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.
by Kirsten Yates
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.
by Kirsten Yates
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