|
Dear Spartan Upper School Families,
I am so proud of what our teachers and students have done over the past year and a half to raise student achievement and growth. Our STAAR practice tests in Math & Reading currently show that we continue to make remarkable progress, and that is a testament to all teachers emphasizing writing and reading in all subjects and our Math teachers requiring all students to show all their work when working out problems. At the same time, though, we have a significant amount of scholars who are struggling to pass many of their classes. This tells me that our students do an above-average job meeting the TX state standards but are not reaching the high bar of our rigorous curriculum, which is one of the many reasons you, as a parent, chose this academy.
In surveying our teachers, hands down, they all say that homework grades or the lack of them are the culprits. Here is the data on a daily basis by grade for the students who do NOT complete HW or the quality is poor in Lit/HL and Math:
6th gr: 42%
7th gr: 30%
8th gr: 35%
9th gr: 40%
When students do not complete the HW or do it poorly, that not only affects their HW average, it also affects their ability to understand the concepts which results in lower test and quiz scores. My thought is that our rigorous curriculum is attainable if only our students will put in the effort. Our students need the help to exercise and build the HW muscle that turns into an automatic habit.
Our end goal is two-fold: build the habits of self-discipline and be successful academically so that they can be masters of their own fate. To that end, the habit of doing HW must be mastered. Starting Monday, February 13, students who do not have their HW completed to the teachers’ expectations will earn a HW Detention where they will be able to finish the assignment and turn it in before the end of the day with only a 25% penalty (as per our late policy). Here is how it will be assigned:
-
6th/7th: Any student not completing HW in 1st & 2nd period will go to HW Detention during MB.
-
8th/9th: Any student not completing HW in 1st-3rd periods will go to HW Detention during MB.
-
All grades missing HW 3rd & 4th (6th/7th grades) and 4th period (8th/9th) will go to HW Detention at lunch/recess (they will be allowed to eat lunch!).
-
All grades missing HW in 5th & 6th periods will go to HW Detention 3:35-4:05pm and be out at the curb to be picked up by no later than 4:15.
How can a parent support this new HW Initiative?
- Help ensure that your student has a CELL PHONE FREE space in which to do their HW. Studies show that students who have a cell phone or computer access in the same room while they are trying to do HW take 3 times as long to do HW and the retention of information is low.
- Support the teacher when a student is assigned a HW Detention. Even if the dog ate their HW, getting a HW Detention is a gift of time to get it done! We have a duty as the adults to prioritize our students’ long term interests over their (and our) short term inconvenience. Even the best excuses in the real world will not get them ahead … example: if the Uber to the airport makes you late for your flight, the airline won’t hold the plane. The insurance company won’t pay out if you forget to renew your house insurance. Let’s partner together for our students’ future success!
At the end of the day, this HW Initiative is not a gotcha; it’s a help. We all want our students to have every option open to them after their sojourn here at GHWH.
“Our actions become our habits, our habits become our character, our character is who we are.” - Aristotle
Trinette Keffer |Upper School Headmaster
| | |
|
Dismissal Reminder
All students MUST be picked up by 4:20 PM (2:20 on early release days) unless they are enrolled in an after-school activity (please be aware that clubs and many athletics will not begin until September). After 4:20 PM (2:20 PM on early release days), students will be monitored by Athenaeum/Homework Club, and a charge of $1 per minute will be incurred. Parents arriving after 4:20 PM (2:20 PM early release) will need to park in the Lower School Lot and sign their child out at the front desk.
*PLEASE DO NOT USE CELL PHONES WHILE IN THE SCHOOL ZONE OR IN CARLINE ON CAMPUS.
Attendance
Attendance matters! Here’s why:
- Our campus funding is dependent on scholars attending school. This is the number one way WH receives funding from the state.
- The amount we receive from the state is based on our average daily attendance. Every day your scholar attends school, our campus receives over $45 in state funding.
How you can help us:
-
If your scholar is out sick, please send an email or doctor's note to our attendance mailbox at attendance@greatheartswesternhills.org for each day(s) your scholar is out sick.
- Please be sure to have your scholar in their classes when attendance is taken each day at 9:50 AM.
| | |
9th Grade HEB Foundation Camp | |
|
Who: 9th Grade Students
When: Tuesday, February 28 - Thursday, March 2
Where: H.E. Butt Foundation Outdoor School, Kerrville, TX
GHWH Upper School, in partnership with the H.E. Butt Foundation Outdoor School, will provide our 9th grade students with free, transformative, and educational overnight experiences, each set within the rugged beauty of the Texas Hill Country.
The Outdoor School is situated along the banks of the Frio River on the 1,900-acre H. E. Butt Foundation property deep in the Texas Hill Country, 13 miles north of Leakey on U.S. Highway 83. This trip is an extension of the Biology and Sciences curriculum offered at the upper school. By participating in hands-on, highly active activities, as well as journaling their observations of nature, we hope students can take what they learn about the outdoors as well as themselves and apply it to their life back home.
We hope that the awe of nature inspires students to recognize their impact and fulfill their roles as caretakers of their natural spaces through close encounters with the beautiful Texas landscape.
For more information, please contact Headmaster Keffer, or Ms. Koci.
| |
|
Starting January 17, students were issued and required to wear a student ID.
This ID will include their student number and picture and will streamline the process of ordering lunch and is part of our initiative to heighten student security on campus. Students will be issued a generic black lanyard but may purchase a House lanyard from the House Swag Shoppe.
They will become a required piece of the school uniform (uniform infractions will be issued for missing IDs), so we suggest that students plan to either leave it in their locker every afternoon or place it in their backpack in the same place every day so that they avoid losing it. Lost IDs will be charged $2 for a new one.
| |
|
PSO Community Info Night
When: Feb 16th
Time: 6:00 p.m
Where: Lower School MPR
Like to know more about how you can get involved and upcoming PSO community events? Our PSO info night is the perfect time to get informed! See you then!
Group Photo Volunteers Needed
Please sign up to help usher and ensure scholars look and feel their best during their group photo sessions.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CADA728ABF8C16-group
Thank You
Lunchroom Volunteers Opportunities are back!
Lunchroom Volunteer Opportunities are back! If you are interested and have completed the volunteer background and training (in-person and online), please review and sign up! We look forward to seeing you!
Click here to Volunteer at Lunch
| |
PSO Talks
Click below to enjoy the first video in our series from the PSO--this time with some of the volunteers championing our libraries!
| |
These blogs will be a way for parents to know of upcoming tests, projects, events, or grade printouts. This will also be a way for us to inform parents of grade-specific events including field trips, house events, or other similar events. We will not be posting specific homework assignments or actual pdfs of assignments. | |
|
Guild sign-ups will go live on Feb 6th Guilds go live at 6pm. Details forthcoming.
- Feb 13th First Week of Guilds begins.
- Guilds will run from 4:20-5:20 PM.
Pick up will be at the upper school and will run from 5:20-5:35. Any student not picked up by 5:35 will be brought over to the lower school and admitted to the afterschool program, where fees may apply.
Spring Guild offerings:
- Book Guild 6/7
- Book Guild 8/9
- Theater Guild
- Mathletes Guild
- Publication Guild
- Robotics Guild
- ASL Guild
- Swordsmanship Guild
-
Duke of Edenborough Guild (9th Grade Leadership Training)
- Golf Guild
| |
Pick-Up and Purchases Tuesday & Thursday | |
|
How to Purchase?
Click here for Configio OR Send exact cash or check in with your scholar or visit the parent payment portal.
Where to pick it up?
Students will have an opportunity to pick up items at the “Swag Locker Station” located in the lobby of the Upper school campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
*If your online purchase is intended as a gifted surprise for our scholar, please email nicole.glowe@greatheartswesternhills.org with your request.
| |
| Uniform Tie | $25 | | Scarf | $25 | | Beanie | $20 | | Cinch Bag | $15 | | Lanyard | $8 | | Decal | $3 | | Patch | $2 | | |
|
BIG SHOUT OUT TO OUR MATHLETES TEAM FOR WINNING THEIR FIRST EVER REGIONAL COMPETITION AND QUALIFYING FOR STATE!!!
Weight Room Update
Spartans, we asked, and you answered! Thank you so much to the families who have helped supply our needs for the weight room! Because of you, are 8th & 9th grade scholars are starting to learn to lift on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during our Morning Break. We have updated our needs list. If you would like to still donate, see below for items we could still use:
-Trap Bars (AKA Hex Bars)
-Dumbbells or Kettlebells in the following weights: 8 lbs, 10 lbs, 15 lbs, 20 lbs, 25 lbs.
Upcoming Athletics Games:
HS Boys Basketball
1/30/23 – 5:30 pm vs. San Antonio Prep
Soccer Schedule Will be announced soon!
Monitor Big Teams for the schedule release.
There will be $2 admission charge to middle and high school athletics games. Great Hearts Western Hills students will not be charged admission.
Game Day Reminders:
- Great Heart Students are reminded they are school thus the cellphone policy remains in place. Should a student need to use their cellphone to contact a parent after a contest, they may do so in the cellphone zones placed outside the gym
-
The courtyard, gaga ball pit, playground and any recess equipment are off limits during game time.
- Children should remain with their parents and accompanied to the restroom if needed.
- We thank you for your attention to this to help keep our campus safe and enjoyable!
Interested in playing soccer, softball, baseball or running track & field!?
Make sure your scholar is registered in Big Teams! Tryouts are fast approaching.
If you weren’t able to make it to the information meeting, please see the individual flyers below per sport to find out what you missed!
If you have any questions be sure to email Coach Disney at Elizabeth.disney@greatheartswesternhills.org.
If your scholar is looking to participate in a spring sport, make sure you have registered in Big Teams! Go to www.planeths.com to register your athlete. Under “sports interested in” click on the sport they are interested in!
They must have a physical on file in order to be able to tryout for a sport (this is not applicable to camps).
| |
Girls & Boys Basketball Games (tentative)
February 25
March 4
March 11
March 25
March 30- Championship
Practices will begin on February 6th. Here is a tentative practice schedule:
| | |
|
| 4:15-5:15 PM | 5:15-6:15 PM | | Monday Narnia | Girls | Boys | | Tuesday
Middle Earth | Girls | Boys | | Wednesday Narnia | Boys | Girls | | Thursday
Middle Earth | Boys | Girls | | |
|
Registration is through Aktivate: www.registermyathlete.com
Registration will CLOSE on January 30th, and practices will begin on February 6th.
If this is your first intramural sport of the year, you must purchase an intramural shirt. Shirts from last year are allowed in the competition.
Requirements for Intramurals
- Students must be academically eligible to compete. This is determined by receiving a 70% or above in all classes.
- A medical physical completed by a physician clearing the student for a physical activity must be on file before students can participate.
-
Registration through Aktivate (www.registermyathlete.com including a preparticipation form, medical physical, and signed athletic handbook). Click here for PDF
- Parents must read and understand that by signing up for intramural sports, you have accepted and acknowledged the sports club disclaimer at checkout).
Payments will be made in Configio; the link will be sent out next week.
For any questions, please email Intramural Athletic Director Hannah Boring@hannah.boring@greatheartswesternhills.org
| |
|
Texas 88th Legislature: Charter School Advocacy
Did you know that the Texas Capitol building is pink because of the "Sunset Red" granite used to build it? The 88th Legislative Session is well underway, and public charter schools are one of the major topics on the legislative agenda!
Register to learn more about the charter school association’s legislative priorities and how you can help by clicking this link. The information sessions are on February 8, 2023, from 10:00-10:30 AM or 6:30 - 7:00 PM. Select your preferred time when you register. Once your registration is received, an invitation will be sent to your email.
Stay up to date on critical charter school legislation and action alerts from the Texas Public Charter School Association (TPCSA). TPCSA is the statewide organization representing Texas charter schools to state leaders, lawmakers, and state agencies.
All parents can stay informed by subscribing to TPCSA’s emails and alerts. To receive TPCSA emails and alerts, please click this link.
|  | | |
|
Campus Photos on SmugMug
As the academic year progresses, photographers from Upper and Lower will continue to share photo memories from our campus on our new SmugMug site. Just use the password "plato" to enter and view.
Click here to view photos
| | | |
Great Hearts Western Hills | Website | |
| | | |
