Hot Cocoa with the Head of School at Great Hearts Harveston

Before heading out to winter break for some much-needed rest and time with family, the scholars and faculty at Great Hearts Harveston in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, enjoyed their second annual “Hot Cocoa with the Head of School.” This heartwarming event offered a chance to pause, connect, and enjoy cups of hot chocolate paired with some sweet treats.

Though the academy opened its doors just last year, this celebration already feels like a budding tradition. Surprisingly, it began as a happy accident. Originally intended as a parent-focused event, the invitations were overlooked during the busy final week before break. Rather than canceling, staff decided to pivot, inviting students to enjoy the treats instead.

During the gathering, Head of School Sam Heisman delivered an inspiring message, commending the students for their dedication and accomplishments during the inaugural term.

What started as a scheduling hiccup turned into a memorable and life-giving experience for all who attended. The success of last year’s impromptu celebration prompted staff to bring it back in the same manner this year, just before students and faculty part ways for the winter break. Parent volunteers from the Parent Service Organization (PSO) graciously provided the warm, chocolaty drinks and cookies, making this event a purposeful part of the school calendar.

As a young school, Great Hearts Harveston is actively forming traditions that will shape its culture. While some events may come and go, others, like “Hot Cocoa with the Head of School,” resonate deeply, bringing the school community together and forming a beloved tradition. It’s a great way to bring the entire school together and reflect on the growth over the last several months, having gone through the first half of the school year along-side one another, reading Great Books together, joining in meaningful class discussions, forming their ideas and world views together, and now celebrating their triumphs with their peers and teachers the merriest way they know how.

Heisman addressed the students this year with a challenge for them during the break, to prepare themselves for the second semester. “We have made it to the end of a semester, and that is an incredible accomplishment in so many ways,” said Heisman. “You guys, you’re undergoing curriculum that is incredibly rigorous, and many of you are going classical education for the first time. You’ve made a ton of new friends, and you’ve read a ton of new books. There’s a lot to be proud of right now.” Heisman added that it is now time to get ready for what’s ahead in the second semester. “What you’re going to need to do in order to become that well-rounded, well-cultivated person… you are going to need to do something to restorative,” he said. “Spend some time outside, go find someone you haven’t seen in a while that you really care about and do something special with them, go to your places of worship and worship, go to your places where you meditate and meditate, go to places that fill your soul.”

It was a great way to commemorate the end of the first semester, the beginning of a new semester, and the sense of accomplishments in between. What a wonderful way to celebrate and reflect together. And as they say in Louisiana during any kind of celebration, “Laissez les bons temps rouler,” which is Cajun French for “let the good times roll”!

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