If the Fairyland School were a human body, the front office, the hub of communication and decision making, would be the brain. The students, sources of boundless energy and movement, would be the muscle. But the heart? The heart of Fairyland School is the cafeteria.

Smelling of bacon, buttery biscuits and all things right with the world, the cafeteria is a bright, cheerful space, with windows on three sides and student art adorning the walls. While other areas of Fairyland are designed to encourage thought, creativity and collaboration, the cafeteria is a respite from the day’s trials and tribulations, a room that refuels and re-energizes its visitors, and like the human heart, pumps life into those who enter. Unlike the rather bland fare of generic “school lunches,” the Fairyland School cafeteria provides delicious, homemade meals that are prepared with attention to detail, a devout adherence to strict dietary standards and served with a nurturing kindness that is not typical of institutional food service.

Behind the scenes of the Fairyland School breakfast and lunch program is a stellar team, made of three highly professional, dedicated, hardworking individuals: David Myers, Susan Foster and Diana Kilgore. Considering the scope of their service, it’s hard to conceive that a mere three people are able to manage the preparation of two daily meals (breakfast and lunch) that are consistently appealing to children, varied and nutritious for up to 278 students. Not only that, Susan, Diana and David also oversee the care, cleanliness and operation of the entire kitchen facility and its many appliances and moving parts, all the while following a stringent set of federal dietary and sanitation regulations. And, most impressive of all, they accomplish these duties with the efficiency, precision and synergy of a surgical team and the warmth and hospitality of a weekend at Nana’s. 

Like all public school systems, the Walker County Department of Education enforces the USDA’s recently updated nutrition guidelines for school meals, referred to as “MyPlate Guide to School Lunch and School Breakfast.” In accordance with these new guidelines, all school breakfasts and lunches must consist of one cup of fruit, one cup of vegetables, one serving of grains, one serving of protein and one serving of dairy. Equally rigorous are the government imposed sanitation regulations. For example, the temperatures of the various food storage items, such as steamers and ice wells, are monitored several times a day to make sure they are at the proper temperature to protect against foodborne illnesses. The steamers, heated pass-throughs and bun warmers must be maintained at a temperature of at least 165 degrees, and the refrigerated pass-throughs and ice wells on the line must be at least 40-45 degrees to prevent spoilage and bacteria.

Susan, Diana, David wash their hands frequently and at regulated intervals and wear hairnets and gloves, which are changed often. In cleaning the kitchen and its contents, all pots, pans and serving pieces must be washed in the dishwasher. Furthermore, after being washed and rinsed, these items, as well as all surfaces, including the dishwasher itself, the counters, the sinks, the stationary appliances, the floor and all components of the cafeteria line must be rinsed in a water-based sanitary solution which is strip-tested for its chemical accuracy and changed twice a day. To optimize hygiene and cleanliness, the kitchen itself, a separate room behind the line, is off limits to everyone except the team and the custodial staff, and all its doors are locked when Susan, Diana, David are not present. 

With 21 years of combined work experience in food service, the Fairyland cafeteria team of three is a well oiled machine, and to be sure that the students receive meals that are healthy, according to standards, and on time, Diana, Susan and David must follow a precise daily protocol. 

Waking up as early as 3:45 a.m. to travel from their homes near and far (Fort Oglethorpe, La Fayette and Chickamauga), they are among the first to arrive at Fairyland School between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. each morning. Upon arrival, with over an hour until breakfast, the first order of business is to turn on the many kitchen appliances, specifically the ovens, bun warmer, dishwasher, skillet, tilt skillet and several pass-throughs (easily accessible warming or refrigerated shelves located between kitchen and cafeteria line). Due to their fastidious planning and foresight, the trio is always operating at least one to several days ahead of schedule, having completed the majority of the food preparation for the current day’s meals in advance. Working ahead of schedule makes for a less hurried schedule and ensures the team that upcoming meals will be served without shortages, delays or similar unforeseen problems.

Next, on “the line” where the food will be plated and served, they must fill the wells with ice for storage of cold food items and fill the steamers with hot water for storage of hot food items. Then, between 7:30-8 a.m., roughly 90 to 130 hungry and often sleepy students arrive in search of a hearty meal. According to Susan, the most popular breakfast entrees are sausage biscuits, Pop Tarts and cereal. Other breakfast choices are waffles, pancakes, bagels, yogurt parfait, Canadian bacon and cheese or egg and cheese croissants, cinnamon toast, and chicken biscuits. All breakfast entrees are served with fresh fruit, 100 percent fruit juice and three choices of milk. Meanwhile, back in the homerooms, students choose one of the two lunch entrees posted on the monthly menu. Their selections are tallied and delivered to the cafeteria by 8:15 a.m. so the team can plan accordingly for the lunch meal.

After cleaning off breakfast pans and leftovers, the crew makes final lunch preparations, simultaneously planning and prepping for future meals, such as cutting vegetables for soups or making sauces. It is important to point out that while Susan, Diana and David each have distinct tasks and chores and assignments to complete, they operate as one, coordinating their efforts and working in unison. It is clear that they are a very strong, synchronized team who share a mutual fondness and respect for each other and see the operation of the cafeteria as a shared responsibility. 

Relevant to this, the team and cafeteria program at Fairyland coordinates with and is supported by the cafeteria program at Ridgeland High School, also a Walker County school. While all Walker County meals are made on school premises, with a larger facility and staff, some items (such as several soups, chili and spaghetti sauce) are more easily prepared at Ridgeland and then delivered to Fairyland. Additionally, the Ridgeland staff manages the purchase of miscellaneous food items and ingredient needs from local food distributors such as Gordon Distributors and USDA as well as milk (and occasionally ice cream), which they order from Mayfield Dairy. An interesting bit of data regarding milk consumption at Fairyland School is that a typical weekly order from Mayfield consists of  100 cartons of skim milk, 250 cartons of one percent milk and a whopping 800 cartons of chocolate milk!

Starting at 10:30 a.m., with the exactitude of a Swiss watch, the daily lunch process begins whereby approximately 150-200 Fairyland students purchase a midday meal. Organized by homeroom, 15 groups come to the cafeteria at staggered intervals and are warmly greeted by David, Susan, or Diana, and gently but efficiently nudged down the line as they select their food items, pay and sit down to eat. According to Susan, the most popular lunch entrees are chicken nuggets, pizza and the “country meal.” Also known as “Cracker Barrel” lunch, the country meal entree is a veritable feast consisting of macaroni and cheese, pinto beans or black-eyed peas, okra, coleslaw, corn bread, fresh fruit, a milk choice AND ice cream! Other lunches on the menu are lasagna, barbecued pork, chicken on a whole grain bun, nachos, hotdogs with chili, cheeseburger on a whole-grain bun, sliced pork with gravy, quesadilla, and tacos. Lunch side dishes include such items as steamed or raw vegetables, salad, sweet potato or potato fries, fresh fruit and a choice of milk.

By 12:30 p.m., the students are back in the classrooms and the finely tuned clean up process begins. The components of the line are broken down, leftover food is refrigerated or frozen and pots and pans, serving utensils, countertops and floors are washed and sanitized. Pausing briefly to enjoy lunch themselves, the conversation immediately turns to upcoming meals as the trio is already on to the next day as they prioritize and divide a list of tasks to be completed. 

At precisely 2 p.m., the doors to the kitchen are locked, the tables are clean, and the benches are up. The Fairyland School cafeteria is quiet and still. Passing by, some claim to hear the far away sound of a heartbeat. But it’s probably just their imagination. 
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Sally Burke
Fairyland School ​

Dr. Josh Yother took over Skyuka Hall School in 2014, when the student body had shrunk to about a dozen students and was nearly out of money. Based at Rivermont Presbyterian Church, the school was known as Scenic Land School. The school then moved to Four Squares Business Center and is now housed at Eastgate Town Center.

Today, Skyuka Hall School has more than 120 students and serves students in grades first through twelveth. I recently had a chance to sit down with Dr. Yother to talk about the school’s vision for 2023 and how this unique type of learning environment is attracting students from all over.

Jed Mescon: How do you describe Skyuka Hall to prospective parents?
Dr. Josh Yother: This school has truly become my fourth child. We are double certified, and our diplomas carry the same amount of weight as any other private school in this area. We want our graduates to leave this school prepared to go out and live a productive life. Skyuka Hall’s focus is singular and progressive. The school is the fastest-growing private school in Tennessee and encourages teachers to be pioneering so that unique learners discover their potential.

JM: You use the words unique and special when you talk about a Skyuka Hall student.
JY: These words are not code words for a child being inadequate or having a disability. Society has unfortunately placed students who are neurodiverse in their learning into a category where many people view these kids as disabled. Whether it is dyslexia, autism, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, when you take the time to really get to know these kids and form an individualized plan for those students, you quickly see that the disability was not there as much as the ability to think and create in a unique way. We are missing some of the most brilliant minds in the world who thankfully are choosing a school like Skyuka Hall where they get a student-teacher ratio of 10:1.

JM: Why do some parents get embarrassed sending their child to this type of school?
JY: The media has done a horrible job [depicting] what a perfect child is supposed to look and act like. My question to anyone who asks is, who determines what that person looks like? When we go through the admissions process, I will ask a family if they think we are here to fix their child. If the answer is yes, we are in trouble. We do not think there is anything wrong with your child. Our job is to celebrate your child just the way they are. We are here to build upon a child’s strengths, and they will grow naturally. Teaching confidence, courage, and conviction can help a child grow socially, academically, physically, and spiritually. We can then tell parents the school did it because of our learning institution and not despite of it. Is not that what school is all about?

JM: You are attracting families from all over the world.
JY: We have welcomed kids from California, Massachusetts, and even England. I always ask parents how they heard of little Skyuka Hall School in Chattanooga, Tenn. I have determined that if you light a fire bright enough, people will want to come to it and watch it burn. And because of the amazing transformation that has taken place in this school with extremely limited resources, our community is being positively impacted by a school that no one had heard of about nine years ago.

JM: The name Skyuka has a lot of people asking about its meaning.
JY: A board member came up with the name several years ago. At the base of Lookout Mountain near the banks of Lookout Creek is where you will find Skyuka Springs. You can easily reach the springs by either hiking or mountain biking. This board member said the peace and tranquility that he feels at this incredible piece of nature makes him just want to go back time after time. He said the scene improves your mood like never before. That is the same feeling I want for every kid who goes to Skyuka Hall. Where each child feels that same peace and has a reason each day to wake up knowing there is someone at school who is willing to love, respect, and appreciate you.
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by Jed Mescon

Despite the challenges they have faced over the past two years, Lookout Mountain School students, faculty, and staff have remained resolutely dedicated to learning. Students have thrived in this environment, steadily making gains academically and socially in a school community that nurtures them and prepares them for successful next steps. In September, LMS was honored to learn that this hard work was being recognized in the form of two significant awards.

First, the U.S. Secretary of Education, Miguel A. Cardona, Ed.D., notified Principal Ruth White that LMS had been named a 2022 Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School. Lookout Mountain School was one of only 295 schools in the entire country - and one of just six schools in Tennessee - to receive this honor.  In recognizing the school’s overall academic performance, Secretary Cardona wrote to Mrs. White, “The U.S. Department of Education acknowledges your unwavering commitment to the well-being of every child and the possibilities that you create for the next generation.” He goes on to say, “Congratulations on your accomplishments. Your school is truly an inspiring example of students, teachers, staff, administrators, parents, families, and community leaders all working together through challenging circumstances to prepare our nation’s students to succeed.” Mrs. White has been invited to attend a ceremony held next month in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the National Blue Ribbon schools and receive the award for LMS.

The second recognition comes from the Tennessee Department of Education, as LMS was once again named a Level 5 Reward School this year. Reward School acknowledgement is based on a school’s Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System (TVAAS) and Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) performance. Level 5 status is conferred upon schools that earn the top rating for academic growth and show “significant evidence that their students exceeded the state growth standard” in several vital subjects including literacy and numeracy. Representatives from the Hamilton County Department of Education visited LMS in mid-September to present the award banner and take a school-wide photo with students, faculty, and staff. Recognizing the Hamilton County Reward Schools, HCS Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson said, “We are pleased to see the continued growth of students … Level 5 recognition is a testament to the hard work of our students and teachers throughout the 2021-2022 school year. We are honored to be able to celebrate this achievement of students’ success.”

Clearly, there is much to praise at LMS! The faculty, staff, parents, PTA, and entire Lookout Mountain community should feel very proud of the school for these accomplishments, and the LMS students should feel exceedingly proud of themselves for the time, effort, and determination that went into these successes. Principal Ruth White shares, “Lookout Mountain School’s mission is to create a learning community that allows all students to achieve success by providing them with research-based instruction in the areas of scholarship, leadership, citizenship, and integrity.” She says that at LMS, “we believe the foundation of lifelong learning for all students should be enhanced through the teaching of related arts, integration of enrichment resources, and development of a strong academic core.” Mrs. White feels like this recognition is “a feather in the cap for all of our community and will last for generations to come” and she “applauds everyone for your part in supporting our school!”
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by Meredith Brown

Each year, the middle of October marks the end of fall break, the start of cool weather, and the return of the annual LMS Carnival! This beloved event is one of the top highlights of the entire school year and is enjoyed by students, teachers, families, and community members alike! The weather this year was particularly cold, but it did nothing to chill the spirits of the LMS students parading from school to the Commons for an afternoon of fun.

At the front of this parade were LMS Principal Ruth White and the Carnival King and Queen George Monroe and Zoe Lusk. Kindergartener George and second-grader Zoe had earned their titles by being the top-selling boy and girl during the Hamilton County Kids First Coupon Book sales campaign this year. All of the LMS students worked hard to reach and exceed their sales goal, totaling over 1,000 books sold in all. The funds they raised will support technology needs throughout the school, and they earned a school-wide pajama day as a reward!

Heading up this year’s Carnival efforts were co-chairs May Burke and Anna Williams with wonderful support from assistant chairs April Goebeler, Hannah Harrell, and Kari Pollard. Their team began planning many weeks in advance to make sure that everything was ready to go once the students arrived, filing in behind their class banners starting with the fifth grade Carnival veterans and ending with the kindergarten first-timers. May commented, “As a child, it is a magical day, and you are unaware of all the work it entails. Now, as a parent and a member of the Carnival planning committee, you experience first-hand the efforts from all facets of the community - Lookout Mountain School, parents, volunteers, and local businesses.”

A festive balloon arrangement designed by PepperPot Party adorned the Commons gates, and booth after booth covered the field inside. Returning favorites like the Carnival Jail, bouncy houses, costume corner, jamboree jars, face painting, stuffed animals, hair-color spray, fake casts, and silly string tents were as popular as always, and there were several fun new additions to the booths, including a huge inflatable basketball game, as well as a Halloween-inspired bean bag toss designed by Greer Campbell of Cheers with Greer. Carnival goers feasted on Chick-fil-A, Mr. T’s pizza, Good Dog hotdogs, and Clumpies ice cream. May said she was surprised to see that despite the cold, the kids consumed just as much ice cream as always! And for future feasting, families took home selections of casseroles, soups, and baked goods from the Carnival Kitchen tent. Lynn Brown was in charge of it this year, and she spent weeks securing amazing food donations from parents and community members to ensure the success of this vital part of the Carnival fundraising!

There were pops of color throughout the Carnival, none more so than at the Marketplace and Spirit Wear tent. In the Marketplace, parents could buy mugs featuring beautiful murals created by each of their children’s classes under the direction of LMS art teacher Ryan Patterson. These mugs are highly sought after each year, as many parents add to their growing collection! This year’s Spirit Wear featured beautiful new designs from Tickled Ink’s Emily Johnson. You have probably already seen mountain goers sporting these stylish LMS shirts, hoodies, and hats - and if you look closely, you will see her new LMS stickers adorning laptops and water bottles around the community!

As Carnival day came to a close, freezing parents and somehow-unfazed-by-the-cold kids shuffled home tired, happy, and with new treasures in hand. Behind the scenes, the organizers were happy to see their efforts had panned out so successfully, knowing that the funds they had raised would help LMS continue to be the wonderful place it is for our children. As Burke puts it, “The Carnival is such a testament to our extraordinary community.” She and the whole Carnival team are thankful for the sponsors, volunteers, and the entire LMS community that made Carnival such a wonderful day.
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by Meredith Brown

We welcomed the 2022 school year in at Fairyland Elementary School with a new staff member in STEM/computer, Ms. Taryn Yorba. She came to us from California, and is a world traveler and a dynamic teacher. Here is a summary of what they’ve covered this year, directly from Ms. Yorba:

“This past year in STEM we worked primarily on beginning STEM practices - working together, thinking through problems, and basic engineering processes. We learned how to be effective partners in groups, how to really listen to other’s ideas, how to learn from our mistakes, and that hot glue guns are hot!

“Some projects that we worked on were: building vegetable stands to go along with the story “Tops and Bottoms;” building bridges; growing flowers; discovering aerodynamics through paper airplanes; building bird houses; designing mandalas; making solar ovens; creating tower replicas; and so many more!”

The excitement and engagement in the studies and activities Ms. Yorba led could be heard through the walls into the library next door. We are so lucky to have her and are thankful for her great work with our students!
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by Melissa Cairns

The last weeks of the school year at Lookout Mountain School are, without a doubt, the very most fun of all! Summer bucket lists are being created, tests and projects are all being finished, clothes and water bottles are being unearthed from deep within the lost-and-found, and extra recess is a must in the sunny, warm weather. A student even gets to sit in as Principal for the Day! This year, Gabriella Hanson took on the role and made sure that there was plenty of fun on schedule to close out 2022.  The end of the school year traditions at LMS certainly check that box, and they also take time to honor and celebrate all of the students who make the school such a special place.

Early May brought the return of Roxaboxen, a beloved LMS activity based on a book by Alice McLerran about a group of kids who use rocks and discarded boxes to create an imaginary town.  In years past, this has been an activity that first-graders take part in with their fourth grade buddies, but since COVID-19 considerations cancelled the event for the past few years, grades first through fifth got to all take part this year, dividing into groups, bringing in boxes, and setting up storefronts to create their town. First grade teacher Amy Thatcher joked that it was like a cardboard food court, with many stores selling snacks, but there was also a hill slide, a bank, and a games station.  Teachers shared that it was fun to see the kids working together to plan their spots, and they hope the larger version of the event can become an annual tradition. To end the event, and as a library reward for all the students, the Kona Ice truck delivered snow cones to the whole school!

On the final Friday before summer break, the LMS field was abuzz with the excitement of Field Day. Kindergarten through second grade participated in relays and games in the morning, and grades three through five took the field in the afternoon. Classes danced and sang along to music provided by emcee Ryan Patterson as they rotated through stations including water games, volleyball, relay races, hula-hoop rock-paper-scissors, and kickball. There was a whole lot of fun (accompanied by a whole lot of sun!) as kids faced off in fun competition with their classmates. The most hotly contested events of the day were the tug-of-war battles, with one class from each grade emerging victorious! As is tradition to end the day, the Lookout Mountain Fire Department raised the ladder hose of a firetruck high over the LMS field and let loose a downpour on all the students.  Not a square inch of the students was left dry after this drenching, and they could not have enjoyed it more, running from end to end of the field jumping in puddles with their friends.

The next celebration was Awards Day, which took place in person this year for the first time since the spring of 2019! Miss McKenna awarded certificates to students in all grades who had earned perfect attendance during the year. Mrs. Huffine announced that third-grader Carter Pierre, fourth-grader Eloise Sewell, and fifth-graders Mary Ellen Mixon and Wylie Shumate won the Outstanding Effort in Music award for their grade levels. Coach Crownover announced fitness awards for students in all grades who achieved award levels in the seven fitness tests administered in both the fall and spring.  Mrs. Fessler announced the Accelerated Reader awards, recognizing the top 20 point earners throughout the school, with Harper Wakefield topping the list with an astounding 1,044.1 AR points. Mrs. Avans selected Wylie Shumate as this year’s recipient for Outstanding Achievement in Science, and Mrs. Patterson announced that the Art Awards went to kindergartener Ezra Roebuck and fifth-grader Evie Stewart. Mrs. Inman presented the Redwood Award, which recognizes “exponential growth in fifth grade,” to Joseph Bastone, and Mrs. Cain presented the Susan Frankenburg Writing Award to Harper Wakefield.   

Rainy weather forced this year’s graduation ceremony indoors, but the bad weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the fifth-graders, who had worked so hard to accomplish this milestone!  Friends and family of the class of 2022 celebrated the achievements and dedication of this year’s graduates, including 16 students who had earned recognition as Presidential Academic Scholars.  Allie Wakefield led attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance and the LMS School Student Pledge. Nathan Eriksen voiced the students’ appreciation of parents, and Caroline Carr spoke on their appreciation of the faculty. Evie Stewart presented the class gift, a lovely new outdoor table in memory of beloved LMS teacher Betsy Bookout. Several special graduation awards were also presented. Adelaide Gerwin gave the class address. Mrs. Cain announced that Nathan Eriksen was the recipient of this year’s DAR Good Citizenship Award. Principal White presented Mary Ellen Mixon with the Christy McBryar Faculty Award.  Caroline Carr received the Nancy Caulkins Scholarship, which was presented by Caroline Bentley.  After an introduction by Ellie Gervin, LMS alum Alice Martin spoke to the assembly, offering advice to the new graduates. We congratulate everyone on this special day, and we see nothing but clear skies ahead for this exceptional group of students!    

This year was not without its challenges, but LMS students proved once again what spirit and determination they possess. They have been supported beautifully by Principal Ruth White, LMS PTA President Mandy Hickey, and all the exceptional teachers, faculty, parents, and volunteers within our community!
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by Meredith Brown

The end of February marked the return of two beloved events for Lookout Mountain School.
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First up was “Grandparent and Special Guest Day,” which was last held in early 2019! This event typically takes place every other year at LMS, but due to COVID-19, there was a little longer wait than usual. But, oh, was it worth the wait! Event co-chairs Maggie Estes and Kari Pollard organized a beautiful celebration, giving grandparents and special guests a glimpse of what makes the school such a special place. Parent Emily Johnson created a lovely invitation for the day, welcoming guests aboard the “LMS Express.” The “passengers” were greeted by Principal Ruth White and then started their journey with a musical performance led by LMS music teacher Katie Huffine; the kindergarten, first- and second-graders sang “Pearly Shells,” and the third-, fourth-, and fifth-graders sang “I Love the Mountains.” After the entertainment, guests connected with their student “conductors” to tour the school, visiting classrooms and seeing first-hand the projects their students were working on. In the library, the guests had the chance to donate a book in honor of their student, and they ended their visit with refreshments in the cafeteria, including coffee donated by Canopy and Moon Pies by Elizabeth Griffin. On their way out, Beth Wingfield took lovely family photos at an enormous blue and gold balloon backdrop created by LMS art teacher Ryan Patterson.

Reflecting on the day, Maggie Estes said, “Faces were all smiles watching the children in the auditorium perform, and it was so sweet to see students grab the hands of their grandparents or special guests to show off their classrooms, art room, science lab, and all their incredible accomplishments at LMS this year.” Maggie laughed that she even saw a child teaching a grandparent how to take a “selfie” to remember the day! Kari Pollard said she loved seeing everyone’s excitement as well, and she was grateful for the support of teachers and parent volunteers who helped with the day. She commented that the support of the LMS community is “why and how our school thrives!”

The next evening, parents and community members gathered in support of LMS again at the “Night Out for Lookout” dinner party and auction. The event was held in the Lookout Mountain Club’s Fairyland Ballroom, where event co-chairs Katherine Smith and Meagan Duke put together a wonderful evening! Guests caught up on lost time while enjoying delicious food and bidding on a wide variety of silent auction items including class murals, student art projects, summer camp vouchers, vacation packages, dinner gift cards, jewelry and home goods, and an impressive array of other items donated by the LMS community. They could even bid to have their child become “Principal for the Day” or be able to pull the school fire alarm! In the live auction later that evening, guests tried to outbid one-another for impressive vacations and experiences, as well as contributing to the night’s special project supporting “Digital Literacy and Mindfulness.”

Mandy Hickey, PTA president, expressed how “incredibly grateful” she was to Katherine Smith and Meagan Duke for their “amazing efforts this year.” She also shared, “It was apparent our community missed [this event] last year, and they were eager to support LMS in a big way.  I loved watching some of our long-term and newer parents come together to make it happen.” A highlight of the evening’s décor was assistant chair Kakhi Wakefield using pottery bud vases made by LMS students as table centerpieces; parents were thrilled to purchase these beautiful works of art to take home after the auction! Assistant chair Morgan Everett expanded the auction’s art offerings as well, helping to secure outstanding pieces by local artists, including some very talented LMS parents.

There is always a sense of relief when big events like these two days are all wrapped up … everyone had a nice time, and everything went well. But this year, that sense of relief was magnified somehow by the sheer joy of getting to have the events at all! We got to see in person the community support for LMS, and we were reminded of what shared joy this community brings. Congratulations to everyone involved in these celebrations of LMS - all your hard work came together beautifully!

by Meredith Brown