Dear GHNO Lower School Families,

I like to think of the season of autumn at Northern Oaks as the Harvest Season, in which we take stock of the flourishing that is occurring in our work of cultivating Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. It is a time ripe and bursting with celebration and cultural events on campus. This past Thursday our fifth graders enjoyed their Secret Garden celebration during a beautiful sunny afternoon. In the coming week, the first graders will be celebrating the completion of the Egyptian history unit and the second grade will enjoy the completion of Charlette’s Web with a State Fair-themed literature celebration.

One of my favorite quotes from Charlotte’s Web comes shortly after Charlotte performs her miracle and writes the messages acknowledging Wilber’s magnificence. It is a message that I cannot help but think applies to times like these when our community is coming together. Wilber was astounded at the gift in her web and asked, “Why did you do all this for me?' he said, 'I don't deserve it. I've never done anything for you.” Her response is one that connects to us deeply. She responds,

“You have been my friend. That in itself is a tremendous thing. I wove my webs for you because I liked you. After all, what's a life, anyway? We're born, we live a little while, we die. A spider's life can't help being something of a mess, with all this trapping and eating flies. By helping you, perhaps I was trying to lift up my life a trifle. Heaven knows anyone's life can stand a little of that.”

We are so thankful for the friendship that exists here at Northern Oaks. We are surrounded by people who are blessing those around us and lifting themselves up to a life of virtue. We are grateful for the gifts that the teachers provide the students on a day-to-day basis, for the service given by our many volunteers, for the meaningful relationships that exist between our students. We look forward to sharing with you the many celebrations and events that will occur in the days and weeks ahead.

Congratulations to our new Intramural Champions. Pevensies Football and Reepicheep Volleyball made it through the Playoffs and took home their respective Championships! We look forward to the Mathlete and Intramural Chess Competitions next week.

Lastly, our Athletic Field Days will be held during the first week of November. We will be sending additional information and the Parent Volunteer Link will be released this coming Monday, at 6 PM.

Sincerely,

Charles Brogan-Headmaster Lower School

Recent Communications of Interest:

Traffic Update & Requests

Character Day Dress-Up Day-Read-a-thon

Winter Bazaar Call for Vendors

Birthday Books!

Thank you to all the students who donated a book to their classroom libraries in honor of their August, September, and October birthdays! We are so excited to start this new tradition to celebrate our students and expand our classroom libraries at GHNO! If you’d like to donate a book for your child’s birthday, click here for more info.

GHNO Game Night has been rescheduled to February 10

Important Text Messages

Parents and Guardians, our school uses SchoolMessenger to deliver text messages straight to your mobile phone with important information about events, school closings, safety and security alerts, and more. But Texas is an opt-in state, which means we must have your permission before we can reach you through this system. Not sure if you’ve opted in yet? Please text, “yes,” to 67587 now to ensure you get all the most current information.

Lunch Accounts

We are so glad that everyone is enjoying school lunch this year! Meal participation is up higher than it was last year when meals were federally funded and free for everyone.

This year, families are paying for meals and participation is higher than ever. Even teachers are enjoying meals at school. In order to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality meals, it’s important we keep our lunch accounts in good standing. Right now, as a campus, our balance due is more than $2,000.

Lunch accounts may be paid in a variety of ways. Online accounts are available through www.mymealtime.com. Families may also send in cash or checks to the front desk at school.

For our families receiving Free & Reduced Meals, it’s important to note that students may receive one full breakfast and lunch for free/reduced cost each day. If students do not take a full meal, they are charged for a la carte items. Second servings are also charged at the regular rate.

Field Days are Coming! Saturday is the deadline to order shirts! To read the email sent, click here! 

Each classroom K-4th competes for a Greek city-state during field day. All students should have a shirt that ties to their class. You may order your shirts here! If you are unable to purchase a shirt due to a financial hardship, please reach out to Ms. Rossanna Diaz. 

5th & 6th grades compete for their Houses. See the PSO section below or order at www.ghnopso.org. House members can also wear an intramural jersey.

Do you know many companies and organizations have employee matching? 

You may be able to double your donation to GHNO by simply setting it up. Wondering if your employer matches? Go to our donation page and find out. Scroll to the bottom and find the double your donation link that searches for qualifying employers.

If would you like to make a gift to GHNO or set up a recurring gift, click here! 

Any questions about academy giving, email DeAnna Macias!

FALL FESTIVAL: call for volunteers-Upper School Siblings are welcome to volunteer!

Sign up here to volunteer!

The GHNO Senior Class of 2023 is selling live red or white poinsettias along with fresh and fragrant evergreen wreaths. Help brighten up your wintertime decor by purchasing one! Sales will end today, October 23, so purchase soon! To purchase and get more details, please go to GHNOPSO.org 

Thank you for supporting the Senior Class Trip to Washington D.C.!

Below are links to previous emails that may be of interest:

Traffic Do's & Don'ts

Birthday Book Tradition Email

Absences

The school receives state funding for all students who are in their classes at 10:30 a.m. each day. If a scholar will be out for a doctor's appointment during attendance time, please be sure to submit a doctor's note upon return so we may count him or her present for the day.

For full-day absences, please notify the Lower School registrar, Mrs. Clark, via email.

Please remember to provide daily absence notices if your student will not be at school for the day.

Extended absences during the academic year are highly discouraged and do affect student success. Excessive unexcused absences may result in loss of credit or enrollment.

Morning Tardies

As a campus, we are working to build the good habit of promptness in our students. Students may not sign themselves into school. If students are dropped off later than 7:50 a.m., parents must park and sign them in.

To read about the Breakfast and Lunch program at GHNO, please click here!

• Families can load mealtime lunch accounts online or they may send in cash or check payments to the front desk payable to GHNO. Any of our receptionists will gladly load payments onto student accounts at no charge.

• If 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 website.  

Character Dress Up Day and Readathon: October 28^th

Lower School Fall Festival: October 29^th

Athletic Field Days:

November 2^nd (Grades 1-2)

November 3^rd (Grades 3-4 – AM & Grade K – PM)

November 4^th (Grades 5-6)

Grandparents Days: November 15^th (G2-3), 16^th (GK-1), and 17^th (G4-6)

Winter Music Concert: December 2^nd

Independent Study Week: January 2^nd – 6^th