I hope you have enjoyed a restful summer and are ready for an exciting year. I want to welcome you back for what promises to be a year of affirmations, growth, implementation of new initiatives and strategies, and a year of planning for future generations of Lakehill students.
We feel very prepared for the new school year, and are excited about our new initiatives. One of the first initiatives to be implemented is a new e-newsletter that we hope will help improve our weekly communication with you. We know that communication between school and home is of the utmost importance. Therefore, part of our commitment to you is to create a strong partnership with our families which will enhance our educational environment and ensure our students' success.
During the past two years, parents, teachers, and students were asked to fill out opinion surveys as part of our accreditation process. Because we value your input, a variety of meetings were held to examine the survey results. From that came a list of challenges and opportunities for growth, as well as action plans and assignments. This e-newsletter is one example of an initiative that resulted from your constructive remarks on the Parent Survey. Thank you for your opinions and thoughtful suggestions. I look forward to sharing more about this with you as the year progresses.
Other changes you will notice resulted from generous gifts from the Parent Faculty Club (PFC). The gifts range from math games to Smart Boards and new furniture in the Student Commons area. Regardless of size, all gifts impact the lives of our students. Thank you to the numerous parents who give so generously of their time, energy, and financial resources. Other campus improvements to look for include a new sound system in the auditorium, the completion of the tennis courts at Perry Field, an updated conference room, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the new science center site.
Our mission at Lakehill is to challenge students to navigate a diverse and ever-changing world by providing them with the opportunity to develop robust academic skills and to cultivate unique talents. Of course, the faculty form the foundation of our mission, and they have been busy preparing for the new school year. While some faculty members taught classes in Lakehill's Summer Program, many others attended professional development conferences across the country. To name a few, Bryna Thomson studied in Montana, Heather Hopper and Susie Brigham attended a week-long math conference in San Francisco, and Scott Boles attended an AP Art Institute in Chicago. Class sponsors attended a Team Building Retreat to help prepare for the new leadership program. We welcomed ten new faculty and staff members this year to Lakehill, and look forward to introducing them to you.
I enjoyed seeing so many of you at the Back-to-School Picnic and look forward to all the upcoming events that have been planned. Please join us this Friday for the Tailgate Party at Perry Field, followed by our first football game of the season against Greenville Phoenix.
I look forward to seeing you then.
Warmest Regards, Roger L. Perry
BACK-TO-SCHOOL PICNIC
PFC Event Fun for All
Students, parents, faculty, and staff gathered on Saturday evening at Lakehill's annual Back-to-School Picnic. Sponsored by the Parent Faculty Club (PFC), this event continues to be a favorite tradition among Lakehill families. Held on the field adjacent to the school, Saturday's picnic was the perfect opportunity for families to reunite for food, fun, and friendship. Areas set up by grade level allowed classmates and their families to visit while they enjoyed delicious hot dogs, hamburgers, and quesadillas. The Varsity Cheerleaders kicked off the event with cheers to build school spirit. Two water slides provided endless entertainment while those who were more musically inclined performed karaoke for the crowd. Amy Patrick-Kirby, PFC Chairman of the picnic, reported that over 600 people attended the event, making it the largest and one of the most successful ever.
THE WARRIOR WAY
Lakehill Introduces New Leadership Program The Warrior Way, Lakehill's new program for students in Grades 4 through 12, is designed to build
relationships across grade levels, to provide opportunities for student
mentoring and leadership, and to bolster school spirit. Through a variety of leadership activities, students
will learn to work effectively in groups and to use their leadership skills to
serve others. To empower teachers to effectively help students
become strong leaders, team members, and citizens, a Team Building Retreat was held for class sponsors on Thursday, August 14. Teachers participated in a variety of leadership activities and spent time developing the framework for the program. The Warrior Way will launch in September with a Leadership Day for students, with opportunities for team building and service continuing throughout the year.
WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN
Lakehill Faculty Pitches In
Lakehill faculty and staff lent a helping hand on Thursday afternoon to ready the playground for the new year.
While a request from the Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) succeeded in getting more chips for the playground, helpers were needed to spread them. The FAC put out a call for help, and teachers responded--arriving with shovels, rakes, and hoes, and ready to work. Says FAC Chairman, Suzann Saltzman, "It is always a pleasure to work with the best of the best in any endeavor." The mission of the FAC is to represent the interests and concerns of the
Lakehill faculty. The
FAC provides a forum for faculty members
to express their opinions and serves as a cohesive and professional line of
communication between the faculty and the
administration.
WHO'S NEW
New Faculty and Staff Ten new faculty and staff members joined the Lakehill family this year. We will highlight one new faculty member each week in The Warrior Weekly.
Jennifer
Livengood - 3rd Grade
Kyle
Smith - Upper School Biology and
Environmental Science
Chris Peacock - 5th and 6th Grade
Math and Spanish
Matt
Ridewood - Middle and Upper School History
Tracy Herron - Middle and Upper School Music
Angelo
Florez - Physical Education
Heather Dondis - Director of College
Placement
Gigi Ekstrom - Director of Marketing
Grace
Evans (returning) - Interdisciplinary Chemistry and AP Biology
Joel
Castillo - Assistant Facilities Manager
Faculty Spotlight on Chris Peacock
Chris Peacock teaches fifth and sixth grade Mathematics and Spanish. Additionally, he is Lakehill's Head Football Coach and also coaches Middle School Boys Basketball. A native Texan, Coach Peacock was born in Midland and is a graduate of Fort Worth Country Day. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a Minor in Spanish from the University of Texas at Austin. Coach Peacock has coached at public and private schools and has experience with both six-man and eleven-man football. He and his wife Stacey have a son, Brett, and a daughter, Ashley. In addition to football and basketball, his interests include fishing, water sports, and storm chasing. Coach Peacock says he appreciates the supportive atmosphere and extraordinary educational environment found at Lakehill. His goal is to help every Lakehill student reach his or her full potential - both in the classroom and on the field.
Favorite Quote: "Don't judge a man until you've walked a mile in his shoes."
SPORTS SNIPPETS
Volleyball
August 26 The Junior Varsity and Varsity volleyball teams hosted their first home games of the season on Tuesday
versus Rockwall Christian. In a non-district game, the Junior Varsity team won a
thrilling three game match. The Varsity team played with enthusiasm and competed
hard, but fell short in three games to a talented Rockwall
team.
August 28 Lakehill at Greenville Christian Due to a delayed gym renovation, the
volleyball games scheduled to be played at Greenville Christian tonight have
been postponed.
September 2 Lakehill vs. Tyler Street Varsity at 6:00
Football September 4 Lakehill at Gold-Burg 6:00
UPCOMING EVENTS
Lakehill Luau and Pep Rally, August 29 Don't miss out on the first Spirit Day of the year! Students are invited to join in the fun by wearing their Hawaiian shirts with their dress code shorts and shoes. The pep rally will be held in the Gym at 2:55 pm. Lakehill's football, volleyball, and cross country teams will be introduced along with "Cheerleader for the Day" Tyler McCall and "Seventh Man" Matthew McCall.
Tyler and Matthew will both take part in the pep rally and the first half of the
football game. Tailgate Party and Football Game--Friday, August 29,
Tailgate at 6:30 pm, Kickoff at 7:30 pm. The annual Tailgate Party is a favorite tradition at Lakehill. This year's event will be held on Friday evening before Lakehill's
football home opener against Greenville Phoenix. Hot dogs and chips will be served to
everyone who attends the game, including the opponent's fans and
players. During half time, students are invited to participate in a throwing
and kicking competition on the field. Raffle prizes will be awarded throughout the
game. This is the perfect opportunity for families to spend time together and show their school spirit! Go Warriors! Lakehill Open House, September 10, 7:00 pm Visit with your child's teacher and learn more about the expectations for the coming year. This is a parents only event.
College Previews, September 20 Lakehill families are invited to attend College
Previews, an annual college fair, which will be held at Greenhill School on Saturday, September 20 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
Over 200 colleges and universities from around the nation will be represented. Admission is free. Several of the same colleges and universities will also
be giving presentations on the Lakehill campus during the month of September. To see
the schedule, please go to https://connection.naviance.com/lakehillprep. Under "Guest Entrance" enter the password "Lakehill." Under the heading "About
College" select "Visit Schedule." This list will be updated continually throughout the fall. To attend a college presentation at Lakehill, students
must sign up in advance with Mrs. Dondis in the College Placement Office.
Wonderful Wednesday, September 3 Beginning on September 3, the first Wednesday of every month will be designated Wonderful Wednesday. Students are allowed to wear jeans with their dress code shirt.
