After our staff meeting yesterday afternoon I realized that I did not give the correct instructions for Great Hearts Day. Students should not make cards at home, we will be taking the time to do this in class!
Please read the following for more information regarding this wonderful day.
Friday, February 11th
is Great Hearts Day! We have reserved this special day to focus on the virtue
of friendship and having a heart of service. In the classroom, your children
will participate in activities and lessons around these topics, and time will be
set aside for making Great Hearts Day cards for classmates. These cards are
part of the Great Hearts Day tradition of highlighting classmates’ virtuous
qualities and invaluable friendship. Further, hand-making cards at school also
alleviates the burden on parents to purchase cards. Parent volunteers with a
valid fingerprint clearance card on file are welcome to assist in arranging a
short afternoon celebration with snacks and activities. Stand by for more
information about the afternoon celebration from our lead classroom parent
volunteer, Shruti Rattan and Andrea Davey.
Archway Classical Academy does
its best to introduce students to an academic culture that leaves popular
culture at the door. The time we have with our students is so valuable,
and there are many great ideas, people, music, and art from the ages that we
want to introduce them to. Therefore, we will strive to keep the focus of
Valentine’s Day on friendship and having a heart of service for others. Students
will not be permitted to bring store-bought valentines, candy, or gifts to
school on Great Hearts Day. We want students to remember that a good friend is
not something one can purchase. We look forward to celebrating this special
occasion!
A New Leaf Service Project:
As Great Hearted scholars and families we enjoy showing kindness and generosity to others through our annual service project. This year we will participate by partnering with A New Leaf. Last year A New Leaf served 21,140 individuals with resources, including homeless and domestic violence shelters with services, affordable housing solutions, behavioral health, foster care, counseling, financial literacy coaching, and basic needs. To lend a helping hand to the families served by A New Leaf, we will be collecting various goods that the organization is in desperate need of. Each grade level will have a specific goods or supplies to collect; this allows us to cater to many needed items.
See below for our grade level’s list of items. Please ensure that all donations are brand new, as gently used items cannot be accepted.
Kindergarten: canned food, baby food, condiments (jarred, canned, and bottled food items)
First Grade: bath towels and washcloths
Second Grade: twin sheets and pillow cases
Third Grade: kitchen supplies (sections can be divided by: silverware, pots/pans, cooking tools)
Fourth Grade: paper products (toilet paper, paper towels, paper plates, plastic cups)
Fifth Grade: snack food, cereal, granola bars, instant rice (boxed foods)
During the week of Great Hearts Day (Feb. 8-11), our students will be asked to bring in items to contribute to our donations list. The drive will conclude on Great Hearts Day (Feb. 11), where total counts of the donated items will be shared and celebrated at the morning assembly. We look forward to seeing the generosity and kindness fill our hearts and rooms with supplies that are greatly appreciated by the families at A New Leaf! If you have any further questions regarding the supply requirements, please do not hesitate to ask!
