Marking the Moment at Seven Hills

In their book “The Power of Moments,” authors Chip and Dan Heath posit that “defining moments rewire our understanding of ourselves or the world. In a few seconds or minutes, we realize something that might influence our lives for decades.”  

When we think back on our childhoods and our school days, each of us can remember moments such as these that stand out as being special, influential, or even transformational.  

My own defining moments include a Little League late-inning comeback that taught me the value of teamwork, a middle school trip to see a production of “The Tempest” that sparked a life-long love of Shakespeare, and a high school assembly with an alumni speaker who made me realize how much I might enjoy being a teacher.  

As a teacher and administrator, I’ve had the chance to see some of these potential “ah-ha” moments unfolding for young people in classrooms, in athletics and the arts, and at special events.

At this important point in Seven Hills’ history, we’re working hard to deliberately “mark the moment” by organizing joyful and engaging events for young people that we hope they will remember for a long time to come.  

Many of these moments are connected to unification, as we’ve come together to celebrate as one community and “One Seven Hills.” I thought I’d mention a few momentous events from the past week and a few that are still coming up.

Red Carpet Premiere

Lower Schoolers walked the red carpet, posed for group pictures, answered questions from our student reporters, and then — bags of popcorn in hand — watched the premiere of our Doherty Lotspeich flythrough movie. The movie, which takes viewers on a virtual tour of the new building, was a hit. The Lower Schoolers expressed their excitement about the building and its surroundings.  

Coming soon, by popular request: renderings of the playground! As a souvenir, each of the Lower Schoolers decorated and took back to their classroom a Hollywood Walk of Fame style gold star. It really was an event to remember.

Doherty Lotspeich Building Groundbreaking

A day or two later, with the virtual version of the school fresh in their minds, students from kindergarten to 12th grade gathered to celebrate the groundbreaking of the Doherty Lotspeich Lower School building.  

They were joined by faculty and staff, administrators and trustees, and donors and friends in one big celebration. Because this new building is meant for young people, young people played a big role in the event.  

Representatives from Doherty and Lotspeich’s third grade (who will be fifth graders when the building opens) spoke about their hopes for the new building, a line of Lower Schoolers took up shovels and donned hardhats to break ground, and the event closed with the whole Lower School singing “What a Wonderful World.” 

It’s a moment I will remember for years to come, and I believe many of our students will as well.

Taft Early School Ribbon Cutting

With a groundbreaking and a ribbon cutting within a month of each other, we have a lot to celebrate! 

I am thrilled with our expanded Taft Early School, and I know that it will be a beloved home away from home for our youngest students and their families.  

Just as with the groundbreaking, students will play a big role in this ribbon cutting ceremony. The ribbon itself will stretch the length of the building, so that every pre-kindergartner can cut the ribbon together. It’s going to be a joyful and memorable way to open our expanded building and our newest division.

Science Spectacular

We hope that prekindergartners and their families will stay on campus for Science Spectacular, a new school-wide event that celebrates science, nature, and related fields.  

Building on the success of Arts Alive and our commitment to multiage learning, this event will feature Middle and Upper Schoolers running activities for Early and Lower School students.  

Whether by conducting experiments in the Middle and Upper labs, taking a nature walk and planting native trees by the creek, or designing and racing model cars on the outdoor track, students will be exposed to a wide range of topics and experiences.  

For some students, this might be a morning that sparks a life-long love of science, engineering, or nature.

I so appreciate the hard work of everyone who has played a role in designing these special events, and I appreciate all of you being part of this defining moment in Seven Hills history.