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Aug 9th Meet the Teacher
Aug 14th First Day of School, Tissues and Tacos (Kinder)
Aug 19th Patch Party for 5th Grade
Sep 4th Holiday (No School)
Sept 14th Curriculum Night
Sep 20-21st The Big Give 2023
| New Calendars Available Now! Click the links below to add our campus event calendar to your personal calendars: | |  |
Covered in this Newsletter |
- Updated Email Domain
- Meet the Teacher
- Tissues & Tacos for Kinder Parents
- Patch Party for 5th Grade
- Curriculum Night
- 23-24 Leadership Introductions
- PSO Corner
Please remember to scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to see all of this week's content.
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Updated Email Domain for GHWH | |
We have an important update to share with you regarding our email domain.
Effective immediately, our email domain has changed from "@greatheartswesternhills.org" to "firstname.lastname@greatheartstxschools.org." Please use the new "@greatheartstxschools.org" domain for all future communication with the school and staff members, including inquiries, updates, and correspondence with teachers or administrators.
To ensure seamless communication, we kindly request that you update your contact lists and email address books with the new domain as soon as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation and ongoing support as we continue to provide the best educational experience for our students.
Please note these important email changes:
- Attendance emails and questions can be directed to GHWHAttendance@greatheartstxschools.org
- Our new info-box is GHWHInfo@greatheartstxschools.org
- The new contact for the Lower School nurse is GHWHLSClinic@greatheartstxschools.org
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Wednesday, August 9th from 3-6 PM | |
Please attend any time during this window!
*Please utilize this event to drop off any medicine with completed forms to Nurse Purl.
All scholars will meet their homeroom teachers, drop off school supplies, and quickly view their classrooms. Families will then have the opportunity to meet Specials teachers, the Special Education team, the ESL team, the Intervention team, and the 504 coordinator while touring our campus. Our nurse will also be available to receive medication and speak to families. Parents will meet and greet with our PSO in the multi-purpose room (MPR) and learn more about opportunities to serve the school and their scholar’s classrooms.
Please DO NOT worry about labeling your scholar’s school supplies; teachers will take care of this with your scholar on the first day of school. The only items that MUST be labeled in preparation for the school year are backpacks, lunch boxes, water bottles, and sweaters.
If you are not able to attend, please plan to send your scholar's school supplies with them on the first day of school.
To allow all families an opportunity to meet their child's teacher, parents are asked to be cognizant of their teacher's time. There will be future opportunities for parents to talk more in-depth with their child's teacher.
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Tissues and Tacos for Kinder Parents | Monday, August 14th from 7:30-8:15 AM | |
While some of us are crying--teary-eyed and blue.
There are some of us who cheer, "I'm so glad the summer's through!"
Whatever mood you're feeling, won't you stop and stay awhile?
We'll meet you by the classroom with tacos, tissues, and a smile!
Kindergarten parents and guardians, please join us for "Tissues & Tacos" on August 14th after drop-off!
On the first day of school, Kindergarten families may park in the lot (or at the adjacent Petco parking lot) and then walk their scholars to their classroom doors--after which the parents are invited to gather with other Kindergarten families at the courtyard picnic tables (through the lobby backdoors).
At the tables, breakfast tacos, coffee, and tissue boxes will be on hand, brought to you by your Great Hearts Western Hills PSO!
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Thursday, September 14th from 6-8 PM | |
Each day, the Great Hearts Western Hills community is blessed to offer a rich, classical liberal arts curriculum to your scholars. On Curriculum Night, we are excited to share that curriculum with you! This night is dedicated to engaging parents in what we do daily- sharing our love of our curriculum.
You will have the opportunity to sit in your scholar’s seat, learn about Spalding, handwriting, Singapore math, History, and science, hear from your students’ special teams, buy school swag, and visit with our PSO leadership. We look forward to seeing you on this night and are excited to share our love of learning with you!
*This is a parent-only event, so please arrange for childcare.
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The Texas Education Agency (TEA) announced that final reporting will be delayed for all spring 2023 state assessments. Spring 2023 STAAR test results for grades 3-8 will be available beginning Aug. 16. State assessment results will be posted online in the Texas Assessment Family Portal at https://www.texasassessment.gov/. |
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Meet your 2023-24 Lower School Leadership | Please enjoy these introductions to your Lower School Administrative Team. |
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I was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa, but my family decided to immigrate to the United States in 1999. After the move, I spent my middle school years in California before finally settling in Texas.
My passion for teaching led me to Angelo State University in San Angelo, TX, where I pursued a double major in education and special education. I earned my bachelor's degree in interdisciplinary studies and became a certified general and special education teacher.
I taught in various ISDs before discovering Great Hearts Academies while searching for a school for my kindergartner. I joined the Spartan family in 2018 as a second-grade teacher and later became the assistant headmaster for Western Hills in 2019. I am now proud to be entering my second year as Headmaster of the Lower School.
I am happily married to my high school sweetheart, and we have two beautiful children together. In my free time, I work with a local nonprofit organization to advocate for victims of child abuse. I also enjoy traveling, spending quality time with my family, and pursuing my own hobbies.
As I enter my tenth year in education, I am excited to continue guiding the faculty and students of Great Hearts Western Hills in their pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty.
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Introducing our new Assistant Headmaster, Erica Rodriguez | |
I’m honored to be serving as Assistant Headmaster for Great Hearts Western Hills. I have been working in education for over thirteen years. This will be my fourth year at Great Hearts Western Hills. After working in ISDs, I chose to continue my career at Great Hearts because I was impressed with the order and love of learning that I saw in students.
My husband and I have four children, two at Upper School and two at Lower School. We are a pretty adventurous family who enjoys hiking, swimming, camping, and family time with our French mastiff, Zion. I’m looking forward to another year with the wonderful Western Hills staff, students, and community.
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes that will drive my goal at Great Hearts Western Hills.
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” -Aristotle.
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Jennifer Cape, Director of Operations | |
Hello everyone,
I'm Jennifer Cape, and I have had the pleasure of being the Director of Campus Operations at GHWH since 2017. From the very beginning, I have been an integral part of this wonderful community, serving as one of Western Hills' very first staff members.
San Antonio has always been my home, where I was born and raised. I pursued my passion for business management at UTSA and earned my bachelor's degree there. Beyond my professional life, I've been happily married for over two decades, and my daughter is a proud inaugural-year scholar at Western Hills. We share a love for backyard BBQs with family and friends and enjoy exploring new places together through travel.
My Operations team plays a crucial role in supporting both the lower and upper schools, overseeing facilities, registration & enrollment, campus clinics, and front desk support. It's truly fulfilling to contribute to the smooth functioning of our campus and ensure that our scholars have the best possible learning environment.
I am genuinely grateful to be part of the GHWH family and am committed to fostering an exceptional educational experience for our scholars. If you ever have any questions or need assistance, don't hesitate to reach out. Let's continue working together to make our campus a thriving and nurturing environment for every student.
Looking forward to an amazing year ahead!
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Criselda Arredondo, Dean of Students | |
My name is Criselda Arredondo, and I have been with Western Hills for the past four years as the Dean of Students. It brings me great joy to work with students and guide them in developing good habits while nurturing their minds with virtues. In addition to my role at the school, I am a wife and a mother of two boys who also attend Western Hills – one in the 3rd grade and the other in the 5th grade.
Outside of work, I have a passion for traveling and exploring the beautiful Caribbean. It allows me to unwind and recharge, preparing me to bring my best self to the school community.
I am truly excited about partnering with you as we work together to shape your child's educational journey, not only academically but also morally. It is my belief that education should encompass both intellectual growth and the development of strong character. I am committed to fostering an environment where your child can thrive academically, while also instilling values that will guide them to become compassionate, responsible, and well-rounded individuals.
I look forward to collaborating with you and the entire school community in supporting your child's success and creating a positive and enriching learning experience at Western Hills.
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Introducing our new Dean of Academics, Kristin Picket | |
I'm honored to be our Lower School Dean of Academics this coming year. I received my Master's in Teaching from Pepperdine University and have taught in elementary classrooms for ten years. This will be my fourth year at Western Hills.
I have three daughters attending Western Hills: two in Upper School and one in Fourth Grade. My family enjoys spending time together outside (hiking and camping) and playing board games.
While I will miss teaching 5th grade, I look forward to spending lots of time in all K-5 classrooms and helping our teachers to continue growing in their craft.
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Ryan Travis, Director of Community Engagement | |
Hello Spartans!
I feel fortunate to have been a part of the GHWH administrative team as the Director of Community Engagement & Academy Giving since the 2020-21 school year. I am a lifelong Spurs fan and grew up in the San Antonio area. My wife and I have five chickens, two ducks, and a dog named Sunday, who loves running and playing frisbee.
I'm extremely proud of our community for their generosity in the past years, and I'm excited to work towards reaching our donation goals this year through monthly donors and special events.
If you have any questions about our Community Investment campaign or would like to learn more about opportunities at our Western Hills campus, please feel free to email me at ryan.travis@greatheartstxschools.org.
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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). | |
Daily School Lunch Volunteers | |
It takes many hands to make sure our students are fed quickly every day.
Email us if you are interested joining our team of lunch volunteers.
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