Cultivating minds and hearts through the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty

Visit our website Newsletter December 10, 2019 Table of Contents:     HM Letter Open Enrollment AAC Food & Holiday Assistance during Winter Break Give Joy! Campaign Spirit Week PSO Career Fair Important Dates "Virtue" published by Great Hearts Institute

LETTER FROM OUR HEADMASTER Dear GHWH Families, This past week, I stumbled upon an article from the BBC about reading fiction, and its ability to help us empathize with others. It’s interesting to consider how reading fiction allows us to “get inside their heads” and learn about the characters’ thoughts and motivations. The article even points out that the Department of Family Medicine at UC Irvine is now teaching humanities and fine arts: The program was implemented to enhance aspects of professionalism including empathy, altruism, compassion, and caring toward patients, as well as to hone clinical communication and observational skills. Until the day that our students are able to engage in more abstract discussions in the upper school about what it means to live a good life and to pursue what will truly make us happy, our students are able to look at Frog and Toad, Pinocchio, Robin Hood, and Long John Silver to discuss the thoughts and actions of the characters and see the consequences that unfold in the story. Thank you all for listening to your students read aloud and asking them questions about what they are reading in class.   Best, Matthew Vlahovich Headmaster

GREAT HEARTS OPEN ENROLLMENT DEADLINE Tell your friends to apply to attend GHWH for 2019-2020 school year! Deadline is THIS Friday, December 13. Click this link and forward to your neighbors, co-workers and friends!

ACADEMY ADVISORY COMMITTEE We recently added several more members to the Academy Advisory Committee (AAC). Thank you to those who applied. It is encouraging to see all of the parent interest in supporting our academy. Parents serve for two years on the AAC. The current parents who have been selected to serve on the AAC are: Stephanie Acuna, Albert Alvarado, Isabela Cota, Charles Massiatte, Missy Watts, and Lizette Yanes. The purpose of the AAC is to bring together school stakeholders, facilitate communication, foster understanding, build relationships, provide opportunities to discuss and offer input on issues of interest at the school, and to support the headmaster in his/her responsibilities to improve school life. The AAC will offer a forum for these stakeholders to communicate their ideas, pose constructive questions, share their expertise, provide connections, and offer support. Meetings of the AAC will facilitate conversation and communication across the broader school community. If there is something you wish the AAC to look into, please contact Johanna Garcia and we can make sure it is brought up to the AAC.

ASSISTANCE OVER WINTER BREAK A organization donated boxes of non-perishable food for GHWH to handout to families in need. If your family has a need such as this please fill out page 1 of this form and send it back in your child's homework folder. Forms can be sent in a sealed envelop and labeled: Care & Concern. If your family would like to sponsor a family during the Winter Break, please fill out page 2 of this form and return it in your child's homework folder.

GIVE JOY! 5 DAYS OF GIVING & SPIRIT WEEK December 16-20

Community Investment is the   #1 most important way for families to support the school   . The vast majority goes toward faculty salaries, with remaining dollars helping with classroom needs and operations. All money raised during the 5 Days of Giving goes to our school Community Investment Campaign and helps us reach the goal set within our school budget. We could not make this school successful without our families supporting this campaign! More info to come...

Let's all pitch in to make the holidays Merry & Bright at GHWH! Five Days of giving week will be full of fun activities and prizes. Please consider giving! SPIRIT DAYS: Monday 16th Tie/Bow Tie Day Tuesday 17th College Shirt Day Wednesday 18th Crazy Sock Day Thursday 19th Spirit Shirt Day Friday 20th Crazy Hat/Hair Day

A NOTE FROM THE PSO Social Committee : The Mother-Son Round-Up was a hit! For those who attended, your Mother-Son photo will be emailed this week. Lunch Committee : December Lunch Volunteer Sign-Up: Volunteer Sign-Up Fiesta Committee : We need help planning and executing! This is your chance to get involved at GHWH! Please email us if you're interested. Yearbook Committee : Next meeting will be this Friday, December 13 at 12:30 PM and will be a video conference. It's not too late to get involved! Contact : [email protected] if you want to join us!

A NOTE FROM ATHENAEUM Registration for Athenaeum for the 2019-20 school year is currently open for all grades except 4th grade. Click  here  to read more about our options and pricing schedules or to put yourself on the wait list for 4th grade. Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis, so please make sure that you put your student on the wait list if you are desiring a spot. For any questions related to Athenaeum, please contact  Sarah Solombrino,  Athenaeum Co-Curricular Campus Coordinator. Scholars will have an opportunity to retake individual pictures on Tuesday, December 3rd. Price sheets will go home this week with additional information.

IMPORTANT DATES Friday, December 13 - Full Day! (3:25 PM Dismissal) Monday, December 16-Friday, December 20 - Spirit Week! - See above for daily themes Friday, December 20, R&R Weekend, 1:25 PM dismissal Winter Break: December 23-January 3 - No School Don't forget to re-sync your digital calendars!

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