Founding Families are Bowling Strikes

Over 200 attendees of Great Hearts Harveston founding families gathered at the All-Star Lanes in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The event was to celebrate the support of all the founding families have given to the new Great Hearts academy that will open its doors in August 2023. This will be the first Great Hearts academy to open in Louisiana.

Families were celebrated for putting their trust into a new school and enrolling their children without the benefit of physically touring the school (which is still under construction but on track for completion). They placed their faith in the vision and pedagogy of Great Hearts, a public-school charter network that has provided a high-level classical education for over 20 years. Great Hearts currently operates in Arizona and Texas with expansion plans in Louisiana and Florida. These families are visionaries. They are pioneers in uncharted territory who are standing alongside the leadership team and staff of the Harveston campus to bring the pursuit of Truth, Beauty, and Goodness to the families of East Baton Rouge.

Head of school, Sam Heisman was happy to see the connections made between the individual families who are already becoming a school community. “It was so invigorating to see such a strong turn-out to our first Founding Family Day,” said Heisman. “Though not every student bowled a strike, many met a new friend and made plans to get-together in the near future. Even further, parents and teachers were able to converse and share more about themselves. This is how lasting school communities are built–even before their buildings are finished.”

The venue was completely rented out for the founding families to enjoy together. All attendees seemed to be truly grateful for the event. “Thank you for such a fun founding family day! We had a great time!” said founding parent, Sally McBride. In addition to the free bowling, each family received a gift pack that included Founding Family branded cups, shirts, car magnet, pens, and letter from the head of school.

“I thought that the bowling event was a huge success,” said founding parent, David Worley. “It gave us an opportunity to get to meet and chat with future students and parents. Now the children have made some friends making the opening of the school easier for the children. It also provided the parents an opportunity to meet staff and teachers which was helpful. We can’t wait to get started at a great new school.”

Founding parent, Temyria Porter and her family enjoyed the outing and look forward to the school opening. “I loved the event! I was able to meet parents, and my children were able to meet their friends,” said Porter. “They have been talking about the next event nonstop! We are excited for next school year!”

Great Hearts Harveston will open in August of 2023 with 695 students in a newly built campus located in the master-planned community, The Preserve at Harveston, near Bluebonnet & Nicholson at 11801 Bluebonnet Blvd.  They will serve grades K-7 in the opening year and plan to add a grade every year after until they are a full K-12 academy.

Great Hearts Harveston desires to provide a fulfilling, educational experience that will be characterized by order and joy in Baton Rouge. Our schools are filled with carefully chosen faculty who demonstrate expertise in their subject area, while also exhibiting the wonder and moral character we seek to develop in our students.  The classical education model will inspire and shape students into the best versions of themselves, setting in motion growth that will continue the rest of their lives.

Come join us for an In-Person Info Night at the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd, at 6:00pm for our monthly In-Person Information Session. Learn more about why a Great Hearts education makes all the difference. Register here.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2023-24 school year. Submit your application at here.

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