At Great Hearts, we believe that education is about more than test scores, college acceptance rates, grades, or even learning what a well-informed citizen should. These things are important, and we excel at all of them. But all are secondary to what we see as the first and most important goal of education—to point students’ minds and hearts toward truth, goodness, and beauty and set them on the path toward the lifelong pursuit of virtue. This is a challenging task and one which can only be accomplished when school and family work in close partnership with one another.
What Is Community Commitment Week?
When a student comes to Great Hearts Irving Lower School, we commit to providing the very best classical, liberal arts education we possibly can. In return, you—our parents, grandparents, and wider community—commit to partner with us in our mission to cultivate human excellence in the students we serve. Community Commitment Week is an opportunity for us to celebrate our special school community founded upon the partnerships between us. It is also an opportunity for you, parents and others, to renew your commitment to contributing to the continued success and well-being of our school.
When Is Community Commitment Week?
Our first ever Community Commitment Week will run all week the week before Spring Break:
March 4-8, 2024
What Will You Commit to Do?
At Great Hearts Irving Lower School, our leaders, teachers, and staff commit to providing your child the very best classical, liberal arts education we possibly can. We ask you, our parents and wider community, to commit to supporting our school in return.
Before Community Commitment Week, students will be coming home with a letter you can use to indicate how you will contribute to the continued flourishing of Great Hearts Irving Lower School over the course of the next year. Throughout Community Commitment Week, special boxes will be set up at each entrance during morning carline. Any time during the week, students should bring their family’s completed letter with them to school and drop them in the box on their way into the building.
Will you commit your time? your treasure? your talent? or all three?
Time
Giving of your time as a volunteer is a tangible manifestation of your belief in the value and quality of our school. Without the help of our parent volunteers, our school’s events and culture would not be what they are. How many hours will you commit to volunteer this year?
Treasure
Great Hearts Irving Lower School relies on monetary gifts from parents and, while all families should give as much as they are able, the most important thing is that 100% of families give something. For Community Commitment Week, parents—especially those who have never contributed financially before—are asked to give at least $20 but are free to give whatever amount is right for them. Help our academy thrive today and in the future with your monetary gifts. How much will your family commit to give?
We accept contributions of cash or check, which you are invited to include in your commitment letter you will return to school with your child during Community Commitment Week. You can also contribute online. Note that the online product defaults to $20, but you are welcome to contribute more by adjusting the quantity or adding an additional amount in the box when you checkout. We are grateful for whatever amount is right for your family.
Great Hearts Irving Lower School is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so every gift is also fully tax-deductible.
Talent
Do you have an idea about a unique way in which you could help the school? Reach out to our Dean of Culture at Mary.Pantin@greatheartstxschools.org to share your thoughts.
A Week of Celebration
We have special events planned for each day of Community Commitment Week. See below for details.
Monday, March 4th | Parent Partnership Day
On Monday, we will give special recognition to the crucial partnership of our parents. The day will kick off with our annual Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast. Any parents who have volunteered throughout the school year are invited to join us in the Forum right after carline where we will have a special breakfast and coffee laid out for you as our way of saying thanks for the time you gave us.
Later in the day, this year’s Room Parent Liaisons are invited to a Pizza Party in the Forum with their children provided by the school. As you know, the opportunity to have lunch with your child at school isn’t something we’re able to offer parents on an ordinary basis, but we are happy to make it possible as an extra special thank you to our RPL’s. The RPL Pizza Party will run from 12:00 to 12:30.
Monday, March 4th is also the first day of this year’s re-enrollment period. In the spirit of renewing your commitment to the school, we invite all parents to check that item off the to-do list as soon as possible. All parents who intend for their children to return to Great Hearts Irving in the 2024-2025 school year must complete the re-enrollment process for their children no later than Friday, March 29, 2024.
Tuesday, March 5th | Community Partners Day
Over the years, we have formed special relationships with businesses and others in our wider community through their support of our school. You may have seen their logos as sponsors of Autumn Fest or in the Two Gentlemen of Verona program, and we are proud to highlight our ongoing friendship on the Community Partners page of our website.
We look forward to welcoming some of our Community Partners to school on Tuesday for coffee and a special tour to help them see with their own eyes what they’re helping to build here at Great Hearts Irving Lower School.
Do you own or know of a local business who may be interested in becoming a Community Partner? Reach out to Dean of Culture Mary Pantin to inquire.
Wednesday, March 6th | The Great Coin Count Up
We believe, like Socrates, Thomas Aquinas, and Mortimer Adler before us, that children are the primary agents in their own learning. It is only right, then, that students should be invested in their school and education and be provided opportunities to contribute to the health of their school in appropriate ways.
On Wednesday of Community Commitment Week, we invite students to break open their piggy banks or dig through those couch cushions and bring in any spare change they can find for The Great Coin Count Up. Jars for each grade level will be set up in the hallway. During the day on Wednesday, students will have an opportunity to drop their coins into their grade level’s jar.
Each student in the grade level that gathers the most coins will be awarded a special invitation for one parent or guest to come to school and eat lunch with them on a designated day later in the school year. More details will be communicated with the winning grade level after Community Commitment Week.
Thursday, March 7th | Grandparents’ Day
We have set aside Thursday of Community Commitment Week for our annual day to give special recognition to the role of our beloved grandparents in the life of our scholars and school and to welcome them to campus. Visit greatheartsirving.org/grandparentsday for full details.
Friday, March 8th | Picnic in the Park
Update: Due to inclement weather, we have cancelled the Picnic in the Park. If a date becomes available later in the spring, we will reschedule and inform the community at that time.
To round out the week of celebration, after school on Friday, our entire community is invited to join us at Cottonwood Creek Park for a schoolwide playdate and picnic. Bring a blanket, some snacks, and enjoy some fun in the sun with your fellow Great Hearts Irving Lower School families.
Cottonwood Creek Park
4051 N Story Rd
Irving, TX 75038
For questions about Community Commitment Week, please reach out to our Dean of Culture Mary Pantin at Mary.Pantin@greatheartstxschools.org.