Seniors at Great Hearts Forest Heights Start the School Year With a New Tradition Facebook Twitter Email This Post Great Hearts Forest Heights August 12, 2025 At Great Hearts Forest Heights in San Antonio, Texas, there was an excitement, an energy, as students and faculty returned for the first day of school. For the academy’s inaugural class of seniors, this was their last first day. To mark the milestone, they gathered at dawn for the very first Sunrise Breakfast, a new tradition created to honor their journey and celebrate the bright year ahead. “So, this is our Senior Sunrise Breakfast,” shared Headmaster Paul Gutowski, standing in front of linen-covered tables adorned with coffee, pastries, and various treats. “It is our first and there’s been a lot of work leading up to this point. To have it finally be here is a big deal for us. Kids are looking forward to it. They don’t know what to expect, but like with most traditions, it’s just the doing of it. It’s just being together, having a marker in time, and these students, I think, understand that the importance of ceremony and tradition.” Headmaster Gutowski was a founding faculty member when the upper school at Great Hearts Forest Heights opened six years ago. At that time, this year’s senior class came in as sixth graders. One of those founding scholars is Monica Powell, who admits beginning her senior year feels a bit surreal. “I was telling my mom actually, that it feels like it’s not real,” she shared. “But it feels very rewarding because we’re the first class. So, we’re setting the bar for graduation… all that good stuff.” Another founding scholar of the upper school, Kaitlyn Greco, is enjoying the special attention that comes with being a senior. It’s a well-deserved recognition. As trailblazers of the Great Hearts Texas academy, these seniors have set the tone for the campus, guiding underclassmen with mentorship and leading the way for a now-complete 9–12 high school community. “It’s extra, extra special when we get to watch students grow over the years,” said Gutowski. “And we’ve had the privilege here at Forest Heights to watch these seniors come in as sixth graders and over the past six years watch them grow. That has been beyond rewarding.” Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contactjmoore@greatheartsamerica.org. Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/. Great Hearts, Great Stories Monthly Roundup Receive monthly news and updates from across the network by subscribing to our newsletter. Name(Required) First Last Email(Required) Enter Email Confirm Email NameThis field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.