First Day Excitement and Growth at Great Hearts Christos in Gilbert

Today was the first day of school for Great Hearts Christos in Gilbert, and the new and returning families were eager to get the new school year started. “I love the first day. It’s so exciting to see all the families come back – the students from last year and all our new kindergarteners. It’s just such an exciting day for us,” said Dean of Campus Kayla Blasi. “It’s been a joy to come back and see the students. They already know some of our Chapel songs, they already know their teachers, and now we’re building off of the community that we had last year.” Coffee and donuts were provided for kinder parents after the dropping their children off for the first time ever.

Blasi shared that there are a few changes from last year. “Our staff and our students have grown!” Adding that the enrollment has almost doubled from last year, which was the inaugural year for the private Christian academy. But Blasi also shared that they still enjoy the smaller class sizes that make the community of the academy so special.

According to Blasi, three classrooms were added over the summer to accommodate the new students. “We added an extra kinder class for families that needed that, and we were able to split our 4th and5th grades into individual classes,” she said.

Another update that families will notice is the addition of sixth grade, adding the first middle school class to the academy. “Sixth grade is just a fun endeavor that we’re doing,” said Blasi. “Great Hearts has their middle school curriculum, and we’re able to bring that to families with the Christian environment. They have lockers that they’re really excited about and their uniform change. They’re able to really dig more into Latin as a language, and the curriculum that they have in middle school really sets them up for a successful high school career. It’s really targeted to individual things that they learn throughout the year so students can really dive into knowledge a little deeper.”

Once students were settled into their classrooms, it was time to gather with the entire academy, students and faculty, in the chapel to sing worship songs, have a time of prayer with Great Hearts Christos Executive Director Toyin Atolgbe, and learn their memory verse for the year. Several parents stayed to participate in the chapel time. It has proven to be a truly special time of the day that is unique to the Christos academies.

While the school year is now underway for the academy in Gilbert, there are still a few spots available, but Blasi warns those spaces are very limited. Families who are looking for this unique blend of Christian and classical education are encouraged to apply today at https://christos.schoolaxis.com or schedule a tour at https://christosgilbert.greatheartsamerica.org/tour/. Tours are frequently given in the first few weeks of school and provide a wonderful opportunity to meet the leadership team and see the classrooms in action.

Great Hearts Catalyst, a new Christos academy, will be opening its doors on August 14th, 2024, in West Phoenix, near 67th Avenue and Indian School. Learn more at https://christoscatalyst.greatheartsamerica.org.

Christos Academies are a separate, faith-based, non-profit, private school arm of the Great Hearts organization committed to creating and offering the best ecumenical Christian academies in the country. Because they are private schools, the Christos Academies’ programs can, and do, integrate Christ-centered faith formation along with the proven classical model that has made Great Hearts academies the national leader in classical education. All families are welcome at our affordable private academies.

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