Lowell Whiteman School

Powder Days Coming

What’s a Powder Day?  We’re famous for them.  We look at the weather, the snowfall and if it’s “prime” the whole school goes to the mountain to ski and ride in the steep and deep.  But it affects our academic schedule, and though the kids are probably cool with this, it might be confusing for parents.  You can find schedules of all kinds on our web site, including what happens when we have a Powder day!

or you can:

Go to www.lws.edu.

click on LWS Programs, choose Academics.

Click on LWS Class Schedules and look for Powder Day Schedules

Yes, we understand how you would like to be a high school student again.  Be sure and enroll as an LWS student in your next life.

We need YOU Parents for the Winter Carnival Parade

LWS is going to make a big splash on Sunday, February 7th, 11:00, downtown Steamboat.  For many years, WE WON the Winter Carnival Parade.  We intend to do so again.  Students, faculty and staff will be riding a float, pulling a diamond-hitch of skiers and dancing to Twist & Shout. Senior, Konrad Becker, plans to do the honors on the singing, center stage.  Residential Hall Parent, Lainey Heartz, will be coordinating the simple dance steps.  We hope many Residential and Day Students and local parents will attend!  We’d love to see parents there, walking with us.  We are LWS, we want the town and the visitors to know it!  Funny hats, LWS sweatshirts, SSWSC jackets, and penguin outfits are all welcome.   We won’t know where we are lining up until Friday. Stay tuned to current news!

Official Olympic Team Results – 3 LWS Olympians

It’s official, three of our alums will go to Vancouver – Johnny Spillane (Nordic-Combined), Ryan St. Onge (Freestyle Aerials) and Michelle Gorgone (at right – Alpine Snowboarding.)  How great that our Whiteman family can watch the Olympics and have someone to cheer for!  Congratulations to our Olympians!   We are at 17 Olympians and counting.  And did you know, ‘89 LWS alum, Dave Jarrett is the US Nordic Combined Coach!  Very cool.

Ski/Ride &Sports Results

Logan Banning – The Steamboat Springs Bantam A hockey team won the Colorado Cup in Colorado Springs during the weekend, compiling a 5-0 tournament record!  The Steamboat Pilot-Today reported, “Playing against teams from across the region, Steamboat — a collection of 13- and 14-year-old players rolled the tournament, culminating in a 5-3 win Monday against the Colorado Springs Junior Tigers.  The team also defeated squads from Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.

Vreni Lupear – December, 2009 – 5th overall – Topolino Trials in Vail.  This involves 12 women and 15 men selected from previous year JO results.

Chloe Banning – Copper Mountain NorAm Boardercross competitions -1st on Jan 18 and 2nd on Jan 19.   Big White, Canada NorAms – 4th on Jan 30 and 1st on Jan 31.

Shane McLean – got a 3^rd overall & two 1^st in juniors (under 19) this week in two Super G races in the first races of the Five race Winter Park Speed Series. These are FIS Elite races. Check out http://www.skiracing-digital.com – Shane got some ink in this issue. Press Click Here then go to the FIS/Jr.s page or pg. 41 on the left.

• Soldier Hollow- America’s largest junior ski race- 643 racers
• Charlie Von Thaden finishes in the middle of the J1/OJ field in his first two JNQ starts
• 17 of 20 SSWSC athletes qualify for the Sprint Heats
• J1/OJ Girls Sprint- Frias-5th, Piske 8th, Newman 12th, Neal 20th
• Saturday Classic- Frias, Piske, Neal go 2nd,3rd,5th- juniors overall- that is 19 and younger- these girls are all 16

Johnny Spillane, '99 – World Cup Win, January 2010

Steamboat Olympic Trial Results

If you didn’t  catch the action on TV over the holidays, the world’s best skiers were in town trying to win their spot on the Olympic Teams in Steamboat!  Freestylers  competed on the newly named “Travis Mayer Competition Venue” on VooDoo.  You might remember Travis, LWS’s very own Olympic Freestyle Silver Medalist and Cornell graduate.   He’s now attending Harvard Business School -  proof enough that you can ski and get an excellent education.  Congratulations to Travis for this honor.

Alums who competed in the trials were aerialist and World Champion Ryan St. Onge, and bump skiers Eliza Outtrim, and Emiko Torito.   Their spots on Olympic teams are still to be determined as the season progresses.  Alum Johnny Spillane guaranteed his spot on the Nordic team; he is Vancouver bound.  He is currently doing very well on the World Cup circuit as well.   Also, keep your eye on snowboarder alumna Michelle Gorgone.  It’s fun to watch the Olympics when our Whiteman family are involved!   We have 17 athletes from LWS (and counting) who have gone to the Olympics in the past.  Check out our Olympians page to learn more about these athletes.

Molly Newman crowned Winter Carnival Queen

Our own Molly Newman will be Winter Carnival Queen and will host events for the 95th Annual Steamboat Winter Carnival sponsored by Winter Sports Club.   Congratulations to Molly!  And just a note, teacher Erin Davis was once Winter Carnival Queen; it is very much an honor.  If you have never seen Winter Carnival, it’s worth a visit.  Steamboat’s marching band on skis will be gracing the parade for the 71st time.  Rodeo cowboys race on skis or wreck on skis.  Skiers jump through fiery hoops and ski at night with torches.  If you want to see first hand what Winter Carnival is like, check out our Calendar of Events page for Steamboat.  We have a winter carnival movie posted there.

Parents Weekend, February 2010 Coming Soon!

Do you have your travel plans all set for our upcoming Parents Weekend? -  February 19th-23rd.    Margi will soon be contacting you about parent/teacher conferences.  More information to follow.  Check out our Steamboat info page for hotel and other informatioin.

LWS Celebrates Martin Luther King Day

Students had a special presentation in all-student meeting about Martin Luther King.   Our vacations are longer at holidays and at spring break to accommodate students who must travel so far, so we don’t take all the usual holidays off.  But we still take this special day very seriously and use the opportunity to educate about Martin Luther King and what he stood for.  History classes spent the day discussing him and that turbulent period in history and how things have progressed since then.

Proficiency/Deficiencies

Proficiency/Deficiencies went out in email today.  Watch your in-boxes.   Advisers will be meeting with students today and tomorrow to discuss them.  The Academic Adviser program was designed for just such a situation – students and advisers can discuss grades, effort and homework here at school and work  to devise tactics and strategies for improvement.  For instance, today, I had a conversation with a senior who had received an Academic Notice – simply an alert that not all homework is getting turned in on time. We talked about using day planners, palm pilots and even email to try and remind her what work she has due the following day.  We decided just winging it wasn’t the best idea!

Sometimes students will stress getting a paper done and will skip homework in other classes.  Advisers talk about proper use of study hall time – (students have two a day) and also talk about time-management techniques among other things.   Perhaps reading can be done in the quiet periods of study hall and other homework can be done later in dorms or at home after school.

Molly Newman Competes Under A Full Moon

There was, however, lots of good news in the proficiency department for many students!

Current Student Competitive Results from Ski Coordinator, Gina Wither

Projectors and Flat Panel TV’s Needed

Brick Root, Retired LWS Teacher – In Antarctica

So you teach for 20 years at LWS -  what do you do after that?

The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said that it is difficult to predict how much the vast ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica will contribute to sea-level rise because so little is known about the behavior of the ice sheets.   It wasn’t all cold and misery according to Brick,  “I got to see some penguins,” he wrote, “the tracks where they slid on their bellies looked so strange in the snow.”  At first, he didn’t know what kind of tracks he was looking at, then he saw the penguins  and went ohhhh! He also got some skiing in, and visited some ice caves.  He is now spending a few months working on an organic farm in New Zealand which is really making Margi jealous.  She’s the major green thumb in the family.

Travel Plans

Students need to be thinking about informing Mr. Globe of their travel plans for the holidays. Shuttles will take students to the airport as per usual but it’s really helpful to know who is flying out when. Email GlobeM@lws.edu with any questions.

LWS Musicians, Singers, Dancers & Clubs

Ross Petersen played the violin in the Steamboat Orchestra Christmas Concert 12/5 and 12/6. Anissa Corser and Margi sang with her choir class from the Community College with at the Methodist Church two weeks ago. Lots of LWS staff and faculty attended. Shelby Dyer is looking for sponsors for the Steamboat Dance Concert. She has come really far with her freestyle skiing AND she dances. We have talented kids. Shelby, Betsy Neal and others are also starting a Green Team, here on campus.

Horse Camp Trip Snack

Horse Program Slumber Party 12/11/09

The horse program is long over, but we all had so much fun this year and on desert week, Mrs. Sanford and Miss Durkan decided to have a slumber party.  We baked cookies, decorated for the holidays, watched movies, danced and even wrote a song. Mrs. Sanford’s house looks great! Thanks to all who participated.

What One Alumna Says About Her Education Goals

Margo Fragola, class of 2007, reports that she is studying science with an emphasis in Environmental Sciences at the University of Northern Colorado.“I can’t help but feel that we have such a major problem on our hands and we aren’t doing enough to stop it. I really enjoyed sciences, especially Chemistry at Whiteman. I found it very interesting even though it was hard. It got me started on the path.” You parents might be interested to know that Margo Fragola had never liked school when she first arrived at LWS, but she set her mind to doing well here. She loved the camping and foreign travel programs. She made life-long friends in the Horse program. She said her relationships with her teachers was the deciding factor in her success, and she can’t thank LWS enough. She received the Academic Dean Award in 2007 which Doc gives to students who show the most improvement in academics during their years at LWS. She went from struggling hard with her grades, to winning an award and doing well in college. Is it too corny to say, Inspiring Minds, Inspiring Lives? N’ahhhhhhh. Anyway, that’s our new phrase for what we do and what the LWS Experience is all about. What do you think?

Yearbook Parent Ad Time – See your email from Yearbook, Reserve Your Space

Every year parents and loved ones are given the chance to dedicate Yearbook pages to their Senior students. These are called Parents Ads. Some are a walk

Yearbook Parent Ad Example

down memory lane, some just have a good time with the senior in question. We have emailed instructions to senior parents. The first step is to reserve your space. Email Mrs. Sanford at mail at Sanfordt@lws.edu with questions. See the example at right.

Speakers Visit LWS, Dan Caro and Mark Romero

Recently, our Spanish teacher, Peter Hall, brought in a speaker he met while performing with his own band in Steamboat. Dan Caro, a fellow musician, was horribly burned in a garage fire as a child of two. He lost his right hand, most of his left and was severely scarred. Surgery gave him the use of a movable thumb and since then, he has been “living life to the fullest” His message and his book talk about persistence his life long dream of becoming a musician. He eventually became a really impressive drummer and has played with many music stars in his home town of New Orleans. He told our students there just isn’t an excuse in the world good enough to get him down and invited LWS students to live in the same way. He said happiness and enthusiasm for life are decisions. You don’t wait for happiness to happen. You make it happen. Dan speaks in many venues, has done stints with Wayne Dyer on PBS about positive thinking, and is spending the winter in Steamboat. Marc Romero, Adaptive skier spoke at the all school student meeting 12/9/09. Marc lost his leg in a motorcycle accident but it didn’t stop him from going on to ski the steep and deep off the trails. On Jan. 5, Romero’s film “Heroes of the Slopes” will make a theatrical premiere at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen. Thanks to Mr. Hall and Mr. Globe for these uplifting, morale building stories.

Do You Know Lainey Heartz? Dorm Parent & Art Teacher

Lainey and Cody Heartz. Lainey is the Residence Hall Parent at Elizabeth Hall, teaches Art and Cody is our Maintenance Director

If you haven’t met her yet, we hope you get a chance. Lainey Heartz is a unique faculty member. We all know she’s well loved as the Girls’ Residence Hall Parent. The girls say she has the patience of a saint and that she is at her best when the girls need someone to see them through tough days. She is known to be gentle, kind, understanding, and open-minded, a good friend and mentor. But did you also know…..she has a Bachelor of Creative Arts from the University of Wollongong, in Australia. She is after all, Australian and we all love to hear her speak.

Lainey has 19 years of modern dance experience, including 5 years of dance coaching, and was placed 5th in the state of NSW for high school dance upon graduating from a Performing Arts High School. In art school, she exhibited paintings and photographs in galleries around the Illawarra area (NSW, Australia.) She is adding a new dimension to our art program. She completed a semester abroad in Boulder, CO, and from there spent a couple of months traveling through Canada, Mexico, Central America, the UK, and Western Europe. She has traveled to Fiji, Thailand, and Indonesia, as well as many of the Australian states. Her husband, Cody, is our Maintenance Director who we also consider to be a gem of a human being and already indispensable.

AP Environmental Science Project

Miss Durkan & APES Class Soil Testing 2009

Miss Durkan reports that the AP Environmental Science class has been learning about the specific ecological services provided by wetland areas like water filtration and flood control. Initially the students surveyed the wetland area impacted by the new Boys’ Residence Hall construction in order to determine where the willow cuttings should be planted. Based on research and expert advice, the class planted roughly 35 cuttings. In the spring, students will measure the cutting mortality and compare water quality data with data collected this fall and last year.

Yearbook Still Looking for High School Sport Photos

We know we have participants in cross country, lacrosse, volleyball, etc., and that those sports might not have even started yet. If you have photos from last year or even photos of your student in a uniform, we could really use them. The Sports page for yearbook is already due. Email them to sanfordt@lws.edu. Thank you.

School starts Mondays at 8:00 am during the winter class schedule but at 7:50 Tuesday-Friday.

Students need to get to school on time.  The extra time allows us to get on the mountain soon enough to ski and to make foreign trip, lunches and everything else work smoothly.

Deans/Honors Lists are Out – Grades are in Your Email Inbox

Deans: Alex Barounos*, Luci Franklin*, Galen Goldscheitter, Maria Hillenbrand, David Lea, Tessa Lindahl*, Kenzie Marshall*, Anna Marno, Morgan Mertz, Ross Petersen*, Dylan Thomas* – *DEAN’S for the FIRST TIME.  YAHOO! from Doc.

Honors: (based on 1^st Trimester Grades) -Chloe Banning, Logan Banning*, Anissa Corser, George DeGrandis*, Michael DeGrandis, Liz Finch, Matt Fostvedt*, Sadie Grossbaum, Robert Hardy, Will Horner, Charlie Lakin, Maddy Marshall, Betsy Neal, Molly Newman, Erik Petersen*, Zach Schmidt*, LoLo Thornton*, Charlie Von Thaden, Christine Wolfe.  *Congratulations, Newcomers

Recreational Ski Activity Started Tuesday

The Ski and Ride recreational activity started on Tuesday and will run Tuesday and Wednesday all winter.  The bus leaves LWS at 1:15 sharp.   Students must check in at the gondola building between 1:35 and 1:40.  Students who have permission to drive may not be late.  The snow isn’t great yet and it’s cold, cold, cold.  It will snow if we all do a snow dance.  Students need to dress warmly and wear a helmet during all ski/ride activities here and at the mountain.  Parents, can you believe sometimes we have to point out to students that it’s a gift to be able to ski or ride during a school day and the other option would be plain old PE and how icky would that be with all that beautiful terrain to snow and ride out there?  Oh, to be 16 again.  Mrs. Sanford is looking for an old t-shirt that says, “No Whining,” does anyone still have one?

Ryan St. Onge,Class of 2001

Olympic  Trials in Steamboat Springs Dec 23 & 24th!   – Nordic and Freestyle

Freestyle and Nordic Combined athletes will get a one shot, winner-takes-all chance at making the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team as the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) and U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association (USSA) host the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team Trials in Steamboat Springs Dec. 23-24.  A total of five U.S. Olympic Team spots in moguls, aerials and nordic combined will be up for grabs on those two days in the Colorado resort town.  Talk about an amazing chance to see some great athletes up close.  This event is scheduled to air on NBC at 2:30 p.m. ET on Dec. 26 if you can’t be here in person.

According to Skipressworld.com: The likes of World Champions and hometown heroes Todd Lodwick and Johnny Spillane (Lowell Whiteman School Class of 1999) (both from  Steamboat Springs, CO) as well as World Champion and former Steamboat resident Billy Demong (Vermontville, NY) will each look for a wildcard spot on the U.S. Olympic Team prior to the official team selection. The combined events will be held at Steamboat’s historic Howelsen Hill in the heart of the city and home to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.

After the nordic combined competition, the Trials moves to the moguls event on the afternoon of Dec. 23 at nearby Steamboat Ski Resort. World Cup moguls champion Hannah Kearney (Norwich, VT), Olympic silver medalist Shannon Bahrke (Tahoe City, CA) and moguls World Champion Patrick Deneen (Cle Elum, WA), local favorite Emiko Torito (Lowell Whiteman School Class of 1999) and their teammates will all be going after their shot at being named to the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

The party continues after the awards are made on Dec. 23 with a night of live music and celebration in the heart of the mountain village.  The event wraps up on Christmas Eve morning as Colorado native, SSWSC athlete and aerials World Champion Ryan St. Onge (Lowell Whietman School class of 2001), Olympian and executor of the highest scored trick on the World Cup aerials circuit Jeret “Speedy” Peterson (Boise, ID) and World Cup winner and U.S. Ski Team veteran Emily Cook (Belmont, MA) fly, flip and stick their chance at landing a place on the 2010 U.S. Olympic Team.

“Going home to compete in Colorado is always my favorite,” St. Onge said. “We don’t get to compete there very often, so it’s a unique experience for me. I’m going back there to win. The last time I competed in Colorado I won, so hopefully I can do it again.” - credit Skipressworld.com.

LWS is a hotbed of Amazing Athletes

Shane McLean GS

Six LWS Alums and one current student (Anna Marno) are on the US Teams and vying for spots on the final teams to go to the Big O in Vancouver.

• Anna Marno — Class of 2010, Alpine Ski Racing
• Johnny Spillane — Class of 1999, Nordic Combined
• Ryan St.’Onge — Class of 2001, Freestyle Aerials
• Eliza Outtrim — Class of 2003, Freestyle Moguls
• Emiko Torito — Class of 1999, Freestyle Moguls
• Michelle Gorgone — Class of 2001, Alpine Snowboard
• Matt Ladley – Freestyle Snowboard,

Betsy Neal and Molly Newman promoting an Environmental Awareness Fund

This past summer, LWS Senior Betsy Neal lost her brother Willie in an accident.  The Jackson Hole Daily reported  “Wilson youth Willie Neal, who won an unprecedented eight state Nordic skiing championships and served as a delegate to last August’s Democratic National Convention, died Sunday after being hit by a car while he was roller-skiing in Maine.”    Willie was very concerned about the environment and so friends and family have created the “Willie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund.”    They are promoting no idle laws.  According to www.idle-free.org, “Ten seconds of idling uses more fuel use than turning off the engine and restarting it.  So if you are stopping for more than 10 seconds – except in traffic, turn off the engine.” This includes newer diesel trucks. Betsy and Molly explained at a recent student meeting that the fund is selling hats, signs, notecards, bumper stickers and more but for now, the Ecommerce is under contruction.  You can view the items for sale at Wilie Neal Environmental Awareness Fund and email your orders to Mneal4863@yahoo.com or you can email Betsy at NealB@lws.edu.

New Student

Welcome new student TJ Tharp.  He’s from Boulder, Colorado and already settling in nicely.

Yearbook Ads Letter coming to your email boxes…

If you have a senior graduating this year….keep an eye out for an email from me (Mrs. Sanford) about how you can purchase a special recognition ad (called Parent ads) for your senior in this year’s yearbook.  Seniors are also granted 1/2 page (called Senior pages) to express themselves but luckily, parents get the last word at the back of the book!  Be looking through those embarrassing baby pictures and be ready for your senior to come home over the holiday break asking for photos for the 1/2 page they will complete with a yearbook artist.   They might want to look at photo albums with you; this can be a lot of fun.

How to Deal with Your Senior

Being 17 again would be pretty cool, me thinks, but keep in mind, this time in the life of a senior in high school is a real up and down roller coaster.   It can be as hard on parents as it is on seniors.  They know their seniors are leaving soon and stress levels go up all over the place.  You want them to go, you want them to stay.

Seniors feel they same way.  They’re excited to leave the nest and go to college and this may be hard for parents to watch.   They know they won’t be seeing much of their friends next year when they have to start over as Freshmen in a new place.   They might be worried about leaving everything behind, including their parents. At the same time, they are also distressed over SAT’s, worried over first trimester grades and college applications.  This stress has increased exponentially in the last years as the college entrance process has become more competitive.

LWS is well prepared to help them if they are cooperative and responsible about it.  Meg Morse, College Counselor, is a whiz, very dedicated and experienced.  She makes daily announcements about what they should be doing both on their own and in Naviance.  She is working with staff and faculty to get those letters of recommendations written and she writes hers very carefully with input from anyone who knows or has worked with your senior.  Most schools don’t come close to this level of dedication.

So if your senior is grumpy, nervous, eating a lot, not eating at all, sleeping too much or too little, arguing with you over curfews and using the car, just remember that all of this is probably normal.  Excitement and grief loss over leaving home are all compacted into an extremely busy year. Keep a close eye on them as we do with the residence students here on campus.  Be available to talk.  A great source for parents is School.familyeducation.com and it has an article for parents that fits this scenario.  “Parents should not feel neglected, rejected or shunned by their seniors’ spending so much of their free time with friends. There are things you can do to make it easier.  Tell them that you know how tough it is to say goodbye to their friends.  Invite their friends for dinner.  Host a couple of parties for them and their friends. Share how you felt during this emotional time in your life, when you were in their shoes.”   Keep an open mind about how they might be acting.

Tempers might be close to the surface on both sides.  They need to know why you’re feeling the way you do, too.  Take a deep breath and think together where the stress might be coming from.  Talking about these things openly and remind each other what might really be behind emotional reactions. My Mom set my curfew on weekend nights to 10:30 when I was 18.  I think it was just a case of temporary brain damage and empty nest syndrome.

……………………….Trenia Sanford/Technology Director, Teacher and more recently, Web Guru

LWS Grads to Be Inducted in Ski Jumpers Hall of Fame

Recently, we learned that Johnny Spillane (’99),  Ryan Heckman (’93) and Todd Lodwick  will be included with a group of former ski jumpers  inducted into the American Ski Jumping Hall of Fame located in Red Wing, Minnesota.  The date of induction is December 6th.    Johnny and Ryan are LWS graduates.  LWS can’t really claim Todd Lodwick, unless you count the fact that he often visited the Elizabeth Hall common room during his high school career – he was dating an LWS girl, Sunny, whom he later married.  Sunny graduated in 1995.  So we can sort of claim him.  Johnny Spillane is currently training for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

Austria Ski & Study Abroad Program Home

Our ski racers are home with stories of their adventures, exciting alpine training and old-fashioned hard school work.  Gina Wither, Ski Coordinator, regaled the All School meeting today with tales of miles and miles of skiing, hours of homework day and night, 400 lbs of chocolate eaten, 2 km of sausage eaten and 60 hours of ski tuning.  “The program fulfilled almost every part of our mission, can you guys recite the mission?”  she asked.  She read it to her rapt audience and showed some amazing slides of the month spent in Austria.  Ski Racing Magazine picked up the story as well and the results are positive.  Go Alpiners!  To read more, check out Austria, Ski & Study Abroad.

LWS Parent Survey in Your Email Inboxes….

Photo by Tessa Lindahl, Fall Horse Camp Trip

The 2009 LWS Parent Survey has been sent out via email to all our parents. Please look for the email in your inbox and complete the survey today!  It will only take a few minutes of your time, and will be of great assistance to us.  If you have any questions, please contact Julia at julia@lws.edu or 970-879-1350, x 10. Thanks in advance for your time and help!

Ski & Ride Photos

As Trenia Sanford and her staff complete yearbook pages, they’ll need photos of all the snow sports possible.  Yearbook ships in late February so if you have free ski, nordic, or snowboard photos from last year, please send them to sanfordt@lws.edu.  Low resolution from Facebook are not as useful for publishing so try and send higher res.  Also, Trenia is working on revamping the ski and ride pages on the web site.  Stay tuned.  PS, we also need cross country and lacrosse photos.

Doc says “Start Studying for Exams Now…”

In Student meeting on Friday, Doc Lasko talked about how to handle the week before finals.  Tension can get high, she said, “Try and manage your mental state, get lots of sleep, eat well.  Stay hydrated.    Start arranging  your study materials now; make flash cards, gather your notes, get questions clarified, come up with a study schedule and stick to it.  Use your study halls wisely.”  Why do we do trimester comprehensive exams the way we do at LWS?  “Because exams are learning tools, they anchor what you’ve learned in your mind.  Revisiting material is invaluable,” explained Doc.  “When you get to college, you may have one exam and one paper for the whole semester; we teach you how to handle that and do well.”  She warned students to keep a positive attitude with themselves and their friends.  “Don’t waste valuable time griping, it doesn’t get you anywhere.  Positive action is the way to go.”   She gave some hints on how to approach exam questions and which study tools are better than others.  Doc should know, she’s been doing this for over 20 years.

Review day is Wednesday the 18th, exams are Thursday – Saturday, 19-21st.

Wolf T-Shirt Wednesday

A new club has emerged. Students Maria Hillenbrand and Phillip Bishop were encouraging students and teachers to wear wolf t-shirts on Wednesdays.  Why?  This was not explained.  Mr. Linville announced “Camel T-Shirt Thursdays.”  The LWS mascot is a penguin.  How about Penguin Mondays?

Mr. Globe’s Nose Still Intact

Dean of Students, Mitch Globe, suffered multiple injuries to his nose in the last couple of months.  After doctors fixed a bump from his last break, he developed a staph infection.  Just as that was healing, in fact the very same week, he got nailed by a tree-branch clearing brush at his home.  Anyone with a used hocky mask, let us know.  We’re thinking this would make a nice holiday gift.  He has managed to make it almost three weeks without re-injury.

Galen Goldscheitter does well at Copper Noram Qualifiers

Gina Wither, Ski Coordinator announced at the all-school meeting Galen’s impressive finish at the Copper Noram Qualifiers in Alpine Snowboard GS.  He finished 4th in the Juniors on Thursday and 2nd on Friday.  Overall, he finished 36th on Thursday and 31st on Friday.  Go Galen!  We love to report things like this on the web so keep the info coming!  Pictures, too.

Classic Steamboat History

Chemistry teacher Nikki Durkan was sent a link to an old Steamboat Ski Movie.  It’s fun to watch and gives you a flavor of where our town and ski area came from.  It was made some time in the late 60’s early 70’s.

Snowing Like Mad

As I write at 2:29 pm. Friday, it’s snowing and snowing.  Big wet snowflakes which are sticking.  Yay!  Kakela boys are eye-balling the ski hill and are waiting for final bell so they can strap on skis and snowboards and play on the rails.  Dry-land training today, well, it won’t be dry.  Students need to consider putting on snow tires, the season is upon us.

Lowell Whiteman School featured in the local paper three times in one week!  Check it out.

Parents Weekend Fun and Eventful

Branding the Bunkhouse Handrail for New Dorm

During Parents Weekend, the highlight of events was lunch at the New Boys’ Residence Hall.   The framing is mostly complete on the new construction and parents and students got to wander through the rooms.  Though it was a bit cold, there was hot soup and sandwiches and folks could stand around the camp fire built in front of the building.  Margi Missling-Root, Director of Experiential Education, had conceived of a great way to remember the old Bunkhouse Dorm and celebrate the new Boys’ Residence Hall.  She and Maintenance Director Cody Heartz pulled an old handrail out of the Bunkhouse,  something Margi said, “many hands had touched.”  Trenia Sanford, Technology and Horse Program Director, used the school’s over 50-year-old cattle brand, the old #9, to brand the rail.  It will go into the New Boys’ Residence Hall in the main entry.  Thanks to parents, students and teachers for making class visitations and conferences a success.  Check out the Steamboat Pilot New Boys’ Residence Hall story.

Kayak Rescue News

See the full Desert Week Kayak Trip Rescue Story in the Steamboat Pilot. Kayaking Whiteman students and teachers were heros on Desert Week.  A woman whose raft overturned on the river had spent 24 hours on shore waiting for help.   Trip participants included David Lea, Brian Alsberg, Will Findell, Galen Goldscheitter, Errik Hill, Colin Klein, Erik Petersen and Karsten Thompson as well as adult leaders Jim Linville, Brian Smith, John Morse, Hugh Newton and Robbie Shine.  Students and leaders were interviewed by the Pilot. “The cool part was they were willing to help,” said Brian Smith, who teaches math and physics at Whiteman. “The only agenda the students had at the present moment was to do what needed to get done.”  Working together, students and teachers engineered a way to flip the trapped raft and get it right side up and down river where it could be retrieved.   Student Will Findell said, “It’s one thing if we were just going downriver enjoying ourselves, but it’s another thing to save this woman’s trip.”  Good job, Kayakers!

Austria Skiers Continue Studies

Wouldn’t it be cool to be skiing in some great snow in a majestic place like Austria in October?  And wouldn’t it be even cooler if while you were doing it, you didn’t fall behind in your classes?  Gina Wither, LWS Ski Coordinator, says that all is on schedule though hectic with the LWS/SSWSC Austria Program trip.  Scanners, emails, videos and Google Docs are burning up the airways in both directions.  Mr. Roberts is being recorded live and in living color teaching Geometry.  If anyone would like to purchase one of these priceless lectures, please let us know.   Meanwhile, check out our Austria- Ski & Study Page.  Good wishes to US Ski Team Member and LWS Senior, Anna Marno.  She broke her wrist training in Loveland and was back on skis in three days.  Can you say “Tough Cookie?”  If you have any stories, memories or fun photos of Anna, we are creating her web page for our site.

Steamboat Soccer and LWS Team Members Play in Semi-Finals

Juniors Charlie Von Thaden (photo left) and Jonathon Roser (photo below) play Tuesday, 10/27/09 at home, at 3:30 in the first Soccer finals Steamboat has achieved in nine years.  They play the D’Evelyn Jaguars.  Good luck to our team! See the Steamboat Pilot article Soccer Finals.  And thanks to Elizabeth Roser for the photo of her son, Jonathon.  We really appreciate photos of students in outside school activities or sports.   You may send them to Trenia Sanford.  They’ll be used in Current News, in our yearbook and in our journal, The Lowell Whiteman Experience.

Halloween is on Friday at LWS

Don’t miss out.  Last year, Mr. Globe, Dean of Students, said we had 97% participation.  The costumes are great, and there is a prize for “Best Costume.”  Mr. Linville is always a show stopper.  Co-Presidents of Student Council, Willow Fitzgerald and Robert Hardy, have some fun activities planned.  On Wednesday night, 10/28/09, they’re kicking off Halloween with pumpkin carving in the dining hall.

Betsy N. climbs a crack, Desert Week Climbing trip, photo by Alex R.

Parents’ Weekend, Oct. 23 – 26th.

You most likely have already heard that our beloved Lynne, Parent Coordinator, moved to Arizona.  We miss her and wish her well.  For this year, Margi has taken on Parents Weekend and you might have already received an email from her.   She will be scheduling conferences with teachers this year.  Please note that all information regarding Parent’s Weekend will be sent out electronically. Nothing will be sent out via the USPS.   Send in your requests for conferences and send as soon as possible, as there are limited spaces available.  See the Parents’ Weekend Schedule of Events.

Margi Missling Root can be reached via email margi@lws.edu.

Parents are welcome to join classes and observe on Friday.
Note, the class schedule for  Thurs. and Fri. will begin at 8:00 a.m. and run in the following order:

Thursday October 22nd: E, H, break, A, B, C, F, G, D, All school cleanup.  Lunch periods are F or G.
Friday, October 23rd: A, B, C, D, E, H, F/G, Multi-Purpose period .  Lunch  12:20 to 1:20.

You will get a class schedule for Friday,  including times in your welcome packet.

Check out the Austria Project news. Alpine skiers left October 2nd and are with SSWSC coaches and LWS Ski/Ride Coordinator Gina Wither skiing and training on the big mountains on record breaking snow!  Yet still getting their work done.  Good job, guys!

Brant Crossan surveying his newest domain.

Desert Week 2009 was a big success!

Desert Week Canyoneering, photo by Landon M.

Trips left for the desert Oct. 4 and returned Oct 9th – they went canyonnering, canoeing, kayaking, and horseback riding.  Seniors used the week to visit potential colleges.  The Kayak trip led by Jim Linville and Brian Smith managed to rescue a 65-year old stranded woman whose raft had overturned on a treacherous rock in the river.  She’d already been standing on the bank overnight without much in the way of supplies and her friend had gone for help, reported Mr. Linville.

LWS students and teachers helped rig a rope system which flipped the raft off the rock and then Mr. Linville was able to hop on and “ride it” upside down to a spot where everyone worked together to get it right side up.  “It was cool because we kept her (Velma) with us for two days, she camped and ate with us and the kids were just great to her.  She is a cancer survivor and this was a celebratory trip for her.  We were glad to help.”

The weather was warmish and the moon was full most nights.  The horse trip was visited by Chris Hill and the Climbing trip one night late, as they returned to their own camp site.  Their intention was to scare Mrs.Sanford, Miss Durkan and the horse participants. But Chris “fell down a bank” while looking for the horse trip students.

“I saw him running across the desert, no flashlight and wondered who the heck that was,” Mrs. Sanford said.  “By the time I got to him to see what he was up to, he was about 100 yards north of where we were actually camped.  He ran back to the van, but I had identified him by then and was laughing.  Good prank effort, but prank accomplishment, zero.”  Elizabeth Findell, class of 2005, also visited the horse group on Monday night at 10:00 p.m.  “I knew I wasn’t dreaming because she was wearing flip-flops and a tee-shirt and it was about 45 degrees,”  said Mrs. Sanford.  “She always dressed like that, even as a student.  She was staying in Moab and wanted to stop and say that there was nothing better than LWS Desert Week on horseback and she missed it.”

College Day/PSAT’s

Students either took PSAT’s or participated in workshops on Wednesday, Oct 14th.  Students learned about essay, resume writing and the college application process in depth .  Seniors had time to update their Naviance or common applications online.  This process helps seniors start or polish their essays and allows them to work one on one with teachers and staff.  Everyone got a lot accomplished on Mrs. Morse’s list of things to do for seniors.  It’s a busy and stressful year for them but stress levels reduce as these things get done and the information is off to colleges.

New Boys’ Residence Hall Ceremony & Sneak Peek – Parents Weekend

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colorado (October 15, 2009) — Press Release – The Lowell Whiteman School offers a sneak peek at its new $1.5 million boy’s residence hall with a celebration Fri., Oct. 23^rd, as distinctive as its college preparatory education.

It’s part of the $2.3 million investment to date the school has made towards Building on the Experience campaign, a 10-year Campus Master Plan that will eventually see such improvements as a new Student Center, remodel and expansion of science labs, classrooms, an addition to the gym, more faculty/staff housing, green spaces and outdoor recreational facilities through an on-going and successful fund-raising campaign.

The school will put a special ‘brand’ on the event to honor its colorful history and mission of integrating, rigorous classroom learning, challenging wilderness experiences, unique foreign travel,  and a premier winter sports program.

Specifically, the original “9” stock brand belonging to school founder Lowell Whiteman, first registered in 1900 and considered one of the oldest in Colorado, will be heated over a campfire then branded onto a handrail salvaged from the circa 1940s Bunkhouse the new dormitory building is replacing.

“The idea of many hands having touched this beautifully worn wood over the years, of placing Lowell Whiteman’s original brand on it and incorporating it into a railing in the new building really ties our history and sense of place together,” says LWS Director of Development Lane Malone, who has also spearheaded the school’s Building on the Experience campaign.

Lowell Whiteman purchased the 9 brand in 1956, a year before he converted the Whiteman Ranch for Boys to a co-ed boarding school, and transferred it to the school in 1979. “We keep the brand and re-register it every five years because it is a connection to Lowell and those days when the horses were as important to the campus as the dorm rooms,” says Trenia Sanford, LWS director of technology, who also runs the school’s horse program.

Don’t forget Halloween!

We go big at LWS!  Costume contest Friday, October 30th sponsored by Student Council.

High School Sports

We need photos for yearbook! For anything your student does,  soccer, track and field, music lessons, community service.  Thank you.

Yearbook Portraits & Parent Volunteers

Thanks to parent Catherine Finch, professional photographer, for shooting our yearbook portraits this year and making them available for parents.  The shots are beautiful!  Also thanks to Lynn Newman, Beth Banning, Lisa Marno, Catherine Finch and Christina McLean for helping in the office.  Christina has also been doing our press releases and is assisting with marketing.  We so appreciate our parent volunteers!

Current News 9/23/09

Andrea and painted horse Tuffy, fall camp trip

Students had a great time during the orientation camp trip and more recently, the fall camp trip 9/11-9/13.  Freshmen Andrea (photo below) was surprised to learn that on the horse trip, we paint our horses to discourage hunters from mistaking them for elk, and we paint our faces, too.   Just for fun.  The bike, kayak, climbing and service trips had a great time as well.  Some of the climbs were challenging and senior Christine Wolfe said, “I wouldn’t have climbed that mountain on my own, but I’m glad I did it.”

Lowell Whiteman is happy to announce the addition of Patrick Meyer, professional climbing instructor, to our staff.   Climbing continues to be popular and to build confidence in even the most hesitant student.

The weather was warmish and the menu (Chicken Pasta and S’mors) was good. Everyone came back mellow and ready for school.  Of course.

We’re gearing up for Desert Week which begins Sunday, October 4th 8:00 a.m.,  returning to campus Friday, October 9th around 5:00 p.m.  We ask that students pack a lunch for that first day – boarding students can do this at breakfast.

Students receive a packing list and they should pack accordingly!  Warm layers are needed because it can really get cold at night and a tarp for underneath tents is a must.  It has rained on us in the past.  Crazy Creek chairs make the week more comfortable and can easily be strapped on to a backpack or bag.

The view is worth the climb.

Parents Weekend, October – Friday, the 23rd – Saturday – 24th

You most likely have already heard that our beloved Lynne, Parent Coordinator, moved to Arizona.  We miss her and wish her well.  For this year, Margi has taken on Parents Weekend and you might have already received an email from her.   She will be scheduling conferences with teachers this year.  Please note that all information regarding Parent’s Weekend will be sent out electronically. Nothing will be sent out via the USPS.   lease note the time and dates for conferences and send in your requests as soon as possible, as there are limited spaces available. See the Parents Weekend Schedule of Events.

Families can enjoy free time on Sunday, the 25th and Monday, the 26th.
Things to do:  The Strawberry Park Hot Springs is a wonderful natural setting with three different pools and it’s only a few miles up the road from LWS.    The Chamber has putt-putt golf at the Visitors Center in town.  The Tread of Pioneers has ongoing displays of Routt County and Colorado history.  The Health & Rec Center has installed a pretty cool water tube in the last year.  There are walking tours in town of the local Hot Springs.  Del’s Triangle 3 Ranch offers horseback riding year round.

College Counseling

Members of the Class of 2010, dates are closer than they appear!  Be sure to log on to Naviance and begin working on your profile.  College Counselor, Meg Morse has asked that all seniors turn in their college tour/Desert Week plans this week.  She is currently visiting colleges and is talking about our seniors in an effort to help smooth their application process.   Seniors need to listen to announcements and follow Mrs. Morse’s task lists this year.  Remember, college acceptance is a process and seniors have to stay on top of it.

Student Council

Student Council sold cupcakes in September to raise money for their list of activities. The new co-presidents Willow Fitzgerald and Robert Hardy are off to a good start.  One fo their goals is to change the refreshments available  in the vending machine to water, and healthier non-diet drink choices.   Wednesday after school activities have been a big success and our own Brian (Chicago) has organized another “Make Your Own Sushi” night.

Halloween is coming!

Shane dressed as a Jelly Fish, Halloween 08.

Lowell Whiteman School is crazy about Halloween, not so much that trick-or-treating is possible but because we all love costumes so much.  So we encourage students to start planning their costumes now.  Many students make them but few are as creative as Shane’s was last year.  She came as a squishy, er, jellyfish.

Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

The weather held for the 52nd commencement at Lowell Whiteman School.  Thirty-two graduates received diplomas after being honored by a faculty member of their choosing.  Students from the class received $189,000 in scholarship money.  Best of luck to all in your future endeavors.

Reunion

Joe Roberts, Alumni Czar, hosted the classes of 1959-1999 the Saturday after graduation.  Many students toured the dorms and reminisced about the good old days! 

Joe does math and cooks!

Summer Preparation

Be sure to click here to be directed to the summer reading and preparation list.  Look for the 2009-2010 school calendar on the web under the parent tab.

Parent Coordinator

It has been my pleasure to work with parents and students for the last 3 years.  My husband and I are relocating to Tucson, AZ on July 1st.  This will be my last issue of Current News.  Current News will be published again once school begins.  Please direct any news, inquiries or questions to the LWS main office.  I will miss the Whiteman Experience!!  My very best to you all.   Lynne

Who?
Steamboat Pilot and Today photographer John Russell snapped this photo of an owl on campus. 

College Counseling

Members of the Class of 2010, dates are closer than they appear!  Be sure to log on to Naviance and begin working on your :

1. Profile

2. Game Plan

3. A college search and/or a list of colleges: Go to College Search and/or My Colleges

4. Brag Sheet

5. Personality Type

6. Ask one of your teachers from this year to write you a recommendation.

7. Keep up your checklist

Campus Improvements Continue

New Water Storage 

Installation of two 15,000 gallon tanks has been completed on campus and a water line for potable water usage and fire suppression has been added.  In addition, the access road for the future boys’ residence hall is coming along nicely.  

Last fall, 1,200 dead Lodgepole pine trees from the hillside behind Borden Center and the Roberts House were removed due to safety hazards associated with windfall, and in order to reduce wildfire risk.  Under the direction of teacher Nikki Durkan, 16 LWS students in two Advanced Placement Environmental Science (APES) classes are initiating a forest management project focused on erosion control and reforestation.  With recommendations from master gardener Margi Missling-Root, several species were selected and planted, including chokecherry, Colorado blue spruce, pine, and aspen

Review Day and Exam Schedule- Calendar-Senior Dinner-Film Night-Book Return

Senior/Faculty Dinner will be Friday, May 29th at 6:00 p.m. in the dining room.  Dress for success!  Immediately following dinner, the Film Class will present their films in the Krautkramer Theater.  All are welcome to view the films that have been completed by this year’s class.  Students may return books for credit Thursday, June 4th from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in Room 5.  Any parents that would like to volunteer to help Lynne are welcome!

Please click here to be directed to the review day and final exam day schedules. All AP students are required to attend AP Study Hall on review days (Friday, May 29th and Monday, June 1st) from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Seniors should dress for success on Friday, May 29th for the Senior/Faculty Dinner at 6:00 p.m. in the dining room.  Film night will be held in the Theater directly following dinner.  Parents and students are encouraged to attend Film Night! 

Yearbook Ice Cream Social

The yearbook staff is hosting an ice cream social and yearbook signing this afternoon at 3:05 p.m. Check out all the 2009 LWS Yearbook!

LWS 52nd Commencement

The Board of Trustees, Faculty, Staff, and Student Body cordially invite you to attend the Class of 2009 Commencement on Friday, June 5th at 2:00 p.m. in the Dariel Henderson Gymnasium.  A reception will follow in the Lowell Whiteman Memorial Garden.  All juniors are required to attend the ceremony. 

Class of 2009

College Counseling News

Juniors attended a mandatory meeting for college counseling last week to review the Naviance system and to begin the college process. All students from the class of 2010 will be counseled by Meg Morse for next year.  If you have counseling questions you may contact her at morsem@lws.edu or call (970) 879-1350 X23.