Upper School Newsletter | Sep 30th, 2022

Upcoming Events

Oct 3-6th Twig Book Fair

Oct 3-7th Spirit Week

Oct 7th Athletic Field Day

Oct 10-12th US Parent Teacher Conferences

Oct 13-14th Fall Break

Oct 21st No School

Oct 26th Scholar Photos

Click the links below to add the campus event calendar to your personal calendars:

Quick Links

Bonus: Click here to join the GHWH PSO Facebook Group

This Week on Campus

The Spartan weight room has begun to take shape with custom wall racks!

Covered in this Newsletter

Last Drawing for Spirit Gear
Operational Updates
Twig Bookfair
Spirit Week and Athletic Field Day
Parent Teacher Conferences
Grade Level Blogs
PSO Corner
Spartan Sponsor
Athletics & Intramurals

Win leftover Giveaway Spirit Gear 💙

If you requested a link to the Big Give and did not receive one, let us apologize for the technical difficulties. Unfortunately, our texting program temporarily blocked links.

Because of this, until the end-of-day Sept 30th (today!), any family who donates $5+ will be entered into three drawings for the new Spartan Spirit item of their choice! Click here to donate: https://greatheartswesternhills.configio.com/moneyrequest?id=3

Thank you so much for Giving Big this year 💙 Please help us make next year even more successful by taking this brief survey:

Take Big Give 2022 Survey!

Operational Updates

Complete Stops in Afternoon Carline

In an effort to maximize student safety during the afternoon carline, we are asking all drivers to place their cars in park once they have passed the crosswalk and come to a stop.

Please do not attempt to fill in any gaps once students are released from the curb to walk the carline horseshoe. It is vital to everyone’s safety that cars remain in park until the remaining students have returned to the curb and the traffic captain has signaled to release vehicles.

Lost & Found Warning

Lost and Found items will be discarded on 10/7 to make room for additional items when scholars return after fall break.

Families should encourage scholars or stop by themselves to look through items left behind.

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.

Twig Book Fair

October 3-7th

The Twig Bookstore and the PSO are proud to host a book fair on October 3rd-6th here at Western Hills!

Upper School scholars will use breaks and Lyceums as opportunities for time slots where scholars can tour the book fair and look at books. In addition, they can purchase books on-site this year, meaning scholars will need to bring cash if they wish to buy a book. Online purchases will also be available at the Twig website , but be sure to use code GHWH when you purchase so the school can receive 20% kickback!

If you would like to donate books from the Twig Fair to the School Library, you can do so by ordering the books online and having them shipped to GHWH using the Address:

GHWH Library

8702 Ingram rd

San Antonio, TX 78245

US Spirit Week & Athletic Field Day

October 3-7th

Monday - Spartan Heroes: Dress like your favorite teacher day

The teacher’s dress code follows the guidelines for “business attire,” which is like the semi-formal dress attire for students. The semi-formal dress code for young men is as follows. Boys should wear dress slacks (no jeans or patched pocket pants), a dress shirt, tie, dress socks, and dress shoes. Dyed/bleached hair is not permitted. Hair should be trimmed and styled appropriately.

The semi-formal dress code for young ladies is as follows. Girls should wear modest-length skirts or dresses (no shorter than the uniform skirt) or dress pants. Shirts or blouses should be tasteful and appropriate for the occasion. Bare midriffs, tight-fitting outfits, strapless tops, spaghetti straps, and low-cut shirts are not allowed. Girls should wear dress shoes. Dress sandals (open-toed dress shoes) may be worn, but flip-flops are not permitted. Dyed/bleached hair is not permitted.

Tuesday - Future Heroes: College/Career Day

Students may either wear a college t-shirt, polo, or sweatshirt or dress in the uniform/outfit designated for a career they are interested in pursuing. Students may opt to just add props to the normal uniform such as stethoscopes, tool belts, lab coats, hats, etc). If there are any questions about appropriateness, opt for the school uniform.

Wednesday – Entrepreneurial Heroes: DIY Day

In the spirit of invention, students are encouraged to make their own DIY uniform items out of alternative materials, such as duct tape ties, cardboard shoes, straw glasses, papier Mache house patches, etc. If there are any questions about appropriateness, opt for the school uniform or wear the DIY items over the uniform.

Thursday - Narnia & Middle Earth Heroes & Dress your locker Day

Dress as a character from the lore/story of your house. If there are any questions about appropriateness, opt for the school uniform or wear the costume items over the uniform. No real weapons, face paint, hair color, etc.

Friday - House Heroes: Athletic Warrior Day

Students need to wear their house shirt, athletic shorts & athletic shoes. Athletic shorts must be fingertip length (your PE shorts are preferable). No spandex shorts or yoga pants. Face/battle paint or “eye black” may be worn.

All Week Activities:

Food Bank Canned Food Drive – for every 5 cans of food brought, you get one spin of the House prize wheel. (Prizes include: an extra bathroom pass, infraction deletion slip, house points, head-start pass, House swag, and lunch with your favorite teacher/consul) House wheel spins happen Monday-Thursday during Morning Break.

Locker Decoration Competition – Decorate your locker reflecting your house lore and the theme: Be the hero of your own story.

All House award: best use of the theme and the coordination of the lockers in the grade to create a multi-locker decoration
Best in Show: 1 for each grade/house
Top Locker – best overall

Students may work on locker decorations Mon-Wed during Morning Break. The judging is on Thursday.

House Opening Ceremonies Grand Entrance – Each House must coordinate a grand “dramatic” entrance into the gym at the Opening Ceremonies. Planning, creating, and decorating happen during lyceum Monday-Thursday.

House “Relief” Tents – Each 6/7 House and 8/9 House will have a shade tent placed in either the Realm of Middle Earth or the Realm of Narnia in the Greater Spartan Territory. House committees may decorate those in preparation for battle on Thursday 4:15-5:15 pm.

Parent Teacher Conferences

October 10-12th

Dear GHWH Upper School Families,

It is almost time for parent-teacher conferences! Parent-teacher conferences are a great way to provide a foundation for a partnership between families and the school. The purpose is to increase your understanding of the progress your scholar is currently making.

Please make sure to click on the correct grade & section when scheduling your scholar’s conference with the teachers. Please take into consideration that not all the teachers might be conferencing with you since a good number of our faculty teaches across all grades. Please schedule your scholar's conference by the end of the day, Thursday, October 6.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to Manjola Koci at Manjola.Koci@greatheartswesternhills.org for further questions or scheduling conflicts.

Monday, October 10

6E - First Period Subject & Teacher: Drama - Mrs. Hardin

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent9

6C - First Period Subject & Teacher: Ancient History - Ms. Storey

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4eaea928a3fbce9-parent1

7C - First Period Subject & Teacher: Texas History - Mrs. Dionne

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent12

8B - First Period Subject & Teacher: Earth Science - Ms. Stevens

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent3

8C - First Period Subject & Teacher: Literature & Composition - Mr. McKee

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent4

Tuesday, October 11

6A - First Period Subject & Teacher: English Language Arts - Mrs. Tilton

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4eaea928a3fbce9-parent

7A - First Period Subject & Teacher: Physical Science - Mr. Allen

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent5

7D - First Period Subject & Teacher: Literature & Composition - Ms. Kaufmann

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent8

8A - First Period Subject & Teacher: Literature & Composition - Mrs. Glowe

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent14

9B - First Period Subject & Teacher: Geometry - Mr. White/Algebra I - Ms. Fuhrmann

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent7

Wednesday, October 12

6B - First Period Subject & Teacher: Math - Mr. Grover

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent10

6D - First Period Subject & Teacher: Latin - Ms. Riedlinger

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent11

7B - First Period Subject & Teacher: Pre-Algebra - Ms. Boring

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent2

7E - First Period Subject & Teacher: P.E. - Coach Ginithan

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent13

9A - First Period Subject & Teacher: Geometry - Dr. Lamascus/Algebra I - Ms. Fuhrmann

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0F4EAEA928A3FBCE9-parent6

Upper School Blogs

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.

6th-8th Grade Blog

9th Grade Blog

PSO Corner

Volunteers Needed for Athletic Field Day

We are looking for 4 volunteers from each house to help monitor lunches

Book Fair Volunteers Needed

We are seeking volunteers to help monitor our book fair. As scholars walk through and purchase books; volunteers will help ensure books are being cared for and help is being provided when needed.

Volunteers Badly Needed for Athletics

It’s GO time for the next few weeks to be BUSY with our athletic events! Please consider signing up to help with these! Without volunteers, things like concessions won’t be available. Admissions Volunteers are a must, and we can’t ask the same people to help every time. Let’s be honest no one has time for that! We have a number of experienced people to show you what to do!

*Note you must have completed your background check and volunteer training.

All Volleyball: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4eaea928a3fbce9-msbteam

MS Flag Football: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4eaea928a3fbce9-msffbvolunteer

JV Flag Football: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0f4eaea928a3fbce9-jvffbvolunteer

Spartan Business Partners

Click here for more info on our Spartan Business Partnerships!

Athletics & Intramurals

Upcoming Athletics Games:

Cross Country

October 15th – Regionals

Spartan Volleyball

The game from 9/28/2022 has been postponed until further notice

9/30/2022 – 6:00 pm vs IDEA Burke - Home

10/5/2022 – 6:00 pm vs Lighthouse Charter – Home

10/6/2022 – 5:00 pm vs. GH Invictus - Away

Agoge Volleyball

9/30/2022 – 5:00 pm vs GH Invictus - Home

10/1/2022 – 9:00 am vs IDEA Mays – Away

10/3/2022 – 6:00 pm vs Lighthouse Charter – Away

10/5/2022 – 6:00 pm vs. IDEA Burke - Away

JV Volleyball

10/3/2022 – 7:00 pm vs. IDEA Ingram Hills – Away

10/5/2022 – 7:00 pm vs Scenic Christian Hills - Home

MS Flag Football

10/1/2022 – 11 am vs GH Invictus – Home

10/4/2022 – 5:15 pm vs. Lighthouse Charter – Home

10/5/2022 – 6:00 pm vs Lighthouse Charter - Home

JV Flag Football

10/4/2022 – 6:15 pm vs. GHNO - Home

**There will be $2 admission charge to middle and high school athletics games. Great Hearts Western Hills students will not be charged admission.

Middle & High School Basketball Season is almost here!

Our meeting time has been changed to: Thursday 10/6/2022 @ 6:30 pm

Topics will include Tryout dates & times, practice days & times, eligibility updates.

There will also be a short session on what we are offering for Winter Intramurals (5th – 6th grade students) and the new registration process.

The interest meeting for Middle & High School soccer will be taking place in December.

Practice schedule for 5th / 6th Grade Flag Football:

Mondays/Wednesday – Narnia (Reepicheep & Pevensies) – 4:30 – 5:30

Tuesdays/Wednesdays – Middle Earth (Baggins & Oakenshield) – 4:30 – 5:30

Thursday & Fridays – No Practice

Practice Schedule for 5th / 6th Grade Volleyball:

Mondays/Wednesdays – Narnia (Reepicheep & Pevensies) – 4:30 – 5:30

Tuesdays / Thursday – Middle Earth (Baggins & Oakenshield) – 4:30 – 5:30

Upcoming Games:

Volleyball: 10/1/2022 – Oakenshield vs. Pevensies – 10 am

Baggins vs. Reepicheep – 11 am

Final Tournament: October 6th

Game 1 – 5:30 pm

Game 2 – 6:30 pm

Championship Game: October 7th @ 5:00 pm

**Tournament standings will be released on Monday, 10/3.

Flag Football: Final Game October 6th @ 5 pm

Winter Intramurals are quickly approaching!

New Change: Intramurals will be transitioning BACK to Register My Athlete for a smoother registration process. After fall athletics, we found the process not to our standards for creating rosters and being able to get information out quicker. Moving intramurals (NOT MS & HS athletics) back to Register My Athlete will help us with a smoother registration process and better enable us to get you the information you need.

What sport will be happening for 5th & 6th graders?

Co-Ed Soccer will be the next sport!

How do I register my student?

Please see the attached file: RMA Parents Instructions on how to register your child. The attached document: Full-length Parent Training – Register My Athlete Users2 will also give you step-by-step instructions with photos.

When is the registration and what is the cost?

Registration opens October 1 and closes October 19.

The cost to participate is $115 (which includes an intramural shirt) OR $100 if you have already received an intramural shirt. You can pay the fee at this link:

https://greatheartswesternhills.configio.com/pd/622/2022-2023-intramurals?returncom=productlist&source=search

Can I get some more information?

Absolutely! If your child is interested in participating in Winter Intramurals. Please come to the athletics meeting on 10/6/2022 at 6:30 pm.

How does academic eligibility work?

The goal of our intramural program is to allow our students to grow and learn in sport, while simultaneously preparing them for what it means to compete for their school as a Student-Athlete. Students must be passing ALL classes (70% or above) in order to be eligible to compete. Passing classes is determined at Progress Report AND Report Card time. Please keep in mind, when registering your student, that academics will take priority over athletics.

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)

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

GHWH Athletics Website

Great Hearts Western Hills | Website