All School
September 16, 2021
Opening Assembly Kicks Off Another Great Year
On the first day of the 2021-22 school year, fourth- through 12th-grade students from both campuses came together in the Field House for the annual celebration of the beginning of the year. As part of the annual tradition to select one of the Seven Hills values as a focal point for the school year, Head of School Chris Garten encouraged students to come together and celebrate our commitment to community, one of the school’s core values. Fifth-grader at Doherty Tripp O’Connell, fifth-grader at Lotspeich James Levesque, eighth-grader Nina Head, and seniors Thomas Murphy and Anand Patil spoke about the school community and gave helpful advice and encouragement on preserving the accepting and inclusive culture of Seven Hills. “It is really you, our students, who set the tone of the community where we all work and live. Our speakers today reminded us of how special this community is and we find comfort, especially in these trying times, in being together. So, this year I would ask you to commit to the school value of community and work together to strengthen that precious sense we share,” Garten said.
The Buzz Welcomes New Editors
Marika Lee and Rachel Cheatham join Seven Hills Schools as The Buzz newsletter’s new editors. Lee brings seven years of community newspaper and school reporting experience to her role. “I’m excited to share students’ accomplishments and adventures,” Lee said. Cheatham also fell in love with the vibrant academic culture Seven Hills offers while working as a newspaper reporter. “From students to staff, I’m thrilled I get to capture the energy and passion that goes into making a Seven Hills classroom shine,” Cheatham said. Lee will primarily cover Doherty, Upper, and Athletics whereas Cheatham will primarily cover Lotspeich, Middle, and the Arts.
Seven Hills Welcomes DEI Director
Racheal Quinn joins the Seven Hills community as the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Quinn comes to Seven Hills from Teach for America, where, after a very successful career as a classroom teacher, she was chosen to train more than 150 teachers, all across the state of Ohio, in ways to meet the diverse learning needs of a wide variety of learners. “I am so excited to be joining the Seven Hills community, both as a new parent and as a member of the administrative team. Everyone has been incredibly warm and welcoming, and the school’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion has already been apparent to me in my short time here. I am excited to work with my new colleagues to help build an even more inclusive community,” she said. Her new position came out of the 2019 Strategic Plan, which set articulated the school’s commitment to “realize fully our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Quinn commended Seven Hills for all the work that has already been done to set her up for success. “The Strategic Plan adopted last year by the school administration and the Board of Trustees lays out a thoughtful blueprint for our work together over the next several years.” In this coming year, she hopes to focus on getting to know the school community, developing learning opportunities for the faculty and staff, and exploring new ways to engage student leaders in building an even more inclusive environment. Head of School Chris Garten said this of Quinn’s leadership, “In the end, our principal goal is to prepare our students to thrive in a complex and increasingly diverse global community. Racheal brings a wealth of experience and fresh eyes to so many areas of school life. She has worked very hard to get to know the school and its culture, to understand what is working well and what needs more attention. We are thrilled to have her with us!”
Partnering with Positive Coaching Alliance
Seven Hills has entered into a three-year partnership with Positive Coaching Alliance, a nonprofit that works to provide all youth and high school athletes with a positive and character-building sports experience. Throughout the year, Positive Coaching Alliance will provide Seven Hills with training through live group workshops, online courses, and online resources. Workshops were held in August for all coaches and fall athletes. “The partnership will provide our coaches, student athletes, and parents with quality instruction information and resources that will positively impact our community not only in our athletics arenas but in our school community as well,” said Seven Hills Athletic Director Scott Willard.
Creating Conversations Returns
The Seven Hills speaker series Creating Conversations returns to the Seven Hills community. on Sept. 23. James Butler will be giving a talk entitled “Strategies for Stress Management” at 7 p.m. in the Schiff Center. The event will also be recorded and posted for later viewing. Butler, an early childhood educator and author, will share tips, ideas, and techniques centered around mindfulness-based stress management strategies he has developed. Creating Conversations is put on by the Seven Hills Counseling Department to foster an open dialogue about ways to keep students happy and healthy. There will be two additional events in October and February with more information to come. Those interested can register online. Masks will be required for in-person events.
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Five Stingers Sign to Play in College
Five Stingers from the Class of 2024 signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers in college.
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