Upper
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.
Students, Teachers Share in Life-long Reading Journey
During the first week of school, Upper School students and faculty and staff from all disciplines met in small groups to discuss the books they read over the summer. Upper School English teacher Marielle Newton started the Summer Reading Program five years ago to show students that reading is a life-long journey. All Upper School faculty and staff have an opportunity to pick a book and students then give their top five choices to Newton, who organizes them into groups. The choices this summer ranged from “Hiroshima” by John Hersey to “The Woman Who Smashed Codes” by Jason Fagone to “Who Gets In” by Jeff Selingo. “Students love sitting in a book discussion with their math teacher discussing a novel that has nothing to do with math. It’s a great way for kids from different grade levels to be together discussing a shared interest,” Newton said. In one break-out group, Upper School Dean of Students David Brott, who also teaches math, led the talk about “The Return of the King” by J.R.R. Tolkien, a book he has enjoyed since childhood. They covered the book’s themes of corruption, purity, facing death, and dealing with evil.
Seniors Watch Sunrise, Hope to Start New Tradition
Having missed out on many Seven Hills traditions because of the pandemic, the senior class held a Senior Sunrise on the first Friday of the year at the Lower Field. “We wanted to have a community event and bring the senior class closer together,” said senior Aanya Anand, who came up with the idea with fellow senior Lucy Schneider. They brought their idea to Student Body President Anand Patil. “I thought it would be a great grade-bonding experience, so we met, discussed logistics of the event, and did it,” Patil said. “The event went amazing. We only expected about 25 people to show up, but we got more than 40, which was mind-blowing.” The event was catered by Biggby Coffee and included games and general socializing. Patil and the student government are working on more events to help students feel like a part of a tight-knit community since COVID restrictions have made everyone feel isolated. “We hope to make it a tradition for years to come,” Anand added.
Senior Teaches Freshmen about Holocaust
Senior Lucy Schneider taught English teacher Mark Beyreis’ freshman class about the Holocaust and how it related to their reading of “The Magic Barrel,” a collection of short stories by author Bernard Malamud. “There are multiple things that Jews struggle with. The Holocaust plays one part in that overall struggle,” Schneider said. For two years, Schneider has been completing an independent study on generational Holocaust survivors. Beyreis has been working on it with her and called it one of the most exciting parts of his career. For the class, she led them through passages from the collection and pointed out common traits among survivors, such as survivor’s guilt and a commitment to continuing the Jewish legacy. “I continue to tell my grandparents’ story because one day they won’t be able to,” Schneider said.
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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