First Day of School – From Tears to Cheers

As the Phoenix-metro area is still experiencing temperatures well into the triple digits, it’s hard to believe that summer break has come to an end. Scholars have begun returning to school at several Great Hearts academies this week. Households across the Valley have been preparing for the first day of school for weeks now, gathering school supplies, making sure uniforms still fit, and attending orientations and “Meet the Teacher” events. Teachers have been attending meetings, preparing their classrooms, and finalizing lesson plans. All culminating to the first drop-off of the year. It’s showtime!

For many schools, it was all hands-on deck to help with traffic control and getting students into the correct entrance. If you are new to Great Hearts, you may have experienced some long traffic lines on the campuses or even a few hiccups at drop-off. Rest assured that it will get better as the parents get used to the morning routine and staff begin to smooth out any rough patches. It’s like those videos you may have seen of a newborn giraffe. The first few steps are clumsy at best, but before you know it, they take off gracefully and the awkwardness becomes a distant memory.

As a parent, once you get past the chaotic morning of getting your child ready and out the door, quickly stopping at the front door to take that “first day picture” only to find yourself fighting traffic to the school, all the while trying to remain positive to help calm your child’s first day nerves. Once you finally open the car door to let your student out, your relief is short-lived, and you realize the mixed bag of emotions that begin to flood in.

This is why many of our academies and Parent Service Organizations (PSO) hold events to help parents in the aftermath. Archway Trivium PSO hosted “Boohoo Yahoo,” a parent social at the local Panera. PSO President Kimberly Alvidrez says it is their third year hosting the event. “We are very proud of our Trivium community. [We] start building relationships right from the beginning. Our families love reconnecting with each other, and new families feel welcome and supported. It’s a wonderful experience to be a part of.”

“I love that this event gives families a chance to build connections through what binds us – our kids and what it’s like to be parents,” said Lisa Regan, a parent at Archway Trivium. “There were lots of smiles, a few tears, and the start of some new friendships!”

It is the inaugural year for Great Hearts Harveston, which opened its doors for the very first time this week to students in grades K-7. This is the first Great Hearts academy in Louisiana, located in the Harveston community of Baton Rouge. Head of School Sam Heisman and the faculty were eager to introduce students into the newly built facility. “The day has come,” he said in a video message to families. “We welcome your scholars into our doors in order to provide the classical liberal arts education we’ve been planning for.” While transportation experienced delays on the first day, administration is working to correct the issue and they appreciate the patience they have been given as they ensure a better experience for the new Great Hearts families.

In addition to Archway Trivium and Great Hearts Harveston campuses opening this week, Trivium Prep, Archway Chandler, Chandler Prep, Archway Lincoln, Lincoln Prep, Great Hearts Roosevelt, Archway Scottsdale, Scottsdale Prep, Arete Prep, Archway Arete, Glendale Prep, and Archway Glendale all started the school year this week.

“The sunny weather matched the mood on campus this morning,” said Archway Glendale Headmaster, Suzanne DeStefano. “It was utterly joyful to see students greet teachers and hug friends they had missed over the summer.  It was an honor to welcome our new kindergarten families who tearfully and cheerfully ushered their children to their classrooms for their first day of school.  I do not take lightly the level of trust our beloved families have placed in us.”

We are excited for our scholars and anticipate a formative year of cultivating minds and hearts as we pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty together.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jason.moore@greathearts.org.