​On the bright, sunny afternoon of September 30, the Lookout Mountain School (LMS) Carnival once again brought laughter, joy, and fellowship to the local community. The cherished fundraiser -  a tradition for more than seven decades and one of the biggest events of the year for LMS - drew crowds of families, friends, and alumni from across the mountain and beyond.
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The excitement started well before Carnival Day, with weeks of friendly class contests to collect donations for the Carnival booths. Students rallied in close competition, bringing in an incredible 1,156 stuffed animals and 861 jamboree jars - nearly breaking school records. Mr. Van Dillion’s third grade class topped the “Stuffies” leaderboard with 139 donations, while Ms. Jenah Cooper’s second grade class swept two categories, winning Jamboree Jars with 118 jars and the Costume Contest with 82 items contributed.

When the big day finally arrived, the celebration began with the much-anticipated Carnival Parade. Students lined up to march alongside parents and teachers at the end of the school day, officially opening the festivities at the Commons. This year’s Carnival King and Queen, first grader Clay Smisson and kindergartner Zahra Monroe, led the charge - a coveted honor bestowed upon the top sellers of Hamilton County Schools Coupon Books. Behind them marched the fifth grade class, proudly enjoying their final Carnival as LMS students.

In a new tradition, the fifth-graders were followed by the brand-new LMS Cheer Squad, a group of 32 second- through fifth-graders who energized the crowd with coordinated cheers and bright smiles as they made their Carnival debut.

Nearly all students and many of the teachers and parents proudly wore this year’s 2025 LMS Carnival T-shirt, which featured an LMS lion waving a bold red pennant with the word “CARNIVAL” beneath the headline “LOOKOUT!” Designed by talented LMS mom Addie Cramer, the T-shirts quickly became a favorite and were purchased by an impressive 97 percent of LMS families.

Once at the Commons, the crowd fanned out to enjoy all the traditional favorites: face painting, colorful hair sprays, bounce houses, and the ever-popular silly string booth. Shoppers flocked to the Costume Corner, Stuffie Tent, and Jamboree Jar tables to hunt for treasures.

The Carnival Kitchen remained a highlight for adults, offering homemade entrees, soups, and baked goods contributed by LMS families and community members. This year, LMS mom Sarah Ellis took over leadership of the Carnival Kitchen from veteran volunteer Lynn Brown, working hard to ensure its ongoing success.

“I’m so grateful for all those who supported Carnival Kitchen this year,” shared Mrs. Ellis. “We had so many friends and grandparents donate this year in addition to parents, all of whom are a huge part of this sweet tradition.”

By the end of the event, all 78 donated casseroles and 126 donated sides and breads had sold - raising more than $5,000 for the school.

This year’s Carnival chairs were LMS moms Lindsey Whittaker, Melissa Koehl, and Laura Cleary, who worked tirelessly alongside assistant chairs Sarah Stevens, Lyndsey Boeselager, and Erin Hart to coordinate dozens of volunteers and donations.

“We are so lucky to live in the community we do,” said Mrs. Whittaker. “Our community never fails to come out and support our kids and show us love. This event isn’t just for LMS families, and that showed in the number of Fairyland families who not only came out to support but also donated Carnival Kitchen items and spread the word. We couldn’t do it without our LMS family - our administration, teachers, volunteers - and our Public Works Crew.”

“It’s truly a community event,” agreed Mrs. Koehl. This year’s Carnival saw enthusiastic participation from grandparents and community members, many of whom staffed booths, painted faces, and served food - a reflection of the “it takes a village” spirit that defines Lookout Mountain.

As the afternoon wore on, hungry and silly-string covered kids enjoyed grab-and-go meals onsite before heading home, thanks to generous donations from Chick-fil-A, Mr. T’s pizza, the Munchery, and Clumpies. It was clear to all involved that this year’s Carnival was another record-breaking success for the school.

The LMS administration and Carnival organizers are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the event come to life - from the volunteers and families who attended, to the numerous local businesses that donated food and activities, to the Lookout Mountain town workers who ensured the field was ready for hundreds of students and family members to enjoy. The memorable collaboration once again proved that when it comes to supporting our local schools, the Lookout Mountain community shows up - with joy and gratitude.

by Kirsten Yates

This fall, many students joined the Fairyland Elementary School cross country team, all under the guidance of our wonderful Coach Hall! Twenty-nine runners from FES - students in third, fourth, and fifth grade - participate in the Chattanooga Track Club’s meets at Camp Jordan. This year, the organizers introduced race bibs with timing chips so that parents and coaches could keep up with the live race times. The race is a mile, and a total of 900 students from Tennessee and Georgia took part.

Our runners did an amazing job representing Fairyland! Their dedication throughout the season really paid off, with 15 runners setting personal records in the final race. Plus, four of our runners broke the seven-minute mark this year! What a fantastic season for our Fairyland Falcons!

The cross country runners were well-prepared for our second PTO fundraiser of the year, the Great Pumpkin Chase. Our fundraiser kicks off with a lively pep rally, during which Ridgeland High School cheerleaders lead the kids in cheers and excitement! There was also a race featuring some of our inflatable animal friends, and of course, the Great Pumpkin. This is a fantastic way to get the students pumped up for the race and encourage them to ask for sponsors.

The FES Great Pumpkin Chase event is student-led, with students asking for donations for their mile-run while they chase the legendary Great Pumpkin. This year, Richie Fletcher played the part of the Great Pumpkin, and he did a fantastic job. The kids had a wonderful time chasing the beloved Halloween character, and lots of excitement ensured. The race was followed by a fall celebration in our courtyard, where parents and students enjoyed refreshments after a long run. This year, we raised $25,000, which contributes to many of the things the Fairyland School PTO covers. We’re so grateful to all those who sponsored our students! 
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by Rebekah Montgomery

​On any given day at Lookout Mountain School (LMS), you may find students examining local bugs and plant life, coding digital animations, creating a model solar system, or hanging out with a friendly corn snake. All of this and more happens regularly in the school’s science lab, where kindergarteners through fifth-graders receive hands-on, grade-specific instruction as part of their related arts rotation.

Led by teacher Mary Avans, the LMS science program provides students with a strong foundational knowledge in science, technology, and engineering - paving the way for the development of skillsets that are critical for the jobs of the future. With added extracurricular opportunities and a brand-new Volkswagen eLab coming to the school next year, science at LMS is moving and shaking in today’s era of innovation.


Building Knowledge in Sciences and Engineering
Now in her seventh year of teaching science at LMS, Mrs. Avans is well versed in the multi-faceted state curriculum designed for Hamilton County elementary students. Through a series of quarterly modules based on the Tennessee Science Standards, each grade learns about earth, life, and physical sciences, as well as engineering and technology, with an opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiments and other hands-on activities in the science lab.

LMS students are especially interested in the learning modules focused on animals, their environments, and how they adapt to survive. “The kids just love it,” said Mrs. Avans, referring to the life sciences units and the opportunity to interact with the animals (and bugs!) that live in the lab. “Bubba” the corn snake is the oldest animal resident, having spent over 12 years at LMS. More recent additions include a fish, a bearded gecko, and a family of Dubia roaches, which the students find equally delightful and disgusting.

Looking ahead, Mrs. Avans is excited about the potential for a new science curriculum for Hamilton County school students. She is currently serving on the County’s vetting committee, which has been assessing three new options for an updated curriculum that accounts for recent advancements in science and technology.

“By serving on this committee, along with other Hamilton County Schools teachers, I am taking on the responsibility to find a new curriculum that is both high-quality and engaging for the students,” said Mrs. Avans.


LMS Selected for New Volkswagen eLab
Next year, LMS students will have even more opportunity to build their science and technology skillsets through a brand-new digital fabrication lab. Jointly funded by Volkswagen Group of America, the Public Education Foundation, and Hamilton County Schools, “VW eLabs” offer students hands-on experiences with emerging technologies, such as automated manufacturing and 3D printing, while strengthening their skills in problem solving, collaboration, and communication. The LMS eLab will join a network of 43 other VW eLabs currently in place in elementary and high schools across the county.

Mrs. Avans is already hard at work transforming the science lab to prepare for new digital fabrication tools and materials. Each eLab is designed according to the unique needs and culture of the school it serves, and LMS leadership and staff are collaborating to determine which technologies and projects will integrate well into existing curriculums and best support the students.

One thing is for sure - the skills gained in the eLab will ensure LMS students graduate prepared to thrive in advanced STEM-focused learning environments. “I’m so excited for our students to have this opportunity,” said Mrs. Avans. “They will start middle school knowing how to laser cut, how to 3D print and code computers … they will have the skills they need to succeed wherever they go next.”

Science Learning Continues  After School
For those students with a special interest in science and technology, LMS offers three extracurricular opportunities to hone and strengthen STEM-based skills.

Every fall, Mrs. Avans selects a group of six to eight fourth- and fifth-graders to form the LMS Robotics Team. She and LMS teacher Gina Hughes coach the students to prepare for and compete in the FIRST® LEGO® League annual competition, during which they are challenged to build and program a LEGO robot that navigates a mission, while also engaging in research related to the annual event theme.

This year’s theme was oceans and seas, and the LMS robotics team chose an especially esoteric topic to research - whale poop.

“As an endangered species, whales are often hard to study, but you can tell a lot about a whale - what it’s eaten, if it’s pregnant - by its poop,” said Mrs. Avans. As part of their research presentation, the students proposed using aerial drones to scoop up and study whale poop - allowing them to gather important data without disturbing the undersea ecosystem. While they ultimately didn’t advance past the regional qualifying tournament this year, the team did win the Innovation Project Award for their creative, solution-focused research project.

In the spring, students have the opportunity to be considered for two other extracurricular science programs: Science Olympiad and the Garden Club. While the Garden Club was put on hold this year because of ongoing preparations for the new eLab, practice for the Science Olympiad competition is in full swing.

Founded in 1984, Science Olympiad is one of the most well-known grade-school STEM competitions in the nation, providing standards-based challenges to 6,300 teams at 425 tournaments in all 50 states. Each year, Mrs. Avans, with support from Joy Kaiser and Debbie Lifsey, selects five to six students from each upper grade (third through fifth) to compete. Students pair up to study and prepare for knowledge- and engineering-based challenges, from building a bridge that can bear a certain weight to learning dozens of constellations across the night sky. Last year, LMS students won an impressive total of 15 awards, and this year’s teams are already hard at work preparing for the upcoming competition on May 12.

From the students and parents to teachers and staff, the entire school community is grateful for the flourishing science program at LMS. “The LMS Science Lab is a unique space in Hamilton County Schools. Our students have excelled in science and their continuing education because of the opportunity to dig deep into the learning,” said Mrs. Avans. “I am thankful for the ongoing support of the community and look forward to leading the eLab next year.”
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by Kirsten Yates

The Hive Hustle, organized by Kate Fuller, owner of The Hive and Lookout Liquors, was held on a surprisingly beautiful morning in early March. The 5K run and a one-mile fun-run/walk raises money for the mountain schools, including Lookout Mountain Elementary, Fairyland Elementary, Mother’s Day Out at the Presbyterian Church, and Good Shepherd School.

The race started on Scenic Highway at the Commons’ tennis courts and went up the hill, behind the stores, then turned right at Massey’s Kitchen before heading south on Lula Lake and proceeding to the Fairyland Mountain Hall in Lookout Mountain, Ga., and returning back to the Commons.

Over 170 folks participated, including lots of kids, strollers and/or dogs. Good natured competitiveness abounded, as did comradery amongst those who were participating for a great cause - our schools! Everyone was a winner, but the official winners included 5K male winners: Kent Wingfield, 21:17; Troy Green, 21:54; Carlton Stewart, 24:34; and 5K female winners: Laura Cothern 21:54; Madison Templeton, 25:01:32; Ashley Whobrey 25:01:64; and Fun Run male winners: Sam Stewart; Greer Hewitt; Bap Ashe; and Fun Run female winners: Tallulah Fuller; Twiggs Hall; and Ella Hewitt.

This fun, community-building event raised over $12,000 for the schools this year, thanks to all the people who participated. Of course, Kate thanked the sponsors who also helped immensely, including Buddy Presley Law Firm, Lookout Mountain Physical Therapy, Rock City, DownRight Plumbing, Chick fil A, UBS, Yates and Wheland, Ruby Falls, TU Parks, Rebekah Hughes and Chrissy Jones Real Estate Partners, Market on the Mountain, Southern Surgical Arts, Massey’s Kitchen, The Lookout Mountain Mirror, Frios, and Tazikis.

Thank you, Kate, for all your hard work! The 2025 Hive Hustle was great!
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by Gwin Tugman

I am thrilled to bring back a column dedicated to Fairyland Elementary School in the Lookout Mountain Mirror. I hope this column will showcase the exciting activities at our school, fun fundraising events and the amazing achievements of our students. As an alumnus of FES, I have fond memories of my time there, and I’m excited to revamp this column.

We live in a truly special place, with fairytale characters as street names, a caring community, and parents and teachers who give so much of themselves to make our school what it is. FES is one of the many places that provide its students with a nurturing environment in which our children can reach for the stars. Our teachers are incredible, inspiring our students to challenge themselves and push beyond their limits.
Springtime at Fairyland School is in full swing! Our students have been busy with lots of exciting activities. In March, we hosted Missoula Children’s Theater.

Missoula is a traveling theater company that visits schools and educates students about theater and the performing arts while rehearsing for a play to be performed at the end of the week. This year’s play was “Hercules,” and it was an amazing experience for our students! 

The week after the play, we hosted our Fairyland Art Show, showcasing our students’ artwork for both their fellow students and the community to see. Lorelei Williams (fifth grade) won first place; Addie Stewart (fifth grade) came in second; Jane Willoughby (kindergarten) took third; and Joanna Jeremiah (second grade) received an honorable mention. We’re so proud of all our talented Fairyland Falcon artists! 

We hosted Grandparents’ Day on March 27 and 28, which is always a sweet day for our students and grandparents alike. On Grandparents' Day, our students get to play host and tour guide for their grandparents, showing them around the school and their classrooms. It is always a memorable day for all those who get to participate.

The Fairyland Festival, the last PTO Fundraiser of the year, took place in April. The Fairyland Festival is always the most anticipated event of the year by our students and the community. As a kid, I always loved going to the festival with my friends. We could send people to jail, visit our teachers at booths, and of course, indulge in all the sugar and prizes we could handle for a few hours. We want to thank everyone who supports the Fairyland Festival, making it so special and successful. 

We hope you all had a fantastic spring! Please look for the Fairyland Falcon column in upcoming issues so you’ll always be in the loop about all things FES.
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by Bekah Montgomery

The Lookout Mountain School (LMS) marked the beginning of spring with two of the most highly anticipated events of the year - Grandparents’ Day and Night Out for Lookout - which brought together the local community in support of the school and its students. Held on April 4, the events allowed LMS families and friends to visit the school during the day and then celebrate at a festive fundraiser that evening, all with an opportunity to donate to a recently announced, generational project for the community - the revitalization of the LMS field.

Without substantial updates since it was originally constructed around the 1960s, the LMS field has long been underused due to subpar conditions. The multi-phase project to revitalize it - the largest the school has taken on since the addition of the kindergarten wing in the 1990s - will open the field for more intensive sports training and games, both during school and for local recreational leagues, while also providing a venue for new sports on the mountain.

Led by a collaborative partnership between LMS, the LMS PTA, the Town of Lookout Mountain, and the Lookout Mountain Recreational Board, the revitalization’s first phase will include installation of a new turf field, lights, and bleachers - and it’s clear the community could not be more excited to kick it off. Through donations collected during Grandparents’ Day and Night Out for Lookout, LMS families and friends generously gave more than $150,000 to begin turning the ambitious vision into a reality for all to enjoy.

Connecting the Generations During Grandparents Day
LMS grandparents and special guests learned more about the revitalization plans during Grandparents’ Day, a beloved annual tradition that provides students and their loved ones an opportunity to connect during the school day through class performances and visits.

This year, more than 140 family members attended the afternoon event, which began with a packed assembly in the school auditorium. Principal Emily Haney provided a warm welcome to all before the students filed in for their musical performances. Kindergarten through second grade classes sang “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, followed by a rendition of the childhood classic “Make New Friends but Keep the Old” by third and fourth grade students. The fifth grade class kept the beat with an impressive percussion ensemble, which included xylophones, wood blocks, drums, tambourines, and maracas.

Once the students returned to their classrooms, LMS grandparents Graham Burns and Zane Brown unveiled the plans to revitalize the LMS field. Together, they presented the details of the project while also providing a heartfelt, personal perspective on the potential for the new field to have a lasting, positive impact - not only on LMS students, but also on the entire community in the years to come. At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees graciously donated funds on the spot - a wonderful and incredibly generous demonstration of support.

The latter half of the afternoon event was dedicated to school tours, classroom visits, refreshments, and time for students to share and connect with their special guests. The children became “tour guides” for their grandparents, showing them their accomplishments in their homerooms and related arts classes before heading to the cafeteria for cookies and lemonade. Guests also had an opportunity to visit the LMS library, where many bought and dedicated books in honor of their students.

LMS parents Sally Lynch and Leland Wheland served as chairs for this year’s event, expertly leading the planning and coordination with a team of parent volunteers, including Leslie Gentry, Rebecca Heid, Mary Catherine Hewitt, Marie James, Adair Morse, Erin Simpson, Christy Smalley and Sarah Stevens.

“The students were so proud to show our school and their work to their grandparents and guests,” said Leland. “We’re incredibly grateful for all of the volunteers, LMS staff, and guests who made the day so special and successful.”

Rocking Out at Night Out for Lookout
After an action-packed school day, the festivities and generous support for LMS continued into the night at the school’s annual, adults-only fundraiser, Night Out for Lookout. Dubbed “Rock Out for Lookout” by this year’s chairs Hannon Doody and Meredith Kinney, the event was all about rock n’ roll - from a live band to the sleek, chic, red and black décor. Guests arrived in rock n’ roll attire to enter a transformed space in the Lookout Mountain Club’s Fairyland ballroom, complete with red carpet, draped black curtains, a mirrored bar, and red accent lighting. LMS students also helped set the scene by posing in advance for individual Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame photos, which were hung amidst a silver streamer backdrop in the entryway to the ballroom.

“Rock Out for Lookout was our chance to go bold for a cause and community we love, Lookout Mountain, and it’s bigger than just LMS. From the sparkly Hall of Fame to the energy on the dance floor, it all came together to create something truly electric for LMS,” said event chair Meredith Kinney. “The Lookout community delivered, and then some.”

Adjacent to the ballroom, items for the event’s silent auction - which opened online the week before - were lined up on tables along the walls to entice last minute bidding. From sporting events and excursions to beautiful original artwork and gift packages, the impressive array of items was increasingly bid on throughout the evening. The Summer Classics dining table and chairs donated by Fowler Brothers Furniture and the framed original art by award-winning artist and LMS mom Kate Roebuck attracted some of the highest silent bids of the night. Several other of the most sought-after items motivated a flurry of bidding down to the last minute before the auction closed - including the two clay nativity sets made by the fifth grade classes and the opportunity to make your student “principal for the day.”

Dinner was served buffet style with delicious sliders, salads, and fries, and guests soon made their way to the ballroom tables to eat and socialize. Kicking off the main programming for the evening, LMS PTA president May Burke welcomed the crowd and presented the exciting details of the field revitalization, which many parents and community members were hearing about for the first time. She then turned the mic over to professional auctioneer Victoria Meek, who led the live auction for the second year in a row. Victoria energetically auctioned off luxury trips to the Bahamas, Telluride, and Blackberry Farm (to name a few!) as well as an original work by artist Laura Roebuck, securing more than $28,000 in winning bids - all of which will be used to support staff positions at LMS.

The paddle-raise portion of the night, which began immediately after the live auction, collected donations specifically for the first phase of the LMS field revitalization project - and the total raised exceeded all expectations. Together, “Rock Out for Lookout” attendees gave more than $140,000 to help transform the school’s field into a new venue and greenspace for the entire Lookout Mountain community.

The event wrapped up with an incredible performance by the live band, Courtney Cowart and the Bad Matador. From soft rock and country covers to renditions of crowd-pleasing singalongs by Madonna and Chappell Roan, the band’s musical talent and showmanship turned up the energy at the end of the night, with attendees rocking out on the dance floor until the very last song.

Overall, with months of planning, coordination, and leadership by event chairs Hannon Doody and Meredith Kinney, assistant chairs Kim Fugate and Tracy Moore, and many other volunteers, this year’s Night Out for Lookout was an overwhelming success, raising more than ever before.

The LMS PTA and administration are extremely grateful for all the people who donated, bid, and volunteered to support the school. This year’s set-up volunteers included Hannah Harrell and Anna Williams; check-in volunteers were Lindsey Mitchel, Bronwen Wiggins, Melissa Koehl and Betsy Burns; and check-out volunteers were Charla Nix, Christy Smalley, Stephanie Gillison and Rebecca Cole.

“We are beyond grateful for the tremendous support from our dear community,” said event chair Hannon Doody. “We’re also excited to keep the momentum going and will be continuing to raise funds and plan for this very important project in the coming months. Thank you for your invaluable support. Let’s go!”

Community members who are interested in donating to support the LMS field revitalization can do so at www.nightoutforlookout.com, or contact May Burke, LMS PTA President, at [email protected] for more information.
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by Kirsten Yates

A beloved local tradition for more than 70 years, the Lookout Mountain School Carnival has become one of the most important and treasured events of the school year. And this year’s Carnival was as memorable as ever.

On October 3, 2024, more than 200 students lined up outside the school, skipping and laughing as they paraded to the Town Commons to kick off the annual fundraising celebration. Heading up the parade were the Carnival King and Queen, first-grader Ford Jenkins and second-grader Magnolia Whittaker, who were awarded the distinguished honor for selling the most coupon books in the annual fall LMS Coupon Book Sale. Following close behind was the LMS fifth grade class, comprising 28 students who were both excited and thoughtfully reflective as they prepared to enjoy their last Carnival as LMS students.

The bright, sunny afternoon did not disappoint. The students rushed onto the field to find their favorite Carnival booths and purchase the items known to sell quickly - like jamboree jars and costumes. Some headed to face painting first, which always draws a line of students waiting to be transformed into animals and fantasy characters by several talented volunteers, including LMS grandmother and local painter Maddin Corey, who generously donates her time each year. Other returning favorites included the bounce houses and hay and pony rides, along with booths for pumpkin painting, hair spray, and duck pond fishing. And of course, the infamous booths for fake casts and silly string were not to be missed, as no Carnival is truly complete without bandaged up and silly string-covered students running free to their hearts’ content.

LMS parents, grandparents, and other community members were quick to flock to a favored Carnival staple for adults - the Carnival Kitchen tent. Each year, this booth sells delicious frozen entrees, soups, and appetizers, along with a wide variety of baked goods, all of which are donated by LMS parents and grandparents. LMS parent and Carnival Kitchen veteran Lynn Brown led the charge again this year, coordinating the donation and sale of more than 230 fabulous dishes and desserts and raising $4,500 for the school. Additionally, to make sure no one went hungry amid the excitement, there were ample grab-and-go options onsite, thanks to generous donations from Chick-fil-A, Mr. T’s pizza, the Mountain Munchery, and Clumpies.

Amongst these treasured Carnival favorites, one new table stood out. Days before the event, Hurricane Helene had ripped across Florida and up through the Southeast, leading to widespread flooding, road closures, and loss of power in dozens of hardhit communities. Western North Carolina was especially devastated, with unprecedented flooding that demolished critical infrastructure and cut off communication lines in and out of several widely populated mountain communities.

Knowing that many Lookout Mountain families would be gathering at the Carnival in the wake of the devastating storm, local couple Monica and Matt Dixon saw an opportunity to support Western North Carolina’s disaster relief efforts by organizing a drop-off station for donations at the event. As owners of the food service company What Chefs Want, the Dixons offered to haul the donations of non-perishable food and supplies to a temporary food bank in Cherokee, N.C.

With mere hours of notice, the entire community rallied together to support the cause. Tens of dozens of bags of food, infant supplies, toiletries, and paper goods were stacked in and around the donation table by the end of the day. It was a beautiful reflection of the giving spirit of our community, which shined even brighter amid the joy of Carnival.

As the day came to a close, many ofthose involved stopped to acknowledge the incredible efforts of this year’s Carnival chairs, LMS parents Beth Campbell, Kiran Eberle, and Laura Patterson. The event was held earlier than previous years, which meant preparation started within the first weeks of the school year. In addition to securing the many volunteers and donations needed to make the day a success, the Carnival chairs and assistants also organized three weeks’ worth of class contests to collect costumes, stuffed animals, and jamboree jars for the Carnival mini markets. The students were more engaged than ever, donating a record 1,300 stuffed animals - so many that the chairs decided to expand the size of the booth to accommodate the impressive assortment! Stuffed animals and costumes left over at the end of the event were added to the final load of donations the Dixon’s hauled to Western North Carolina.

“As chair of the Carnival this year, it was a pleasure to help create such a memorable event for the children of Lookout Mountain Elementary School. It is so inspiring to see a community, from large corporations to local small businesses to grandparents, give their time and talents to support the school,” said Carnival chair Beth Campbell.

​The LMS administration and Carnival organizers sincerely appreciate the widespread support of this beloved fundraiser. From the parent volunteers and families who attended, to the numerous local businesses that donated food and activities, to the Lookout Mountain town workers and recreation board who ensured the field was dry and safe for hosting the event, the entire community came together to make the day a success. The relationships built and memories created will keep shining and inspiring in the years to come.

by Kirsten Yates

Planning for most LMS events starts weeks or even months in advance, but a recent celebration at the school marked an event that had been on calendars all around the world for years longer than that, a total solar eclipse which would be visible in our skies. Solar eclipses occur several times a year as the moon passes between Earth and the sun, but total solar eclipses - where the moon completely blocks the light of the sun - are more rare, occurring every few years but typically in isolated areas like the middle of the ocean or at the North and South poles, not often in places where many people are able to view them. In 2017, people in North America were able to witness this phenomenon for the first time since 1979, and after this April’s eclipse, our country won’t be in the path of totality again until 2044, so even though Lookout Mountain’s view of the eclipse was only about 88 percent obscured, it was still an incredible sight to see (but not to look at directly, of course)!

LMS students spent the morning of the eclipse refreshing their knowledge about what would be happening in the skies later that afternoon. The older students looked back at their notes from earlier in the year about the mechanics of our solar system, while younger students were reminded again (and then again, and then again) not to look at the sun without their special glasses. One teacher remarked that she heard the kindergarteners excitedly chanting “Celery chips! Celery chips!” while lined up for lunch, and so after she’d had a good chuckle, she corrected them from “celery chips” to “so-lar e-clipse,” and reminded them again not to stare directly at it. Classroom snacks that morning very appropriately consisted of Moon Pies or Sun Chips, as all ages anxiously watched the cloudy weather to see if they would have a chance to see the eclipse at all!

After lunch, the whole school donned eclipse glasses and gathered on the LMS field for the celebration. Art teacher Ryan Patterson curated a perfect playlist for the day that rang out through the speakers as the children played; she selected songs to play in order of the progress of the eclipse, including “Moondance,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” “You Are My Sunshine,” “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and “Blinded by the Light.”

Science teacher Mary Avans cued students to the progress of the moon’s movement along with other changes to expect such as a drop in temperature. She also led the grades in trivia questions about moon phases, with winning answers earning candy prizes!  Students were placed around the field with their “buddies” from other grades; the fifth-graders were able to share with their kindergarten partners how they could just barely remember their last totality event in 2017, which occurred the year before they started their own kindergarten journey at LMS and before their buddies were even born!

As the school day came towards its end, the eclipse came towards its maximum coverage, and the clouds cooperated just enough to get some memorable and stunning views of this rare phenomenon.  As little but a ring of the sun’s light remained visible, the students fittingly played “Ring Around the Rosie” while Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” played over the speakers. Ancient civilizations may have celebrated similar events with singing and dancing, but they didn’t have Johnny Cash to keep the beat! Students will not soon forget this special day, and 20 years down the line - when they are in their mid-20s and early-30s as the next totality occurs in our area in 2044 - they may even be telling their own kids about the totality they saw a part of in 2024 on the field at LMS surrounded by friends and fun!
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by Meredith Brown

Students at LMS stay engaged with a fun variety of hands-on projects mixed in throughout their daily curriculum, related arts, and afterschool clubs to extend their learning.  As the students cross the halfway point of the school year, let’s look at a quick sampling of what they’ve been up to as well as some of the recognition they have achieved.
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The second-graders took on a special project for the community right before winter break by hand-painting ornaments for the Lookout Mountain Police Department. Mrs. Cox said that the kids had “lots of fun with the glitter and paint and got super creative,” and were happy to thank the officers for all they do with notes and cookies. They got to turn their crafting skills all the way up to full power as they created musical instruments out of materials like carboard tubes, empty plastic food bins, and old scraps of yarn in science lab, learning about how sound is made through vibration.  They also got to see how dropping different objects into water creates wave patterns, and speaking of objects in water, they chose to name their classroom fish after their classmate’s mother, Hannah!

Along with the second grade, fifth-graders got to enjoy a fun field trip to the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Ga. They had a great time exploring fossils, gems, electricity, and sports science. In fact, the fifth-graders have enjoyed lots of fun with their learning this year, becoming “mad scientists” (lab coats, goggles, and all) to dissect literary characters for ELA, building egg-drop contraptions for Mrs. Avans to release from the roof of the cafeteria, creating board games using engineering skills in science lab, enjoying their fifth grade gum privileges during homeroom, and eating outside at their reserved lunch tables. They have mastered the vital math and reading skills that will carry them to the middle schools of their choice next year, and they have passed along the best of their LMS knowledge to a future generation of LMS leaders, their kindergarten buddies.

And these kindergarteners have done beautifully with their first semester of elementary school!  They have learned the ropes and routines of their school day, made successful progression in their reading skills (both in the classroom and in literacy lab), and they have enjoyed getting to spend time interacting with their fifth grade buddies, including regular picnic lunches when the weather permits.  Mrs. Avans has presented the kindergarteners with engaging experiments in science lab, asking them to question what they think will sink or float before testing their predictions, and starting their understanding of computing language with gingerbread coding puzzles.     

First-graders had a fun field trip last semester, too, as they donned their warmest PJs to head to the IMAX to see the Polar Express. In the classroom, they have begun to apply their addition and subtraction skills to more complex word problems, they are telling time, and they are reading more challenging texts. In science lab, they have been studying light and learning about the sun, moon, and stars. They learned how opaque objects cast shadows, and they used paper cut-outs of insects, birds, and other animals to create and perform hilarious shadow puppet shows for their classmates.  Their later studies were especially “sweet,” as they focused on the phases of the moon, using Oreo cookies with various amounts of filling to represent the different stages of the pattern including new, crescent, and full moons. The first-graders have also enjoyed spending time with their third grade buddies, who have set a wonderful example for their young partners.    

Third-graders showed exceptional pride in their school this semester. Earning the title “Titans of Trash” by their teacher Mrs. Hughes, groups of students took it upon themselves to clean up around the playground, LMS field, and basketball courts. They further showed their excellent collaboration skills (along with effective communication) by playing “Minute to Win It” in science lab, laughing and learning as they catapulted pom poms into bins, scooped cotton balls by holding spoons in their mouths, and stacked towers of marshmallows or paper cups. They also spent time in lab making structures to show fields of magnetism and dissecting plants to learn about their inner structures and how the xylem moves water up and phloem moves food and water down.

A grade above them, the fourth graders were busy with dissections of their own, this time with owl pellets, carefully taking apart and identifying all the tiny elements inside.  They also got their hands dirty in their study of fossils, creating clay and glue molds of fossil casts and labeling each specific element of their particular structure. Back in the classroom, they perfected their multiplication skills with timed drills, earning prizes as they mastered each number set, and they enjoyed reading and writing about animal defenses as well as expressing themselves through poetry. The fourth- and fifth-graders in the LMS Robotics Team have had an extremely successful season so far. Kent Wingfield, James Cake, Hugh Gerwin, Teagan Neely, James Hickey, Austin Yates, and Deyann Dalwadi (supported by Mrs. Avans and Mrs. Hughes) won the first place championship award for all-around achievements in the five categories qualifying them for regionals, where they will compete in February!

And, speaking of successes, earlier this year, LMS was honored to once again be named a Level 5 Reward School in Tennessee. This grading is based on the Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System to measure student achievement and growth. Level Five is the highest category, indicating that LMS students are exceeding growth expectations. More recently, LMS received another stellar score, this time on the new Tennessee Department of Education’s school grading system. This newly implemented assessment looks at a school’s student achievement, growth, and readiness.  Based on this data, each school receives a letter grade A through F, with the goal of giving communities a “snapshot” of how their child’s school is performing. Lookout Mountain School was proud to receive an A letter grade, an achievement only 17.4 percent of Tennessee schools received statewide.

We can’t wait to see what all LMS students will achieve for the rest of this year. Already, students are beginning preparation for the upcoming LMS Spelling Bee, and they have started new projects in their art classes and science labs and checked out new books that have sparked their interest in the library. Clearly, their mix of fun and learning is a winning combination that students enjoy each day, and the LMS community is so proud of all their hard work!   

by Meredith Brown ​