The Seven Hills School Spring Magazine 2023

THANK YOU!

2022-23 DEVELOPMENT OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

Ashley Ackerman ’05

Fleming Ackermann

Jeanette Albright

Julie Albright

Janet Allen-Reid ’76

Nancy Osmond Allgeier C’68

Nupur Anand

Karin Anderson Abrell ’88

Julie Andress ’03

Libby Andrews

Sydney & Bob Anning

Dulany Anning

Angie Apple

Helen Asbury H’72

John Atkinson

Nancy Pechstein Aubke H’67

Steve Baggott

Mariam Barkawi

Denia & Tom Barrett

Ashley Bauman

Nolan Bean

Barbara Beaver

Kristi Bell

Jack Binkley

Rose Bitsoff

John Bloch ’03

Kate Blocher ’98

Susan Bolton

Aideen Briggs ’87

Stephen Brown III

Bruce Brown

Addie Burton ’04

Craig Burton ’04

Laurie McLean Bustle H’63

Michelle Butler

Chase Byington ’17

Terri Cain

Madeline Caldemeyer ’11

Karen Bidlingmeyer Callard ’80

Lynne Alexander Calloway ’75

Kelly Carrier

Peter Cha

Rob Chavez ’06

Erica Chiseck

Lalitha Chunduri

Teresa Clayton

Frank Cohen ’91

Marilyn Collins

David Colman ’03

Dorothy Kim Corbett ’84

Margaret Cox ’16

Marjorie Crouse

Polly Adair Culp H’65

Wynne McCarthy Curry H’71

Gabe Davis ’03

Paige deBuys

Amy DeWitt

Kathy DeWitt

Tiffany Domet

Tim Drew

Peter Dumbadze ’06

Zan Dumbadze ’92

Clare Dupree ’76

Anne Scherz Durket H’72

Scott Dust

Colleen Dwight

Patricia Eastin

Norman Ellard

Christie Evans ’76

Merry Ewing ’76

Ellie Fabe ’78

Lissy Fabe H’71

Andi Ferguson

Allison Ferree-Chavez ’06

John Ficks ’89

Meredith Edwards Ficks ’98

Kitty Blair Fischer L’62 H’68

Ginny Fisher

Alicia Fitscher

Carolyn Fox

Vicki Gaffney

Tom Garber ’96

Kathryne Gardette ’79

Stuart Garner ’80

Jane Garvey C’74

Robin Gerhardt

Mary Geroulis

Raji Ghosh

Lisa Gilbert ’96

Ann Gladura

Ben Glassman ’93

Karan Goel ’01

Jan Fullgraf Golann H’67

Samantha Buyniski Goldfeder ’04

Max Gollobin ’09

Debbie Good

Sarah McDonough Goodacre’04

Jan Gravitt

Tammy Gravitt

Linda Heldman Greenberg H’71

Catherine & Chris Gross

Brooke Guigui

Barbara Hall

Datha Harrison

Claudia & Danny Hayes

Louise Atkins Head H’56

Melanie Head

Michael Heldman ’16

Patti Heldman

Sarah Henry

Karlene Herman

Carol Smith Hesser C’65

Debbie Hill

Grace Allen Hill ’80

Terri Himes

Nicki Hirsh

Jill Acomb Hoff H’63

Andre Hunter-Woodard ’11

Brandon Hydrick ’92

Laurie Durbrow Hyndman H’70

Dianna Icenhower

Kay Ilg

Shirelyn Iyoha

Judy Jackson

Kimberly Jackson

Rodney Jacobs

Clay Jamison ’06

Kay Johnson

Sarah Johnson

Patty Bigham Journeay H’65

Jim Jurgensen II

Kathy Kahle

Jacky Kalubi

Tshiunza Kalubi ’02

Amy Bulger Kattman ’89

Beth O'Connell Keegan H’68

Lair Kennedy

Sarajane & Richard King

Andrea Knarr

Ashley Kohnen

Kalpana Kotagal ’95

Meera Kotagal ’99

Louann Kovach ’18

Justin Kreindler ’98

Alex Kreines ’18

Jennifer Kreines

Matt Kreines ’18

Samir Kulkarni

Cathy Bramlage Kunz ’89

Claire Hummel Kupferle C’73

Jutta Lafley

Kris Langhammer

Chip Larkin

John Larkin ’13

Michael Laurence ’87

Maliq Lee ’17

Steve Leeper

Marian Barrett Leibold H’73

Cissy Lenobel

Laura Hoguet Leonard ’06

Peter Levin

Sally Leyman

Sarah Lichtenstein ’03

Mary Beth Losch

Anni Macht C’70

Kathi Makoroff

Zola Makrauer

Susan Makris

Anne Mapes ’11

Michael A. Marrero

Josh Martin

Grethel Mayfield

Jill McBride

Dani McClain

Rebecca McDonough ’10

Sharon Twachtman McGraw C’71

Sarah McHugh ’03

Diana & Henley McIntosh

Christina McKee

Jessica McLennan

Holly McLeod

Abby McNerney

Malinda McReynolds

Robbie Michelman

Candace Miller-Janidlo

Linda Miltner

Chuck Mingo

Lisa Moore

Terri & Gary Morgan

Mike Motch ’93

Nancy Maxwell Mullen H’71

Sybil Behrens Mullin ’83

Cheryl Murrer

Devi Namboodiri ’17

Asia Reid Narayan ’05

Bev Narburgh

Marianne Nelezen

Meghan Nelson

Theo Nelson

Mark Niehaus ’12

Chip Niehoff ’88

Stephanie Norton

Maureen O'Driscoll

Jenny Oestreicher

Libby Warrington Ott ’78

Jim Papakirk

Priyanka Parameswaran ’13

Ioanna Paraskevopoulos ’98

Larry Pauly ’79

Carol & Jim Pearce

Alana Pepper

Jenny Pierani

Polly & Bill Pierani

Lindsay Pietroski

Rita & Tom Pohl

Jerry Porter

Dick Quimby

Alex Quinn

Lisa Raimondo

Jessalyn Reid ’08

Grant Revell

Connor Rouan ’14

Patricia Rouster

Sunny Rowe

Dede Lewis Rowe ’78

Ginger Carson Rubin C’72

Regina Russo

Sunny Bowman Saelinger C’61

Marielle Samaha

Laura Lindner Sankey ’82

Missy Schade

Terri Schade

John Schneider

Stephanie Scruggs ’83

Dotty Shaffer ’83

Samir Shah

Lindsay Shapiro

Caroline Kalnow ’06

Anne Shepherd

Kathleen Shepard

Dennis Shiels

Marc Shotten ’92

Janet Keys Simpkinson H’58

Mary Jo & Bill Simpson

Tiernan Sittenfeld ’92

Sarah Hamill Skoch

Erin Snelting

Kelli Stein

Sarah Steinman

Margo Taft Stever H’68

Fran Stinnett

Elizabeth Stock

Kristen Sumpter

Melanie Finn Sureau ’01

Jane Sutton

Lani Swinford

Kim Takahashi

Mary Taliaferro ’09

Barbara Oliari & Mauricio Tomazi

Anna Topalidis

Ceci Twachtman C’68

Jim Vago

Sharon Worthing Vaino C’70

Ginny Berg Van Alyea ’98

Anne Sheffield Vanoy C’73

Heather Zaring Vecellio ’92

Jonathon Vogt ’03

Julianne Richardson Wagner ’88

Sheila Waterman

Stephanie Waugh

Liza Martindale Weiner ’99

Lauren Zemboch Weiss ’02

Mary Welsh

Joy Whinery

Katherine Oechler Whitbeck H’67

Gayle Heckel White L’57 H’63

Judy Wiesemann

Fritz Wilger ’83

Dan Williams

Sarah Wills-Dubose

Robin Wilson

Laura Welles Wilson ’84

Lisa Collins Winick ’85

Joan Wolfram

Barbara Wulsin

Dinese Young

Elizabeth Zalkind

Mary Wulsin Zema ’05

Lori Zimmerman

The Seven Hills Development Office gratefully acknowledges and thanks the more than 270 volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to ensure The Seven Hills School is able to continue to provide the rich learning experiences and tight-knit community that defines a Seven Hills education.

CONGRATULATIONS

SEVEN HILLS

CLASS of 2023

Graduating

Seniors celebrate at graduation.

Graduating senior Zara Asghar takes a selfie after receiving her diploma.

Board of Trustee Chair Steve Baggott addresses the crowd at graduation.

Graduating senior Owen Lutz receives his diploma from Head of School Chris Garten.

Graduating senior Connor Twyford celebrates after receiving his diploma.

Seniors give high fives while running through the Senior Circle.

The Class of 2023 moves their tassels at graduation.

Lotspeich students cheer on the Class of 2023 at the Senior Circle.

“Do what speaks to you, even if it doesn’t to anyone else. Focus on what can make you special and stand out. Prove yourself through hard work and determination.”

The words of commencement speaker Sara Eisen ’02, a financial journalist and CNBC anchor of “Squawk on the Street,” stressed the importance of following their passions to the Class of 2023. “Do what speaks to you, even if it doesn’t to anyone else. Focus on what can make you special and stand out. Prove yourself through hard work and determination,” Eisen said.

Seven Hills celebrated its 49th Commencement in the Field House on the Hillsdale Campus on June 2. The 97 graduates, clad in caps and gowns, came together to commemorate their myriad of achievements and time at the Seven Hills Upper School. They listened to the words of wisdom from several school community leaders, including Head of School Chris Garten, Head of Upper School Matt Bolton, and Board of Trustees Chair Steven Baggott. Students also heard from classmates Anna Papakirk, Graham DeWitt, and Mark DeBlasio, teacher and parent Brian Wabler, and teacher Bryce Carlson.

In addition, Seven Hills alumna Suzy Marquard H’68 received the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Award. Congratulations to the Class of 2023!

The Class of 2023.

Journalist and CNBC anchor Sara Eisen ’02 gives the keynote address at commencement.

senior Mark DeBlasio addresses the Class of 2023.

CONGRATULATIONS

SEVEN HILLS

CLASS of 2023

Sam Adams

Lauryn Alexander

Henry Anning

Zara Asghar

Christy Baldwin

Gemma Baldwin

Shanaya Bharucha

Logan Bien

Ariane Briquet

Elias Buttress

Ellie Cain

Peter Cha

Jai Chaudhary

Clara Chen

Saahil Chunduri

Cole Cozens

Diairra Daniels

Kai Dasgupta Simpson

Mark DeBlasio

Riley deBuys

Ric DeLyons

Graham DeWitt

Josie Domet

Fionnuala Donovan

Gabe Dorsch

Mallory Dorsch

Ruth Drath

Ella Dubay

Thomas Dunson

Rebekah Elluru

Erin Finn

Sam Froehle

Will Gabriel

Beau Goldstein

Jack Good

Mallory Gravitt

Shahnaz Hassan

Annelise Hawgood

Gigi Hawgood

Simon He

Amos Horner

Jerry Hou

Ainsley Hubert

Pranav Iyer

Dylan Keller-Gray

Will Kersting

Biz Kohnen

Charlotte Lafley

Abigail Li

Garrett Licata

Owen Lutz

Mia Lutz

Mia Mason

Zach Mason

Cat McAndrew

Ashley McLennan

Ryan Meador

George Mentrup

Olivia Morris

Jade Morse

John Mullin

Rohan Nambiar

Jonny Osman

Anna Papakirk

Neel Parameswaran

Ajay Patel

Aran Pathmarajah

Henry Paull

Reid Pease

Caden Peltier

Alex Petren

Olivia Pohl

Happy Quinn

Piper Reusch

Emerson Rinaldi

Jack Ringel

Emily Rosenfeld

Saloni Sachdeva

William Setzer

Kathryn Shao

Aana Shenai

Jaden Sims

Eli Stanforth

Sky Steinman

Julia Tamai

Edie Tesfaye

Sohana Thompson

Connor Twyford

Kye Uchiyama

Evan VordemEsche

Annalise Wabler

Tanisha Wasan

Will Wiles

Nina Wilhelmy

Carolyn Wolujewicz

Daniel Yi

Eloise Young

CONGRATULATIONS

2 20 3

This issue of the magazine focuses on two programs designed to engage students more fully and to help them understand the world around them.

The Upper School’s Civic Engagement Seminars, which were funded in 2019 by a Leadership Grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation, were designed to deepen our students’ understanding of some of the most pressing issues facing our world. In a similar vein, our rich world language program has been refocused to help students acquire not only functional competence in a second language but also a deeper understanding and appreciation of cultures and customs from around the world.

In truth, though, these two programs are only a small part of a complex matrix of activities that help prepare students for engaged and informed citizenship. Seven Hills mission statement commits the school to “engage hearts and minds” and to help prepare each of our students “for a meaningful role in a rapidly changing world.” Similarly, our Commitment to Diversity, Equity,

Christopher P. Garten HEAD OF SCHOOL

and Inclusion expresses our desire to help students “explore the rich diversity of human experience” and to “deepen [their] understanding of the world.”

As part of our focus on civic engagement, over the last decade, several of the school’s academic departments have adopted new content and embraced new pedagogies in order to help students engage with contemporary global challenges.

The school’s social studies and history programs have evolved considerably to focus, even more intentionally, on helping students, at all levels, understand the most compelling issues facing their community, their nation, and the world at large. In the Middle School, students study world geography in the sixth grade, U.S. history in the seventh grade, and modern European history in the eighth grade. The Upper School history department has introduced a new Advanced Placement world history course in the 10th grade as well as a series of electives focused on contemporary global challenges. Current offerings include yearlong courses in global issues since

1945 and an interdisciplinary environmental studies course. In addition, the department offers a variety of semester electives in economics, post-modern America since 1968, Nazi Germany and the Holocaust, the Cold War in Europe, African American studies, and gender studies.

Similarly, under the leadership of department chair Mark Beyreis, the English department has made a conscious effort to feature texts which immerse students, even more fully, in the lived experience of people from all over our nation and from the world beyond. At each grade level, the reading lists have been expanded to include texts which provide “windows and mirrors” into the rich diversity of human experience and deepen students’ understanding of the world.

Beyond the formal curriculum, several co-curricular experiences also aim to enrich students’ understanding of the global community. Each year, the Middle School offers two annual special events, Global Education Day and Asia Day, to expose students to the rich cultural diversity of our

planet. In addition, as part of a world religions unit, students visit several local museums and cultural centers to deepen their understanding of various faith traditions. A new sixth grade course called It's Your World is designed to teach study skills by engaging students in researching and developing positions on a host of contemporary issues.

The Upper School’s Civic Engagement Seminars, which ran for three full school days in January and February, help students explore significant challenges in five broad categories: social justice, the environment, politics and government, public health, and global issues. Many of these seminars, which were team taught by Upper School teachers, also involve field trips or field study as well as interactions with experts from governmental and social service agencies.

Moreover, two very popular May Term courses explore issues of social justice: Guilty Until Proven Innocent studies wrongful convictions in the American justice system, and the Gullah Geechee Cultural Immersion

Trip explores the history of a diasporic Black community located off the coast of South Carolina.

Beyond this, in just this last year, several students have opted to devote their Personal Challenge projects to exploring solutions to complex social problems, including: fieldwork with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society; studying transgender experiences in other countries; processing policy solutions for sustainability, poverty,

or climate change; journaling on the life of a refugee; or producing a documentary on hate crimes.

Seven Hills makes a considerable effort to prepare our students for informed and engaged global citizenship. And we take great pride in the fact that so many of our graduates — and, indeed, our current students — are committed to devoting their talents to understanding and improving the world around them.

MATT BOLTON NAMED THE NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL

THE TRANSITION WILL TAKE PLACE ON JULY 1, 2024. UNTIL THAT TIME, BOLTON WILL CONTINUE AS THE HEAD OF UPPER SCHOOL AND ASSUME THE NEW TITLE HEAD OF SCHOOL-ELECT.

“I’m delighted to congratulate Matt on his appointment as the next Head of School,” said Seven Hills Board Chair Steve Baggott. “We were fortunate to have had a very strong field of finalists, and after an extremely comprehensive process, with engagement across the Seven Hills community, Matt emerged as the clear choice.”

The search committee recommended Bolton to the board after an extensive global search process, which began in September 2022 after Garten announced his plans to retire at the end of the 2023-24 school year. The committee worked closely with RG175, a leading search firm for independent school heads and administrators, to review dozens of applications, interview 10 semi-finalists, and welcome four finalists to visit the Seven Hills campuses in April.

“Matt brings an intimate understanding of Seven Hills, allowing for a seamless transition over the coming year,” said Lair Kennedy, search committee co-chair and Board of Trustee chair-elect. “This will allow Matt to continue the many successful initiatives and programs led by Chris Garten and his team, which have put the school in such a strong position.”

“We were fortunate to have had a very strong field of finalists, and after an extremely comprehensive process, with engagement across the Seven Hills community, Matt emerged as the clear choice ”

Bolton joined Seven Hills as the head of Upper School in 2014. Under his leadership, the school has expanded its STEM offerings, increased the experiential learning program, and added a learning support department.

THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL BOARD OF TRUSTEES ANNOUNCED IN MAY THAT THEY HAVE CHOSEN CURRENT HEAD OF SEVEN HILLS UPPER SCHOOL DR. MATTHEW J. BOLTON AS THE NEXT HEAD OF SCHOOL. BOLTON WILL SUCCEED HEAD OF SCHOOL CHRIS GARTEN, WHO HAS SERVED IN THE POSITION FOR 14 YEARS AND WILL RETIRE AT THE END OF THE 2023-24 SCHOOL YEAR.

- Seven Hills Board Chair Steve Baggott

Bolton has worked with teachers and department chairs to establish more than 20 new courses, including engineering, entrepreneurship, and a Chinese language sequence.

Schoolwide, Bolton has been deeply involved in drafting an updated mission statement and a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, creating a new strategic plan, and assisting in a series of building projects.

“I am deeply honored to have been named Head of School. Seven Hills is a remarkable school that truly lives out its mission of engaging students' hearts and minds. I've loved my time in the Upper School, and I'm excited to connect with students, teachers, and families in Doherty, Lotspeich, and Middle, as well as with our alumni and supporters. I'm likewise eager to partner with our Board of Trustees and leadership team in the valuable work they are doing on behalf of our school. We are an incredible community, and there are so many opportunities for learning and growth ahead of us,” Bolton said.

“ Matt brings an intimate understanding of Seven Hills, allowing for a seamless transition over the coming year. This will allow Matt to continue the many successful initiatives and programs led by Chris Garten and his team, which have put the school in such a strong position.”

Before coming to Seven Hills, Bolton served as dean of academics, dean of students, and an English teacher at Loyola School in New York City for 15 years. He has a B.A. in English from Binghamton University, a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in English from The City University of New York, and two M.S.Ed. degrees from Fordham University in English education and educational administration and supervision.

He has also taught sixth grade as part of Teach for America, English as a second language in Okayama, Japan, and collegiate level classes in English and literature at The City University of New York, The College of Mount Saint Vincent, and New York University.

He has presented several times at the annual conferences of National Association of Independent Schools and Independent Schools Association of the Central States and has been published in a variety of academic and professional journals.

Search Committee Co-Chair Angie Apple said, in survey responses from various Seven Hills stakeholders, Bolton was the only candidate who met all the personal characteristics: warmth and empathy, intellect, communication skills, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and unquestioned integrity.

Garten echoed those sentiments, adding, “I am thrilled that, after such an extensive process, the board has aligned on Matt as Seven Hills’ next leader. In his nine years here, Matt has helped make Seven Hills the top college preparatory school in Ohio. He has a clear and compelling vision for the continuing evolution of this school and a deep respect for the unique and precious culture of the Seven Hills community.”

-Lair Kennedy, search committee co-chair and Board of Trustee chair-elect

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE CLAS SROOM THROUGH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

IN THE FIELD HOUSE, THE STUDENTS IN THE NUTRITION AND EXERCISE SEMINAR LED A GROUP OF LOTSPEICH STUDENTS IN A ZUMBA CLASS. IN THE YOUNG FAMILY LIBRARY, STUDENTS IN THE WASTED WORLD SEMINAR ASKED SEVEN HILLS CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER/CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER LYNN KROEGER HOW SEVEN HILLS IS USING GREEN ENERGY TO REDUCE ITS CARBON FOOTPRINT ...

In The Schiff Center theater classroom, members of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office explained their efforts fighting the opioid crisis in Dayton with students in the Addiction and Community seminar. While in The Schiff Center auditorium, four social justice seminars brainstormed advocacy ideas with Rev. Derek Terry.

All Upper School students took part in one of 17 Civic Engagement Seminars over two days based around five categories: social justice, environment, politics and government, public health, and global issues.

“These seminars are about all of us changing, in some way, our understanding

of the world, our understanding of our place in it, and our understanding of our agency in the world. Imagine if all of us leave these seminars with just a little bit of difference in how we view ourselves and our world and what we can do,” Director of Experiential Learning Karen Glum told the Upper School students during an allschool meeting before the first day of the seminars.

Glum’s words became true for sophomore Anna Kunkel, who chose Coming to America: Immigration in the 21st Century as her seminar because she has always been interested in going into immigration or international law.

“I gained a greater appreciation for both immigrants working toward citizenship and the lawyers and facilities supporting

THE ACTIVITIES OF THE UPPER SCHOOL’S FINAL CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEMINAR OF THE 2022-23 SCHOOL YEAR REACHED EVERY INCH OF THE HILLSDALE CAMPUS.

them,” Kunkel said, adding her biggest takeaway was learning how extensive and uncompromising the immigration process can be. “The experience has helped solidify my desire to pursue immigration law and bring my attention to the profound influence of immigrants in Greater Cincinnati,” Kunkel said.

THE ORIGINS OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEMINARS

While Feb. 8, 2023, concluded the Civic Engagement Seminars for the 2022-23 school year, the planning, fundraising, and organizing for the seminars began back in 2018.

“We started May Terms, for which we received a grant from the E.E. Ford Foundation. We reported back on that. It went well. There were things about it we really liked and the foundation did too,” said Nick Francis, who was the director of experiential learning at the time of its inception.

May Terms Intensives are week-long courses held the week after final exams in May that focus on different topics each year, like animal behavior, digital storytelling, science fiction writing, the history of the Civil Rights Movement, and health and nutrition.

Francis, Head of School Chris Garten, and Head of Upper School Matt Bolton were exploring the idea of creating a program similar to May Terms.

“We were looking at the idea of pulling kids together to make better use of the city and learn things outside of the traditional curriculum,” Bolton said. “This idea kept emerging, of wanting to expose kids to the most pressing issues of contemporary life that we think they are going to have to continue to grapple with as they move out of high school and into college and beyond.”

Francis and Bolton worked with the faculty to conceptualize the idea of how to delve into important issues that were possibly not on the students’ radars or addressed in the curriculum. That was when they landed on the five categories: social justice, environment, politics and government, public health, and global issues.

“We wanted things that would be wide reaching and really cross-curricular and that would not be limited to a short news cycle. It wouldn’t be something that maybe we think is important now but it falls out of the picture in a year or two,” Bolton said.

They brought the idea to the E.E. Ford Foundation and in late March 2019, Seven Hills was selected to receive an Educational Leadership Grant of $250,000. These grants are awarded to generative, transformational, and replicable programs that give a public purpose to private education. At the time, only 38 of the grants had been awarded to some of the leading schools in the country.

Seven Hills used the funding to develop the Civic Engagement Seminars.

“The ultimate goal of the program is to equip students with the tools to think globally and act locally and to find ways to become more actively engaged in innovative problem solving, including valuable work being done by many of Cincinnati’s cultural and social service institutions,” Garten was quoted saying in the Cincinnati Enquirer on April 15, 2019.

In addition to Bolton and Francis, Assistant Head of School Susan Marrs and current Upper School teachers Marc Raia, Kylie Utah, Brian Wabler, and Anna Works-McKinney, and former teachers Ann Griep and Marielle Newton worked on the initial planning.

After the matching grant was awarded, Francis brought the idea to the faculty at large. He asked them for topics they would be interested in running, explaining that they did not need to be expert in the topics because they could bring in outside

“These seminars are about all of us changing, in some way, our understanding of the world, our understanding of our place in it, and our understanding of our agency in the world. ”

-Director of Experiential Learning

Karen Glum

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE CLAS SROOM THROUGH

speakers and take the students off campus for learning opportunities.

“We wanted them to pick what interested them and what they would be interested in learning about,” Francis said.

It would make the experience a learning opportunity for the students as well as the teachers. Using the five categories of social justice, environment, politics and government, public health, and global issues, they brainstormed ideas for seminars that would branch off each one. For example, under the umbrella of the environment, there was a seminar on water, one on waste reduction, and one on climate change. They created a list of 20 seminars.

“We were all ready to do this thing.It was early 2020, and we were in the middle of planning. We were using faculty planning time, we were going to use summer grants, and it was all supposed to start in fall 2020,” Francis said.

But Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered all Ohio schools to close on March 16, 2020. The state-wide “stay at home” order went into effect a week later on March 23.

“When the pandemic came, we knew from March of 2020 that this was not going to be possible,” Bolton added.

THE PIVOT: ADAPTING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEMINARS DURING COVID

By the time of the 2020-21 school year, the administration was eager to keep the idea of the Civic Engagement Seminars alive despite not being able to have students go off campus or bring speakers to campus.

“We came back in the fall of 2020, and it was the election. We thought we had to do something about the election. It was this major event going on in the country,” Francis said.

Though the pandemic meant that they could not do the Civic Engagement Seminars like the program was envisioned, a day was set aside just before the 2020 presidential election to focus on voting, rhetoric in debates, implications of past presidential elections, and major issues on the ballot.

The students were broken into groups and rotated to teachers from different departments, each with a different lesson plan and topic discussion.

“The kids went through this day about the election, and, at the end of it, we were like, ‘yeah, that was worth doing. It was a lot of work, but it was truly worth it,’ ” Francis said.

CIVIC

The program morphed into days focused around civic engagement instead of longer seminars. After the day focused on the 2020 presidential election, students came to Francis with an idea for a second day. It was late 2020, and, with everything that was going on in society, they wanted to do one around race in America.

In March 2021, Civic Engagement Day focused on anti-racism; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and understanding levels of racism. The students took part in different activities in groups led by teachers and students. With rules around visitors on campus starting to loosen, Chuck Mingo, a Seven Hills parent, Board of Trustee member, and Crossroads Church pastor, and Molly Shack, co-executive director of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, presented an intensive look at levels of racism, such as personal, interpersonal, institutional, and structural.

Francis was impressed with the students' thoughtful questions of the presenters and how they engaged fully in the challenge topics.

For the 2021-22 school year, three Civic Engagement Days were planned around

the topics of sustainability, media literacy, and mental health.

Sustainability focused on the problems associated with consumerism, ways to reduce consumption, and how to live a sustainable lifestyle. Broken into groups by grade level, students planted trees in the Hillsdale Campus’ neighborhood of Madisonville, conducted a campus trash audit, and attended talks by visitors from sustainable businesses and organic farms.

The media literacy day brought actor, comedian, and alum E.R. Fightmaster ’10, the first nonbinary cast member on “Grey’s Anatomy,” to campus to speak about the importance of media

representation and empathy in their keynote speech.

“You are watching television because you have empathy for the people on your screen. If your screen has a lot of diverse representation, then you are developing empathy for different people. Empathy is this thing that fills your cup while filling the cups of other people. Empathy is what makes you charismatic; it is what makes you warm. Empathy takes your talent to a level that people want to see it. It is all about empathy,” they said.

Students participated in a media representation game show and a media literacy escape room. Fightmaster

ENGAGEMENT, CONTINUED . . .

UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD OUTSIDE THE CLAS SROOM THROUGH

pandemic was to be able to return to the original idea of teacher planned and teacher taught experiences for groups of kids who opted into a specific area of focus, as opposed to a one size fits all approach,” Bolton said.

THE RETURN: BACK TO THE ORIGINAL VISION FOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT SEMINARS

see where they were. There were tweaks and changes, so that is how it came back to what was originally planned,” said Francis, who stepped down from the position of director of experiential learning to focus on his nonprofit work. He remains at Seven Hills as an Upper School health teacher.

answered students’ questions over lunch and did improv with theater teacher Marc Raia’s improv class. Students ended the day by filming video reflections of their takeaways of what they learned.

For the third day on mental health, students learned about reducing mental health stigma and ways they can support their own mental health and that of their peers. Active Minds, an organization aiming to change the culture around mental health for young adults, led a lesson about mental health stigma and how talking about mental health should be as easy as talking about physical health.

“Those days were a powerful and valuable substitute, but what we really hoped all along and through the

The 2022-23 school year was finally the right time to return to the original vision

Karen Glum, former director of the Middle School’s Innovation Lab, was tapped for the position and oversaw the first year of Civic Engagement Seminars, which included 17 seminars under the categories of social justice, environment, politics and government, public health, and global issues. Students got to choose which one they took part in.

for the Civic Engagement Seminars for which the E.E. Ford Foundation grant had been awarded.

“A lot of the work had been done but it had been dormant for a year and a half. People had to go back and look at it and

“It was really interesting,” Bolton said, “because we had the idea of the focus on public health that was part of our plan before there was a pandemic, and it got some interest from students. And then after the pandemic, there was much more interest. It has become something that is part of their formative experience.”

Sophomore Erin Jackson picked Black Joy for her seminar.

“I wanted to get a deeper understanding of what Black joy truly is and how it contributes to shared cultural experiences in the Black community. ”

-Sophomore Erin Jackson

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT, CONTINUED . . .

“I wanted to have a greater discussion about Black joy and experience it with some of my other classmates. I also wanted to get a deeper understanding of what Black joy truly is and how it contributes to shared cultural experiences in the Black community,” Jackson said.

Local artists came to her seminar the first day and talked about their experiences with Black joy before painting T-shirts with stencils. The second day, the seminar visited Cream and Sugar, a Black-owned coffee shop, and heard from the owner about what it is like to be a Black woman entrepreneur. Students in the seminar asked all their guests what Black joy

meant to them and if they believed everyone could experience it.

“My biggest takeaway from the seminar was how important it is to experience Black joy and how Black communities continue to organically create joy in a multitude of ways,” Jackson said.

Fellow sophomore Anna Kunkel had a similar experience in Coming to America: Immigration in the 21st Century.

“I have gained a great appreciation for the impact of immigrants on our own communities and their decisive role in molding American culture. I am very grateful for the experience we had during the Civic Engagement Seminars and the opportunity to learn outside the classroom,” Kunkel said.

Learning about the world outside the classroom is at the core of the program, Bolton said.

“I want the kids to have a sense that what they are learning in the classroom doesn’t end in the classroom. There is a dialogue with the needs and challenges of the world and it can be easy to turn a

blind eye, but I want the kids to think about the role and responsibility they have,” Bolton said.

Bolton, Glum, and Francis were all happy with the outcome of the Civic Engagement Seminars, which finally was able to meet the original vision for which the E.E. Ford Foundation grant was awarded. Bolton said it was the beginning of the final version— but not the end.

Glum agreed, adding, “We always talk about Seven Hills culture as being one of continuous improvement and certainly that will be a part of this. I don’t think we will ever have a year where we say this is it, this is the final product.”

SEVEN HILLS CONGRATULATES NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARS

Seven Hills continues its tradition of excellence with several students receiving recognition from the National Merit Scholarship program. Three students were named as recipients, seven were named finalists, and six were named commended scholars in the 2023 National Merit Program.

National Merit Scholarship Recipients

Shanaya Bharucha and Rohan

Nambiar received National Merit Scholarships, the highest award the organization gives. Neel Parameswaran received a college-sponsored National Merit Scholarship from Vanderbilt University. National Merit Scholarship winners are among a select group of students with high PSAT scores and strong academic records. More than one million high school juniors take the test each year and compete for the scholarships.

National Merit Finalists

Eight Seven Hills seniors were named National Merit Finalists in 2023.

Congratulations to Bharucha, Nambiar, Parameswaran, Catherine McAndrew, Elias Buttress, Jack Ringel, and Evan VordemEsche.

National Merit Commended Students

National Merit Commended Students are Logan Bien, Saahil Chunduri, Sam Froehle, Abigail Li, Emily Rosenfeld, and Julia Tamai.

NATIONAL MERIT COMMENDED STUDENTS ARE FRONT: EMILY ROSENFELD, ABIGAIL LI, AND SAM FROEHLE BACK : JULIA TAMAI, LOGAN BIEN, AND SAAHIL CHUNDURI

NATIONAL MERIT STUDENTS ARE FRONT: SHANAYA BHARUCHA, ELIAS BUTTRESS, AND CATHERINE MCANDREW BACK : ROHAN NAMBIAR, JACK RINGEL, NEEL PARAMESWARAN, AND EVAN VORDEMESCHE

2023 FREDERICK A. H AUCK SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

The Seven Hills School awarded the 2023 Frederick A. Hauck Scholarship to eighth grader Charleigh Hayes and sophomores Kyle Wang, Keliang Yao, and Andrew Zhou.

The Hauck Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding commitment and achievement in math or science. Recipients are chosen based on their academic achievement in math and science and a demonstrated special interest in math and science outside of the classroom.

CONGRATU L ATIONS TO NEW MEMBERS OF CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

The award is named after Dr. Frederick A. Hauck, a world-renowned nuclear scientist and philanthropist. He served on the Atomic Energy Commission and worked closely with Albert Einstein. In addition to his scientific achievements, he was a businessman, explorer, historian, industrialist, metallurgist, nature lover, and humanitarian. Winning students entering grades nine through 12 receive a one-year scholarship of $1,000 to be applied to next school year’s tuition at Seven Hills’ Upper School.

The Upper School honored its nine inductees for 2023 and 10 inductees for 2022 into the Seven Hills chapter of the Cum Laude Society, a national honor society that recognizes academic excellence, during a dinner in April.

New members from the senior class are Logan Bien, Mallory Dorsch, Sam Froehle, Abigail Li, Olivia Pohl, Emily Rosenfeld, Aana Shenai, Julia Tamai, and Evan VordemEsche.

The following seniors, who were inducted in 2021 as juniors, were also honored at the event: Shanaya Bharucha, Ellie Cain, Erin Finn, Annelise Hawgood, Jerry Hou, Charlotte Lafley, George Mentrup, Rohan Nambiar, Anna Papakirk, and Jack Ringel.

Former Upper School teacher, college counselor, and alum Wynne Curry H’71 was the event’s guest speaker. Head of School Chris Garten shared with inductees that the Cum Laude Society recognizes academic excellence in some of the

country’s best high schools. Seven Hills is one of only 21 schools in Ohio with a Cum Laude Society.

“While we are celebrating the students’ accomplishments, what we are really recognizing in each of them is what goes beyond individual accomplishments. We are really celebrating the way they shared all of their gifts with others and the way they helped to make our intellectual community more joyous,” Head of Upper School Matt Bolton said.

As part of the annual Cum Laude Society induction ceremony, faculty members of the Cum Laude Committee addressed each new member with remarks compiled from quotes from the students’ teachers. Scan the QR code to read the faculty remarks for the 2023 inductees.

Click here to read the faculty remarks for the 2023 inductees.

Cum Laude Society 2023 Inductees Front row: Aana Shenai, Sam Froehle, Olivia Pohl, Abigail Li, Emily Rosenfeld, Mallory Dorsch, Evan VordemEsche. Inset: Logan Bien, Julia Tamai Cum Laude Society committee members Back row: Lenore Horner, Marcus Twyford, Bryce Carlson, Katie Swinford, Matt Bolton, Beth Driehaus, Nate Gleiner. Not pictured: John Rising

Hauck winner Charleigh Hayes Hauck winner Kyle Wang

Hauck winner Andrew Zhou Hauck winner Keliang Yao

Logan Bien Julia Tamai

SEVEN HILLS ON THE GO! International and Stateside

After being put on hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions, the world language department’s trips abroad returned this year. During the week of May Terms, from May 22-26, Seven Hills Upper School students traveled to Italy, France, and Spain.

World Language Department Chair Teresa Bardon said the trips are part of teaching Seven Hills students about the world so they can truly become global citizens.

more tolerant and more compassionate toward people who are different, toward people who have other points of view,” Bardon said.

Bardon and fellow Upper School Spanish teacher Kathryn Rosenberg accompanied the Upper School Spanish students’ trip to Spain. They toured the famous bullfighting ring Las Ventas, where they

learned about the history of bullfighting and tried it for themselves using a virtual reality system.

In Criptana, the students visited the windmills that are featured in Cervantes’ “Don Quijote.” They visited Toledo, the capital of Castilla-La Mancha and learned about the blending of Christian, Jewish, and Arabic cultures throughout Spanish history. They also visited the geographic center of Spain and the Palacio Real, the largest royal palace in Europe.

The Upper School Latin students went to Italy with Latin and history teachers Katie Swinford, Marcie Handler, and Brian Wabler. They explored ruins, museums, and cultural sites, including Pompeii, Mt. Vesuvius, Herculaneum houses, the Capitoline Museums, and the Colosseum, which they have been learning about throughout their time in the Middle and Upper Schools.

“Travel is about changing our perspective, about changing the way we perceive the world. Studying a language and traveling is therapeutic. It makes us

1. Students visit the windmills in Criptana that were featured in “Don Quijote.” 2. Students tour Las Ventas, the most important bull fighting ring in the world. 3. Students learn about the history of Castilla-La Mancha in Toledo. 4. Students experience an ancient Roman dinner in Pompeii. 5. Students bike along the oldest road in Rome. 6. Students view the "Lupa" sculpture at the Capitoline Museums in Rome 7. Students tour the Castle of the Counts. 8. Seven Hills students reunite with their exchange students from La Criox Blanche.

Each student prepared a presentation on a monument, and they presented them onsite.

“Our students were thrilled to be able to walk in the footsteps of ancient Romans as we toured ancient cities, temples, houses, public fora, and gardens,” Handler said.

The students also visited a local dairy to see buffaloes and learn how mozzarella is made. In Rome, they explored the city, took a pizza cooking class, and visited a neighborhood that dates back to the earliest days of Rome.

“At its core, the Italy trip brings to life both the Latin language and ancient Rome for our students,” Handler said.

The Upper School French students and teachers Meghan Stevens, Jacky Kalubi, and Françoise Galopin reunited with their French exchange counterparts from La Croix Blanche in Bondues, France. In October, the French students spent a week in Cincinnati and at Seven Hills. The Seven Hills students stayed with their host families and attended school with their exchange students.

“This trip is so important because it gives our students an opportunity to do more than see the sites, as anyone could do. Thanks to the exchange component, our students live and breathe the topics they have been studying and have the opportunity to apply all of the language skills they have spent three or more years acquiring. It is both a great culmination

to all they have done and motivation for further study,” Stevens said.

They went on an excursion to Ghent, where they visited the Castle of the Counts and went on a historical boat ride. After saying goodbye to their host families, the students spent the last leg of the trip in Paris, where they visited the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Arc de

Triomphe. They also spent a day at Versailles, touring the palace and its grounds.

Also during May Terms, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Immersion Trip took students to South Carolina to learn about the history and cultural impact of the Gullah Geechee people. Led by Upper School teachers Amaris White and Kyla Morgan Young, the students visited the Avery Research Center and received a crabbing lesson from a Gullah native in Charleston.

They toured the McLeod Plantation to learn about plantation life from an enslaved perspective and Sol Legare Island to learn about Gullah culture, food, and the art of basket weaving.

“Our students were so fortunate that locals from the historically Gullah community of Sol Legare joined us for a traditional meal of Frogmore Stew. It was truly such an amazing experience,” White said.

In May, seventh graders journeyed to Washington, D.C. for an incredibly in-depth look at our nation's capital Students visited countless monuments

and memorials, discussing the history and meaning behind each one. Students met with Director of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History Kirk Johnson and Congressman Greg Landsman, discussing the nature of museum curation and what it means to work as a representative. The new

Greenfield Village. As they explored museums, fifth grade teachers Danielle Levine and Laura OGrady's students studied their exhibits to better answer the essential question of their final social studies unit, "How can we design an interactive museum exhibit to teach others about the expansion of liberty and justice in America?"

Students collected stories about how different people and groups worked to secure rights and freedoms. They were also tasked with examining exhibits through the eye of

annual tradition enables students to gain a stronger understanding of America's history and how they can shape its future.

In May, during the annual trip to Dearborn, Michigan, Lotspeich fifth graders toured the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, the Arab American National Museum, and The Henry Ford Museum and

a museum curator, critically analyzing ways that museums can effectively and engagingly share information.

In April, Unit III students from Doherty took part in the annual trip to Glen Helen Nature Preserve in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where they spent three days and two nights. The students investigated the 1,000 acre preserve with naturalists, whom teachers Bill Schmidt, Katey Parks-Goad, and Robin Taylor-Fabe worked with beforehand to tailor their curriculum for the trip. There were themed hikes, animal encounters at the on-site raptor center, outdoor games, and songs and skits by the campfire.

9. Students take a historical boat tour in Ghent. 10. Students learn how Congress implements policy from Congressman Greg Landsman on the steps of the Capitol Building. 11. Lotspeich fifth graders visit the African American history museum in Dearborn, Michigan. 12. Doherty Unit III students explore the trails in the Glen Helen Nature Preserve.

BOOKS FOR LUNCH 2023 WELCOMES MIN JIN LEE

BOOKS FOR LUNCH AUTHOR MIN JIN LEE TRAVERSES GENERATIONS AND NUANCED ISSUES THROUGH HER CHARACTERS. THE AUTHOR AND PROFESSOR SHARED COMPELLING STORIES WITH STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO ATTENDED SEVERAL BOOKS FOR LUNCH EVENTS IN FEBRUARY ABOUT HER MYRIAD EXPERIENCES AND INCREDIBLE RESEARCH AND INSIGHT INTO THE HUMAN CONDITION. LEE’S LATEST BOOK IS “PACHINKO,” NOW A BLOCKBUSTER SERIES ON APPLE TV.

Lee began her Seven Hills adventure by sharing personal stories about her writing process for “Pachinko” and her teaching style for undergraduate students during a private dinner party at the home of Seven Hills parents Reena and Yash Patil on Feb. 2.

“Refugees are not an abstraction. I am the child of a refugee, and I am here. I am here today in Cincinnati, Ohio, because America allowed me to have sufficient peace to read and to write books. Through literature, we cross borders, and we become united with the selves that we did not know we could be and reunited with the selves that we had lost. And I believe that this is how you and I can approach peace with our arms held wide open, our hands carrying cans of orange juice and bananas to welcome children into our lives. I want to thank you for considering this as we live in an era in which there is so much violence, and I really hope that each of us will fight for one thing and that we'll fight for peace,” Lee said during her assembly at The Schiff Center.

Lee then shared a presentation with members of the school community during a luncheon at The Summit Hotel in Madisonville.

and empathy by loving others and caring for them throughout our lives,” Lee said.

Books for Lunch is now in its 36th year. Thank you to our event co-chairs Amber Hassan and Nupur Anand and committee members Laura Leigh Hahn, Sandhya Shenai, Michelle Setzer, Amy Wall, Missy Schade, and Lalitha Chunduri for organizing this wonderful event!

Dozens of Seven Hills and Cincinnati community members listened enraptured as Lee wove life lessons and the importance of fiction together.

The next day, Lee spoke to Upper School students during a special assembly at The Schiff Center and casual discussion in the Young Family Library about the necessity for research, the importance of speaking up, the value of understanding their identities, and the necessity for peace.

Head of School Chris Garten introduced Lee to an eager and waiting audience. Lee shared her life journey with the audience and how it inspired her book “Free Food for Millionaires,” along with the arduous road she traveled to grapple with the complex and nuanced history her characters embody in her novel “Pachinko.”

“I’m going to tell you what your super power is, what all of our super power is, and that is to love. We grow our ability

“Refugees are not an abstraction. I am the child of a refugee, and I am here.”

- Min Jin Lee

“

Chris Garten, Reena Patil, Min Jin Lee, Nupur Anand, Amber and Syed Hassan, and Yash Patil.

Min Jin Lee and Chris Garten

Min Jin Lee during Books for Lunch dinner

Min Jin Lee with students in the Young Family

TEACHERS ARE THE DIFFERENCE

At Seven Hills, our teachers are experts at their craft. They create a welcoming environment for students to test their limits, try new things, and achieve more than they ever believed possible. Together, we are

UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEACHER MELISSA KHOO

Upper School math teacher Melissa Khoo uses a variety of techniques for students to harness their potential and to fully understand real-life applications of complex mathematical principles.

“A lot of students haven’t seen or understood math in real life. They expect math to be beautiful and always result in beautifully solved answers. But, in real life, there’s always variation in data analysis. There’s never going to be a constant exact, and even in machinery, there are fluctuations. My passion is to teach them

THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY STUDENTS… Upper School math teacher

Melissa Khoo

1. Creativity. Students have lots of energy and enthusiasm to try new concepts, and still surprise me with innovative approaches and unique perspectives to problem solving.

2. Strength. Students are constantly facing new situations and environments, yet they are able to adjust and navigate these changes.

3. Growth mindset. Students are developing their abilities through hard work and dedication where challenges are viewed as opportunities for growth. They show a continual willingness to improve their skills and knowledge.

The key to approaching math is developing perseverance and a nevergive-up attitude, according to Khoo.

“I encourage students to keep trying different things and have faith in themselves. Math doesn’t have to be your passion. But, it's the process by which you work through problems in subjects that may not be your passion, that defines you. You may not remember a specific problem you solved, but you'll remember the critical thinking skills you applied and mastered. It’s not about the end result, it’s about building foundational skills,” Khoo said.

that if there are rules, there must be a reason. If they’ve hit a roadblock when solving a problem, they can refer back to their foundational math skills and work their way to finding a potential solution,” Khoo said.

Khoo’s favorite way of showcasing the unexpected side of math is through a parking lot problem.

“I tell students to imagine they’re traveling with friends over spring break, and they need to use the airport’s car park. They park their car in CVG’s economy parking lot for seven and a half days to account for potential delays. They research how much it would cost, graph it from the first to the last day, and discover it’s not a completely straight diagonal line. There’s a curve, and then we discuss how that happens,” Khoo said.

celebrating our amazing teachers in this magazine installment, which features Upper School math teacher

Melissa Khoo and Middle and Upper School world language and history teacher Katie Swinford .

MIDDLE & UPPER SCHOOL WORLD LANGUAGE AND HISTORY TEACHER KATIE SWINFORD

Studying Latin in Middle and Upper School world language and history teacher Katie Swinford’s class is akin to studying the human condition.

In ninth grade world history, students take on Athenian personas from ancient Greece and role-play different political factions while trying to design a democratic system.

evolves because of that, my curriculum every year to meet the needs and talents of my students,” Swinford said.

“Humanity, like our wants, needs, and goals, hasn’t changed too much in the last couple thousand years. Students learn more about the timelessness of the human condition and everything it means. For example, Upper School students research the Roman Empire’s expansion and compare its effects with modern-day immigration and border laws,” Swinford said.

Swinford uses imaginative projects to immerse her students in ancient Rome while showcasing Latin’s beauty and long-lasting impact. During Latin IV Honors, Upper School students research senate identities from 63 B.C.E. and live tweet their reactions to Cicero’s speech as if they were his contemporaries.

“Students, in both history and Latin classes, are learning and sharpening their analytical skills; how to read a document and figure out its potential bias, form their own opinion, and debate it. They’re reading texts and discussing an author’s intent and how different events may be covered by different authors. I love my job because the kids are interested and willing to go the extra mile, and parents want to support their kids however they can. This gives me the freedom to create the best lessons I can and

THINGS I LEARNED FROM MY STUDENTS… Middle and Upper School world language and history teacher Katie Swinford

1. How to be flexible and spontaneous!

2. Kahoot nicknames are for life.

3. When in Italy, eat gelato every day.

BECOMING GLOBAL CITIZENS, one language at a time.

AT SEVEN HILLS, GUIDING STUDENTS TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE GLOBAL CITIZENS ENTAILS IMMERSING THEM AND ENABLING THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN DIFFERENT LANGUAGES. FROM SPANISH TO LATIN TO FRENCH TO CHINESE , PRE-KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH GRADE, STUDENTS ENJOY THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE AND EXPAND THEIR GLOBAL AWARENESS, ONE LANGUAGE AT A TIME.

Setting the foundation for a lifetime of learning

Lower School students are first introduced to a bilingual education under the careful instruction and guidance of Doherty world language teacher Kristen Diersing and Lotspeich world language teacher Megan Hayes. Together, the dynamic duo uses story listening to enchant their young learners and facilitate an environment rich with creativity and academic ingenuity.

“I use story listening as my main teaching element during classes. As I tell students a story, I also draw it on the

board. It’s a method that incorporates hearing, telling, seeing, and reading for students and is linked to building strong literacy skills,” Hayes said. Aside from story listening, Diersing and Hayes incorporate a myriad of projects to foster a deep love for the Spanish language.

Through the mascota project, Diersing enables students to create a pet, its environment, personality, and eating habits, and master vocabulary words throughout the

creation process. Students pick a miniature animal eraser, and over a couple of weeks, name their pet, build a shoebox habitat with five different rooms, and decide its characteristics and how to prepare its food.

“The students absolutely love it. The project creates an emotional bond to the language because it’s how they're building a connection with their pet. There’s a lot of vocabulary word repetition as well as highfrequency words. Without even realizing it, students are forming sentences and paragraphs out of love for their pets. It’s one of the best ways to practice their output of Spanish because it's not only fun but also deeply meaningful to them,” Diersing said.

One of Diersing’s main goals for her classroom is for students to learn and emulate a love for appreciating new languages and cultures and sharing them among students.

“Learning Spanish is only step one to broadening their horizons and stepping outside of their comfort zones. It’s one of the many things I love about Seven Hills,

knowing my current students will keep growing and have the opportunity to learn Spanish, Chinese, French, or Latin during Middle School and Upper School. I’m helping them build foundational skills for their future world language classes,” Diersing said.

Hayes frequently uses fairy tales, Aesop’s fables, and folk tales to capture students’ attention while learning about various cultures.

“One of my favorite sources to include are stories and videos from 68 Voices, 68 Hearts, a project that aims to bring awareness to and revive Mexico’s 68 linguistic groups. It’s a fantastic project and shows students another example of how incredible the world is. They also find it fascinating to listen to different linguistic groups, like Tohono, Nahuatl, and Mayan

“Every student gravitates toward something different. I want them to have a solid understanding of the language, patterns, and sound by the time they move on to a different teacher,” Hayes said.

Growing World Language Skills through Middle and Upper School

From sixth grade onward, students have autonomy over their academic decisions, including deciding in which language they want to invest, from Spanish, Chinese, French, to Latin.

during a video and understand what the speakers are saying, with the assistance of the Spanish subtitles,” Hayes said. Hayes believes languages are non-linear, meaning there isn't a straight path to learning.

“Our world language teachers expertly craft curriculum that not only meets a student’s current skill set but empowers them to challenge themselves beyond what they believe possible. Learning another language not only enhances a student’s cognitive abilities but also greatly improves communication skills and expands worldviews and understanding Continued on page 30

of other cultures. It equips students to be responsible global citizens and gives them the skills and empathy to truly communicate with people,” Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz said.

Katie Swinford teaches Middle School students the wonders of Latin and its

“To learn another language is to learn about the culture of different peoples. If I can help a student see beyond the walls of Seven Hills — and consider the human experience from a different perspective — I know that it is growing their empathy and their ability to participate in an increasingly diverse and globally connected world. Seven Hills’ world language department, at its very core, teaches our graduates to be global citizens,” Swinford said.

is with near parental pride that I watch students teach their peers about the Circus Maximus, for example, while we stand directly in the Circus Maximus,” Swinford said.

Chair of the world language department Teresa Bardon explained her department’s emphasis on learning about the nuances of languages.

“We want students to be skilled enough to communicate in other languages in their particular target language or languages. It’s important for us to impart the value of the language itself, like what it means

evolving presence in the modern world. Because she’s spent years teaching the same group of eager and engaged academics, she’s able to have a “more diachronic view of each student’s academic, social, and emotional growth rather than a one-year snapshot.”

Latine

In seventh grade Latin each year, the students learn about the movement of immigrants and refugees into Ancient Rome from the far reaches of the Roman empire. Since Rome conquered and managed such a huge empire, its army focused on building and maintaining a well-engineered and long-lasting system of roads. Students look at the network of roads that led to Rome and also study how the Roman army built these storied thorough areas, some of which are still in use in the world today, Swinford said.

Swinford also teaches Upper School students, from ninth grade to 12th grade.

“For Upper, I have a favorite project for each class! However, one of my favorite things to do is to travel with students to Italy, where the people and places they’ve studied in my classroom for years truly come to life! Before our May Term trip, each participant prepares a site or monument to present to the group. It

to the cultural pieces of languages. It's not just about the language as in syntax and morphology, but understanding the different cultures, perspectives, and their complexity and beauty. We want students to be able to communicate, more than knowing the correct vocabulary for a specific situation. We create curriculum that explains the reasoning behind the vocabulary, the context behind it both historically and culturally, so not only does their ability to speak another world language

“To learn another language is to learn about the culture of different peoples. Seven Hills’ world language department, at its very core, teaches our graduates to be global citizens.”

Katie Swinford, Middle School Latin teacher

Français

As Upper Schoolers, Rosenberg’s students dive into a myriad of topics that not only strengthen their understanding of the Spanish language, but also encourage them as inventors, entrepreneurs, and marketers.

of Chichen Itza? The piles of wood in the scene-design shop in The Schiff. Students can be so creative when they are encouraged to stretch their minds, and they love sharing their fun videos with their peers,” Rosenberg said.

develop but so does their global awareness of different cultures,” Bardon said.

Kathryn Rosenberg, Middle and Upper world language teacher, shared similar sentiments about students understanding the nuances of the cultures from which the languages they study originate, such as the sixth grade art recreation project.

“Students spend fourth quarter studying Spanish-speaking artists from around the world and then have an opportunity to recreate famous works we have studied or create their own unique art in the style of an artist we have discussed. This creative outlet allows students to demonstrate what they have learned in our cultural deep-dive while not being overwhelmed by language production. Then, we view their artistic creations in class and use the adjectives and reactive language we have learned to describe what they see. For example, ‘Para mí, es interestante.’ or ‘Me gustan los colores,’” Rosenberg said.

“In the inventos project, students use their vocabulary regarding health and wellness and grammar in future tense and commands to design and advertise a product that can improve the health or wellness of a customer. Students create items that run the gamut from a shampoo that changes colors with your mood to a treadmill that powers your television. The Vlog de Viajes requires a new level of creativity— advertising an exciting destination while having to be visible throughout the video. How does one advertise a trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica while on campus here in Cincinnati? By standing in the bushes along the track! The ruins

According to Rosenberg, learning a world language is a critical piece in becoming a global citizen.

“Although language acquisition may not be a life-long goal of every student in class, we also teach valuable skills regarding the exploration of cultures, respect for differences in belief or practice, openmindedness, and a yen for adventure. We open the door to history, art, music, food, and film, just a few non-language topics that come under our purview. Students leave our classes prepared to travel, work in the ever-globalizing world, meet new people, and serve as respectful ambassadors of their own communities and cultures,” Rosenberg said.

zh¯ong wén

Mia Wu, Middle and Upper School world language teacher, uses fashion, music, and food to engage students and broaden their horizons.

During Middle School, students investigate the impact of street fashion in China and use their research to design a runway look. During Upper School, students craft a “Welcome to Seven Hills” song after their travel unit that encapsulates the charm of the school, their favorite parts about Cincinnati, and why people should visit.

“Since Chinese courses start in seventh grade and carry on through Upper School, I know students better and know their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses, which helps me to pick out better topics to teach in the curriculum. We have so much fun; it is not only a class but also a way to experience foreign countries without being abroad. I witness my students evolve as they dive into learning another language. They develop stronger empathy for other cultural groups and a sense of adventure, such as traveling or trying new things,” Wu said.

According to Bardon, she and her fellow world language teachers feel incredibly lucky to be so deeply supported by the administration.

“ [Head of School ] Chris Garten, [Head of Upper School ] Matt Bolton, and [Assistant Head of School ] Susan Marrs all encourage the importance of understanding languages. They understand it’s another piece of how students can be well-rounded and prepared for the world.

“I witness my students evolve as they dive into learning another language. They develop stronger empathy for other cultural groups and a sense of adventure, such as traveling or trying new things.”

They support our student exchanges and our curriculum, and they trust our abilities to determine how to craft a curriculum that enables students to exceed their expectations. As a department, we collaborate all the time and work together to figure out lesson plans and projects and help each other be our best versions as teachers. Because the students see our genuine camaraderie, it helps foster an open and familial academic environment for them to continue to challenge themselves, as they know they’re surrounded by endless support,” Bardon said.

Mi a Wu, Middle & Upper School world language teacher

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLARS

91% of AP Exam scores qualify for advanced standing in college

Of the 170 Seven Hills students who took 373 Advanced Placement exams in 17 subjects in May 2022, 91% qualified for advanced college standing by receiving a score of 3 or better on the 1-5 national scale on at least one exam. Among those who qualified, 85 were named AP Scholars by the College Board for their exceptional achievements of scoring 3 or higher on more than three exams.

Receiving AP Scholar with Distinction Awards for average scores of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of at least 3 or higher on four or more exams are Class of 2023 graduates Shanaya Bharucha, Logan Bien*, Saahil Chunduri, Erin Finn, Mallory Gravitt, Jerry Hou, Abigail Li, Ryan Meador, Rohan Nambiar, Anna Papakirk, Neel Parameswaran, Olivia Pohl, Jack Ringel, Aana Shenai, Anna Wabler, and Daniel Yi. Class of 2022 graduates who received AP Scholar with Distinction Awards are Aleena Arif, Dhruva Balaji, Kevin Chen, Sarah Croog, Kathryn Guo, Rosalie Hoar, Cece Hood, Jacky Hou, Jenny Hu, Riley Jones, Aahana Katneni, Gabriella Khaskelis, Corinne Kieser, Angel Liang, Robby Ligeralde, Jake Messer, Martina Miquelarena, Julia Moser, Allie Nathan, Ella Jo Piersma, Aditi Purushothaman, Naina Purushothaman, Santiago Rodriguez, Sebastian Rodriguez, Meg Seshiah, Cristina Stancescu, Alexis Veldhuis, and Manan Vij.

Receiving AP Scholar with Honor Awards for an average score of at least 3.25 on all exams and a score of 3 or higher on four or more exams are Class

of 2023 graduates Gemma Baldwin, Ariane Briquet, Elias Buttress, Ella Dubay, Thomas Dunson, Annelise Hawgood, Catherine McAndrew, George Mentrup, and Emily Rosenfeld. Class of 2022 graduates who received AP Scholar with Honor Awards are Daniela Amadeo-Muniz, Aanya Anand, Jack Holden, Maya Martinez Diers, and Lyn Price.

Receiving AP Scholar Awards for earning scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams are current students Mikul Wyer and Julia Zeng. Class of 2023 graduates who received AP Scholar Awards are Zara Asghar, Ellie Cain, Clara Chen, Josie Domet, Mallory Dorsch, Samantha Froehle, Simon He, Mia Mason, Ashley McLennan, Kyler Pang, Piper Reusch, Emerson Rinaldi, Saloni Sachdeva, Edie Tesfaye, and Elosie Young. Class of 2022 graduates who received AP Scholar Awards are Pelle Eijkenboom, Suhani Gupta, Mackenzie Hartman, Mercer Kruzner, Evan Michelman, Emma Schlueter, Lucy Schneider, Aditi Sinha, and Colin Yeager.

Based on scores received in September 2022

*Name was inadvertently left out of the original printin g of this story.

MIRIAM TITCOMB MEMORIAL FUND Grants for Enrichment

Since 1978, the Miriam Titcomb Fund, an endowed enrichment fund established by alumnae, has made it possible for more than 100 Seven Hills faculty and staff to have meaningful travel and study experiences. These adventures are personally and professionally inspiring for our faculty and staff. Their increased scholarship and enthusiasm enrich the entire school community. We are pleased to share the stories of 2020 recipient Meredith Brown and 2022 recipient Megan Hayes

LEARNING SUPPORT

DEPARTMENT CHAIR

MEREDITH BROWN, 2020 RECIPIENT

Brown and her son, Max, flew into Porto, Portugal, and completed a portion of the Camino de Santiago de Compostela, alternatively called the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela or the Way of St. James. The Camino is a network of pilgrimage routes through Spain, Portugal, and France, all

ending at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral in the Galicia region of northwest Spain, at the tomb of St. James. For two weeks, the pair hiked the last 261km (162 miles) of the branch of the pilgrimage, from Porto to Santiago, Spain.

“I have wanted to walk the Camino de Santiago for many years, but I have also wanted to be sure I did so at a meaningful juncture in my life, to be taking a real and a metaphorical journey.

Meredith Brown was awarded a Titcomb grant for her experience, “Into the Unknown: Two Pilgrims Abroad.” Brown delayed her Titcomb trip due to the COVID pandemic.

As my children have grown, moving through Lotspeich, Middle, and now Upper, it became clearer to me that the significant moment is when my children, Max first and later Vivian, move on to the Upper School — and that we should share this experience. This pilgrimage was and is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate — and labor — together as we begin this singular stage in our shared life.”

LOTSPEICH LOWER SCHOOL WORLD LANGUAGE TEACHER MEGAN HAYES, 2022 RECIPIENT

Megan Hayes was awarded a Titcomb grant for her experience, “Family Spanish Camp in Playa Tamarindo, Costa Rica.” Hayes found her calling for teaching and deep love and appreciation for the Spanish language during a study abroad semester in Costa Rica during her senior year of college in 1999.

“This project was a full circle, dreamlike, bucket list experience for me. When I visited my senior year, I loved

the biodiversity of the country, education, and peaceful focused culture, and wanted to hone in on my Spanish skills, so it seemed like a good fit. Little did I know, the trip would catapult me into my career as a Spanish teacher and further ignite my passion for Spanish-speaking cultures. Costa Rica holds infinite memories for me, and I am still in touch with my host families and several Costa Rican friends to this day. It was truly amazing to see them again and have the opportunity to introduce them to my daughters,” Hayes said.

Hayes and her family traveled to Playa Tamarindo in Costa Rica and stayed for five weeks. Her daughters enrolled in a summer camp at the Institute for Spanish Language Studies and Hayes discussed pedagogy styles with the teachers. She hopes to collaborate with them again in the future. Hayes and her family were also able to reconnect with her Costa Rican host family from her study abroad days.

ARTS ALIVE

THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL CELEBRATED THE SECOND ANNUAL ARTS ALIVE FESTIVAL ON APRIL 8, 2023!

FIRST THROUGH 12 th GRADE STUDENTS FROM BOTH CAMPUSES SHOWCASED THEIR ARTISTIC TALENTS THROUGHOUT THE HILLSDALE CAMPUS. FAMILY AND FRIENDS ENJOYED THE INCREDIBLE PERFORMANCES, ARTS AND CRAFTS, FOOD TRUCKS, AND

DEMONSTRATION

1. Chris Garten and Boot Reer pose for a photo after their rock concert.

2. Bing Yang Chinese Performing Arts Center dancers which include Middle School students wow their audience.

3. Upper School performers capture hearts with their beautiful song.

4. Lotspeich fourth graders performing a dazzling musical number.

5. Kids work on art at the interactive art booths.

6. Lower School art on display in The Schiff Center.

7. Students joyfully run through bubbles.

8. A crowd gather to watch Indian Bollywood dancers including Lower and Middle School students.

9. Two students enjoy delicious slices of pizza.

10. Lotspeich fifth graders sing and perform with colorful ribbons.

11. Sixth grade instrumental ensemble stuns family and friends with their engaging performance.

THE WONDERFUL

OF OUR STUDENTS’ ARTISTIC VISIONS.

UPPER SCHOOL PERSONAL CHALLENGE PROJECTS Four Stories of Discovery

Designing a Softball Field Drainage System Class of 2023

Graduate JULIA TAMAI

Project Descriptio n: Julia designed a drainage system for the Seven Hills softball field.

Project Process: Julia noticed that even on days when it did not rain, the softball field was unplayable because it did not

well in the outfield and behind home plate to catch runoff from the infield. She built two demos to test her design. The first was a dirt permeability test to see how water permeated the dirt to determine proper drain placement. The second was a demo of the French drain-dry well in boxes filled with soil, which confirmed the effectiveness of the drain system.

team and became interested in the topic of her project after 11 games were canceled during the 2021-22 season because of rain. Once the rain finally stopped, Julia and the softball team went on a nine-game win streak.

Creating a

Guidebook for Students

Coming to Seven Hills from Overseas Class of 2023 Graduate

OLIVIA POHL

Project Description: Olivia created a guidebook for students coming to Seven Hills from outside the country.

drain. She got the idea for a drainage system and talked it over with Upper School physics teacher Lenore Horner and structural engineers from Schaefer Engineering. She studied topography and utility maps of the field to see if a drainage system was feasible and could be added safely. Using multiple sources, Julia researched different drainage options, such as French drains, dry wells, water gardens, and crowning the field. She landed on a combination of crowning the infield, to create a gentle slope to aid water runoff, and a French drain-dry

Julia: “The most challenging part was making the French drain-dry well demo. I had to go through three iterations to obtain the results that I wanted. In my first iteration, I just used potting soil, which I found out does not absorb water, which resulted in both the demos floating. The next dirt that I tried was top soil, which worked a lot better since it actually absorbs water.”

Quick Fact: Julia was a member of the varsity softball

Project Process: Olivia created a guidebook for students coming to Seven Hills from other countries based on her own experience transitioning to the school after living in China. To continue her Chinese language education outside the classroom, she decided to translate the book into Chinese. Olivia interviewed several students who came to Seven Hills after living in a different country and used information and tips she learned from them for the basis of her guidebook. Many of the Chinese vocabulary words Olivia needed for the translation were outside of the common words she had learned in her study of

PERSONAL CHALLENGE PROJECTS ARE A REQUIREMENT FOR ALL UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS. EACH STUDENT DESIGNS AN ORIGINAL PROJECT THAT HELPS DEFINE THEIR INTERESTS AND

Julia Tamai

In four stories, we share a glimpse of what Personal Challenge has meant for four upperclassmen.

Chinese in the classroom. She worked with Upper School Chinese teacher Nanyue Zhu to proofread the book. Olivia combined her

Chinese language skills, graphic design, research, and writing to create something she hopes can help the Seven Hills community for years to come.

Olivia: “I enjoyed learning about other students’ experiences and how they differed from mine. It was interesting to see how one place could have so many different effects on students and how they dealt with the different issues they experienced.”

Quick Fact: Olivia came to Seven Hills after living in China for six years and chose to translate the book into Chinese because of the rising number of Seven Hills students coming from China.

Animating a Web Series Trailer Class of 2023 Graduate SKY STEINM AN

Project Description: Always willing to push creative limits, Sky used the Personal Challenge to learn the basics of animation and how to design a movie trailer.

Project Process: Sky began the challenge project during freshman year, and began crafting the story's narrative and heart. Going into sophomore year, Sky quickly realized the incredible amount of

work required to produce a completed trailer, usually helmed by a production company, where this was a solo project. Sky scaled down the project to accommodate the timeline and transitioned toward character design and proof of concept to share with the project defense panel.

Sky: “I’ve always leaned toward the arts as a kid and love learning more about movement dynamics and how to design humanoid figures. I’m still in the process of completing the trailer. I will continue working on it even after my project is officially completed because it’s part of my larger goal and dream of being an animator.”

continued on page 40

STRETCHES THEM BEYOND THEIR COMFORT ZONES. PERSONAL CHALLENGE EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF SEVEN HILLS’ DEDICATION TO EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

Olivia Pohl

Sky Steinman

PERSONAL CHALLENGE PROJECTS, Continued . . .

Four Stories of Discovery

Quick Fact: Sky plans to study animation in college and pursue a career as an animation studio artist.

Beekeeping Class of 2023 Graduate ANNALISE WABLER

Project Description: Annalise dove into beekeeping by constructing her own hive, managing her bees for conservation purposes, interning for Queen City Pollinators, and researching and diagnosing her beloved bees.

Project Process: After working at an elementary school summer camp dedicated to learning about bees and beekeeping, Annalise knew she wanted to try her hand at caring for the lovable creatures. Annalise spent an initial five to 10 hours researching before starting to build her hive, a collection of 40 frames. From there, she continued her research, met up with the Queen City Pollinators project, and gathered her bees.

Annalise: “I learned how to build better, and it's cheaper to build a hive yourself, but it was a lot more work than I expected. It was just so cool to see the ins and outs of bees; they’re so complex and incredibly unique. The different cells mean different things. They’re perfect hexagons. You could pick something up and see the entire colony functioning. It’s practically magic.”

Quick Fact: Bees can travel up to 12 kilometers outside their hive and usually forage for food within a threekilometer radius.

Annalise Wabler

IT’S YOUR WORLD: SIXTH GRADERS CRAFT A G LOBAL PERSPECTIVE

The sixth grade class It’s Your World, first introduced in the 2021-22 school year, aims to expose students each quarter to different global issues, such as migration, climate change, social justice, and global health.

“I really felt the need for students to delve into civic engagement and discuss the issues we’re facing today. We plan to examine these issues, with our students early on, in an apolitical, fact-based learning environment,” Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz said.

themes of geography and how they correlate with push/pull factors for global populations. Whitt facilitated a United Nations simulation as students navigated resource finding and maintaining peaceful international relations while simultaneously attempting to survive a zombie apocalypse.

In It’s Your World, students also take ownership of their role in the global community while discussing ongoing issues.

items overseas to local relief organizations.

“Students are building their perspective on how they believe the world should be one step at a time in this course. Learning about the complex mechanics of

Waskowitz, Head Librarian Megan Whitt, and Dean of Middle School Andy McGarvey are the core trio behind the expansive curriculum who cover the four topics enabling a deeply specialized lesson for every global topic.

After learning about the two massive earthquakes that struck Turkey and Syria within 10 hours of each other on Feb. 6, students knew they wanted to send whatever aid they could to help survivors and rescue efforts. Students quickly assembled two main teams, one to work directly with collection efforts and another to promote the drive. Students took charge of creating posters, setting up donation drop-off sites, collecting donations, making announcements, and helping plan social media posts. On March 9, the donations were delivered to Matthew 25: Ministries, who shipped the

immigration, the tepid stability of peace, and most importantly, the impact of lending our help and assistance whenever we can creates the foundation for an incredibly rich and empathetic academic community,” Waskowitz said.

At Seven Hills, Middle School students create a community within a community, while simultaneously learning how to be effective and responsible global community members.

SEVEN HILLS LIFERS HONORED WITH LUNCH

The event started last school year to honor students and their families for their dedication to Seven Hills. A lifer is any student who has been at Seven Hills since at least the first grade, though some start in pre-kindergarten for 2-year-olds.

Director of Development Margo Kirstein thanked parents for trusting Seven Hills with their children for so long and spending so much time in the Seven Hills community.

“One of the great pleasures of working at a school like this is getting to watch the arc of young people’s lives. We are so proud of how all of you have grown up,” said Head of School Chris Garten, who came to Seven Hills as the head of school when some of the lifers were in pre-kindergarten. “My wish for you is that the connection you feel with one another now is one that will continue throughout your life.”

Laura Leonard ’06, a Doherty lifer, current Doherty parent, member of the Alumni Board, and Upper School history teacher, began her speech by sharing the interactions she had with other Seven Hills alumni and current students about an Instagram post about William Snakespeare, the Doherty pet for more than 30 years.

“It reminded me of just how special it is to be a lifer. Maybe bonding over Doherty’s William Snakespeare feels trivial, but deep

down it shows the everyday moments we share with our fellow classmates. Through every moment of your education, you shared those moments together. You provided consistency, comfort, and caring for each other,” Leonard said.

The lifers were given commemorative school photos from when they first started at Doherty or Lotspeich on one side and a class photo with their Lower School classmates taken during their senior year.

In late January, the 38 members of the Class of 2023, who have spent their entire education at Seven Hills, gathered for the Lifers Lunch with their parents, hosted by the Development Office.

CREATING CONVERSATIONS SPEAKER SERIES

The Seven Hills School’s Creating Conversations is a speaker series designed to engage as a community, with each other and with the help of experts in their fields, about raising bright, healthy, happy children.

PREVENTION AT HOME WITH GLENN HALL

Glenn Hall, from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation, formerly Freedom from Chemical Dependency, spoke with parents in the Young Family Library in February about preventing alcohol and substance abuse at home.

Hall has been doing prevention work with fifth to 12th grade students, including at Seven Hills, for 27 years. He explained the different curricula and methods he uses for students depending on their age and understanding of drugs and alcohol. He told parents that he is frequently asked by students what the worst drug is. He always tells them it is the one they think is the safest.

“The younger a person starts drinking, the greater the chances of developing alcoholism and chemical dependency. A teenager who drinks, even under parental supervision, is five to seven times more likely to develop a drug or alcohol problem later in life,” Hall said.

He gave parents advice on how to lower their children’s expectations about the amount of drinking and drug use in high school and college, which is statistically lower than most people think.

GLENN HALL

“THE YOUNGER A PERSON STARTS DRINKING, THE GREATER THE CHANCES OF DEVELOPING ALCOHOLISM AND CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY. A TEENAGER WHO DRINKS, EVEN UNDER PARENTAL SUPERVISION, IS FIVE TO SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DEVELOP A DRUG OR ALCOHOL PROBLEM LATER IN LIFE."

FINDING BALANCE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

The Seven Hills Counseling Department held a screening of Indieflix documentary “Like” in The Schiff Center on March 9.

The film covers the impact of social media on daily life by speaking with technology experts, doctors, parents, and teens.

Teens explained their relationships to different social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok. Doctors and medical professionals talked about the benefits of limiting screentime.

Counseling Department Chair Angie Bielecki provided discussion guides for attendants to help them navigate social media usage in their families.

ANGIE BIELECKI

THE MAGIC OF MUSIC

We sat with Eynon and Wilson in February to discuss their experiences at Seven Hills and their incredibly robust music program.

job, they’re willing to step out of their comfort zone because they have faith in you. They love music and come running in here every day. It’s an absolute joy to be their teacher,” Eynon said.

One of her favorite units for students to experience is bucket drumming and stomping.

“Bucket drumming allows the kids to be creative, cooperate as a team, and learn how to read the rhythm of songs. With stomp, they’re playing non-traditional instruments, and it gets them outside their comfort zone,” Eynon said.

For 19 years, Eynon has led countless Doherty students on adventurous musical journeys. She’s inspired young minds to think outside the box and learn the beautiful opportunities music has to offer.

“I love Seven Hills with every fiber of my being. The community as a whole is incredibly welcoming, supportive, and comforting. The students are inquisitive, energetic, enthusiastic, talented, and willing to try. I’ve learned children can read an adult, probably from a couple of blocks away, so as soon as they see that you are sincerely interested in them as people and enthusiastic about your

According to Eynon, music helps students grow as people and as scholars because music and rhythm are intrinsic to people.

“Whether you sing, dance, or play, music becomes part of you. Students get a chance to play music their way, and it helps them understand themselves better because it enables them to be able to highlight their individuality. I love music

because it’s a universal language; even children who might have challenges thrive with music. It’s a connector and method of communication that can be shared easily and understood, even if two people don’t speak the same language,” Eynon said.

Being able to work together with her Lotspeich counterpart Robin Wilson has been a dream, Eynon said.

“Our love for the subject reflects in both of us. We’ve been the best team to keep this music program going, and all the arts people have been super supportive, to talk to and hang out with. The families who are here, they’re incredible. We pride ourselves on creating a safe space for students to express themselves, whether it's here at Doherty or Lotspeich. I tell the kids my motto is ‘just do it’ because nobody’s going to judge you, so just do it your way and have fun with it,” Eynon said. Wilson emphatically agreed.

If you walk past Lower School music teachers Maria Eynon’s and Robin Wilson’s classrooms at Lotspeich and Doherty, you’ll hear students harmonizing, playing instruments, learning how to create a cohesive sound, and most importantly, falling in love with creating music.

“Whether you sing, dance, or play, music becomes part of you. Students get a chance to play music their way, and it helps them understand themselves better because it enables them to be able to highlight their individuality.”

-Lower School music teacher Maria Eynon

“It’s been absolutely wonderful to work with Maria. I've been here 16 years and, by this point, she's like a sister to me. We bounce ideas off of each other and really have a team mentality. Over the years, we’ve joined forces and had our kids sing and perform together, like our first graders during Arts Alive! on April 8,” Wilson said.

Wilson has curated a warm, musically explorative classroom, where students find their voice and try new things with confident abandon.

“I have students as young as 2 years old, so not only am I helping kids understand rhythm, time, and sound, but I’m also aiding their language development. I use The Kodály method, which is based on the premise that musical education should be rooted in the idea that music is a social and cultural experience. That's what I love about my job — that I have the ability to help kids with creating a strong musical foundation from the youngest musicians to right before they head off to Middle School,” Wilson said.

Watching students learn how to balance a rhythm or a melody together as a cohesive team, falling in love with an instrument, or trying something new all play into her love for the job, according to Wilson.

“They take ownership of the parts that they have and make them their own. I watch them find connections with the elements of music that we talked about in class, whether it's the

tempo, markings, or dynamics. Music affects and impacts the kids’ emotions, and creates a healthy outlet for them to express themselves, especially when they don’t have the words. I watch kids transform with music,” Wilson said.

Above all, Wilson expressed her deep appreciation for not only her students but for the Seven Hills community.

“I’m blessed to teach here. This is by far

the best teaching opportunity that I've had in my career. I have 26 years in teaching, 16 of which are at Seven Hills, and it's like the sky's the limit for the kids and for myself. If I need technology, instruments, or anything else to better the educational experience for the students, it will happen. This is such an incredible place to be a part of and grow with,” Wilson said.

“Music affects and impacts the kids’ emotions, and creates a healthy outlet for them to express themselves, especially when they don’t have the words. I watch kids transform with music.”

-Lower School music teacher Robin Wilson

WINTER SPORTS HONORS

Talented teams, competitive players, and great matchups

There were several highlights of the Seven Hills winter sports season. Some student athletes traveled to state tournaments and all of our teams had great matchups. Congratulations to our athletes and coaches who made the winter 2022-23 sports season successful!

The boys and girls varsity bowling teams both made history this season. The boys won the sectional tournament for the first time and senior Shanaya Bharucha competed at the state tournament. The boys won the Miami Valley Conference for the fourth consecutive year, with an undefeated in-conference record of 14-0. The girls won the MVC for the first time, having only one inconference loss all season.

For swimming, sophomore Josie Schneider, freshman Colin McNerney and the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams of Schneider, seniors Josie Domet and Carolyn Wolujewicz, and sophomore Raine Ellerman competed at the state tournament. The swimming Stingers had numerous wins at the sectional tournament.

Schneider won the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, Domet won the 50 freestyle, Ellerman won the 100 freestyle, and McNerney won the 200 freestyle. The relay team won the 200 and 400 freestyle races.

The boys varsity basketball team had an impressive run in the post-season, beating two higher ranked teams, including the #1 seed, to win the sectional tournament. The Stingers advanced to districts. Coach Willie Hill had his 200th career win this season and was inducted into the Seven Hills Athletics Hall of Fame. For the girls varsity basketball team, the Stingers had a 15-5 overall record and a 10-2 in-conference record, earning second place in the MVC Gray Division.

In its first year in existence, the boys varsity squash team joined the girls varsity squash team, in only its second year, at the U.S. High School Squash Championships in Philadelphia. Both teams earned wins at nationals and had excellent showings.

Stinger gymnasts sophomore Evie Ferguson and senior Cat McAndrew had great performances at the City Championship for gymnastics, earning a ninth place finish. Ferguson finished 28th in the all-around and McAndrew finished 30th on bars.

The hard work, enthusiasm, and Stinger spirit of the cheer squads kept the atmosphere high in Kalnow Gym and on the road during the boys and girls basketball games. Congrats, Stingers!

Cheerleading squad

Cheerleading

Gymnastics

Boys Swimming

Girls Swimming

Girls Basketball

Boys Basketball

Seven Hills Squash Team

Boys Squash

Boys Bowling

Girls Bowling

SIX INDUCTED INTO THE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME

the track and cross country coach for more than 30 years. Willie Hill has been the basketball coach for 20 years and became the all-time leader in career wins for basketball weeks before his induction.

At the event, Athletic Director Scott Willard introduced the six members of the 2023 induction class to applause and cheers.

“Tonight is a very special night, when we celebrate six spectacular individuals who have distinguished themselves through their body of work here at Seven Hills to be recognized as truly the best of the best. These six individuals were voted into this illustrious group of Hall of Famers by a dedicated committee of teachers, coaches, and administrators. Due to the large number of nominations, narrowing it down was extremely difficult. However, at the end of the day, these individuals clearly stood out,” Willard said.

Lauren

Year and second alltime leading scorer in basketball. David Stirsman ’82 was a three-sport athlete for Seven Hills and the Male Athlete of Year. Jake Davis ’10 scored more than 1,000 points for Stingers basketball and was the 2009 Player of the Year.

of

Glenn Shillinger was inducted for his 44 years assisting the athletics department as a bus driver, coach, clock operator, and invaluable volunteer. Tana Luckie has been

To make the night more special, each inductee picked someone to give a speech about their accomplishments and dedication to Seven Hills athletics.

Weems ’14 was the 2014 Female Athlete

the

“Tonight is a very special night, when we celebrate six spectacular individuals who have distinguished themselves through their body of work here at Seven Hills to be recognized as truly the best of the best.”

- Athletic Director Scott Willard

“

Six Seven Hills alumni, coaches, and volunteers were inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame with a ceremony in The Schiff Center on Jan. 26.

LEARNING AB OUT MEDICINE IN PK2

In February, pre-kindergarten for 2-year-old students welcomed Doherty parents who are doctors to their classroom. The doctors explained their medical equipment and taught them about how food travels through the body and what organs are involved. Another parent who is a veterinarian taught the students about medical care for animals, including the pets they have at home. The students took part in medical play, pretending to be doctors based on what they had learned. “I can see exactly how impactful it is to have our parents share their world with us in the classroom. The students’ play shows they are expanding their thoughts, discovery, and mimicking behaviors from these visits,” said Julie Brackett, pre-kindergarten for 2-yearolds teacher.

KINDERGARTEN LEARNS INTUITIVE READING DURING LIBRARY CLASS

Lotspeich kindergartners learned how to intuitively read picture books in March and gather context clues based on a character’s surroundings during librarian Lori Suffield’s class. Suffield read stories aloud to the young learners, and when there was a wordless page, students would create probable dialogue or sentences that would accompany the pictures by writing them down and sharing them with their classmates.

BUILDING CONFIDENCE WITH READING BUDDIES

In February, Doherty third graders in Ivette Crichton’s class visited their kindergarten reading buddies in Lindsay Pietroski’s class to practice their reading and active listening skills. “Sharing the love of reading is such a win-win. Our third grade reading buddies share more than just a story as they ‘buddy-up’ with their kindergartner. The older students learn the importance of mentorship and each partnership teaches the value of being an active listener. With every visit, these students share a special bond that they will cherish into their high school years,” Crichton said.

FIFTH G RADE LEARNS ABOUT SPACE AND PI

Lotspeich fifth graders in Laura OGrady and Danielle Levine’s classes traveled to the Cincinnati Observatory for a special program in March dedicated to learning about pi, the solar system, and model rockets. Students

learned about how telescopes work and how we’re able to see planets and other forms of celestial bodies from thousands of miles to millions of light years away with near-perfect clarity. When they returned

to the Hillsdale Campus, students also shared their memorization skills during the annual fifth grade digits of pi competition.

Congratulations to Jonah McBride for memorizing 229 digits, Lila EdmondsShahani for 192 digits, and Caleb Cybulski for 159 digits. All three students won the opportunity to ‘pi’ their teachers!

continued on page 50

COMBINING ART A ND LANGUAGE ARTS IN UNIT III

In March, Doherty Unit III students combined what they learned about artist Kehinde Wiley in Kacey Watkins’ art class with the subjects of their essays in language arts. Watkins taught the students that Wiley creates portraits of Black men and women in front of flowers that are important to them. Wiley was influenced by old style European painters, who usually only painted portraits of white men. In honor of Wiley and Women’s History

LOTSPEICH WELCOMED AU THOR LATOYA TURNER

Lotspeich kindergarten through fifth grade students welcomed author Latoya Turner in February. In her two sessions with students, Turner read her book “Brown Hands, Black Schools: HBCUs” and discussed the importance of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Turner also shared how she became an author, her experience as a literacy coach and teacher, and her love and enthusiasm for education.

SIXTH GRADERS COLLECT SUPPLIES FOR TURKEY AND SYRIA

February earthquake. Each division generously raised and donated boxes full of life-sustaining supplies, such as cases of water bottles, first aid necessities, clothes, and toiletries. The donation drive was mainly student-led, from the idea to host a drive to creating posters, setting up donation drop-off sites, collecting donations, making announcements, and helping plan social media posts. Last year’s It’s Your World classes were also inspired to host an item drive for those affected by the war in Ukraine.

SEVENTH GRADERS EXPE RIENCE THE STOCK MARKET

Month, the students researched an inspirational woman of color in their language arts class and wrote an essay about her. They created portraits of their essay subject in the likeness of Wiley’s artwork. Each student presented their portrait and shared why they respected their subject at the monthly assembly about respect.

In March, the sixth grade It’s Your World classes finished collecting donations for Turkish and Syrian citizens impacted by the

In February, seventh graders learned first-hand the trials and thrills of the stock market during social studies teacher Doug Huff’s class. After learning how and why the stock market has changed through the last century, students participated in a stock market simulation game. Students strategized how they should diversify their portfolios, and whether they should be more aggressive and increase their chances for higher profits, or be more cautious and decrease their chances of losing money. The students followed their stocks, with the ability to sell their shares or buy more before the market closed.

EIGHTH GR ADERS CREATE REACTIONARY ART TO “MEIN KAMPF”

For months in early 2023, eighth graders immersed themselves in learning about World War II, the Holocaust, and Nazi Germany in both their history and English classes.

Students read the novel “The Book Thief” by Marcus Lusak and learned from one of the main characters Max about the significance of sharing their beliefs and the harm propaganda causes. In the novel, Max is a German Jew forced to hide to survive. While in hiding, Max reuses a copy of Hitler’s autobiography “Mein Kampf” and paints over pages and works to write his own stories and experiences, and creates political cartoons on the pages. After gaining an understanding of how brave and important Max’s actions were, students were asked to reuse their own pages of “Mein Kampf” in order to either share the struggles of those living and trying to survive during the Holocaust or to express their own views on Hitler and the Nazis.

MIDDLE SCHOO LERS TEACH LOWER SCHOOLERS AT STEAM EVENT

Throughout the Middle School building on Sunday, Jan. 29, Middle School students

the Middle School science department and the Lower School parent community groups.

HISTORY STUDE NTS SIMULATE THE SILK ROAD

UPPER STUDENT S TEACH CODING TO LOTSPEICH STUDENTS

Students in Marcus Twyford’s Upper School computer science classes taught the ins and outs of coding to Lotspeich students. After a demonstration showing why coding needs to rely on focused directions rather than context clues, Upper School students assisted Lotspeich

stepped into the role of teachers and led Lower School students through STEAM activities and events at the Lower School STEAM event. Doherty and Lotspeich students built their own electroscopes, learned about elasticity, and constructed their own boats. The event was put on by

To learn more about trading along the Silk Road, Upper school students in Laura Leonard ’06 history class took part in a simulation. Groups acting as six civilizations—each with their own goods to trade, such as glassware and rugs — stopped in major trading cities along the Silk Road, such as Antioch, Baghdad, and Samarkand, to negotiate trade deals.

CINCY SHAKES VISITS FRESHMEN ENGLISH

Freshmen in Marcus Miller and Marcie Handler’s English classes worked with actors from the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company after reading “As You Like It.” The students participated in workshops with professional actors Patrick Phillips, Candice Handy, and Jeremy Dubin, who guided students in developing the physical presence and voice of their assigned character and helped students block and rehearse scenes from the play. “It’s such an amazing opportunity for our students to have first-hand experience working with a Shakespearean actor,” Handler said. The students also saw a performance of “As You Like It” at the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company in April.

students as they learned how to code games and other activities online.

STUDENTS COMPETE, WIN AT SCIENCE OLYMPIAD

In March, 14 Upper School students competed at the Southwest Regional Tournament of the Ohio Science Olympiad, a competition designed to increase students’ interest in science and improve science education. The Seven Hills team, led by physics teacher Lenore Horner, placed sixth overall with the group of sophomores Kyle Wang and Andrew Zhou placing first in detector building, which required building a device to measure mass, and scrambler, which involved building a mechanical device to transport an egg without breaking it. Junior Kyler Pang placed second in the bridge event.

STINGER MADNESS AND SEVEN HILLS DAY OF GIVING

During the first week in March, the Seven Hills campuses were abuzz with two important yearly events that support The Seven Hills Annual Fund — Stinger Madness, which ran the week of Feb. 28 through March 4, and the Seven Hills Day of Giving, which ran for 24 hours on March 1. In the bustle of this busy week, emails, letters, and videos flowed from our Development Office volunteers and staff while gifts of financial support from across town and around the world flowed in.

Fill the Hills!

The first week of March was busy with not one, but two important Seven Hills Annual Fund events — Stinger Madness and the Seven Hills Day of Giving. This year's fundraisers aimed to fill the hills of both Hillsdale and Doherty campuses with personalized Stinger bees, each representing a donor's contribution to the Annual Fund.

Stinger Madness

Our weeklong Stinger Madness event encouraged the participation of families of current Seven Hills students. As always, our friendly competition between the divisions for the Stinger Madness trophy was tight. By the end of the week, Team Lower School, made up of both Doherty and Lotspeich families, pulled off the win with the highest parent participation percentage. Every gift made by our community brought the school closer to our $1.2 million Annual Giving goal, but more importantly, continued to provide for all the ways the Annual Fund supports the vast array of programs that help our students to learn and grow, to explore personal interests, and to develop individual talents.

Seven Hills Day of Giving

Our 24-hour Day of Giving drew Annual Fund support from alumni in each decade, beginning in the 1940s and continuing through the 2010s, proving the deep and long-term connections created at Seven Hills. Alumni aren’t the only ones who maintain their connection with Seven Hills, though. Our extended community of grandparents, parents of alumni, and friends made Day of Giving gifts as well.

Thank you!

We are grateful to ALL our donors and Annual Fund volunteers, whose encouragement helped us fill the hills with Stinger bees during Stinger Madness and Day of Giving! More than 250 friends and families of Seven Hills made Annual Fund gifts during this week, joining the more than 1,200 donors who had already supported the 2022-23 Seven Hills Annual Fund. With the funds raised, Seven Hills can continue to provide exceptional educational opportunities to our students, inspiring them to reach their full potential.

THANK YOU!

KIM WALDEN Lotspeich Third Grade Teacher 20 YEARS OF

“Kim is nothing short of the best. Working alongside her allowed me to see ‘up close’ the connections she made with students and families and the love and support she constantly provided to colleagues. Kim is not only a born educator but an amazing human, and I am better for having her in my life.”

- Lotspeich third grade teacher Yael Newman

MARIA EYNON Doherty Music Teacher

18 YEARS OF SERVICE

“

“Since I started teaching at Seven Hills, Maria has become a great friend and mentor. I have had the pleasure to observe her teaching and to work with her. Her classes are fun and energetic, and the students love her. She is known for giving the biggest hugs. I have truly enjoyed working with Maria, and I know she will be missed.”

retirements

CHRIS HEDGES Director of Communications and Marketing

12 YEARS OF SERVICE

“In her 12 years at Seven Hills, Chris Hedges has done a wonderful job of helping the school articulate, in a much more compelling way, its unique value proposition. She has also helped us learn to leverage the power of social media to help our families understand, even more clearly, the rich and engaging learning experiences we provide for our students.”

4 YEARS OF SERVICE

“Julie is the sort of person who has the ability to intuitively read other people/ situations and knows how to best respond in a quiet and confident manner. Her high expectations for herself permeate the rest of our community, similarly holding us all appropriately accountable. Julie’s interactions with our students have been utterly amazing; she listens patiently, holds students honest and accountable and, as a result, no student wants to let her down. After working together for four years, I know if I had to sail a boat into a life-threatening storm, I would want Julie at the helm.”

Waskowitz

- Head of School Chris Garten

JULIE REUTENER Administrative Assistant to the Head of Middle School

- Head of Middle School Bill

CATCHING UP WITH BENJAMIN VAN DER HORST ’05

WE CAUGHT UP WITH BENJAMIN VAN DER HORST ’05 TO SEE WHERE LIFE HAS TAKEN HIM SINCE HIS TIME AT SEVEN HILLS. BENJAMIN IS CURRENTLY GENERAL MANAGER, SKYMILES SMALL BUSINESS AND PARTNERSHIP STRATEGY AT DELTA AIR LINES AND LIVES IN ATLANTA.

Q:Where did your education and career path take you after graduating from Seven Hills?

A: After graduating in 2005, I attended Emory University, where I got my bachelor’s and master’s in history simultaneously. I then moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for a public policy research firm for two years, managing government contracts. In 2011, I started business school at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University, where I decided I wanted to take my passion for the airline industry and make it a career. During my summers at Fuqua, I interned at American Airlines. Upon graduating, I took a position with Delta Air Lines, where I have now been for 10 years. I am fortunate to work for a company I love in an industry that fascinates me every day.

Q:Have you always been interested in the airline industry? Was there a particular class or teacher that influenced your career path?

A: I’ve been interested in the airline industry since I was a kid; I even wrote my thesis in college on airline deregulation.

I’m not sure I had a favorite subject until I had John Thompson for history in eighth and ninth grade. He instilled in me a love of history, and if it weren’t for him, I would not have studied it in college. History, and how Seven Hills approaches education, teaches you how to think, not what to think. Being able to organize thoughts and facts in a logical and compelling way is an invaluable skill I learned in history class and participating in debates at Seven Hills, and now use in my job today.

Q: What is one of your favorite experiences from your time at Seven Hills?

A: An experience at Seven Hills that greatly influenced me was the Lotspeich Washington, D.C. trip. I remember it so well; it jump-started my interest in politics and Washington, D.C. My interest in politics that began on that trip led me to start a Seven Hills chapter of the Junior State of America, a nonpartisan debate club.

That trip helped shape my school experience and created an incomparable impact on my life.

Q: If you could give current Upper Schoolers one piece of advice, what would it be?

A: Explore! Different subjects, places — learn different things. Seven Hills allows people to learn and focus where they want but doesn’t force them to specialize. You have a great opportunity at Seven Hills and in college to explore and have all these opportunities; it’s so important to take advantage of that. You never know where life is going to take you.

“History, and how Seven Hills approaches education, teaches you how to think, not what to think. Being able to organize thoughts and facts in a logical and compelling way is an invaluable skill I learned in history class and participating in debates at Seven Hills.”

Benjamin van der Horst ’05

CATCHING UP WITH DEEANNE SCHROEDER HUNSTEIN H’57

“Hillsdale advanced my appreciation and love of music by the opportunities I had there. When I was in high school, I was in charge of a small vocal group that sang at assemblies. That opportunity boosted my confidence in my abilities to pursue the arts and was my first taste of managing singers.”

WE CAUGHT UP WITH DEEANNE HUNSTEIN H’57 TO SEE WHERE LIFE HAS TAKEN HER SINCE GRADUATING FROM HILLSDALE. DEEANNE CURRENTLY RESIDES IN NEW YORK CITY.

Q: Where did your education and career path take you after graduating from Hillsdale?

A: I attended the University of Michigan majoring in English. After graduation, I moved to NYC with ambitions to sing but decided instead to pursue a master’s in teaching from Harvard. I taught English at Hunter College High School, The Chapin School, and Spence for 20 years. I loved teaching; it was like performing and having an audience every day! After teaching, I managed musicians through Concert Artists Guild, an organization which empowers young artists through mentorship and performance opportunities. Managing artists was akin to being a teacher. I was inspired to found my own agency promoting mostly instrumentalists, which I did for many years.

My late husband Don Hunstein was staff photographer at Columbia Records for 30 years, and I now manage his photo library, which is sold in galleries around NYC, and I’m working on getting some of his work published. I remain involved in the arts as a volunteer.

Q:Was there a particular class that influenced your career choice?

A: I didn’t have a class that influenced me, but I loved learning chemistry, so much so that at one point I planned on becoming a chemist. I am very thankful for my background in science, because it helped me approach the arts and teaching with a different perspective.

Q: How has your involvement in the arts been influenced by your experiences at Hillsdale?

A: Hillsdale advanced my appreciation and love of music by the opportunities I had there. I loved singing in the Miracle Play. When I was in high school, I was in charge of a small vocal group that sang at assemblies. That opportunity boosted my confidence in my abilities to pursue the arts and was my first taste of managing singers.

Q: What made you decide to open your country home in Connecticut as a retreat for artists?

A: I was at a concert at Carnegie Hall and met a coach with Classic Lyric Arts, an organization that trains and mentors aspiring opera singers. He invited me to observe a working session, attend a fundraiser in NYC, and attend a workshop performance in the Berkshires. I was astounded by the quality of the

artists. They were not only wonderful singers, but amazing actors. I love being around the vocalists and listening to them work. Classic Lyric Arts helps singers get the training they need to leap into the professional world.

Q: If you could give current Upper Schoolers one piece of advice, what would it be?

A: Don’t think you’re only going to have one profession in life. One of the great things about my career path was that I morphed from one position to another, not because I didn’t like what I was doing, but because I had new opportunities and could build on the skills I had attained from the previous opportunity. The most important thing is to love what you are doing.

DeeAnne Hunstein H’57

ALUMNI BOARD UPDATES

By Gabe Davis ’03, Seven Hills Alumni

Association

Board Chair

AS I APPROACH MY 20 th REUNION THIS YEAR, I AM REMINDED OF WHAT MADE SEVEN HILLS SO SPECIAL WHEN I WAS A STUDENT, SPECIFICALLY THE RELATIONSHIPS I FORMED AND THE PEOPLE I MET.

I will always be grateful for the opportunity to grow and develop in a close-knit community of friends and strivers, surrounded by teachers and faculty who, through their guidance, passion, and dedication, made the Hillsdale Campus feel like home. I am drawn to fond memories of big and small formative moments — like the sophomore year whitewater rafting trip with Tim Drew, running laps and layup drills with the basketball team, debating the French Revolution with Bob Turansky, exploring Zora Neale Hurston’s prose with classmates, table-hopping during lunch in Founders, and traveling Cincinnati with the Upper School Chorus to perform winter classics during the lead-up to the holiday season (with a little help from Tina Kuhlman, we tenors made magic).

Twenty years later, when I hear names like Marrs, Driehaus, Ford, Kalubi, Khoo, Smythe, and many others, I can’t help but smile and count my good fortune.

In the years since graduation, I’ve been pleased to discover that the feeling of community we experienced as students

continues to exist beyond the walls of those buildings. As alumni, opportunities to engage are plentiful. From alumni events including in person and virtual to career networking, to family-friendly activities, to Roadshows in cities across the country, to helping alums reconnect casually with old teachers and colleagues, the Development Office and Alumni Board members Ashley Ackerman ’05, John Ficks ’89, Kathryne Gardette ’79, Max Gollobin ’09, Amy Bulger Kattman ’89, Meera Kotagal ’99, Laura Hoguet Leonard ’06 and myself are here to help you stay plugged in.

There are also numerous ways to give back to the school and support the next generation of leaders, thinkers, doers, and dreamers. For instance, last year the school announced a new Seven Hills Job Networking and Career Mentoring Program designed to provide mentoring, shadowing, internships, and work experience for Upper School students and college-age alumni. You can make a difference in the lives of students by participating in the program. Two years ago, the school adopted a Strategic Plan for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Alumni engagement can be a powerful additive to that initiative’s success. I encourage you to reach out and connect in a way that makes sense for you. I’m confident you’ll discover what I have, which is that you matter to Seven Hills, and it will always have a place for you.

Gabe Davis ’03 has served the community in many ways, and Seven Hills is fortunate now to have his guidance as the Alumni Association President. A graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School, Davis has held positions at the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division, Frost Brown Todd, and, in 2020, was appointed as executive director of the Cincinnati Citizen Complaint Authority, where he oversees investigations of reports of police misconduct.

STAY CONNECTED!

Like …

Seven Hills School Alumni page on Facebook

Follow …

Seven Hills on Instagram @sevenhillsalumni

Join …

Seven Hills School Alumni group on LinkedIn

Seven Hills Alumni Association Board Chair

Gabe Davis ’03

THE GOODALL DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD

Suzanne Thoben Marquard H’68

Botanic Garden. She continues to serve as a trustee after acting as secretary, treasurer, and vice chair for the Brooklyn Botanic Garden Board, which supports an urban botanic garden that inspires people of all ages through the conservation, display, and enjoyment of plants with educational programs that emphasize learning by doing and with research focused on understanding and conserving regional plants and plant communities.

During the Upper School Commencement Ceremony on June 2, Head of School Chris Garten presented the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Award to Suzanne Thoben Marquard H’68.

Established in 1978, the Goodall Award honors annually an alum of CPS, Hillsdale, Lotspeich, or The Seven Hills School who has achieved distinction bettering the lives of others in a public or private career or activity.

Suzy graduated from Hillsdale in 1968, received her B.A. from Radcliffe College and earned her J.D. from Fordham University. She is now retired after a successful career as a corporate finance attorney for Prudential Insurance.

A long-time resident of Prospect Heights in Brooklyn, New York, Suzy has been deeply involved in Brooklyn institutions such as the Montauk Club and Brooklyn

Since becoming an equestrian at the age of 10, Suzy has been passionate about horses. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, 2001, she was inspired to bring the healing power of horses to those who might best benefit from it. Since that time, Suzy has devoted her talents, energy, and philanthropy to expanding the public’s understanding of horses and to champion the horse-human bond. She started volunteering in 2011 with GallopNYC, also known as Giving Alternative Learners Uplifting Opportunities.

GallopNYC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adults, including veterans facing developmental, emotional, physical, and social challenges. She served on the board of GallopNYC from 2012-19 and served as board chair from 2014-19.

According to GallopNYC, “Marquard has been one of the guiding forces to build GallopNYC from a small, part-time volunteer program to New York City’s premier therapeutics riding program.” The organization currently serves more than 450 riders in four locations across New York City. Not only has Suzy served the organization in the boardroom, she is a certified therapeutic riding instructor and has taught hundreds of classes. In 2016, she was awarded the EQUUS Foundation Humanitarian Award for her work with the organization.

Congratulations to Suzy on this great honor!

1. Suzy Marquard is the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Award recipient. 3. Suzy Marquard’s Hillsdale classmates give her a standing ovation as she receives the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Award.

2. Head of School Chris Garten honors Suzy Marquard at the Upper School Commencement Ceremony.

Fall Reuni on Nov. 25, 2023

The classes of 2008, 2013, and 2018 will come together to celebrate their reunions on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023. More information to follow.

Reunion reps are needed to plan the class events.

April 12 &13, 2024

WE LOOK FORWARD TO WELCOMING YOU BACK TO HILLSDALE CAMPUS FOR REUNION WEEKEND 2024!

Reunion reps are needed to plan the class events. To volunteer, please contact Director of Development Margo Kirstein at margo.kirstein@7hills.org or 513.728.2437.

CPS & H ILLSDALE

Classes of 1949, 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, and 1974

LOTSPEICH

Classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, and 1973

SEVEN HILLS

Classes of 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, and 2004

All events are free of charge, courtesy of your Alumni Association and the Development Office.

All information is available at www.7hills.org/reunion

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 1999 ON YOUR 25 TH REUNION!

SAVE THE DATE

50 th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION OF THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL

PLEASE JOIN THE SEVEN HILLS COMMUNITY BACK ON CAMPUS TO COMMEMORATE THE 50 th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL

SATURDA Y APRIL 13

2024 HILLSDALE CAMPUS

MORE DETAILS TO COME. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

REUNION REPS

Reunion reps are needed to help make this a special weekend for your class. While the school-sponsored reunion events are for everyone to enjoy, each class organizes its own class-specific events. Please volunteer to help plan an event for your class, and gather some friends to join you in planning.

To volunteer or for questions, please contact Director of Development Margo Kirstein at margo.kirstein@7hills.org or 513.728.2437

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CPS AND HILLSDALE CLASSES OF 1974 ON YOUR 50 TH REUNIONS!

DOES THE SCHOOL STILL ... TAKE A WASHINGTON, D.C. TRIP?

Alumni often wonder if the school maintains the traditions, events, and activities that they enjoyed while they were students at the school. Many times, our answer is, “Yes! We still have that!”

U.S. HISTORY IS A CORNERSTONE OF EVERY SEVEN HILLS STUDENT’S EDUCATION, AS IT IS FOR EVERY STUDENT IN THE COUNTRY.

Learning about how the United States came to be what it is today and the leaders who shaped our nation is interesting when learned in the classroom, but even more so when students get to see the landmarks, monuments, and institutions they were learning about in class, in the city where it all happened, Washington, D.C. Our students have had the special opportunity to travel to the epicenter of American history and politics for many years, beginning in the CPS days.

CPS teacher Mrs. Jane Liebich taught a two-year U.S. history course

1965

to juniors and seniors, in which she focused on the U.S. Constitution and landmark court cases. In the mid1960s, Mrs. Liebich began leading seniors on a three-day trip to the nation’s capital, to tour museums and monuments. The trip quickly became a highly anticipated event of senior year. Marge Davis, Janie Maddox Dumbadze, and Carol Smith Hesser, C’65, were part of one of the first classes to travel to D.C. They toured the Supreme Court, the House of Representatives, and visited Mt. Vernon and the National Art Gallery — Carol still has the itinerary! Janie reminisced, “Cincinnati native John J. Gilligan was a member of the U. S House of Representatives. He gave us a tour of the House and hosted our lunch in the Congressional Dining Room. We also had a party with the Senate Pages.” The trip gave students

a chance to bring their lessons to life and meet key figures of the current political landscape.

The trip itinerary was similar from year to year but with some exceptional experiences. Ina Zimpelman Loftspring, Debbie Meyer Chamberlain, and Hildy Cohen Clayton C’69, remember how on a chilly, snow-covered afternoon they had the privilege of placing a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Another day, they met Speaker of the House John McCormack. Gretchen Holzman Kauscher’s C'69, aunt and uncle helped plan the class itinerary, as her uncle, John W. Bush, was an Interstate Commerce Commissioner. His wife Dorothy V. Bush was Secretary of the National Democratic Party and called the roll for over nine conventions. Kauscher recalled, “They set up a lunch for the class at

C’65 with Representative John J. Gilligan in Washington, D.C.

1969

Lotspeich students got to experience the trip, run for many years by teachers Kim Walden and Tracy Hickenlooper. They, along with a group of chaperones, including Glenn Shillinger, Doug Huff, and Marty Gerhardt, would travel to D.C. with rising fifth graders. The chaperones were as much a highlight of the trip as were the museums and landmarks they visited. Lotspeich teacher and chaperone Sara Snyder said when thinking about the trip, “Doug Huff is a walking, talking history book. The group would listen to him drop history tidbits about each building as we walked to the next activity. And Glenn was our GPS before there was GPS — he got us where we needed to be!”

the trip my mother and her classmates took but was just as enjoyable. We spent time swimming at the hotel pool and also enjoyed the Smithsonian and the Air and Space Museum, while walking around the district.” The trip was offered to rising fifth graders until 2020, when COVID put activities on hold.

This year, the Washington, D.C. trip was taken by seventh graders from the Middle School. They visited landmarks they learned about in their history books with their fellow classmates and made memories like Seven Hills students have since the 1960s.

2010

the Capitol, where we enjoyed their famous bean soup! My favorite tour was the FBI building.”

The D.C. trip continued at CPS until the merger in 1974. After that, Doherty and

The D.C. trip served as a rite of passage for the students. For many it was their first trip without their parents and the first combined trip for Doherty and Lotspeich students. Peter Dumbadze ’06 noted, “For those of us from Doherty, being in D.C. would be one of the few times we didn’t need to wear a uniform. Our trip looked very different than

C’69 on the steps of The Capitol

Lotspeich and Doherty Students in 2010

Seventh graders pose for a photo outside of The White House

ALUMNI STRESS IMPORTANCE OF PASSION AT CAREER PANELS

Eight Seven Hills alumni took part in Alumni Career Panels for the Upper Schoolers throughout the 2022-23 school year. The panels were led by Class of 2023 graduate Anna Papakirk.

The four Seven Hills alumni who took part in the December panel during lunch stressed to the students the importance of being passionate about their future careers.

“Do what you love and be happy,” said Brandon Hydrick ’92, who shared that he was simply going through the motions working in finance until he decided to attend the Culinary Institute of America. He is now the bakery team leader at Whole Foods Market.

Rob Chavez ’06, who is a partner at real estate investment firm Chavez Properties, reassured the students that a Seven Hills education would make them ready for any career.

“A lot of the things they teach at this school, like empathy, community, and working together, really helped me to be successful in all business environments,” he said.

During the panel in February, John Bloch ’03 talked about the importance of being excited about an educational or career path and not being afraid about changing course.

“Flip the script, and be excited to try something because you never know how it will turn out,” Bloch said.

Caroline Kalnow ’06 said the support and confidence she gained from her Seven Hills education helped her in her career in fashion.

Rob Chavez ’06 . . . . . . . . . . . Partner at Chavez Properties

Allison Ferree ’06 . . . . . . . . . Pediatrician at Pediatric Partners

Brandon Hydrick ’92 . . . . . . . Bakery Team Leader at Whole Foods Market

Michael Motch ’93 . . . . . . . . Owner of Electronauts

John Bloch ’03 . . . . . . . . . . . . Director of Research and Development at Graeter’s Ice Cream

Caroline Kalnow ’06 . . . . . . . Lead Stylist and Buyer at Soho

Jon Vogt ’03 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Assistant City Solicitor for City of Cincinnati

Ioanna Parakevopoulos ’98 . . . Founder of Action TankUSA

ALUMNI 5, 10, and 15 YEAR REUNIONS

CLASS OF 2011 REUNION

On the evening of Saturday, Nov. 26, the Class of 2011 continued their Thanksgiving weekend celebrations at Taft’s Ale House’s Mezzanine Lounge in Over-the-Rhine for their delayed 10th reunion. Classmates from near and far caught up over local brews and light bites. They enjoyed catching up with their fellow Stingers about new babies, marriages, moves, jobs, travel, and more!

Thank you to reunion reps Anne Mapes and Andre Hunter-Woodard for putting together a great event!

CLASS OF 2012 REUNION

Members of the Class of 2012 convened to celebrate their 10th reunion on Dec. 30, 2022, at OTR Stillhouse. They reconnected over house cocktails and bar fare, and enjoyed time together, reminiscing about classmates, old teachers, and each other’s news.

Big thanks to reunion rep Mark Niehaus for planning a memorable evening for your classmates!

CLASS OF 2017 REUNION

The Class of 2017 celebrated their fifth reunion on Saturday, Nov. 26, at MadTree Brewing in Oakley. Approximately 25 classmates and friends enjoyed pizza and MadTree beverages in the taproom. They reminisced about their favorite classes and their time at Seven Hills. Their surprise takeaway gift was Seven Hills swag.

Thank you again to reunion reps Chase Byington and Devi Namboodiri for orchestrating a fun evening!

CLASS OF 2011 REUNION

CLASS OF 2012 REUNION

CLASS OF 2017 REUNION

REUNION 2023

On April 14, we were delighted to welcome alumni back to the Hillsdale Campus for Reunion 2023. The weekend’s events began with more than 75 alumni, spanning from the classes of 1948 to 1973, who gathered for the 20th Classics Luncheon at The Cincinnati Country Club. The annual luncheon honors alumni who graduated 50 years ago and beyond. This year, CPS and Hillsdale Class of 1973 celebrated their 50th Reunion and were welcomed into The Classics Society. They were commemorated with the Classics Society pin and a beautiful floral arrangement. Juniors Gabrielle Walker and Celine Tan greeted the guests as they entered the Country Club for the luncheon. Alums were excited to see one another and peruse their yearbooks before sitting down for lunch and the program.

Director of Development Margo Kirstein welcomed everyone and introduced senior Class Agents Saahil Chunduri, Anna Papakirk, and Reid Pease, who spoke about what their Seven Hills experience meant to them and their plans for the future. Chris Garten delivered a State of the School address, and then Class of 2023 graduate Elias Buttress, sophomore Sophia Schuermeyer, and eighth grader Maya Little dazzled the guests with vocal performances, including a rousing rendition of “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid.”

Following the Classics Luncheon, a group of alumni convened at the Doherty Campus for a tour with Doherty early childhood teacher Julie Brackett. They explored Faran, Brooks, and Jones Halls, and reminisced about the classes,

teachers, and experiences they had during their time there.

That evening, alumni and their guests went on tours of the Hillsdale Campus, followed by the Alumni Art Show & Reception which took place in a familiar space, Founders Hall. Over 150 alumni, relatives, and friends enjoyed elevated cafeteria-inspired dinner by-the-bite while enjoying remarkable and exquisite artwork from 17 alumni of Seven Hills, CPS, Hillsdale, and Lotspeich. The fine art included paintings, drawings, photography, and sculpture. The cafeteria was surrounded by the beautiful artwork and was filled with conversations, laughter, and friendships.

Throughout the weekend, individual classes held their own events to reconnect with old classmates and celebrate their reunions.

REUNION 2023

Classics Luncheon at Cincinnati Country Club

REUNION 2023

Classics Luncheon and Alumni Art Show

Alumni Art Show

REUNION 2023

Alumni Art Show & Reception

REUNION 2023: Individual Class Events

Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for individual class events to celebrate their reunions and reconnect with classmates.

H ILLSDALE

1963

C PS

1968

H ILLSDALE 1968 H ILLSDALE 1973

The Hillsdale Class of 1968 celebrated their Reunion the weekend of June 2-3, 2023, when their classmate, Suzy Thoben Marquard H’68, received the school’s highest alumni award, the Goodall Distinguished Alumni Award, during Upper School graduation.

REUNION 2023: Individual Class Events

Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for individual class events to celebrate their reunions and reminisce with old friends.

SHS 1978

REUNION 2023: Individual Class Events and Campus Tours

Throughout the weekend, alumni gathered for individual class events to celebrate their reunions and reminisce with old friends.

The Class of 2003 celebrated their 20th reunion April 14 and 15. Locals were joined by classmates who traveled in from California, Colorado, Missouri, New York, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., and Toronto. A nostalgic Friday night at Madison Bowl was followed up with a Saturday afternoon in the sun and sand at 50 West Brewery and evening house party thanks to gracious host, Lisa Zaring. Cheers to 20 years!

THANK YOU REUNION CLASS REPRESENTATIVES

CP S

1968

Nancy Osmond Allgeier

Ceci Twachtman

1973

Claire Hummel Kupferle

Anne Sheffield Vanoy

Hillsdale

1958

Janet Keys Simpkinson

1963

Laurie McLean Bustle

Jill Acomb Hoff

Gayle Heckel White

1968

Kitty Blair Fischer

Beth O'Connell Keegan

1973

Marian Barrett Leibold

Seven Hills

1978

Ellie Fabe

Dede Lewis Rowe

1983

Sybil Behrens Mullin

Stephanie Scruggs

Dotty Shaffer

Fritz Wilger

1988

Julianne Richardson Wagner

1998

Kate Blocher

2003

Julie Andress

Sarah Lichtenstein

Sarah McHugh

Thank you to all of the Reunion class reps for your time, effort, and school spirit, organizing wonderful events and gathering your classmates throughout the Reunion weekend!

DOHER TY AND HILLSDALE CAM PUS TOURS

# THROWBACK:

Seven Hills Wrestling Team

Soccer, basketball, baseball, and tennis. These are sports that many alumni played during their time at Seven Hills. Field hockey has given way to lacrosse. Teams of gymnasts have been replaced by hordes of squash players.

But did you know that Seven Hills had a wrestling team? Ten student athletes embarked on the inaugural season during the 1984-85 school year. The athletes had little experience and spent time learning the fundamentals of the sport, but improved enough to place third in the Miami Valley Conference meet their first year. The following few seasons, the team grew in members and experience with the help of head coach and Seven Hills science teacher Bill Devine, who coached from 1987 to 1990. They would practice their takedowns, breakdowns, and pinning combinations in the loft space of what is now the Kalnow Gym.

Brett Rubenstein ’89 was a member of the team at its peak of popularity in the late 1980s to early 1990s. “We were a small team. There were always some

weight classes that were unoccupied which made it hard for us to compete as a team, but in the weight classes we had students in, we were pretty competitive on an individual level.” He remembers at larger meets, the team would group up with other smaller schools, like Summit Country Day, to create a large enough team to fill all weight classes. Rubenstein remarked, “One of the highlights from my time on the team at Seven Hills, other than getting to be with my teammates, was meeting and making friends with wrestlers from other small schools like Summit and Cincinnati Country Day; some of them are still my closest friends. Even though we wrestled for different schools, we shared a common interest. The conversations I had with competitors and teammates during the down time at big meets are some of the times I cherish the most.” Rubenstein remarked, “Wrestling taught me

dedication and perseverance. You can really gauge your growth because, even though there is a team component, it’s just you and your opponent out on the mat.” Brett’s brother, Scott Rubenstein ’91, also wrestled all four years of high school.

After the 1990 season, Coach Jamie Myers stepped in, and while the team tapered in numbers, the individual wrestlers continued to learn, hone their skills, and hold their own against more experienced schools. The wrestling team competed until the end, when they pinned their last opponent in the mid-90s. Wrestling is still offered as an individual sport when there is interest from students. While the sport’s time as a team sport at Seven Hills was brief, the athletes who competed on the mat for Seven Hills will remember the commitment and discipline they learned during their time on the team forever.

The first Seven Hills wrestling team, 1984-85 school year

1987-88 wrestling team, including Brett Rubenstein ’89 and brother Scott Rubenstein ’91

IN MEMORIAM:

Marjorie Wood Drackett L’34 H’40

The Seven Hills community is saddened by the loss of our longtime friend of the school Marjorie Wood Drackett L’34 H’40, who passed away at her home in Naples, Florida, on May 12, just one month shy of her 101st birthday.

Marjorie pursued many projects stemming from her love of flowers and gardening, including initiating a greenery program at the Cincinnati Art Museum, placing live plants throughout the museum and decorating the period rooms for the holiday season. She was a member and officer of the Junior League of Cincinnati Garden Club and the Indian Hill Garden Club.

Born in Cincinnati, Marjorie attended Lotspeich School in the 1920s and 1930s and then graduated in 1940 from the allgirls Hillsdale School. She was a graduate from Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In a conversation with our Director of Development Margo Kirstein a few years ago, Marjorie reflected upon her vivid memories of her time at both Lotspeich and Hillsdale schools. “First of all,” she said as they began their conversation, “I loved Hillsdale. I just loved that school.” Prior to attending the all-girls Hillsdale School, Marjorie was a student at Lotspeich in the late 1920s and early 1930s, under

the school’s founder, Mrs. Helen Lotspeich, whom she remembered as an imposing person and very much at the helm of her school.

Throughout her long life, Marjorie never missed an opportunity to gather with friends and family and was known to be happy wherever she was. She and her husband of 65 years, Chuck Drackett, shared a life filled with love for their farm in Indiana, summers in northern Michigan, and winters in Naples after retirement, many hobbies, and, most importantly, time spent with their family and friends. She was known to say that the best thing she and Chuck ever did was raise their two children.

Marjorie is survived by her children Anne Drackett Thomas H’66 (Eddie) and Kim Drackett (Susan Gurganus L’63); her four grandchildren Elizabeth Garber Daniels, Tom Garber ’96, Chris Drackett ’00, and Nate Drackett ’02; her four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Cecile Drackett Allyn H’56 and Sallie Drackett Van Rensselaer H’58, who graduated from Hillsdale.

Seven Hills is forever grateful to Marjorie for her unwavering, decades-long friendship and support for the school. Her legacy of generosity has and will continue to create exceptional learning experiences and world-class facilities for generations of students to come.

ALUMNI NEXT CHAPTER EVENT: Alumni, Families Decorate

Valentine’s Day Cookies

Alumni and their Families Enjoy Cookie Decorating Class

On the sunny afternoon of Feb. 11, 30 alumni, friends, and family gathered in Founders Hall for a cookie decorating class taught by Glenda Jones, owner of Cocoa Bites in Loveland, Ohio. Glenda led the group through a number of decorating techniques to create beautiful Valentine’s Day cookies. Everyone caught up and reconnected while they decorated and introduced family members to their former classmates.

It was a beautiful moment to witness the Seven Hills ongoing legacy as both alums and current students enjoyed the sweet kickoff to Valentine’s Day.

Thank you again to Glenda and to all who attended!

ALUMNI

NEXT CHAPTER EVENT: Alumni Gather Virtually for Zoom Trivia

Next Chapter events

On the evening of Feb. 9, alumni from across the country, ranging from classes of 1980-2018, virtually gathered to check in with friends and test their knowledge during an alumni Zoom trivia event.

Hosted by Upper School physics teacher Tim Drew and Upper School history

teacher and college counselor Beth Driehaus, questions ran the gamut from school trivia, to history, pop culture, and sports. What were the school colors for Hillsdale? Where did the Olympics take place in 2016? What three schools merged to become The Seven Hills School? These were just a few of the questions posed in the rounds of competition.

Alumni chatted and reminisced during the event. The top three competitors,

Melissa Springer ’08, Tshiunza Kalubi ’02, and overall winner Lisa Gilbert ’96 were rewarded with fun Seven Hills swag. Driehaus said, “It was such a treat to host and get to see my past students as full-blown adults! With kids!”

THANK YOU to our emcees and all who attended!

bring alumni together in the spirit of fun.

2022 Alumni Basketball Games

On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 26, over 50 alumni, students, parents, and friends gathered in the Field House for the annual alumni basketball games. Alumni players ranged from the Class of 1993 to the most recent graduates of the Class of 2022. Spectators filled the stands to watch the men battle it out on the court in 4 v. 4 alumni games, while the womens alumni team tested their skills against the girls varsity basketball team. The womens alumni showed varsity they still had game and kept the competition close until the bitter end. The varsity girls eked out a win by a minute margin — 3 points!

At the end of the games, Athletic Director Scott Willard proudly announced that boys varsity basketball coach Willie Hill and alumna Lauren Weems ’14, had been chosen for the Seven Hills Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2023 and would be honored along with four other coaches and athletes in a ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 26. A roar of applause and well wishes erupted from the crowd.

A huge thanks to everyone who came out to play and cheer and to the coaches and athletic staff who planned a great event! It was a great way to cap off the Thanksgiving break!

2023 Books for Lunch Alumni & Parent Book Club

On the evening of Jan. 26, a group of alumni and current parents gathered in the Lotspeich Library for a discussion of 2023 Books for Lunch author Min Jin Lee’s novel, “Pachinko.” The book club was facilitated by Upper School Head Matt Bolton and English teacher Mark Beyreis, during which members of the group shared their thoughts about the book and author, and the book’s interesting theme. It was a great way to kick off the Books for Lunch dinner and luncheon events that took place Feb. 2 and 3.

News from our Alumni

Recently moved? New job? Just got married? Addition to your family? New email? Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates to update your information or send your news to development@7hills.org.

1967

Barbara Fuller Cherry (H) (Ashburn, VA) wrote, “I recently came back to Cincinnati for a visit and eight of our classmates got together for lunch at the National Exemplar. They were Poppy Yeiser Hawkins, Leezie Walker Borden, Nancy Pechstein Aubke, Shannon Kelly Carter,

1970

Anni Macht (C) (Cincinnati) wrote, "On March 21, seven of us CPS ’70 alums enjoyed a fun lunch at Cafe Mediterranean in Hyde Park.” Pictured: Deb Muntz Krehbiel, Ann Findlater Meredith, Lissie Pogue, Carol Crutchfield Wiggers, Anni Macht, Bronwyn Park Elssaeser, and Janet Byron Campbell.”

1972

Helen Asbury (H) (Cincinnati) wrote, “It was great being with so many classmates last spring! I have recently moved my psychology practice to Blue Ash and continue to enjoy my collaboration with Seven Hills on assessment and therapy cases. Greetings to all members of the Green and Gold teams!”

Jay Moore Reighley (H) (Yarmouth, ME) is “living the dream” in Maine. She spent her winter cross country skiing in search of the ultimate view. Jay writes, “It was a pleasure joining fellow classmates for our 50th reunion at Helen Asbury's cozy house. I'm saddened by the loss of our classmate Cathy Smale Caldemeyer. She was a quiet force for change and good in our community.”

1976

Cathi White (Skokie, IL) reported, “Ten years ago, I walked out of my classroom to make sure my students would have a livable planet. Ironically, this goal has landed me in American government, the class I disliked almost as much as eighth grade geography. Wins: writing legislation that codified into law the divestment of Chicago’s operating funds; passing three ballot initiatives to restructure Skokie’s electoral system (so we can make environmental progress here); passage of CEJA, which is basically a Green New Deal for Illinois. In progress: IL HB 3037 to divest state pensions from fossil fuels (that includes my pension!); teaching soil regeneration to draw down carbon without the environmental problems of carbon capture and storage systems.”

1980

Stuart Garner (Elgin, IL) wrote, “I shut down my company, Scitimar Prototyping, Inc., last year. I am currently the head of business development at Paradigm Development Group. Great bunch of guys here.”

this issue.

Susan Langsley (Redmond, WA) is an RN in Washington and has fond memories of

Judy Robinson Williams, Robin Smith Armstrong, and Wendy TenEyck. We had a great time catching up."

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in

her time at Seven Hills. One of her most vivid memories from her time at school was Susan Marrs telling her, "If you don't become a writer, angels will descend." Thanks for sharing, Susan!

1989

Brett Rubenstein (Centennial, CO) wrote, “After 20 years in Colorado Springs, we relocated to Denver last year. I'm teaching at a very innovative micro-middle school,

Mr. White (English) and Mrs. Tolentino (Spanish), great advisers such as Tim Drew and Wynne Curry, enriching art classes with Diane Kruer, and participating in tennis and softball made me want the same experience for my own children someday. I loved the small environment, and the friendships I made in classes, on sports teams, and outside of school. I feel fortunate to have found similar schools to Seven Hills in Denver. I believe the experiences we have in great schools and with great teachers shape our lives for the better. I am sad to have recently missed our Class of 1993 reunion. I will always be grateful for the time I spent at Seven Hills."

1999

Jennifer Frey (Cincinnati) was a Health Care Hero Finalist for Community Outreach and recognized by the Cincinnati Business Courier. Congratulations, Jennifer!

In Memoriam

Our condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

1940

Marjorie Wood Drackett L’34 H’40 (Naples, FL) passed away on May 12, 2023.

1944

Betty Baker Sheffield (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on Nov. 12, 2022.

1945

Herbert Upson (L) (Palm Desert, CA) passed away on Nov. 2, 2022.

1946

Martha Jones Landise (H) (Cincinnati) passed away in October 2022.

Embark Education, which supports students to courageously inquire, engage, and discover a sense of self in an environment that is learner centered, integrated, and embedded in two small businesses, Pinwheel Coffee and Framework Cycles! I still see former Seven Hills science teachers and colleagues Steve Kerchner and Ann Carson fairly frequently! Here we are skiing at Keystone a few weeks ago.”

1993

Catie Borden Cohen (Denver) wrote, "I was only at Seven Hills for three years but the time was quite impactful on me. The positive experiences I had later led me to years of teaching, coaching, and advising at a pre-k to 12 independent school in Denver. Having caring teachers such as

2000

Saliou Diagne (Los Angeles) was nominated for a Grammy for two songs that he co-produced on Beyoncé’s album, “Renaissance:” “Alien Superstar” and “Summer Renaissance.”

2001

Gillian Abineri (Savannah, GA) reported, "I have a 3-year-old. The conflict resolution strategies I learned at Seven Hills are really coming into play."

2003

Julie Andress (New York City) got engaged to Rachel Wasser. Best wishes to the happy couple!

Janet Fast Andress (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on Feb. 12, 2023.

1948

Robin Carrier (C) (Prospect, KY) passed away on March 7, 2022.

Margaret Burchenal Baylor (H) (New Canaan, CT) passed away on Nov. 22, 2022.

1959

Nancy Donaldson Kollin (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on May 24, 2023.

1961

Margy Highlands Gale (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on May 11, 2023.

Continued on page 89

CLASS NOTES, Continued . . .

News from our Alumni

2003

John Bloch (Cincinnati) is the director of research & development at Graeter’s Ice Cream, where he supports multiple elements of the business including marketing, production, procurement, quality assurance, sales, innovation and new product development, raw material and vendor sourcing, specification development, production optimization … and in general gets to eat a lot of ice cream. Congratulations on the sweet new job!

Tyler McIlwraith (Cincinnati) welcomed son, Hudson Michael, on April 21. Best wishes on your new addition, Tyler!

2004

Margaret Kent Edson (New York City) and husband Chris welcomed their third child, son James Patrick, on Jan. 12. James joins excited big sister, Georgina, and big brother, Philip. Congrats, Edsons!

Sarah McDonough Goodacre (Redlands, CA) and husband Brian welcomed their son, Charles “Charlie” Goodacre, on Jan. 3. Charlie joins big sisters, Ellie (4) and Izzy (2). Congratulations, Goodacres!

director of marketing for DR Horton (America's #1 home builder) in their property management division for BTR (Build to Rent) homes and Multifamily Internal Property Management.

2009

Emma Sheer Donovan (Chicago) and husband Chase currently live in Chicago and have a daughter, Sylvie Fern, who turned two on April 30.

David Colman (Toronto) and wife Lauren welcomed daughter Heather on Nov. 2, 2022. She joins older sisters, Anna and Sarah. Congratulations!

Rachel Ellison (Chicago) makes and sells Jewish ritual artwork through her business, Bat Sarah Press, which she founded in 2015, after earning an MFA in visual art from The University of Chicago. She lives in Chicago with her husband Dylan and two children Sylvia (4) and Dov (2).

2005

Ashley Ackerman (Cincinnati) and Drew Kohn ’08 were married on May 13 in a small ceremony on the beach in Daufuskie Island, South Carolina. Congratulations to the happy couple!

2006

Erin Harbaugh Reese (Phoenix) had her third baby, son Carson Maxwell Reese, on Dec. 21, 2021. Carson joins big twin brothers, Brooks and Owen. Erin is now

Chelsea Zesch Jones (Cincinnati) and her husband Joshua welcomed daughter Edith May Jones on Feb. 9. The family is doing well and are enjoying this new and exciting chapter. Congratulations, Jones family!

2010

Shannon Monnier Evers (Mauldin, SC) and husband Nathan welcomed their first child, son Haxton Paul, on Dec. 20, 2022. Shannon’s brother, Justin Monnier ’07, is excited to be an uncle. Congratulations on your new arrival!

2011 Miles Hill (Lexington, KY) and wife Lucie welcomed their first child, son Jules Preston, on Nov. 3, 2022. Congratulations!

In Memoriam, cont.

Our condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones.

1964

Mary Jo Brumbaugh (C) (Traverse City, MI) passed away on Nov. 20, 2022.

1968

Alys Baldwin McCalmont (C) (Cincinnati) passed away on Nov. 3, 2022.

1970

Ellen Pease Sole (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on March 2, 2023.

1972

Cathy Smale Caldemeyer (H) (Cincinnati) passed away on Dec. 2, 2022.

Our condolences to family and friends who lost loved ones as reported in this issue.

Friends of Seven Hills

Anne Greenwald (Cincinnati), beloved Lotspeich second grade teacher, passed away on March 12, 2023.

Barbara Murdock (Cincinnati), former Seven Hills staff member, passed away on April 16, 2023.

CLASS NOTES, Continued . . .

News from Our Alumni

Katie Sauers Jackson (Washington, D.C.) married Kevin Jackson on Oct. 8, 2022. Their ceremony was held at the D.C. War Memorial, followed by a reception at the restaurant Seven Reasons. Jackson's bridesmaids included fellow Class of 2011 alumni Anne Mapes Younker, Kimia Ghazi Rogers, Meredith Collette Weeks, and Nyla Morgan. Congratulations!

2012

Mark Niehaus (Cincinnati) wrote, "In Dec. 2022, I started as the director of communications for the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. The Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, also known as CFT, is the union that represents over 3,000 teaching and office staff professionals who work in the Cincinnati

Public School District. Before taking this job, I was a career political consultant based in Southwest Ohio, having most recently served as the executive director of the Hamilton County Democratic Party. In my current role with the teachers union, I oversee the internal and external communications strategy of CFT through a variety of channels to inform, educate, and organize around benefits of union membership, as well as develop local and national support for issues and campaigns that support education justice in Cincinnati. Additionally, I manage CFT's accounting, including payroll, compliance, accounts, and our annual audit. My former math teachers will likely understand this irony."

Leigh Fidler (New York City) graduated from The University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in communications in 2016 and has since lived on the Upper West Side of New York City. Over the past eight years, Leigh has held public relations and entertainment relations positions at esteemed fashion houses including Christian Dior, Zac Posen, and Kiki de Montparnasse. In 2021, Leigh cofounded her own boutique public relations firm, PRIVY PR, where she provides her clients a curated, hightouch approach to public relations and brand building. Though running her own company keeps her plenty busy, she still makes frequent trips home to cheer on our Cincinnati Bengals. Who Dey!

2018

Recently moved? Just got married? New email? Go to www.7hills.org/alumniupdates to update your information or send your news to development@7hills.org.

Tommy Robinson (Chicago) moved to Chicago following his graduation from Miami University, where he studied finance and French, to begin his career as a consultant for a global consulting firm, Protiviti. He's enjoyed his career so far and looks forward to more work experiences as a consultant.

2023-24 Alumni Calendar

We look forward to seeing everyone at our events in the coming year! Please keep an eye on the calendar at www.7hills.org/alumni and your inbox for more details!

Friday, Aug. 4, 2023

Fall Alumni Sports Night

Volleyball: 6 p.m. Tennis (co-ed): 6 p.m.

Women’s Soccer: 6 p.m.

Men’s Soccer: 7:30 p.m.

Hillsdale Campus

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023

Next Chapter Event: Alumni Book Club and Discussion of “Met the End” by former

Seven Hills parent Holly Brians Ragusa

6–7:30 p.m.

Hillsdale Campus and via Zoom

Sept. 22-23, 2023

Homecoming Weekend

Hillsdale Campus

Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023

Seven Hills 50th Anniversary Kickoff — Alumni Event at Homecoming Varsity Soccer Games

1–3 p.m.

Hillsdale Campus

Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023

Seven Hills Roadshow — New York City

6–8 p.m.

Cosmopolitan Club

122 East 66th St., New York, NY 10065

Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023

Alumni Night at FC Cincinnati v. Atlanta United FC

6 p.m.

TQL Stadium

1501 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45214

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023

Alumni Basketball Games

Women’s: 10 a.m.

Men’s: 10 a.m.

Field House, Hillsdale Campus

Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023

5th Reunion – Class of 2018

Time and Location TBA

10th Reunion – Class of 2013

Time and Location TBA

15th Reunion – Class of 2008

Time and Location TBA

Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023

Next Chapter Event: Alumni Night at The Festival of Lights

5 p.m.

Cincinnati Zoo

Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023

Young Alumni Holiday Party

3–5 p.m.

Taft’s Ale House

1429 Race St., Cincinnati, OH 45202

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024

A Night of Magic with Dennis Watkins — Back by Popular Demand!

6:30 p.m. via Zoom

Friday, Jan. 26, 2024

Seven Hills Roadshow — Naples, Florida

11:45 a.m.

Naples Yacht Club

700 14th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102

Saturday, Feb. 10, 2024

Next Chapter Event: Cookie Decorating with Glenda Jones of Cocoa Bites and Flower Arranging Workshop with Tim Lieber

12:30–2 p.m.

Founders Hall, Hillsdale Campus

Thursday, April 25, 2024

Next Chapter Event: Alumni Book Club

Discussion of "Romantic Comedy," a novel by Curtis Sittenfeld

6 p.m.

Hillsdale Campus and via Zoom

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