Month: February 2012

Categories
Community Learning and Leading

Building Champions

By Roger L. Perry
Headmaster, Lakehill Preparatory School 

On a recent drive to Abilene to watch our boys and our girls Varsity Basketball teams play for the area championships, I had time to reflect on how far our school has come over the many years I have been at Lakehill. Many people do not realize that from 1971 until 1989 the school leased portions of the building at the Hillside campus from Lakewood Baptist Church.

The church actually owned the building and used it all day on Sundays and on Wednesday evenings. Under the early lease, any person (adult or student) who was on the second floor, more than six feet from the stairways at the end of each hall, cost the school $50 per occurrence. The old sanctuary, that no longer exists, was only available for us to use once a year, for graduation. The current lunchroom was not available for use at any time. One of my critical functions as a young administrator was to make sure the vending machines worked properly for the lunch periods and to have enough change for everyone on campus to use for lunch. Yes, the lunch program consisted entirely of vending machine items. The lunchroom was located on the bottom floor where the locker rooms are today. This space was also used for any performing arts performances and music programs.

Prior to the construction of the gym in 1980, basketball practice was held on an asphalt parking lot on the opposite side of the auditorium, where we now have playing fields. We had to lease this property from the church as well. Yes, I coached a Middle School boys’ basketball team back in the ‘70s. The gym was a wonderful addition to the school and for many years had a concrete floor. Traveling was never called because any player who tried to stop would slide on the concrete for at least a couple of feet before coming to a stop.

The gym we enjoy today is outstanding and is available to us because of a visionary Board of Directors and many donors over the years including two major donors, Joe Lancaster and Karl Kuhlman, who made large gifts to make it a reality. Both Joe and Karl are now deceased but our school would be much different today had they not given so generously in the early years. They would have enjoyed, with pride, the performance I watched in Abilene of two teams who gave all they had for their team and for their school. The school will continue to develop over the coming years and generous people, just like Joe and Karl, will step forward to make sure generations of children will be able to enjoy their Lakehill experience.

Categories
Learning and Leading

War Games

By Jamie Thorne
Social Studies Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School 

I recently tried a new project in my Modern American History class.  A previous colleague shared this project with me a few years ago, and to be honest, I hadn’t thought of it again until this year.  The project, to create a game based on the events of World War Two, always made me skeptical.  I couldn’t help thinking…

How could the students create a content-driven game?

Wouldn’t this just be a waste of precious class time?

Then along came my current group of freshmen.  I’d call them a large group of history buffs, specifically history buffs obsessed with war.  I thought, if any group can make such a game, this group could do it.  Boy was I in for a surprise!  I created a detailed rubric to ensure that they were incorporating “history” into their game and then I turned them loose.  I looked on skeptically as the students brought in game boards and game pieces.  When it came time to build their games, I naturally saw students turning games pieces into little likenesses of Hitler and Stalin.  Not surprised.  But then I started hearing conversations about key battles, Allied offensive strategies, the order with which we “island hopped” our way across the Pacific and so on.  I finally thought, this is working!  They were having fun AND delving into certain topics in a much deeper and more meaningful way.  I decided that we would play these games the day before our test over World War Two as a review.  As I wandered around the room, I overheard students answering questions correctly.  Great.  I also overheard comments like “Oh I can’t remember that.  I better highlight that in my notes so I make sure to really study it.”  Even better.

I love being pleasantly surprised and I especially enjoy watching my students have loads of fun while learning.

Categories
College Readiness

Finding Home Away From Home

By Heather Dondis
Director of College Placement, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Lakehill students are lucky because they have the opportunity to meet college representatives from all over the world who visit our school.  These personal connections are wonderful, but it also very important that students visit the schools they are interested in as well, whether it is before they apply or after they have received a decision.  Colleges are so very different from one another.  Although they may sound similar on paper and their brochures and internet pictures are always beautiful, there is something about being on campus that gives a student a new perspective on an institution.  Kids will often say, “I just got a good feeling about the campus when I visited.  I knew this was the place for me.”

The ideal time to visit a college is when they are in session.  Of course, this might not be practical and summer may be the only time families can go on this type of trip.  Rest assured, admissions offices are prepared to receive you at almost any time of the year except major holidays and Sundays. All colleges will have tours and information sessions. It is also important to find out if you need to reserve a place on a tour well in advance of your trip.  If you have special interests such as in the fine arts or athletics, inquire about the possibility of seeing these facilities too since they may not be covered on a normal tour.  Many colleges will have lunch programs and class visits and some even have overnight programs.  Many schools will also have a special preview day or showcase for specific student groups which is a good way to meet representatives from all of the different schools and services at a college or university.

However you decide to visit colleges, once on campus ask, “Can I see myself living here for the next four years?”  You never know, you may find your next home away from home.

Happy Visiting!

Categories
Learning and Leading Technology Uncategorized

Toy…or Tool?

By Katie Becker
Social Studies Chair, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Two year olds are amazing! My iPad (or “Pie-Pat” as my two and half year old calls it) runs out of battery every day because she can’t get enough play time on it. In fact, she has several meltdowns a week when she can’t use it, either because I am using it or because it has no battery.

I admit that I feel very much like a frustrated two year old myself when I have to share it with her. But as an adult, I refrain from throwing my own tantrums and allow my daughter her time with her, I mean, my, iPad.

It is unreal how my daughter is able to manipulate the iPad. She is able to understand where her apps are and how to exit out of the app when it is not working. She knows how to trace letters with her fingers, sing songs to cute little videos, and she knows how to email YouTube videos to me! Well, maybe that last one is an accident, but she sure does it a lot! What is amazing to me is that she is starting her educational life on a totally different level than the generations before her.

With Apple’s launch of their $15 interactive textbooks a few weeks ago, it is evident that very soon the textbook will be a dinosaur (and maybe it already is). By the way, two of Lakehill’s high school science books were listed on the initial launch, pretty cool, eh?

The good news is that my daughter will never have back problems from carrying around a backpack full of books. So, because my daughter will most likely use the Pie-Pat, I mean iPad, (I hope she can learn to say iPad by Kindergarten or that might be embarrassing) for almost all of her educational materials, I know that I am providing her a head start on her educational journey. This is the tool of the “now,” not of the future, and it is transforming how two-year olds, and the rest of us, are learning. This will be my new mantra which I will repeat over and over in my head when, like a two year old, I am frustrated about having to share my new toy.

Categories
Family and Community

Everything I Need

By Victoria John
Latin Teacher, Lakehill Preparatory School 

Lights! Camera! Action! A lone figure dressed in red steps to the mirror, a grin breaking on her face. Emoting with the colorful energy that brings to mind the musical machinations of rock legend Mick Jagger, she sings the following line from “Life’s a Happy Song” in The Muppet Movie, “I’ve got everything I need.”

Arms flailing, she wraps them over her head, and cradling her ears with opposite hands, simultaneously squeals with syncopated delight, “I’ve got ev’ry-thing I need.”

Encore. She leans into her image exposing tiny white teeth and belts into her imaginary microphone while lingering over last word with intense dramatic flair, “I’ve got everything I neeeeee – eeee – eeed.”

Applause! The performer is my 28 month-old granddaughter, Ruby. She’s probably not aspiring to American Idol fame but rather capturing the essence of human learning who she is. What a great mantra: “I’ve got everything I need.”

The other day I told each one of my classes that I appreciated and enjoyed teaching them. While I try to be positive and look for the good, there are times I forget. But each time I watch Ruby’s singing debut, she reminds me that I too have everything I need.

On Veteran’s Day, Kaye Hauschild, Gigi Ekstrom, and I took the 7th grade students to C. C. Young to join their celebration of the commemorative day. Not quite knowing what to expect, my group of ten students entered a sun-filled room lined with row upon row of elderly, quiet adults, some with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. Time stopped as the students froze in their tracks with the melancholy World War II background music playing “There’ll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of dover…” I caught movement as one lone student broke the mold by walking up to a proud veteran, and introducing himself. “Hi, I’m Noah Bernstein. Who are you?” The quiet man’s face lit up with his response, “You see that woman in the red cap? She’s my wife.” Noah commented, “Interesting. How long have you been married?” The man chuckled and said, “Too long.” They laughed and talked for several minutes.

On the other side of the room Natalie Lasko entertained a group of people by sharing her stories with heartfelt emotion while encouraging theirs. Observing Natalie’s success encouraged classmate Madeline Jones to get past her discomfort. She admitted, “I was afraid.  I felt quite uncomfortable and didn’t know what to say to anybody. But, I suddenly remembered that my grandpa would always tell me to act like myself before he passed away. So I walked up to a man, sitting in a wheelchair, who looked as scared as I was, and asked him about the war. As he talked, he cried, and that made me feel very sad. Then, I remembered my grandfather and suddenly felt closer to the person next to me and more comfortable.”

Gradually students left their comfort zones to interact. By the time we left, everyone was laughing and playing balloon volleyball to the rhythmic, young-at-heart sound of the Big Band era with the Glenn Miller Orchestra playing, “In the Mood.” It was only 30 minutes, but it felt like a lifetime of humanity.

I feel very gratified that I can come to school and work with children that continue to teach and inspire.

“I’ve got everything I need,” with a little help from Lakehill, music, and my friend, Ruby.