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 8^th & 9^th grade scholars are starting to learn to lift Tuesday-Thursdays during their 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)

- Barbell Holder such as the one below:

https://www.amazon.com/Eapele-Barbell-Storage-Olympic-EZ-Bars/dp/B07ZYH7BRV/ref=sr_1_3?crid=9OPKI98VBE97&keywords=barbell+holder&qid=1676043886&sprefix=barbell+holder%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-3

-Dumbbells or Kettlebells in the following weights: 8 lbs, 10 lbs, 15 lbs, 20 lbs, 25 lbs.

https://www.amazon.com/BalanceFrom-Rubber-Encased-Dumbbell-Pairs/dp/B096L54LY8/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3PA6PMB44EMLV&keywords=10+lb+dumbbells&qid=1676043848&sprefix=10+lb+dumbbells%2Caps%2C121&sr=8-6

Upcoming Athletics Games:

High School Soccer

3/4/23 – May be rescheduled, please be on the lookout for updates from Coach Disney

MS Girls Soccer

Mon 3/6/23 – 5:00 pm vs. Harmony SS Academy @ Alamo Sportsplex Field #4

Thurs 3/9/23 – 5:00 pm vs. Lighthouse Public @ Alamo Sportsplex

MS Boys Soccer

Tues 3/7/23 – 5:00 pm vs. Harmony SS Academy @ Alamo Sportsplex

Thurs 3/9/23 – 6:15 pm vs. Lighthouse Public @ Alamo Sportsplez

Track & Field

Next Meet: March 22^nd.

You may find the full schedule on our athletics website at: www.greatheartswesternhillsathletics.org.

Game Day Reminders for Soccer:

1. Soccer Central does not have bathrooms, porta-potties are available.
2. All facilities are still under construction therefore OFF LIMITS. Persons found violating this, or entering roped off areas, will be immediately escorted off the grounds, and banned for the remainder of the season.
3. There are no benches, please bring a chair to sit.
4. No parents or spectators are allowed on the field at any time. They must remain behind the fence.
5. Thank you so much for adhering to these guidelines so we may offer a safe and enjoyable experience to our athletes and to you!
6. As a reminder: all students must be dropped off/picked up, and cars must park in the parking lot. The dirt path before you enter Soccer Central is not meant for traffic.

Softball:

Practices have begun!

They will begin this week and the schedule for this week is:

Mon, Tues, Weds: 4- 5:30 pm @ YMCA Potranco

Baseball:

We have had a GREAT turnout and are so excited to be starting up this new sport. We have just enough boys to make a team, however, after special consideration of the age ranges and skill level, we have decided to not have a competitive baseball team this year. We have instead turned baseball into a guild for this school year. Our goal is to field a Middle and High school team next year. This guild will be open to 5^th – 9^th grade scholars. The guild will start in April and in May, to allow time for our scholars who are participating in other sports to still get to experience baseball. The cost to be apart of the guild will be $50 and that is to offset the cost of the field rental at Garza Park.

To register your son for the baseball guild please see the following configio link: https://greatheartswesternhills.configio.com/pd/832/22-23-baseball-guild?returncom=productlist&source=search

The schedule for baseball guild practices is as follows:

Sat 4/1/23 – 9 am – 11 am

Sat 4/8/23 – No Practice

Sat 4/15/23 – 9 am – 11 am

Sat 4/22/23 – 9 am – 11 am

Sat 4/29/23 – 9 am – 11 am

Sat 5/6/23 – 9 am – 11 am

Sat 5/13/26 – 9 am – 11 am

Sat 5/20/23 – 9 am – 11 am

Athletics Celebration:

Parents, if you had a scholar participate in a Middle or High School athletics team (not intramurals) please be on the lookout in the coming weeks for an invitation to your child’s Athletics Celebration.

We have had over 120 scholars participate in athletics, and we want to celebrate all their accomplishments!

Men’s Athletics will have their celebration on Thursday May 4^th, 7 pm. Ladies’ Athletics will have their celebration on Friday May 5^th, 7 pm. Light refreshments will be served. 



Intramurals

Late Pick Up Policy Notice

We are noticing an increase in late pickups from practices and even the game Saturday. We ask our coaches to be respectful of your time by ending practices early, and by also helping us with study halls to alleviate some of the stresses that come with delayed practice starts. Our coaches are also teachers, and typically arrive at the school between 6:30 and 7 am, and we want to respect their time as well so they may continue to participate in extracurriculars at our school, but also have time for their families.

Please be aware of what days and times your child has practice, and when those practices end. In the past, late pickups were sent to Athaneum, and a late fee was administered. With how much this program has grown, we are no longer able to do this; especially since some of our practices end after Athaneum closes. Moving forward for the rest of the year, this will be our late pick-up policy , and the athletic handbook will be updated to reflect this:

1. Students who are not picked up 10 minutes after a practice/game will have parents called.
2. The police will be notified for any student who is left 30 minutes past a practice ending.
3. If a student is left for 15 minutes or more on two separate occasions, without prior communication with the Coach or Intramural Athletic Director, then that student will be unenrolled from intramurals effective immediately and no refund will be issued.

We appreciate your partnership in this so that we may continue to provide a fun and safe program for our students. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Basketball

We are off to a good start with our intramural basketball season! I have seen a lot of very skilled basketball players at practice! 

Congratulations to Oakenshield Girls and Narnia Boys for winning y'alls game last Saturday! Narnia Girls and Baggins Boys put up a great fight! 

Please come out and support Baggins and Narnia girls at 5pm on March 10^th and Oakenshield and Narnia Boys at 6 pm on March 10th. Help cheer your house to VICTORY!