Letter from Headmaster Keffer
Dear Spartan Families,
So much of what folks just can’t put their finger on but say they love about our Great Hearts Academies comes from books - not textbooks, not teacher-training books, not workbooks, not how-to books or self-help books. The books I’m talking about are the Great Books that have been carefully chosen as our Classics to Keep. These classics are works that have stood the test of time because not only are they beautiful stories written eloquently; they address essential questions that man has been discussing since the beginning of time, centered around what it means to be human. When our students read these books deeply, their perspectives widen, their moral imaginations grow, they become more empathetic towards others, and, ultimately, they grow in character.
Even those outside of the classical education world recognize that good literature read sincerely can profoundly affect who we are as people. For example, Annie Murphy Paul, in a Times article entitled Reading Literature Makes Us Smarter and Nicer, observed that reading deeply is different than the information-driven reading one does when one peruses the internet; it is something that needs to be learned and cultivated.
“Deep reading” — as opposed to the often superficial reading we do on the Web — is an endangered practice, one we ought to take steps to preserve as we would a historic building or a significant work of art. Its disappearance would imperil the intellectual and emotional development of generations growing up online, as well as the perpetuation of a critical part of our culture: the novels, poems, and other kinds of literature that can be appreciated only by readers whose brains, quite literally, have been trained to apprehend them.
We are training our students to read every day deeply. One of the ways we teach this is through the art of annotation. Annotating is simply adding notes or symbols on and around the text to give an explanation or comment. The teachers are carefully modeling the process to students – the youngest students are imitating the teachers’ annotations, and the oldest is beginning to use annotation symbols on their own in the text they choose. All of this marking and commenting makes class discussions and seminars rich, allowing students to find passages that struck them as confusing, interesting quickly, or lines that support an argument. By the time they have finished reading the last page, the book is richer because the beautiful excerpts have been underlined, great examples of good word choice have been circled, new words being added to their vocabulary have been boxed. Important comments about characters and plot have been noted in the margin. Since these classics are for KEEP, they can be revisited like old friends.
My now graduated and married GHMV graduated daughter will often comment about pulling an old Classic to Keep off the bookshelf in her living room to thumb through it fondly. She tells me that she enjoys rereading comments she made almost ten years ago and relives the time in class where that passage was discussed, and even mentions what was going on in her life at that time. Occasionally, she keeps the book off the shelf and rereads it – she recently did that with Animal Farm. My son has similar things about the books from Great Hearts Northern Oaks that are now in his collection. He started college two weeks ago and has already referenced passages from John Locke for his history class. It was never easy buying those books for my children over the years – buying them one at a time throughout the year, trips to the used bookstore, or even asking grandparents to give them as Christmas presents. But I have to say, now that I have two GH graduates, I can testify to the fact that I am so glad I was encouraged as a first-time GH parent ten years ago to buy instead of borrowing. Because of that, I got to gift my daughter and son a library.
I know that buying books can be expensive – I get it; I’ve been there. We will always have the Classics to Keep your children's reading available for those who need the help, but if you can, consider buying each of your students their own book to experience the same joy mine have. I made the mistake of not always buying the books for my son and telling him to use his sister’s; he has a few holes in his library now, and there were a few fights over who would get to keep the classic that both of them had annotated. Please help us give each scholar the gift of old friends they can visit anytime as they grow old with them … reminding them of the good, the true, and the beautiful vicariously experienced through the lives of the characters who live in them.
Blessings,
Trinette Keffer | Headmaster
Great Hearts Western Hills
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Quick Links for the School Year |
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Linked below are documents containing valuable information for this coming year.
Families can also head to the GHWH website for additional parent resources.
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Campus Operations Updates |
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Carline Update
To help speed up Drop-Off, we are opening either parking lot entrances to families with both Upper and Lower School scholars.
Families dropping off at the Upper School entrance will need to instruct Lower School scholars to walk through the lobby and out the field-side door to take the sidewalk to the LS building. Additionally, we are placing faculty in the courtyard to help direct LS scholars to their building.
If Upper School scholars wish to walk younger siblings to the Lower School building, they need to be conscious of the time – all students must be on time to class and ready to learn.
In addition to these updates, families should be aware that we are editing small but crucial aspects of our Lower School process to make the experience safer and quicker for faculty and families alike.
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Mealtime Reminders
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Scholars will have two lunch options daily. However, due to high free lunch participation numbers, please plan as though they may not get their first preference until we better understand how many hot meals are needed in the coming weeks.
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Parents of younger scholars, please familiarize them with raising their hand when asked if they need a "hot lunch" in class. This is how our faculty and volunteers build accurate lunch counts.
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If a scholar has gluten-free dietary needs and would like to participate in the lunch program, please send in a doctor's note to the appropriate nurse so that the school can make accommodations.
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Mealtime Reminders
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Scholars will have two lunch options daily. However, due to high free lunch participation numbers, please plan as though they may not get their first preference until we better understand how many hot meals are needed in the coming weeks.
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Parents of younger scholars, please familiarize them with raising their hand when asked if they need a "hot lunch" in class. This is how our faculty and volunteers build accurate lunch counts.
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If a scholar has gluten-free dietary needs and would like to participate in the lunch program, please send in a doctor's note to the appropriate nurse so that the school can make accommodations.
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Additional House Patches
For those who did not receive their full five patches, house patches are now available for pick-up at the Receptionist of the Upper School. Those who want to purchase additional patches may do so online and pick them up with the Upper School Receptionist.
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Attention Fifth Grade parents: Nurse Marsh will begin vision and hearing screenings as required by the state the week of September 7th. Please remind your scholars to bring their glasses to school next week. Nurse Marsh will be using the 10 foot Sloan chart and will be sending home referrals as needed.
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Hello Spartan Family!
The virtue of the month is Responsibility. We accept obligations related to our good and the good of others. We ought to act on those obligations in a manner suitable to their timely, satisfactorily fulfillment. As responsible persons, we are willingly accountable for what we do and say, always learning from our mistakes. If our scholars are to take accountability for their actions and row from their experiences, we are accountable for fostering a sense of responsibility ad cultivating a responsible community.
Below are two crucial areas you as a Western Hills family can help to build our campus culture:
- At School
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Please make sure that students abide by the dress code. Parents can reference the guidelines in the GHWH Family Handbook.
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Please make sure your scholars arrive at school on time, avoid tardiness, and understand the importance of timeliness for the community.
- At Home
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Scholars can practice responsibility at home with household chores and homework.
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If we are to cultivate these character traits in our scholars, it is helpful if our families partner with the faculty in modeling their discipline. As before, we challenge our parents and guardians to read great stories and poetry together--stories that illustrate right and wrong, good and evil. May I recommend a reading from Aesop'sFables, The Ant and the Grasshopper?
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And we want to wish a special welcome to one of the newest additions to our Spartan Family! Our Dean Graylyne Griffin and his wife Leslie welcomed their son Kaizen Justus Griffin over the last weekend.
Congratulations, Griffin Family!
Criselda Arredondo
Lower School Dean of Students
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Intramural sign-ups close on Saturday, September 4th.
Please expect an email in the coming days with reminders on practice days and times. Our Fall Intramural Season begins September 7th. Physicals must be completed before a scholar can participate.
Registrations are currently open through Register My Athlete and families will pay fees through the Configio program (linked below). There will be a $100 fee per season for each student that covers the price of a t-shirt, special events and will help cover coaching and other necessary costs. Student-athletes must be eligible to participate by maintaining passing grades, passing a physical examination (see forms registermyathlete.com), and demonstrating excellent moral choices in the classroom and during practice.
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Practice Schedule for Volleyball & Flag Football
- Mondays & Wednesdays: Houses Oakenshield & Baggins
- Tuesdays & Thursdays: House Pevensies & Reepicheep
- 5/6th Grade Teams: 3:45-4:45 pm
- 7/8th Grade Teams: 4:50-5:50 pm
Thank you,
Elizabeth Disney
Athletic Director GHWH
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Immediate Openings in 8th Grade
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Be assured that the administration of Great Hearts Western Hills is in daily communication with our regional leaders to ensure safety in the coming year. In partnership with us, please take these action steps:
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Families should familiarize themselves with the latest mitigation procedures outlined by Great Hearts Western Hills.
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For further reading, please read the Great Hearts Texas Safe Return policies we have put to practice
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Be prepared to receive emails concerning contact tracing in your scholar's grade or section.
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Room Parents Needed!
Please email ghwhpso@gmail.com if you are interested in serving as the Room Parent for your scholars class. Be sure to clarify your scholar's grade section when emailing the PSO leadership.
As a room parent, you will serve as a liaison between your teacher and the other parents of the class. Room Parents help serve our teachers and scholars throughout the school year by:
- Encouraging, supporting, and communicating with the teacher for weekly classroom needs (like sharing teacher favorites list or birthday)
- Helping facilitate classroom projects and Literature Celebrations by coordinating volunteers
- Collaborate with PSO leadership in celebrating teachers for and for significant events such as Festival and Teacher Appreciation week
As parents, we are all part of the Parent Service Organization (PSO) to help our teachers.
This is an excellent opportunity to serve our faculty on campus regularly. There will be 2 Room Parents per section--a team of Admin and PSO leadership will be in touch! The school year has already begun, and our teachers need the help, so let us know if you are interested!
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Used Uniform Sale
The PSO will be hosting a Used Uniform Drive and Sale in September.
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The Used Uniform Drive will run from August 30th to September 10th. Parents can drop off gently used uniforms in the bin at the front office.
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The Used Uniform Sale will take place on September 11th in the Lower school MPR from 12-1:00 PM.
This will be an excellent opportunity to support and meet some of your fellow Spartan families!
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Fun-Loving Lunchtime Volunteers Needed
Your Scholars and Teachers need your help! Please consider volunteering in this very rewarding capacity!
If you have a background check on file, please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. If you do not have a background check on file, please click this link and return the completed form to the receptionist or email info@greatheartswesternhills.org
Under current COVID-19 mitigation procedures, no parent or grandparent may join their scholars as lunchroom visitors, with the exception of parents who are serving as lunchtime volunteers (please contact
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Facebook Group
The parent-run PSO Facebook Group is one of the best ways to stay up-to-date on important updated from the Parent Service Organization.
For questions about volunteering or parental involvement at the school, you can contact the PSO leadership at ghwhpso@gmail.com.
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As a parent or guardian here at GHWH, you are already officially part of the Parent Service Organization! There are so many opportunities to volunteer! However, every school year, volunteers must have a new background check on file. Please click the button to access the form and return it via e-mail at info@greatheartswesternhills.org or in person to the receptionist at the GHWH Lower School.
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Great Hearts Western Hills | https://westernhills.greatheartsamerica.org
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