Life School News & Notes

• 4-Day School Week May Yield Mental Health Benefits for Life School Students and Families

  Over the past few years, Texas school districts have seen an increase in demand for new approaches to learning. In 2023, Life School was one of a few districts to have made the switch to a 4-day school week. Among the motivators was a goal to attract experienced teachers during an ongoing Texas teacher shortage. Teachers are known to be one of the biggest contributors to overall student success in the classroom. While 4-day did make an impact on average years of experience among teachers, it also made a big impact elsewhere. Parents repeatedly emphasize its effect on childrens’ mental health and overall well-being.

• Anita Sanders Named Principal of Cedar Hill Elementary

  L Life School is pleased to announce that Mrs. Anita Sanders has been selected as principal for Life School Cedar Hill Elementary (LSCH). Sanders joined Life School Oak Cliff Elementary (LSOCE) in 2014 as assistant principal. She became principal in 2016 and has proudly served the Oak Cliff community since.

• Board of Directors Approves $1.5M in Pay Increases

  Life School is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has approved the allocation of approximately $1,500,000 for increases in staff salaries for the 2022-2023 school year. This allocation will result in an average increase of 5% for certified teachers, $750 increase for non-certified teachers and 2% increase for all other Life School staff.

• Charter School Pioneer Life School Celebrates 25th Anniversary

  In 1995 the Texas Legislature authorized the establishment of charter schools in Texas. Just 3 years later in 1998, Life School opened its doors in Oak Cliff, TX, with a small team of 15 staff members to serve 266 students. Sparked by the vision of Dr. Tom Wilson, the school was established to “provide a quality education and give parents educational choice regardless of their ability to pay.” Today, Life School employs more than 600 staff and serves more than 5,500 students across the Dallas area.

• Coach Eddie Beruman Named Ellis County Coach of The Month

  On March 7, Coach Eddie Beruman, Life High School Waxahachie Head Boys Basketball Coach, was named Ellis County Coach of the Month for February. This honor was presented by The Janzen Group, a Keller Williams Realty Group. Berumen was nominated alongside two other coaches from local surrounding schools.

• Continued Safety Efforts at Life School

  Dear Life School Families,

  Ensuring the safety and security of students and staff is always Life School’s top priority. Last year, we formed the Life School Safety & Security Committee. This committee is responsible for reviewing and approving Life School’s Emergency Operations Plan as well as makes recommendations for necessary security improvements across our district.

  As a result, Life School has spent the past year making significant improvements and investments toward keeping our students and staff safe while on campus. Some of the recently enhanced safety and security measures include:

  • Increased security presence on all campuses
  • Improved access control on several campuses
  • Additional security cameras at multiple campuses
  • Upgraded radios and communication on campuses

  The Life School security team has been working closely with local law enforcement in the communities in which all of our campuses are located. If we should encounter an emergency situation, these agencies are prepared to provide the necessary support to our campuses. Additionally, Life School has expanded our integrated school safety software system, Raptor, to include emergency management and communication capabilities.

  All of these efforts allow Life School and local law enforcement to respond quickly and efficiently in the case of any campus emergency. 

  Every month our security team publishes a security bulletin to inform you of any security updates and provides resources for parents and teachers to help keep our students and staff safe. Please be sure to stay up to date with all security measures by clicking here.

  We hope everyone has a safe, fun and relaxing spring break! We look forward to finishing the year strong when we return!

  Sincerely, 

  Dr. Brent Wilson, Ed.D.
  Life School Superintendent

• Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Read to LSOCE Students

  Each year, National Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2nd. The annual event is part of Read Across America, an initiative on reading created by the National Education Association to encourage reading in children at an early age. To celebrate the love of reading, Life School and Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC) hosted several Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (DCC) and other special guests to read to the elementary students of Life School Oak Cliff Elementary (LSOCE).

• Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders Read to LSOCE Students

  Each year, National Read Across America Day is celebrated on March 2. The annual event is part of Read Across America, an initiative for reading created by the National Education Association to encourage children to read at an early age. To celebrate the love of reading, Life School and Region 10 Education Service Center (ESC) hosted several Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders (DCC) and other special guests to read to the elementary students of Life School Oak Cliff Elementary (LSOCE).

• Dr. Alissa Russell Selected for Teach Plus Policy Fellowship Cohort

  Reprinted with Permission from Teach Plus

  Teach, Plus, a national teacher leadership organization, has selected 50 demonstrably effective teachers from around Texas for its 2023-2024 Policy Fellowship cohort. The Fellows, all of whom are classroom teachers, will focus on a range of issues of importance to Texas’ students and communities, including equitable school funding, diversifying the teacher workforce, teacher preparation for effective educators, the mental health of educators and students, and high-quality instructional materials.

  Read more >> Teach Plus Texas Names 50 Highly Effective Teachers To Its Seventh Cohort of Policy Fellows

  ###

  Life School is a tuition-free, public charter school with campuses in Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Mountain Creek, Red Oak, Oak Cliff and Waxahachie, TX. Life School develops leaders with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community. Its mission is accomplished in part through the financial support of donors who provide scholarships and embrace making students ready to learn, ready to lead and ready for life.

  Parents who are interested in enrollment can visit lifeschool.net/learn-about-life. Partners who would like to support Life School financially can give online at lifeschool.net/give.

• Education Foundation Raises $71,000 in Fairways for Life

   More than 120 golfers teed off during Life School's eighth annual Fairways For Leaders (FFL) Golf Tournament on June 13, raising $71,000 for the Life School Education Foundation (LSEF). This year marked a record year with the most funds raised, surpassing the previous 2016 record by $11,000. More than 45 businesses and individuals participated to support Life’s Schools mission – to develop leaders through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community.

• Eleven Life High School Waxahachie Soccer Players Make All-Ellis County Team

  This spring marked an exciting season for the girls and boys soccer teams at Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW). Both teams celebrated school history firsts. To finish the season, 8 girls and 3 boys were named to the All-Ellis County Soccer team for the 2023 season.

• How to Save a Seat Before the Lottery at Life School

  With the launch of a 4-day school week, Life School has attracted quite a bit of interest in the Dallas area. The district already serves families from 47 cities, and this fall may experience longer wait lists than normal. However, there is a strategic way for new families to save a seat for August enrollment and avoid long waits when the summer rush hits, and it requires urgent action.

• Lancaster Life Skills Students Donate to Jonathan's Place

  Life School develops students with life skills through strong academics, character training, and partnerships with parents and the community. The fruit of those efforts can be seen in how the district engages with its surrounding communities. Life School Lancaster (LSL) Life Skills students recently partnered with Jonathan’s Place to donate essential items to others in need.

• LHSOC Students Serve Others through World Vision Partnership

  In September, Life High School Oak Cliff (LHSOC) National Honor Society (NHS) students modeled the school's mission by partnering with World Vision to complete service projects.  World Vision is a humanitarian organization working to help communities lift themselves out of poverty. Part of the organization's work includes supporting schools, churches and shelters.

• LHSW Basketball Coach Berumen Reaches 400-win Milestone

  On Thursday, November 30th, the Life High School Waxahachie Boys Varsity Basketball team achieved a significant victory, beating Ennis by a score of 77-39. The momentous win also marked Coach Eddie Berumen's 400th win as the Head Varsity Coach.

• LHSW Boys Basketball Wins District Championship

  On Friday, February 10, 2023, the Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) boys varsity basketball team won the District 10-4A Championship title. The Mustangs hosted the district championship game and defeated Alvarado 50-38.

• LHSW Head Track Coach Receives '600 Career Points' Track Plaque

  Congratulations to Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) Head Track Coach Lyle Linscomb on being awarded the Texas Girls Coaches Association (TGCA) '600 Career Points' Track Plaque. 

• LHSW Hosts Track and Field Media Day

  Reprinted with permission from The Waxahachie Sun
  By MIKE SACKETT Sun Correspondent
  

  Strength, endurance and strength are the keys to success, according to Waxahachie Life head track coach Lyle Linscomb, who says, “All three strengths have to be there.”

  During the team’s media day Saturday, February 12, Linscomb shared with the Sun how he starts preparing his athletes in the fall for the spring track season.

  “We begin in September with the kids that don’t do anything else,” he said. “We go through a strength phase starting in the weight room; we don’t focus on speed early on. Then we start transferring that into endurance stuff.  Just before the Christmas break, we begin working on speed, getting ready for the season start. This is where we bring all the elements together for their being able to run faster longer."

• LHSW Mustangs Celebrate District Championship with Net Cutting

  Life School Men’s Basketball celebrated their latest District Championship with a net cutting ceremony after their warm-up game vs. Nolan Catholic on Monday, February 14, which the Mustangs won 54-42. The Mustangs were undefeated in district play (12-0) for the 2021 season and hold a 29-5 season record.

• LHSW Receives ‘Accelerating Women’s Success and Mastery in Computer Science’ Honor

  Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) was recognized as a member of the inaugural Accelerating Women’s Success and Mastery (AWSM) in Computer Science Honor Roll at the 2022 WeTeach_CS Summit. Life High School Waxahachie achieved this award because young women made up at least 50% of computer science (CS) course enrollment in the 2020-2021 school year. The statewide average is just 27%.

• Life High School Oak Cliff Names Cole Orrick New Head Football Coach

  Life School Oak Cliffhas named Cole Orrick as its new Head Football Coach, effective January 4, 2022. 

• Life High School Oak Cliff National Honor Society Awarded Grant from Carter Blood Care

  Life High School Oak Cliff (LHSOC) National Honor Society (NHS) is thrilled to announce the receipt of a $500 grant from Carter Blood Care, a leading nonprofit blood center serving North, Central, and East Texas. This remarkable contribution will benefit the NHS Lions Chapter at LHSOC's ongoing mission to foster academic excellence, community service, and leadership among its members.

• Life High School Waxahachie Band Makes History

  This marching band season has been one for the books for Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW).

• Life High School Waxahachie Baseball Repeats History by Winning Bi-District Playoff Series

  On Friday, May 6th the Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) varsity baseball team won the Region 2 Bi-District playoff game in an authoritative manner over North Dallas High School. This week, the Mustangs will face off once again against the Celina Bobcats in the Area round of playoffs.

• Life High School Waxahachie Baseball Team Wins Area Championship

  On Saturday, May 13, the Life High School Waxahachie (LHSW) varsity baseball team beat the Anna High School Coyotes to win the Area Championship.

  In a best-of-three-game series, the Mustangs came out victorious. The Mustangs won game one of the series 5-1 before falling in game two, which forced an elimination game. However, in game three, the Mustangs’ bats carried them to a 14-7 victory. The win earned the Mustangs the Area Champs title for the second time in three years.