Category: Seasons

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Seasons

Symphony in Snowy Delight

By Victoria John
Middle School teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School

The power of snow to delight should never be underestimated. The magic of its rhythmic, almost musical quality inspires adventure and mystery. I admit our recent snowfall awakened my own inner child, as I opened my window blinds anticipating the smiles of my seventh grade Latin students. As they settled in their seats, an unusual silence prevailed. I knew they were getting ready to ask, “Can we go out and play in the snow?”

Their eager, open mouths welcomed the soft coldness of the snowflakes, as baby birds awaiting their mamma’s feeding. In their own rhythm several spread their wings to create snow angels in the faint accumulation. Others, slipping and falling, raced to be the first to gather the cold wetness on the bleachers. I watched the nearby eighth graders frolic like kindergartners, without a care in the world. One remarked, “It is pretty fun.” Snow is a great equalizer of children.

My students were just kids playing, frantically capturing every moment of the white magic falling from the sky. They were children totally engaged in an age-old entertainment that requires no internet, no texting, no headphones – no thoughts of grabbing cell phones between classes to check messages. The simplicity of snow, with all its enchanting wonderment, inspires creative play and breaks down social barriers.

“Snow, Snow, Snow, Snow…,” the opening words in four-part harmony to Irving Berlin’s timeless classic “White Christmas,” echoed through my mind as I marveled at the expressions on their faces. In the swirling haze, I heard, “Take a picture of us!” The photo froze their voices and uninhibited joy as it blended individual personalities in a concert of embraces and laughter. Creativity writer Julia Cameron said, “The quality of life is in proportion, always, to the capacity for delight.” In the remaining last minutes my students stretched out their squeals of delight as they ran headlong, sliding into one another, enveloped in the snowy blanket.

Being with them in that moment was a priceless gift of immeasurable delight.

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Seasons

Holiday Wishes

By Roger Perry
Lakehill Preparatory School, Headmaster

Within a few days we will close the first semester of the 2014-2015 school year. Some amazing memories have been made over the past few months and will remain with us forever. A new set of challenges and opportunities will present themselves when we return from our holiday break. I encourage all of us to greet the new year and the new semester with excitement and confidence.

I am very proud of our students for their accomplishments in 2014. It is a great privilege to actually witness so much of their success. I am also very excited about the opportunities that exist for our students and our school in 2015. The school has some grand plans for our main campus and these will be revealed to you early in the new year.

As I take a moment to reflect on holiday seasons past, I can see two young fellows scampering around in footed pajamas, excited about the packages under our Christmas tree. For that moment in time the happenings outside the walls of our home were of little interest or consequence. Since these two young fellows are now in their thirties, the glistening in my eyes is the treasuring of that moment. I can’t keep the smile off my face as I type this memory for you. I strongly encourage you to enjoy the little things as they will become your treasures. If you make resolutions for the new year, please join me in making a resolution to have a positive impact on the life of at least one child in 2015.

Have a restful, invigorating, joyous, reflective, encouraging, fabulous, and wonderful holiday season!

 

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Seasons

The Importance of Outdoor Play

By Kristen Munoz
Lakehill Preparatory School, Science Teacher

Spring is in the air…finally! With warmer temperatures and longer days comes the potential for all sorts of outdoor adventures.  I love this time of year because it provides my students with the opportunity to shed winter coats and explore the outdoors.

Outdoor play and the exploration that comes with it is so important for our children.  Children’s innate curiosity allows them to be such incredible observers of the natural world.  This time of year, I enjoy having recess duty – watching my students play reenergizes me and helps to remind me to slow down and take it all in.

In the coming weeks, as the days grow even more pleasant, I will make a point to take my students outside for class.  This encourages them to enjoy Lakehill in all its spring beauty and take advantage of new opportunities outside the classroom.  As we focus our lessons on life science in fifth grade, it seems only natural to extend our classroom time to the outdoors.

I welcome the diversions that nature provides to us and encourage my students to take a break from screen time to enjoy being kids.  Getting dirty, exploring, scrapping knees, climbing trees, riding bikes, and all the other pleasures of spring…isn’t that what being a kid is all about?

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Seasons

A Valentine: Things I love about my school

By Kaye Hauschild
Middle School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School

Welcome

I am proud of the welcoming spirit of our school.  Visitors and new students remark on the family feeling that is clearly present.  I like that I am able to become acquainted with students at all levels and that any student knows that they can always ask for a helping hand and receive the assistance they need.

Serving

One of the first things I learned about Lakehill when I joined the faculty was that we give back to our community. Our annual holiday luncheon for senior citizens is only one of the many outreach efforts that we have made to area seniors.  Looking back, we have made a contribution of our effort to a variety of groups representing those in need if there was a way for our students to give. I love that our teachers and students consider service activities as common place events rather than something for special occasions only.

 

Faculty

Since I became a member of Lakehill’s faculty, I have been honored to work with amazing educators.  One great thing about our faculty is our long term dedication to our school.  We love the opportunity to work with students with a variety of talents and goals.  We also love the opportunity to work with each other.  One of my favorite parts of any day is joining in a conversation with other teachers that reflects on future lessons, problem solving, or evaluation.  It makes all of us better.

Families

We have such amazing parents and students at our school!  With a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and talents, our school’s families add their own touches to the Lakehill experience.  It is great to see everyone working together to benefit our school in efforts like our annual auction.  I also love the families coming together to celebrate accomplishments on Wonderful Wednesdays and to celebrate achievement at honor society inductions.  I love seeing the parents building play props and making costumes as much as I love seeing them cheering in the audience at the play performance. I really love that parents and students can make memories at the same time that they are moving forward.

 

Opportunities

I love that our students have the opportunity to steer their course work in the direction of their choices.  Elective choices, online course availability, and course offerings targeting current students’ interests prepare Lakehill students to move to the future with confidence.

Being part of the Lakehill faculty means that you have countless opportunities.  The school supports our growth as educators by supporting our efforts to increase and expand our knowledge in our fields of study and education.  Additionally, they encourage us to continue expanding our interests to areas that keep us moving forward.  I love coming together with my colleagues to share our knowledge.  It inspires all of us to move to the future together.

 

Spirit

Lakehill spirit celebrates every time we encourage the positive, cheer for the impossible, and strive to achieve our goals.  It celebrates achievement in team sports and individual accomplishments.  Most of all, it lasts.

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Seasons

Spring Is In The Air

By Roger L. Perry
Headmaster, Lakehill Preparatory School 

I have driven the same road to Lakehill, literally thousands of times, and yet somehow this morning was different.

The fact that it was snowing – big, beautiful flakes – reminded me that winter had definitely arrived. Those of us who are educators tend to think of the start of the second semester as the beginning of the spring semester, but the only thing that indicated spring about this morning was the thunder and lightning that accompanied the snow!

Even though we are in the depths of winter, I can still anticipate the spring season. Spring represents new growth, everything around us turning green, and the knowledge that summer is not too far away. We know the weather in Texas can change in an instant, so it’s easy for this native Texan to believe that spring is just around the corner, bringing with it all the newness and hope it represents for each of us. I look forward to spring, and enjoy how people – both children and adults – seem to have more energy and vigor and seem more optimistic.

Hopefully, you have received your most recent Milestones magazine where we showcase many of the wonderful people and things that happen at our school. I am excited to join our students and faculty in the successes we will experience this semester. “Going to school” is a way of life for me and I appreciate that you share the lives of your children and family with me. It is an honor to be the Headmaster of Lakehill and to be given the privilege to experience the successes of so many.

Enjoy what will soon be the last days of winter and get ready for the joy of renewal this spring. I look forward to seeing you around the campus!

 

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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!

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Seasons

Springing Into Spring

By Katie Becker
Social Studies Chair, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Spring is here! You can feel the energy in the building. This time of year the school is buzzing with track, baseball, and tennis. And if you are not involved in sports you are busy with musicals, debates, and community service projects. It seems everywhere you look someone is doing something and it’s a race to the finish line.

It’s just six weeks until the end of school. That means only six more weeks until my 8th graders will move on to high school, just six weeks until the senior’s journey ends at Lakehill and their college experience begins, just six weeks until summer, and just six weeks until  I start planning for the next school year.

It always amazes me how quickly the school year passes and how much we seem to accomplish. I can’t wait to do it all again in the fall!