Connections Fall 2019

FALL
CONNECTIONS 2019
1

2
WHAT’S IN
THIS ISSUE?
School Snapshots 2
Family Spotlight 3
Focus on Faculty 4
Campus Guests 5
Focus on Faculty 6
EDITOR Corinne Hayhurst
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Amy Walters
PHOTOGRAPHERS Matt Beardsley,
John King Photography, Adam Lechner
’87, Barb Eaton, Kathleen McNamara,
Rhys Miller, and Seven Hills Faculty
WRITERS Riki Gibson, Dan Murphy
DESIGN RossTurnerDesign.com
PRINTER Norco Printing
Campus Life 8
Oh, the Places
They’ll Go! 12
Alumni News 14
2018-2019
Annual Report 16
THE SEVEN HILLS SCHOOL
975 North San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
(925) 933-0666
www.sevenhillsschool.org
Message from the Head of School
Building Community by Sharing our Stories
To kick off each of my five years at Seven Hills, I have dedicated myself to a theme
around “Building Community.” Our theme for this 2019-20 school year is Building
Community by Sharing (Y)Our Stories. At our August opening meetings, I asked
faculty and staff to share with each other something about a moment when they felt
they belonged. I shared about how I grew up in a family of four boys, and while I felt I
belonged in my family, I had a different and deeper sense of belonging in my all girls high
school. It was a transformative time in my development, where I learned that I truly had a
place among females and in schools.
As I begin my fifth school year at Seven Hills, some of my most memorable and
significant moments have been connecting with our community and hearing people’s
Favorite Read Alouds

stories. I feel grateful for the opportunities to serve as a Middle School advisor, visit and
read in the elementary classrooms, talk with teachers and parents, and travel and meet
with our alumni around the country. I am inspired and humbled by the good they are
doing in the world.
This theme of building community is woven throughout this issue of Connections, with
stories and highlights from the past year—faculty and staff professional development and
presentations (p.4), visiting authors and experts sharing their own stories and careers
(p.5), and some stories that captivated our entire community, like the goslings that
hatched on campus (p.10)! Stories of our passionate graduates (p.12), our engaged alumni
(p.14), and our generous donors (p.18) also fill me with appreciation.
Our Board of Trustees have been hard at work, updating and articulating Seven Hills’
strategic destinations, resulting in an updated plan—Whole Child, Whole Community—
centered around the three pillars of our mission (p.28). While charting a course for the
next five years, we are redefining who we want to be as a community. This is seen in
our new onsite Community Lunch Program, our work with faculty and staff on program
development, our commitment to be an inclusive community, and our vision for the
future. It’s an exciting time to be at Seven Hills!
Thank you for being part of this community that is made stronger by the diverse
perspectives you each bring and by your contributions of time and resources. It is with
deep gratitude that I look back on 2018-19, and with great excitement, look forward to
more learning, discovery, exploration, and stories in the year ahead.
With gratitude,
Kathleen McNamara
Head of School
MISSION
STATEMENT
The Seven Hills
School is a learning
community with the
mission to develop
the intellect, engage
the spirit, and
foster respect for,
and responsibility
to, our world.
KATHLEEN’S
READING
LIST
From Her Night Stand
1

SCHOOL SNAPSHOTS: 2018-19
Over 90%
of parents ranked caring
and happiness as top family
values in the Harvard Caring
Schools Survey
10,561
937
pounds
of water
repurposed
to the mint
planter
eggs laid by
Seven Hills
chickens
Whole Child,
Whole Community
roadmap to our
60th year
6
NEW
PEOPLE
inquired about Seven Hills as
part of the admissions process
53
student
school bus
riders
25%
of 8th grade
graduates are
headed to
public high
schools
75%
of 8th grade
graduates are
headed to
independent,
parochial, and
boarding high
schools
23
grants received by faculty for collaborative summer planning
after school
enrichment
classes
offered
44
rockets
launched
during
astrogation
week
133
Seven Hills marchers in the Walnut Festival Twilight Parade
2

FAMILY SPOTLIGHT
A Place to Call Home:
An Interview with the Ebel Family
Ten years ago, Eric and Stéphanie Ebel were living and raising
their family in Grenoble, France. When their daughter Chloé was
three years old and their son Lucas just a baby, Eric received a job
transfer to San Francisco. One night Eric’s boss invited them to his
home in Walnut Creek, and Eric and Stéphanie fell in love with the
warmer temperatures, the vibe of a smaller town, and the good
things they heard about the schools. After moving to Walnut Creek,
they began looking for a school that could recreate the community
they had in France. With no other family nearby, Stéphanie needed
a school that she could trust, and a community that she could ask
for recommendations for a pediatrician or good books to read.
After a couple of years at a Montessori school, Stéphanie and Eric
toured Seven Hills for Chloé’s 1st grade year. They noticed the
natural environment, the creek, and that every teacher took time to
answer questions while giving students responsibility and agency.
While waiting for their family interview, a man in the lobby struck
up a conversation with them and happened to know their village in
France—it turned out to be Bill Miller, the headmaster at the time.
Stéphanie told Eric, “We’re not visiting anywhere else.”
Since deciding to stay in the United States long term, the Ebels
have been grateful for the Seven Hills community. In France, schools
were more closed off to parents, so it was new to have such a close
partnership with the teachers. They were also impressed with the
social-emotional curriculum. “I remember when Lucas’ class started
using Kimochis in Kindergarten,” says Stéphanie. “He was able to tell
me that he was feeling generous, or angry, or another emotion. At
age five and six, he knew himself well thanks to those methods.” It
aligned with their belief that if children learn to be kind when they
are young, you can help them become good adults.
Stéphanie has been involved in several volunteering roles over the
years, including PIA president, Evening of the Arts chair, crêpes maker
for teacher appreciation, and room parent coordinator this year.
“We all have a common bond. We care about creating the best
possible educational experience for our children,” she says. “When
we volunteered, we connected with other families, and the school
community became our family by adoption.”
With Chloé graduating this year, the Ebels are grateful for the solid
foundation she has for her future. In addition to the graduation
festivities, they are also excited for Lucas’ 5th grade class trip to
Yosemite this year. Eric and Stéphanie have watched their children
become great public speakers, take risks and make mistakes, have
confidence, and wake up wanting to go to school each morning.
“The whole child approach has been a way of life. It’s about being
happy and kind, and learning techniques for handling life’s ups
and downs.”
3

FOCUS ON FACULTY
Experts in their Field
Faculty and staff professional development is a high priority at
Seven Hills, because we believe that students should be taught by
the best trained, most motivated, incredibly passionate teachers.
Despite years of collective experience in the classroom, it is the
norm to see Seven Hills teachers participating in professional
development and adding to their toolbox of cutting edge skills,
approaches, and knowledge. In fact, this past summer, teachers
spent over 1,500 hours fine-tuning their practices and exploring
innovative topics like responsive classroom, inclusive schools, and
reading and writing workshops.
In addition, many Seven Hills’ faculty present their own data and
ideas at education conferences around the country. Through the
presentation process—spending time in self-reflection, discussing
their research, answering questions, and receiving feedback from
other educators—teachers grow even more. “The experience of
sharing their best work with other teachers is a deeply satisfying
one,” says Director of Teaching and Learning Rhys Miller. “It helps
students in classrooms far beyond Seven Hills, gives the opportunity
to network with a broader learning community, and brings fresh
ideas back to Seven Hills students.”
Highlights from 2018-19
The Image Of The Child
For the past four years, Seven Hills’ ECE program has been a part
of the Innovative Teacher Project (ITP), a Reggio Emilia inspired
professional development community of educators. In May, the ECE
team—including current teachers Shauna Maraccini, Gina Hinck,
Jenny Marcus, and Kelley Cochran—was selected to host 40 fellow
early childhood educators on the Seven Hills campus for a day of
ITP presentations. The Rainbow teachers presented on “Stories
of Identity” and their journey
into cultural competency
work with preschoolers; the
Red Barn teachers presented
on “Children as Storytellers”
and shared their experience
on the use of loose parts. The
team also provided attendees
an opportunity to explore
Seven Hills’ unique ECE spaces
and exchange ideas related
to the project’s overarching
theme, The Image Of The
Child: Children as Active
Protagonists of Their Growth
and Development Process.
Do You Desmos?
Middle
School Math
teacher Kathy
Henderson was
accepted to
present at four
conferences
in 2018-19 on
her expertise
in Desmos,
a company
that invites
students to
create their own
mathematical
ideas through
hundreds of fun, digital activities. At the National Council of
Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) conference in Seattle, she
presented to a packed house of 145 participants on how to use
Desmos to create engagement and promote discussions in the
classroom. She also wrote a four-part blog series for NCTM on
Desmos and will be presenting at more conferences during the
2019-20 school year.
4

CAMPUS GUESTS
Author Talks Promote a Love of Reading and Writing
After collectively reading The Only
Road/El único destino over the summer,
Middle School students met the author
Alexandra Diaz who shared her parents’
own story of migration from Cuba with
only $40 and a change of clothing. The
classes discussed the writer’s craft and
research process, and Diaz encouraged
students that, as with any pursuit, writing
mastery takes practice and the more one
puts forth, the greater the return.
Newbery Medal picture book and young
adult author, Matt de la Peña visited the
Lower School to share about his journey
from reluctant reader to author through
the transformative nature of literature.
He also attended the monthly faculty
and staff meeting and shared more of his
inspirational story about learning, writing,
and loving. Seven Hills is thrilled to
have Matt as our artist in residence
for the 2019-20 school year.
Parent Lecture Series Brings Engaging Authors to Campus
Kicking off the Parent Lecture Series, Dr. Michele
Borba, award-winning author of Unselfie: Why
Empathetic Kids Succeed in an All-About-Me World,
discussed why empathy is a key predictor to help
kids succeed in our plugged-in, trophy-driven world.
She shared nine approachable, teachable habits for
parents to nurture children’s
empathy in bite-sized chunks
at home.
Closing out the series, Eric Schlosser shared
questions and findings from his most famous
book, Fast Food Nation. Schlosser engaged the
audience with his exploration of how junk food
companies continue to target children, and how it
is contributing to an epidemic of obesity and poor
health in America. The lecture on food and health
dovetailed with the recent launch of the Seven Hills
Community Lunch Program.
Local Guests Share Their Crafts
Bay Area based storyteller Muriel
Johnson captivated ECE students
with her interactive and passionate
style during a special library
performance. An early childhood
educator for more than 20 years,
Muriel has performed at schools,
churches, museums, colleges,
festivals, and countless other
venues from rural communities
to Cape Town, South Africa.
KPIX-5 Chief Meteorologist Paul
Deanno visited 3rd grade in the
spring as part of the students’ weather
unit in science. He shared about the
different types of weather, what it’s
like being a career meteorologist, and
even why he’s called a meteorologist!
He also read his newly published
children’s book, “WOW! Weather!” to
the class.
5

FOCUS ON STUDENTS
The Empathy Advantage
At Seven Hills, our commitment to diversity and inclusion builds
empathy and helps strengthen cultural competency skills that
allow our graduates to thrive in a global society. We want our
students and graduates to have a strong sense of self, and the skills
to connect with and respect others. Providing opportunities for
students to explore their own identity, culture, and life experience in
a safe learning environment can foster an appreciation for different
perspectives, dispel stereotypes, create stronger relationships,
and ultimately build empathy towards peers. We also know from
research that diverse schools have stronger academic outcomes,
just as diverse organizations are higher performing, more
innovative, and leaders in the market.
From ECE to Middle School, Seven Hills teachers are continually
looking at ways to shift and evolve aspects of the curriculum to
ensure that it is relevant and inclusive of a broad range of cultures
and histories. Using the lens of “mirrors and windows,” teachers are
introducing classroom literature, media, and materials that reflect
students’ own experiences as well as the experiences of others.
6
The Colors
of Us
After hearing
preschoolers begin to
talk about their skin
colors, the Rainbow
teaching team reflected
on how their curriculum
could further support
children as critical
thinkers and explorers of
their personal identity.
After reading the
book The Colors of
Us, students had the
opportunity to explore
their multi-layered
identities through
painting self-portraits. They used mirrors to closely analyze
their facial details and mixed their own paint colors to
replicate their skin tone, which they described with words
like “peanut butter,” “chocolate,” “peach,” and “pancake.”
Through the unit, Rainbow children discovered the many
ways in which they are similar and different.
Celebrating the “Global Us”
The 2nd grade ancestry and family unit has long been a favorite
tradition. A couple of years ago, the 2nd grade teaching team asked
themselves, “how could we make this an even more authentic experience
for students to better understand each other’s families and cultures?”
Instead of assigning students scripts to learn, they asked students to
choose which aspects of their family story they wanted to share at the
Global Us presentation—from special celebrations, to the origins of their
names. Through writing, dancing, singing, playing instruments, and
public speaking, the unit reflected all of the class’s different cultures, and
students made new discoveries about their families and themselves.

em•pa•thy
noun / the action of understanding, being aware
of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing
the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another.
— Merriam Webster
Each child seeing themselves as part of a unit, and feeling a sense
of belonging at school, is a crucial piece of the social-emotional
learning that happens at Seven Hills. We aim to create authentic
learning opportunities that allow students to stretch their horizons,
exhibit agency in their learning, and develop an empathetic core.
“This important work ensures that Seven Hills’ curriculum is ever
evolving,” says Director of Teaching and Learning Rhys Miller.
“Teachers are constantly aligning their lessons to reflect the
various beliefs, backgrounds, perspectives, and cultures that
students bring into the classroom, and students are gaining
invaluable competencies they will need to navigate the world
beyond Seven Hills.”
From exploring identity through self-portraits and learning about
family traditions and cultures, to celebrating history through
music and dance, and using creative writing and poetry to
understand personal belief systems, our students are building
empathy skills, emotional intelligence, and connections to
become leaders and changemakers.
California’s Cultural Tapestry
A culmination of their exploration of the history of music in
California, 4th graders performed “California Tapestry”—their
year-end concert celebrating the different groups who make up
the cultural fabric of our state. Students narrated a Miwok story,
performed a traditional Mexican song, danced a Hawaiian He-eia
hula, sang a Japanese song and some Blues, and concluded with
will.i.am’s song “What I Am.” With many new perspectives to explore
and perform, students were invited to look beyond one point of view,
and to consider the thoughts, feelings, motivations, and intentions of
the different groups throughout California’s history.
I Am From...I Believe
In 6th grade language arts, young
writers wrote “I Am From” and
“I Believe” biographical poems.
Written prompts guided students
to explore the traits, tendencies,
ancestors,
events, homes,
and memories
that have
shaped
who they
are. Through
imagination,
descriptive
language,
and personal
preferences, they
completed poems
sharing their unique
identities and value systems. Sixth
graders also worked on a project which
entailed artistically writing sentences about their identity on
an enlargement of their thumbprint. While building creative
writing and poetry skills, students also deepened their shared
points of connection and understanding of differences.
7

COMMUNITY LIFE
First grade sandcastle builders use Baker Beach as their classroom for the day.
Hoo-hoo! Students showcase their
art projects during Evening of Art,
Innovation, & Greenstival.
A Community of Buddies
“Okay, remember that we have to look out for each other and stay together!”
said a 4th grader to a Kindergarten student. A beloved tradition of many years,
the buddies program plays a special role in promoting the values of respect,
compassion, difference, responsibility, friendship, and inclusion. ECE-8th grade
students meet their buddy at the beginning of each school year, and have
opportunities to connect each month while sharing lunch, reading books, going on
scavenger hunts, attending field trips together, or playing during buddy time. As
Seven Hills participates in the Harvard Caring Schools initiative, buddy time teaches
social skills that foster a caring and kind school community.
Mr. EB and our Jaguar
show their school spirit
during the Walnut Festival
Twilight Parade.
8

COMMUNITY LIFE
The Jags golf team putts their way to
several victories at the East Bay Golf
League Championship.
Jellyfish parent
volunteers swim
their way to the
Halloween Festival.
New Investigations in
Middle School Mini Camps
Want to create your own documentary? How about
building an electric go-kart named Geoff, or enjoying
dim sum in San Francisco? Seventh and 8th grade
students not traveling on last year’s international trips
were engaged in these unique learning investigations
during new week-long “mini camps.” Students
could choose to explore Science and Electronics,
Filmmaking and Documentaries, or Bay Area
Excursions. Similar to the Middle School
electives launched the year before, the mini
camps infused student choice into the lineup
of horizon-broadening classes.
9

Music, movement, and makebelieve
at the Red Barn end
of year celebration.
Looking
ahead to new
possibilities
on the first
day of school.
Finding
the perfect
selfie during
Grandparents
& VIP Day.
Mother Goose Comes to Campus
Last spring atop the trellis in the Student Commons, a
“mother goose” made a nest and spent four weeks sitting
and watching over her six goose eggs. Students and faculty
galvanized around this event. The Seven Hills grounds crew
built a ramp for the future goslings to safely descend from
their high perch, and Middle School science teachers Matt
Shargel and Megan Kaye ’09 installed a “nest cam” so that
students and teachers could watch the event unfold.
10
Kindergarten
scientists
investigate plant
life at Berkeley
Horticultural
Nursery.
7th grade
community
service and
stewardship
with Save
Mount Diablo.
On a Saturday morning after the eggs had hatched, staff
members Linden Van Wert and Katherine Stahl were
onsite to pad the goslings’ jump off of the structure
with gymnastics mats, and witness the family’s inaugural
march to the lake at Heather Farm Park. The month of
the goose made for an exciting time of student learning
as our newest community members hatched their way
into the world!

COMMUNITY LIFE
Building a solid shelter
during the 6th grade
Mount Lassen trip.
Konnichiwa! New friends delight
the audience during the Japanese
Exchange Welcome Assembly.
4th graders show off
their henna as they
learn about Diwali.
Sharing the ancient
Chinese tradition of
Tai Chi during 2nd
grade’s Global Us.
11

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO!
A New Journey: Graduation Celebrates the Class of 2019
At the 56th annual graduation ceremony in June, Seven Hills honored and recognized the
achievements, effort, and growth of our 8th graders in front of their families and friends.
Reflection and gratitude filled Hunt Hall as the 44 graduates from the Class of 2019 thought
about the lessons they will take with them as they launch into their new high school
adventures. The event is marked by special traditions—memory boards under the tent, 8th
grade speeches and individual quotes, the entire K-7th grade in attendance, and the faculty
and staff receiving line.
“We are so proud of all the Class of 2019 has accomplished here, and we cannot wait to hear
about the ways they will make a difference in their high schools,” said Scott Espinosa-Brown,
Head of Grades 4-8. Most importantly, we know that they will continue to embrace our creed—
to be respectful, responsible, honest, caring, positive, mindful, and grateful.
“While I have a home that I share with my family whom I love dearly and
with whom I laugh and create memories, my heart also rests in this school
and with the class I have grown up with who helped make me who I am now.
We have laughed, we have created memories, we have grown, and we have
accepted each other for who we are.”
– Grant Gutzwiller ’19
Class of 2019: High School Destinations
12
Zubin Acuña – Acalanes
Ashley Ashiku – Thacher
Anton Borovikov – College Preparatory
Olivia Breach – Athenian
Iris Buttles – San Ramon Valley
Lia Chinn – Carondelet
Jack Clancy – San Francisco University HS
Nathaniel Copeland – Athenian
Charlotte Dawson – Bentley
Mark Dickey – Athenian
Shipley Duff – Campolindo
Alexandra El-Sherif – Head-Royce
Zachary Elian – De La Salle
Kaveh Farahbakhsh – De La Salle
Alex Filonov – Miramonte
Aubrey Fitzsimmons – Head-Royce
Hans Gingrich – De La Salle
Hannah Glasky – Campolindo
Michael Goldberg – Wichita Collegiate HS
Grant Gutzwiller – Athenian
Olivia Harris – College Preparatory
Leila Helton – College Preparatory
Maile Hoch – San Ramon Valley
Mackenzie Hoey – Carondelet
Peter Hughes – De La Salle
Chloe Kang – Athenian
Lily Kangas – Head-Royce
Zane Khoury – Bentley
Darius Koster – Bentley
Sonam Manghani – College Preparatory
Owen Menzies – Athenian
Gavin Nunez – Bentley
Mira Patel – College Preparatory
Katherine Pflieger – Campolindo
William Pirone – College Preparatory
Audrey Reiser – San Ramon Valley
Katelyn Rodde – Carondelet
William Rueb – De La Salle
Ava Satterfield – Bentley
Pierson Scheinberg – College Preparatory
Nicholas Schwab – Bentley
Charlie Walters – Northgate
Addison Young – Northgate
Constanza Zamani – Miramonte

OH, THE PLACES THEY’LL GO!
Class of 2015: College Destinations
Seven Hills students from the Class of 2015 have big plans
and are now in colleges and universities across the U.S.
MIDWEST
Kenyon College
University of Missouri
University of Michigan
NORTHEAST
Olin College of Engineering
Saint Joseph’s University
Swarthmore College
University of Pennsylvania
University of Vermont
Yale University
WEST
Arizona State University
Boise State University
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
California State University, Chico
Colorado State University
Chapman University
Diablo Valley College
Gonzaga University
Loyola Marymount University
Montana State University
Occidental College
Saint Mary’s College of California
Santa Clara University
University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Riverside
University of California, San Diego
University of Washington
SOUTH
American University
Duke University
Emory University
Rice University
Texas Christian University
13

ALUMNI EVENTS
Last year's alumni events brought together graduates spanning several decades,
near and far. Many thanks to our faculty-led Alumni Council for helping to build and
connect our alumni network.
CARE PACKAGE PARTY
Class of 2014 alumni parents
gathered on campus to assemble and
stuff care packages for young alumni
in their first year of college, filled with
homemade goodies, special Valentines
treats, and notes from their former
Seven Hills teachers.
MIDDLE SCHOOL CAREER PATHWAYS
The third annual Career Pathways was an amazing day for
6th and 8th graders to be exposed to different paths to
career success through alumni and parent speakers. Keynote
speaker Bryce Pinkos ’99 discussed the technology of
filmmaking and his journey to Lucasfilm, and encouraged
students to learn all aspects of a business by being open to
doing anything.
SENIOR SEND O
Seven Hills welcomed
to celebrate their gra
More than 50 alumni
reconnected over bru
ALUMNI HAPPY
HOUR
Alumni gathered at
Calicraft Brewing
Company on a
warm fall afternoon
to catch up with
their friends and
former teachers.
14

NEW YORK MEET-UP
Head of Grades 4-8 Scott Espinosa-Brown and faculty
members Nancy Lane and Carolyn Nelson hosted an alumni
meet-up at House of Brews in New York City while traveling for
professional development.
Alumni Events:
Save the Date
November 19
Career Pathways:
Networking Event (SF)
with special keynote by
Jim Lanzone, CEO,
CBS Interactive and
Chief Digital Officer,
CBS Corporation
FF
back the Class of 2015
duation from high school.
, alumni parents, and faculty
nch and stories.
ALL-ALUMNI
REUNION
The June All-Alumni
Reunion was
attended by alumni
and faculty spanning
three decades!
Alumni toured
campus, reminisced
with classmates,
and caught up with
faculty and staff.
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS SHARE WISDOM WITH
THE CLASS OF 2019
The Class of 2019 was officially welcomed
into the alumni ranks at
the longstanding Alumni
Welcome Lunch. Three
members of the Class of
2015, Jack Engstrom ’15,
Sarah Forman ’15,
and Ellen Jurgens
’15 returned to offer
advice about high
school and life beyond
Seven Hills. Each
speaker represented
a different high
school perspective—
public, parochial, and
independent—and
touched on everything
from academics and
extracurriculars to social
life and peer pressure.
January 31
Class of 2015 Alumni
Parent Care Package Party
March 4
Alumni Happy Hour
April 24
Career Pathways:
Career Day
May 16
Class of 2016
Senior Send Off
May 29
Alumni
Welcome Luncheon
June 6
All-Alumni Reunion
15

2018-19 ANNUAL REPORT
A Message from the Board Chair
As we celebrate the 57th opening of The Seven Hills School for the 2019-20 year, I’m reminded of both the
legacy and evolution of our amazing academic institution that today is home to over 400 students, 270
families, and 90 faculty and administration team members.
Over the last four years, the Board has welcomed Kathleen McNamara as our Head of School and
collaborated with her vision for our future. We have commemorated the accomplishments and retirements
of long-tenured faculty, administrators, and trustees, and have attracted a new cohort of educators who,
in joining with our seasoned faculty, embody our school’s whole child curriculum and benefit from our
strong commitment to professional development. These milestones have taken place in a world filled with
social, economic, political, and technological change, making strong learning communities like Seven Hills
increasingly important places for our children to learn, grow, and become independent thinkers.
As the incoming Board Chair this school year and a trustee for the past six years, I am honored to work
alongside 20 talented trustees to embrace the responsibility for and stewardship of the important legacy
that is The Seven Hills School, in a way consistent with the mission, values, and beliefs secured under the
previous board leadership of Sameer Hilal.
Our first step was the launch of the strategic plan Whole Child, Whole Community (p.28-29), which will
serve as the school’s roadmap for the next several years. This plan includes deeper insight into the oftenasked
question of what a whole child education really means from a curricular and community standpoint.
In parallel, the Seven Beliefs For Seven Hills will continue the development of the school’s values-based approach to educating our
students beyond academics.
Our Whole Child, Whole Community approach also aims to better connect all constituencies within our school. Examples of this approach
include our ongoing cultural competency initiatives, as well as the rollout of our all-school lunch program, which we sincerely believe over
time will become cornerstones of our vibrant community.
All of the above investments and plans are only possible due to the countless hours provided by our school’s passionate volunteers,
talented teachers, and dedicated administration, together with the ongoing financial contribution from our donors and generous families.
Through your generosity, we celebrate yet another important milestone as we reach the goal of $5 million for the Seven Hills endowment,
which now funds over $220,000 annually towards the school’s operating budget. Thank you to all members of our extended Seven Hills
community for your continued support as we look ahead to the possibilities to come for our exceptional school.
Gratefully,
Matt Janopaul
Chair, Board of Trustees
16

FINANCIALS
2018-19
Board of Trustees
BOARD MEMBERS
Sameer Advani
Jamil Akoni
Heather Alumbaugh
Pat Blake
Annette O’Donnell-Butner
Paul Deeringer
Candace Fleming
Matt Janopaul
Raj Krishnan
Alexandra Lee
Mackenzie Lesher
WE THANK THE FOLLOWING
TRUSTEES FOR THEIR SERVICE
THROUGH JUNE 2019
Laura Furstenthal
John Gingrich
Khira Griscavage
Julie Gutzwiller
Sameer Hilal
Gina Morris
Patrick Lin
Rob Little
Matt Macomber
Julie Meissner
Ronke Olatunji
Bryce Pinkos ’99
Dave Satterfield
Seiyonne Suriyakumar ’02
Lisa Barnett Sween
Kirsten Young
OPERATING REVENUES
Net Tuition 1 $9,459,204 85.4%
Annual Fund
and Auction 2 717,170 6.5%
Other 682,881 6.2%
Endowment Draw 220,171 1.6%
Total $11,079,426
1. Net Tuition does not include
Tuition Assistance ​
2. Does not include
Raise the Paddle
OPERATING EXPENSES 3
Salaries and
Benefits $8,256,354 76.0%
Instructional 1,147,924 10.6%
General and
Administrative 218,951 2.0%
Fundraising 158,610 1.5%
Plant 471,754 4.3%
Debt Service 610,321 5.6%
Total $10,863,914
3. Excludes non-cash
depreciation/amortization
$992,151
$​119,000
$881,152
Capital Projects and Maintenance
$328,451
Note: capital expense is funded via
operations, gifts, and reserves
Endowment
$4,905,677
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
$31,756,081
Seven Hills is committed to enhancing the student experience while keeping tuition as low
as possible. The Board of Trustees helps manage the school’s finances with the goal of
supporting mission-driven growth and fiscal strength.
The operating budget in 2018-19 was $11 million. Salaries and benefits continued to account
for more than 75% of the overall operating expenses, while tuition provided 85% of the
overall operating revenue. Second to tuition, the Annual Fund and auction combined were
the largest source of operating revenue.
These numbers reflect pre-audited financials from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019. Audit will be available
upon request as of December 2019.
17

HONOR ROLL OF DONORS 2018-19
Supporting a Whole Child Education
At Seven Hills, our mission calls us to build a foundation that fosters a lifelong love of learning, educating not just the mind, but the
heart. We do this in partnership with our community, and all those committed to creating the best future for our children. We gratefully
acknowledge the trustees, parents, grandparents, alumni parents, alumni, foundations, faculty, and staff who supported The Seven Hills
School during the fiscal year July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019.
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information and listings in this report. If we have made any errors or omissions,
we sincerely apologize, and please bring it to the attention of the Development Office at (925) 933-0666.
18
Annual
Fund
Donors
Visionaries
$20,000 - $29,999
The Benevity Community
Impact Fund
David and Emily Breach
Ravikanth Ganapavarapu
Robert and Renee Little
National Philanthropic
Trust
Leadership Circle
$10,000 - $19,999
Patrick and Alison Blake
Christopher and
Annette Butner
Benjamin and
Sara Clinger
Fidelity Charitable
Gift Fund
John and Laura Furstenthal
Frederick Hughes, Jr.
Fred and Noel Hughes
Matthew and
Marissa Janopaul
Kenneth and Jennie Klein
Stephen and
Mackenzie Lesher
Schwab Charitable Fund
Delbert and
Kimberly Stafford
Corby and Heather Stead
Patrick and Diane Suciu
Giving Champs
$5,000 - $9,999
Anonymous
Bank of America
Matching Gifts
Program
BlackRock Matching Gift
Program
George and
Stephanie Buhalis
A special thanks to the more than 400 parents, faculty,
grandparents, alumni, alumni parents, and friends of
the school, who supported the Seven Hills Annual
Fund between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019. Gifts
to the Annual Fund support every aspect of school
life including our dynamic faculty, beautiful campus,
and whole child program to benefit our inspiring and
wonderful students. Thank you for your thoughtful and
enthusiastic participation.
Jonathan and
Kristin Butler
Frank and
Elizabeth Cassal
Chevron Matching
Employee Funds
Warren and Erin Colbert
Brian and Kristen D’Arcy
Daniel and
Lindsay Delaney
Amber DeSilva
David DeSilva
Charles Gibson and
Terezia Nemeth
John Gingrich and
Christine Currie
Robert and Wendy Greer
Joel and Holly Grossman
Louis and
Patricia Grossman
Peter and Julie Gutzwiller
Sameer and Melissa Hilal
Wendy Jordan
Scott and Lori Keith
Raj and Rupy Krishnan
Cornel and
Alexandra Lee
Patrick and Darlet Lin
Jonathan and
Gillian Marek
Kathleen McNamara and
Jihad Mirza
Jay and Julie Meissner
Gregory Pilarowski and
Anna Gai
David and
Anabelle Satterfield
Yi Shi and
Shangjie Zuo
John Sween and
Lisa Barnett Sween
Thomas and
Stephanie Taira
Wally and Kirsten Young
Headmaster’s Circle
$2,500 - $4,999
Katherine Alberts and
Lori Siegel
Jonathan and
Amanda Ambrose
Simon Ashiku and
Annette Chen
Maximilian and
Lori Auffhammer
Brian and Lisa Baskin
Gordon and Diana Baty
Guillermo Bossero
Ryan and Nicole Brown
Ewan and
Alyson Chesser
Edward and
Vanessa Childs
Paul Chua and
Grace Chan
Alexander Copeland and
Lolli Beall
Paul and
Christa Deeringer
Alexander and
Samantha Duff
William Dutra
Eric and Stéphanie Ebel
David Fitzgerald and
Haywon Lieh
Lee and
Candace Fleming
Google Inc.
Employee Giving
John and
Khira Griscavage
Jay and
Genevieve Gudebski
Scot and Liann Hagey
Brett and
Kymberly Johnson
Charles and
Lainie Johnson
Thomas and Danielle Kahl
Jeffrey and
Nicole Kangas
Pamela Keith and
Elizabeth Mahler
Peter and Tara Khoury
Mitchell Kumagai and
Deborah Podberesky
Kurt and
Leighanne Levensaler
Eric and Karen Littell
Zhonghui Luo and
Li Huang
Matthew and
Kamin Macomber
Richard and
Patricia Marcogliese
MasterCard Matching
Gifts Program
Drew and Kaeti McMillan
Rahul Parikh and
Rina Shah
Parnassus Investments
Shami and Lori Patel
Robert and
Margie Pearce
David and
Sylvia Pearlstein
Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi

Jeremy and Jennifer Rich
Phillip and Teri Rogers
Armin and Lisa Seifart
Steven and Susie Sovik
Tanner Wickes and
Julie Anne Springman
Wickes ’98
Edward and
Devra Struzenberg
Edward and
Leslie Sullivan
Edward Surak and
Claudia Furtado
Carlo Tamburrino and
Paulette DeFalco
Michael Tatara and
Helen Kurtz
Ian and Alexis Tawes
The San Francisco
Foundation
Vanguard Charitable
David and
Joelle Weckerle
Wells Fargo Foundation
Educational Matching
Gifts Program
Benefactors
$1,000 - $2,499
Walter and
Natasha Acuña
Sameer and Stella Advani
Jamil and Cheryl Akoni
Jason and
Nicole Ambrose
Anonymous (2)
Amir Axelrod and
Sherry Wang-Axelrod
Douglas Baloun and
Traci Huahn
Alberto and Ana Bianchi
Ilya Borovikov and
Victoria Holcomb
Dennis and
Veronica Brinkmann
Bret and Sarah Cameto
Steven and
Vanessa Capelli
Alison Carrillo
Ronald and Fannie Chan
Peter and Precilla Clancy
Casey Conroy and
Diana Herrera-Conroy
Kevin Considine and
Christine Paige
Considine
Santosh and
Eva Marie Dhanalal
Imran and Regula Dhedhi
Luis Domínguez and
Vanessa Torre
Thomas and
Julie Ducharme
Mario and
Graciela Dueñas
Mario and Tamara Dueñas
Family Office
Foundation, Inc.
Anne Gartner
Genentech, Inc.
Thomas and
Valerie Greeley
Karan and Ella Gupta
Blake Haley and
Christine Deakin
Jonathan and
Alyssa Harris
Terence Heywood and
Pamela Lesoganich-
Heywood
Hitachi Vantara
Paul Ho and
Katherine Jue
IBM Matching Grants
Program
Andy and Barb Jaspar
Paul Ho and
Katherine Jue
Byongkook Kang and
Helen Yoon
Tanveer and Sarah Khan
Charles Killian and
Michelle Watts Killian
Brent and
Rebecca Larson
Jae Lee and
Shireen Advani Lee
Robert and Christine Lee
Alexandr and Julia Lints
Norman and
Mo Livermore
Randall and
Elizabeth Luskey
Thomas and Denise Lyle
Kathleen Manning
Aimee Medeiros
Neil Menzies
MGD Painting &
Decorating, Inc.
Jason and Ginelle Mills
Morgan Stanley
Global Impact
Funding Trust, Inc.
Henri and Lorena Moudi
Nand and
Sarbani Mulchandani
Kenneth and
Dorothy Paige
Justin and Tracy Pajer
Pfizer
William Radtke and
Tabitha Kix-Radtke
Rafi Rafiei Rozbahani and
Banafshe Nabizadeh
John and Julie Rhee
William and
Allison Roberts
Jonathan and
Jennifer Rodde
George and Cheri Russell
Ibrahim and Aylin Sahin
Salesforce.com Foundation
Jay Saoud and
Kristina Kramer
Brian Scheinberg and
Laura Pierson-
Scheinberg
Shervine Shirazi and
Ameneh Khosrovani
Silicon Valley Bank
Matching Gifts -
SVB In the Community
Jonathan and Ali Singh
Simerjit Singh and
Harmol Raikhy
John and
Deborah Steinbuch
Cynthia Stephenson-
Catterton
Morgan and Lisa Swiggett
Todd Thorner and
Leyla Khosrovani
Larry and Deveney Totten
UBS Financial
Robert and Amy Walters
Daniel and Barbara Wark
2018-19 Faculty
and Staff Donors
In addition to their countless daily
contributions to Seven Hills and our
students, 100 percent of our faculty
and staff supported the Annual Fund in
2018-19. Thank you!
Tanveer Alibhai
Annie Allen
Virginia Arias
Lori Auffhammer
Michelle Barahona
Karen Begg
Brittany Berg
Clare Bisho
Kellen Bothwell
Christiane Brinkerhoff
Samantha Buono
Kelly Cardella
Michael Chamberlain
Lucy Chappell
Stephanie Chiang
Kelley Cochran
Cynthia Cogswell
Carolyn Cruz
Rebecca Cushing
Cora Davidson
Jason Davis
Barbara Eaton
Scott Espinosa-Brown
Laurel Evans
Tyler Flynn Rambo
Deborah Frerk
Riki Gibson
Susanne Goldman
Patty Gonser
Ashley Gordon
Christi Gotvald
Corinne Hayhurst
Katherine Henderson
Michelle Hercoson
Jesus Hernandez
Gina Hinck
Stephanie Hough
Kim Hughes
Megan Kaye ’09
Katie Kreuser
Nancy Lane
Rebecca Larson
Adam Lechner ’87
Elgin Leslie
Kate Levine
Sarah Lewis
Lisa Lindgren
Veena Lohia
Shauna Maraccini
Jenny Marcus
Alisha Marsh
Kelly McCargar
Phil McFann
Kathleen McNamara
Rhys Miller
Jihad Mirza
Dan Murphy
Carolyn Nelson
Nick Obando
Charlene O’Brien
Tina Ory
Heidi Plumb
Megan Prieto
Renee Ramig
Cyrell Roberson
Generra Rocchi
Dan Rogoff
Mark Roquet
Lauren Sanders
Julie Scarpelli
Karen Schulz
Matt Shargel
Deborah Shipherd
Paul Smith
Stephanie Sproul
Katherine Stahl
Cassidy Thompson
Patti Turetzky
Linden Van Wert
Mart Villatuya
Beth Wadsworth
Amy Walters
Alison Wash
Mari Weiss
Joanie Wills
Kirsten Woods
Ponce Yambao
19
19

2018-19
Annual Fund
Class Captains
A special thanks to our Class Captains
who shepherded our Annual Fund
efforts in 2018-19 and helped us
achieve an impressive 92 percent
parent participation. Your enthusiasm
is inspiring!
Rainbow
Red Barn
K
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
Annual Fund
Parent Chair
Grace Chan
Katie Alberts
Stephanie Taira
Diana Baty
Katie Alberts
Julie and Jay Meissner
Casey Conroy
Marissa Janopaul
Jason Husk
Kat Sellis
Michael Gandy
Vicky Holcomb
Chip Johnson
Joshua and Tara Wellen
Wellen Properties
Farhad Zamani and
Georgina Jensen
Arlo and
Christine Zoerner
Friends
Up to $999
5AM Venture
Management, LLC
Jeffrey and
Heidi Abramson
Nick Adamson and
Carisa Harris Adamson
Annie Allen
Robert Allen
Anonymous (15)
Rodolfo and
Virginia Arias
Pedro Babiak and
Laura Lippow
Gene and Alicia Bakkum
Gretchen Bartzen
Cas and Carol Beals
Christopher and
Karen Begg
Carlos and
Domenica Benitez
Brittany Berg
Nicholas and Clare Bisho
Altaf and
Salimah Boghani
Andrew and
Kellen Bothwell
Bright Funds Foundation
Brent and
Christiane Brinkerhoff
Bill Butner and
Bil Sullivan
Jones Butner
Mark and Kelly Cardella
Adrian Carrillo and
Michelle Barahona
Kimberly Carpenter
Lucien and
Lauren Cazenave
Michael Chamberlain and
Kathleen Jiménez
Lucy Chappell
Charles Schwab
Foundation
Rick and May Chuarta
Cisco Community
Connection Matching
Gifts Program
The Clorox Company
Foundation
Daniel and
Kelley Cochran
William and
Cynthia Cogswell
Dawn Craig and
Teresa Brink
Kendall Craig ’18
Ryan and Nicole Crowley
Carolyn Cruz
John and
L. Adrienne Cupples
Dan and
Rebecca Cushing
William and Linda Daniel
Brad and Cora Davidson
Davidson Educational
Therapy & Consulting
Jason and Lisa Davis
Pamela Dayton
Amish and Shilpa Doshi
Alice Duff
John Thomas Earle ’17
Mark and Kristine Earle
Sofia Earle ’14
Samuel East and
Kristy McVey East
Richard and
Barbara Eaton
Danilo Ebias
Lauren Elkind
Peter and Sue Elkind
Kenneth and
Diana El-Sherif
Scott and
Katherine
Espinosa-Brown
Kurt and Sheryl Ettinger
Paul and Laurel Evans
Bejan and
Torrey Farahbakhsh
Joseph and Lucy Felcher
Marlon Fernandez and
Wren Amos
James and
Marcie Fitzsimmons
Tyler and
Jessica Flynn Rambo
Deborah Frerk
Joe and Beth Furstenthal
Mary Gaines
Michael and
Katherine Gandy
Juan Gaviria and
Marcela Robledo
Gregory Gholson and
Katherine Henderson
Sadegh and
Narguess Ghorban
John and Jacki Gingrich
Laury Glasgow
Mark and Naomi Glasky
David Godsoe and
Renee Ramig
Edward Goldberg and
Larisa Genin
Susanne Goldman
Bob and Patty Gonser
Brandon and
Ashley Gordon
Mark and Christi Gotvald
Doug and
Susan Greenberg
Jack and
Marcia Greenberg
Marc and
Wendy Greenberg
Benjamin and
Joanna Grossman
Warren and
Peggy Gutzwiller
Russell and Jane Hall
Ralph and
Karen Hanahan
James and
Hali Hausmann
Travis and
Corinne Hayhurst
William and
Kimberly Hecht
Stan and Sarah Helton
Michelle Hercoson
Hernandez Janitorial
Services
Jesus and
Lucy Hernandez
Spencer and Gina Hinck
James and Cara Hollis
Dewey Horton and
Ann Hatanaka
Gabriel and
Stephanie Hough
Patrick and
Kimberly Hughes
Jason and Anna Husk
Richard and
Jennifer James
Matthew and
Nicole Jeffers
Thomas and
Pauline Jeffers
Matthew and
Natalie Johns
William Katakis and
Milena Martinez
Megan Kaye ’09
Bryan and Jenifer Kester
Myra Kiger
Barbara Klein
Andrew and
Alana Kleinberger
Emily Koster
Kathryn Kreuser
Chalis Kuba
Carlton and
Carrie La Cour
Troy and Nancy Lane
Ross and Olga Larner
Kirk LaSala
Magie LaSala
Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory
Adam ’87 and
Shannon Lechner
Elgin and Michele Leslie
David Levin and
Julie Scarpelli
Kate Levine
In gratitude…
We celebrate our donors who support Seven Hills with vitally important annual leadership gifts
of $2,500 and above with special recognition. Your loyal and generous support provides a
strong foundation for a thriving Annual Fund.
20

Steve and Sarah Lewis
LexisNexis Cares
Lippow Development Co.
Kevin and Ramona Little
Carla Lo Coco ’92
Carlos Lobo and
Riki Gibson
Paresh and Veena Lohia
Mohamed and
Chelsea Lounnas
Harsha Madannavar and
Deepa Bangalore
Rajesh and
Rujuta Manghani
Matthew and
Shauna Maraccini
Jennifer Marcus
Robert and
Caroline Maruska
Michael and
Eileen McAndrews
Dave and Kelly McCargar
John and
Lindsay McCormick
James McDonnell and
Linda Margulies
Philip McFann
Miklos and
Kathryn Melczer
Neil Meyer and
Stephanie Chiang
Dan Michael and
Lillian Leong
Neil and Rhys Miller
Bill and Kristy Miller
Monsanto
Jason and
Gina Morris
Daniel Murphy
Carolyn Nelson
Marygail Nelson
Frank and
Natasha Nicholson-
Bjerre
Calin and Anca Niculescu
Stacy Norman
David and Sally Nosal
Nicholas and
Erica Obando
Kerry and
Charlene O’Brien
Eniola and
Aderonke Olatunji
Jon and Tina Ory
Pacific Gas & Electric
Oliver and Amy Parker
Camile Pennix
John and Hannah Pirone
Heidi Plumb
Joseph Pollock and
Rebecca Demorest
Gregory and Liana Pope
Nickolas and
Megan Prieto
Psychiatric Care
Shandon Quinn and
Diane Maroongroge
Gustavo Rafaela and
Samantha Buono
Nathan and
Kimberly Rapp
Ralph Raulli
Ingrid Ray
Thomas and Linda Reiser
Cyrell Roberson
Generra and
Nicole Rocchi
Daniel Rogoff and
Laura Cox
Mark and
Katherine Roquet
ROSS Gives Back
Timothy and
Jennifer Ruane
Michael Rubiano
Philipp Sack and
Nikki Singh
John Safipour ’13
Colin Safreed and
Xochitl Gonzalez
Safreed
Matthew Sager and
Amanda Ashton-Sager
Michael and
Lauren Sanders
Edward Scherr and
Shelly Pozzi
Susan Schnieders
Karen Schulz
Steven Schwab
Matthew and
Kristine Shargel
Keith and
Deborah Shipherd
Richard and Ginger Silva
Paul Smith
Douglas Spear and
Isabelle Ord ’86
Stephanie Sproul
Stephen and
Katherine Stahl
Jeff Steinberg and
Kirsten Woods
Diana Superfin
Seiyonne
Suriyakumar ’02
and Anika Shah
Kristel Svansjo
Daniel and
Lindsay Sweetnam
The Walt Disney
Company
Foundation
Cassidy Thompson
Gerald and
Patricia Turetzky
Harpreet and
Anudeep Ubhi
United Way
of the Bay Area
Linden Van Wert
William and
Kimberly Vaughn
Mart Villatuya
Geoffrey and
Beth Wadsworth
Brian and
Sophia Walsh
Wareham Property
Group, Inc.
Bob and Alison Wash
Murray and Mari Weiss
Roger and Lani Werne
Eric ’96 and Emily Wight
Robinson and
Joanie Wills
John and Lisa Woll
Arthur Woo and
Emmelie Sabatte
Larry Wynn
Ponce and
Lourdes Yambao
2018-19
Annual Giving
Participation
Board of
Trustees
100%
Faculty
& Staff
100%
Parents
92%
21

Endowment Surpasses 2020 Goal of $5 Million!
Seven Hills reached a significant milestone this August when our endowment surpassed $5 million—a goal set in 2014 as part of the
school’s previous strategic plan, Approach 2020. Through an endowment initiative to honor retiring Head of School Bill Miller, continued
generosity through the auction, and careful stewardship and investments, we have doubled our endowment in less than five years.
A strong endowment enhances all aspects of the student experience by giving Seven Hills the financial flexibility to dream big and seize
new and emerging opportunities. Practically, the power of our endowment provides annual revenue which otherwise would come from
tuition increases. In fact, the endowment draw from earnings provided more than $220,000 in additional revenue last year.
A heartfelt thank you to those listed below for helping us surpass our endowment goal by making an endowment gift in 2018-19.
Together with supporters from years past, you have created an enduring legacy for the students of Seven Hills.
22
Jamil and Cheryl Akoni
Russell and Crystal Alpert
Jonathan and Amanda Ambrose
Amir Axelrod and Sherry Wang-Axelrod
Sebastian and Renee Bea
Nicholas and Clare Bisho
Patrick and Alison Blake
Ilya Borovikov and Victoria Holcomb
David and Emily Breach
George and Stephanie Buhalis
Jonathan and Kristin Butler
Christopher and Annette Butner
Bret and Sarah Cameto
Chevron Matching Employee Funds
Neil Meyer and Stephanie Chiang
Paul Chua and Grace Chan
Stephen Cohn and Rose Anne Critchfield
Critchfield Cohn Family Fund at the
East Bay Community Foundation
Ryan and Nicole Crowley
Brian and Kristen D’Arcy
Paul and Christa Deeringer
Charles and Mevis Demarest
Samuel East and Kristy McVey East
Eric and Stéphanie Ebel
Scott and Katherine Espinosa-Brown
Kurt and Sheryl Ettinger
Paul and Laurel Evans
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
James and Marcie Fitzsimmons
John and Laura Furstenthal
Anne Gartner
Juan Gaviria and Marcela Robledo
Sadegh and Narguess Ghorban
Joel and Holly Grossman
Peter and Julie Gutzwiller
Jonathan and Alyssa Harris
Kevin and Elaine Hennessy
Sameer and Melissa Hilal
Fred and Noel Hughes
Patrick and Kimberly Hughes
Paul and Deborah Jansen
Thomas and Danielle Kahl
Jeffrey and Nicole Kangas
Bryan and Jenifer Kester
Charles Killian and Michelle Watts Killian
Andrew and Alana Kleinberger
Conrad and Selena Lai
$5M
$4M
$3M
$2M
$1M
$0
Cornel and Alexandra Lee
Mackenzie and Stephen Lesher
David Levin and Julie Scarpelli
Eric and Karen Littell
Whitney Livermore ’00
Carlos Lobo and Riki Gibson
Thomas and Denise Lyle
Matthew and Kamin Macomber
Matthew and Shauna Maraccini
Kathleen McNamara and Jihad Mirza
Jerry and Deborah Mellin
Neil Menzies
Goal of
$5 Million Reached
$0
1992
Bill Miller’s
First Year
$2.4M
2014
Start of
Endowment
Initiative
$3.68M
2015
End of
Endowment
Initiative
$5.0M
2019
Goal of
$5 Million
Our
endowment
can now
contribute
$250,000
a year!
Merrill Lynch
Dan Michael and Lillian Leong
Bill and Kristy Miller
Cassian and Jeanette Naughton
Justin and Tracy Pajer
Michael and Ellen Peterson
Gregory Pilarowski and Anna Gai
John and Hannah Pirone
David and Emily Pottruck
Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi
Gustavo Rafaela and Samantha Buono
Timothy and Jennifer Ruane
George and Cheri Russell
John Safipour ’13
Michael and Lauren Sanders
Schwab Charitable Fund
Larry and Cybille Scott
Yi Shi and Shangjie Zuo
Mari Shurtz
Stephanie Sproul
Delbert and Kimberly Stafford
Brooks and Michelle Stratmore
John Sween and Lisa Barnett Sween
Daniel and Lindsay Sweetnam
Morgan and Lisa Swiggett
Thomas and Stephanie Taira
Ian and Alexis Tawes
Todd Thorner and Leyla Khosrovani
Harpreet and Anudeep Ubhi
Robert and Amy Walters
Wells Fargo Foundation Educational
Matching Gifts Program
Robinson and Joanie Wills
John and Lisa Woll
Wen Yen Yuan

Julian Rettger Fund for
Emotional Well-Being
Julian Rettger graduated from Seven Hills in 2003. His parents
established The Julian Rettger Fund for Emotional Well-Being
in 2010, to honor Julian, who passed away in June of that
year. Julian’s family has raised more than $500,000 through
the fund to support the social and emotional well-being
of students. Seven Hills has named the library in his honor
because of his early and continuing passion for books.
Named Endowment Funds
Create Enduring Legacies
Over the years, individuals and families have established named
endowment funds that continue to provide for the school. Like
contributions to the general endowment, these gifts are invested
in perpetuity with a percentage of the interest earnings used
each year for strategic priorities like professional development,
program innovation, and tuition assistance.
Mary Ann Adamski
Anonymous
Carl Corrigan and Sharon Kidd
Douglas Cuesta ’04
Celenia Delsol
Alison Espinosa-Setchko ’05
Salina M. Espinosa-Setchko ’95
Paul and Laurel Evans
Mark and Kathy Foletta
David Godsoe and Renee Ramig
Bob and Patty Gonser
Russell and Jane Hall
Travis and Corinne Hayhurst
Liviu and Ana Ionescu
Ellen Jurgens ’15
Kelly Kingdon ’10
Greer Kleber ’08
Andre Lay ’96
Carlos Lobo and Riki Gibson
Kathleen Manning
Bill and Kristy Miller
Kevin Moylan and Rania Berkeley
Daniel Murphy
David and Sally Nosal
Bryce Pinkos ’99
Lucia Pirone ’17
William Pirone ’19
Philip B. Rettger and
Diane Bell-Rettger
Bennet Riley ’09
Taylor Sproul ’12
Seiyonne Suriyakumar ’02 and
Anika Shah
Telos Academy
Wil and Victoria Tyra
Linden Van Wert
Robert and Amy Walters
Eric ’96 and Emily Wight
Kris and Jan Worswick
The Barlow Family Endowed Fund
The Brown Family Endowed Fund
The Butner Family Endowed Fund
Deborah Jansen General Endowment Fund
The Hennessy Family Endowed Scholarship Fund
The Hilal Family Endowed Fund
Jim Clark Former Trustees Endowment Fund
Joseph Family Minority Scholarship Fund
Julian Rettger Fund for Emotional Well-Being
On May 30, 2019, Seven Hills alumni came together for the
inaugural Alumni Giving Day in support of Julian’s Fund.
Through a generous donation from Julian’s parents, every gift
was matched dollar for dollar. Thank you!
Karen Malin Endowment for Professional Development
Matthews Music Scholarship
The Scott Espinosa-Brown Endowed Fund for Student Life,
Leadership, and Service
The William H. Miller Endowment Fund
Named funds are a meaningful way to create a permanent
legacy for your family at Seven Hills and can be established
with a minimum gift of $50,000. If you are interested in
learning more, please contact Director of Development Amy
Walters at awalters@sevenhillsschool.org or (925) 933-0666.
23

24
2018-19 Hills
Angels in
Perpetuity
Jeffrey and
Heidi Abramson
Ian Agol ‘82 and
Michelle McGuinness
Annie Allen
Robert Allen
Susan Alonso
Brian Atwood and
Lynn Edminster
Mathew and
Sarah Bakulich
Kelly and Carrie Barlow
Gretchen Bartzen
Sebastian and Renee Bea
Brad and Shiva Berman
Patrick and Alison Blake
Parke and
Victoria Boneysteele
Kevin Booth
David and Emily Breach
David and Kim Bridges
Robert† and Alice
Bridges Foundation
Ryan and Nicole Brown
George and
Stephanie Buhalis
Christopher and
Annette Butner
Philae Carver
Mark Fosbury and
Kristin Castagno
James and
Françoise Cervantes
John† and
Susan Chapman
Adam and Carol Chase
Chung-Cheng and
Jen-Kuei Chen
James and Kathy Clark
Ronald and Susan Codd
Stephen Cohn and
Rose Anne Critchfield
Michael and Shirley Coke
Alexander Copeland and
Eileen Beall
The Copeland Family
John and
Debby Cunningham
Mary Dalsin-Mills
Steve and
Celeste Danglade
Charles and
Nancy Deschane
Amber DeSilva
David DeSilva
Scott and
Deborah DeVries
Robert Dolinko and
Laurie Bronson
Todd and Christine Dow
Joseph and Holly Eiden
Irwin and Vivian Eskanos
Ira and Pamela Finch
Charles Fiske and
Karen Leo
David and Jessie Flatt
Roger and
Madeline Fleischmann
John and
Laura Furstenthal
Bob Gallo
Sandra Gallo
Ravikanth Ganapavarapu
Shrikant and Ira Garde
W. Philip and
June Gardner
Kimberly Gilmore
John Gingrich and
Christine Currie
Anthony Giordano and
Theresa Klinger
Charles and Alexis Glavin
Kent and Diana Godfrey
Bruce and
Barbara Goodman
Dan and Linda Gordon
Richard and Lori Green
John and
Khira Griscavage
Stephen and
Katy Gronowski
Thor and
Christine Grossen
Kenneth and
Jeanifer Grullon
Peter and Julie Gutzwiller
John and
Wendy Hammergren
Michael Han and
Annie Hahn
Terence Heywood and
Pamela Lesoganich-
Heywood
Sameer and Melissa Hilal
Diane Horton
In recognition of their enduring
commitment to Seven Hills, we
celebrate the Hills Angels donors
who, over time, have cumulatively
contributed $25,000 or more to the
Annual Fund. Your loyal and generous
support has fueled our innovative,
mission-driven approach to educating
students for nearly 60 years.
Abraham and
Deanna Hsieh
Frederick Hughes, Jr.
Fred and Noel Hughes
James and Laura Hulburd
Robert Ishii and
Nancy Wallace
Matthew and
Marissa Janopaul
Paul and Deborah Jansen
Thomas and
Mary Anne Jorde
Matthew and
Melissa Jose
Sheldon Kahn and
Sarah Liron
Joseph and
Odette Kardek
Ross and Amy Kari
Janet Katari
Kevin and Michaela Katari
Jerry and Carolina Katz
Mitchell and Karen Kay
Pamela Keith and
Elizabeth Mahler
George and
Bonnie Kennedy
Larry and Julie Kirsch
Steven and
Rochelle Klein
Bob Kliger
Stuart and Anne Knowles
Benjamin and
Judy Kronick
Jim and
Shannon Lanzone
David and Traci Lardner
Ari and Sheryl Lauer
Henry and
Jennifer Leingang
Stephen and
Mackenzie Lesher
Robert and Renee Little
Michael and
Sherrie Littlejohn
Norman and
Mo Livermore
Jeffrey and
Jennifer Loomis
David and Connie Lowe
James and Shari Lucas
John Lyngaas and
Linda Noel
Matthew and
Kamin Macomber
Steve and Beth Marini
Mark and Mindee Mastrov
Pat Matthews and
Patti Paulson
Scott and Tomi Matthews
Stephen and
Nancy McCarthy
Wendy McDermott
James McDonnell and
Linda Margulies
Kevin McGuirk
Daniel and Marina Miller
Bill and Kristy Miller
James and Dorothy Mills
Sam Mills
Tom and Julia Miner
Abraham Mintz and
Catherine Cutler
Langdon and
Elizabeth Morris
Paul and Diane Morton
Clarence and Irene Mou
William and
Frances Myers
Brian and Patricia Napper
Subhendu Narayan and
Kavitha Rao-Narayan
John and Ruth Nelson
Brent and
Elizabeth Nomura
David and Sally Nosal
Stephen and
Maggie Oetgen
Peter and
Isabelle Op de Beeck
Ralph Pais and
Gayl Huston
Charles and
Adelaide Park
Shami and Lori Patel
Jerome and Jane Perez
Eric and Amy Peterson
Joseph and Toni Petite
Scott Pipo and
Gloria Pickhover
Michelle Place
Joseph and
Rosalia Polizzi
Ingrid Ray
Christine Riley
Geoffrey and
Lesleen Riley
Susan Rogers
Andrew and Jinny Rudd
Fred and Susan Safipour
Edward Scherr and
Shelly Pozzi
Steven Schwab
Larry and Cybille Scott
Carl Shapiro
Mark Shapiro and
Roberta Goldberg
Brian and Michelle Sharpes
Murray and
Christine Sheldon
Philip Simon and
Terry Neben
Brad and Amy Skepner
Elizabeth Solomon
Corby and Heather Stead
Ronald and Caryn Suber
Patrick and Teresa Sullivan
Suri and
Rushika Suriyakumar
Bahman and
Mardjan Taheripour
Ronald and Robyn Taylor
Larry and
Deveney Totten
Christopher Trinkus
Richard and
Karen Walker
Michael and Maria Walton
Dennis and Bonnie Wells
Tom and Marla Williams
Keith and Susan Wilson
Douglas and Joyce Wing
Bruce Woods and
Nancy Frary-Woods
Glen and Elisa Yeung
Roy and Cathy Yih
Mark and Shawn Young
Wally and Kirsten Young
† deceased
New Hills Angels Member

Ways to Make a Difference
Heritage Society
We recognize members of The Heritage Society who have included
Seven Hills in their estate plans. Through their thoughtful planning,
members of the Heritage Society are providing for the future of the
school. Thank you for your vision and commitment.
Pete Babiak and Laura Lippow
Parents of Steven Babiak ’07
and Sydney Babiak ’11
Gretchen Bartzen
Director of Development
(1995–2012)
Brad and Shiva Berman
Parents of Daniela Berman ’05
Jon and Lisa Blake
Parents of Adam Blake ’11
and Andrew Blake ’12
John† and Susan Chapman
Parents of Chris Chapman ’03
and Emma Chapman ’05
Jim and Laura Hulburd
Parents of Alanna Hulburd ’06
and Kyle Hulburd ’09
Paul and Deborah Jansen
Parents of Ben Jansen ’03
and Nicholas Jansen ’05
Thomas and Mary Ann Jorde
Parents of Kevin Jorde ’01
and Christopher Jorde ’03
Joel King
Director of Finance and
Operations (2000–2011)
Jim and Karen Malin
Head of Lower School
(1992–2013)
Kathleen McNamara
Head of School
(2015–present)
Dan and Marina Miller
Parents of Marshall Miller ’01
Bill and Kristy Miller
Headmaster (1992–2015)
Parents of Hennessy Miller ’04
and Keenan Miller ’08
Abraham Mintz and
Catherine Cutler
Parents of Elizabeth Mintz ’13
and Zachary Mintz ’12
Philip Rettger
Parent of Julian Rettger ’03†
Linden Van Wert
Faculty member since 1975,
Librarian (1976–2015), Green
Ombudsman (2015–present)
John and Alice Villanueva
Parents of Amber Villanueva ’96
and Erica Villanueva ’99
† deceased
If you have included Seven Hills in your will or trust or are interested
in learning more about how to do so, please contact Director of
Development Amy Walters at awalters@sevenhillsschool.org or
(925) 933-0666.
Our mission calls us to build a foundation that creates a lifelong love
of learning. We accomplish this goal in partnership with our extended
community through three primary fundraising efforts. Join us!
ANNUAL FUND
The Annual Fund is the school’s cornerstone fundraising effort each and
every year. The Annual Fund is part of the school’s operating budget and
thus provides yearly and essential resources above and beyond tuition.
Gifts directly support the many things you love most about the school,
from hands-on-learning opportunities to our talented faculty.
AUCTION
The school’s annual auction is a fun community-building event that
also raises vital funds for student programs and the endowment.
Mark your calendars for this year’s auction, Saturday, March 21, 2020.
This treasured tradition is a fantastic way to connect with other
families while supporting the school.
ENDOWMENT AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGNS
Gifts to the endowment and special fundraising initiatives provide
long-term financial health and major capital improvements. The
endowment is invested in perpetuity with interest earnings used each
year to support strategic initiatives, while capital campaigns allow the
school to best align our learning spaces with our mission.
How to Make a Gift
If you have included Seven Hills in your will or trust or are interested
in learning more about how to do so, please contact Director of
Development Amy Walters at awalters@sevenhillsschool.org
or (925) 933-0666.
GIVE ONLINE
sevenhillsschool.org/giving
GIVE BY CHECK
Checks should be made payable to The Seven Hills School and
mailed to: The Seven Hills School, Development Office,
975 North San Carlos Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598
GIFTS OF APPRECIATED SECURITIES, BEQUESTS,
REAL ESTATE, OR OTHER PLANNED GIFTS
If you are interested in transferring stock or other securities to the
School, please be sure to notify the Development Office.
25

A BOOT STOMPIN’ GOOD TIME
On March 23, parents, faculty, staff, and friends saddled on up and hit the trail for the biggest jamboree
of the school year, Country Nights, the annual Seven Hills auction. Guests arrived adorning their cowboy
hats, rhinestones, and belt buckles for an evening of dinner, dancing, and spirited bidding!
It was a night of big hats and big hearts as the community came together to raise more than $335,000 in
support of our students, programs, and endowment.
Hats off to our dedicated co-chairs Kristen D’Arcy and Nick Bisho, who with their team of volunteers led the way
and made the auction possible. Thank you to everyone who put in countless volunteer hours, sponsored the
event, entered the raffle, donated items, and raised their paddle. This night wouldn’t be possible without
the support of our community.
26

Kelley Cochran
Adrian and Shada Kuba
Patrick Evan Salon
Corby and Heather Stead
Coffee Shop
Chalis Kuba
Piatti Restaurant
Patrick and Diane Suciu
Auction Co-Chairs
Kristen D’Arcy and
Nick Bisho
Committee
Wren Amos
Carisa Harris Adamson
Diana Baty
Rania Berkeley
Nick Bisho
Ryan Crowley
Kristen D’Arcy
Kristy East
Marissa Janopaul
Rupy Krishnan
Steve Lesher
Patrick Lin
Denise Lyle
Terezia Nemeth
Renee Little
Aimee Medeiros
Lori Siegel
Susie Sovik
Lisa Swiggett
Lexi Tawes
Christy Zoerner
Board Liasons
Alex Lee
Patrick Lin
Matt Macomber
Auction
Coordinator
Riki Gibson
Item Donations
1515 Restaurant
and Lounge
Nick Adamson and
Carisa Harris Adamson
Adventure Day Camp
Katherine Alberts and
Lori Siegel
Tanveer Alibhai
Annie Allen
Lori Auffhammer
Gene and Alicia Bakkum
Beach Blanket Babylon
Bel and Bunna’s Books
Nick and Clare Bisho
Black Stallion Estate
Winery
Blackhawk Country Club
Patrick and Alison Blake
Blow Dry Bar
David and Emily Breach
Norma Bristol/
Instrumental
Music Program
Christopher and
Annette Butner
Kelly Cardella
Lauren Cazenave
Center REPertory
Company
William and
Cynthia Cogswell
CorePower Yoga
Paul Deanno
Drybar
The Dutra Family
Edible Excursions
Elevate Basketball &
Performance Training
Elizabeth Nicole Salon
Encore Gym
Enhanced by Amelia
Scott and
Katherine
Espinosa-Brown
Laurel Evans
Extended Day Team
Fairyland
Fantasy Forum
Actors Ensemble
Five Little Monkeys
Tyler Flynn Rambo
Forma Gym
Frank Family Vineyards
Ginger’s Gelato
Ashley Gordon
Gott’s Roadside
Christi Gotvald
Jay and Jenn Gudebski
Peter and Julie Gutzwiller
Havana Restaurant
Kathy Henderson
Sameer and Melissa Hilal
Gina Hinck
Stephanie Hough
Jason and Anna Husk
Inman Family Wines
James Brian Studios
Matt and Marissa Janopaul
JBJ Curated Goods
for Life
JetSuiteX
JP Cosmetics
Kallie Jo Photography
Megan Kaye ‘09
Kelly Slater Surf Ranch
Kendra Scott
Patrice Konigsberg
Skip and Carrie La Cour
Lagunitas Brewing Co.
Nancy Lane
Jim and Shannon Lanzone
Lareen Fender’s The Ballet
School Performing Arts
Ross and Olga Larner
Rebecca Larson
Adam Lechner ’87
Cornel and Alex Lee
Christopher and
Danette Leighton
Stephen and
Mackenzie Lesher
Elgin Leslie
Sarah Lewis
Limitless Escape Games
Livermore
Patrick and Darlet Lin
Lindsay Wildlife
Experience
Rob and Renee Little
Veena Lohia
Shauna Maraccini
Jenny Marcus
Alisha Marsh
Kelly McCargar
Peggy McCormick
Phil McFann
McGuire Denim
Kathleen McNamara and
Jihad Mirza
Jay and Julie Meissner
Methodology
Harriett Michael
Dan Michael and
Lillian Leong
Mike Hess Brewing
Monti Kids
Mountain Meadow Ranch
Dan Murphy
My Gym
Carolyn Nelson
Nordstrom Walnut Creek
Oakland Zoo
Tina Ory
Parksmart Regional
Parking Inc
Bryce Pinkos ‘99
Heidi Plumb
Jeffrey and Jessica Pozzi
Gina Puljiz
Gray and Brenda Reavis
Red Ox Clay Studio
Dan Rogoff
Round Hill Country Club
Lauren Sanders
Julie Scarpelli
Karen Schulz
Larry and Cybille Scott
Seven Hills Girl Scout
Junior Troop 33835
Shadowbrook Winery
Matt Shargel
Sienna Ranch
SkinSpirit
Sky High Sports
Soccer Shots East Bay
Steven and Susie Sovik
Sparta Taekwondo
Splash Swim School
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars
Sunrise Bistro
& Catering
Susie Cakes
Ian and Alexis Tawes
The Bar Method
The Seven Hills School
The Seven Hills School
Board of Trustees
The Walt Disney
Family Museum
The Woodhouse Day Spa
Cassidy Thompson
Torsap Thai Kitchen
Treasure Island
Sailing Center
Linden Van Wert
Bill and Kimberly Vaughn
VICI
Beth Wadsworth
Alison Wash
Mari Weiss
Wheel Kids Bicycle Club
Joanie Wills
Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
SAVE THE DATE!
Seven Hills Auction
March 21, 2020
5:00pm
Hunt Hall
Silent • Live • Dinner • Dancing
Join us for
a fun night out!
More details to follow
27

STRATEGIC PLAN
WHOLE CHILD, WHOLE COMMUNITY:
Strategic Destinations for The Seven Hills School
As our 60th anniversary as a school draws near, the Board of Trustees launched an updated
strategic plan, an ambitious roadmap for The Seven Hills School. With the three pillars of the
Seven Hills mission as its cornerstone, Whole Child, Whole Community will drive our efforts to enhance
our program and remain at the forefront of educating the whole child, while holding fast to the values
that have kept us strong for nearly 60 years. To read the plan in its entirety, please visit the Seven Hills
website at www.sevenhillsschool.org.
Destination: Develop the Intellect
Promoting Exemplary Learning and Teaching
Commit to a dynamic curriculum review cycle, which assesses academic, socialemotional,
and co-curricular learning
Expand our commitment to STEAM curriculum, incorporating life and natural science as
well as technical science, utilizing our own natural campus as an outdoor laboratory
Design a comprehensive digital and information literacy program, including coding
classes, digital citizenship, research skills, and parent education
Create an increasingly diverse, equitable, and inclusive community of students, teachers,
and families providing all students the necessary educational advantage to succeed in a
global world
28
Adopt the exemplary teaching model—a growth-oriented faculty evaluation model that
highlights innovation, collaborative teams across grades and subjects, and opportunities
to learn and lead

STRATEGIC PLAN
Destination: Engage the Spirit
Developing the Whole Child
Participate in Harvard University’s Caring Schools Initiative promoting kindness and
empathy to build ever stronger learning communities
Launch a community lunch program that includes a communal dining experience to
enhance nutrition, learning, and connection
Support each student through personal learning profiles tracked over time, through
newly created care teams supported by a permanent counselor position
Deepen cultural competency through teacher professional development, parent
education, and student programming
Expand opportunities for student voice and choice, in which students’ inquiries and
interests drive their learning, service, and leadership
Destination: Foster Respect for, and Responsibility to, Our World
Ensuring Financial and Environmental Sustainability
Invest in student learning, gathering and performance spaces—both new and re-imagined—through strategic campus master
planning and a bold fundraising initiative
Design an updated tuition assistance model reflective of the school’s mission and values
Create opportunities for enhanced diversity and optimized student-teacher ratios by expanding Middle School enrollment and
engaging in community partnerships
Grow our endowment to support strategic priorities and reduce our reliance on tuition increases, while exploring partnerships
and alternative revenue opportunities
Explore possibilities for our Early Childhood Education (ECE) program to reach into the local community for teacher training and
professional development partnerships with local colleges and schools of education
Build stronger connections with parents, alumni, alumni parents, and the broader East Bay community as we approach the
school’s 60th anniversary
29

2019-20 EVENTS The Seven Hills School
October 10 All Community
Parent Dinner
975 North San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creek, CA 94598
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Handled with Care
November 19 Career Pathways
Networking Event (SF)
January 15 Applications Deadline
March 21 Auction
April 9 Evening of Art & Innovation
April 29 Spring Performance
May 8 Grandparent & VIP Day
June 4 Graduation
June 6 All-Alumni Reunion
Parents of Alumni:
Please Forward This Publication
If your son or daughter no longer maintains a
permanent address at your home, please notify
Seven Hills of his/her new mailing and email
address at dmurphy@sevenhillsschool.org.
Pardon our Dust!
Tenvold Kitchen
Construction
Lunch is served! At the start of the school
year, Seven Hills launched an integrated
Community Lunch Program to allow
students, faculty, and staff to connect
over high-quality, delicious meals and
snacks prepared daily by chefs from
Epicurean Group.
Construction on the new commercialgrade
Tenvold kitchen is underway, and
once the upgrades are complete, our chef
team will be able to cook student lunches
from scratch in an onsite kitchen with
commercial ovens, grills, serving stations,
and dish room to allow for reusables.
Since healthy minds and healthy bodies
work in tandem, we are thrilled to be
aligning lunchtime with our mission.
30