Griffin Families,

We have been overwhelmed by the positive response to our 2nd annual remembrance ceremony. It was a moment where we gathered to share in the love of our country, and where we recalled the deeds of heroes to fulfill the Virgilian quote that graces the 9/11 Memorial Museum in NYC: “No day shall erase you from the memory of time.”

This event could not have happened without the planning and participation of certain individuals that I would like to thank: Mr. Craig Hoyer (event organizer); Mr. Austin, the Varsity Choir, and Mr. Hauger’s 9^th grade Music Class (for singing the National Anthem and America the Beautiful); US Army First Sergeant Monica Morris (our guest speaker who shared her experience at the Pentagon on 9/11); The Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery Memorial Service Detachment (presented the colors), and all SAPD officers who were present at our ceremony.

Also, a reminder that next week we will begin our first Griffin Forum with a lecture that asks (and answers) the question, “When should I give my child a smartphone?” Even if you have already given your child a smartphone, we would like to share some practical principles that should be considered and reconsidered when thinking about trusting your children with smartphones. For additional information see the box below. 

Finally, progress reports went out on Friday! Please do not hesitate to reach out to your child’s teachers. Conversations early in the year will bear much fruit on your child’s learning throughout the school year.

Thank you for your partnership and for entrusting us with your children.

Roar and Soar

Robert Funes

Headmaster Upper School

The Griffin Forum (Parent Lecture Series) will kick off on Wednesday, September 21, 2022

What: "When Should I Give My Child a Smartphone?", presented by Headmaster Funes

When and Where: Upper School Library, 8:10 am-9:45 am

Who: Upper School Parents!

Why: The goal of the Griffin Forum is to communicate our mission to parents, cultivate friendships amongst parents, and support parents in their call to be the primary educators of their children. The Griffin Forum achieves this goal by giving parents a forum to mingle over coffee and then listen to a lecture presented by a member of the community.

There are a reserved number of seats that are given on a first come first serve basis, so if you are interested, please sign up HERE. Doors open at 8:10 am, coffee will be provided, and the lecture begins at 8:30 am.

Our 2nd annual Homecoming Week is September 26-30th.

Here are some dates to save!

• JV and Varsity Girls Volleyball Games at Home against Monte Vista - September 30
• JV Flag Football at Home - October 1
•  High School Homecoming Dance - October 1

Mums for all Upper School students will be worn on Friday, September 30. For additional information on how to buy a mum, see the PSO section below.

Below you will find the theme days for Homecoming Spirit Week! For additional information on the theme days and homecoming hall decorating see this flyer.

The Big Give S.A. is a 24-hour day of giving that will take place from 6 pm on Thursday, September 22 through 6 PM on Friday, September 23.

This is the 9th year for Great Hearts Texas and the 8th year Northern Oaks has participated!

We are planning to have some fun events to celebrate this special day, so stay tuned. There will also be Match Minutes at specific times during the day which will double your gift’s impact on our school!

This is a great day to share with family and friends about this special day of giving and ask them to support your school!

Thank you in advance for Giving Big! 

Questions about giving to our Academy, or how you can increase your impact on GHNO, contact DeAnna Macias, Director of Community Engagement and Academy Giving

To learn more about Texas Charter Schools or to see how you can get involved with advocating for our charter school check out the Texas Charter School Association page. 

Questions about giving to our Academy, or how you can increase your impact to GHNO, contact DeAnna Macias, Director of Community Engagement and Academy Giving

To learn more about Texas Charter Schools or to see how you can get involved with advocating for our charter school check out the Texas Charter School Association page. 

Great Hearts Northern Oaks invites all 7th Grade students and their parents to the 2nd Annual "Explore Like a Naturalist" event! Students and parents will be grouped into teams for a Photo Scavenger Hunt.

The day will be full of riveting competition, adventuring through the park, and photographing fun memories! We hope you can join us! *Please bring bug spray, sunscreen & a water bottle! We want everyone to be safe & healthy during the festivities.

RSVP Here

A very limited number of last year's yearbooks are available for purchase. Parents may order online through Configio. Books will be delivered to students in their classrooms. To buy one, click the Yearbook Link.

Let's CELEBRATE OUR SENIORS by bringing their favorite lunches! This year, we will host 2 "Adopt a Senior" lunch days. We need your help to bring them lunch on both Wednesday, October 19, 2022 & Wednesday, March 22, 2023. 

Please sign up here and we will be in touch with your Senior's lunch order, plus reminders as the date gets closer!

To access the Amazon wish list click the graphic above!

Parents who wish to volunteer, please remember that you need to submit a background check before serving our students on campus. A new background check needs to be submitted each academic year. All of the information needed for volunteering is available on our school website on the PSO page Additional information can be found on our PSO website including opportunities to help under the volunteer tab.

Uniform Issues with Shirts

Dennis Uniforms has discovered that some of the Great Hearts logos are failing to adhere to shirts after washing, specifically polo shirts. If anyone encounters this issue on shirts purchased at Dennis this year, please return them to the store for reapplication. There is no charge to reapply the logos in this instance.

If you would like your upper school student to receive the newsletter please click here!

Soon-to-be Student Drivers!

For students applying for a driver’s permit, please email Mrs. Thompson to request the verification of enrollment (VOE) form with at least a 48-hour notification.

Please make your appointment first, and then request the VOE. The VOE is only valid for 30 days from the issuance date. You do not need to send in the form, one will be issued to your student with the necessary signature and school information.

Please click here to learn more about the Breakfast and Lunch Program at GHNO.

• The 2022-2023 Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) Application is now available. Please apply online HERE.

• If you apply, please be sure to select the options for sharing your status with other programs if you'd like us to be able to apply benefits to Athletics, after-school programs, or other campus programs.

• All students, regardless of status, will be charged the full meal price when ordering seconds.

• Parents can load student Mealtime accounts online or send in cash or check payments to the front desk, payable to GHNO. Any of our receptionists will gladly load your payments onto your student accounts at no charge.

• If you are sending in cash or a check with your student for lunch, send it in an envelope, and please ensure their name, teacher, and class is written on the outside.

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For more information, visit the Great Hearts Texas Meal Service web page.

Senior and Junior Classroom Visits

Seniors and Juniors had visits from College Counseling last week during their HL classes. Sophomores will have visits next week. Please look out for follow-up emails from your college counseling team through Naviance. The emails will come from mailer@email.naviance.com – make sure to add this to your safe email list!

Upcoming In-Person College Info Sessions

If you are interested in a college, consider joining their interest list to find out about events that they are hosting in your area. As counselors, we sometimes get notices of these events. Here is a list of in-person college admission events that we are aware of happening in San Antonio soon! Do you know about one that is not on this list? Please send us an email and let us know.

• September 14 at 6:00pm, Exploring College Options with Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn & Stanford – Register here.
• September 15 at 7:00pm, College Travel Group with Brown, Columbia, UChicago & Vanderbilt – Register here. 

Upcoming PSAT/NMSQT Information

On Tuesday, October 25 all sophomore and junior students will take the official PSAT/NMSQT at GHNO. There is no fee or registration required for this year’s PSAT test. Sophomores can take the test for practice. Juniors should study for this test since the PSAT/NMSQT, when taken in the 11^th grade year, may qualify students for the National Merit Scholarship Program or one of the College Board National Recognition Programs.

One of the best ways to study for the PSAT or SAT is through Khan Academy. If students have already taken a PSAT or SAT, they can log in to their College Board account and link to Khan Academy for free, personalized SAT/PSAT practice. There is also a free Full-length PSAT Virtual Practice Test (from Princeton Review) on Saturday, September 17. Register here 

For more information on Testing and Test Prep Resources (especially for Juniors), please review this comprehensive test prep guide from the Office of College Counseling. 

Contact Information

Our office is easily accessible to high school students before/after school and during school day breaks. We are also available for in-person, virtual, and telephone appointments with parents and/or students. To set up an appointment please call or email us!

• By phone, dial 210-888-9483 ext 303614
• Email link for Mrs. Jessica Woods
• Email link for Mr. Guy Hanson
• College Counseling webpage
• Naviance Student homepage

8th Grade Headmaster Coffee- Wednesday, September 14, 8:210 AM

Griffin Forum-Wednesday, September 21