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The Warrior Weekly
Volume 2, Issue 15
December 10, 2009

In This Issue
Holiday Happenings
From Page to Stage
State Star
Community Spotlight
Sports Snippets
What's Happening?
Lakehill in the News
Quick Links
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Holiday Happenings
Middle School Takes the Stage in Winter Program
MS Winter Program
The Middle School Winter Program, held in the Wyly Auditorium on Tuesday evening, featured a variety of musical and dramatic performances.

Lakehill's fifth grade music class presented songs of Christmas and Hanukkah, including "Peace I Leave with You," "The Candles of Hanukkah,"  "One Small Star," and "I'll Be Home for Christmas." Soloists on "One Small Star" included Giulia Ferguson, Emily York, Tillie McCoskey, and Marion Humphries.

The program concluded with a performance by the Middle School Drama students who presented an excerpt from Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The fifth grade students sang carols during the play. Linda Booth reported, "The 5th grade music classes worked very hard preparing for this show.  They have made great progress in their singing and I hope that they continue singing as they get older!"

The holiday traditions will continue on Thursday evening with a special Middle and Upper School Choir Concert at 7:00pm and again on Monday evening, as the Lower School students present their Winter Program and the annual parade of gifts.
From Page to Stage
MS Winter Program2 Drama Students Send Message of Good Will to All
The classic story about miserly old Scrooge, adorable Tiny Tim, and spooky spirits was brought to life for the Winter Program as the 7th and 8th grade drama classes presented an enchanting performance of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. Adapted by Gary Peterson, the play was produced by special arrangement with Contemporary Drama Service.

A Christmas Carol
, written in 1843, is the famous tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited by spirits from the past, present, and future. The story is a celebration of Christmas, but it is also a tale of redemption.
 
The play begins on Christmas Eve seven years after the death of Scrooge's business partner Jacob Marley. The ghost of Marley warns Scrooge his soul will bear chains for eternity if he does not change his greedy ways, and foretells that other ghosts will follow. The first, the Ghost of Christmas Past, takes Scrooge to the scenes of his childhood which stir Scrooge's tender side. The second spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Present, takes Scrooge to the home of his nephew Fred and to the humble dwelling of his clerk Bob Cratchit to observe his humble meal. The third spirit, the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, terrorizes Scrooge with dismal images of the future if he does not change his ways.
 
In the end, Scrooge becomes a different man, treating his fellow men with kindness, generosity, and compassion. "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach."

Tuesday evening's performance let audience members shed any holiday "humbugs" they may have had prior to the performance.
Narrated by Courtney Hume, the cast included Daniel Landers as Scrooge, Connor Crumpton as Cratchit, and Harrison Gowan as Fred. Johnathan Page and Kartez Rowell were convincing businessmen. Reese Myers played Marley while the spirits were played by Brianna Jacobson, Giles Nosacka, and Church Humphreys.   

Other talented cast members included India Williams, Ethan Weil, Alona Kemp, Allegra Schmitt, Cameron Gavinski, Annabel Henley, Margaux Underwood, Matt Graff, Laura Ballard, Erin Boyce, Maia Heard, Lucia Dunlap, Hannah Cavuoti, and Emily Allton. First grade student Matthew McCall made a special appearance as Tiny Tim.
  
The cast was supported by Marianna Eboli, Jordan Jacobson, Jackson Vickery, Brandon Shaw, Kate Evans, Kathlynn Hawthorne, and Haley York.

Drama teacher and director Victoria John remarked, "While I am extremely proud of my students' on-stage performance, I am also so pleased with how they handled themselves backstage. Watching them help one another with costumes, props, and entrance cues truly brought me joy. They all were so kind to first grade student Matthew McCall. Once again I feel very blessed to work with such amazing students!"

Tuesday night was a celebration of good will that audience members won't soon forget.
State Star
Alex Gilbert
Alex Gilbert Named to All-State Choir
Every year the Texas Private School Music Educators Association (TPSMEA) hosts a competition to select a state-wide private school choir. The choir students submit CDs and are judged in two rounds.  Alex Gilbert's CD made it through both rounds and he has been selected as a member of the 2010 TPSMEA All-State Choir.  TPSMEA is an organization formed and run by musicians dedicated to providing outstanding musical experiences for students in private and parochial schools in Texas.

Three hundred entries, divided into four sections (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) of 75 each, competed at region level. During each phase of the competition, a panel of five judges evaluated each entry on musicality, intonation, tonal clarity, diction, and rhythmic precision. Forty from each section were selected to advance to State, making a 160-voice All-State choir. The choir will perform in San Antonio on January 28-30 with the TPSMEA All-State Orchestra, which is selected in much the same way.
Community Spotlight
A Good Read...A Good Deed
scouts.booksLakehill's Cub Scout Pack 46 recently held a book drive to benefit Jonathan's Place. To support their efforts, Scouts offered "free" hot chocolate on the morning of December 1 with a suggested donation of cash or books.

The pack met on December 6 to sort and box books, make bookmarks, and learn more about Jonathan's Place. For more than a decade, Jonathan's Place has been taking care of the Dallas area's youngest victims of abuse by providing a "home-style" emergency shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected children and a Foster and Adoptive Family Program.

Scouts collected more than 1300 books to stock the shelter's new children's library, made 100 bookmarks for the children, and raised $300 that was donated directly for use in their programs. Doug Hood, Director of Development for Jonathan's Place was on hand to tell the Scouts about the facility and receive the donation. He explains, "The children of Jonathan's Place are going through a very difficult time in their lives, but Lakehill's Cub Scout Pack is helping make their lives better. We are so grateful to be the recipients of the Scouts' efforts. Without their support, we could not provide all of the services that these children so desperately need."

According to Hood, children come to Jonathan's Place with only the clothes on their backs, but because of generous people in the community they can have hope for a brighter future. This is the second year that Pack 46 has supported these programs.

Sports Snippets
BasketballRusk Tournament
Warriors Bring Home Trophy
Lakehill took third place in tournament play on December 4-5 in the Rusk, Texas. Lakehill was the only Private School entry in the six-team tournament which included Rusk and Mexia, both top ten UIL 3A teams. Joseph Nall placed second in the three-point contest and was selected, along with John Godbey, for the All-Tournament Team.


Yard Sign
New Lakehill Spirit Signs
The Lakehill Spirit Shop recently unveiled new Spirit Signs. Spirit signs can be ordered by using the order form or directly online here. A stake with a Lakehill school topper is $25. Additional icons, including a variety of sports, clubs, and honor societies can be added for $20 each. Visit www.lonestaryardart.net for more information.

View the complete Athletic Calendar here.
What's Happening?
December 10
Choir Concert, 7:00pm

December 11
Holiday Luncheon
Get more information here.

December 12
Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce-Up, 9:00 - 11:00am
Get more information here.

December 13
Upper School Choir Performs at NorthPark, 2:00pm

December 14
Lower School Winter Program, 7:00pm
Get more information here.

December 15
Elementary Choir Performs at NorthPark, 10:00am

December 16, 17, 18
Middle and Upper School Exams
View exam schedule here.

December 17
K - 6th Dismiss for Holiday

December 21 - January 1
Holiday Break

January 4
Teacher In-Service

January 5
School Resumes
Leading to success.