Month: August 2011

Categories
Mentoring

For She’s a Jolly Good Fellow

By Victoria John
Middle School Latin Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School 

As we celebrate Lakehill’s 40th Anniversary, I want to pay tribute to a former colleague and cherished friend, Carol Mackner. From 1984 to 2004 she modeled the qualities of integrity, commitment, perseverance, and humor to her students and peers. I can still see her dressed for Fall Day Out in an English tweed jacket, turtleneck, and crisp blue jeans tucked into her knee-high riding boots, as she herded 150 middle school students onto the buses with an exuberant, “Tally ho.”

Carol taught The History of America, England, and World War II, in addition to every subject except Latin, but she probably could have tackled that too if asked. She coached volleyball and basketball and led Adventure Week trips with the authority of a brigadier general balanced with the loving support of a nurturing parent. When Mrs. Mackner said, “Listen up,” everyone was quiet. Students also recognized that her twinkling eyes indicated praise for a job well done.

Middle School Coordinator Kaye Hauschild fondly describes her, “Carol inspired me with her unrelenting faith in each student’s ability to reach higher, try harder, and master more skill and knowledge. Her efforts achieved much success; her former students still tell the stories of how Mrs. Mackner taught them to be organized.”

Regarding her 20 years at Lakehill, Carol remarks, “I worked with some awesome people, teachers who cared for the profession. I believed in meeting the kids where they were, teaching them to face themselves, and letting them grow so they could enter the world as successful adults.”

Today Carol continues to guide students as a full-time substitute teacher at St. Paul Academy and St. Croix Charter School in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

She attributes her courage and determination never to give up a just cause to Winston Churchill’s World War II quote, “We shall not flag or fail…We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

Once in a while I hear Carol’s lilting voice echoing through the middle school hallway, “Jolly good,” and am grateful for the legacy of wisdom and genuine human kindness she left to Lakehill Preparatory School.

Categories
College Readiness

The Common Application: A Valuable Tool

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Placement, Lakehill Preparatory School

I recently conducted  a workshop to help high school seniors begin the college application process. In the workshop, each student completed something called The Common Application (www.commonapp.org). This is an application that can be used by 456 colleges and universities around the United States.

The Common Application is a wonderful tool for students because it allows them to complete a common set of information (name, address, family history, educational history, activities list, etc.) only once for a number of schools to which they are applying.

Students are applying to a larger number of schools these days, so a tool like The Common Application is an incredible time saver. One item to note about the Common Application is that specific schools may ask for additional information on a form they call a Supplement. This could include an extra essay or two, so students should look at these sooner rather than later.

It took less than two hours for my students to complete the basic part of the information. Now all they have to do is write their essay–topics are included in the Common Application. By completing the Common Application, students have a common data set they can refer to as they complete applications for colleges and universities that use their own forms.

Categories
8 Keys of Excellence

Principle-Centered Character Development

By Bob Yttredahl
Upper School Coordinator, Lakehill Preparatory School

I attended a state conference this summer and experienced somewhat of an epiphany at a particular session. The debate amongst the attendees was: “What is the most important aspect of educating our children today: test scores, basic academia, technology, or character development?” It is a dilemma that does not have one correct answer, but rather several different perspectives. However, I personally believe that there is something to be said about the importance of timeless principles that cover the scope of the globe.

After extensive research and reflection, I have adopted a program that we are going to implement into the Upper School. It is called “The 8 Keys of Excellence”. Within this program there are eight distinct keys or catalysts that have been proven over time to be integral parts of human development and success. They have been tested for hundreds of years and over thousands of societies. Therefore, they truly have been “proven” to work. The question then becomes how to implement them into schools today.

We are going to work on developing the eight keys through a “ubiquitous” approach. This means that it will not be just another thing teachers have to do each day. It will be part of everything we do. We are going to implement this principle-centered character development every day. Opportunities are limitless throughout the day to teach and model principles such as integrity, commitment, and ownership.

The end result then becomes a well-rounded student who has the proven tools to be successful in life. That alone justifies the importance of character development.

 “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life by conscious endeavor.”
~Henry David Thoreau

Categories
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!

Categories
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

Categories
Mentoring

Remembering Mrs. Smith

By Lara Gajkowski
Assistant Head of School, Lakehill Preparatory School

When I was in middle school, I had a very interesting and unconventional teacher. I attended a small school in Wisconsin so I had the good fortune of being taught by this person for more than one year. This person taught middle school science classes and her name was Mrs. Smith.

During my middle school years, I was rather shy and quiet but Mrs. Smith sparked my curiosity and had ways of drawing me into class discussions. She always seemed to know things and had a strange, relaxed confidence in the way she related information to her students. She had a great sense of humor and her methods were very hands-on. In addition to doing numerous experiments, we dissected worms, cow eyeballs, squid, and a frog. We chiseled rocks, launched rockets, and created mechanical contraptions. It was a marvelous period of expansion!

However, more importantly than the little experiments or dissections done in class, this teacher taught me to think, to pay attention to details, to question, to solve, and most importantly to be mindful of the benefits of working hard. She inspired me in many ways and was one of the main contributors to my decision to go into the field of education. In my earlier years, I even taught middle school science!

As we move into the beginning of each school year, I take pause to remember Mrs. Smith. In selecting the faculty at Lakehill, we look for the Mrs. Smith in them. The people who can inspire, stretch, spark curiosity, and encourage students to think. Our faculty is composed of outstanding educators in their field who are dedicated to their students. I wish us all a wonderful school year and I hope your students have a Mrs. Smith experience.

Categories
Back-to-School

Back-to-school offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences

By Roger L. Perry
Headmaster, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Another hot, Texas summer is almost behind us and back-to-school time has arrived. I hope you have taken the opportunity to enjoy a special summer with your families. While the lack of a strict schedule in June and July is a real treat if we take advantage of it, by now most of us are ready for the more predictable routine that the start of school brings.

As you prepare for your role in the back-to-school adventure, you might give some consideration to some ideas gleaned from my career working with children and a special book by David Hargraves entitled Youth, Youth Culture, and School.

Often we mistakenly assume that a child is a miniature adult. They are not. Adults are shaped by thousands of experiences that our children have yet to encounter.

Reflect and remember what motivated us as children and recall the many pressures we felt from a variety of directions. Try to remember what it felt like to be the last one chosen for a team on the playground, how difficult it was to read that first required and seemingly massive length novel, or how thrilled you were to win an Honorable Mention ribbon for something you worked hard on.

It is also important to remember how strongly we wanted acceptance from some of our peers and friends, as well as from our parents.

One of the best resources for understanding children is to reflect and draw upon positive memories from your own childhood.

I encourage you to be a wonderful listener for your child. Many of the experiences of children represent the first time they have encountered something and they are excited to share it with you. Enjoy this school year together, as each school year offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences for you and your children.