Cultivating minds and hearts through the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty
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Newsletter
August 10, 2019
Table of Contents:
- HM Letter
- Meet the Teacher
- Amazon Smile
- Start & End Times
- Pancake Breakfast
- Carline
- Spirit Days
- R & R Weekends
- MealTime (menus)
- Closed Lunch
- Note re: Bdays
- HM Coffee
- After School Clubs
- PSO Spirit Shirts & Backpacks
- CFA Spirit NIght
- Box Tops
- Linking Digital Calendar
- Community Investment
- School Contact Info
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LETTER FROM THE HEADMASTER
Greetings, Spartan Families -
I look forward to meeting you this coming Monday at our Meet the Teacher night. It’s been a delight to have connected with so many of you over the summer and I am thrilled to see such a strong community to have taken form after only one year! My family and I are happy to be Texans. We are all settled in (even the curtains are hung) and my two boys are excited to meet their teachers and classmates.
Thank you for the warm Texas welcome!
Before we begin the new school year, I have a few updates I would like to share with you.
What We’ve Learned
The Spartan administrative team has been hard at work over the summer. Over the last few weeks, the academic leadership team has thoroughly reviewed the available data regarding our STAAR performance from last school year. While it’s common that a school in year one will underperform on standardized tests, Great Hearts Western Hills fell significantly short of its first-year goals. Performance on a state assessment is not the highest good at which Great Hearts aims, however, there is no reason why delivering the GH curriculum with excellence should not also result in excellent performance on such tests.
Pressing Onward
To that end, we have identified areas of growth and have planned teacher training and development over the upcoming academic year. The Great Hearts Texas instructional team is focused on improvement. They are providing the resources, coaching and support needed to make the necessary strides towards success and they will support Western Hills throughout the year to ensure that our school is achieving its goals. Additionally, Assistant Headmaster Molder and I have met with grade level teachers and interventionists to set benchmarks and goals for growth across all grades. The instructional staff is firmly resolved in their commitment to deliver to all students the very best classical education.
Spartans are Strong in Community & Culture
I am excited to start the new school year as a proud Spartan. I had such a positive experience visiting the school at the end of the spring semester. I could sense the support the school receives from the parent community. Even the Great Hearts survey results shows that teachers love working at Western Hills and that parents are proud to send their students here.
Thank you for your shared partnership and support. I am excited to meet you and your scholar on Monday evening.
Best,
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Matthew Vlahovich
Headmaster
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Meet the Teacher Night!
Don't forget: Monday,
August 12
!
Come drop off school supplies, shake your teacher's hand and put a name to a face!
3:00-4:30 PM
for Scholars whose last name begins with A-L
5:30-7:00 PM
for Scholars whose last name begins with M-Z
Parents should have received an email from your child's teacher with details. If you haven't received it, check all email addresses. More than likely the email went to the primary contact email you listed when you applied to GHWH. If you still don't see it, don't worry! Just come with your school supplies and we'll get you directed to the right place!
Please note:
Administrative offices will be closed during Meet the Teacher night. For any administrative needs (including additional car placards), please
email
the school for a reply during school hours.
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Amazon Smile - Last minute school shopping???
Donate to the school at the same time by using Amazon Smile!
Use this
link
to log into your normal Amazon account but through Amazon Smile. Find "Great Hearts Texas" and a percent of your purchases will be given to GHWH.
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School Start and End Times
Solis Ortis (morning club)
: 6:50 AM-7:20 AM
Morning Car-line Drop-off begins
at: 7:20 AM
Breakfast
: 7:20 AM -7:35 AM
School Start time:
7:50 AM. Scholars are considered TARDY if they are not in their seat by 7:50 AM. If scholars arrive on campus tardy, parents MUST park and walk their scholars in and sign in up front. Do not drop off ANY scholar if there is not school staff outside to escort them. ALL exterior doors remain locked for security reasons and your child will not be able to enter. The only door that allows anyone to be "buzzed in" is the front lobby door and a student must be escorted by a parent through these doors if arriving after car line is completed.
After school pick up:
Release time
begins at: 3:25 PM on full days, and 1:25 PM on early release days
All students MUST be picked up by 4:00pm (2:00pm on early release days) unless they are enrolled in an after-school activity. After 4:00pm (2:00pm on early release days), parents must park, enter the main entrance, and sign out their student(s). Late fees will apply at a rate of $1/minute.
All students should be picked up within 10 minutes of scheduled end time for clubs, tutoring, or sports. Any student not picked up by this time will fall into the above policy. Siblings of students in clubs, tutoring, or sports, MUST be picked up by 4:00pm, or may enroll in Athenaeum, otherwise the late fee rate mentioned above will apply.
We have amended the early release time for scholars to be allowed up to 2:45 PM. 2:45 PM is the latest time you can enter to check out a scholar early. If you come at 2:45 PM or later, the lobby will be closed to visitors/guests and you will be directed to pull into the car-line or park and stand in the walk-up pick up line and your scholar will be dismissed at the regular dismissal time.
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GHWH Dad's Group
invites all GHWH families to attend the first ever
GHWH Pancake Breakfast!
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- Saturday, August 24
- 8:00 to 10:00 AM
- Location: GHWH School Grounds
Bring the whole family! Donations to cover cost will graciously be accepted.
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Car-Line
Car placards for afternoon pick-up will be passed out at Meet the Teacher night! Please display the placard in your front car window by attaching it to your visor or hang from your rear view mirror. If you choose to do walk-up pick up, please park in a designated parking space or along Midhurst Street and bring your placard with you. There is no parking in front of the school. Parents may form a line while waiting, along the school exterior wall.
There is no walk-up drop off at the start of the school day with the exception of Kindergartners for the first 2 days of school ONLY.
Please Note
: For families with
special needs scholars
, we have a designated car drop off and pick up in front of the school. This is to ensure the safety of these scholar when escorted by school staff upon exiting and entering their vehicles. Nearly all these families have been identified. If you are new to GHWH and need this accommodation, please speak with our Special Education Coordinator,
Mr. Michael Sanchez
and also cc: the email to our
front office
.
The key to car-line success for the first two weeks is
patience
, please! As we dismiss over 700 children, it takes a few days for scholars, teachers and parents to get the hang of the routine. We promise car-line will become a smooth process and be very efficient despite the time it takes the first couple of weeks. Last year, we were able to dismiss over 600 scholars in under 30 minutes once the process became smooth.
Please be kind to all families and practice courtesy and patience
. We are a RIGHT turn only car-line dismissal route. Do not attempt to turn left out of the parking lot. It will slow down the flow for those behind you. Please circle the block (if need be) after exiting right as this enables efficiency. GHWH staff will be in the parking lot to direct you accordingly and to ensure your scholar exits and enters your vehicle safely.
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Spirit Wear Days and R & R Weekends
GHWH is happy to announce that we have spirit wear days and R&R weekends once a month. On these days, scholars are allowed to wear their spirit shirt with uniform bottoms (absolutely no jeans). (Prior year's spirit shirts are allowed to be worn as well as this year's.)
What is an "R & R Weekend"
?
The school will schedule a number of “R and R” weekends. These are designated as school-wide “
no homework”
weekends. Teachers will not assign homework over these weekends and tests and quizzes will not be administered on the Mondays following. It may be the case that a long- term or multi-day project is given well before and due a few days after an “R and R” weekend; students will need to stick to a disciplined work schedule so as to enjoy the well-deserved time off.
Spirit Days for the 1st Semester are as follows:
- Friday, August 30
- Friday, September 20
- Friday, October 11
- Friday, November 22
- Friday, December 20
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MealTime
Breakfast and Lunch Online Info
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Breakfast: $2.00; Lunch: $4.00
(cost is less for those who have qualified for the reduced lunch program)
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MealTime is the online access you need to use to order breakfast or lunch. Please feel free create a log in, add your student's pay for meals online. If you did not receive a MealTime ID, please click
here
to email our office and request it. (MealTime ID is not the same as the student ID number you see in your parent portal.)
GHWH menus will be updated by end of day, Monday August 12 and will include the first week of school as well as Fridays. So, if you don't see them listed just yet, check back Monday evening. Below is a link to the menus - feel free to take a look!
Note that when you click on the link, it defaults to the current week. Nothing will show unless you select the first week of school from the mini calendar located on the column on the right toward the bottom.
Download
the my MealTime app for your convenience.
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Closed Lunch at Beginning of School Year
In order for both teachers and scholars to get acclimated to the new school year and routine, lunch will be closed all of August 2019. Starting Tuesday, September 3, parents are welcome to join their scholar during their designated lunch time (see below) Monday-Thursday.
Please note
: the one exception to the closed lunch in August, is for any scholar who has a birthday that falls on any of these days. A parent is welcome to attend their child's lunch on their birthday. Birthdays which fall on a Friday for a scholar, at any time during the school year (which are closed all year otherwise), may also have a parent/parents attend the scholar's designated lunch time.
Designated Lunch Times:
- Kinder and 1st Grade: 11:35-11:55 AM
- 2nd & 3rd Grade: 12:00-12:20 PM
- 4th, 5th & 6th Grade: 12:30-12:50 PM
All visitors must check in through the front lobby and must present a picture ID. So, please plan time for you to check-in, get a visitor badge and still be on time to have lunch with your scholar.
Note Regarding Celebrating Birthdays
: Birthday treats can either be dropped off at the front desk for your scholar's teacher to distribute in the classroom or parents are welcome to bring them during the lunch time. Parents
cannot
bring in balloons, party bags, streamers or the like. Please opt for donuts or cupcakes as the limited time does not really allow for time to cut a cake.
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Headmaster Coffee
Please come to our first Headmaster Coffee, Wednesday, August 21 at 10:30 AM in the MPR. Click
here
to RSVP.
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After School Clubs Overview
GHWH will offer various after school clubs throughout the school year. Clubs are offered quarterly and specific clubs will be announced approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the start of clubs. Club offerings are based on the time and talent of the teacher choosing to head the club. For planning purposes, the club timelines and sign up dates are as follows:
1st Quarter Clubs will run the week of
September 3 through the week of October 10
- Sign up for 1st quarter clubs will be August 23
2nd Quarter Clubs will run the week of
October 21 through December 5
- Sign up for 2nd quarter clubs will be October 11
3rd Quarter Clubs will run the week of
January 27 through March 5
- Sign Up for 3rd quarter clubs will be January 17
4th Quarter Clubs will run the week of
March 23 through April 30
- Sign Up for 4th quarter clubs will be March 3
Logistics:
- Each club is $45 / quarter
- Clubs are held once a week (specific days will be communicated when the list of clubs offered for the quarter is communicated)
- Sign-up is on a first come, first serve basis
- Club size will vary depending on the club and will be listed on the club sign-up
- Clubs will vary from quarter to quarter and the grade level the club will be offered to will be listed with the club details when the list of clubs goes out
- Clubs times are from 3:45-4:45 PM (no need to pick up your scholar between end of school and beginning of club. Teaches will direct scholars after school accordingly.)
- Parents MUST pick up scholars on time or will be charged a late fee pick up rate
- No clubs will be offered on Fridays
- Send an after school snack and water bottle with your scholar if they participate in a club
- Important note: no medications will be administered by school staff during the club hour since our campus clinic is closed after school hours.
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From our Parent Service Organization (PSO)
We are looking for some new and excited parents to participate in our PSO! If you have time and talent to share to help support our school, please email us at:
ghwhpso@gmail.com
!
Spirit shirts and pre-ordered backpacks
are in and are available for pick up at Meet the Teacher, Monday, August 12.
Spirit shirts will be for sale at Meet the Teacher if you haven't bought one already!
We are accepting donations for the Used Uniform Store.
Used Uniform Pop-Up store will be up and running at the first PSO meeting for the 19-20 school year,
Tuesday, August 20 at 6:15 PM at GHWH MPR
. Please come!
PSO 19-20 Meeting Dates:
Tuesday, August 20
Thursday, October 24
Thursday, March 5
Tuesday, April 21
All PSO meetings start at 6:15 PM and are held on campus in the MPR. There is a craft table for those who need to bring small children in order to attend. Used uniform pop-up store is usually available at the PSO meetings as well if there is stock to sell.
Chick-Fil-A Spirit Night
Thursday, August 29 from 4-7 PM.
Any drive through purchases that day will also be counted toward GHWH's sales as long as you tell the drive-thru CFA representative and give them the receipt to put in the GHWH spirit night designated receipt box.
Lunch Room Volunteer Sign up
. Please come help during lunch times. Sign up
here
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Don't Forget your Box Tops!
Don't forget to collect your Box Tops! It's even easier now as the Box Tops program is going digital! GHWH is signed up with Box Tops and this is a wonderful way to support our school while doing your routine shopping! If you have cut out box tops, send them in with your scholar in a ziploc in their homework folder and your child's teacher will pass them along to us!
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Digitally Linking the GHWH School Calendar to you phone
Important Note:
We are still in the process of updating the digital calendar, so please remember to refresh/update often to confirm school dates.
You can subscribe to the school calendar using any desktop calendar application (e.g., MS Outlook, Apple's Calendar app, or even on your smartphone).
The iCal feed URL is:
On an iPhone, to subscribe to the calendar and add it to your iPhone's calendar, follow the following steps:
1. Go to Settings » Accounts & Passwords » Add Account » Other » Add Subscribed Calendar
2. Paste the iCal feed URL into the "Server" field using the iCal URL feed above.
3. Tap "Next"
4. Tap "Save"
That's all you have to do...
Then, the GHWH school calendar will appear on your iPhone alongside your other calendars.
For Android users it's even easier to do. Just download the link and click on the link then save all to calendar.
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GHWH Community Investment
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Don't forget to
schedule your donation today
! Families who sign up for a monthly donation or fulfill a $1,200.00/year pledge will be given a car decal in appreciation for your support! Click
here
to support our wonderful education so that we can retain, reward and hire the best teachers! As a reminder, we do not send fundraisers home with your child so that 100% of what you invest in our school, stays at our school and directly support's your child's classroom!
Click
here
to schedule your donation today!
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Faculty and Staff Phone/E-Mail Reference
To speak to anyone at Great Hearts Western Hills, please call the school at
(210) 888-9488
and listen for the extension of the party you are wanting to reach.
Name
E-Mail Address
Administration:
Leadership:
SPED & Interventionists
:
Athenaeum:
Parent Service Organization:
Darrell Cotterell (Vice-President)
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