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Back-to-School

Welcome from the Headmaster

Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2018-19 school year at Lakehill Preparatory School. We are grateful that you have chosen our school for your children’s education, and we are committed to having a positive impact on their lives. Education is a life-long endeavor, and we are honored to work with you and your children during this stage of their development.

As I walked through the halls this week, I have been energized by the enthusiasm of our teachers, the excitement of our students, and the opportunities available to all of us at Lakehill. This is a particularly special year for me, as my granddaughter Kennedy joined us for kindergarten.

Lakehill Preparatory School has an impressive history that spans 47 years of creating opportunities for our students. While we are small by design, our close-knit community provides many possibilities for involvement. Lakehill students can find themselves immersed in the arts, athletics, academics, leadership responsibilities, and community service. Our students are fortunate that our size strongly dictates involvement over exclusivity so that everyone has their moment to shine.

These moments teach our students the life skills necessary to be successful in school, in their family lives, and in their future careers. They are able to attend the colleges of their choice while simultaneously being athletes, performers, writers, scientists, artists, and community leaders.

Each of us wants to be part of a strong, secure, and caring community, one in which we are valued and supported. Our goal is that every student and adult in the Lakehill family will have a safe, small place to accomplish big things.

Our faculty members continue to set the standard with their experience and innovative teaching. We are joined by seven new faculty and staff members, and I look forward to introducing them to you. We have 48 new students, from around the city and around the globe, and we welcome them each to our school.

Our dedicated faculty has been busy this summer, taking advantage of a variety of professional development opportunities to better serve our students. The Lower School faculty attended “Capturing Kids Hearts” training. This program will enable them to have a consistent vocabulary and methodology across grade levels to guide our younger students in appropriately handling their daily social interactions. We will benefit from new classes and curriculum in all divisions, including Engineering and Design for Upper School, LEGO Robotics for Middle School, and Wonders Language Arts curriculum for Lower School, while maintaining our strong, long-standing academic, fine arts, and athletic offerings.

We are grateful for the generous gifts from the Parent Faculty Club (PFC). These gifts range from furniture in the Student Commons and GaGa Ball Pits for the Lower and Middle Schools to new and improved technology and a generous contribution to the endowment fund. Thank you to the many parents who give so generously of their time, energy, and financial resources. All gifts, regardless of size, impact the lives of our students.

Thank you to all of you who weathered the storm with us at the Back-to-school Picnic. Despite the wild weather, it was wonderful to have our Lakehill family back together. I hope you will make plans to join us on September 6, for Parents Open House and on September 14, for the annual Tailgate Party and football game.

As a school community, we have much to celebrate. It is going to be an exceptional year in many ways, and I can hardly wait to join you for the exciting journey we are about to embark on together.

Lakehill is a small place to do big things.

Sincerely,
See more pictures from the first day of school.
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Back-to-School

Opening Doors…Transforming Lives

Dear Parents, Grandparents, and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year at Lakehill Preparatory School. This has really been an exciting summer. So much has happened to our campus in such a short period of time, and it has been fun to watch the daily developments and transformations. We are so excited to have you here on our newly enriched campus. The addition of 16,000 square feet and the renovation of an additional 8,000 square feet of existing space are already transforming the way we teach, learn, and live at Lakehill.

With the construction of our new facility now completed, there is a palpable revitalization of energy, excitement, and creativity. Members of the faculty have been attending professional development opportunities throughout the summer and are eagerly exploring new ideas and teaching strategies. They have also been busy planning a variety of ways that our new resources will augment their teaching strategies and are eager to share their new ideas.

After more than a year of building new spaces to help re-envision education at Lakehill and redefine opportunities for our students, we are ready to open new doors. This year is about new learning spaces, new ways of thinking about teaching, and new ways of interacting with each other. The completion of our new facilities, coupled with this revitalization of energy, could not be timelier. This year, in anticipation of our ISAS Accreditation, we will be concluding a year-long Self-Study where we will reflect on where we have been, where we are, and what future direction we want to take. This process will secure the vision for our school and enable us to continue serving our students and transforming lives. We thank you for your patience over the past 15 months. We can’t wait to see where the future takes us.

Warm regards,
Roger L. Perry
Headmaster

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Back-to-School

A Warm Welcome

By Haley James
First Grade Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School

As a teacher, I frequently reflect on my experiences as a student. I hope never to lose that perspective; embracing the methods of the teachers I loved, and vowing never to mimic the ones I did not admire.

Shortly into my year as a first grade student, I switched schools. It was the only time in my life where I experienced being “the new kid.” It was terrifying. I was scared of my new teacher. I got lost in the labyrinth of hallways searching for the restroom. All of my classmates already knew each other, and I was the odd one out.

I did not feel that same apprehension again, until I became a new teacher at Lakehill. I joined a new school at the last minute. But this time, my experience was completely different. Since my first day, I felt completely welcomed by parents, students, and teachers. Everyone went out of their way to introduce themselves, and to offer a helping hand.

That’s a rare thing, and I wondered what made Lakehill different. When I learned about the Triangle Rules, specifically the Welcome Rule, it dawned on me. The Welcome Rule is so embedded in the culture of Lakehill that it has become second nature for everyone. Every single day I watch children including each other. I see teachers mentoring new members. It is clear that the Welcome Rule goes all the way to the top with Mr. Perry greeting each child in the morning.

Lakehill is not like most schools. And that’s a beautiful thing.

haley-james

 

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Back-to-School

Back to School

Roger L. Perry
Lakehill Preparatory School, Headmaster 

Summer is such a special time of year. I know the current trendsetters say that our school calendar is based on an agrarian society and this causes us to waste perfectly good time that could be used for the instruction of children. However, it seems to me that summers may have more to do with the way I turned out as a person than any other season. It was a time for imagination, curiosity, and experimentation.

The lack of structure allowed me to explore areas of interest that were not in the curriculum. While it’s true that twelve months in pursuit of summer dreams might not have prepared me for my life’s work, three months of summer certainly shaped my perspective of the world and of people.

As we head back to school this week, I smile with the memory of the 50-plus “first-day-of-school” experiences that I have enjoyed. Almost everyone can remember the feeling they had as they approached that first day, and the wonderful mixture of anticipation, expectations, and excitement.

The opportunity to learn something new, to encounter a teacher who will have a positive and lifelong impact on your life, to meet a friend, to share your life with others, to shape your character, and to make life-long memories, make each new school year an exciting adventure for me and for your children.

Yes, summer is great, but I love school. I am so excited that you are joining me on this wonderful journey. Enjoy this new school year and cherish the memories you and your children will be making at Lakehill Preparatory School.

 

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Back-to-School

Three Little Words

By Patti Brooks
Lower School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Those three little words, Back to School, can bring about some pretty powerful emotions.

From the time we were children, these three words caused wonder in us all….who will my teacher be? We all wanted our teacher to be young and pretty, until we found out that often the old, dumpy ones were cuddlier and gave great hugs!

We raced up to the school with excitement and looked at the class list on the door (hoping our best friends or the “new boy” would be in our class!)  We happily jumped into the car and went to buy our shiny, new lunchbox and school supplies (with pencils sharper than they would ever be again.) We anxiously picked out the cutest or coolest new clothes for our first day.

We restlessly tossed and turned in our beds the night before with anticipation. Then, we woke up extra early and went through our morning routine (the one that had been completely forgotten for three months). We took the obligatory photos by the door for grandma and grandpa and the school year began…

“Back to School” had been accomplished once again!

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Back-to-School

New Year, New Possibilities

By Kaye Hauschild
Middle School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School 

I must confess that the first day of school is one of my favorite days of the year.

When I was in school, I planned out my first day clothes that matched my new school shoes and dreamed over the new school supplies I had collected over the summer. After the traditional taking of the “first day of school photo,” off I would go to the beginning of a new adventure.

Of course, I worried about where my locker would be and if I would like a new teacher. But on the first day of school, it has always been about possibilities. New friends and new experiences to share with old friends in familiar surroundings.

Well, I have my new shoes and my first day clothes all picked out. I have a cool new notebook and organizer ready to go.  And I am excited for the new experiences that we will all share in this brand new year.

Perhaps Dr. Seuss said it best:
“Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You’re on your own.  And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

From Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss