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Faculty and Staff Bid Farewell to Retiring Educators

At the faculty and staff closing meeting, Seven Hills honored two retiring educators who have more than 60 years of experience between them. World Languages Department Chair and Upper School French teacher Ann Griep leaves Seven Hills School after 21 years, and was met on stage at the Schiff Center with flowers and accolades from her colleagues. Middle and Upper French and Spenish teacher Jacky Kalubi paid tribute to Griep by sharing memories of trips they chaperoned, funny things students have shared with them, and two decades of collaborating. “You always treated us with professionalism, but you’ve also been a beloved friend and mentor,” said Middle and Upper School Latin and history teacher Katie Swinford. Upper Spanish teacher Teresa Macho Bardon presented Griep with flowers and parting words of gratitude and excitement for Griep’s coming coastal move.

Head of Lotspeich Carolyn Fox spent her 40-year-career at Seven Hills as a teacher and counselor, and then for 19 years was the Head of Lotspeich. Lotspeich second-grade teacher Danielle Necessary said, “When you speak to Carolyn, she somehow communicates that you are her only priority.” Lotspeich Director of Early Childhood Kara Meador added how well liked and respected Fox is among both students and faculty, how nobody can rival her Halloween costumes, and how one student wrote a book inspired by Fox’s love of race cars, aptly title “My Principal Drives a Racecar.” Kalubi ended with a touching tribute to Fox’s lasting impact on Seven Hills School. “Text without punctuation is just a collection of words,” Kalubi said. “You took what could have just been a school, a collection of the usual things, and you made it into a home away from home.”

Fox ended the ceremony by sharing her gratitude and her love for the Seven Hills community. “What we have that has endured is the love for these children, the care for each other, and the love for this community,” she said. “I hope you all have as much joy as I have had for 40 years.”