2017, The City Club of San Francisco was the backdrop for the debut of the first Career Pathways Networking event. More than 80 Seven Hills parents, alumni, alumni parents, faculty, and staff came together to make new connections and hear keynote speaker, Larry Scott, Pac-12 Commissioner and Seven Hills alumni parent of Alexander ’14, Sebastien ’16, and Alannah ’17.

“We are excited to be expanding our Career Pathways program into San Francisco,” said Head of School Kathleen McNamara.

“By bringing the event to San Francisco, we provide a forum for our alums, alumni parents, and current parents who work or live in the city to stay connected with one and other, and with the Seven Hills community.”

The evening opened with cocktails and networking followed by a fireside chat and conversation with Commissioner Larry Scott who spoke about what his passion for tennis taught him and how it impacted his career in sports and leadership. Mr. Scott touched upon his career wins, mistakes, and risks.

The night was a huge success in showcasing the strength of the Seven Hills community while expanding the Career Pathways program into San Francisco. We look forward to bringing the event back to San Francisco on December 4, 2018.

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and explore possible industries of interest—such as public affairs, social work, marketing, real estate, medicine, business, and entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, alumni spoke with 8th grade students and shared stories about education, soft skills, and their careers today.

“Career Pathways is a great way for us to tap into the professional skill set and industry connections of our parents and alumni to support student learning,” said Amy Walters, Director of Development and Parent Relations. The growing program encouraged students to start thinking about what they are passionate about, what they are good at, and what the world needs them to do.

ALUMNI EVENTS Faculty met with alumni during the 7th grade trip to D.C.

Stay Connected Be sure to follow Seven Hills on social media to get glimpses into campus life and find a growing network of Seven Hills parents and alumni.

Alumni Connect Around the Country Last year’s alumni events brought together graduates and former teachers spanning several decades. From catching up at happy hours in Walnut Creek to Santa Monica and even Washington, D.C., alumni took advantage of many ways to stay engaged with Seven Hills. Many thanks to our faculty-led Alumni Council for staying in touch with our alumni!

The Seven Hills School Seven Hills (for alumni)

Seven Hills School Professionals

@sevenhillswc

@7HillsWC

Alumni: Do You Have News to Share?

Let us know what’s happening in your professional and personal life by submitting news to Carolyn Cruz at ccruz@sevenhillsschool.org.

College Cupid Care Packages!

Last winter, Seven Hills hosted its first alumni care package party. Alumni parents from the classes of 2012 and 2013 were invited to campus to assemble “Cupid Care Packages” for young alumni in college. Arriving just in time for Valentine’s Day, the boxes included homemade Valentines treats, notes from former teachers, and more. The morning was a time for parents to share stories and memories, while doing something fun for the children that brought them together.

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 ccruz@sevenhillschool.org.

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2017-18 ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 Board of Trustees

A Message from the Board Chair It’s an exciting time at Seven Hills.

As my wife, Melissa, and I reflect on our Seven Hills journey, we are thrilled to be a part of such a vibrant community. With our son, Holden, starting his sophomore year in high school; daughter, Arden, having graduated from Seven Hills in June ready to tackle high school; and as our third child, Hudson, enters Middle School, we are more grateful than ever for the inspiring teachers, dedicated staff, supportive friends, the amazing volunteers, and the growing community of families that make up the Seven Hills community.

BOARD MEMBERS Jamil Akoni Lisa Barnett Sween Patrick Blake Paul Deeringer Candace Fleming Laura Furstenthal John Gingrich Khira Griscavage Julie Gutzwiller Sameer Hilal Matthew Janopaul Alexandra Lee Mackenzie Lesher Patrick Lin Robert Little Matthew Macomber Gina Morris Annette O’Donnell-Butner Ronke Olatunji Julie Anne Springman Wickes ’98 Seiyonne Suriyakumar ’02 Kirsten Young

In anticipation of our upcoming 60th anniversary in 2022, the Board of Trustees has been actively working with Kathleen on our next strategic plan, Direction 60, with a focus on program, places, people, and philanthropy. Kathleen has guided us through ways to enrich the experience for our students, and increase innovation in our programs. We have spent time developing a long-term vision for our campus master plan, looking at ways to modernize our spaces to align with curricular aspirations. We dedicated time to discussing cultural competency and evaluating how to increase all types of diversity in our community to create the optimal learning environment.

We are constantly inspired by the generous spirit of the Seven Hills community. Keeping us well on track to meet our $5 million goal by 2020, the growing endowment is now contributing more than $200,000 to the annual operating budget. Your support, by contributing to the auction and Annual Fund, has also helped us implement several campus improvements including a new science room for the Lower School, technology upgrades in the theater, and new classroom furniture throughout the campus. In addition, it has laid the foundation for launching a much-anticipated new lunch program more consistently aligned with our educational philosophy and mission (p. 25).

As I complete my eighth year as a trustee and final year as board chair, I am excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead for our outstanding school. Under Kathleen’s leadership and in partnership with board chair-elect, Matthew Janopaul, and a committed Board of Trustees, Seven Hills will continue to serve our students, our mission, and our community for many years to come.

Warmly,

Sameer Hilal Chair, Board of Trustees

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FINANCIALS Seven Hills is committed to enhancing the student experience at every turn while keeping tuition as low as possible. The Board of Trustees helps manage the school’s finances with the goal of supporting mission-driven growth and fiscal strength.

OPERATING REVENUES Net Tuition1 $9,346,886 86.0% Annual Fund and Auction2 786,507 7.2% Other 560,768 5.2% Endowment Draw 177,021 1.6%

The overall operating budget in 2017-18 was nearly $11 million. Faculty and staff salaries and benefits continued to account for more than 75 percent of the overall operating expenses, while tuition provided 86 percent of the overall operating revenue. Second to tuition, the Annual Fund and auction combined were the largest source of operating revenue.

Total $10,871,182 1. Net Tuition does not include $762,779 Tuition Assistance ​ 2. Does not include Raise the Paddle

$​114,000

OPERATING EXPENSES3 Salaries and Benefits $7,933,721 75.7% Instructional 1,028,488 9.8% General and Administrative 291,014 2.8% Fundraising 171,479 1.6% Plant 451,498 4.3% Debt Service 610,321 5.8% Total

These numbers reflect pre-audited financials. Audit will be available upon request as of December 2018.

Capital Projects and Maintenance: $281,103 Note: capital expense is funded via operations, gifts, and reserves

$10,486,521

3. Excludes non-cash depreciation/amortization

Endowment: $4,755,951 Total Liabilities and Net Assets: $31,756,081

$962,554

2017-2018 GIVING SUMMARY $600,685

Annual Giving Major Gifts/Initiatives* Endowment Auction

$316,450 $39,931 $181,000

TOTAL

$1,138,066

*Includes $114,450 for lunch initiative during Raise the Paddle.

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HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 2017-18 Planting Seeds of Kindness at Seven Hills Last year, the Kindness Rock Project at Seven Hills spread instant joy and gratitude throughout the community. Kick-started by our Extended Day program, children painted and decorated various river rocks and hid them around the campus. If you found a rock, the challenge was to either keep it for inspiration, or pass it along to someone who may need some extra encouragement. By sharing ideas, writing inspirational messages, and using their imagination, students will continue to plant seeds of kindness throughout the year.

Thank YOU, our donors, for spreading your kindness throughout our school through your commitments and giving. Together, we create a joyful, engaging learning environment that prepares today’s students for academic success and a life of meaningful contributions and kindness!

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of listings in this report. If we have made an error or omission, we sincerely apologize, and please bring it to the attention of the Development Office at (925) 933-0666.

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

Robert and Renee Little

Visionaries

$20,000 - $29,999 The Benevity Community Impact Fund Patrick and Alison Blake David and Emily Breach

Leadership Circle $10,000 - $19,999

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Ryan and Nicole Brown George and Stephanie Buhalis Christopher and Annette Butner Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

A special thanks to the more than 400 parents, faculty, grandparents, alumni, alumni parents, and friends of the school, who supported the Seven Hills Annual Fund between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. Gifts to the Annual Fund provide for every aspect of school life including our dynamic faculty, beautiful campus, and whole child program to benefit our inspiring and wonderful students. Thank you for your thoughtful and enthusiastic participation.

John and Laura Furstenthal Frederick Hughes, Jr. Fred and Noel Hughes Matthew and Marissa Janopaul Stephen and Mackenzie Lesher Eric and Megan Lindberg Delbert and Kimberly Stafford Corby and Heather Stead

Giving Champs $5,000 - $9,999

Gordon and Diana Baty BlackRock Matching Gift Program Chevron Matching Employee Funds

Daniel and Lindsay Delaney Amber DeSilva David DeSilva John Gingrich and Christine Currie Google Inc. Employee Giving Robert and Wendy Greer John and Khira Griscavage Peter and Julie Gutzwiller Sameer and Melissa Hilal Wendy Jordan Scott and Lori Keith Conrad and Selena Lai Jim and Shannon Lanzone Patrick and Darlet Lin

Matthew and Kamin Macomber Elizabeth Mahler and Pamela Keith Jonathan and Gillian Marek Kathleen McNamara and Jihad Mirza Jay and Julie Meissner Gregory Pilarowski and Anna Gai Yi Shi and Shangjie Zuo Steven and Susie Sovik Edward and Devra Struzenberg Patrick and Diane Suciu Arthur Woo and Emmelie Sabatte Wally and Kirsten Young

Headmaster’s Circle $2,500 - $4,999

Katherine Alberts and Lori Siegel Anonymous Simon Ashiku and Annette Chen Maximilian and Lori Auffhammer Bank of America Matching Gifts Program Jonathan and Kristin Butler Bret and Sarah Cameto Frank and Elizabeth Cassal Ewan and Alyson Chesser Paul Chua and Grace Chan Michael and Shirley Coke Warren and Erin Colbert Alex Copeland and Eileen Beall William Dutra Eric and Stéphanie Ebel Lee and Candace Fleming John and Sabrina Foster Louis and Patricia Grossman Jay and Genevieve Gudebski Scot and Liann Hagey

Barry and Sue Hoch Brett and Kymberly Johnson Charles and Lainie Johnson Thomas and Danielle Kahl Jeffrey and Nicole Kangas Mitch Kumagai and Deborah Podberesky Cornel and Alexandra Lee Eric and Karen Littell Kathleen Manning MasterCard Matching Gifts Program Drew and Kaeti McMillan Neil Menzies Morgan Stanley Ericka Nunez Stephen and Maggie Oetgen Parnassus Investments

Shami and Lori Patel David and Sylvia Pearlstein Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi Paige Radell Scott Radell John and Julie Rhee Jeremy and Jennifer Rich Philipp Sack and Nikki Singh David and Anabelle Satterfield Schwab Charitable Fund Armin and Lisa Seifart Tanner Wickes and Julie Anne Springman Wickes ‘98 Brooks and Michelle Stratmore Visa David and Joelle Weckerle Farhad Zamani and Georgina Jensen

Benefactors

$1,000 - $2,499 Walter and Natasha Acuña Jamil and Cheryl Akoni Autodesk Inc. Anonymous (5) Amir Axelrod and Sherry Wang-Axelrod Thomas and Gloria Beckett Alberto and Ana Bianchi Boater’s Insurance Agency, Inc. Altaf and Salimah Boghani

Ilya Borovikov and Victoria Holcomb Bright Funds Foundation Dennis and Veronica Brinkmann Steven and Vanessa Capelli Cenovus Energy Inc. Ronald and Fannie Chan Combined Jewish Philanthropies Kevin Considine and Christine Paige Considine Amy Cupples Brian and Kristen D’Arcy Chris and Elizabeth Dawson Paul and Christa Deeringer Santosh and Eva Marie Dhanalal Imran and Regula Dhedhi Dolby Match Program Alexander and Samantha Duff Bejan and Torrey Farahbakhsh Michael and Katherine Gandy Juan Gaviria and Marcela Robledo Joel and Holly Grossman Karan and Ella Gupta Blake Haley and Christine Deakin Jonathan and Alyssa Harris Gene and Valerie Howard Tunghua and Yuyu Huang Robert and Barbara Jaspar Byongkook Kang and Helen Yoon Janet Katari Kevin and Michaela Katari

Bryan and Jenifer Kester Peter and Tara Khoury Kenneth and Jennie Klein Neil and Patrice Konigsberg Brent and Rebecca Larson Jae Lee and Shireen Advani Lee Robert and Christine Lee Stan and Carol Lesher Norman and Mo Livermore Randall and Elizabeth Luskey Richard and Patricia Marcogliese Aimee Medeiros Milton and Edith Melczer Monsanto Langdon and Elizabeth Morris Amara Morrison Henri and Lorena Moudi Pacific Gas & Electric Pfizer Gregory and Liana Pope William Radtke and Tabitha Kix-Radtke Jonathan and Jennifer Rodde Phillip and Teri Rogers Rafi Rozbahani and Banafshe Nabizadeh George and Cheri Russell Salesforce.com Foundation Jay Saoud and Kristina Kramer Brian Scheinberg and Laura Pierson- Scheinberg Simerjit Singh and Harmol Raikhy Brad and Amy Skepner Leonard and Vy Spoto Robert and Rina Stanley Michael and Mercedes Stead Cynthia Stephenson- Catterton Brad Surak and Claudia Furtado Christopher and Carrie Swany John Sween and Lisa Barnett Sween

Morgan and Lisa Swiggett Carlo Tamburrino and Paulette Defalco Michael Tatara and Helen Kurtz Ian and Alexis Tawes Todd Thorner and Leyla Khosrovani Larry and Deveney Totten TRUiST UBS Financial Robert and Amy Walters Daniel and Barbara Wark Joshua and Tara Wellen Wellen Properties Wells Fargo Foundation Educational Matching Gifts Program Steven and Linda Wight

Friends

Up to $999 Jeffrey and Heidi Abramson Nick Adamson and Carisa Harris Adamson Annie Allen Russell and Crystal Alpert Jason and Nicole Ambrose Anonymous (12) Rodolfo and Virginia Arias Pedro Babiak and Laura Lippow Gene and Alicia Bakkum Gretchen Bartzen Carol Beals Christopher and Karen Begg Antonio and Seena Benavides Carlos and Domenica Benitez Brittany Berg Nicholas and Clare Bisho Blue Rocket Stephanie Bolanos Andrew and Kellen Bothwell Katie-Rose Breslin Brent and Christiane Brinkerhoff Norma Bristol/ Instrumental Music Program Samantha Buono

2017-18 Faculty and Staff Donors In addition to their countless daily contributions to Seven Hills and our students, 100 percent of our faculty and staff supported the Annual Fund in 2017-18. Thank you!

Tanveer Alibhai Annie Allen Virginia Arias Lori Auffhammer Michelle Barahona Karen Begg Brittany Berg Clare Bisho Stephanie Bolanos Kellen Bothwell Katie-Rose Breslin Christiane Brinkerhoff Norma Bristol Samantha Buono Kelly Cardella Michael Chamberlain Stephanie Chiang Kelley Cochran Cynthia Cogswell Carolyn Cruz Rebecca Cushing Cora Davidson Jason Davis Gerry Dunn-Gerardin Barbara Eaton Scott Espinosa-Brown Laurel Evans Tyler Flynn Rambo Deborah Frerk Riki Gibson Matti Gold Susanne Goldman Patty Gonser Christi Gotvald Ashley Gordon Corinne Hayhurst Katherine Henderson Jesus Hernandez Suzanne Hieke Stephanie Hough Kim Hughes Gina Hurley Katie Kreuser

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Nancy Lane Rebecca Larson Adam Lechner ’87 Sarah Lewis Lisa Lindgren Shauna Maraccini Jenny Marcus Alisha Marsh Kelly McCargar Phil McFann Kathleen McNamara Rhys Miller Jihad Mirza Zarko Morales Dan Murphy Carolyn Nelson Charlene O’Brien Nick Obando Tina Ory Heidi Plumb Megan Prieto Renee Ramig Generra Rocchi Dan Rogoff Mark Roquet Michael Sandberg Lauren Sanders Julie Scarpelli Karen Schulz Matt Shargel Deborah Shipherd Stephanie Sproul Katherine Stahl Cassidy Thompson Patti Turetzky Linden Van Wert Beth Wadsworth Amy Walters Alison Wash Mari Weiss Joanie Wills Kirsten Woods Ponce Yambao

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2017-18 Annual Fund Class Captains A special thanks to our Class Captains who shepherded our Annual Fund efforts in 2017-18 and helped us achieve an impressive 94 percent parent participation. Your enthusiasm is inspiring!

Rainbow David Pearlstein

Red Barn Del Stafford

K Diana Baty

1st Katie Alberts

2nd Julie and Jay Meissner

3rd Casey Conroy Marissa Janopaul

4th Jason Husk

5th Casey Conroy Marissa Janopaul

6th Michael Gandy

7th Vicky Holcomb

8th Candace Fleming

Annual Fund

Parent Chair Chip Johnson

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Bill Butner and Bil Sullivan Jones Butner Mark and Kelly Cardella Kimberly Carpenter Adrian Carrillo and Michelle Barahona Lucien and Lauren Cazenave Michael Chamberlain and Kathleen Jiménez Neil Meyer and Stephanie Chiang Rick and May Chuarta Cisco Community Connection Matching Gifts Program The Clorox Company Foundation Daniel and Kelley Cochran William and Cynthia Cogswell Warren and Marie Colbert Casey Conroy and Diana Herrera-Conroy Dawn Craig and Teresa Brink Ryan and Nicole Crowley Carolyn Cruz Dan and Rebecca Cushing Cary and Kathleen Dalziel William and Linda Daniel Brad and Cora Davidson Davidson Educational Therapy & Consulting Jason and Lisa Davis Pamela Dayton Charles and Mevis Demarest Amish and Shilpa Doshi Thomas and Julie Ducharme John Thomas Earle ‘17 Sofia Earle ‘14 Richard and Barbara Eaton Danilo Ebias Peter and Sue Elkind Ken and Diana El-Sherif Scott and Katherine Espinosa- Brown Kurt and Sheryl Ettinger Paul and Laurel Evans Family Office Foundation, Inc.

Vladimir Filonov and Maria Filonova James and Marcie Fitzsimmons Tyler and Jessica Flynn Rambo Deborah Frerk GAP, Inc. Anne Gartner General Electric Foundation Steve Gerardin and Gerry Dunn-Gerardin Greg Gholson and Katherine Henderson Sadegh and Narguess Ghorban Laury Glasgow Mark and Naomi Glasky David Godsoe and Renee Ramig Matti and Karen Gold Edward Goldberg and Larisa Genin Susanne Goldman Bob and Patty Gonser GoodAgent.org Mark and Christi Gotvald Brandon and Ashley Gordon Thomas and Valerie Greeley Doug and Susan Greenberg Jack and Marcia Greenberg Marc and Wendy Greenberg Benjamin and Joanna Grossman Warren and Peggy Gutzwiller

Russell and Jane Hall Happy Valley ICF/DD-H Inc. Jim and Hali Hausmann Trevor and Oanh Hawkins Travis and Corinne Hayhurst William and Kim Hecht Stan and Sarah Helton Brian Hennessy ‘04 Jesus and Lucy Hernandez Terence Heywood and Pamela Lesoganich- Heywood Andy and Suzanne Hieke Paul Ho James and Cara Hollis Dewey Horton and Ann Hatanaka Gabriel and Stephanie Hough Patrick and Kimberly Hughes Gina Hurley Jason and Anna Husk Richard and Jennifer James Matthew and Nicole Jeffers Thomas and Pauline Jeffers Matthew and Natalie Johns Katherine Jue Kaiser Permanente Community Giving Matching Gift Program Charles Killian and Michelle Watts Killian Steven and Rochelle Klein Kathryn Kreuser Raj and Rupy Krishnan

Chalis Kuba William Kwok and Vivian Tan Carlton and Carrie La Cour Troy and Nancy Lane Ross and Olga Larner Adam ‘87 and Shannon Lechner Christopher and Danette Leighton David Levin and Julie Scarpelli Steve and Sarah Lewis Alexandr and Julia Lints Whitney Livermore ‘00 Carla Lo Coco ‘92 Carlos Lobo and Riki Gibson Harsha Madannavar and Deepa Bangalore Rajesh and Rujuta Manghani Matthew and Shauna Maraccini Jennifer Marcus Robert Marcus Michael and Alisha Marsh Robert and Caroline Maruska Dave and Kelly McCargar John and Lindsay McCormick James McDonnell and Linda Margulies Philip McFann Joseph McKenna ‘04 Miklos and Kathryn Melczer Jim and Roberta Merrion

Giving Levels

How can you make a difference? *Hill’s Angels ($30,000+)

2017-18 Annual Giving Participation

*Visionaries ($20,000 to $29,999) *Leadership Circle ($10,000 to $19,999)

Board of Trustees

*Giving Champs ($5,000 to $9,999) *Headmaster’s Circle ($2,500 to $4,999) Benefactors ($1,000 to $2,499) Friends (Up to $999) *We celebrate our donors who support Seven Hills with vitally important annual leadership gifts of $2,500 and above with special recognition. Your loyal and generous support provides a strong foundation for a thriving Annual Fund.

Dan Michael and Lillian Leong Bill and Kristy Miller Neil and Rhys Miller Jason and Ginelle Mills John Anthony and Angela Miranda Clare Moore Zarko Morales Jason and Gina Morris Daniel Murphy Carolyn Nelson Marygail Nelson Randall and Mary Nelson Frank and Natasha Nicholson-Bjerre Calin and Anca Niculescu Costin and Angela Niculescu John and Caroline Nolan Stacy Norman Bob and Kris Nunn Kerry and Charlene O’Brien Eniola and Aderonke Olatunji Douglas Spear and Isabelle Ord ‘86 Jon and Tina Ory

Oliver and Amy Parker Gregory and Claudine Penney Camile Pennix Michael and Ellen Peterson Piper Jaffray & Co. John and Hannah Pirone Heidi Plumb Joseph Pollock and Rebecca Demorest Nickolas and Megan Prieto Ralph Raulli Ingrid Ray Thomas and Linda Reiser Bill and Edie Richmond Generra and Nicole Rocchi Daniel Rogoff and Laura Cox Mark and Katherine Roquet Timothy and Jennifer Ruane Michael Rubiano Timothy and Katharine Rudd Amit Sachdeva and Rebecca Rubin

Colin Safreed and Xochitl Gonzalez Safreed Matthew Sager and Amanda Ashton-Sager Michael and Stephanie Sandberg Michael and Lauren Sanders Edward Scherr and Shelly Pozzi Karen Schulz Steven Schwab Alfred and Laurel Seivold Matthew and Kristine Shargel Keith and Deborah Shipherd Shervine Shirazi and Ameneh Khosrovani Silicon Valley Bank Jonathan and Ali Singh Stephanie Sproul Stephen and Katherine Stahl Jeff Steinberg and Kirsten Woods Diana Superfin Seiyonne Suriyakumar ‘02 and Anika Shah Kristel Svansjo

Magnus and Andree Svansjo The Steel Fund-Vanguard Charitable The Walt Disney Company Foundation Cassidy Thompson Louay and Megan Toma Jeffrey and Michaela Traynor Harpreet and Anudeep Ubhi Andrew and Susan Ulvenes United Way of the Bay Area Linden Van Wert Geoffrey and Beth Wadsworth Brian and Sophia Walsh Bob and Alison Wash Murray and Mari Weiss Dilantha and Manoja Wijesuriya Robinson and Joanie Wills Liesa Wise John and Lisa Woll Ponce and Lourdes Yambao

100%

Faculty & Staff

100%

Parents

94%

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Endowment Donors

The Seven Hills endowment continues to grow with new gifts in honor of our beloved faculty and programs. Now surpassing $4.7 million, the endowment is well on its way to reaching $5 million by 2020—a long term goal set by the Board of Trustees in 2014.

This school year, the Seven Hills endowment provided more than $200,000 to the operational budget, reducing reliance on tuition and other sources of revenue.

A special thanks to those listed below making an endowment gift in 2017-18 and to Kamin and Matt Macomber (parents of Maddie ’18, Kate ’18, and Ellie ’22) for leading the Class of 2018 endowment initiative that raised nearly $40,000 towards this priority. Together with supporters from years past, you have created a lasting legacy for Seven Hills students and will benefit the school and its faculty for years to come.

“The school’s leadership and faculty have inspired our children to develop skills to overcome obstacles, embrace the unfamiliar, and act compassionately. As a family, we have chosen to make a gift to the endowment in honor of our daughters’ time at Seven Hills.”

- Kamin and Matt Macomber

George and Stephanie Buhalis

Sameer and Melissa Hilal Hitachi Vantara

Elizabeth Mahler and Pamela Keith

CDO, Inc.

Tunghua and Yuyu Huang

Neil Meyer and Stephanie Chiang

Matthew and Marissa Janopaul

Bill and Kristy Miller

Paul and Deborah Jansen

Stephen and Maggie Oetgen

Nahla Kareem ’25

Michael and Shirley Coke Sydney Delgado ’17 Todd and Christine Dow Ken and Diana El-Sherif Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

Janet Katari

Toby Pontin and Jennifer Wilson

John and Sabrina Foster

Jerry and Gayle Klusky

Brad and Amy Skepner

John and Laura Furstenthal

Christopher and Danette Leighton

Brad Surak and Claudia Furtado

John and Khira Griscavage

Stephen and Mackenzie Lesher

The Steel Fund- Vanguard Charitable

David Levin and Julie Scarpelli

Arthur Woo and Emmelie Sabatte

The Hennessy Foundation Kevin and Elaine Hennessy

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Matthew and Kamin Macomber

Over the years, individuals and families have established named endowment funds that continue to provide for the school. Like contributions to the general endowment, these gifts are invested in perpetuity with a percentage of the interest earnings used each year for strategic priorities like professional development, program innovation, and tuition assistance.

The Barlow Family Endowed Fund

Joseph Family Minority Scholarship Fund

The Brown Family Endowed Fund

Julian Rettger Fund for Emotional Well-Being

The Butner Family Endowed Fund

Karen Malin Endowment for Professional Development

Deborah Jansen General Endowment Fund

Matthews Music Scholarship

The Hennessy Family Endowed Scholarship Fund The Hilal Family Endowed Fund Jim Clark Former Trustees Endowment Fund

Amara Morrison

Lee and Candace Fleming

Thor and Christine Grossen

Named Endowment Funds Create Enduring Legacies

JULIAN RETTGER FUND FOR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING

The Scott Espinosa-Brown Endowed Fund for Student Life, Leadership, and Service The William H. Miller Endowment Fund

Julian Rettger graduated from Seven Hills in 2003. His parents established Julian’s Fund for Emotional Well-Being in 2010, to honor Julian, who passed away in June of that year. Julian’s family has raised more than $500,000 through the fund to support the social and emotional well-being of students.

Seven Hills has named the library in his honor because of his early and continuing passion for books.

Mary Ann Gordon Kathleen Manning Philip B. Rettger and Diane Bell-Rettger

Named funds are a meaningful way to create a permanent legacy for your family at Seven Hills and 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.

A Fresh Vision for School Lunch!

During last spring’s auction, Kathleen McNamara introduced an exciting initiative—an integrated lunch program and improved community eating space to better serve the needs of our students and our community.

Parents were invited to imagine a new and improved lunch program with onsite food service, nutritious and sustainable menus prepared on-campus daily, a renovated commercial-grade Tenvold kitchen, expanded indoor and outdoor seating, and additional multipurpose space—all to connect the community, promote healthy choices, and align with Seven Hills’ green values.

Over the summer, construction began on the new Student Commons, to create additional seating space adjacent to

Tenvold. By the first day of school, parents were gathering on the completed patio together and students were utilizing its extra learning space. Over the coming months, the Commons will also feature beautiful furniture, shading, benches, planters, and gardens.

The school’s new food-service partner will be announced this fall.

Seven Hills looks forward to embracing sustainable practices and offering fresh cooked-from-scratch meals later in this school year. Thank you to all donors for your generosity during Raise the Paddle at the auction, and for your contributions toward this welcomed initiative to rethink how we “do lunch” on campus— building strong bodies and sharp minds to nourish a brighter future for our students.

Why Change the Lunch Offerings at Seven Hills?

For Health “Farm to Tenvold”—healthy food made from scratch right here on campus For Connection expanded indoor and outdoor space to eat together and connect For Sustainability local, seasonal products using environmentally sound practices For Learning nutrition education and opportunities for students to grow their own food For Integrity an honest lunch program that aligns with our whole-child philosophy

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Hills Angels in Perpetuity

Matthew and Kamin Macomber

In recognition of their enduring commitment to Seven Hills, we celebrate the Hills Angels donors who, over time, have cumulatively contributed $25,000 or more to the Annual Fund. Your loyal and generous support has fueled our innovative, mission-driven approach to educating students for nearly 60 years.

Steve and Beth Marini

Geoffrey and Lesleen Riley

Mark and Mindee Mastrov

Susan Rogers

Pat Matthews and Patti Paulson

Andrew and Jinny Rudd

Scott and Tomi Matthews

Edward Scherr and Shelly Pozzi

Stephen and Nancy McCarthy

Larry and Cybille Scott Carl Shapiro

Sheldon Kahn and Sarah Liron

James and Dorothy Mills

Joseph and Odette Kardek

Tom and Julia Miner

Charles and Alexis Glavin Kent and Diana Godfrey

Ross and Amy Kari

Bruce and Barbara Goodman

Janet Katari

Ronald and Susan Codd

Ian Agol ‘82 and Michelle McGuinness

Stephen Cohn and Rose Anne Critchfield

John Gingrich and Christine Currie

Annie Allen

Michael and Shirley Coke

Robert Allen

Alex Copeland and Eileen Beall The Copeland Family

Susan Alonso

Anthony Giordano and Theresa Klinger

Bill and Kristy Miller Sam Mills Abraham Mintz and Catherine Cutler

Mark Shapiro and Roberta Goldberg Brian and Michelle Sharpes Murray and Christine Sheldon Philip Simon and Terry Neben Brad and Amy Skepner Elizabeth Solomon

Kevin and Michaela Katari

Langdon and Elizabeth Morris

Dan and Linda Gordon

Jerry and Carolina Katz

Paul and Diane Morton

Ronald and Caryn Suber

Mary Dalsin-Mills

Richard and Lori Green

Mitchell and Karen Kay

Clarence and Irene Mou

Steve and Celeste Danglade

Stephen and Katy Gronowski

George and Bonnie Kennedy

William and Frances Myers

Patrick and Teresa Sullivan

Thor and Christine Grossen

Larry and Julie Kirsch

Brian and Patricia Napper

Suri and Rushika Suriyakumar

Brad and Shiva Berman

Charles and Nancy Deschane

Patrick and Alison Blake

Amber DeSilva

Steven and Rochelle Klein

Subhendu Narayan and Kavitha Rao-Narayan

Bahman and Mardjan Taheripour

Parke and Victoria Boneysteele

David DeSilva

Kenneth and Jeanifer Grullon

Brian Atwood and Lynn Edminster Mathew and Sarah Bakulich Kelly and Carrie Barlow Gretchen Bartzen Sebastian and Renee Bea

Kevin Booth David and Emily Breach David and Kim Bridges Robert† and Alice Bridges Foundation

John and Debby Cunningham

Scott and Deborah DeVries Robert Dolinko and Laurie Bronson Todd and Christine Dow Joseph and Holly Eiden

Ryan and Nicole Brown

Irwin and Vivian Eskanos

George and Stephanie Buhalis

Ira and Pamela Finch

Christopher and Annette Butner Philae Carver Mark Fosbury and Kristin Castagno James and Françoise Cervantes

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Daniel and Marina Miller

Kimberly Gilmore

Steven Schwab

James McDonnell and Linda Margulies

Matthew and Melissa Jose

James and Kathy Clark

Fred and Susan Safipour

Wendy McDermott

Kevin McGuirk Jeffrey and Heidi Abramson

Christine Riley

Charles Fiske and Karen Leo David and Jessie Flatt Roger and Madeline Fleischmann John and Laura Furstenthal Bob Gallo

John† and Susan Chapman

Sandra Gallo

Adam and Carol Chase

Shrikant and Ira Garde

Chung-Cheng and Jen-Kuei Chen

W. Philip and June Gardner

Ravikanth Ganapavarapu

Corby and Heather Stead

Bob Kliger

John and Ruth Nelson

Ronald and Robyn Taylor

Peter and Julie Gutzwiller

Stuart and Anne Knowles

John and Wendy Hammergren

Benjamin and Judy Kronick

Brent and Elizabeth Nomura

Larry and Deveney Totten

David and Sally Nosal

Christopher Trinkus

Michael Han and Annie Hahn

Jim and Shannon Lanzone

Stephen and Maggie Oetgen

Richard and Karen Walker

Terence Heywood and Pamela Lesoganich- Heywood

David and Traci Lardner

Peter and Isabelle Op de Beeck

Michael and Maria Walton

Ralph Pais and Gayl Huston

Tom and Marla Williams

Charles and Adelaide Park

Douglas and Joyce Wing

Sameer and Melissa Hilal Diane Horton Abraham and Deanna Hsieh

Ari and Sheryl Lauer Henry and Jennifer Leingang Stephen and Mackenzie Lesher

Dennis and Bonnie Wells Keith and Susan Wilson

Robert and Renee Little

Shami and Lori Patel

Bruce Woods and Nancy Frary-Woods

Michael and Sherrie Littlejohn

Jerome and Jane Perez

Fred and Noel Hughes

Glen and Elisa Yeung

Eric and Amy Peterson

James and Laura Hulburd

Roy and Cathy Yih

Norman and Mo Livermore

Joseph and Toni Petite

Robert Ishii and Nancy Wallace

Mark and Shawn Young

Jeffrey and Jennifer Loomis

Scott Pipo and Gloria Pickhover

Wally and Kirsten Young

Matthew and Marissa Janopaul

David and Connie Lowe

Michelle Place

James and Shari Lucas

Joseph and Rosalia Polizzi

Frederick Hughes, Jr.

Paul and Deborah Jansen Thomas and Mary Anne Jorde

John Lyngaas and Linda Noel

Ingrid Ray

† deceased New Hills Angels Member

Ways to Make a Difference

Heritage Society

We recognize members of The Heritage Society who have included Seven Hills in their estate plans. Through their thoughtful planning, members of the Heritage Society are providing for the future of the school. Thank you for your vision and commitment.

Pete Babiak and Laura Lippow Parents of Steven Babiak ’07 and Sydney Babiak ’11 Gretchen Bartzen Director of Development (1995–2012) Brad and Shiva Berman Parents of Daniela Berman ’05 Jon and Lisa Blake Parents of Adam Blake ’11 and Andrew Blake ’12 John† and Susan Chapman Parents of Chris Chapman ’03 and Emma Chapman ’05 Jim and Laura Hulburd Parents of Alanna Hulburd ’06 and Kyle Hulburd ’09 Paul and Deborah Jansen Parents of Ben Jansen ’03 and Nicholas Jansen ’05 Thomas and Mary Ann Jorde Parents of Kevin Jorde ’01 and Christopher Jorde ’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 Miller ’01 Bill and Kristy Miller Headmaster (1992–2015) Parents of Hennessy Miller ’04 and Keenan Miller ’08 Abraham Mintz and Catherine Cutler Parents of Elizabeth Mintz ’13 and Zachary Mintz ’12 Philip Rettger Parent of Julian Rettger ’03† Linden Van Wert Faculty member since 1975, Librarian (1976–2015), Green Ombudsman (2015–present) John and Alice Villanueva Parents of Amber Villanueva ’96 and Erica Villanueva ’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.

Our mission calls us to build a foundation that creates a lifelong love of learning. We accomplish this goal in partnership with our extended community through three primary fundraising efforts.

Join us!

ANNUAL FUND

The Annual Fund is the school’s cornerstone fundraising effort each and every year. The Annual Fund is part of the school’s operating budget and thus provides yearly and essential resources above and beyond tuition. Gifts directly support the many things you love most about the school, from hands-on-learning opportunities to our talented faculty.

AUCTION

The school’s annual auction is a fun community-building event that also raises vital funds for student programs and the endowment.

Mark your calendars for this year’s auction, Saturday, March 23, 2019. This treasured tradition is a fantastic way to connect with other families while supporting the school.

ENDOWMENT

Gifts to the endowment provide for the school’s long-term financial health. While the Annual Fund is put to use immediately, the endowment is invested in perpetuity with interest earnings used each year to sustain our programs and support strategic initiatives.

How to Make a Gift

There are a variety of ways to make a gift to the school including: Gifts of cash Appreciated securities

Bequests, real estate, or other planned gifts

Corporate matching gifts

Gifts in kind

You can also make a gift online at: sevenhillsschool.schoolforms.org/give, or by mail.

Checks should be made out to The Seven Hills School and sent to:

The Development Office • The Seven Hills School 975 North San Carlos Drive Walnut Creek, CA 94598 Questions? Contact Director of Development Amy Walters at awalters@sevenhillsschool.org or (925) 933-0666.

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Gametime!

On March 24, parents, faculty, staff, and friends were welcomed Back to School for an evening of collegiate fun at the annual Seven Hills auction. The evening events unfolded with a tailgate party under the tent with cocktails, appetizers, and a silent auction. The De La Salle High School marching band led the way with an honorroll worthy performance to kick off the night, as guests made their way to Hunt Hall for dinner and live auction.

It was an A+ evening for Seven Hills with 325 guests in attendance and more than $375,000 raised, including $114,000 for the new school lunch initiative.

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“Our school auction is the most anticipated event of the year where our parents can come together for a fun evening out,” said auction co-chair, Nikki Brown (parent of Caroline ’21, Sloan ’22, Turner ’25, and Palmer ’27). “It’s a wonderful community builder on all levels that draws upon a wide array of parent talents—solicitation of donations, sponsorships, marketing, and décor to produce an amazing evening of philanthropy and community.”

A huge thank you to our dedicated co-chairs, Nikki Brown and Ryan Crowley, for leading the way in making it all happen! And, thank you to all of the parents who put in countless volunteer hours, sponsored the event, donated items, and came out to bid.

Auction Co-Chairs Nikki Brown and Ryan Crowley

Committee Carisa Harris Adamson Domenica Benitez Ana Bianchi Emily Breach Nick Bisho Stephanie Buhalis Bret Cameto Kristen D’Arcy Wendy Greer Jennifer James Marissa Janopaul Alex Lee Steve Lesher Patrick Lin Renee Little Aimee Medeiros Cheri Russell Del Stafford Heather Stead Lisa Swiggett Erica Obando Lexi Tawes

Board Liaisons Patrick Lin and Matt Macomber

Auction Coordinator Riki Gibson

Table Host Sponsors The Greeks Breach and Little Families Pam Keith and Beth Mahler

Glee Faculty Sponsorship Amara Morrison Janet Katari Dan Michael and Lillian Leong Steven and Susie Sovik Robert and Amy Walters Arthur Woo and Emmelie Sabatte

Corporate and Business Sponsors Master’s Del Monte First Republic Bank Salient Technology Solutions

Bachelor’s Flavor Insights Servco Foundation

Associate’s Farmers & Merchant Bank

Certificate Clancy & Diaz, LLP Cupples Design Studio Foster Interstate Media, Inc. Monvera Glass Décor Modus Pillar Legal P.C. Tilden Properties vCom

Student Alliant Services Heuther Insurance Union Bank

Item Donations 360 Medical Weight Loss Specialists Nick Adamson and Carisa Harris Adamson Adventure Day Camp Katherine Alberts and Lori Siegel Tanveer Alibhai Annie Allen Aloha Mind Math American Eagle Outfitters American Paintball Park Maximilian and Lori Auffhammer Aurora Organic Spray Tan Gordon and Diana Baty Randy and Darlene Bennett, SMC Men’s Basketball Alberto and Ana Bianchi Nick and Clare Bisho Blackhawk Country Club Blow Dry Bar Board & Brush Creative Studio

Kellen Bothwell Katie-Rose Breslin Norma Bristol Ryan and Nikki Brown George and Stephanie Buhalis Chris and Annette Butner C & M Party Rental Canvas & Cabernet Kelly Cardella Frank and Elizabeth Cassal Lucien and Lauren Cazenave Stephanie Chiang Kelley Cochran Coffee Shop William and Cynthia Cogswell CorePower Yoga Corners Tavern Amy Cupples Brian and Kristen D’Arcy Davidson & Licht Jason Davis Del Amigo Pool Association Diablo Country Club Drybar The Dutra Family Eighth Grade Parents Encore Gym Enhanced by Amelia Scott and Katherine Espinosa- Brown Laurel Evans Exploratorium Tyler Flynn Rambo Four Seasons Photography Forma Gym Fraiche Catering Nick Gartner Susanne Goldman Gott’s Roadside Christi Gotvald Ashley Gould John and Khira Griscavage Benjamin and Joanna Grossman Louis and Patti Grossman Jay and Jenn Gudebski Peter and Julie Gutzwiller Kathy Henderson Suzanne Hieke Stephanie Hough

Gina Hurley Jason and Anna Husk Matthew and Marissa Janopaul Kallie Jo Photography Katrina Rozelle Pamela Keith and Elizabeth Mahler Kendra Scott Peter and Tara Khoury Chalis Kuba Lafayette Park Hotel & Spa Nancy Lane Jim and Shannon Lanzone Lareen Fender’s The Ballet School Performing Arts Rebecca Larson Laura Cottril Photography Dr. Timothy Leach, MD Adam Lechner Cornel and Alex Lee Christopher and Danette Leighton Lemonade Steve and Mackenzie Lesher Sarah Lewis Limitless Escape Games Livermore Eric and Megan Lindberg Robert and Renee Little Veena Lohia Luna Loca Shauna Maraccini Jennifer Marcus Alisha Marsh Kelly McCargar Peggy McCormick Philip McFann Drew and Kaeti McMillan Kathleen McNamara and Jihad Mirza MoMo’s Walnut Creek Mountain Camp Mountain Meadow Ranch Moraga Country Club Kevin Moylan and Rania Berkeley Napa Valley Festival Association Carolyn Nelson Nordstrom Walnut Creek Oakland Zoo Tina Ory Parksmart Regional Parking Inc.

Party City Perfect Puppy Preparatory Academy Piatti Restaurant John and Hannah Pirone Heidi Plumb Pat Pollizzi Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi Megan Prieto PRIMA Restaurant Q-Zar Laser Tag Gray and Brenda Reavis Jeremy and Jennifer Rich Round Hill Country Club San Francisco Premium Outlets Julie Scarpelli Karen Schulz Larry and Cybille Scott Seven Hills Girl Scout Junior Troop 33835 Matthew Shargel Shone Asset Management Brad and Amy Skepner SkinSpirit Sky High Sports Ken Slater SoulCycle Steven and Susie Sovik

Stephanie Sproul Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars John and Diane Suciu Susie Cakes Hillary Swiggett Tesla Factory Tours The Art of Living The Art Room 91 The Bar Method The Seven Hills School The Seven Hills School Board of Trustees The Ultimate Field House The Woodhouse Day Spa Cassidy Thompson Treasure Island Sailing Center UCSF/UCB Ergonomics Research and Graduate Training Program Linden Van Wert Beth Wadsworth Alison Wash Mari Weiss Wheel Kids Bicycle Club Joanie Wills Kirsten Woods SHS XD Team Zachary’s Chicago Pizza

SAVE THE DATE

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2018-19 Events

October 11 All Community Parent Dinner

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

Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Handled with Care

December 4 Career Pathways Networking Event

January 18 Applications Deadline

March 23 Auction

April 3 Evening of Art, Innovation & Greenstival

May 3 Grandparents & VIP Day

June 6 ​Graduation

June 8 All Alumni Reunion

At Seven Hills, we believe that...

Every child deserves a

whole child education

that balances academic excellence with social and emotional development.

Learning is joyful.

Through an integrated and experiential program, students are taught compassion, agency, and collaboration.

Our commitment to

diversity and inclusion

fosters cultural competency and global understanding.

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Passionate and creative faculty challenge, nurture, and inspire each child.

Our beautiful, natural campus

provides unique opportunities for student engagement, innovation, and wonder.

Our vibrant community is connected by over five decades of service and lifelong learning.

Effective stewardship of our financial, physical, and philanthropic resources is a shared responsibility.

- Seven Beliefs for Seven Hills Statement of Educational Philosophy, 2017