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October 19th Student Picture Day
October 20th Student Holiday, Faculty Professional Development
October 27th Kinder – 4th grade Student Spirit Day
November 2nd 3-5th Grade Winter Concert
November 3rd K-2 Grade Winter Concert
November 8th K and 5th Grade Athletic Field Day
November 9th 1-4th Grade Field Day
November 10th Veterans Day Lunch
November 15th & 16th Grandparents Days
November 17th Literary Character Day for Kinder – 4th
| 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
- Extra Edukits for Sale
- Student Picture Day
- Winter Coat Drive
- 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.
| Thank you Families and Volunteers for an amazing Fall Book Fair! | |
Letter from the Headmaster | |
Dear Spartan families,
On behalf of the campus leadership team and our faculty, I want to extend my sincerest thanks to each and every one of you for your support and commitment to our academy. Over the past several weeks, our students and staff have worked tirelessly to create a vibrant and engaging learning environment.
Together, we have seen the fruits of our labor in the form of academic achievements, personal growth, and a palpable sense of unity within our school.
Our students have demonstrated resilience, adaptability, and a thirst for knowledge that fills our hearts with pride. So many students in the first quarter have had to embrace new challenges, learn from setbacks, and work hard to emulate our core virtues. Our exceptional teaching and support staff deserve a round of applause for their dedication to nurturing our students' growth and ensuring their safety during the school day.
Thank you, families, for being an essential part of our school community! If you ever have questions, concerns, or ideas to share, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Kyla Absher
Headmaster, Lower School
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Parent Teacher Conferences | |
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. "
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.
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Our 23-24 Attendance Challenge
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.
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.
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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 or 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 families.
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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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Leftover Edukits Available for Sale! | |
If you missed out on ordering an Edukit for this school year or want to plan ahead for the next academic year, we've got you covered. We have leftover Edukits available for purchase, and you can secure next year's supplies ahead of time.
Details:
- Available Supplies: While supplies last, we have a limited number of Edukits from this year available for sale. These kits contain all the essential school supplies your child will need.
- Plan Ahead: Planning for the next school year? This is the perfect opportunity to get a head start and ensure your child is well-prepared when classes begin. Don't wait until the last minute!
- Payment Options: To make it convenient for you, we accept both cash and check payments. You can make your purchase at the Lower School (LS) reception.
Act Fast:
Please note that Edukits are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and once they're gone, they're gone. So, be sure to act fast to secure your Edukit for the current or upcoming school year.
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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 at 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 at 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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Congratulations to all of our intramural volleyball players on a wonderful season! You all did an amazing job and improved immensely!
There will be an email sent out with information on the rescheduled intramural flag football game. We are hoping it will be rescheduled for Monday, 10/16/23.
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 Needed | 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! | |
Lower School Library Volunteers Needed | |
Sign up below to help the L.S. Library - assist scholars with checking in and checking out books and restocking the shelves.
Please note a clear background check is required to volunteer.
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Lower School Teacher Lounge Supplies | Let's stock our teacher lounges with some great tasting snacks and drinks! | |
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Texas Education and Legislative Updates:
• The governor has called a special 30-day legislative session to convene in Austin on Monday, October 9. This will be the third legislative session since the close of the regular session in May.
The governor has not announced an agenda yet, but it is anticipated that he will ask lawmakers to address education savings accounts, school finance, teacher pay, and possibly border security. Given escalated tensions between the Texas House and the Senate following the attorney general’s impeachment trial, it is uncertain how quickly the chambers will reach a consensus. The governor has said that he will call a fourth special session if needed.
• 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. | | | | | |
