The Burke
Report

This was recently sent to me via our school library, and I thought it was interesting. Some current statistics about social media and how it is affecting the College Admission landscape.

Courtesy of: Schools.com

Below are the prices of the different packages for photos that will be offered at TOLO. If your child would rather just get one copy of the group shot, they can pay a flat rate of $10. This only applies to group shots with three or more people. Photos are optional.

We have had a variety of fun activities happening at Overlake over the last couple of weeks, I have attached videos of our pep band performing at a basketball game, our all male singing group called the Y Chromotones singing at our Winter Banquet and also a recent competition at announcements that was won by our 10th and 11th grade.   Feel free to ask your students about these events. Forgive the camera shake, I was filming with my phone.

Facts about TOLO:

Date: January 7, 2012

Time: 8-11pm

Dress: Casual to Formal- The school encourages kids to dress more formally but to stay away from Tuxedos and clothes that need to be bought specifically for the event.

Photographer: There will be a photographer available at the dance to take photos, but getting a picture taken is not required.

Chaperones: The dance is chaperoned by three teachers as well as the Dean of Students and Upper School Head.

Coming/Going: Students may arrive at the dance at any time, and they may leave at any time, but once a student(s) leaves, they are not allowed to return.

Food: There will be no food served at the dance.   There will be water available.

Cost:  5-7$ at the door.

Myths about TOLO:

• You must wear a tuxedo or really expensive dress.
• You must come with a date.  The school actually recommends that you come as a group of friends.
• You must go out to eat before the dance or rent a limo.  Make dinner at home and save the money by driving yourself or having mom and dad drive you.
• You can’t say, “no” if asked.  Students are allowed to say, “no” and pressure applied by others to say, “yes” or “no” is inappropriate.   We do tell students that it is not o.k. to say “no” in ways that would be considered rude or embarrassing.  A simple “no thank you” is all it takes.
• Nobody goes by themselves.  Not true, it is totally fine to come by yourself.  Every year, we have many people who come by themselves, and they have fun.

Each owl represents five points. I will be updating my blog periodically if you want to follow the action.

The Middle School has green and gold, but in the Upper School, it is the grades that compete for pride and on behalf of school spirit.   Today during community time, we took the opportunity to re-establish some of the spirit that came four years ago when we had the first and only Overlake Olympics.   Unfortunately, the seniors were not able to prevail, and it was the sophomores that took the top prize today.   Do not count the seniors out yet. There is tomorrow.

If you don’t know what “Words with Friends” is then you probably would get an eye roll from our student body.  This hit game that is played on smart phones or IPAD’s has taken hold at Overlake.  So much so, that students decided to dress up as letters and make words during our last spirit week.  Check out the creative words that were made.

To say the class of 2012 represented at the annual Mr. and Ms. Overlake show this year would be an understatement.  As I have written before, there isn’t an event that is more scary for a high school administrator than ad lib comedy.  We have many discussions with kids ahead of time, but in the end, we trust them to exercise good judgment.   This year, more than any other year, my hat is off to the class of 2012.  They were absolutely amazing.  In the end, it was Jimena Sanchez winning Ms. Overlake and Brian Sandstrom and Noah Mayer winning a duel title as Mr. Overlake, but the senior talent went way beyond those winners.   With strong acts by Miles Mitchell, Jacob Gilles, Cody Kautz and Iyad Owen-Elia as well as McCall Hollie, Izzy Runge and Louise Chouinard, the event will be remembered as one of the best of all time.  To top it off, the show was stage managed by Emily Rogers who was managing her first show.   Congrats seniors.

Thank you to Bob Bristol for putting all the time and energy into creating the show, and to the kids and adults that make it happen.

This week is spirit week in the Upper School, and our student have been going all out.   Here is one fun example of one of our seniors who dressed up like Joe Kye (an US English Teacher).