From the Desk of the Headmaster | | |
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Hello Spartan families!
It is hard to believe that we are already in the second quarter. Quarter one was filled with many firsts, and it has been wonderful to see all the growth and progress that students have made. Thank you to all who attended parent teacher conferences in person or via zoom.
Quarter two is our shortest quarter of the school year so helping your scholar stay on top of homework, work that is coming home weekly in take home folders and reaching out to their teachers with questions and concerns will be very important. There are so many exciting things happening this quarter including athletic field day, literary character day, grandparents’ day and our winter concerts!
Kyla Absher
Headmaster of Lower Schoool
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Turnaround Parking
Families and Faculty, pleaes do not park in the Turnaround Area in front of the GHWH Lower School. This area is marked partially as a fire lane, and families need the space to make a safe turnaround in our parking lot.
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.
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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:
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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.
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November 16 & 17th are Grandparent's Days at Great Hearts Western Hills for K-5th.
Our Spartan Grandparents are invited to join us from 9 AM to 10:30 AM in the GHWH Gym. Over the two mornings, our attendees can expect refreshments, a welcome from our Headmaster, photos with "grand-scholars," and a chance to see inside their classrooms.
Families will need to RSVP for their day corresponding to their grade level:
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Wednesday, November 16th - Third, Fourth, and Fifth Grade Grandparents may attend.
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Thursday, November 17th - Kinder, First, and Second Grade Grandparents may attend.
Please RSVP using the link below so we will be prepared to celebrate our scholars' Spartan Grandparents!
*No parents or guardians will be allowed to attend with grandparents.
*Parking immediately adjacent to the Gym will be available.
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Literary Character Dress Up Day | | |
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Guidelines for Literary Character Day Dress Up Day:
Students may dress up as any character from any book on the K-8 Classics to Keep List, a grade-level read-aloud book, Greek or Roman Mythology or a historical character from our curriculum at Western Hills and come to school primed for a joyful day filled with reading.
- Students who do not wish to wear a costume should come to school in his or her regular uniform.
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Parents MUST fill out and turn in a Costume Proposal Slip to their teacher on or before Wednesday, November 16th in order for your student to participate in Character Dress up Day. The costume MUST be approved by the teacher.
- No masks or all-over face paint (freckles, mustaches, etc. are okay)
- Hats, gloves, ears, etc. are acceptable as long as they stay on and are not a distraction (teacher will confiscate if that happens).
- No props, such as weapons, baskets, wands, etc.
- If the costume is such that it needs clothes underneath, it should be their uniform.
- Please keep in mind students will be going to recess in their costumes, so one that allows free movement is encouraged.
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Dear Western Hills Families,
Our grand GHWH Winter Concert is approaching! We are so excited for your family to experience
the fruits of your scholars’ hard work, as they have been diligently preparing their concert music
throughout the semester.
- Our K - 2 Winter Concert will take place on Friday, December 2nd at 5:30 PM at the Edgewood Theater of Performing Arts, located on 402 Lance St. 78237.
- Our 3 - 5 Winter Concert will take place on Friday, December 9th at 6:00 PM at the Edgewood Theater of Performing Arts, located on 402 Lance St. 78237.
All sections of each grade will be performing together as a choir.
Students are required to stay for the entire length of their concert because they will be graded on not just their performance but also on their concert etiquette.
More details about the call time for students will be given as the concert date approaches.
Students are to wear Concert Dress Attire. This means:
- Boys should wear a white oxford style shirt, black slacks, a black belt, black shoes and socks, and a black necktie (no pop culture or musical ties).
- Girls should wear a white blouse (no halter tops or spaghetti straps), a black skirt (knee-length or longer) or black dress pants, black dress shoes (no high heels), and black or white knee socks or tights. Girls may also wear a solid black dress if this is preferable. No distracting
If your child is unable to attend the Winter Concert, please email Ms. Burciaga (K - 2 Music) by Friday, November 18th at kiana.burciaga@greatheartswesternhills.org or Ms. Smith (3 - 5 Music) by Friday, November 18th at stephanie.smith@greatheartswesternhills.org.
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Hello Spartan Family!
The virtue of the month is integrity. We are individuals of strong ethical values, who make consistently good choices in keeping our knowledge of right and wrong. We seek wisdom of others in cases of moral uncertainty. We walk tall in truth. We want to teach our scholars to do the right thing even when no one is looking. Having integrity is a great foundation in friendship and in life.
Please see a few crucial areas where we ask for your continued partnership as a Western Hills family:
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Dress Code: Please make sure that students abide by the dress code. Parents can reference the guidelines in the GHWH Family Handbook.
- As we enter into fall and temperatures drop, please ensure that your student has a Great Hearts sweater to wear at school. Non Great Hearts sweaters and thinker outer layers may only be worn during drop off, dismissal and recess.
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Tardy: Students are tardy if they are not in their seats at 7:50. A meeting will be set if tardies become habitual.
- Car Line:
- The carline is closed at 7:48 each morning.
- Pick up ends at 4:20.
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Parents must stay in their vehicles during carline.
- Parents are not allowed to be on their phones while in carline and vehicles must be placed on park when the vehicle stops.
- Parents must use the placard card given by the school or they will be asked to go to the lobby to retrieve their child.
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Discipline – We will nourish the minds and hearts of scholars to do what is right, not for glory but for the sake of goodness. On the way to children understanding virtue, they will need to learn what goodness looks like by also recognizing the opposing forces of evil. If we are to cultivate these character traits in our scholars, it is helpful if our family’s partner with the faculty in modeling them. We challenge our parents and guardians to read great stories and poetry together--stories that illustrate right and wrong, good and evil.
Criselda Arredondo
Dean of Students, Lower School
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Over the last two weeks, scholars in third through fifth grade have been learning how to type during Lyceum using a program called Typing Club. This is in preparation for this year's STAAR test, which will all be online. The focus is to help them learn the fundamentals of transcribing their thoughts through a keyboard versus on paper. We still are a campus that highly values handwriting but understand the need for typing to be introduced in grades three through five. In class, students were actively monitored to be sure students were using the correct typing position with the home row keys. We will schedule more "Typing Bootcamp" throughout the year, but continued practice at home will help your scholar to become faster with the keyboard!
Your scholar was sent home with a login for Typing Club. Please login to greatheartstx.typingclub.com in order to access your scholar's typing program!
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Spartan Rummage and Craft Sale
It's time for our Fall Spartan Rummage and Craft Sale! The weather will be perfect so make sure to sign up if you would like to set up a booth and make it out to support our fellow Spartan community. See yal there!
Link:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CADA728ABF8C16-spartan1
Picture Day Needs
Spartan Picture day is right around the corner! Please sign up to bring in a few toiletries to help our scholars look their best.
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D4CADA728ABF8C16-picture
Used Unifrom Sale
The PSO will be hosting a used uniform sale on Saturday, November 12th from 10:00AM to 12 Noon in the MPR. This is a great opportunity to purchase an extra set of uniforms. Uniform pants and shorts will be just $1!!
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Intramural Soccer registration is officially closed.
When are practices and games?!
The practice schedule for Winter Intramural Soccer is as follows:
M / W – Narnia (Houses Reepicheep & Pevensies)
T / Th – Middle Earth (Houses Baggins & Oakenshield)
Tentative Game Schedule:
Co-Ed Soccer
Game 1: Baggins vs. Oakenshield – 10 am
Nov 12th Pevensies vs. Reepicheep – 11 am
Game 2: Oakenshield vs. Reepicheep – 10 am
Dec 3rd Baggins vs. Pevensies – 11 am
Game 3: Oakenshield vs. Pevensies – 10 am
Dec 10th Baggins vs. Reepicheep – 11 am
Tournament:
Seed 1 vs. 3 – Dec 13th @ 4:45 pm
Seed 2 vs. Seed 4 – Dec 14th @ 4:45 pm
Championship – Dec 17th @ 11 am
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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
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Great Hearts Western Hills | Website | |
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