Category Archives: mental health

Lessons from the River…#1 Let go and flow with the river.

Posted on September 3, 2025 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This summer, I had the tremendous joy and privilege of joining 22 head colleagues on the Main Fork of the Salmon River in Idaho. Over five days, we traversed 88 miles through Class 2, 3, and 4 rapids. We either … Continue reading →

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The difference between nice and kind…

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

At Seven Hills, we often say to students “when you have a choice, be kind…” This is a great distillation of the “why.” There’s a difference between nice and being kind—even our bodies recognize the distinction. Kindness not only pours … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, education, empathy, kindness, mental health, mindfulness, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , | Comments Off on The difference between nice and kind…

On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

Posted on October 19, 2023 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I am here in Africa for only the second time in my life, the second time in 12 months, as it turns out, preparing for a personal challenge to climb Africa’s tallest mountain. It is sunrise. I am listening to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, David Brooks, NY Times, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, empathy, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, new york times, NY Times, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on On David Brooks’ Op-Ed Dateline October 20, 2023, Tanzania, Africa

Reading with a child can lead to new understanding… for both of you.

Posted on July 16, 2021 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a great reminder of how parents can change the conversation and endorse reading… Reading it aloud has done something to us. Teddy and I take turns, alternating pages. I listen to his voice and he listens to mine. … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, literacy, mental health | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Reading with a child can lead to new understanding… for both of you.

Safely reopening for the sake of the students (and their families!)

Posted on July 11, 2020 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The editorial below, like so many articles and items popping up in all of our newsfeeds, makes the case for the fact that children need to be in schools. At Seven Hills, we are preparing for a safe reopening for … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, global education, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, new york times, NY Times, parenting | Tagged , | Comments Off on Safely reopening for the sake of the students (and their families!)

What we know about children and the outdoors…

Posted on November 16, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

The beauty of school in Northern California is our ability to be outside every day, all year round… The Benefits of Learning OUTSIDE

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, global skills, mental health, mindfulness, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged | Comments Off on What we know about children and the outdoors…

Why we ned to value kindness over achievement… The Atlantic Monthly

Posted on November 7, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This article by Adam Grant and Allison Sweet Grant reinforces so much of what we mean when we say “Whole Child” at Seven Hills School. Enjoy! Stop Trying to Raise Successful Kids  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adam grant, childhood development, education, global skills, kindness, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mental health, mindfulness, parenting, parenting middle school aged children | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Why we ned to value kindness over achievement… The Atlantic Monthly

HuffPost: Why I dropped out of the Ivy League

Posted on October 25, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

I read this with great interest as I think about so many students working themselves sick for the “college admissions prize” and then wondering, “no what?” A very compelling read. HuffPost: One student’s perspective on the college arms race, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Admissions, College Admissions, education, Huffington Post, Making Caring Common at Harvard, mental health, Rick Weissbourd, social emotional learning, the science of emotion | Tagged , | Comments Off on HuffPost: Why I dropped out of the Ivy League