Celebrating Snow

Students Get Early Start on Winter Break
Winter storms were no match for the high spirits of Lakehill students on Thursday. As the snow drifted down, blanketing the grounds of both campuses, students rejoiced at the opportunity to spend even a few minutes outside in the snow.

The Environmental Science Center was a winter wonderland, and fifth grade students enjoyed some quality time exploring nature in the snow.  They also took time out to build snowmen, make snow angels, and roll down a few hills.

Invention Convention

On February 9, Lakehill fourth grade students gathered for the school's annual Invention Convention, a much anticipated event that tested students' ability to link simple machines together in order to perform a task, such as stapling paper, chopping bread, or turning on an iPod.

Participants were encouraged to identify a need and to use their problem-solving and creative-thinking skills to find a solution. Students then linked wedges, pulleys, levers, wheels and axles, screws, and inclined planes together to perform the desired task. After careful planning, students were required to build their contraptions out of scavenged materials, such as toys, cardboard, Styrofoam, and scrap wood.

Many inventions revolved around food, including a candy delivery service, a machine that put sprinkles on top of ice cream, and even a s'mores maker. Other machines solved common household problems, such as the "mailbox opener," "tape puller-outer,"  and "Lakehill student waker-upper and bagel slicer."
 
Inventions were officially judged for creativity, use of simple machines, and the ability to explain what steps in the invention required the most trial and error to perfect. If a particular mechanism failed to work as planned, students were given credit for the step if they could explain how they would adjust or replace the malfunctioning part in order to fix the machine. Students learned that plans and models must often be modified in order to achieve the desired result, and that rarely do inventors get it right the first time.

Helping Hearts

With snow blanketing the ground outside the gym, Lower School students stayed warm inside by jumping rope for a good cause.
 
Under the direction of physical education teachers Angelo Florez and Jhoana Cayme, students in kindergarten through fourth grade participated in this year's American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart.

During the event, teams of five to six students took turns jumping, passing the rope when they needed a break. 
 
Coach Florez says the overall  goal of the event was to have 100% participation and that goal was clearly met. Many students also collected donations and over $2,000 has been raised for the American Heart Association so far. Donations can be turned in through February.

Get Your Groove On...Online

Auction Reservations Site Goes Live
The Auction Reservations site is up and running. Guests can now go online to make reservations for the Groovin' in the Garden Benefit Auction at the Discovery Gardens at Fair Park. While making reservations, guests should also check out all the great Auction Parties up for bid. From Mariachis to Movies to Massages, there is truly something for every party-goer.  
 
Check it out and make your reservations here.

Hotcakes for Haiti
While others were still at home waiting for a "Snow Day" to be declared, Upper School students were on campus early, cooking up a good deed. This year marked the seventh annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by the sophomore class. In less than one hour, sophomores served hundreds of pancakes to teachers, students, and parents. The tasty event raised money for UNICEF's Haiti Relief Efforts, a cause that was selected by the class.

Sports Snippets

What's Happening?