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!
by Meredith Brown
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!
by Meredith Brown
RSS Feed