Upcoming Dates

Nov 14-16th 9th Grade Outdoor Camp

Nov 20-25th Holiday Break (No School)

Nov 28th 1,000 Gifts Assembly & Giving Tuesday

Dec 2nd Headmaster Coffee for 9th & 10th Grades

Dec 9th 6th Grade Drama Performances

23-24 Calendars Available! Click the links below to add our campus event calendar to your personal calendars:

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Quick Links

Events at a Glance Print-Out

Upper School Family Handbook

Uniform Guideline, 6-10th

Academic Calendar 2023-24

School Supply Information

Classics to Keep K-10th

Athletics Website

Community Investment Info

Volunteer Interest Form

Bonus: Click here to join the GHWH PSO Facebook Group

Covered in this Newsletter

This Week's Proud Spartan Sponsor
Coffee with the Headmaster
GHTX Board Meeting Date Change
Raffle for House Shirt
Attendance
Tissue Boxes Needed
Open Lunches
9th Grade Outdoor School
Dean's Corner
The Music Nook
Intramurals
Athletics
Volunteer Opportunities
Advocacy Corner
SmugMug

Please remember to scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to see all of this week's content.

9th & 10th Grade Coffee with the Headmaster

December 1st, 8-9:15 AM

Parents of Great Hearts Western Hills 9th & 10th Grade scholars,

Please join us for a morning coffee and discussion with Headmaster Trinette Keffer. There will be time for herself and members of our leadership team to share and also answer questions.

This is a current parent-only or guardian-only event. We ask that you drop off your scholar in the carline first and then find parking. Doors will open at 8 AM, and Coffee will begin at 8:05 AM in the Upper School Library.

If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Travis: Ryan.Travis@GreatHeartstxschools.org.

Please click the button below for more details and to RSVP.

Click to RSVP

GHTX Board Meeting

November 27th

The board meeting previously scheduled for Wednesday, 11/8 has been changed to Monday, November 27^th. Prior to the board meeting, an agenda and Zoom link will be posted on the Great Hearts Texas board meeting page.

Blue and Purple Cute Back To School Poster.png

Tissue Box Donations Welcome

While we're all about nurturing brilliant minds, we also nurture many runny noses, sneezes, and sniffles on campus. That's where you come in!

We kindly request Kleenex box donations to help us tackle those inevitable classroom sniffles and sneezes. Your generous contribution will keep our students' spirits high and help us maintain a happy, healthy learning environment.

📦 Simply drop off a box (or two, or three!) of your favorite tissue brand at the school's front office.

9th Grade Outdoor School

November 14-16th

Parents and students of the 9th Grade are invited to a meeting following the College Counselor info night on our upcoming 9th Grade trip to the HEB Foundation Outdoor School hosted at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, October 17^th, in the US Library.

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.

We still need the support of 9th-grade families! The H.E.Butt Foundation has generously donated to the Outdoor School venue, all we need to provide is food and helping hands. Take a look at our SignUp Genius and click on any item(s) you would be willing to donate, loan, or possibly volunteer your time.

Click here to help your fellow 9th Grade families and scholars!

Cell Phone Locker Reminder

Students are required to drop their phones off in their assigned cell phone lockers first thing upon arriving at the campus in the morning and pick them up upon being dismissed to Carline. The only places a student may store their phone is in their cell phone locker or, in certain circumstances, the W. If a student fails to have their cell phone properly stored in their cell phone locker, they will receive an In-School-Suspension (ISS).

If your student does not have a cell phone locker and intends to bring a cell phone at any time to campus, they should swing by the Swag Shop before the start of the first period or during morning break to get one assigned to them.

If your student loses their cell phone locker key, they should come by the W immediately for assistance on how to proceed.

We are so happy to give the students this opportunity to focus on their classwork and enjoy the company of their friends!

John Womack

Dean of Students, Upper School

Open Lunches at Upper School

Tuesdays & Thursdays

Parents/guardians of scholars in grades 6th through 10th can accompany their scholar during their lunch period on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Parent/guardian must sign up for a slot prior to visiting for lunch. This will ensure that there is enough seating available for scholars and their guests on that day.

*Please read the Lunch Guidelines before RSVPing

Click Here to RSVP

The Music Nook

Please Note: 9th-grade students who are taking music first semester will need a 1” black 3-ring binder.

Welcome! This list of SA Music Performances is just a snapshot of the opportunities for live music in SA. I am hoping it will encourage families to attend performances and experience the beauty of live music! If you are interested in a different genre of music performance, please reach out to me so I can share those opportunities.

Mrs. Lewis, kathryn.lewis@greatheartstxschools.org

Music Instructor, Upper School

Click here to View SA Music Performances!

Intramurals

Co-Ed Intramural Soccer Games begin this week! Families that are signed up, should have received an email from Ms. Boring welcoming your scholar to their team. If you did not receive that email, please email Ms. Boring at hannah.boring@greatheartstxschools.org

5^th and 6^th grade! It is not too late to sign-up! If you are interested even a little bit, we would love to have you out there! We especially need more Reepicheep's and Pevensie's to sign up! Sign-up here: www.registermyathlete.org

Here is the link to make the payment:

https://greatheartswesternhills.configio.com/pd/1106/23-24-lower-upper-school-intramural-soccer

Practice Schedule: 4:14-5:15

Coach Travis: Reepicheep - Monday & Wednesday

Coach Orozco: Pevensies - Tuesday & Thursday

Coach Pressley: Baggins - Monday & Wednesday

Coach Hernandez: Oakenshield - Tuesday & Thursday

Tentative Game Schedule

Game 1: Baggins vs. Oakenshield- 4:30 pm

Nov 16 Pevensies vs. Reepicheep-4:30pm

Game 2: Oakenshield vs.Reepicheep-4:30 pm

Dec 1st Baggins vs. Pevensies- 4:30 pm

Game 3: Oakenshield vs. Pevensies-4:30pm

Dec 8th Baggins vs. Reepicheep- 4:30 pm

Game 4: Seed 1 vs Seed 4- 4:30 pm

Seed 2 vs Seed 3- 4:30 pm

Dec 13th Wednesday

Game 5: Championship- 4:30 pm

Dec 14th

Athletics

Click Here to Access GHWH Athletics Site

Athletic Shoutouts:

A big congratulations to our Spartan Athletes as they have brought some hardware back to Western Hills!

Middle School Agoge Volleyball - San Antonio Area Champions

High School Flag Football - TCSAAL Regional Champions

Upcoming Athletic Schedule:

Monday November 13thth:

MS Girls Basketball Game – vs IDEA Ambrose &Freda Robinson @ 5pm (HOME)

MS Boys Basketball Game – vs IDEA Ambrose &Freda Robinson @ 6pm (HOME)

HS Boys Basketball Game – vs SST Hill Country @ 7pm (HOME)

Tuesday November 14th:

NO GAMES

Wednesday November 15th:

NO GAMES

Thursday November 16th:

MS Girls Agoge Basketball Game – vs GH Invictus @ 4:30 (AWAY)

Friday November 17th:

MS Girls Agoge Basketball Parent Meeting - @ 3:40

HS Boys Basketball Game – vs GHMV @ 5pm (AWAY)

Parent Service Organization

The transformative education offered at Great Hearts Western Hills will only be possible through the generous and passionate commitment of a Parent Service Organization (PSO).

Upcoming Events

November:

14-16th - 9th Grade Outdoor School (CLICK HERE, VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED)

18-26th - HAVE A HAPPY THANKSGIVING BREAK

December:

1st - Fall Athletic Awards Banquet

4th - Spinal Screening Volunteers Needed

Volunteers for Spinal Screenings

Nurse Marsh needs volunteers to help with Spinal Screenings. Please click on the link below if you can help on December 4th.

Click Here for Info

9th Grade Outdoor School (Nov 14-16) - Supplies and Volunteers

9th Grade Outdoor School begins November 14-16th and we would like your support. The H.E.Butt Foundation has generously donated the Outdoor School venue, all we need to provide is food and helping hands. Take a look at our SignUp Genius and click on any item(s) you would be willing to donate, loan, or possibly volunteer your time.

Click Here to Volunteer

Upper School Library Volunteers Needed

The Upper School library is now open! The library hours are M-Th during morning break from 9:45am - 10:20am and Friday before school from 7:10am - 7:50am. If you'd like to join the amazing library team of volunteers please sign up below! Thank you!

Click Here to Volunteer

Daily School Lunch Volunteers

It takes many hands to make sure our students are fed quickly every day.

Click Here to Volunteer for Nov

Advocacy Corner

Texas Education and Legislative Updates:

As soon as the Legislature gaveled out Tuesday for its third special session, the governor called a fourth special session that commenced immediately for another 30 days.

On the agenda are the topics of border security and education. The education-specific topics include legislation relating to the public school finance system; special education in public schools; the certification and compensation of public school employees; the establishment of an education savings account program; and funding for school safety measures. The House immediately filed House Bill 1 – a negotiated bill between the House and Gov. Abbott, which the House Select Committee began hearing testimony in a public hearing on Thursday.

It is expected that the Texas Education Agency will appeal the injunction imposed by a Travis County judge barring the agency from issuing 2023 A-F accountability ratings. Unless the injunction is lifted by an appeals court, it will remain in place until the case goes to trial in February 2024.

Stay up to date on critical charter school bills 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.

To learn more about charter advocacy, contact GH’s Family Advocacy Manager Bridie Chaudoir at bridie.chaudoir@greatheartstxschools.org

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.

Visit our SmugMug