Building our School Library with Birthday Books

Building the Lower School Library with Birthday Books

Dear Great Hearts Irving Lower School Families,

We are excited to introduce a new tradition regarding student birthdays and a wonderful new way to grow our school Library. Sometimes the best gift one can get is to give. Our library space has grown and we anticipate students visiting every two weeks to get a new book once our library is fully fictional. We are therefore inviting the donation of a "birthday book" to the school library during the week of your child's birthday! Please note this is entirely voluntary.

What are "Birthday Books"?

Great Hearts Irving Lower is starting "birthday books" as a way to recognize a student’s birthday in the classroom through the donation of a “Birthday Book.” In lieu, or in addition to, the small birthday snacks that can now be brought in on the scholar’s birthday (please see the handbook for details), parents may purchase a book to donate to the school library in honor of their scholar’s birthday.

The scholar is welcome to bring in the book to the classroom on their birthday, if they want to share why they selected it, i.e. favorite fairy tale, they can briefly share it with the class. For younger scholars with shorter books, the teacher could even read it aloud, if time allows.

What Happens To The Donated Book?

The book will have a special bookplate to be completed by the headmaster with the scholar’s name adhered to the front inside cover of the book recognizing the donation. When that book is checked out, it will be known it was a special donation. Scholars who bring in books will be welcomed to come to the front office after morning announcements on Friday's to get the bookplate and take a picture with Headmaster Brogan, that will go into the "Week Ahead" newsletter.

How Many Times Can I Donate?

This is not limited to a one-time donation, if parents choose to buy a book every year for their child’s birthday, what a wonderful impact that child leaves at the school!

Please remember we are a classical school and limit our book selections to stories that help build a moral imagination or cultivate truth, goodness, and beauty. Pop-culture and graphic novels would not be appropriate for school. We are seeking books that question what it means to be human or impart knowledge to our students of the natural world. We are not seeking books that promote the hot button topics driving cultural division in contemporary media. Below you will find examples of appropriate book lists for our school:

Historical Chapter Fiction Series

Please reach out to an Assistant Headmaster with any questions:.

Pamela Olson Assistant Headmaster K-2: Pamela.Olson@greatheartstxschools.org

Makayla Mizell Assistant Headmaster 3-5: Makayla.Mizell@greatheartstxschools.org

irving.greatheartsamerica.org