Month: May 2012

Categories
Community

Through The Looking Glass

By Victoria John
Latin Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School

A young boy steps forward in the lunch line, his head barely topping the rail where the green tray blocks his view. Tilting his head back, he peers up through the glass protecting the food choices. His timid eyes meet a familiar smile reflected in the mirror-like glass. As his own smile grows, so does his confidence to ask, “Miss Tammy, what are we having today?”

Tammy Jackson, Lakehill’s Cafeteria Manager for over 15 years and an integral part of the school, remembers answering this child’s question day after day. “He was always so polite, so respectful,” as she describes recent 2012 Lakehill graduate Hunter Austin Simpson. She continues, “I couldn’t believe how much he had grown up, until I watched him play basketball in the Nothing But Nets fundraiser,” and adds, “I’m so proud of him.”

Tammy’s co-worker, Shandra Jackson, fondly remembers when Austin brought his senior clearance form into the cafeteria. “I had to stretch my neck to look up at him as he towered over the glass. When I recognized him as the sweet little boy who used to look up at me, I blurted, ‘You used to wear glasses!’” Surprised, he replied, “I did?”

Thirteen years at Lakehill and 6’ 7” tall, Austin Simpson has grown into a mature and still respectful young man, an outstanding athlete, and a talented photographer, who recently had two sports photos published in the Dallas Morning News, where he served his senior internship. Austin clearly examines his choices and makes thoughtful decisions that affect him and others positively.

Austin has special memories of Tammy and Shandra. “I’ve always loved getting food from the cafeteria, not only because I like the food but because since kindergarten, I’ve had a nice, warm welcome every time I set foot in the lunch line. It’s been a treat to see Tammy every day of every year. She’s one of the most genuine and sweet ladies I’ve had the pleasure to know. It’s also awesome that Shandra was around for my Lakehill beginnings and was back for the end of my time here. Those ladies truly have the power to brighten my day. I will miss them more than they know. It would be great if they could come with me to Colorado State University.”

Lakehill offers not only a quality education, but a caring community. From Mr. Perry’s morning greeting, to the dedication of classroom teachers and coaches and the supportive administrative staff, to nurturing women like Tammy and Shandra. All offer a listening ear as they contribute to a Lakehill student’s personal and educational experience.

Hunter Austin Simpson’s legacy continues every time a kindergarten student entering the cafeteria looks up and asks, “Miss Tammy, what are we having today?” Through their comforting kindness, Tammy and Shandra impacted Austin’s experience, just as he impacted theirs. We are all teachers and learners. It just depends on your perspective. You never know how a smile changes someone’s day, until you see Austin smile. The hours in a school day mirror the years in a student’s life. They fly by quickly. But the memories of a smile reflected through the glass linger forever.

Categories
Seasons

Slow Down for Summer

By Roger L. Perry
Headmaster, Lakehill Preparatory School 

This has been a very special year, as Lakehill celebrated its 40th anniversary. Of course, every year is special as it signals the completion of another step for each of us in our lives. The steps obviously mean different things for each of us and the significance of those steps will be measured when we reflect on the path we have traveled.

Now it is summertime and life’s schedule allows for some modification. Let me once again encourage you to try as hard as you can to take a little time over the next few months of summer and enjoy some time with your children.

One suggestion comes from my early years growing up in West Texas. My family – children and adults alike – would get a blanket and lie down in the front yard, looking at the stars that make up our universe and letting our imaginations and sense of wonder run wild. Our conversations during these events far exceeded any television program we might have missed.

So be creative and watch the waves of a local lake or find a state park and follow a trail with no idea of your final destination. As my wife Virginia often reminds me, it is the little things that matter. I encourage you to appreciate the little things this summer as they are the ones that you and your children will remember forever.

Remember that summertime is for children and that all of us – if we just look deep enough – have a little bit of child left in us. Enjoy all of your summer experiences and I will look forward to welcoming you back in late August!

Categories
Technology

Imagination: Still A Twenty-First Century Tool

By Julie Riggs
English K-7 Department Chair, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Though we have fewer than three weeks left of school, this is my first blog ever. But starting something new in May makes sense to me. Reflecting on the school year charges my creativity.  At no time of year am I busier, and at no time am I more brimful of ideas.

As time moves on, more and more of my ideas involve technology and what is known in the trade as “twenty-first century learning.”  I did my first Power Point presentation this spring, and I ventured boldly where many had gone before and used Google documents for group assignments this year.  In two weeks, I’ll begin an online course to learn HTML.

Warming up to new ways of doing is not always easy, and sometimes it’s intimidating for those of us who still remember when an Atari console (plugged in to a mere 19 inch analog TV) was the hot new toy.  I love the feel of a hefty old-fashioned fountain pen in my hand, but there’s no denying how much time and paper  I would have wasted using it to compose this little message, which I have so far revised dozens of times.

Times change, tools change– but the most important tool in our twenty-first century survival kit is not the latest tablet computer.  It is and always will be imagination.

Categories
Spirit

True Confessions of a Cheer Lover

By Kaye Hauschild
Middle School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Time for true confessions: I have been a cheer lover forever.  It is not a well-known fact, but I never achieved the rank of cheerleader as a student.  Oh, I tried out and have some very funny stories for my family to retell of my trials and errors.  Not being on the cheer squad did not lessen my cheer.  Instead, I became a member of the pep squad, drill team, spirit sign painting club, ribbon seller, and anything else that let my love of spirit shine.

One normally leaves cheer behind when formal education ends, but I was a lucky cheerer.  I got to cheer at work.  In my first school, I quickly joined the ranks of the cheer people, coaching a squad of ninth graders in my hometown.  When life moved me to Dallas and Lakehill, I followed the stomps, claps, and chants to my colleagues, Mrs. Harris and Mrs. Durbin, and asked for the chance to share the Lakehill love.  I have lived happily ever after since then.

Cheer has changed a lot since I first hit a megaphone on the ground while yelling, “Lakehill….Warriors!”  We used to have super strict try-outs for our squads that left other cheer lovers off the field.  When we realized that every other sport at Lakehill allowed every student to participate without try-outs, we happily joined in the fun.  Our squads have ranged in size from five to twenty-five in my twenty-something cheerful years at Lakehill.

For a cheer lover like me, life could not be better!  Whether Varsity or Middle School, Lakehill cheer brings me the joy and spirit that we share with our fans.

Along the way, I have been lucky enough to find others like me, those who love Lakehill and cheer alike.  And beginning this spring, I am passing the opportunity to lead our Varsity squad to the amazing and awesome Mrs. Becker and Mrs. Burt.  I will continue my stomp, clap, and cheer with the Middle School cheerleaders and look forward to those amazing times when we get together, two squads as one.  “Lakehill……Warriors!”