the seven hills school semester in review - fall 2014

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Congratulations to 11 students who have been named National Merit Semifinalists: Nicole Barresi, Adam Buford, Grace Cawdrey, Alayna Choo, Carl Compton, Lindsay Finn, Pearce Kieser, Ben King, Joanne Li, Mitchell Polonsky, and Andrew Wilson. The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students who are among the highest scorers in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/ NMSQT). In order to be considered for a National Merit ® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards, as well as a number of additional academic requirements. National Achievement Scholarship Program Seven Hills senior Adam Buford, also a National Merit Semifinalist, was named a Semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship competition. Adam is one of 1,600 African-American student applicants – about 1 percent of whom have been designated Semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program. Eleven Seven Hills seniors were named Commended Students in the 2015 National Merit Program: Grace Carroll, Avery Coombe, Arjun Dheenan, Duncan Gibson, Christopher Janidlo, Alexander Li, Ellen Lu, Ellen Pasquale, Christopher Shoemaker, Judy Sun, and Sean Yoshitomo-Gray. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represent the top one percent of the state’s senior students. Students qualify for recognition in the National Merit programs with their scores on the PSAT/NMSQT. This year, 177 students participated locally in the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology math competition in early November. Individual results were as follows (places given by grade and gender): Ninth grade girls 3rd place – Mary Grace Ramsay 6th place – Yuou Wang Ninth grade boys 8th place – Michael Barresi 10th place – Curtis Sun Outstanding academic achievements and more CDS Headmasters’ Association National Merit National Achievement continued on page 2. . . In Review As we close the fall semester of 2014- 2015, we look back at some of the outstanding accomplishments that marked the first half of the school year. J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5 SEMESTER EARLY COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE NEWS The College Counseling Department is pleased to announce that as of mid-December 2014, 87 percent of the class of 2015 had applied either Early Action or Early Decision. Of the early action/ early decision students who had received decisions, 69 percent were accepted, said Assistant Head of School and Director of College Counseling Susan Marrs. By mid-December, the Class of 2015 submitted 618 applications to 220 colleges. A number of students received acceptance letters to the following universities: College counseling report EARLY DECISION: Carleton College . . . . . . . . 1 Columbia University . . . . . 1 Cornell University . . . . . . . 2 Elon University . . . . . . . . 1 New York University . . . . . .1 Rhode Island School of Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 St. Lawrence University . . . .1 Vanderbilt University . . . . . . 1 University of Pennsylvania . .1 Washington University . . . . 4 EARLY ACTION: American University of Paris . .1 Auburn University . . . . . . . . 1 Case Western University . . . 4 College of Charleston . . . . 1 University of Cincinnati . . . . 4 The Citadel . . . . . . . . . . . 1 DePaul University . . . . . . 2 Eckerd College . . . . . . . . 2 Hampden-Sydney College . . . 1 Harvard University . . . . . . 1 High Point University . . . . . 3 University of Kentucky . . . . 3 Loyola University, Chicago . .1 Muskingum University . . . . 1 Ohio State University . . . . 9 Otterbein University . . . . . 1 School of the Art Institute of Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 School of Visual Arts . . . . .1 Temple University . . . . . . . 1 The College of Wooster . . .2 Thomas More College . . . .1 Tulane University . . . . . . . 7 University of South Carolina . .2 Willamette College . . . . . 1

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A look back at some of the outstanding accomplishments that marked the first half of the school year.

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Page 1: The Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2014

Congratulations to 11 students who have been named National Merit Semifinalists: Nicole Barresi, Adam Buford, Grace Cawdrey, Alayna Choo, Carl Compton, Lindsay Finn, Pearce Kieser, Ben King, Joanne Li, Mitchell Polonsky, and Andrew Wilson. The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students who are among the highest scorers in the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). In order to be considered for a National Merit® Scholarship, Semifinalists must advance to Finalist standing in the competition by meeting high academic standards, as well as a number of additional academic requirements.

National Achievement Scholarship ProgramSeven Hills senior Adam Buford, also a National Merit Semifinalist, was named a Semifinalist in the National Achievement Scholarship competition. Adam is one of 1,600 African-American student applicants – about 1 percent of whom have been designated Semifinalists in the National Achievement Scholarship Program.

Eleven Seven Hills seniors were named Commended Students in the 2015 National Merit Program: Grace Carroll, Avery Coombe, Arjun Dheenan, Duncan Gibson,

Christopher Janidlo, Alexander Li, Ellen Lu, Ellen Pasquale, Christopher Shoemaker, Judy Sun, and Sean Yoshitomo-Gray. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. Semifinalists are the highest-scoring program entrants in each state and represent the top one percent of the state’s senior students. Students qualify for recognition in the National Merit programs with their scores on the PSAT/NMSQT.

This year, 177 students participated locally in the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology math competition in early November. Individual results were as follows (places given by grade and gender):

Ninth grade girls 3rd place – Mary Grace Ramsay 6th place – Yuou Wang

Ninth grade boys 8th place – Michael Barresi 10th place – Curtis Sun

Outstanding academic achievements and more

• CDS Headmasters’ Association • National Merit • National Achievement • continued on page 2. . .

In Review As we close the fall semester of 2014- 2015, we look back at some of the outstanding accomplishments that marked the first half of the school year.

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 5

S E M E S T E R

E A R L Y C O L L E G E A C C E P T A N C E N E W S The College Counseling Department is pleased to announce that as of mid-December 2014, 87 percent of the class of 2015 had applied either Early Action or Early Decision. Of the early action/early decision students who had received decisions, 69 percent were accepted, said Assistant Head of School and Director of College Counseling Susan Marrs. By mid-December, the Class of 2015 submitted 618 applications to 220 colleges. A number of students received acceptance letters to the following universities:

College counseling report

E A R LY D E C I S I O N :

Carleton College . . . . . . . .1

Columbia University . . . . . 1

Cornell University . . . . . . . 2

Elon University . . . . . . . . 1

New York University . . . . . .1

Rhode Island School of Design. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

St. Lawrence University . . . .1

Vanderbilt University . . . . . .1

University of Pennsylvania . .1

Washington University . . . . 4

E A R LY A C T I O N :

American University of Paris . .1

Auburn University . . . . . . . .1

Case Western University . . . 4

College of Charleston . . . . 1

University of Cincinnati . . . . 4

The Citadel . . . . . . . . . . . 1

DePaul University . . . . . . 2

Eckerd College . . . . . . . . 2

Hampden-Sydney College . . .1

Harvard University . . . . . . 1

High Point University . . . . .3

University of Kentucky . . . .3

Loyola University, Chicago . .1

Muskingum University . . . . 1

Ohio State University . . . . 9

Otterbein University . . . . . 1

School of the Art Institute of Chicago . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

School of Visual Arts . . . . .1

Temple University . . . . . . .1

The College of Wooster . . .2

Thomas More College . . . .1

Tulane University . . . . . . . 7

University of South Carolina . .2

Willamette College . . . . . 1

Page 2: The Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2014

10th grade girls 4th place – Devi Namboordiri

10th grade boys 7th place – Barret Gao

11th grade boys 7th place – Alex Jiang 9th place – Andrei Savu 10th place – Tigar Cyr

Junior Mekhala Rao was a Semifinalist for the National Academy Medical School Scholarship Challenge. Rao was one of 3,100 honors high school students who applied for the scholarship by identifying an unsolved medical or scientific world health problem and creating an original investigation of her design to solve the problem. Only Rao and two students, from New Jersey and South Dakota, were selected for consideration. She presented a medical query topic – “Using the plant Echinacea to treat the bacteria CA-MRSA” – at the November Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Washington, DC. Rao received a $10,000 scholarship toward a United States medical school of her choice.

Seven Hills sophomore Shane DiGiovanna was selected to be one of nine TEDx speakers at TEDxCincinnati. The highly-selective TEDxCincinnati Main Stage Event: “Vibrant Curiosity” took place at Memorial Hall in October. Shane focused on his extensive scientific studies, namely, designing spacecraft that will explore the solar system. In addition to his studies, Shane works diligently to help others

with his skin condition, Epidermolysis Bullosa, by serving on an advisory board at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Upper School students participated at the first Certamen event of the season in early October, at Summit Country Day. The Level 2 team of ninth graders Jonathan Harsh, Lena Bauer, and Charlie Dwight made the finals and finished first. The Upper Level team of sophomores Matisse Peppet and Devi Namboodiri joined forces with two students from Indian Hill, made the finals, and finished first, as well. Eighth graders also enjoyed a strong showing in the second Certamen meet of the local season,

which took place on Nov. 15, at the University of Cincinnati. “The teams of energetic Latin students fared very well against the largest number of area teams we have seen in some time,” said Middle and Upper School Latin teacher Brian Sebastian. “We made the finals in all three levels again at UC, just as we did a month ago at the Summit Certamen.” Students Max Lane, Greg Kalin, Renee Stieby, and Antoine Langrée placed third out of 15 in the Level I competition.

Seven students, violinists Samantha Chun, Cathy Fang, Nick Purple, and Kathy Wang; cellists Nina Fatuzzo and Ada Huang; and string bassist Christopher Janidlo were selected to play in the highly competitive Cincinnati

Symphony Youth Orchestras (CSYO). The CSYO holds auditions for student musicians in grades 9-12, and in grades 7-12 for the CSYO Concert Orchestra.

Outstanding academic achievements and more (continued)

• Rose-Hulman Math Competition • Medical School Scholarship Challenge Certamen • CSYO • TEDxCincinnati • Creating Conversations Series •

2 S E M E S T E R I N R E V I E W : F A L L 2 0 1 4

Page 3: The Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2014

Christopher Garten, the Head of School

at The Seven Hills School, was recently

elected as a member of The Country

Day School Headmasters’ Association.

Founded in 1912, the association’s active

membership is limited to 100 members

from day schools around the United

States. The purpose of the association is

to bring together school leaders to discuss

important issues impacting education.

“I am honored to be invited to join this

group of distinguished school leaders,”

said Garten. “It is a testament to the

strength of our school and our continuing

evolution under the able leadership of our

Board of Trustees.”

Garten became Seven Hills’ Head of

School in 2009. During his six-year tenure,

the school has grown significantly, with

an enrollment increase of 10 percent.

A successful capital campaign added

more than $15 million to the school’s

endowment. Guided by the school’s

Statement on Teaching and Learning,

Seven Hills’ curriculum continues to

emphasize critical thinking, global

awareness, and project-based learning.

In addition, Seven Hills has added

new courses in global issues, Chinese,

environmental science, engineering,

computer science, digital journalism

and time-based media, and a new

innovation lab to foster design thinking.

The introduction of the one-to-one iPad

program in grades 6 -12 has given students

greater access to online information and a

new double-period teaching schedule in

Middle and Upper Schools has provided

more time for inquiry-based learning,

research, and problem-solving.

Garten is a graduate of Princeton

University with an M.A. from Columbia

University. Prior to becoming Head of

School at Seven

Hills, he served

as the Assistant

Headmaster at

Savannah Country

Day School in

Georgia and as

Director of the

Middle School at Collegiate School

in New York City. He has 36 years of

experience working in independent

schools as an administrator, teacher,

and coach.

H e a d o f S c h o o l Chris Garten Named to Prestigious National Association

• Rose-Hulman Math Competition • Medical School Scholarship Challenge Certamen • CSYO • TEDxCincinnati • Creating Conversations Series •

CRE ATING CONVER SATIONS S P E A K E R S E R I E S

The Seven Hills School Speaker Series

In a thoughtful, gritty September message, renowned child psychologist and New York Times bestseller Dr. Michael Thompson encouraged parents and educators to rethink the way they view the role of their children’s school. Thompson’s personable presentation brought the audience to tears, laughter, and everything in between as he demystified parents’ fears and assumptions about the role of formal education in their children’s lives. In addition to encouraging parents to look at school more realistically, Thompson shared several provocative statements, asking parents to

embrace their child’s current academic, social, and athletic health. “School is not about preparation for life,” said Thompson. “Children are living their lives right now.”

A favorite among the Seven Hills community, James Lingo of Freedom from Chemical Dependency (FCD) presented a special workshop to ninth graders and their parents in November. Lingo’s presentations focused on the vital role communication plays in families with children, teens and young adults, especially. Freedom from Chemical Dependency has worked in partnership with Seven Hills for more than 30 years. For more information visit : www.7hills.org/CreatingConversations

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Creating Conversations

Page 4: The Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2014

The fifth grade began holding Socratic Seminars in late November. The 45-minute discussions actively engaged students in close reading and critical thinking of complex texts. The students sat

in a circle/oval and directly addressed each other respectfully. Students practiced active listening as they learned to engage in dia-logue, rather than debate, and to think deeply on teacher-creat-ed essential questions.

Pre-kindergarteners in Katie Dawson, Ginger Rubin and

Cyndi Kenyon’s classes enjoyed a lesson on animals during a November visit with Cool Critters Outreach, a local non-profit animal rescue and education organization. The science focus offered students an opportunity to study natural science and demonstrate respect and care for living things and the environment.

Middle School general music students worked in the school’s new Innovation Lab last fall to build clarinets out of carrots and parsnips. Instrumental music teacher John Rising

Head of Upper School Matt Bolton. Organized by Director of Experiential Learn-ing Nick Francis, the debate was part of an ongoing speaker series that seeks to connect students to experiences, opportunities, and issues beyond the classroom.

Unit III students who run the Doherty Store received business lessons from the pros – Seven Hills parents who work at Procter & Gamble and own a local business – during a November workshop. “The students run a real

school store with roles in human resources, finance, and marketing,” said Unit II and III math teacher Vaishali Sarbhoy. “We brought in professionals who work in these same areas.” Students heard from Mark Jeffreys, an associate marketing and advertising director at Procter & Gamble and stepfather of Evelyn Astafiev-Holmes; Saurabh Saksena, who works in

introduced the idea to his students after viewing a TEDx talk on carrot clarinets. Said Rising, “We are learning the basics of playing a single-reed woodwind instrument and the physics of sound. The kids are exposed to a number of tools/skills and will eventually learn to play some simple melodies using the instruments they designed and crafted out of vegetables.”

In late October, the Upper School hosted two guest speakers, State Representatives Peter Stautberg (R) and Denise Driehaus (D), who debated the issue of hydraulic fracking. “Students in the journalism course moderated the debate and asked the representatives questions that had been generated by the student body in advance of the visit,” said

Examples of learning through inquiry, hands-on discovery, technology, collaboration

Socratic Seminars • Cool Critters Outreach • Innovation Lab • May We Help Hydraulic Fracking Debate • Freedom Quilts • ECC Construction • Immigration

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finance and consumer goods with P & G, and is the husband of Sarbhoy; and Maria Papakirk, owner of Camp Washington Chili and mother of Anna and Stratton Papak-irk. The students discussed profit margins, management do’s and don’ts, and market-ability. The students shared some of their business rules with their guests and responded with gratitude, interest, and specific questions.

As part of the Middle School Innovation Lab, run by Science Department Chair Karen Glum, local retired engineers and the founders of May We Help presented their mission and work to the Middle School in late November. May We Help invents adaptive devices that help people accomplish things they want to do but have never had the opportunity to achieve, due to their disabilities.

Third graders in November completed a collaborative project on Pacific Northwest Coast Native American tribes, working in teams of three to create an informational poster. Teacher Lynn Niehaus said the students researched words and pictures to present their final product – a poster categorized by shelter, resources, and culture – to the class.

After visiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in November, Unit III fourth graders learned about and de-signed Freedom Quilts. The quilts, used during the time of slavery, incorporate patterns that translated into secret codes of communication for conductors of the Underground Railroad. Teacher Julie Guminey further explained the historic nature of the quilts by reading to the class The Patchwork Path by Bettye Stroud, which depicts the story of a little girl who traveled north as a slave and eventually achieved freedom with her father. After learning the true use of the freedom quilts, students colored paper squares of their own to form freedom quilts.

Using the work of celebrated poet and teacher George Ella Lyons, fourth graders wrote poetry last fall to tell the story of their heritage and family history. “Where I’m From is a famous poem written by Lyons that defines,

Examples of learning through inquiry, hands-on discovery, technology, collaboration with vibrant descriptors, Lyons’ childhood environment and memories,” said fourth grade teacher Melissa Woodard. The novel also tied in with teacher Sara Snyder’s fourth grade social studies unit on immigration.

Pre-kindergarten students in Kiki Scavo and Cicely Knecht’s pre-kinder-garten classes learned all about the construction going on just outside their

classroom windows in early October. The students received blue prints of the soon to be Nellie Leaman Taft Early Childhood Center and met with a representative from Messer Construction. “The children have all turned into little architects and builders themselves and thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the building that is going up right in our back yard,” said Knecht. “It has been a magical unit of study.”

Socratic Seminars • Cool Critters Outreach • Innovation Lab • May We Help Hydraulic Fracking Debate • Freedom Quilts • ECC Construction • Immigration

continuedon page 6. . .

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Upper School English and history students collaborated to create a rich experience for

ninth-grade students studying Ancient Greece. “The idea started because the English department was seeing students ask the same questions about the same parts in Homer’s Odyssey,” said history teacher Brian Wabler. “We discussed ways to collaborate and

decided that it would be beneficial to both classes to have the history students put together a two-to-three minute video based on Ancient Greece.” Students and teachers discussed the most effective way to present the videos to English students, who used them as resources in their study.

As part of their extensive study of the Bill of Rights, seventh graders in Doug Huff ’s social studies class completed a bumper sticker-sized political cartoon project to solidify their understanding of the Second Amendment. Students crafted their bumper stickers, using

and juniors showcased their yearlong efforts with pride as the school community took in all of their hard work. The project is a culminating experience for every Upper School student. As a graduation requirement, students design and

carry out original projects to expand their passions in uncharted areas or to learn new skills, stretching the students beyond their comfort zones. The second half of this program will take place in April 2015.

As part of the International Shared Reading Project, participating eighth graders are engaging in a collaborative learning enter-prise with a middle school class in Netanya, Israel, as part of their study of World War II and the Holocaust. Middle School social studies teacher Judith Neidlein-Dial said participants were matched with an Israeli partner to discuss pre-determined questions related to the book The Island on Bird Street by Uri Orlov via a secure website that is solely dedicated to the

original turns of phrase to drive their stance on the amendment, and later presented their political artwork and platform to the class.

In one of Middle School’s many unique demonstrations of academic excellence, students, teachers, and administrators produced a day of innovation and inquiry, starting out the first half of Oct. 31 with Insect Day and ending with Pumpkin Day. Students and their parents participated in a number of inquiry-based activities, including projects involving building insects using circuitry, experiments with termites, and creative writing with insects as a focus.

The first half of Personal Challenge concluded in mid-November in the halls and classrooms of the Upper School. Seniors

Ancient Greece • Bill of Rights • Insect Day • Personal Challenge • International Shared Reading Project • Shantytown • Apartheid • Camp Schuchter • Bridges

Examples of learning through inquiry . . . (continued)

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reading project. The project, which began last fall, will continue throughout the spring.

In a socially conscious exercise to raise aware-ness of the plight of homeless communities in southwestern Ohio, 25 Upper School students spent the night outside in cardboard boxes. The annual project, entitled “Shantytown,” took place in October on the Hillsdale Campus. Upper School English teacher and project advisor Tricia Hoar said the project runs in conjunction with the citywide Shantytown event sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition, the Mayerson Service Learning Program, and Faces without Places.

Students in Upper School English teacher Marielle Newton’s class came face-to-face, via Skype, with someone who fought apartheid in South Africa. Bruce Alan Johnson, also Newton’s father, shared poignant stories about his life’s work as an intelligence worker, political

consultant, and UN trainer during the time of apartheid, a system of racial segregation in South Africa. Newton incorporated the Skype session to further illustrate her students’ unit on South

African literature that focuses on Apartheid, such as works by Alan Paton.

Students in Lenore Horner’s AP Physics class started off the school year not only sitting at their lab desks, but also hunching under them as they attached various springs to the tables and observed spring constants using weights and

force sensors. “We’ve asked students to pull on the spring and hang masses on it and they are measuring how much it stretches and how much force they’re applying to the spring.They’re going to graph that and find the spring constant,” said Horner. “They will then determine whether it obeys the formula we teach them for springs.”

First graders in Kirby Schuchter’s Unit I class wiggled into their sleeping bags, grabbed

their favorite books, and flicked on their flashlights under the “night sky” in their dim classrooms for a reading session at “Camp Schuchter.” Schuchter said she decided to transform her classroom into a campsite theme after learning how much her students enjoy camping.

Second graders concluded an extensive social studies lesson in December, with a bridge-building project that required students to research the history, geography, design, and structure of a bridge, build it in some format, and present their work in class. Students chose a number of bridges, including the Mackinac Bridge in Michigan, the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in the Kobe area of Japan, and many more.

Ancient Greece • Bill of Rights • Insect Day • Personal Challenge • International Shared Reading Project • Shantytown • Apartheid • Camp Schuchter • Bridges

Examples of learning through inquiry . . . (continued)

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Upper School students in Jennifer Torline’s chemistry class incorporated scientific inquiry and research to arrive at a number of findings

regarding the true worth of pennies minted pre-1982 versus post-1982. The students found that the cost of a pre-1982 penny, which is 100-per-cent copper, is currently worth more than $.02 for the copper value alone, and the post-1982 penny’s worth was about $0.006 each.

Middle School students at The Seven Hills School immersed themselves in the reality of the hunger crisis in developing countries during the school’s Hunger Banquet, a traditional event designed to raise awareness of global issues. Participants were

separated into categories: wealthy nations, poor countries, and the poorest countries. Each group of participants received meals commensurate with their country’s economic status. “We wanted to bring awareness of issues of food security both locally and nationally,” said Head of Middle School Bill Waskowitz. “ Participants were encouraged to bring canned goods and nonperishable

The Doherty third grade science class in Unit II unlocked mysteries of the food chain when they dissected owl pellets during their ecology unit. In their study about the interdependency among animals, the students inspected sterilized pellets to find out what happens to the indigest-ible material left in the gizzard such as teeth,

skulls, claws, feathers, and other things too dangerous to pass through the rest of the owl’s digestive tract. To safely excrete this material, the owl’s gizzard compacts it into a tight pellet that the owl regurgitates. The regurgitated pellets are known as owl pellets.

items. All proceeds from the Seven Hills food drive benefited The Caring Place, which serves the communities of Kennedy Heights, Golf Manor, Pleasant Ridge, and Silverton.

A team of Upper School students worked with Director of Experiential

Learning Nick Francis in November to manage a project for the local non-profit Crayons to Computers involving giving school supplies to children in need. The students dropped off a total of 100 boxes at several elementary schools, including Carson, Covedale, Rees E. Price, Roberts Paideia, Frederick Douglass, and Bond Hill Academy.

Examples of learning through inquiry . . . (continued)

“We wanted to bring awareness of issues of food security both locally and nationally,” said Head of Middle School Bill

Waskowitz

Scientific Inquiry • Hunger Banquet • Crayons to Computers • Interdependency Among Animals • Soccer • Swimming • Golf • Cross Country • Tennis • The Arts

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Examples of learning through inquiry . . . (continued)

Scientific Inquiry • Hunger Banquet • Crayons to Computers • Interdependency Among Animals • Soccer • Swimming • Golf • Cross Country • Tennis • The Arts9

Celebrating outstanding athletic achievements their accomplishments were celebrated and recognized at the NSCAA All-America Luncheon held during the 2015 NSCAA Convention in Philadelphia in mid-January.

The 2013-14 Boys 200 Medley Relay (junior Matthew Marquardt, senior Pearce Kieser, sophomore Jason Guo, and Panos Skoufalos `14) received an NISCA All America Swimming Award

and have been selected as members of the All America Interscholastic Swimming Team for their accomplishments during the 2013-14 school year. All America Awards are given to the top 100 athletes in each event/relay determined by time. This is quite an achievement for The Seven Hills School boys relay, given they were competing against schools in all states and all divisions.

The Seven Hills golf team used impressive skill and strategy to become Cincinnati’s only Division III team to make it to the state level during the season. Represented by Ben King, Brian Goertemoeller, Daniel Grass, Bennett Smith and Jack Lane, the team took second place at the Division III district golf championship at Middletown’s Weatherwax

Golf Course in early October. The boys shot a combined 335, finishing just three strokes behind district-winner West Liberty-Salem, and qualified for the state tournament.

The Seven Hills cross country teams competed with determination and perseverance in the MVC last fall. The boys placed fourth overall, paced by sophomore Chase Gardner, who set a personal best record of 17:29. Freshman Matt Maring placed 12th with a time of 18:05, and junior Nia Page placed 15th with a time of 23:15. Gardner and Maring advanced to compete at the regional meet at Troy High School.

Congratulations to eighth grader Max Lane for his win in the Cincinnati Middle School Golf League Championship. Max won the tournament in October at The Mill Course with a score of 78. The tournament featured more than 70 golfers. Max completed the season in which he was either the medalist or co-medalist in every tournament he entered.

Congratulations to the two teams from the Seven Hills fifth/sixth grade boys and girls soccer program. Team Kruzner and Team Morriss, advanced to the quarterfinals of the Ohio Area SAY State Tournament.

For the second consecutive season, the Seven Hills girls varsity tennis team, coached by Tim Drew, won the MVC Championship. The girls finished the regular season with a perfect 6-0 record against conference opponents. Congratulations to the members of the team: Brooke Bailey, Natalie Choo, Ellie Kennedy, Kelly Pan, Laney Saggar, Lauren Saggar, Piper Spooner, and Nicole Tiao.Br

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In a stellar season, Seven Hills’ varsity boys soccer team defeated Cincinnati Country Day 2-1 to win the MVC championship in early October. The boys finished the regular season with an amazing 13-1-2 record and a 6-0-1 record in MVC play. The team also won the district championship against Franklin Monroe in late October and fought hard in the regional finals on Nov. 1. Summit Country Day won 4-3. The final score, however, did not overshadow the Stinger team, which consistently showed sportsmanship, determination, and honor on the field.

The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) named senior Max Pochobradsky to the 2014 Boys Fall High School All-America Team, making him one of only 56 All-American high school boys soccer players nationally. Of his All-American player, varsity soccer coach Terry Nicholl said, “Max Pochobradsky is a super versatile and powerful player. As an exceptional midfielder, he dramatically affects the game. He’s a strong passer, tackler, scorer, and defenseman. He’s just a complete player.” All-Americans and

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Page 10: The Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2014

Seven Hills arts sampler

The Middle School theater program dazzled the audience with stunning comedic timing and excellent performances in the play Bye Bye, Birdie, directed by Middle School drama and theater teacher Rachel Damon. The next Middle School play is soon to be announced!

The Upper School Theater program produced a three-show wonder, telling the tale of fabled Shakespearean characters Oberon and Puck’s journey to Hollywood onto the set of Max Reinhardt’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The performance, which beautifully incorporated the dual styles of farce and Shakespearean verse, was directed by Upper School theater teacher Stephanie Park. In February, the Upper School will perform, along with some faculty, in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. The Upper School musical will be Nice Work If You Can Get It.

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Upper School students sang beautifully in the Winter Choral Concert in December. The students sang in several languages during the evening concert, which took place just after a whirlwind choral tour at the Doherty Campus, Twin Lakes Retirement Center in Montgomery, and later the Hillsdale Campus.

Students in the Upper School’s symphonic ensemble and the

contemporary ensembles presented a wonderful winter instrumental concert

in December.

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Middle School art teacher Elissa Donovan and her students partnered last fall with the Cincinnati Zoo to create a massive bird’s nest, which was used as an art centerpiece for the Cincinnati Zoo’s signature charitable event, Zoofari. The nest was uniquely made from stuffed nylon stockings that were woven to create the structure. Students also worked together to paint dozens of leaves, stems, and branches, said Mrs. Donovan. Seven Hills Middle School students have crafted a number of large-scale art projects for Zoofari’s elegant themes.

Doherty’s Holiday Music program set the tone for the season with a magical performance.

Eleven young string musicians performed beautifully in the The Sassmannshaus Tradition at Seven Hills in December.

Seven Hills arts sampler

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Page 12: The Seven Hills School Semester in Review - Fall 2014

Seven Hills arts sampler, cont.

Student visual art displayed at the Donovan Arts Center.

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