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Click here for our "Events at a Glance" Print-Out!
Oct 2-5th Twig Book Fair
Oct 6th Coffee with the Headmaster K & 1st Grade
Oct 9-13th Parent Teacher Conferences and Fall Break
Oct 19th Student Picture Day
Oct 30th Spirit Night at Willies
Nov 1st Field Day 3-5th
Nov 2nd Field Day K-2nd
Nov 2nd 3rd to 5th Grade Winter Concert
Nov 3rd Kinder to 2nd Grade Winter Concert
Nov 19th Literary Character Day
| 23-24 Calendars Available Now! Click the links below to add our campus event calendar to your personal calendars: | |  |
Covered in this Newsletter |
- Headmaster Letter
- Parent Teacher Conference
- Attendance Counts
- Coffee with the ESL Coordinator RSVP
- Lower School BookFair
- Student Picture Day
- Coffee with the Headmaster RSVP
- Field Day Shirts
- Winter Concerts
- Literary Character Day
- Dean's Corner
- Intramurals
- Volunteer Opportunities and Parent Events
- Advocacy Corner
- SmugMug
Please remember to scroll to the bottom of the newsletter to see all of this week's content.
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Letter from the Headmasters | |
Dear Spartan families,
I am excited to share that our annual Winter concerts will be on Thursday, November 2nd, for third through fifth grade and Friday, November 3rd, for kindergarten through second grade. Due to limited availability at the venue, our concert is much earlier in the season. Because of this availability, we had to make an adjustment to our field day dates. Field days will now be on Wednesday, November 8th, for fifth grade and kindergarten, and Thursday, November 9th, for first through fourth grade.
Quarter 1 is coming to a speedy finish, and teachers are looking forward to spending time with all of you during parent-teacher conferences. Quarter 2 will bring many exciting events for us to enjoy!
Kyla Absher
Lower School Headmaster
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Parent Teacher Conferences | |
Parent teacher conferences will be held on Monday October 9th and Tuesday October 10th. Parent-teacher conferences are crucial to ensuring there is a strong partnership between families and the school. During your parent teacher conference, you can expect your scholars’ teachers to share valuable information with you on their progress so far this school year. They are also a great way to connect with your scholar's teachers and for you to seek clarification in any areas of concern that you may have. Teachers will facilitate conferences in person on campus or via zoom.
You can find the links to sign up for Parent teacher conferences linked below. Homeroom and specials teachers will be available for conferences and any of our special education, esl or intervention team members can be available for a conference upon request.
*Sign-ups will be available until October 7th at midnight.
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MPR AC is Fixed!
A replacement part has been installed! Students will only need to eat in their classrooms one more day this week (Tuesday) while our vendor confirms the AC's functionality.
Our 23-24 Attendance Challenge
- Any class that has perfect attendance for the day will receive a special golden sticker for their classroom to collect.
- For students in grades K-4, the grade with the highest attendance for the week will receive an extended recess time the following week and will get a point towards the yearly attendance tracker.
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For a student in 5th grade, the house with the highest attendance for the week will accumulate points, which will be added to their house at the end of the school year, and they will get to enjoy a sweet treat at recess.
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For scholars who have perfect attendance within a quarter will have an opportunity to have lunch with the lower school leadership team and will receive a certificate of recognition.
At the end of the school year, the grade that maintains the highest attendance for the school year, will receive a surprise celebration that is organized and put on by the leadership team and PSO.
Lobbies Closed During Afternoon Pick-Up
Please note that the lobby will be closed from 3-4 pm on full days and from 1-2 pm on Early Release days until after the carline is completed. The lobby will then re-open for Athenaeum checkouts.
If parents need to check out their children early from school, it is recommended to do so before 3 pm on full days and before 1 pm on Early Release Fridays. Checking out students beyond these times could cause delays in getting them to their families on time. This is because end-of-day routines in class, such as packing up and locker visits, transitions between classes, Athenaeum pick-up routines, and club/intramural rotations occur after 3/1 pm.
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When is picture day? October 19th
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What company is taking pictures this year? Signature Photography
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How do parents pay? Parents will pay online. A QR code will be distributed to the students on picture day that will have ordering instructions for parents.
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Can payments be made at the campus? No. Payments should not be sent with scholars are dropped off at school.
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Are uniforms required for picture day? Yes, school uniforms are required.
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How are pictures distributed? Pictures will be shipped home to parents.
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When are the pictures received? They are shipped home within three days of the online order being placed.
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What if they want retakes? When it gets closer to the retake date, Signature Photography will open an online registration for parents to request a retake.
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The Twig Bookstore and the PSO are proud to host a book fair Oct 2-5 here at Western Hills!
Lower School Scholars have a scheduled time as a class to visit the store. Your teacher will communicate which day your scholar should bring money for the bookfair. Upper School scholars will use breaks and Lyceums as opportunities for time slots where scholars can tour the book fair and look at books.
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!
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Coffee with the Headmaster Kinder & 1st Grade | |
Parents of Great Hearts Western Hills Kinder and 1st Grade scholars,
Please join us for a morning coffee and discussion with Headmaster Kyla Absher. There will be time for herself and members of our leadership team to share and also answer questions.
This is a current parent-only or guardian-only event. We ask that you drop off your scholar in the carline first and then find parking. Coffee will begin at 8:00 AM in the Lower School MPR.
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Shirt Orders Due October 6th | |
In preparation for field day, please make sure to purchase a Field Day shirt for your scholar before October 6th. These shirts are an integral part of the event and will help us create a sense of unity and team spirit among our scholars. Field day shirts may be worn on Spirit Fridays.
Here are the key details:
Field Day Schedule
- Wednesday November 1st : A.M. – 5th Grade, P.M. – Kindergarten
- Thursday November 2nd : A.M. – 1st & 2nd Grade, P.M. – 3rd and 4th Grade
***If you choose not to order a Field Day shirt, please note that your scholar must attend the event in either their uniform or a plain blank T-shirt that matches their class's City State colors. However, we highly encourage all parents to participate in the Field Day spirit by getting the official shirt.
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Dear Western Hills Families,
Our grand GHWH Winter Concert is approaching! We are so excited for your family to experience the fruits of your scholars’ hard work as they have been diligently preparing their concert music
throughout the semester.
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Our 3rd – 5th Winter Concert will take place on Thursday, November 2nd at 6:00 PM at the Edgewood Theater of Performing Arts, located on 402 Lance St. 78237.
- Our Kinder – 2nd Winter Concert will take place on Friday, November 3rd at 6:00 PM at the Edgewood Theater of Performing Arts, located on 402 Lance St. 78237.
All sections of each grade will be performing together as a choir.
Students are required to stay for the entire length of their concert because they will be graded not just on their performance but also on their concert etiquette.
More details about the call time for students will be given as the concert date approaches.
Students are to wear Concert Dress Attire. This means:
- Boys should wear a white oxford style shirt, black slacks, a black belt, black shoes and socks, and a black necktie (no pop culture or musical ties).
- Girls should wear a white blouse (no halter tops or spaghetti straps), a black skirt (knee-length or longer) or black dress pants, black dress shoes (no high heels), and black or white knee socks or tights. Girls may also wear a solid black dress if this is preferable.
If your child is unable to attend the Winter Concert, please email Mrs. Ybarra (K - 2 Music) by Friday, October 27th at kiana.burciaga@greatheartstxschools.org or Ms. Smith (3 - 5 Music) by Friday, October 27th at stephanie.smith@greatheartstxschools.org.
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Literary & Historical Character Dress Up Day | |
Guidelines for Literary Character Day Dress Up Day:
Students may dress up as any character from any book on the K-8 Classics to Keep List, a grade-level read-aloud book, Greek or Roman Mythology or a historical character from our curriculum at Western Hills and come to school primed for a joyful day filled with reading.
- Students who do not wish to wear a costume should come to school in his or her regular uniform or wear a school spirit shirt with uniform bottoms.
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Parents MUST fill out and turn in a Costume Proposal Slip to their teacher on or before Wednesday, November 15th in order for your student to participate in Character Dress up Day. The costume MUST be approved by the teacher. Forms will be sent home with students in October for you to complete and return.
- No masks or all-over face paint (freckles, mustaches, etc. are okay).
- Hats, gloves, ears, etc., are acceptable as long as they stay on and are not a distraction (the teacher will confiscate them if that happens).
- If the costume calls for props, please choose carefully. Props that are dangerous or that can harm someone will be confiscated.
- If the costume is such that it needs clothes underneath, it should be their uniform.
- Please keep in mind that students will be going to recess in their costumes, so one that allows free movement is encouraged.
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As we near the end of the first quarter, our children have absorbed many of our practices and habits. There is order and joy around every corner. We are inviting our children to distinguish right from wrong, good and bad, through our literature. We are instilling a love of moral literacy in students instead of social media, which fogs their judgment of reality. Our children are learning how to become adults. During these early years at school, students will stumble, make mistakes, fail, AND persevere. Students will learn from their failures and become resilient. Additionally, this is the time when students will have peer-to-peer conflict, which gives us the perfect opportunity to guide students to work though their disagreements and model a healthy and productive (loving) resolution.
Our goal is to model for students how to actively listen, seek understanding, and forgive. We are all vital in this learning process as we steer them through bumps in the road to teach them how to have positive interactions with one another during times of conflict. We also hope that students will learn from the stories that we read to develop the tools they need to navigate through conflict.
We should also differentiate between bullying and normal childhood conflict. There has been an increase in the usage of the word bullying. Bullying is a serious allegation, and it should not be used lightly.
Bullying is an act that exploits an imbalance of power and places a student in reasonable fear of harm to their property/self and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive. The continued action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the student. Demonstrating mean and unkind acts are wrong, but this is not bullying.
Thank you for continuing to partner with us in our journey to shepherd and guide our scholars to demonstrate our core virtues.
In Partnership,
Mrs. Arredondo
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Below are your grade level blogs. Follow along to learn about the projects events and everyday magic inside your scholar's classrooms. |
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We are heading into our last week of Fall Intramurals.
As of Week 6, our standings for flag football are, Narnia is 2 for 2, and Middle Earth is 0 for 2.
For volleyball, Pevensies are 2 for 2, Reepicheep is 1 for 2, Baggins is 1 for 2 and Oakenshield is 0 for 2.
Please come out and support your house in the final battles of their season!
- Flag football was played on Thursday, 10/05, at 5 pm.
- The volleyball schedule will be determined by who wins on Friday, 09/29. I will send out the times each house will be playing on Wednesday, 10/4.
If your scholar is in 5th or 6th grade and is interested in playing soccer, please sign up through Aktivate: https://www.registermyathlete.com/
More information is to come on practice days and coaches.
If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Boring at hannah.boring@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).
Upcoming Events
October 30th -Spirit Night at Willie's
October 16-20th - Coat and Blanket Drive
October 18th - Staff luncheon
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Copy Room Volunteer eeded | Still not sure about where to start volunteering? Well, the Copy Room is the right place to start especially if you can spare as little as thirty minutes a day starting at 8 a.m. Tasks can range anywhere from making copies to laminating. Sound like something you would be interested in? If you have a cleared background check please click the link below to get connected with Jenny, our Copy Room Committee Lead. Our teachers will love you! | |
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It’s that time of year - Book Fair time! All scholars will have an assigned time to visit the Book Fair with their class during the week of 10/2-10/5. If you are interested in volunteering use the sign-up genius link to select a time.
Please note a cleared background check is required to volunteer.
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Care and Concern Committee | |
Spartan's unite! Let's come together by lending a helping hand to a few of our families who find themselves in a time of need. Please click the links below to see how you can help!
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Texas Education and Legislative Updates:
• The Texas Public Charter School Association recently recapped their successes from the 88th Legislature. Because of the association’s hard work, none of the 19 anti-charter bills filed received a committee hearing. As for wins, TPCSA’s efforts resulted in the Public Education Committee passing their four priority bills.
• A large part of TPCSA’s legislative success resulted from outreach from the charter community. Prior to the 88th legislative session, lawmakers had more than 330 total engagements with the charter community. During session, they had more than 200 engagements. Great Hearts families ranked in the top three within the charter community in outreach to lawmakers.
• With the impeachment proceedings against the Texas Attorney General complete, lawmakers are expected to convene in Austin in October for a special session focused on school finance. Other topics could include teacher pay, charter school facilities funding, and assessment and accountability.
• Stay up to date on critical charter school bills 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.
• To learn more about charter advocacy, contact GH’s Family Advocacy Manager Bridie Chaudoir at bridie.chaudoir@greatheartstxschools.org
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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. | | | | | |
