411 on 115 - 4.26.23

April 26, 2023

Last week, I had the chance to do one of my favorite annual traditions - a student shadow day.

In my career, especially as I have ventured out of the classroom and into the administrative setting, I find that I still get the most inspiration, candid feedback, and perspective on what matters from our students. Thank you to junior Allie Hektor (who I tried not to embarrass too much) for allowing me an opportunity to spend a day in her life, visiting AP Environmental Science, Latin 4-H, Graphic Design 4, and AP English Language and Composition. Not to mention lunch!

My day with Allie was invaluable. No infographic, social media post, website news article, or email blast could accurately capture what it means to receive a Lake Forest High School education because the essence is in every detail of our students' days. In just the span of a few hours, I saw classes where individualized attention was par for the course and every single student question was answered and explained. I witnessed teachers lead students through translation exercises that brought out each individual's perspective and point of view, bringing their voices to life. I sat amazed as students, one after another, drew conclusions from their class book that I'm not sure some experts would have considered.

I also watched as AP preparations were underway and similar to the SAT and ACT, teachers linked course content directly to test questions as they would likely appear to allow students to prepare confidently. I also was lucky enough to be taught something entirely new to me - graphic design - by a professional who had patience, compassion, and empathy for every type of learner entering into their classroom. When Dr. Lenart says it is great to be a Scout, she means it and it was evident during my day on campus.

Coming out of my shadow day, I reflected on what Allie and her friends told me during lunch about what they would like to see change for future Scouts. More parking is at the top of the list as was working to stagger assessments more by departments when possible. All in all, I was impressed by how thoughtful they were - not just about what they could do to improve LFHS for future students but also in how they managed school-life balance, split time between homework, athletics, and extracurriculars, and found time to enjoy the company of friends.

While just one day offers a brief vignette of the overall LFHS experience, I am eager to take my experience and use it to inform our decisions - especially as we begin to embark on the next phase of strategic planning: action planning and metrics development.

Matthew L. Montgomery, Ph.D.

Superintendent

With the passage of the Lake Forest Community High School District 115 $105.7 million 20-year bond referendum, District 115 will now move into the next phase of planning with the assembly of a District 115 Capital Projects Advisory Committee to provide community consultation on projects funded by the bond. This will be a small group of qualified volunteers with relevant backgrounds such as architecture, construction, engineering, and interior design. Applications for the District 115 Capital Projects Advisory Committee may be submitted using the button below no later than Monday, May 1 at 5:00pm.

For more information about the bond, please visit our District 115 referendum website.

Click here to apply for the District 115 Capital Projects Advisory Committee

• Tuesday, May 9 - Regular Meeting
  
• Tuesday, June 13 - Regular Meeting

Agendas will be posted prior to the meeting on the District 115 Board of Education website.

• Agenda - Regular Meeting

• Recording of Regular Meeting

• Superintendent's Report

We hope you'll join us at Knollwood Club on Friday, April 28 for this year's Annual Spring Luncheon. Enjoy a lovely lunch with friends, win fabulous raffles prizes & bid on amazing auction items, too! Funds raised will go toward future grants at LFHS.

There is still time to buy raffle tickets and to bid on our auction items.

• Raffle ticket sales CLOSE at NOON on April 28

• Auction CLOSES at 7 PM on April 28

Purchase Tickets and Bid on Auction Items Here

LFHS Foundation is thrilled to partner with LFHS in support of the Business Incubator. We provide volunteer coaches, mentors, and judges, support all teams during the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) phase with allocations from our $5,000 standing annual grant, and host Pitch Night. We need support from our community to build the 2023 Pitch Night prize fund. Please consider joining us as a Pitch Night Partner. Learn more about partnership benefits at various giving levels:

Pitch Night Partnership Opportunities Form (must be submitted by May 1, 2023)

Business Incubator Pitch Night - May 18, 2023. Visit the Business Incubator webpage for more information!

LFHS Reads is a summer reading program offered annually at the high school that offers a great way for students and staff to connect and read for the fun of it! Students and staff sign up for a book to read over the summer and join a book discussion breakfast in the fall. Participants will receive a free copy of the book they select!

This year, we are offering a discussion group designed for only incoming freshman hosted by Superintendent Dr. Matthew L. Montgomery. This freshman-only discussion group will be based on the young adult fiction novel In the Wild Light, "A poignant coming-of-age novel about two best friends whose friendship is tested when they get the opportunity to leave their impoverished small town for an elite prep school."

Sign up here: bit.ly/lfhsreads.

We are excited to share that the following LFHS students have been nominated to 2023 Prom Court! Congratulations to Hannah Balmelli, Elizabeth Flynn, Ryder Gamrath, Eshaan Jayaswamy, Samuel Ma, Alejandro Orestano, Aiden Puthenveetil, Dylan Rich, Sage Sherman, August Silver, Bolurin Taiwo, and Logan Uihlein!

Don't forget! Prom 2023, Dancing in the Moonlight, will take place on Saturday, May 6 at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. The schedule for the evening is:

• 5:00pm - Check in at LFHS Commons
• 5:30pm - Red Carpet begins at LFHS
• 6:45pm - Motor Coaches depart for the Hyatt
• 11:00pm - Motor Coaches depart for LFHS

The LFHS Math Team competed in the Illinois State Contest this past weekend. Awards earned include:

• 6th Place for the Junior/Senior Eight Person Team Event
• 8th Place in Team Standings for the Precalculus Individual Written Event
• 9th Place for the Calculator Team Event
• 10th Place in Team Standings for the Geometry Individual Written Event

Congratulations to all Participants!

Sufyan Hussain, Alejandro Leahy, Kellen Hernandez, James Wang, Thomas Curry, Elizabeth Silvay, Albert Jie, Felix Gu, Devin Parsons, Carolyn Stach, Raunak Singh, Nicholas Pizzo, Alexa Richer, Meghan Pierce, Ashwin Joshi, Neil Purohit, Luke Helms, Laurel Curry, Kate Johnson, Emily Updike, Tommy Van Camp, Ike Vander Velde, Will Boyle, Gregor White, and Sid Jindal!

The Art Department is excited to announce the winners of our recent art shows!

North Suburban Conference Art Festival

North Suburban Conference Art Festival celebrates the fantastic artwork created throughout the Conference. Each year one of the schools of the NSC Conference will host a festival that culminates in an art show. During the festival, each school's exhibit is juried by teachers of another school that choose the top ten awards. The workshop artists will choose one "Artist Choice" award for each school.

Artist Choice:

Aiden Marquez - Animation

Top Ten:

Valarie Jiao

Bella Ranallo

Allie Hektor

Maggie Jarrinen

Isabella Hernandez

Via Conopeotis

Hanna Sands

Aiden Marquez

Carolyn Stach

Sophie Benjakul

Deer Path Art League Emerging Artists Exhibit

Emerging Artists is hosted by the Deer Path Art League to celebrate the work of local artists from the elementary to high school level. The show is on display during the month of April in Market Square in Lake Forest. The Mayor of Lake Forest chooses awards for artists from each school. Mayoral Choice winners will be recognized at the May 15 City Council meeting.

IHSAE Art Connected

IHSAE Art Connected is a juried art exhibit held at the Bridgeport Art Center each year that celebrates the creative work of students from the northern part of Illinois. Each school has up to 6 entries, one in each of the following categories: photography, drawing/painting, mixed media, ceramics, design, and time arts. Students have the opportunity to win college scholarships and invitations to high-quality summer art programs.

Ready for an adventure? Lake Forest High students take audiences on an amazing journey in the fantastical musical “Big Fish,” directed by LFHS teachers John Wanninger and Kelly MacBlane, and based on the Daniel Wallace novel and the Tim Burton film. “Big Fish” follows the story of Edward Bloom, a charming traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest with his tall tales about everything from befriending a giant to saving a small town. With heart and humor, “Big Fish” will enthrall audiences.

Performances are 7 p.m. Thursday, April 27; Friday, April 28; and Saturday, April 29 in the Raymond Moore Auditorium. Tickets: $10-$20 at https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?show=143248

Featuring Rachel Macy Stafford & Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D.

Apr 27, 2023 07:00 PM

To learn more and register: www.bit.ly/StaffordFANSponsor

In Soul Shift: The Weary Human’s Guide to Getting Unstuck and Reclaiming Your Path to Joy, New York Times bestselling author and celebrated motivational speaker Rachel Macy Stafford guides us on a journey to remember and reconnect with what truly delights and fulfills our hearts. Throughout this shame-free, hope-filled guide, you’ll follow the guidance of your soul through eight key areas of discovery—self-worth, forgiveness, authenticity, and more. As you gain valuable awareness, you’ll be able to shift how you respond to life’s challenges, replacing depleting habits with growing presence and healing joy.

Featuring Gretchen Rubin, Five-time New York Times bestselling author and host of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast; and Olga Khazan, Staff writer for The Atlantic and author of the 2020 book Weird: The Power of Being an Outsider in an Insider World.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023, 7:00 PM (on Zoom)

To learn more and register: www.bit.ly/RubinFANWebinar

In her latest book, Life in Five Senses: How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World, a revelatory journey of self-experimentation, Rubin explores the mysteries and joys of the five senses as a path to a happier, more mindful life. Drawing on cutting-edge science, philosophy, literature, and her own efforts to practice what she learns, she investigates the profound power of tuning in to the physical world.

This year, our “graduating class” of 17 talented teachers and staff members represent a total of 411 years of service. Together, they have taught and supported thousands of students during their LFHS careers. Each 411, we will share several of their profiles. Please join us in thanking and congratulating them!

• LFHS Band Notes - April 2023