The Seven Hills School

The Seven Hills School www.sevenhillsschool.org Our mission is "to develop the intellect, engage the spirit, and foster respect for and responsibility to our world."

The Seven Hills School, located in Walnut Creek and founded in 1962, is an independent, not-for-profit, day school educating 400 students enrolled in preschool through 8th grade. Our teachers inspire and engage Seven Hills students with integrated studies and hands-on learning. And our teachers inspire each other, with the shared goal of getting our students ready for the next academic adventure, as contributing members of any community to which they belong. Our campus, nine acres of former ranchland, is like no other. Step out of our 21st-century classrooms and along a babbling brook that meanders through our grounds. On any given day, you might see Shakespeare performed, a rocket launched, or a volleyball serve perfected. Our spacious library has room for quiet, introspective readers and a stage for gregarious storytellers. The Seven Hills School inspires lifelong learning for everyone in our community. Come by for a visit!

09/25/2026

Every teacher has a story about someone or something that inspired them to teach. For Ms. Ritz, that inspiration began in kindergarten. Thank you, Ms. Taylor, for planting that seed all those years ago!

Stay tuned for more videos and stories behind the teachers at Seven Hills.

These little chicks, who arrived from Iowa to join the Seven Hills flock last March, are now 5¾ months old and have disc...
09/23/2026

These little chicks, who arrived from Iowa to join the Seven Hills flock last March, are now 5¾ months old and have discovered their superpower: laying eggs! 🥚

Two of our all-yellow chickens are Buff Orpingtons, and they’re responsible for the first two eggs. And they are very proud of themselves.

“Their ‘Guess what I just did?’ calls are eloquent,” says Linden. Teachers even got to sample their farm-fresh eggs for breakfast.

09/15/2026

When our local fire department stopped by to check the water lines and pressure for a new sprinkler system, our students were more than happy to jump in on the action! There’s nothing quite like a fire truck visit to add collective excitement and joy to a school day. 🚒

09/11/2026

Today in assembly, we commemorated the 25th anniversary of 9/11, focusing on the countless helpers and acts of compassion that brought people together in the aftermath of that tragic day.

Our 8th grade leaders introduced Come From Away—the musical they will see at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival next month—which tells the story of the extraordinary kindness that emerged when neighbors welcomed, helped, and housed strangers from across the globe.

Thank you to our 7th graders Meilianne, Zara, Grace, and Chloe for singing the national anthem before our moment of silence and helping us mark this important historical anniversary together. 🇺🇸

09/04/2026

A new school year, new captains, and new teammates!

The 2026–27 Blue Green Games kicked off this morning with the induction of our 3rd graders and new 4th–7th grade students onto their blue or green teams.

Which team will emerge victorious at the end of the year? We’re ready for a year of friendly (and fierce) competition. Let the games begin! 🏆

Our PIA Chairs and Room Parents are ready to make this a great school year! They kicked things off with an energetic mee...
09/03/2026

Our PIA Chairs and Room Parents are ready to make this a great school year! They kicked things off with an energetic meeting and are already dreaming up ways to connect families, build community, and get parents and caregivers involved in the life of our school. It’s what makes our community so special.

Interested in jumping in or hearing what’s ahead? We’d love to see you at the first PIA meeting of the year tomorrow at 8:30am.

M​eet: Lily Taylor, Extended Day TeacherWhere are you from, and what were you doing before coming to Seven Hills?I’m fro...
09/01/2026

M​eet: Lily Taylor, Extended Day Teacher

Where are you from, and what were you doing before coming to Seven Hills?
I’m from Redding​; I recently moved to the Bay Area for college and to become part of the staff at Seven Hills!

Tell us about your family.
My family is pretty big. I have four sisters​ and two brothers, both step and half. I have two cats at my dad’s, Luna and Cosmo, and one cat at my mom’s, Pickles.

What’s your favorite thing about​ ​working with children?
​Spending time with kids is something I’ve always enjoyed. I’d say my favorite thing about it is forming bonds with the students and having the chance to be a good role model for them.

What are three words students would use to describe you?
​Patient, kind, happy​.

If you weren’t a​n XD teacher, what would you be doing?
I could see myself going through college with side activities and extracurriculars as a way to figure out what I want to do in the future. I’m hoping to study interior design and music in college, so that could be something.

What’s your favorite thing to do in your free time?
Spend time with the people I care about, whether it's going on outdoor adventures or just having conversations at a coffee shop or while doing activities at home. I also enjoy writing songs, playing guitar and piano, and singing very much!

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I’d really love to go to Paris, France. I’ve always been so intrigued about the different cultures and experiences of this world, and I specifically​ love and am interested in French life, cuisine, and culture. I also think the city is gorgeous, and I’ve always wanted to visit!

08/28/2026

One of our favorite traditions happened this morning. Our 8th graders (Class of 2027) formed a tunnel to welcome our new Kindergarteners (Class of 2035), into their first assembly of the year.

It’s how we start the year at Seven Hills: our oldest students welcoming our youngest. And at the end of the year, we flip it around—the faculty form a tunnel for our 8th graders as they walk out of their graduation. Here’s to a year full of firsts, last firsts, and everything in between.

Meet: Alex Cussen, Middle School History TeacherWhere are you from, and what were you doing before coming to Seven Hills...
08/25/2026

Meet: Alex Cussen, Middle School History Teacher

Where are you from, and what were you doing before coming to Seven Hills?
I am originally from Berkeley. Before arriving to Seven Hills, I lived in Los Angeles.

Tell us about your family.
I am married with two kids.

What’s your favorite thing about teaching?
I appreciate student-centered learning that gives students agency in how they synthesize sources and see the world in new ways.

If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be doing?
I might have been a journalist, yet have continued to write. Over the last few years, I have placed my writing in the Toronto Star and Columbia University Literary Journal (I also wrote an Op-Ed for the LA Times).

What’s an interesting or surprising fact about you?
Most people don't know I speak Spanish. Both my parents were born in Chile.

What is your favorite bookstore?
Pegasus Books in Berkeley.

What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done?
I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for my honeymoon back in 2011.

Address

975 N San Carlos Drive
Walnut Creek, CA
94598

Opening Hours

Monday 7:30am - 6pm
Tuesday 7:30am - 6pm
Wednesday 7:30am - 6pm
Thursday 7:30am - 6pm
Friday 7:30am - 6pm

Telephone

+19259330666

Website

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