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Volume 8, Issue 2September 3, 2015
Sharing Skills
College Counselor Mentors Others
Lakehill's Director of College Counseling, Heather Dondis, kept busy this summer, taking advantage of two professional opportunities organized by the Texas Association for College Admission Counseling (TACAC), a professional organization that serves high school counselors, admissions officers, and students across the state of Texas. 

In June, Dondis was selected as a mentor for Camp College, a week-long college preparation boot camp for rising high school seniors. One hundred students from across Texas attended the camp at SMU, experiencing college life and learning the basics of the application process.  Most of the students who attend are from high schools that do not have a college counselor or where counselors maintain a caseload of 500 or more students. The students who participate are often the first in their family to attend college. After a week of dorm life and workshops, students left with an application draft, a resume, an edited essay, and the assurance that they can, and will, go to college.

Dondis also participated in the week-long Admission and College Counseling Institute, hosted by St. Edwards University. As a mentor, Dondis worked with new counselors from around the state of Texas and beyond who were seeking advice on how to have a successful first year in a college advising role. 

Experienced counselors presented informative sessions on the many aspects of college advising. With 50 new counselors and a staff of nine, the mentors were able to form strong relationships and provide helpful tools and hints to ensure a successful year ahead.

"It was wonderful to have the opportunity to collaborate with students and colleagues from around the state of Texas," said Dondis. "Not only did I have the opportunity to teach others, I was also able to gain valuable insight from other counselors in attendance. This will further help our students at Lakehill approach the college application process with confidence."

The Lakehill College Counseling process is a cornerstone of the Upper School experience. Students begin counseling as early as eighth grade, and are presented with a variety of unique workshops, college visits, and experiences throughout their four years of high school. 

"Ms. Dondis is a gold mine of information," said senior parent and Board Member Irwin Thompson. "She knows everything about the college process and makes sure that every student, and every parent, is well prepared for the journey. Our students are extremely fortunate to have this amazing resource. I don't know of any other school that prepares its students so well."
The Warrior Web
IHeartLPSWhere to Find It on the Lakehill Website
Need help navigating the Lakehill website? Take a closer look at three important sections, including the Parents, Athletics, and Campus Life tabs, all found on the top navigation bars.

Here is what you will find under each:
 
Campus Life - School Calendar, RenWeb Calendar, RenWeb login, Dining (including the monthly lunch menu), Warrior Web (with links to our social media and photo sharing sites), Community Service (with links to the President's Volunteer Service Award and Tracking Form), Weather, and Student E-Mail. Visit the Campus Life tab.

Parents -  The Parents landing page offers up-to-date information, such as Class Lists, Exam Schedules, Upper School forms, and the Middle School Club sign-up sheet. Other tabs include RenWeb, Policies and Procedures (with links to Academic Handbooks, Dress Code, Students Accident Insurance, and Emergency Plan), Parent Faculty Club (with information on officers, volunteer positions, and upcoming activities), and After School Care. Visit the Parents tab.
 
Athletics- You can find an update on this week's athletic events and last week's results on the Athletics landing page. You can also find information on Middle and Upper School teams, coaching staff, the Athletic Handbook, and directions to games. Visit the Athletics tab.
Called to Serve
How to Earn the President's Volunteer Service Award
President's Service
The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) program is a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service.
 
Students (Lower, Middle, and Upper School) who would like to record their hours of service over the course of the year may apply for the award by April 1. Awards will be presented at the spring Awards Ceremonies. Recipients receive an official PVSA lapel pin, a personal certificate of achievement, and a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.

Individual Honors are awarded based on hours of service and have been revised this year, allowing even more students to participate. For students 5-10 years of age, award levels are bronze (26 hours), silver (50 hours), and gold (75 hours). For students between the ages of 11 and 15 years, award levels are bronze (50 hours), silver (75 hours), and gold (100 hours). For teens 16 and older, awards levels are bronze (100 hours), silver (175 hours), and gold (250 hours). Students may tally hours from April 1, 2015 through April 1, 2016.

All Lakehill students are encouraged to participate. Students are responsible for tracking their own hours and getting the required signatures. Learn more about the awards, download the tracking form and start volunteering! Contact Ms. Ekstrom with any questions.  
Who's New?
Lakehill Welcomes Sue Blanchette
Sue Blanchette joins the Lakehill faculty, teaching eighth grade U.S. History and Upper School Modern American History. She is also serving as co-sponsor of National Junior Honor Society (NJHS).
  
A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Blanchette has called Dallas home for nearly forty years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in History from Central Connecticut State University, a Master of Liberal Arts from Southern Methodist University, and has completed post-graduate hours from SUNY Stonybrook and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Blanchette retired in 2010, after an impressive 32-year career in the Dallas ISD. She served as President of the National Council for the Social Studies, and began substitute teaching at Lakehill and other schools four years ago. She joined Lakehill as a permanent faculty member last fall.

Blanchette is most appreciative of the individual attention that students receive at Lakehill and the trust that is placed in faculty members. "The best part of my job is hearing a student say, 'You know, history really is kinda interesting!'"

Blanchette has been married for 47 years to her high school sweetheart. They have two married daughters (one is a retired Air Force officer, the other a dyslexia specialist with Dallas ISD), and two granddaughters. Blanchette and her husband share a love for travel and are avid cruisers. They are planning a trip to Australia and New Zealand this year to celebrate her husband's retirement. "I think I am most excited to see a kangaroo, up close and personal," she admits. Blanchette scrapbooks for relaxation, and enjoys reading, swimming, and playing video games.

A passionate, highly regarded educator, Blanchette is dedicated to making the public aware of the importance of social studies education in creating well-rounded, informed participants in civic life. 

"I hope to open my students' eyes to the panorama of the past," she explains. "I love my subject and I love teenagers. Where else can I get both at the same time?" 
Sports Snippets
Get Ready for the Warriors
 
Varsity and JV Volleyball
The JV and Varsity teams started the week off with wins over a scrappy Greenville Christian team. The JV girls dropped the first set 24-26 before coming back to win the second set 25-18 and dominating the third set 15-5. 

The team was was led by Jakayla Silas in kills. JV is now 4-1 on the season. 
Varsity is now 5-0 on the season with a straight set on September 1. Scores to the games were 25-22, 25-15, and 25-10. Senior Camryn Thompson led the team in digs with 10 while junior Abi Price led all hitters with 12 kills. 

Both teams will travel to Garland Christian on September 3 for 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. games. Varsity will spend Friday and Saturday at the Ovilla Christian Tournament with hopes to win the tournament for the third year in a row. 


Middle School Volleyball
volleyball
The Middle School seventh grade volleyball team opened their season against Greenville Christian at home on September 1. Although many were playing for the first time, the Lady Warriors held their own against an older, more experienced team. They were narrowly defeated 25-19, 25-17.

Both the eighth grade and the seventh grade teams play at DeSoto Canterbury on September 3. Eighth grade plays at 4:30 p.m. and seventh grade at 5:30 p.m. 

Varsity Soccer
The Varsity Warriors Soccer team took on Fort Worth Bethesda on August 27, losing 10-0. They followed up with a hard-fought 5-2 loss on September 1 at home against Cambridge.

Reid Chickering scored both goals off of corner kicks from Adam Muncaster. Noah Bernstein had several good saves in goal, while John Crutchfield, Jason Herron, and Johnny Zhang did well on defense.

See more pictures here and here and here.

The team plays again on September 3 at home against Desoto Canterbury at 5:00 p.m. and again on September 8 at 5:45 p.m. at Dallas International.

Cross Country
XC logo
The Varsity Cross Country team began its season on August 28 in the Carrollton Greenbelt Championships.
Justin Reed represented Lakehill and performed well in the challenging meet. The team will run in the Southwest Christian Meet on September 26.

Varsity and Middle School Football 
The Lakehill Warriors Varsity Football team began the season with an encouraging 66-52 win at Lewisville Founders Classical Academy on August 28. 

The Warriors jumped out to an early 16-0 lead but the Eagles fought back to tie the score at 16-16 and 24-24. Midway through the second quarter, the Lakehill defense stepped up with several key stops, highlighted by Brandon Bartholow's interception return for a touchdown. The Warriors took a 56-30 lead into halftime.

In the second half, with Lakehill stretched its lead to 66-36 heading into the final quarter. The Eagles added a couple late touchdowns to make the final score 66-52.

The Warriors were led offensively by quarterback
Gerard Franklin (365 total yards, seven touchdowns),
Kevin Lantz (two touchdowns), and Will Skipworth (two touchdowns). Defensive leaders were Bartholow (eight tackles, one interception), Brandon Douglas (seven tackles, two forced fumbles), and Carlos Lopez, III (six tackles, one fumble recovery).


This week marks Lakehill's annual Tailgate Party and Game at the Warrior Athletic Complex. The Warriors will host McKinney Cornerstone at 7:30 p.m., following the Middle School Warriors game at 5:00 p.m. (also against McKinney Cornerstone). Come enjoy a fun afternoon and evening of football and festivities!

Get Your Warrior Pass!
Show your Warrior Spirit and get into all the home volleyball or football games. One pass is good for admission to all home games for the entire family. A Volleyball pass is $100 and a Football pass is $50. Contact Michelle Crow to purchase your pass.



Get Your Warrior Spirit On!
Warrior Painting
The Warrior Shop is open for business, with great new styles and classic favorites. Get ready to show your Warrior spirit! During the week, check out The Warrior Shop on Tuesday mornings from 7:45-8:45 a.m. and Thursday afternoons from 2:45-3:45 p.m.

This Week at the ESC
Sixth grade is studying the water cycle and its origin. Students played a game where they are water molecules and a chance roll of the dice determines their fate. They chronicled their journey by writing a short story about their adventure through the water cycle.

Eighth grade is exploring transformations of energy by experimenting with light sticks and apple batteries. By manipulating the reactions they observed, they are able to better understand the processes involved.

Fifth grade begins its study of soil by collecting a soil sample that they will observe and analyze throughout the year.

See more pictures from the ESC.
What's Happening?
finger with string
September 4
Spirit Day, Season Home Opener, and Tailgate Party
Students and faculty are invited to wear their jeans every Friday of the school year with a Lakehill shirt to show their Warrior Spirit. 

Don't miss out on the first Pep Rally of the year from 1:40 - 2:05 p.m. Then head to the Warrior Athletic Complex as the Warriors take on Cornerstone in the first home game of the season. Enjoy the annual Tailgate Party before the game (with food provided by the PFC) as we cheer the Warriors on to victory. Middle School plays at 5:00 p.m. followed by the Varsity at 7:30 p.m. Go Warriors!

September 7
Labor Day - School Holiday

September 9
Picture Day!
Your child will receive this flyer on September 4 to order a package of school pictures and a class photo. Send the flyer back on picture day and we will collect them at the time pictures are taken. Please dress nicely. Boys in Middle School and Upper School should wear a dress shirt, tie, and jacket. Girls in Middle and Upper School should wear a nice top with skirt or slacks or a dress. Class pictures (full length) and individual headshots will be taken.  

September 10
Lakehill Open House for current parents, 7:00 p.m. 
Current Lakehill families are invited to visit with their children's teachers and learn more about the expectations for the coming year. Please note: This is a parents-only event.

September 11
Upper School College Fair, 10:45 - 11:15 a.m.

September 12
Warrior Spruce-Up at Perry Campus, 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Join members of the Warrior Outreach Organization (WOO) for the first Warrior Spruce-Up at Lakehill's Perry Campus, home to the Environmental Science Center. Spend a few hours in the great outdoors, keeping the natural habitat pristine for all Warriors to enjoy! This is a great event for all ages! Equipment will be provided and breakfast will be served.

September 16
Lakehill Night at Firecrust Neapolitan Pizza
4447 North Central Expressway 
5:00 - 9:00 p.m. 
Enjoy at delicious pizza and a portion of the proceeds will be donated back to Lakehill. Eat in or take out. Be sure to tell them you are from Lakehill! See the menu.

September 18
Upper School Retreat
Southern Cross Ranch, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

September 18
Middle School Pep Rally
12:05 - 12:20 p.m. 
 
September 19
College Fair at ESD
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. 

September 21
Parent Faculty Club (PFC) General Meeting
Join the Lakehill Parent Faculty Club (PFC) for their first general meeting of the year. Meet the officers and committee chairs, get to know other parents, and find out how you can get involved at Lakehill!

September 23
School Holiday

September 25
Early Release Day 
Lower School students will be released at 11:30 a.m. Middle and Upper School students will be released at noon. After-care (for Lower and Middle School students) is available with a reservation. Upper School students should make plans to leave campus by noon.

September 26
Shoreline Spruce Up, White Rock Lake, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
Join us at Lakehill's adopted shoreline at White Rock Lake to help clean up this neighborhood treasure. Meet at the parking lot at W. Lawther and Chapel Hill. All supplies will be provided. Breakfast will be served.

Recycling Bin
Parents who need to drop off items for the recycling bin in back can contact Mr. Kidder to have the gate opened.
Warrior
Get The Word Out! 
Place an ad in the 2015-16 Lakehill Directory and promote your business to Lakehill families, faculty, and staff. Rates begin as low as $150.

Contact Gigi Ekstrom to find out more.
But hurry, space is limited and must be reserved by September 4.