SEMESTER IN REVIEW
As we look forward to a new school year, we want to take one more look at some of the outstanding accomplishments that marked the second semester of 2010–2011.
The Seven Hills School
august 2011
Ready for a great 2011–2012 Celebrating outstanding achievement Members of the Class of 2011netted $4,856,950 in merit scholarships for college or more than $179,227 per recipient. All of Seven Hills’ 11 semifinalists in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program—16% of the senior class—qualified as finalists. This continues a tradition for Seven Hills of having top percentages of semifinalists in the senior class among Greater Cincinnati schools. Of these finalists, two graduates won National Merit® $2500 Scholarships, one graduate won a National Achievement® $2500 Scholarship, and five won college-sponsored Merit Scholarship® awards. Twenty-four of the 60 members of the Class of 2012—or 40% of the class—will earn National Merit recognition in 2011-2012! The students qualified for recognition with their scores on the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and by meeting the requirements of the program. Of the 221 Advanced Placement exams in 16 subject areas taken in May by 107 students, 93% of the scores earned were 3’s or better on the 1-5 national scale, qualifying our students for advanced standing in college. They scored an average of 4.2 (“Well Qualified”).
Twelve members of the Class of 2012—22% of the 55 who took SATs as juniors—have scored to date at least one perfect 800 on one of the three sections of the SAT or on one SAT Subject Test, including one student who scored a perfect 2400 and one who earned six 800s.
The Seven Hills Method As part of an ongoing effort to ensure that a Seven Hills education continues to prepare students for success in a complex global community, the Seven Hills faculty collaborated in Fall, 2009, on drafting a Portrait of a Graduate. The Portrait identifies the skills and the habits
As of June, 55 rising seniors had these SAT results: Middle 50% of SAT Scores: Combined = 1750-2260 Critical Reading 590-750 Math 570-760 Writing 590-750
of mind we are seeking to foster in our students and ensures that we
On the SAT Subject Tests taken in June, our students’ average score on the 200-800 scale was 722. SAT Subject Tests Average Score Math I 689 Math II 722 Chemistry 760 Environmental Biology 785 Molecular Biology 763 Physics 650 Literature 714 U.S. History 722 World History 703 French 698 Spanish 730 Latin 750 Chinese 740
Seven Hills Method, which defines for each department what skills we
Of the 18 rising seniors who took the SAT Chemistry Subject Test, the average score was 760 and there were five 800’s. Three others had 800’s in environmental biology, molecular biology, and physics. On the ACT, there were five perfect 36’s in science. In short, in this class of 60 students, 12 (20%) had a perfect science score on one of the SAT or ACT sections or on an SAT Subject Test.
We design opportunities for meaningful collaboration.
employ instructional techniques which best design curriculum and foster these 21st century skills. Throughout 2010-2011, the faculty collaborated on developing the hope to produce and delineates the pedagogical methods most conducive to those results. The following are the main points of the Seven Hills Method. Examples of the Method in practice can be seen on page 2 in the curricular units that were funded by summer 2011 teacher grants. We pose engaging questions that foster students’ passion for learning. We focus on content that engages students in compelling global issues. We design complex tasks that build logic, critical thinking and problem solving skills. We structure learning activities that require creativity, independent thought and innovation.
We craft opportunities for skilled and confident communication in a variety of media. We emphasize the use of technological tools for research, analysis, and communication.
Second year of summer teacher grants results in exciting 21st century learning opportunities For the second year, thanks to a generous grant from an educational foundation, Seven Hills was able to fund summer curriculum development and renewal grants for teachers. “The result has been an explosion of faculty creativity,” said Head of School Chris Garten. In Summer 2010, 28 individual and group projects were funded, and this year, 30 teachers received grants. These summer grants have enabled our faculty to design ambitious interdisciplinary projects which engage students in utilizing instructional technology to research global issues of political, economic or environmental concern. The projects foster students’ critical thinking, problem solving, and collaborative skills, preparing them even more fully for success in the global community. Just a few examples follow. The World War I – Cold War unit in the Europe and the Modern World course will give students the opportunity to become “diplomats,” as they use their problem-solving skills to address the issues that contributed to both world wars and the Cold War, as well as current global issues. The goal is to engage students and deepen their understanding of historical events, the process of diplomacy, and the complexity of current issues.
Investigating the carbon cycle
A 3D modeling program will be added to the Time-Based Media and Graphic Design
Several grants enabled teachers to redesign units to take advantage of the iPad pilot
courses, allowing students to visualize 3-dimensional objects of any scale for video pro-
program in sixth and ninth grade courses, starting with the new school year.
duction, prototyping, virtual characters and environments, and pure creative ideation. Seventh grade science students will collaborate with Arctic scientist George Divoky on An Upper French teacher has completely rewritten the AP French Language curriculum,
the new unit, Climate Change and the Carbon Cycle.
due to the “complete overhauling” of the AP French Language Exam for 2011-2012 and the course changes proposed by the College Board. For the first time, teachers of
Lotspeich fifth graders will learn how the stock market works, research different stocks,
the AP French Language course are being given specific thematic units to cover, includ-
and manage their own “portfolios” over several months.
ing Global Challenges, Science and Technology, Contemporary Life, Personal and Public Identities, Families and Communities, and Beauty and Aesthetics.
Doherty and Lotspeich science teachers have collaborated on a new science unit on Inventions in which students will investigate past and present inventions/inventors and
“Our students ask why and what if. They habitually reflect on ideas. They know how to problem solve: how to approach problems critically and creatively and how to ask probing questions.” (Excerpt from Learning at The Seven Hills School: Our Twenty-First Century Competitive Advantage)
analyze their impact on various communities. A new Systems of the Body unit for Unit II Health classes will explore the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, muscular, nervous, and immune systems. A new Immigration unit in Unit III will focus on issues surrounding Mexican immigration to the U.S., culminating with a student-produced podcast on the different sides of the issue, including that of the Mexican immigrant.
A few of our math scholars
Outstanding academic achievement and more in 2010-2011 Middle and Upper School students earned top
A team of five Seven Hills students took top honors
honors on the 2011 National Latin Exam: 84%
in the state on the 2011 OCTM (Ohio Council of
of Middle students and 91% of Upper students
Teachers of Mathematics) competition. The Seven
earned an award on the National Latin Exam,
Hills team placed first in the state among schools
including one perfect score.
the size of Seven Hills and 14th in the state among 98 schools of all sizes. Individually, a freshman
Twenty-five Middle and Upper School students
tied for eighth highest scorer in the state, and a
earned national rankings on their respective
junior tied for 20th highest scorer in the state. The
levels in the National French Contest, and one
team members qualified for the Ohio High School
student ranked first and three students second in
Mathematics Invitational Olympiad at Capital
the state.
University.
Upper and Middle School students earned high
In the Ohio Math League competition, Seven Hills
honors on their respective levels on the National
came in seventh in the state and second in region
Spanish Exam. Gold Medal winners included a
(Hamilton County) among schools of all sizes. For
sophomore who scored at the 99th percentile na-
cumulative individual scores, a freshman came in
tionally and placed first in the state, and a junior
first in the region and tied for 15th place in the
who scored at the 95th percentile and placed
state. This freshman also earned First Place for
fourth in the state.
ninth graders in the KSEA/Wright State University Ohio Mathematics Contest. In the American Re-
Members of the Upper and Middle Latin Clubs
gions Mathematics League (ARML) competition at
earned top honors at the 2011 Ohio Junior Clas-
Penn State University in June, he was one of 45
sical League State Convention in Columbus in
high schoolers representing Ohio, and he earned
which 28 schools participated in academic, cre-
the highest score for Individual Section in the state.
ative arts, and graphic arts contests. The Seven Hills team ranked sixth in Total Sweepstakes and
Middle Schoolers earned top honors in these math
fifth in Academic Per Capita, and one junior
competitions: In MATHCOUNTS, the team placed
scored tenth in Creative Arts Sweepstakes.
third in the chapter and 17th in the state, and one individual placed sixth in the chapter. On the AMC
“Our students enjoy learning and respect knowledge. They understand how they learn and can monitor their own learning. They have confidence in themselves and in their peers and the persistence to work together to solve problems.” Learning at The Seven Hills School: Our Twenty-First Century Competitive Advantage
8 competition, 10 seventh and eighth graders earned Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals. On the OML competition, the eighth grade team placed 17th in the state, and one individual tied for 27th in the state. The seventh grade team placed 12th in the state and third in the region, and two team members tied for 18th in the state. The sixth grade team placed 14th in the state. Two seniors were among 650 students nationally who were selected by the U.S. State Department to study a foreign language abroad for six weeks this summer in Shanghai and in Istanbul. The State Department’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) provides full scholarships to U.S. high school students and recent graduates interested in learning “less-commonly-studied foreign languages.” Three chemistry students earned awards in competitive tests offered by the American Chemical Society. A sophomore placed fourth on the first-year chemistry exam out of 150 students in the region, and two juniors placed in the top ten out of 106 students in the region on the second-year chemistry exam. One was invited to compete in a second tier of testing for qualification in the Chemistry Olympiad. Seven Hills students took top honors at the Cincinnati Regional
“At Seven Hills, learning is discovery-based, collaborative, and highly interactive.”
and a few other grandmasters and masters in putting on “simuls” at the Annual Queen City Classic, a scholastic chess tournament that draws over 750 K–12 students from around the Midwest. A junior was one of 17 top local high school program-
Learning at The Seven Hills School: Our Twenty-First Century Competitive Advantage
ming wizards accepted into a six-hour master class sponsored by the INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati. The students were coached in Droid operation system coding techniques so they can build apps for the Android phone for local businesses. Exploring the basics of gravity-powered roller coaster design. A senior was named a candidate in the 2011 Presi-
Science Olympiad tournament at Raymond Walters
Two seniors were members of the Cincinnati Symphony
dential Scholars Program, one of the nation’s highest
College. The students competed in a series of 23
Youth Orchestra, and one senior was a member of the
honors for graduating high school seniors. Presidential
events which tested their knowledge of science skills,
May Festival Youth Chorus. Two Middle Schoolers are
Scholars are selected on the basis of superior aca-
processes, and applications in a wide range of sci-
in the Cincinnati Junior Strings (training group for the
demic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities,
ence disciplines including biology, chemistry, physics,
Symphony Youth Orchestra).
strong character, and service activities.
Hills medal winners placed first in Anatomy and Physi-
Two seniors were selected to participate in Cincinnati
A senior was selected to be honored as one of 40
ology, second in Remote Sensing, second in Disease
Children’s Hospital’s High School Science Student Sym-
tri-state teen leaders at the 2011 YMCA Character
Detectives, third in Sounds of Music, third in Chemistry
posium, which was designed to stimulate outstanding
Awards. The awards recognize 40 teens from the
Lab, fourth in Protein Modeling, and fourth in Disease
science students’ interest in pursuing biomedical careers.
Greater Cincinnati area who have demonstrated out-
technology, earth science, and mathematics. Seven
standing qualities of leadership and character and are
Detectives. Three juniors are responsible for an environmental
working to strengthen their schools and communities.
The Seven Hills varsity Academic Team finished second
action website whose results are reaching as far as
in the Cincinnati Academic League, its best result in five
the Arctic, and their efforts earned them a trip to San
Twenty-nine students participated in Model UN at Earl-
years. At the year-end tournament, the varsity team
Diego for behind-the-scenes tours of the San Diego Zoo
ham College, representing the UK, Brazil, Tanzania,
finished second, and the reserve team finished first.
and Sea World as a finalist in a bi-national contest
Algeria, Jordan, Indonesia, Serbia, and Kazakhstan.
The coaches voted one Seven Hills senior First Team
sponsored by Polar Bears International. The regional-
Students debated subjects like water rights on the Nile,
All-Academic and another Second Team All-Academic.
winning team was one of only four finalists out of
North Korean nuclear weapons, the Kashmir conflict,
42 teams in the U.S. and Canada. MyActions.org
and child labor, and one junior won the award for Best
One freshman was awarded a perfect score by the
encourages people worldwide to track the environmental
Conflict Mediator in her committee.
National Federation of Music Clubs for his rendition of
impact of their actions and train themselves to develop
Sonata No. 20 in G Major by Beethoven and Valse
environmentally sustainable habits.
Brillante by Glenda Austin. He also received a Gold Medal at the Auditions Festival, sponsored by the Ohio Music Teachers Association, at the University of Cincinnati. He played Valse Brillante by Glenda Austin.
A junior, who achieved the title of “National Master” (held by less than one percent of tournament chess players), was invited to join Grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov
The Upper School’s Mock Trial team participated in an all-day scrimmage at the Hamilton County Courthouse, placing tenth in the district (out of 44) and capturing a Best Witness Award and a Best Attorney Award.
Examples of learning through inquiry, hands-on discovery, technology, collaboration Environmental Science students collaborated with sixth
Unit III students Skyped with students in County Mayo,
transportation, natural resources, educational system,
grade science students to build nests and make eggs
Ireland, as the culminating activity of an iEarn project in
national anthem, and national holidays—and intro-
to replicate those of the birds that inhabit the Hillsdale
which students shared events in their daily life through
duced them to their parents in a special presentation.
Campus. Each ES student selected a bird to research
emails and photos. Seventh grade students Skyped
from the sixth grade bird project. They learned about
with arctic scientist George Divoky, who was prepar-
Environmental Science students worked with fourth
the bird’s appearance, size, food, migration range,
ing for his summer field season on Cooper Island in the
graders, exploring the interactive Smog City (www.
nest, and eggs from the bird observation database
Arctic Ocean. Seventh graders are sponsoring two of
smogcity.com), loss of biodiversity and bleaching of the
established by the sixth graders and posted on the Life
his polar bear-proof nest boxes this summer.
coral reefs.
graders to share information about the bird, build its
Ninth graders in Ancient and Medieval Civilizations
The Economics class created and operated three
nest, make its eggs from clay, place their nest outdoors
researched and mapped important aspects of the Silk
separate business entities that each showed a profit
in an appropriate place for their bird species, then
Road trade and the great Medieval travelers using
after one day of operation. The class chose to lend the
photographed and monitored the nests.
Google Earth.
entire collective profits of $150 through kiva.org to a
Fifth graders organized data collected from a survey
Seventh graders in Social Studies used the Boinx TV
of themselves and their first grade buddies about their
software to create TV newscasts on legal issues regard-
“favorites.” After organizing the data, the students
ing technology and the law. Students gain a broader
Geometry classes culminated their study of right trian-
produced double bar graphs comparing fifth grade to
understanding of the applications of the U.S. Consti-
gle trigonometry with an application of these concepts
first grade or girls to boys using the iWorks Number
tution today, and they develop their organizational,
to North American ski slopes. The students obtained
program.
technical, creative, and critical thinking skills, as they
data using Google Earth, did their calculations with
collaborate with their team members.
Geometer Sketchpad’s built-in calculator, drew a visual
Science 6 wiki. The ES students partnered with sixth
restaurant owner in Paraguay who needed a nonsecured loan to expand his business.
representation of their findings using Sketchpad or
As part of a colonial simulation game, fifth graders recreated the experience of sailing to America as inden-
As part of the new curricular unit, Design Your Own
Word, then posted these documents on our class wiki.
tured servants—cramped quarters and all. After viewing
Country, second graders created two original coun-
A paperless endeavor from start to finish!
a “Voyage on the Mayflower” movie, colony groups
tries—complete with location, geography, government,
gathered their “worldly possessions” and assembled in 7’ X 5’ rectangular areas. Food included homemade
Eighth grade English students experienced a
hardtack, sardines, sauerkraut and onions to ward off
deeper understanding of Shakespeare as play-
scurvy. It was washed down with water laced with vin-
wrights, producers, and actors, as they collabo-
egar and oregano.
rated by class period to create their own production of Romeo and Juliet. The students in the five
“Learning history by doing history” is particularly illus-
classes worked with Cincinnati Shakespeare
trated by the study of colonial American history, which
Company actor/teacher Billy Chace over five full
includes gathering natural materials to make dyebaths;
Mondays to adapt, stage, and perform a repre-
using the wool from sheared sheep to card, dye, spin,
sentative piece from each of the five acts of the
and weave; forging a dinner triangle with a blacksmith;
play. The eighth graders greatly impressed their
learning colonial “amusements” and lessons; preparing
Middle School audience when they presented
a colonial meal over a fire; and more.
their Romeo and Juliet.
Celebrating outstanding sports achievement
Seven Hills had an outstanding varsity winter sports
First Team selections, as well as two Enquirer All-Star
season with boys swimming winning the MVC (second
Divisions II-IV Honorable Mentions. One player was
time in school history), a female swimmer and a
selected for the All-Star Game.
gymnast each competing at state, an All-League Player of the Year and District (Div. IV) Player and Coach of the Year in boys basketball, a Swimmer of the Year in the MVC and the Southern Ohio Swim League, and boys basketball playing in the district finals. Recognitions included nine Enquirer All-Star recognitions for athletes in girls basketball, gymnastics, and girls swimming, including Div. IV Player of the Year and Coach of the Year for boys basketball, and All-District and All-League First Team honors for girls basketball, boys and girls swimming, and cheerleading. The Middle School girls basketball team defeated both the number one and two seeded teams to win the Miami Valley Conference A Division championship. The following is a glimpse at the Stingers’ successful varsity spring sports season: The boys varsity tennis team captured the Miami Valley Conference (fifth consecutive year), the district and regional titles and was ranked #1 in the city from the start to the end of the season and #4 in the state. The team advanced to the Final Four in the state team tournament, where they finished third, and a doubles team also competed at state. Recognitions
“Our students believe in working hard and working together. They are courteous to and respectful of others. They are good sports on and off the playing field.” Learning at The Seven Hills School: Our Twenty-First Century Competitive Advantage
include GCTCA Doubles Team of the Year; All-League Coach of the Year and three First Team selections; and Enquirer All-Star Division II Coach of the Year and four First Team selections. The baseball team had a record of 18-4, captured the sectional championship for the second consecutive year, and was a district finalist. Recognitions included All-League Scarlet Division Coach of the Year and two
Two softball players received Enquirer All-Star Divisions II-IV Honorable Mention and were selected for the All-Star Game. One male lacrosse player tied the Division II record of 10 points in a single game. Both male and female lacrosse players received regional recognitions. Both male and female members of the track and field teams competed in the regional track meet. One male runner competed in the 800m at the state meet where he placed 14th and received Enquirer All-Star Honorable Mention in Division II. New school records were set in the high jump and the 100m hurdles.
Sample of second semester highlights in the fine and performing arts
Doherty’s year-end all-school art show included work
Middle and Upper musicians performed pieces by JS
The arts played a significant cross-curricular role in
from every student, and Lotspeich artwork from all
Bach at Seven Hills’ first lunchtime Bachathon.
classroom projects and special events in all divisions,
grades filled every hallway. Doherty fifth graders did a wonderful job of producing
including Global Education Days, Cultural Connections, Spring choral and instrumental concerts wowed audi-
Celebration of Birds, Insect Day, the visits of children’s
ences at the Middle and Upper Schools.
book authors/illustrators, and more.
Artwork by Upper School visual artists was prominent in
Upper School’s Coffee House offered a dazzling array of
an art show at the Kennedy Heights Arts Center.
talent in the fine and performing arts, with an emphasis
and performing the musical, Treasure Island. Lotspeich class plays included second graders’ dramatic and musical performances on Japan and China Day; fifth
on visual art.
graders’ Cinderella’s Secret Slipper; first graders’ E–I–E–I–
Upper outstanding spring production of Anon(ymous) by
OOPS, third graders’ A Tree in Tappen Wood, and more.
Naomi Iizuka—an adaptation of Homer’s The Odys-
Art installations by Upper artists which range from
sey—was produced, directed, and acted by the Directing
ceramic leaves to a full-size plaster student showed up
class.
around campus, totally delighting the school community.
The Upper School Chorus’s trip to New York City included a performance at St. John’s Cathedral. Members of the Directing class gave an outstanding workshop performance of A Rosen By Any Other Name by Israel Horowitz for Middle School students. The performance—a big hit with the audience—was followed by a Q&A session with the actors. A wide range of student talent was on display at talent shows in Middle and Upper, at music and poetry recitals at Doherty and Lotspeich, at Open Mic events at Upper (which included Middle poets), and in rotating art displays from all divisions in the Andress Art Gallery. The Middle School theater department presented an elaborate, impressive production of Gulliver’s Travels.
“Our students affirm their individuality and celebrate the unique gifts of others. They have the courage to explore other points of view and the willingness to build bridges that connect them with others.” Learning at The Seven Hills School: Our Twenty-First Century Competitive Advantage
From left, Middle’s Celebration of Birds included preschoolers; Doherty second graders created new countries; a championship basketball season; talented Middle musicians.
One more look at some of the outstanding accomplishments and special events that marked the second semester of 2010–2011
From left, Lotspeich fourth graders’ Living Biographies; Doherty preschoolers’ “flight to Australia”; our newest alumni, the Class of 2011.
Now we’re ready for a great 2011-2012! THE
SEVEN
HILLS SCHOOL
Intellectually vibrant, individually attuned, future-ready learning for students grades pre-K through 12.