Letter from Headmaster Keffer
Dear Spartan Families,
I just wanted to start by saying that I acknowledge that COVID is stress affecting everyone – I myself am just getting my feet back underneath me this week. Thank you to the many families that sent me good wishes for my recovery. I am so proud of the teachers and students for how they are working to follow our new COVID mitigation procedures. While we recognize that even despite the best safety measures, there are still those, like myself, that will succumb to this nasty virus. I am happy to report, though, that it seems that the mitigation protocols we put in place this week, along with the increase in mask-wearing, have contributed to a reduction in new cases here on the GHWH campus. To those families nursing sick scholars or looking after those quarantined – we miss you and look forward to having you back with us soon!
During this spike in the virus, please note that we will be following a procedure similar to the Make-up Work policy described in the Family Handbook. K-6 students who go home sick or close contact will be sent with appropriate materials and as many assignments as possible. The teacher will follow up with an email when more assignments are available. If a parent notifies the school that their student is sick, please email the teacher to request assignments. Teachers, upon request, can supply the assignments as PDFs through email or prepare a packet to be picked up at the front desk. Parents of 7th – 8th-grade students should call the US front desk and request assignments by giving the receptionist their full name and section. The teachers will coordinate assignments and make them available at the front desk. Another way for 7th & 8th-grade students to stay on top of absences is to choose an HW buddy or 2 in their section that they can contact when they are out to find out the assignments. If your student is too sick to work at home, they should know that they have one day for every day they are absent to get the work completed and turned in. Students on quarantine should have all of their assignments completed and ready to turn in on the day they return.
In the event that we have to close a section and quarantine them for 7-10 days, students who are well will be supplied laptops so that they can participate in zoom instruction with their teachers. K-5 students will need to participate in at least 2 hours of synchronous instruction, and 6-8th graders will do 4 hours. We will send full details and schedule via email if that should occur.
On a final note, I want to remind our Spartan community that our teachers and administration are committed to staying in close communication with their scholars' families. To that end, please understand that teachers do not generally check email after 6 pm or before 7:15 am. It is a GH policy that they have 24 hours to respond to all inquiries. Additionally, teachers are not required to check email during the school day to focus on teaching, or supervision duties between 7:20 am – 4:20 pm. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Blessings,
Trinette Keffer | Headmaster
Great Hearts Western Hills
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Quick Links for the School Year |
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Linked below are documents containing valuable information for this coming year.
Families can also head to the GHWH website for additional parent resources.
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Campus Operations Updates |
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Scholar Early Check Out
If you plan to check out scholars early during the school day, please go to the appropriate campus.
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When checking out only Upper School scholars, please use the Upper School receptionist desk.
- If your scholars are Lower School only OR attend Upper and Lower Schoo grades, please check with the Lower School receptionist.
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Additional House Patches
For those who did not receive their full five patches, house patches are now available for pick-up at the Receptionist of the Upper School. Those who want to purchase additional patches may do so online and pick them up with the Upper School Receptionist.
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Mealtime Reminders
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Scholars will have two lunch options daily. However, due to high free lunch participation numbers, please plan as though they may not get their first preference until we better understand how many hot meals are needed in the coming weeks.
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Parents of younger scholars, please familiarize them with raising their hand when asked if they need a "hot lunch" in class. This is how our faculty and volunteers build accurate lunch counts.
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If a scholar has gluten-free dietary needs and would like to participate in the lunch program, please send in a doctor's note to the appropriate nurse so that the school can make accommodations.
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Nurse Purl - Lower School (K-4th)
I am Lyndsey Purl, and I am the GHWH Lower School campus nurse. I was born and raised in Plano, Texas, but have spent many years traveling the country as an Emergency Trauma Nurse. This is my third year at GHWH, and what I enjoy and admire most about our WH community is that the school is welcoming and supportive to all students. The dedication and hard work that takes place within our school building is geared toward the success of each scholar. Moreover, each student’s independent needs are taken into consideration.
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Nurse Marsh - Upper School (5-8th)
Hello, my name is Monique Marsh, and I am happy to be joining GHWH as the Upper School campus Nurse. I come with ten years of working experience as a school nurse with SAISD. Prior to that, I was a travel nurse in labor delivery, hematology, and oncology. This is my 3rd year as a Great Hearts parent and it is my pleasure to serve your family as my own.
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Hello Spartan Family!
Our scholars continue to form good habits as our faculty challenge them with expectations of responsibility, perseverance, and self-control in the hallways, gyms, classrooms, and playground. Walking around campus, the spirit of order and joy is already taking root this school year. As Aristotle teaches, good habits are formed at youth and make all the difference. We learn to order our souls the same way we learn to work out a math problem or play a sport–through practice!
Below are two crucial areas you as a Western Hills family can help to build our campus culture:
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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.
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Discipline -- Western Hills holds all students accountable for their actions, and when they make mistakes, we guide them to make better choices. 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 families 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. Children are not born knowing these distinctions, so we must teach them. May I recommend Good and Bad Children by Robert Louis Stevenson as a beautiful poem to begin this process at home?
And a final word on carline: thank you for your patience! Because of your feedback, the help of volunteers, and the amendments to procedures made by our GHWH team, our carlines are now finishing by 4:15-4:20 PM!
In Partnership,
Mrs. Arredondo
K-4 Dean of Students
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Our Fall Intramural Season begins September 7th! This season will comprise of Girls Volleyball and Boys Flag Football.
Registrations are currently open through Register My Athlete and families will pay fees through the Configio program (link coming next week!). There will be a $100 fee per season for each student that covers the price of a t-shirt, special events and will help cover coaching and other necessary costs. Student-athletes must be eligible to participate by maintaining passing grades, passing a physical examination (see forms registermyathlete.com), and demonstrating excellent moral choices in the classroom and during practice.
Practice Schedule for Volleyball & Flag Football
- Mondays & Wednesdays: Houses Oakenshield & Baggins
- Tuesdays & Thursdays: House Pevensies & Reepicheep
- 5/6th Grade Teams: 3:45-4:45 pm
- 7/8th Grade Teams: 4:50-5:50 pm
Thank you,
Elizabeth Disney
Athletic Director GHWH
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Be assured that the administration of Great Hearts Western Hills is in daily communication with our regional leaders to ensure safety in the coming year. In partnership with us, please take these action steps:
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Families should familiarize themselves with the latest mitigation procedures outlined by Great Hearts Western Hills.
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For further reading, please read the Great Hearts Texas Safe Return policies we have put to practice
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Be prepared to receive emails concerning contact tracing in your scholar's grade or section.
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Used Uniform Sale
The PSO will be hosting a Used Uniform Drive and Sale in September.
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The Used Uniform Drive will run from August 30th to September 10th. Parents can drop off gently used uniforms in the bin at the front office.
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The Used Uniform Sale will take place on September 11th in the Lower school MPR from 12-1:00 PM.
This will be an excellent opportunity to support and meet some of your fellow Spartan families!
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Fun-Loving Lunchtime Volunteers Needed
Your Scholars and Teachers need your help! Please consider volunteering in this very rewarding capacity!
If you have a background check on file, please review the available slots below and click on the button to sign up. If you do not have a background check on file, please click this link and return the completed form to the receptionist or email info@greatheartswesternhills.org
Under current COVID-19 mitigation procedures, no parent or grandparent may join their scholars as lunchroom visitors, with the exception of parents who are serving as lunchtime volunteers (please contact
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Facebook Group
The parent-run PSO Facebook Group is one of the best ways to stay up-to-date on important updated from the Parent Service Organization.
For questions about volunteering or parental involvement at the school, you can contact the PSO leadership at ghwhpso@gmail.com.
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As a parent or guardian here at GHWH, you are already officially part of the Parent Service Organization! There are so many opportunities to volunteer! However, every school year, volunteers must have a new background check on file. Please click the button to access the form and return it via e-mail at info@greatheartswesternhills.org or in person to the receptionist at the GHWH Lower School.
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Great Hearts Western Hills | https://westernhills.greatheartsamerica.org
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