Welcome to a new school year, Wildcats! It is with warmth and excitement that I welcome you to our school community. On behalf of the student body, we are so thrilled to have you here. Truthfully, each addition to our school community makes us stronger. We look forward to being your classmates, your teammates, and...Read More
Words by Mark Heller, Head of School At Academy at the Lakes, we teach history. We teach critical thinking. And we promote patriotism. History We teach history because history helps us understand ourselves and our world. Our past is always part of our present. Our history has shaped every element of today – who we...Read More
Words by Brad Shellgren Books are an essential part of the learning process at Academy at the Lakes. Through our readings, students are introduced to new ideas and perspectives. They are transported to unfamiliar places and time periods. Books open our students’ minds to new possibilities. Because books are so powerful, it is with careful...Read More
Words by Mark Heller, Head of School Thomas Jefferson felt that the purpose of education was to prepare children for citizenship in our democracy. Educational philosopher Francis Parker, one of the founders of the progressive education movement, believed that: “The work of the school is determined by the needs of society.” In many ways, I...Read More
Words by Brad Shellgren, Marketing and Communications Associate Last October, Sean Emmons ‘22 delivered a Senior Speech that will not be soon forgotten. It was a speech that centered around Sean’s stutter which he developed at an early age. During that Senior Speech, Sean talked about how he was able to overcome his stutter once he accepted it as a...Read More
Words by: Rachel Klaeren, Upper Division Science On Saturday, February 26th, Academy at the Lakes sent two Upper Division teams to compete at the Gulf Coast Regional Odyssey of the Mind competition. The two teams competed in separate problems, Problem 2, a technical challenge, and Problem 4, a balsa wood build challenge. Both teams earned...Read More
Dear New Wildcat Families and Students, New schools, new journeys, and new beginnings can be terrifying. It is human nature to fear the unknown and the unexpected. As an Academy at the Lakes student who is currently entering her fourteenth and final year, I hope to provide insight about what to expect from your Academy...Read More
Dear Fellow Wildcats, Welcome to Academy at the Lakes! I am excited and grateful to welcome you into our community. No doubt entering a new community can be challenging; I remember how nervous I was. However, having been through this transition, I can confidently tell you that those at Academy will be supportive and helpful...Read More
Words by Kim Vreeland Lifelong friendships, cherished memories, and unparalleled academics are recurring experiences that our 13 Academy lifers in the Class of ‘21 have in common. From deep friendships that began on the Lower Division playground to Upper Division educational trips to the Amazon, our lifers reminisce about their Academy journeys. As they embark...Read More
