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President's Letter
by Alex Winslow, LNA President
"Celebrate we will, because life is short, but sweet for certain." -Dave Matthews Band
The summer is drawing to a close and we thought it would be great to reconnect with our neighbors. This fall, we are launching the LNA Tuesday Hotspot. Every Tuesday we will gather at a local business from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. On September 13 and 20, we’ll meet at Times Ten Cellars. A percentage of all sales for those two days will be donated to LNA by owner Kert Platner. Even if you can’t join us, be sure to stop in to replenish your wine rack for a good cause. Watch for digital notices about the next Tuesday Hotspot.
Reasoning Minds Makes Math Fun!
by Lin Gold and Sarah Mueller
“How much should I limit the time my kids spend with video games and technology?” That’s a common concern for many parents, but a new resource in DISD schools has turned that concern on its head.
Reasoning Minds is a computer game developed by Alexander R.Khachatryan, a Texas A&M professor, in order to help kids learn math. The game actually makes it fun for the kids to learn math. Lakewood Neighborhoood Association president Alex Winslow heard about the game and decided to buy the software to help tutor his children in math. A few months later he introduced Mike Morath, the Lakewood representative on the Dallas ISD School Board, to the program at a presentation at the J. Erik Jonsson Community School. Several other DISD trustees attended the same presentation, and the result was funding for a test run of the program in 20 schools across the district.
The program was such a success that this year all second-grade students in DISD will have access to the computer game. Next year third grade will be added, with fourth, fifth and sixth grades to follow each consecutive year. Mike Morath states, “I see this as the first major step in a very substantial revolution in the way that we teach kids in this country.”
Read more and watch interview with Mike Morath
International Baccalaureate: Raising Educational Benefits
by Sarah Mueller
With the introduction of the International Baccalaureate Program (IB) to both J.L. Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School, LNA thought it would be helpful to learn a little more about the program. Here is what we found out, thanks to publicists Emily Martin and J. Kyle Rains, as well as the IB website . According to Martin, “IB is designed to engender broad conceptual thinking, “connecting the dots” among lots of subject areas.”
IB Students are also encouraged to have an international-mindedness, and to perceive themselves as part of the global community. All IB students learn a second language in order to live and work with others internationally, which is essential for life in the 21st century.
The IB is very complicated, but also extremely rewarding. Martin points out that, “many colleges respect IB credits and will grant college credit hours, like with high scores on AP exams. This can translate to a shortened time in college and less tuition. For example, Mike Morath, the new DISD trustee for District 2 says that his IB diploma from a Garland high school enabled him to graduate from George Washington University in two and a half years.”
The IB program works in four areas: development of curriculum, assessment of students, training and professional development of teachers, and lastly authorization and evaluation of schools. The IB is a very unique program and an amazing opportunity for both students and even teachers.
First off, the IB isn’t just for high school students, it is offered for all students ages 3 to 19. There are three levels, primary, secondary and the diploma program. The program can be offered either individually or as a continuum at IB World Schools.
The primary years program is offered for students ages 3 to 12. This program focuses on preparing the students for a lifelong journey of learning. The child learns about an interconnected world where knowledge is constantly developing.
The secondary years program is for students ages 11 to 16. This program helps a student find their place and have a sense of belonging in the world.
The diploma program is offered for students age 16 to 19. This prepares the students for success at university and beyond. With the IB Diploma Program you can earn 24 hours of college credits. This is on top of the college credits you can earn from AP and dual credit courses.
Martin states that, “even though not every student will choose to participate in IB, it is expected that the stimulating effect among the students, as well as the advanced IB training among the teachers will have a positive effect throughout the entire student body. As they say, ‘A rising tide raises all boats.’”
Read more...
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Opening of World-Class Perot Museum of Nature & Science in Early 2013:
Come Help Build the Museum!
by Becky Mayad
“The Perot Museum [of Nature and Science] is going to be groundbreaking and breathtaking, and it’s going to offer a mind-shaping experience for everyone from toddlers and students, to lifelong learners,” said Forrest Hoglund, chair of the Museum’s expansion campaign.
The building itself will be a “living” example of engineering, sustainability and technology at work. There will be five floors of public space featuring 11 permanent exhibition halls, including a state-of-the art exhibition hall designed to host world-class traveling exhibitions and a children’s museum complete with outdoor play space/courtyard. Highlights include an expansive glass-enclosed lobby and adjacent outdoor terrace with a downtown view; a large-format, multi-media digital cinema with seating for 300; a flexible-space auditorium; a café and a retail store.
For the first time ever, thanks to several generous challenge grants, every donation made by anyone between now and December 31, 2011, has the potential to deliver a 4-to-1 impact! That means a $50 gift will have the potential impact of $200 and so on.
Read more...
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Sustainable Gardening
by Sarah Gardner
PR/Marketing Manager at Texas Discovery Gardens
With record heat and drought this summer in North Central Texas, gardeners have struggled to keep lawns and perennials healthy. Gardening sustainably makes it possible to cut back on watering and maintenance.
Sustainable gardening is water wise, organic and utilizes native/adapted plants. In this new series from Texas Discovery Gardens, we will cover different sustainable gardening tips throughout the next several months.
What is a sustainable garden? It is one that will endure with limited need for watering while strengthening the surrounding environment through biodiversity. As for the greenery, incorporate native and adapted plants that provide nectar sources, shelter, and seeds for local wildlife. A healthy garden is a buffet for birds, rodents, insects, mammals.
Let’s start from the ground up. Healthy soil life is the foundation of a garden. And the first step is a cost cutter and trash saver. Instead, compost kitchen scraps (coffee grounds, crushed egg shells, vegetable peels, etc.) and organic matter like leaves and lawn clippings.
Read more...
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Top Ten Dinner
by Kyle Rains
Woodrow Wilson High School's third annual Top Ten Dinner was held on Tuesday, August 9th at Angelos in Lakewood. The Top Ten grads from the Class of 2010 hosted the recent graduates from May, sharing their college experiences with them. In addition, the 2011 valedictorian Brian Tepera and salutatorian Ana Harris were presented with Woodrow PTA Excellence Awards – both were National Merit Commended and AP Scholars (Brian was a National Scholar).
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Cease the Grease
Find Our Recycling Centers, Win Football Tickets or State Fair Tickets
We’ve set up grease recycling stations all over town, which gave us an idea for a contest. Visit the Cease the Grease page on Facebook and post a picture of yourself recycling used cooking oil at one of the grease recycling stations. (You can find all the neighborhood recycling locations and a link to our Facebook page at www.ceasethegrease.org.) Learn how to win your tickets...
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French Students Visit with Woodrow Students
by Kyle Rains
A group of nine students from France visited Woodrow Wilson High School near the end of the school year. While in Dallas, they went on several sight-seeing trips and to various events to learn about American culture. At Woodrow, they were paired with students in the International Club, sponsored by AP and IB French Teacher Sherry Johnson. Each French student stayed at the home of their Dallas partner. At school, they ‘shadowed’ their American counterpart on his or her daily class schedule.
Last year Woodrow had a visit from students in Germany.
Woodrow, which was accredited this spring as an International Baccalaureate World School, also had ten foreign exchange students for 2010-11. They were from China, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Senegal, Spain, Thailand and two from Sweden.
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Volunteer for Lakewood Elementary
by Stephanie Burgard
I’m excited and honored to be this year’s President of the Lakewood Elementary PTA. At Lakewood, the children use and learn the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People every day. One of my favorites is to “Begin with the end in mind,” which is basically to have a plan or goal. So this year, we asking each family to set a minimum goal of 20 volunteer hours for the year.
To help parents find ways to volunteer, we will be posting volunteer opportunities each week in The Links and in our on-line newsletter. In addition to the big events of Fall Carnival, Spring Carnival, and Home Tour, you can also volunteer in the class room, at field trips, during lunch, through the Friends of Lakewood (Dad’s Club), as a mentor, as a tutor, at career day and much more.
We feel really lucky to live in such as great neighborhood where the since of community is so great. Thank you LNA for all your support.
Stephanie Burgard
PTA President
www.lakewoodelementary.net
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LECPTA Kicks Off School Year
by Lori Volney
Founded in 1952, the Lakewood Early Childhood PTA (LECPTA) is an organization for parents with children from birth to six years, as well as expectant parents, living in Dallas communities east of I-75, south of Lovers Lane, west of Grand Avenue, and north of I-30. Our mission is to enrich the lives of neighborhood children by developing relationships among families and supporting our local public schools.
The heart of who we are can be summarized by our passion to fundraise for our schools. We host several fundraising events including our annual Lakewood Home Festival, where we raised approximately $100,000 in 2009 and $140,000 in 2010 for Lakewood Elementary, J.L. Long Middle School and Woodrow Wilson High School.
Mark your calendar for the 35th Annual Lakewood Home Festival, Nov. 11-13. For more information, ticket sales, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.lakewoodhomefestival.com.
Read more...
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Lakewood Crime Watch Tips
Get to Know Your Neighbors
If you haven’t already, you should get to know your neighbors. This builds a sense of community and makes the neighborhood a safer place. Friendly neighbors can watch out for your home when you are not around and report suspicious activity to the police. When vacation time rolls around, they can keep an eye on your house, water plants and watch over your animal friends. Of course, you will want to do the same for them! It’s a benefit for everyone involved, and all it takes is a simple hello. So go out there, strike up a conversation and get to know your neighbors!
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Woodrow Football Season Opens
by Kyle Rains
The Woodrow Wilson Wildcats are looking forward to another exciting year of gridiron action. Last year the Wildcats went to the playoffs with some of the top stats in regional 4-A competition. The Dallas Morning News ranked the overall sports program in the top ten of North Texas.
Several players return including QB Piers Christian and receiver Shaquille Dottin. They have been friends since middle school. Andre Plata is one of the best athletes in the school and there are two players transferring in from the successful Parish Episcopal School program and another from Mesquite.
Christian was recently voted the top player in DFW in an online poll conducted by iHigh.com. As the winner he was photographed for the cover of VYPE Magazine.
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Friends of Lakewood
Friends of Lakewood (or as it's known locallyl, FOL) is a group of Dads dedicated to enhancing the educational experience of the students at Lakewood Elementary School. Started by a handful of Lakewood Dads in the Fall of 1982, FOL has grown into a large, active group of men who engage the students at Lakewood Elementary in many different ways, including the Math Maniacs Program, the Math Olympiad, the Lakewood Outdoor Learning Area, and the annual Field Day activities. We also provide support for the many different school activities that take place throughout the year, including the Fall Festival, Family Supper Night, the Science Fair, and the Spring Carnival, and you can even find us serving as crossing guards on Wendover!
Don't miss out on the fun! Join us today by emailing friendsoflakewood@gmail.com.
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