Lower School Newsletter | April 16th, 2023

Upcoming Events

April 17th Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

April 28th Holiday (No School)

May 6th New Family Orientation

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

*DON'T FORGET TO SCROLL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM OF THE NEWSLETTER TO VIEW ALL THIS WEEK'S CONTENT!

Covered in this Newsletter

Operational Updates
STAAR Schedule
PSO Corner
Grade Level Blogs
Carline Reminders
Intramurals
Strength & Conditioning Camps
Summer Programs
Advocacy Corner
SmugMug

This Week on Campus

Operational Updates

Class/Group Photos

Group photos that were ordered have been distributed. If a family did not receive their order, please contact our Lifetouch representative directly:

Jen Bustos

210-878-8228

jen.bustos@shutterfly.com

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.

Click here for more info on becoming a Spartan Business Partner!

Important STAAR Info

Beginning this week students in grades 3-5 will participate in the STAAR assessment. During STAAR, our campus will be a closed campus. No visitors will be allowed on campus (including lunch volunteers). A few ways you can partner with us to ensure your child has a positive testing experience include:

Make sure your child arrives to school on time.
It’s important for your child to have a hearty breakfast prior to coming to school.
Ensure your child has a good night’s sleep the night prior to testing.
Please have your child bring a book to read after testing and a water bottle.
On the day of testing, your child will NOT need to bring their backpack.

Lunch Time Changes

Lunch times for K/1 and 4/5^th will be adjusted on the following time on these dates ONLY – 4/19, 4/20, 4/24, 5/3, 5/4. This is very important in that those parents that drop off lunch need to be aware that they could possibly miss a lunch period if showing up later than they are used to (for K/1).

4 & 5th

Current time: 11:05 – 11:25

Modified time: 12:05 – 12:25

K & 1

Current time: 12:05 – 12:25

Modified time: 11:05 – 11:25

For LS and US:

We encourage families to send lunch with their scholars or have them eat a hot lunch on testing days. (Internal note -- lunch deliveries during STAAR week are difficult to deliver to scholars since kids are split up into small groups and we also want to limit interruptions to notify scholars that they have a lunch to pick up)
Volunteers are not allowed on campus during STAAR weeks

PSO Corner

FiestaPre-Sale Pop-Up!

Pop ups for Fiesta pre-sales will be held *from 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm on the following dates:

4/17 Lower School Lobby
4/20 Upper School Entrance

FIESTA VOLUNTEERS!

It's time for Fiesta Spartans! Our greatest fundraising event is soon approaching and we need your help to have yet another successful year. This is a parent community event for the entire school put on by our very own Spartan families! Please review the sign up; all help is welcomed! Upper school participation is encouraged and appreciated

Click Here to Volunteer

Click here to bring supplies

LS Front Desk Volunteer

We are looking for a fellow spartan parent that can give their time to help cover the lower school front desk starting March 1st through the end of the school year. The days and times needed are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12:30 - 4:15. Training will be provided. If interested, please email pso@greatheartswesternhills.org

If you cannot commit to these days and times for the remainder of the year, please consider signing up to help at a time that best fits your schedule. Thank you.

Click here to volunteer!

Lunchroom Volunteers Opportunities are back!

Lunchroom Volunteer Opportunities are back! If you are interested and have completed the volunteer background and training (in-person and online), please review and sign up! We look forward to seeing you!

Click here to Volunteer at Lunch.

Grade Level Blogs

Intramural Update

Strength & Conditioning Camp

July 10 – August 4^th

Middle School (Boys & Girls – 6^th& 7^th Grades)

M T W Th

4:30 – 6:00 pm

High School (Boys & Girls – 8^th-10^th Grades)

M T W Th

4:30 – 6:00 pm

Boys & girls will be separated. They will focus on Speed and agility for 45 minutes, and components of lifting in the weight room on campus for 45 minutes.

Have you made summer plans yet? Great Hearts Western Hills offers two incredible programs the weeks of June 5^th-16^th. You can register for one or both weeks. Register today and give your child a summer experience they will always remember!

Summer Programs include:

Summer Camp is a full-day experience where Campers will laugh as they compete in crazy camp games, sing silly campfire songs, enjoy engaging activities, and make new friends. It’s a traditional summer camp experience with a classical twist!
Kinder Readiness is designed to prepare incoming kindergarteners for the upcoming year.

For more information and to register today, please visit:

GreatHeartsWesternHills.configio.com/summer23

Advocacy Corner

Texas 88^th Legislature: Charter School Advocacy

· The next important step for passing important pro-charter school legislation happened this week at the Capitol. The Texas Senate Education committee considered important legislation on Wednesday that would require cities to follow the same zoning and permitting rules for all public schools, including charters. This bill would end extra fees, delays, and arbitrary measures that charters have been subjected to when opening new campuses.

To receive updates on this important legislation from the Texas Public Charter School Association, please click this link.

· Did you know? When public charter schools grow, it creates more opportunities for students and families. Among all the public charter schools that have opened a new campus in the last six years, 97% received a “passing” grade from the state. What’s more, these public charter schools earned top honors for academic outcomes at much higher rates than the statewide average. Learn more here .

· Stay up to date on critical charter school legislation 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.

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.

Click here to view photos

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