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Family and Community

I Will Think of You Often… and Fondly

By Ray Dent, Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Lakehill Preparatory School

Although we have been planning it for a long time, it feels a bit strange that I am retiring this Friday. According to the Social Security Administration’s recent letter to me, they first started taking money from my pay check in 1961 when I was a ten-year-old busboy at Furr’s Cafeteria in Lubbock, Texas. I have been quite fortunate in the work I have had, the different lives I have lived, the adventures I have enjoyed, and the people I have known since then.

With regard to future plans, there is a good-looking girl, named Nancy, whom I met when we were eighteen year old freshmen at SMU. We celebrate our forty-fourth anniversary in a couple of months and we plan to spend the next few decades traveling, spoiling our children and theirs, volunteering, playing with friends, and pursuing our creative interests. She loves to paint and I think I still have at least a couple more good novels left in me.

There is no question that I will miss my Lakehill Family. This school, its people, and its programs are a rare treasure that I have seen nowhere else in my twenty years in educational development. It has been an honor, and a true pleasure, to be a part of Lakehill Preparatory School for the past five years.

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Family and Community

My Lakehill Top 5

By Lisa Bracken
Director of Admission, Lakehill Preparatory School

I love lists. So when the New Year approaches, I get especially energized. Now this will date me, but growing up, I always looked forward to listening to Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 best songs of the year. And, I still love hearing the year-end lists of best movies, books, etc. Now, I’m busy making my own New Year’s lists of goals and ideas. Some are on paper; others swirl in my head hoping to materialize. My family laughs at me when I talk in lists. I’ll often say, “Well first, now second, and finally…” You can imagine how I felt when David Letterman retired. What, no top 10 lists? What to do?

So, when I offered to write Lakehill’s January blog, of course I knew I had to make a list! My twin middle school girls proudly call Lakehill Prep their school home, and it’s where I serve as the Director of Admission. So from the perspective of both a parent, and an admission officer, here is my list of favorite things about Lakehill!

This list can go on and on, but for brevity’s sake, here are my top five:

  1. The Headmaster greets children at the door each day. And warmly. With a handshake.
  2. The faculty is passionate about teaching. It shows. Students shine.
  3. Class size is small and interactive. On purpose. With thought.
  4. You’re not a number at Lakehill. You matter.
  5. Our graduates rock college acceptances. 100% of them. Every year. With scholarships.

So, please have a wonderful 2017, and our best to you and yours. Come by and visit to check out my list for yourself. You’ll find that and so much more.

Happy New Year!

Lisa Bracken

 

Applications are currently being accepted for the 2017-18 school year. To find out more about Lakehill, visit lakehillprep.org.

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Family and Community Uncategorized

Finding the School that is the Right Fit

By Lisa Bracken
Director of Admission, Lakehill Preparatory School

As a mother of twin girls, I think the thought of where we would educate our children entered our minds from the moment they were born. My husband and I debated public or private, big or small. Lengthy conversations ensued over the next two years until I got the magical advice to visit schools from another mom. So that’s exactly what we did.

I was working in the field of education, specifically early childhood, and was looking for obviously outstanding curriculum, but also a place where my children would feel loved, cherished, and appreciated for how different they are from one another. A place where they are celebrated for their uniqueness. No easy feat, we thought.

We read, poured over websites, and then started visiting many schools that were recommended to us. We decided we wanted a school that had a community-school feel with smaller class sizes. Finally, we started narrowing down our choices.

We walked into Lakehill Preparatory School, a place we had driven by a few times on scouting missions and had even pulled into the parking lot on one occasion. After attending an admission preview, my husband and I looked at each other on our way out, knowing we had found our right fit. He said to me, “I wish I had gone to school there.” At that moment, my non-educator husband knew our girls would thrive,  continue to grow into happy, emotionally healthy children, and have the academics to match. We started the admission process and held our breath.

Those twins are now in fifth grade at Lakehill, and the school has more than lived up to our expectations. I joined the Lakehill team as Director of Admission two and a half years ago because I believed in the passion of the teachers, the warm families, the diversity of the student body, and, without question, the top-notch education. I can’t wait to watch them continue to grow and mature under faculty and administrative leadership that cherish my girls, and strive to help all children reach their full potential.

I look back at that advice from a mom, and I am so thankful we made visits to schools. It helped confirm our “right fit” and will hopefully yours as well.

The Bracken Family

 

 

Categories
Family and Community

Room 110 for Rent

By John Trout
Fourth Grade Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School

This is my fourteenth year teaching fourth grade at Lakehill. Same hall for fourteen years.  Same room for fourteen years. Same desk for fourteen years. It’s been my home away from home. In fact, I’ve “lived” in room 110 longer than any of my actual homes over the years! It has been a familiar, comfortable place for me even when other parts of my life have been in transition.

Of course, the room itself has changed. New windows, new desks, new tiles, and every year, a new crop of eager learners to share this home away from home with me for a year. Together, we’ve created memories of adventure, realization, and triumph. Together, we’ve enjoyed days of excitement, accomplishment, and determination. And, peppered in amongst them, there have been days with frustration, setbacks, and uncertainty. But, like a family, we’ve been there for each other through thick and thin, making the best days even better and even the lowest days less intimidating. That’s what families do, and Lakehill has, since day one, felt like my extended family.

Fourteen years of memories, home, and family. That’s going to be hard to beat! Part of me yearns for a fifteenth year (and a sixteenth, and a seventeenth) in room 110. But, a bigger part of me is excited at the notion of new adventures, new challenges, and a hike down the road less traveled. And, that’s exactly what I’ll get next year as I take on my new role as Head of Lower School. And, I’m not losing my home-and-family-away-from-home. Instead, it’s growing! It’s always a little scary leaving behind the comfortable and familiar. But, I’ve got a huge and loving family to help me along the way.

John Trout
Categories
Family and Community

I Love Lakehill Because…

By Ray Dent
Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Lakehill Preparatory School

For an article in the upcoming issue of Milestones Magazine, I asked the teachers if they would have their students complete the sentence, “I love Lakehill because…”

The responses from the kids were so overwhelmingly positive and heartwarming that I asked the faculty, along with a few parents and alumni, if they would complete the same sentence in order to get a perspective from adults. The adult responses were just as touching and refreshing as the children’s.

What a wonderful experience it has been to see such a varied group of adults and children so willingly explain what makes Lakehill a special place for them. The extent to which this school, its people, and its programs have touched them all is truly remarkable.

I guess that’s the reason I love Lakehill because… this very unique school earns the love and loyalty of those whose lives it touches.

63

Categories
Family and Community

Season of Reflection

By Roger Perry
Headmaster, Lakehill Preparatory School

As the school year comes to a close, I fondly recall so many wonderful memories of talking with children, meeting with adults, and celebrating successes, both large and small. My wife has reminded me throughout our marriage of forty-plus years that it truly is the small things that count. She has always been right in this regard.

Recently, I was fortunate to observe several senior internship reports, where our newest graduates spoke of their experiences in professions they are considering for the future. Much of what they learned may have been small, but it helped them as they are progressing in their development. The professionals in our community who worked with them described them as confident, compassionate, friendly, articulate, respectful, and hard working. Those impressions of our students brings me great joy, and is something of which we should all be proud.

It also brings a smile to my face when I think about some of the remarkably funny (and often remarkably profound) things that have been said to me during the course of a school day by children. As we enter what I call the Season of Reflection, I encourage you to create opportunities for the little things in your life this summer. Your children, no matter what age, will only have the Summer of 2014 this one time. Cherish the time you have with your children and enjoy the amazing and wonderful things they will say to you. No matter what year this is in your life, consider this the best year and make this summer the best summer ever.

Summertime is for children and all of us – if we look deep enough – have a little bit of child left in us. Enjoy the wonder of summer and make memories that will last a lifetime.

Categories
Family and Community

Bringing the World to My Family

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Counseling, Lakehill Preparatory School

This semester my family had the opportunity to host an international student from China for a few weeks as she was in between housing situations.  We wanted to help out, but we also wanted our children to understand how valuable receiving an education is.  Parents in other countries value the U.S. educational system so much that they are willing to send their children as young as 14 or 15 years old alone to another country to live and study.

We had a great time.  Our student went on family outings with us, learned to decorate sugar cookies, saw her first professional soccer game, and celebrated Easter for the first time ever (she wasn’t so sure about that bunny thing but liked the candy he left behind).  I think my two elementary kids wore her out as she accompanied us to soccer games , dance rehearsals, and end-of-year music performances, but she also enjoyed participating in the life of an American family.

Adding her into the daily activities of my family was really seamless.  Our student, in turn, shared her love of art, music, and food with us and made us think about our own ways of doing things and seeing the world around us.  As Lakehill continues to move forward with an international initiative, more families are needed to host.  If you are flirting with the possibility of hosting,  I am happy to answer any questions you might have.

Categories
Family and Community

Company’s Coming

By Patti Brooks
Lower School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School

When you hear the words, “Company`s Coming,” what do you think?  “Oh, goody” or “Oh, dear?”

Well, I guess it depends on where you are.  If you are at home, you probably have a big list of things to do, like: 1. Buy more food–start cooking  2. change the sheets   3. decorate your house or maybe spiffy things up a little?
At Lakehill, we have been inviting “Company” to come to our Admission Previews this Fall to find out more about our wonderful school and look around. Our last Preview was on December 10, and I was so happy to hear the good questions our visitors asked and to see the smiles on their faces during their visit.
Our previews begin with a group meeting in the library where everyone is welcomed by our Headmaster, Roger Perry.  Roger has been at Lakehill since 1975 and his two sons were “lifers” here.  Lara Gajkowski, our Assistant Head of School, does a wonderful job of explaining the curriculum, extra-curricular activites, community service opportunities, and our college preparation process that we are so proud of at Lakehill.
Our Director of Admission, Holly Walker, always does a great job of planning the previews from start to finish. I am so proud of our Student Ambassadors who lead our guests on a tour of the campus and answer many questions about their experiences throughout their years at Lakehill. Candid answers and an open, welcoming atmosphere always produce smiles and nods from the parent visitors.
 We are all so proud of our students and our school that it is rewarding to show it off to others. Now we can prepare to welcome student visitors, and ultimately, the many new students who will add so much to our wonderful Lakehill family.
So…”Company’s Coming” at our school is an “Oh goody” time at Lakehill.
Categories
Family and Community

A Pause for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the most important holidays of the year. It represents a pause in our activities to focus on the importance of goodness and family in our lives. As families, we actually take time from our hectic and active schedules to slow the pace, consider the wonders of our lives, and to pass on oral histories of our place and role in the world. The determination of our elders, to share the lessons they have learned, should be a continuing signal to us of how important our family history is and how it has shaped our lives and, in many cases, our opportunities.

This special time of the year encourages all of us to thank others for the things they do to have a positive impact on our lives. All of us at Lakehill Prep are fortunate that you have chosen to share your children with us. Each of us on the faculty and staff also chose this school, because we want children to find successes and to be prepared for the opportunities and challenges of the future. This school is a special place for children, and I appreciate everyone who gives of their time, energy, and finances to provide moments of “specialness” for all who enter our doors.  In keeping with the season of thanking those people who enhance our lives, special thanks goes to my wife, Virginia, who has continued to be understanding of the commitment I have to the profession of helping children.

I encourage you, during this season of Thanksgiving, to take a moment to thank your child for making your life challenging, exciting, and meaningful. And when an elder starts to recite that story you have heard many times, pause to remember that they probably had a great deal to do with making you who you are today and how you will handle the challenges of tomorrow.  This time in our lives will never pass this way again, so let’s enjoy it to the fullest.

Best wishes to you and your family for a thankful and memorable Thanksgiving season.

 

Categories
Family and Community

There’s a First Time for Everything

By Ray Dent
Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Lakehill Preparatory School 

For the first time in my life I participated in a mob… a Flash Mob. The Lakehill faculty and staff “flashed” at a Pep Rally to help boost school spirit for the Warriors. As I reflect on my first six months here, I think of numerous first time life experiences Lakehill Prep has given me.

For example, within 72 hours of starting this job I saw a teacher on her hands and knees painting bright colors on the asphalt of an outdoor parking spot. (The oddest part to me was that everyone acted as though it was a perfectly normal thing to witness.) I asked, of course, and was told, “Oh, that’s Ms. Livengood. She’s decorating a special spot for a student to park.”

Some weeks later I went to find the Headmaster and was told he was playing “hooky” at the drag races with one of our students and a parent. Not long after that the Assistant Headmaster took several students horseback riding one afternoon.

Ultimately, I learned that to raise money for the school and our students an organization called the Parent Faculty Club (PFC) had auctioned all these unusual things the faculty were doing.

I’ve worked in education for many years. However, an institution where the parents, faculty, and students all work together doing such fun and interesting things to support their school is a very refreshing new life experience, indeed!