Category Archives: Seven Hills School Walnut Creek

The Importance of Social Emotional Learning

Posted on October 14, 2025 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

At a recent Parent Involvement Association (PIA) Meeting, our accomplished Division Heads and our amazing School Counselor shared our SEL curriculum with parents. We like to say the “the social emotional curriculum sets the table for the academic and cognitive … Continue reading →

Posted in empathy, kindness, leadership, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Importance of Social Emotional Learning

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 →

Posted in academic excellence in elementary schools, global skills, leadership, mental health, mindfulness, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Lessons from the River…#1 Let go and flow with the river.

Common Sense Media: New Year, New Rules Around Tech for Students/Children

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

This is a big topic of conversation at our school, and so many others. The right age to give a child their first cellphone is really up to you. Age isn’t as important as your kid’s maturity level, their ability to … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, childhood development, children and sleep, Common Sense Media, education, global skills, parenting, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning, technology, the science of emotion | Comments Off on Common Sense Media: New Year, New Rules Around Tech for Students/Children

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

Europe 2020, Day #5 Portsmouth to Normandy!

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

So today was a rough one, literally and metaphorically. After a very early (5:45am) wake up call, we left our hotel for the Port to clear customs and board our Ferry to France. We loved our private lounge that the … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, education, global education, global skills, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Europe 2020, Day #5 Portsmouth to Normandy!

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…

EDUTOPIA: What happens when we rush children through childhood…

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some great reminders about the role of wonder in childhood and resisting the “adultification” of childhood. This is something our early childhood educators in Rainbow and RedBarn know so well! EDUTOPIA: Let’s Not Rush Children through Childhood  

Posted in 21st Century Skills, childhood development, early childhood education, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, leadership, leadership in children, parenting, Seven Hills School, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on EDUTOPIA: What happens when we rush children through childhood…

NY Times Parenting tips at home for schoolwork…

Posted on August 23, 2019 by Kathleen McNamara Head's Up!

Some easily implementable ideas here. And similar to what I am hearing teachers discuss in faculty meetings about what works best in school, it’s also true at home: Remember that consistency is key.   Happy Opening!

Posted in 21st Century Skills, academic excellence in elementary schools, adolescent development, childhood development, ECE Early Childhood Education, education, global skills, new york times, NY Times, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, resilience, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, social emotional learning | Tagged , | Comments Off on NY Times Parenting tips at home for schoolwork…

Parenting in a time of chaos in the news…

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

Parenting is fraught with issues as 24 hour news cycles plague us with the most recent stories of violence, hate speech and hateful rhetoric. The following NY Times parenting piece reminded me of when I held my 11 month old … Continue reading →

Posted in 21st Century Skills, Common Sense Media, education, fear, helping children cope with tragedy, new york times, NY Times, parenting, parenting middle school aged children, resilience, Seven Hills School Walnut Creek, the science of emotion | Tagged , | Comments Off on Parenting in a time of chaos in the news…