The cheerleaders are making sure the entire school shows its spirit and have decorated the halls to get everyone ready for Homecoming. The pep rally begins at 2:55pm on Friday in the Gym. The Middle School Football team will take on Rockwall Heritage at 4:30pm and the Varsity Football game begins at 7:30pm. The Homecoming Court will be presented and the Homecoming Queen will be crowned at halftime.

Homecoming also brings former students back to campus. An Alumni Dinner will be held at 6:30pm before the game on Friday near the Ryrie Signature Tree in the courtyard of the Alice and Erle Nye Family Environmental Science Center. Robert Wolf, father of Lauren Wolf, class of 1996, will provide dinner from Rudy's Bar-B-Que.

Lakehill student Brennan Tapp has been named a Commended Student in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. A Letter of Commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC), which conducts the program, will be presented by Headmaster Roger Perry to this scholastically talented senior.

About 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Commended Students place among the top five percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the 2008 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

"Recognition of high-achieving students is essential to advancing education excellence in our nation," commented a spokesperson for NMSC. "As demonstrated by their outstanding performance in our highly competitive program, the young men and women named Commended Students represent some of the most academically talented students in our country. We sincerely hope this recognition will enhance their educational opportunities and encourage them in their pursuit of academic success."

Vocalist Sydney Harding-Sloan, a Lakehill freshman, was the winner of the Texas Music Project's "Don't Mess with Texas Music" Talent Show on October 10. The Texas Music Project (TMP), in partnership with Septien Entertainment Group, Radio Disney, Media Tech Institute, Lone Star Attitude and the City of Grapevine, Texas hosted the annual competition at the Palace Theater in Grapevine.
 
As the competition winner, Sydney will serve as Ambassador for the TMP, a non-profit group working to help strengthen and restore music education to Texas schools by raising awareness of the benefits of music education and the related needs of schools and by providing funding for music education in local schools and communities.

Sydney's love for singing began when she was only four years old and heard singer Charlotte Church's debut on Oprah. She imitated Church while in the bathtub later that night and as her mother Valerie Harding recalls, "She has been singing ever since."

Influenced by a variety of artists, Sydney says she looks for guidance and inspiration through soul icons such as Stevie Wonder and Norah Jones and new sensations such as Adele. Sydney's passion for singing is a natural complement to her interest in the performing arts. She attends the Dallas Summer Musicals Theater Camp in the summer and is a regular performer in the school's Musical Theater performances. She is also a member of the Lakehill Preparatory School Choir and the school's Ensemble Choir.
 
Sydney discovered her passion to sing and write music at an early age, but it was only recently that she recorded her first track. After recording "Melt My Heart to Stone" by Adele with musician Gerry Moss, Sydney was encouraged to enter the Texas Music Project's annual competition.
 
Although the humble Sydney seems truly surprised by her first place finish, she says she is thrilled to be involved with the Texas Music Project and looks forward to helping other young artists find their voice and music talent.

For more information on the Texas Music Project, click here.