Liberty Hill Goes Back to School Thursday, August 15, 2013 Section B Page 1
Back to School Bulletin Board LHHS students pick up schedules August 16
Liberty Hill High School students may pick up their class schedules Friday, August 16, at the new campus. Incoming Freshmen can meet with the principal and pick up their schedule at 1 p.m. Friday, August 16. Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors can pick up their schedules from 2-3:30 p.m. on the same day.
Vaccinations for students
The Liberty Hill ISD may provide free vaccines to children who are not covered by health insurance. Contact the school nurse at your child’s campus for more information. To read more information about the Texas Vaccines for Children Program and the revised policy, visit: www.dshs.state.tx.us.
Liberty Hill ISD needs surrogate parents
Surrogate parents are needed to serve as advocates for children who are living in residential facilities, in special education programs in Liberty Hill ISD. If you have a heart for children, then you are qualified for this very important role. No experience is necessary and training is provided. According to the Texas Education Code (TEC) 29.001(10)(A), the individuals assigned to act as a surrogate parent must complete a training program in which the individual is provided with an explanation of the provisions of federal and state law, rules, and regulations as applied to special education. For more information, call the Special Education office at (512) 260-5590.
Liberty Hill ISD Prekindergarten Eligibility
Liberty Hill ISD, in partnership with HeadStart, provides free, full-day pre-kindergarten to qualifying 4-year olds. A child is eligible for enrollment if the child is four years old and: 1. is unable to speak and comprehend the English language; 2. qualifies for free or reduced lunch; 3. is homeless; 4. is the child of an active duty member of the armed forces; 5. is the child of a member of the armed forces who was injured or killed while on active duty; or 6. is or ever has been in the conservatorship of the Department of Family and Protective Services following an adversary hearing. For enrollment information call Liberty Hill Elementary School, (512) 515-6514, or the Headstart office, (512) 515-0838.
Liberty Hill Campus Bell Times Liberty Hill Elementary
1400 Loop 332
Bill Burden Elementary
315 Stonewall Pkwy
Opens Classes Tardy bell Dismissal Opens Classes Tardy bell Dismissal
7:20 AM 7:50 AM 8:00 AM 3:00 PM 7:20 AM 7:50 AM 7:50 AM 3:20 PM
Liberty Hill Intermediate Opens Classes Tardy bell Dismissal
7:00 AM 7:45 AM 8:00 AM 3:20 PM
Liberty Hill Junior High Classes Tardy bell Dismissal
7:50 AM 8:00 AM 3:35 PM
Liberty Hill High School Tutorials Classes Dismissal
7:35 AM 8:05 AM 3:45 PM
101 Loop 332
13125 W. Highway 29
16500 W. Highway 29
Meet the Teachers
Schools have scheduled their Meet the Teacher nights in anticipation of the beginning of school August 27. On Friday, August 23, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first grade
See BULLETIN, Page 7B
Outside the new Liberty Hill Intermediate School are from left, Principal Kathy Major, Counselor Margaret Wofford, Assistant Principal Scott Copeland and Receptionist Jane Serrato. (Photo by Shelly Wilkison)
Liberty Hill makes history with opening of new and expanded facilities
The Liberty Hill Independent School District is making history this month as it begins school August 27 with new academic and athletic facilities, and renovations to existing buildings that were approved by voters in an $86 million bond package three years ago. The new Liberty Hill High School, which includes a 300,000-squarefoot academic building and new athletic facilities, is difficult to miss on State Highway 29 just west of Liberty Hill. Today, traffic lights at the two main entrances to the school are flashing yellow in an attempt to get drivers accustomed to slowing down for heavy traffic there in the coming days. While much has been written about the new high school and its athletic facilities, the changes at the new Liberty Hill Intermediate School are exciting improvements for staff, who packed their belongings this summer and left behind the community’s oldest campus. In 2014, the old Intermediate campus will become the home to the school district’s administrative offices. Superintendent Rob Hart said the current administration building on State Highway 29 will be sold. Principal Kathy Major said that construction crews are working around the clock to prepare the new
The view of the stage from the center of the new high school’s auditorium. The auditorium, which will seat 900, is a first for Liberty Hill schools. (Photo by Shelly Wilkison) Intermediate School for students and faculty. “It will all be ready for the kids,” she said. On August 8, most of the new addition to the school was still under heavy construction, including the cafeteria, band hall and some hallways. She said she expects some of
the work to continue into the beginning weeks of the school year. “You have to remember that junior high students were eating lunch in here on June 7,” she said. Demolition and new construction could not begin until the last lunch tray was packed away. Hart said the project is not behind
schedule and parents should not be concerned. He said the construction should be substantially complete by the first week of school. Mrs. Major said the building is arranged so that fifth and sixth grade teaching teams are separate. In
See FACILITIES, Page 7B
Excellence in academics, personal attention to students is driving LHISD growth
By SHELLY WILKISON Managing Editor From the last day of school June 7 until last Friday, 354 new students had enrolled in Liberty Hill schools. While it will take several weeks to determine the number of students the school district is losing this fall, which would bring the total enrollment to a more realistic number, a school official said this week that the pattern of rapid growth is expected to hold. In his sixth year as superintendent of one of Central Texas’ fastest growing school districts, Dr. Rob Hart says Liberty Hill ISD is ready for the growth -- something he could not have said before now. “Right now, it’s hard to tell what is going out (the number of students
Liberty Hill teachers may see average pay increase of 3%
not returning),” he said. “But, we know what’s coming in.” On August 27, students and teachers at three of the district’s five campuses will report to new campuses where more space, improved security and state-of-the art teaching and athletic facilities will be immediately evident. Hart, who has spent the majority of his days in the past few years working toward the completion of an $86 million facilities improvement program, said the school district is now
in a better position to grow. “We’ve always had a first-class program, and now we have firstclass facilities,” he said. “Now, we’re going to step up and get even better.” According to accountability ratings released by the Texas Commissioner of Education last week, Liberty Hill ISD earned a rating of “Meets Expectations” for the last academic year -- a rating based primarily on student performance on the STAAR (State of Texas Assess-
ments of Academic Readiness) exam. While the state changed the rating system this year and set new classifications for accountability, Hart said it did not change Liberty Hill’s rate of achievement and success. Hart said it’s the reputation of academic success that is prompting the growth in the school district. In fact, if the demographic projections for the area hold true, the new 300,000-square-foot academic building on the campus of the new high school could be at capacity in nine years. When it was first conceived, it was designed to hold about twice the enrollment at that time. Growth in the past year means
See HART, Page 7B
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
The Principals’ Corner Bill Burden Elementary School Liberty Hill Intermediate School
and supplies. The current supply list is located on our Liberty Hill ISD website. Parents and community members are always welcome at Liberty Hill Elementary School. As we “set the stage for learning”, I invite you to become involved in our parent volunteer program, P.T.O., or the Partners in Reading program. Students and parents are invited to meet the teachers on Friday, August 23rd, from 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Classroom lists will be posted in the gym and students and parents may locate their classroom, drop off their supplies, and meet the teachers. Our Parent Orientation for Kindergarten and Pre-K will be September 3rd at 6:00 and Parent Orientation for 1st Grade will be September 5th at 6:00. If I can help in any way this year, please do not hesitate to call the office. I look forward to meeting our students as they enter our school for the first time as Liberty Hill Elementary Panthers. I can’t wait to welcome back the returning students and parents so that we can all work together to have a successful school year and a safe learning environment.
By TERRIE CHAMBERS Bill Burden Elementary School Welcome back from a great summer! I am looking forward to having everyone come in and share summer stories…there’s nothing better than a good story between friends and family. It’s been busy, and as you know it never really slows down around here. With construction and three campuses moving, it’s been a fast and furious summer for everyone. We would like to extend a special welcome to the new students, parents, and staff joining the Burden family this year. Every new school year brings new challenges that we turn into opportunities for success. Remember, attitude is directly related to aptitude. Student success is the goal of every staff member at Burden. We believe in our structure and dedication to high quality, research-based best practices, and that every student will learn to their full potential. We are prepared to offer time and support as needed. I ask for your support and participation in this effort by sending your child to school every day. Encouraging him/her to read for pleasure at least 20-30 minutes every night, monitoring homework
By CHAD PIRTLE Liberty Hill Junior High I want to welcome you to the 2013-2014 school year. This year will be filled with many accomplishments and stories of success, and I look forward to experiencing them with you. The future of Liberty Hill Junior High School is very bright. With the transition to our new campus, we will be able to provide a world class educational experience for our students. The construction
taking place on the new junior high campus is close to completion. We will open the school year with updates to the front office, our band facilities, our art facilities, our athletic facilities, our science labs, and miscellaneous updates that will enhance the safety and security of our school. I know we will “Make it Great” because that is what we do at Liberty Hill Junior High. At LHJHS we believe that when our students, parents, and community work together with our teachers, we create an atmosphere that is conducive to learning and success. With these great relationships, our students will continue to excel in academics, athletics, band, and many
Liberty Hill Elementary School By JAN TREDEMEYER Liberty Hill Elementary School Welcome to the new school year. I am looking forward with excitement and anticipation to the first day of school on August 27th. Our schoolwide theme this year is “Setting the Stage for Learning.” Our students and staff will work together with the families, community, and businesses of Liberty Hill to build the strong educational foundations that are necessary for success in school and life. At the Elementary School we will focus on the key content areas necessary for future learning and success in reading, math, social studies, and science. Instruction in the fine arts, physical education and health, and technology will provide opportunities for students to develop interests and skills. During the 2013-2014 school year, I will strive to make each day special for our students, to be there for them as a listener, supporter, or helper, to make our days fun as we are learning, and to foster a “can do” attitude in our young children in order that all students will have a positive school experience at Liberty Hill Elementary. Your child’s attendance is very important. Please strive to be on time and at school every day. Plan your trips and outings for the times that are designated student holidays throughout the year. Students are recognized for perfect attendance and they are forming good habits for a lifetime of success. I hope you have enjoyed some summer reading which will help prepare your child for school. As you prepare for school be sure to take time to make sure your child is current on his or her immunizations. Please review the district’s dress code as you shop for school clothes, backpacks
and progress, and asking your child to share what they learned at school each day. Please take an active role in your child’s education. Don’t wait until there is a problem before you come to the school to see what’s going on in the class. Check in with your child’s teacher often. We look forward to working with you this year and invite you to “keep in touch.” We know, and research supports that your child is more successful in school when you actively participate. Email is convenient; however, I still believe in phone calls and face-time. Our families play a vital role in the education of our children and offer incredible support in and out of the classroom. We invite you to volunteer and participate in our PTO to further extend the opportunities we can provide. We believe that collaborative decision-making, strong staff and parental involvement make our school a dynamic place to learn and work. Our annual “Meet and Greet” will give you an opportunity to meet teachers, set up those necessary first teacher meetings, tour the building, and drop off school supplies in an informal come-and-go format. I’m looking forward to seeing you all. All incoming 3rd and 4th graders Friday, August 23th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm. All incoming 2nd graders Monday, August 26th from 5:00pm – 7:00pm.
By KATHLEEN MAJOR Liberty Hill Intermediate School The 201314 school year is here and I am honored to share it with all of you. Our motto says “JUST DO IT RIGHT: ACHIEVE SUCCESS” and we are committed to achieving that motto each and every day. Our theme this year is New School, New Expectations, Same Dream: ACHIEVE Success! Our mission is to support every child in their transition from elementary abilities to secondary readiness. We can arrive at that destination if we Do Things Right! We invite all our parents to view the district website and learn about setting up a Family Access Account. This program allows you to view your student’s daily grades and other important information on-line. Grades are updated weekly on Tuesdays. You can also take advantage of updating your registration information through Family Access. Join us for our annual Open House
Liberty Hill Junior High School other extracurricular activities. We strive to create a learning environment that is warm, caring, and safe so our students can achieve academic success in addition to personal growth. Parents, we are hopeful that you will find time to participate in some of our school functions. The staff at LHJHS encourages all of our students to get involved in the many activities offered at our school. The more involved our students become, the more committed they will be to succeed. LHJHS offers a variety of extracurricular activities which include football, cross country, volleyball, basketball, track and field, band, theater, National Junior Honor Society, academic UIL,
tennis and golf in addition to other clubs and activities. I want to let you know of a few very important dates for our students. On Saturday, August 24th, we are designating time for our football players to have the opportunity to get their football equipment at the new junior high field house. Our 8th graders get their equipment from 8-10 a.m. then our 7th graders will get their equipment from 10 a.m. to 12 Noon. Another important date for the beginning of school is Monday, August 26th. On this date we are hosting our “Open House” from 5-7:30 p.m. We have the following planned for open house: Campus tours,
on the evening of August 26 from 6:00 – 7:30 PM. WE WILL BE IN OUR NEW BUILDING! The front CAFETERIA Doors open at 6:00. Homeroom lists will be posted on the walls. After you find your homeroom assignment pick up your registration packet (INCLUDING A MAP) from the representative at the registration table. Visit your class to meet your homeroom teacher, drop off your supplies, and get your bearings. It is very important that the homeroom teacher know how your students will get home the first day of school. Feel free to tour and remember to set up lunch accounts, visit PTO and other community groups in the gym, and see the nurse and counselor in the new administration center. Our bus drop off/pick up lines will be at the rear of the school; car riders in the front. Be sure to check out turn lanes as you leave the parking lot! Traffic flows one way. Students go to class at 7:45 AM and the tardy bell rings at 8:00 AM. We end each day at 3:30 PM. I am blessed to have you on the 2013-14 journey. See you the 26th. Remember I love you and that’s why I am here. GO PANTHERS!
Distribution of student schedules, Meet the teachers, Food services accepting money for lunch accounts, Computer labs open to complete beginning of the year documents, School supply drop off, Yearbooks for sale, Transportation information. In closing, I want to thank the Liberty Hill community for believing in the work of our campus and our school district. Thank you for challenging us to do more, to learn more, to dream more, and most importantly, to become more. Your support provides the foundation for our success.
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Thursday, August 15, 2013
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Liberty Hill Intermediate School
By BOBBY MABRY Liberty Hill High School I hope you have enjoyed your summer and are looking forward to an excellent new school year. We are excited to welcome you back into our beautiful new school. Liberty Hill is a community that puts education first. There has never been a more exciting time to be a Panther. This year will begin a new chapter in the rich history of Liberty Hill High School as we continue our tradition of excellence. Our students have earned the reputation of being winners in the classroom and on the field of competition. Last year we received the ACT College Readiness Award for the third year straight year. LHHS celebrated a UIL Academic Regional Championship team that advance three teams to state and brought home a State Championship in Social Studies. Our Sweepstakes winning band advanced to the area marching contest. An unprecedented 42 band members earned Regional honors while 6 were named to the All State Band.
Our Panther athletic teams won five district championships. What honors will you help contribute to our rich tradition? This year you will have the distinction of being the first classes to attend our new state of the art high school. The future is bright for our school and our community. Students, I challenge you to achieve the most out of your high school experience. Join a campus club or organization and get involved. Aim high and commit yourself to giving your best effort to everything that you do. At Liberty Hill High School, we don’t want to be just a great high school. We want to be the best high school in Texas. We look forward to seeing you soon. Important Dates: - August 16th - Fish Camp (Incoming 9th graders and new students) @ LHHS – 1:30 - August 16th – Upper classmen may pick-up schedules @LHHS – 2:00 to 3:00. - August 28th – First Day of School – Classes begin at 8:05. For additional information about Liberty Hill High School and upcoming events, please visit our new website at http://lhhslibertyhill. sharpschool.com.
LIBERTY HILL HIGH SCHOOL 16500 W. Highway 29 Site Map with Traffic Flow
LHISD staff changes for fall 2013
New Staff HVAC Asst. Michael Hudson PEIMS/Skyward Eva Sisneros Speech Lang. Pathologist Angela Butler Speech Lang. Pathologist Christine Parker LHES Custodian Brandon Strauss LHES Pre-K Inst. Aide Desirae Wilson LHES Receptionist Katheryn Mitchell LHES Sp Ed Res. Teacher Shelia Leath BBES 2nd G Resource Laura Montelongo BBES 2nd G Teacher Wendy Wiley Pleak BBES 3rd G Teacher Cheryl Russell BBES 3rd G Teacher Kylie Chapman BBES 3rd G Teacher Maria Burks LHIS 5th G Teacher Monica Helms LHIS Custodian Irma Hernandez LHIS Instructional Aide Sunny Hall LHIS PE Teacher Lori Truslow LHIS Receptionist Janie Serrato LHIS Resource Teacher Tabitha Reeves LHIS Tech/Library Aide Erin Hammond LHJH 7th Math Teacher John Mason LHJH 8th Math Teacher Sarah Janicek LHJH 8th Math Teacher Shannon Doyle LHJH 8th SS Teacher Melissa McWherter LHJH Ass. Band Director Jared Clarkson LHJH Custodian Ana Narvaez LHJH Custodian Michelle Krone
LHJH LHJH LHJH LHHS LHHS LHHS LHHS LHHS LHHS LHHS LHHS LHHS
Instructional Aide Ryan Crowe Sec/Registrar Lisa Shelton Spanish Teacher Pilar Pinkus Athletic Trainer Sabrina Queen Cafeteria Dessie Crow English/Tennis Ronald (Scott) Hawkins Health Sci Teacher Lida McCloskey Math/Boys Soccer Darren Bauer NovaNet/Belles Emily Pirtle Science Teacher Katy Leiskau Science/Coach Samuel (Lynn) Burlison Spanish Teacher Mayra Maldonado Staff Moves within the District District Data Specialist Stephanie Thielepape HVAC Technician Day Wright Transportation Director Meleia Cox Transportation Secretary Thomas Baxes LHES Kindergarten Amanda Little LHES Sec/Registrar Claudia Sandoval BBES 2nd G Teacher Alicia Sprinkle BBES Inst. Technologist Tray Cushing BBES Music Teacher Christi Poulter LHIS 5th G Teacher Reagan Lochte LHIS 6th G Teacher Kim Sanders LHIS Counselor Margaret Wofford LHIS Sec/Registrar Paula Kaderka LHHS Math/BB Coach Blake Boren LHHS SS/Girls Soccer Kelsy Quinn
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Liberty Hill Public Library News
By SANDY SCHULTZ Liberty Hill Public Library September is Library Card Sign-Up Month! If you don’t have a card yet, we’d like to put one in your hands so that you can take advantage of all we have to offer. Starting in September, we will be holding our Storytime twice a week. Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. and again on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Each Sstorytime lasts between 30 - 45 minutes, depending on the weekly craft project. Come read, sing, dance and craft with Miss April! For homeschooling families, the Liberty Hill Public Library has created a Facebook group. We share
ideas, curriculum information, schedule field trips and in general, support our fellow home schoolers. Be a part of this phenomenal group by contacting the library to be invited or ask any member to add you to the group. Our “hottest” news is that we now have eBooks. All you need is your library card to get access to thousands of titles, all for free! Did you know that your library offers many services? Copying, faxing, scanning, even notary service are available! Saturday, September 21, the Library has partnered with Farmers Insurance (John M. Clark office in
Copper Ridge) and Liberty Hill Pediatric Dentistry to bring you the Healthy Kids Back to School Bash. Also sponsored by The Independent, the event will be held from 10 am - 4 pm in the parking lot of Liberty Hill Pediatric Dentistry. We will have local health professionals and community organizations highlighting health and wellness for children. Prizes and fun for all await, mark your calendars now! Find more news and information from your public library at www. lhpl.org.
Summer Reading was big success
Summer Reading 2013 was a big success at the Liberty Hill Public Library. Attendance ranged from 120-350 weekly for six weeks. The program recently held its Reading Wrap Up party. Summer Reading Grand Prize went to James Fisher (top left with Librarian Sandy Schultz). Fisher, 11, read 8,895 minutes over the six weeks -- 146 hours. His prize was a Nook Tablet. In the adult/teen category, Nora Gonzales (above right with Library Assistant April Hoffmann) read 14,103 pages. Nora also won a Nook Tablet. (Courtesy Photos)
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OPINION EDITORIAL:
Our thoughts on this new First Day
For our students, “Back to School” jolts you back to reality and ends the sweet, slovenly dreams of staying up late and the evil habits of eating bad food and sleeping in. Back to school brings a sudden brutal order to the beautiful chaos of summer. Of course it also means getting to see your friends that you’ve missed, seeing all the stern, ancient people who are turned out of the home for the aged every August to teach class and maybe, just maybe, it even means learning something new. For the parents, this back to school season brings us the bittersweet moments of the first day. It’s the backpacks filled with all the stuff that means a fresh start -- a brand new shot at something wonderful. It’s the smiling upturned faces of those who have changed our lives in ways that we cannot even put into words. In the Kleenex parties down the hall from the kindergarten classrooms, the parent tears for the tiny person who seems so alone and vulnerable as they say their goodbyes for a few hours. The enormous lump in their throats will dissolve instantly when they bolt from the school into the car yelling all of their exciting news all at once. For the educators, this is the beginning of what you have given your life to. You see the burst of excitement as the students search the hallway for their new classrooms and perhaps a familiar face that seems to have grown up a lot in just the short months that they’ve been apart. And on the first day back you may quietly wonder if you should have chosen skyscraper window cleaning, joined the circus or even committed some horrendous crime this summer so that by now you’d be safely in prison learning to run the license plate making machine. Just think, by first lunch you’ll have your head on straight and be back in love with your career and know for a fact that you were put on this earth to help us shape the future. For the community, this marks the first time in the history of Liberty
Today’s special edition of your hometown newspapaer
How long has it been since you picked up a copy of your hometown newspaper? If your answer was more than a week ago, then it’s been too long. This week, The Independent is reaching out to every family and every business in our area with a special edition of the newspaper that celebrates the beginning of a new school year. With all the promise and hope that our children will be bringing with them to Liberty Hill’s improved school facilities, we thought the occasion was worth celebrating. As you can see, this edition is packed full of information your family will need to go back to school on August 27. Local businesses are excited about a new school year as well and wanted to be part of this edition of The Indepen-
dent. We thank them for making this possible and encourage our readers to take advantage of the discounts and coupons they have offered here. Tell them you saw their ad in The Independent. Whether your family is new to the Liberty Hill area or whether you’ve been here, but just haven’t picked up the hometown newspaper in a while, The Independent invites you to subscribe. And this is the best time to do that -- just in time for a new school year. Because the newspaper supports a host of local organizations who are doing great things for our community and our children, this fall we have chosen Project Graduation 2014 to be the beneficiary of our subscription fundraiser. So if you subscribe to The Independent between now and Oct. 1, just let us know that you want half of your subscription price to go to
Hill that we have invested this level of commitment toward the future of education for a generation of children. The brand new high school and athletic facilities, the remodeled intermediate school and junior high, and other upgrades to various campuses are an attempt to create state of the art learning. This community struggled mightily with the challenge placed in front of them on the ballot before approving the bond proposal that brought the much-needed cash to the proposed projects. Supporting plans that seemed futuristic and even luxuriant with the belief that growth would follow the construction required a leap of faith of sorts by this community. Some small rural communities have not been so fortunate with the growth of their tax base as well as the promise of even more students on the horizon. Liberty Hill has been fortunate in geographic location and at this time in history. Liberty Hill has also benefitted from the vision of those who did not wait until the student population exploded before responding to future needs. So, students, teachers and the future have all been gifted by a forward-looking and strong-believing community. From the first Liberty Hill schools built of local stone and roughhewn lumber to the massive, new high school complex would seem otherworldly to the citizens of yesteryear. But the first things they built as pioneering families were churches and schools. This community stands on the shoulders of generations of hard-working people who also believed the future would be unbelievably successful. This community offers an education to every child without an afterthought, in fact it is seen as a right. This strong belief in education and the future have led us to here: “Back to School.” Let’s remember the investment in the future was made with sacrifice and hard work on behalf of our children and their children. To whom much is given, much is required.
staff notebook
Our views and other news and musings from The Independent Staff
Project Grad and we will donate it to them. You can do that by completing the coupon below or go to our website at www.LHIndependent. com and click Subscribe. There you will find the option to be part of the fundraiser. Tell us a senior’s name who you’re helping, and that student will earn points that can be used on graduation night for prizes. Keeping young people safe on graduation night is a great cause and we’re proud to help!
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include a Lhhs senior student’s name so he or she will get the credit.
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....... Have you entered the Liberty Hill Motto Contest yet? The Independent is partnering with HK Computers and other local businesses to encourage the community to get involved in the effort to create a motto or slogan for our town. The contest continues through Sept. 6. Send your entry to us at NEWS@LHINDEPENDENT.com and look for more information on our website.
Thursday, August 15, 2013 Section B Page 5
guest commentary You never know what you had ‘til it’s gone
By KATIE WILKISON Contributor to The Independent It is so difficult to move on from the sentiment of the old high school and football stadium. In fact, it is so difficult to let it go, I am not even looking forward to going to our brand new high school. So what if it has a large auditorium, computer labs for every subject, a giant library that is on the second floor -- that’s right, two floors of the school -- and science labs that are also classrooms. Who cares if the school has a totally fantastic football stadium, beautiful gyms, an actual room for the dance team, a bigger band hall, two art rooms, and a room for a future choir! Okay, that stuff is pretty great. But hey, maybe I will miss having band concerts in a crowded gym that feels about 110 degrees in the winter. The sweat is just another way to know you’re playing really well, right? Those awkward moments when you must decide whether you want to rat out a guy in a computer lab for playing games so you can finish a paper, or if you’d rather interrupt a class to use one in another room are really a right of passage to determine what your true character is. And perhaps the silent and intense competitions for the most comfortable chairs and best-positioned computers in the library are something that really brought us all closer together. Or, what about that spectacular moment when your science class walks into a lab to find out that another class is already using it? You end up making eye contact with someone on the other side of the room that you have never spoken to, and the entire situation turns into a “this lab ain’t big enough for the both of us” western shootout until finally you
return, unsuccessful, to the classroom. I think we will all miss the old football stadium. So many memories were made there. Just think about how magical it was to sit a half-inch away from someone eating a hot dog with entirely too much mustard, or to stand close enough to some guy to have them sweat on you at graduation. And how about that killer sound system? Don’t downgrade it. You definitely heard at least a third of what every coach said at Meet the Panthers all those years. The gyms at the old high school were perfect. You could sit so close to the basketball games that it was implied that if you felt up to it, you could join right in. They might even pass the ball to you. After all, the Panthers really dig audience participation. But now this new gym has above-floor seating. What are we, wimps? And at pep rallies, the acoustics were brilliant! You could hear the smashing of a trash can and when you needed to hear what Ms. Kristan was saying you got to try and guess! This was obviously done on purpose to add another game to the activities. The new bandhall’s sound is such an overwhelming improvement from the last. But it’s hard to not feel sentimental about the smelly old room that always reflected the weather outside. But in all honesty having an actual dance room? That’s pretty dope. Though I bet the Liberty Belles will truly miss going to the old back gym every morning. The fact that we have two art rooms will really be great, and I can’t wait to see the artwork covering the halls of this new school -- truly moving us in. Katie Wilkison is a junior at Liberty Hill High School.
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THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Go back to school safely on LHISD buses
Liberty Hill ISD Transportation Department welcomes the students and parents to a new school year. The Transportation Department will be implementing “Walk to Stop” changes for the 2013-2014 School year. Most areas/neighborhoods will have designated group bus stops for pick-up and drop-off. Walk to stops/group stops are generally, but not limited to, a ½ mile walk for students. Group stops allows us to decrease the number of stops each bus will
make on its route, thus minimizing the overall riding time for the students. Stops are generally not placed on dead-end streets due to the limited space available to safely turn the bus around. Bus routes are created to enhance student safety while maximizing route efficiency. Morning riders are required to be at their assigned stop five minutes prior to the scheduled pick-up time. Afternoon route drop off times can vary +/-15 min. from projected drop
off times due to ridership. P-K through 1st grade students are required to have a parent/guardian or designee present to receive them at the bus stop. If no one is there to receive the student, the student will be returned to the campus. It is the responsibility of the parent to see that the students who are returned to the school are picked up. Students returned more than three times a semester may have their riding privileges suspended. School Bus Schedules are provided
on pages 6-7 of this week’s edition of The Independent. Routes are changing daily as more students are added. Please check online to confirm your child’s route just prior to the first day of school. Routes can be found online at www.libertyhill.txed.net. Go to the Transportation home page, click the link to Bus Schedules. For additional information, contact the Transportation Department at (512) 515-5301.
MILL RD *GRP STOP* 6:57 am N US 183 & PVR 905 * 7:02 am CR 201 & PRUDDY OVER* 7:04 am RIVER RD & REMUDA HWY PICK UP * OAKS DR 6:41 am 700 DOUBLE FILE TRCE DR *GRP STOP* 6:59 am 6039 N US 183 * HWY 7:03 am 915 CR 201 & GLASSCOCK RD 7:25 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY PICK UP * 7:04 am 785 CR 201 6:43 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & SCHOOL (103) 7:00 am 6001 N US 183 * HWY 7:05 am 341 CR 201 SAN GABRIEL DR *CROSSOVER* 7:30 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) PICK UP * 7:11 am SAN GABRIEL CROSS6:47 am 7600 RR 1869 7:32 am INTERM. (102) 7:01 am SARATOGA SPRINGS ING APT FLAG POLE (5TH-12TH) 6:48 am 7700 RR 1869 7:38 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMENDR & SARATOGA SPRINGS CV & 7:15 am BELL ST & CARSON AVE 6:50 am RR 1869 & BOULDERTARY SCHOOL (101) SARATOGA SPRINGS PL (PK-4TH) (5TH-12TH) WOOD DR 7:44 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 7:02 am SARATOGA SPRINGS 7:20 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 6:51 am RR 1869 & BEDROCK DR & SPRING GROVE DR (PK7:22 am INTERM. (102) DR Bus 01 6:49 am GLORY LN & CR 281 6:53 am 4306-08,4404-08 OAK 6:52 am RR 1869 & PEBBLES 6:43 am 114-116 CRESTVIEW DR Bus 38 4TH) 7:27 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY CREEK RD 7:03 am 110 SAVANNA TERRACE SCHOOL (103) DR * GRP STOP * 6:49 am CARL SHIPP DR & RUS6:54 am OAK CREEK RD & VALDR CULDASAC (PK-4TH) 7:35 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN6:53 am 8594 RR 1869 6:45 am 112-116 TERRACE CV * SELL ST *CROSSOVER* LEY VIEW RD *CROSSOVER* 7:04 am SAVANNA TERRACE DR TARY SCHOOL (101) 7:14 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) GRP STOP * 6:51 am BLUE BONNET LN 6:55 am OAK CREEK RD & FAR& SPRING GROVE DR (PK-4TH) 7:41 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 7:19 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN6:47 am 4732 N US 183 * HWY -LITTLE PEOPLE LEARNING VIEW CIR *CROSSOVER* 7:06 am AUGUSTA PLACE DR & TARY SCHOOL (101) P/U * PLACE 6:57 am LIVE OAK RD & RED AUTUMN RIDGE DR (PK-4TH) 7:29 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY 6:50 am 5830 N US 183 * HWY 6:53 am 223 SNYDERS TRL & Bus 43 OAK LN 7:07 am AUGUSTA PLACE DR & SCHOOL (103) P/U * 6:54 am BRONCO BLVD & STALBRYSON BND 6:58 am LIVE OAK RD & ARTHUR 7:45 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) SUMMERWOOD DRJ (PK-4TH) 6:55 am RIGHT ON CR 255 LION WAY 6:55 am BROWN BRIDGE RD CIR 7:08 am SUMMERWOOD DR 7:48 am INTERM. (102) 7:01 am CR 255 & FARRIS 6:56 am BRONCO BLVD & SECRED BRICK JAVA 7:00 am 1501 LIVE OAK RD & MONTROSE DR & SPRING RANCH RD RETARIAT 7:01 am FOUST DR & LIBERTY 7:01 am 3501 CR 279 GROVE DR (PK-4TH) 7:02 am CR 255 & WEST VALLEY Bus 06 DR 6:58 am SECRETARIAT & SPEED 7:03 am CR 279 & SPIVEY RD 7:21 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY SPUR * CROSSOVER * 6:27 am 2221 CR 282 *CROSSHORSE 7:04 am RR 1869 & INDIAN RDG 7:04 am ANTLERS TRL & CR 279 OVER* SCHOOL (103) 7:05 am CR 255 & KING REA * 7:02 am SPEED HORSE & 7:06 am 1800 RR 1869 7:10 am END OF COPPER LN & 7:26 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) CROSSOVER * 6:28 am 2540 CR 282 *GRP STOP BRONCO BLVD 7:09 am 13130 W SH 29 SUNNY SILVER CREEK DR 7:28 am INTERM. (102) 7:06 am 125 CR 255 7:03 am POLO PONY & CHEST* HILL RV OFFICE 7:12 am 281 SILVER CREEK DR 7:35 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:10 am ALDEA ST & MARBELLA 6:30 am 2684 CR 282 7:14 am 110 HORSESHOE LOOP NUT COLT & COPPER LN TARY SCHOOL (101) WAY 6:31 am 2850 CR 282 7:06 am CHESTNUT COLT & & SHOECROSS 7:14 am CR 279 & CR 278 7:42 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 7:16 am CR 257 & CR 257 SPEED HORSE 6:33 am BINGHAM CREEK RD & 7:15 am 334 HORSESHOE LOOP 7:16 am 1595 CR 279 7:09 am 606 ROLLING HILLS RD CURVE * CROSSOVER * CR 282 TURN AROUND CARPORT *GRP STOP* 7:26 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 7:18 am CR 256 CULDASAC - * 7:11 am 1101 CR 214 6:36 am CR 281 & RIDGELINE 7:20 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY Bus 41 7:27 am INTERM. (102) GRP STOP * RD SCHOOL (103) 6:38 am CR 259 & LH TREAT7:13 am 208-212 NEAL DR *GRP 7:31 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY 7:19 am 1351 CR 256 - * GRP 6:38 am 650 CR 283 7:22 am 12700 W SH 29 A LINE STOP* MENT PLANT DRIVEWAY SCHOOL (103) STOP * 6:40 am 201 CR 283 AUTO *HWY P/U* 6:49 am OAK PLAZA DR & GA7:15 am 121-125 KENDRA DR 7:38 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:20 am CR 256 & CR 257 STOP 6:44 am CR 284 & PICKETT LN 7:24 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) BRIELS LOOP & OAK PLAZA CV CULDASAC *GRP STOP* TARY SCHOOL (101) SIGN *CROSSOVER* 7:26 am INTERM. (102) 6:52 am LAKE SIDE DR & OAK 7:17 am 301 CR 214 7:44 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 7:21 am FM 3405 & CR 257 6:47 am HIGH RIVER RANCH 7:32 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:22 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY VIEW CV 7:30 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY DR & LITTLE GABRIEL RIVER DR TARY SCHOOL (101) SCHOOL (103) 6:53 am LAKE SIDE DR & WEST SCHOOL (103) Bus 04 *GRP STOP* 7:38 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) VIEW DR 7:27 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 7:34 am JR HIGH SCHOOL 6:44 am 100 HILLTOP DR 6:48 am LITTLE GABRIEL RIVER 6:54 am LAKE SIDE DR & LAKE 7:30 am INTERM. (102) (041) 6:45 am 7751,7711,7685 RR 1869 DR & HIGH RIVER RANCH DR SIDE CV 7:37 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMENBus 39 7:36 am INTERM. (102) *CROSSOVER* *GRP STOP* TARY SCHOOL (101) 6:55 am LAKE SIDE DR & WA6:43 am SUNDANCE TRL & AP7:42 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN6:49 am 185 CR 288 6:52 am CR 284 & SPRING TERFORD LN 7:43 am HIGH SCHOOL PALOOSA RUN TARY SCHOOL (101) 6:51 am 301 CR 288 CREEK DR *CROSSOVER* 6:57 am RIDGE VIEW CV & (001) 6:46 am APPALOOSA RUN & 7:49 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 6:53 am CR 288 & BRNT CR 323A 6:54 am 3127 CR 284 RIDGE VIEW DR MUSTANG MESA 6:57 am THOUSAND OAKS TRL & 6:59 am CR 284 & CR 285 6:59 am RIDGE VIEW DR & SUMBus 46 6:50 am PALOMINO PL & N 7:03 am 1301 CR 285 MER WOOD CT Bus 02 Note: MESQUITE SPRINGS DR 6:59 am 201 KRISTI LN - GROUP SHOWHORSE DR & S SHOW6:58 am THOUSAND OAKS TRL & 7:04 am 720 CR 285 7:00 am RIDGE VIEW DR & SUMSaratoga Springs Subdiv (5th-12th P/U HORSE DR PARKER CT 7:09 am 5488,5490,5500 RR 1869 MER OAK CT Bus 02 / PK-4th BUS 40) All other 7:01 am SAN GABRIEL CROSS6:52 am N SHOWHORSE DR & 7:00 am WANDERING OAK & *CROSSOVER* 7:01 am PARK PLACE DR & stops include all grade levels ING APT FLAG POLE (PK-4TH) THOROUGHBRED TRCE ROLLING BLOCK DR 7:14 am 3803 RR 1869 RIDGE VIEW DR 6:57 am SARATOGA SPRINGS 7:03 am 1603 LOOP 332 6:53 am 291 N SHOWHORSE DR 7:01 am ROLLING BLOCK DR & 7:15 am RR 1869 & TAYLOR 7:02 am PARK PLACE DR & OAK DR & SARATOGA SPRINGS CV & 7:04 am LYNN LN & PANTHER 6:56 am PALOMINO PL & N ARALONE MOTT CT SMITH DR *CROSSOVER* MEADOW DR SARATOGA SPRINGS PL PATH BIAN AVE & S ARABIAN AVE 7:02 am ROLLING BLOCK DR & 7:17 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:03 am 118 PARK PLACE DR 6:58 am SARATOGA SPRINGS 7:05 am 305-309 BARRINGTON 6:59 am PALOMINO PL & MUSLOST OAKS CT 7:05 am 7300 W SH 29 ** HWY TARY SCHOOL (101) DR & SPRING GROVE DR DR - COVE AREA TANG MESA 7:21 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) PICK UP ** 7:26 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY 7:00 am 110 SAVANNA TERRACE 7:07 am 1385 LOOP 332 7:01 am MUSTANG MESA & 7:28 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:11 am CORTONA CV & SAN SCHOOL (103) DR CULDASAC 7:08 am W MYRTLE LN & BARBUCKSKIN BLVD TARY SCHOOL (101) MINIATO ST 7:30 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 7:01 am SAVANNA TERRACE DR TON DR 7:05 am 123 QUARRY LAKE 7:37 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY 7:12 am ADORNO LN & GROS7:32 am INTERM. (102) & SPRING GROVE DR 7:09 am STUBBLEFIELD LN & ESTATES DR *GRP STOP* SCHOOL (103) 7:43 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 7:03 am AUGUSTA PLACE DR & 7:07 am CLARK PL & SARAHS LN SETO LN FALLWELL ST 7:41 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 7:13 am ARREZO LN & FLORENZ AUTUMN RIDGE DR 7:10 am FALLWELL ST & BAR7:08 am SARAHS LN & BRIDGET 7:42 am INTERM. (102) LN *CROSSOVER 7:04 am AUGUSTA PLACE DR & TON DR CIR Bus 35 7:23 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY SUMMERWOOD DR 7:12 am CHURCH ST & HICKMAN 7:09 am STAGE COACH & S 6:44 am RIGHT ON BLESSING SCHOOL (103) 7:05 am SUMMERWOOD DR ST Bus 05 BUCKBOARD & N BUCKBOARD RANCH RD 7:27 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) & MONTROSE DR & SPRING 7:13 am 117 E MYRTLE LN 6:26 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & 7:16 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 6:50 am 1012 SAN GABRIEL 7:29 am INTERM. (102) GROVE DR LITTLE CRUSADERS BACK DOOR WESTFALL TRL 7:23 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMENRANCH RD 7:35 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:08 am 351 CR 212 7:15 am BELL ST & CARSON AVE 6:28 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & TARY SCHOOL (101) 6:52 am SAN GABRIEL RANCH TARY SCHOOL (101) 7:14 am COLE DR & RED BUD LN COOKS XING *CROSSOVER* (PK-4TH) 7:32 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY RD & ROUND UP DR *GRP STOP* 7:41 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 7:15 am 101 COLE DR 7:21 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY 6:30 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & SCHOOL (103) 6:54 am SAN GABRIEL RANCH 7:24 am BURDEN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (103) OWEN PASS *CROSSOVER* RD & CORRAL LN 7:37 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) SCHOOL (103) 6:32 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & 6:56 am SAN GABRIEL RANCH 7:39 am INTERM. (102) Bus 42 7:25 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 7:28 am JR HIGH SCHOOL (041) 7:27 am INTERM. (102) 1010 GLASSCOCK RD & 40 SHIN RD & CHAPARRAL DR 6:36 am QUARRY BLUFF CV & 7:30 am INTERM. (102) OAK LN 6:57 am SAN GABRIEL RANCH Bus 40 CR 201 7:33 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMEN7:36 am LIBERTY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (101) 6:34 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & RD & MUSTANG CIR 6:44 am 4078 CR 201 6:39 am CR 207 & GAME RUN TARY SCHOOL (101) 7:39 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) DEER TRL 6:59 am SAN GABRIEL RANCH 6:46 am 5000 CR 201 *CROSSOVER* 7:41 am HIGH SCHOOL (001) 6:36 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE RD & OLD WINDMILL RD *GRP 6:53 am 509 CR 206 6:40 am 575 CR 207 *CROSS & JENKINS DAVIS RD *CROSSSTOP* CROSSOVER 6:56 am 2147 CR 201 OVER* 7:01 am 129 RIVER RD *GRP 6:58 am 1765 CR 201 Bus 03 OVER* 6:41 am CR 207 & CR 211 6:37 am DOUBLE FILE TRCE & STOP* 6:59 am PHILLIP LN & CR 201 6:36 am 330 CR 279 *CROSSOVER* S SAN GABRIEL LOOP *CROSS7:02 am RIVER RD & OLD WIND7:00 am 1625 CR 201 6:47 am TWIN CEDARS & CR 281 6:49 am CR 207 & CR 210
Liberty Hill AREA CHURCH DIRECTORY LIBERTY HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST
Minister Jason Dunn Sunday Bible Class 9:30 a.m. Worship 10:30 a.m. Afternoon Worship 1 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m. Loop 332, Liberty Hill (512) 778-5235 www.libertyhillchurchofchrist.com
FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
Pastor Michael Wright Sunday Worship, Sunday School 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Youth Activities various evening times. Wednesday Meal 5:15 p.m., Adult Bible Study 6 p.m., Children Activites 6 p.m., SMASH (5th/6th Grades) 6 p.m., Prayer 6:30 p.m. Call for more information (512) 515-5579 3600 RR 1869 Main Campus 811 Loop 332 Traditions Campus www.fellowshiplh.org
HIGHWAY 29 CHURCH OF CHRIST Minister Colby Pennington Sunday Services 10 and 11 a.m. Afternoon Services 5 p.m. Wednesday Evening Service 6:30 p.m. Highway 29, Liberty Hill (512) 963-8795
MISSION LIBERTY HILL LCMS Affiliated Pastor Paul Frerichs (971) 226-6112 Sunday 9 a.m. Adult Bible Study & Sunday School 10 a.m. Worship Service 15725 W. Hwy. 29, Suite 7, Liberty Hill www.missionlibertyhill.org (512) 778-9310
THE HILL COMMUNITY CHURCH Pastor Justin McCollister Sunday: Worship Service 10:30 a.m. Jim Plain Elementary School 501 South Brook Drive, Leander (512) 515-5673 www.thehillcc.org info@thehillcc.org
UNION HALL BAPTIST CHURCH
Sunday: Sunday School 10 a.m.; Morning Service 11 a.m.; Children’s Church 11 a.m.; Choir Practice 5 p.m.; Evening Service 6 p.m.; Wednesday: Evening Meal 5:30 p.m.; Evening Service for all ages 7 p.m. Nursery Provided For All Services 301 CR 259, Liberty Hill (512) 515-5811 www.uh-bc.com
LIBERTY HILL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Pastor Randall Hilburn Sunday 9:15 a.m. Traditional Service 10:20 a.m. Christian Education 11:15 a.m. Praise Service 5-7 p.m. Youth Meeting Wednesday 9 a.m. Grandies for Christ 6 p.m. Chancel Choir Practice 7 p.m. Praise Team Practice 7:15 p.m. Hymn Ringers Practice Thursday 7 pm Bible Study Corner of Church & Myrtle Streets (512) 515-0070 www.lhumctx.org
THE PREDESTINATION CHURCH Meets Sundays at 6 p.m. 719 S. Highway 183, South of Seward Junction (512) 217-3088
Grace Alive
Pastor Dawn Slack Sunday Worship & Children Service: 10 a.m. Wednesday: Dinner served 6 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study 7 p.m. Adults-Sanctuary, Teens-Youth Rm. Mpact Girls & Royal RangersFellowship Hall Identity 20+ meets 2nd, 4th Thurs. Nursery Provided for Ages 0-2 16030 W. Hwy 29, Liberty Hill www.gracealivelibertyhill.org gracealive71@aol.com (512) 778-6000
LIFE SPRINGS CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Bishop Ronald D. Rhea, D. Min David Joiner, Senior Pastor Sunday 9 a.m. Life Message Classes 10 a.m. Celebration Worship Service 15611 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill (512) 515-5591
WILLIAMSON COUNTY COWBOY CHURCH
Sunday 10:30 a.m. Every Monday at 7:30 p.m. Women’s Group Tuesdays at 6 p.m. Men’s Group Wednesdays at 6 p.m. 8355 RR 1869, Liberty Hill (512) 778-5295
JOURNEY CHURCH
Lead Pastor Blake Westbrook Sunday 10:30 a.m.; Prayer 6 p.m. Wednesday Site Group 7 p.m. 1015 N. US Hwy 183, Liberty Hill (512) 778-6211 www.journeychurchtx.com
Cumberland Presbyterian Church Highway 29, Bertram (512) 355-2182
Faith Lutheran Church
4010 Williams Dr., Georgetown (512) 863-7332
Leander Presbyterian Church 101 N. West St., Leander (512) 259-2135
Mahomet Christian Church (DOC)
Worship 9 a.m. Sunday Highway 243, Bertram (512) 868-3120 or (512) 489-2312
Santa Rosa Catholic Church
5 p.m. Saturday; 8 & 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Andice
Holy Cross Catholic Church 11 a.m. Mass Sunday Highway 29, Bertram (512) 355-2972
www.neverbethirsty.com (512) 528-0237
First Christian Church (DOC)
Corner of West & Mills Streets, Bertram (512) 355-2031
New Life Apostolic Church UPC
Worship 2 p.m. Sunday Grange & Main Streets, Bertram (512) 355-9300
Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian
11 a.m. Sunday 12951 RR 2338, South of Andice (512) 585-1617
Hill Country Church of God Of Prophecy
Hill Country Fellowship 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday 8754 RR 2243, Leander (512) 736-3903
10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday Lewis Bldg., Vaughn Street, Bertram (512) 586-7403
Leander Assembly of God
Hill Country Bible Church
10:50 a.m. Sunday 1003 Leander Dr., Leander (512) 259-4131
Living Water Lutheran Church (ELCA)
Sundays 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Worship at 719 N. U.S. Hwy 183 (Near U.S. Hwy 183 and Hwy 29), Leander
9 and 10:45 a.m. Sunday 11880 Old 2243 West, Suite 600, Leander (512) 259-1900
Thursday, August 15, 2013
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Page 7B
Although the new high school does not have a choir yet, it does have a choir room. Principal Bobby Mabry said choir is on the list of future program offerings. (Photo by Shelly Wilkison)
Facilities Hart
Continued from Page 1B
the capacity will be reached sooner than projected. But Hart said it is the growth in enrollment at the younger grades that will become an issue sooner. As early as 2016, school district voters could be considering another bond package to add a new elementary school. Because the growth in the school district is on its east side, property in or near one of the new subdivisions could be a possible site for a new school, he said. With the opening of new, stateof-the-art schools comes a higher public expectation for success. Hart said district officials share a similar level of expectations and are working on developing ideas for added curriculum and program offerings. With the added space in the new high school this fall, a health sciences curriculum will be introduced and additional classes will be available for students exploring a career in the culinary arts. The new high school also has a choir room in anticipation of forming a school choir at some point. Perhaps the most visible evidence of growth in the school district is a football stadium that towers over the Liberty Hill landscape to the west. Hart said the district has found a good balance between its athletic and academic programs. “We want to give them (students) as many opportunities as we can,” he said. “The majority of our students want to participate in athletics and we notice it especially when the kids come back to school one month early for practice.” Hart estimated that well over 50 percent of high school students returned to school August 5 for practice in one of the fall sports, band, cheerleading and drill team. He said participation in those activities is
positive for a student’s overall high school experience. He said those who participate are more successfull overall. While the number of students continues to climb, Hart said the challenge for the school district will be to continue to maintain its smallschool atmosphere. An environment where teachers and administrators know every student not only benefits the student’s learning experience, but it also improves the overall safety of the campus. Hart said the new schools are designed for security. Equipped with video cameras throughout, and an emergency lockdown system that can close off portions of the schools, he said he believes the new campuses are better suited to protect students and staff. Additionally, he believes staff members know the families of their students and know how to look for people who might not belong or act suspicious. Teacher salaries As the school district works to take care of its students, Hart said taking care of teachers and other employees is high on the priority list this year. On August 19, the Board of Trustees is expected to receive a recommendation from the Superintendent to raise teacher salaries by an average 3 percent -- a pay raise that Hart said is needed to keep Liberty Hill competitive with neighboring districts. Results of a salary survey conducted recently by the Texas Association of School Boards for LHISD showed that Liberty Hill fell slightly below 95 percent of the market on the salaries it pays professional personnel, Hart said. “Our goal is to reach 95 percent,”
he said. “An average 3 percent raise would help level the playing field.” Liberty Hill has typically paid slightly less than its neighbors, and districts like Leander and Round Rock are often on the receiving end of Liberty Hill teachers who leave for higher salaries. Hart said even with the proposed pay increase, LHISD will still pay slightly below them. As is the case statewide, health insurance premiums are increasing. Without a pay increase, local teachers would have to bear the brunt of the increased insurance costs. A few years ago, LHISD froze teacher salaries at a time when the Legislature implemented significant cuts in funding to public schools. Hart said freezing salaries was a difficult choice at the time, but the alternative was layoffs. During the same time, schools across Central Texas and beyond had to close campuses and lay off workers. Hart said things are improving locally and funds are available to implement a pay raise that he anticipated could cost the district up to $200,000 in the coming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1. School trustees will have their first look at a proposed budget when they meet August 19. Hart said three factors are contributing to the district’s ability to raise salaries. Increased enrollment allows the district to earn more state funding through average daily attendance. In 2013, the Legislature also acted to restore much of the funding that it cut in recent years. And finally, property values are up in the school district, which translates to more revenue generated through property taxes.
Public Notification of Nondiscrimination in Career and Technical Education Programs Liberty Hill ISD offers career and technical education programs in Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Arts, A/V Tech & Communications; Business, Management & Administration; Health Science; Hospitality and Tourism; Information Technology; and Manufacturing. Admission is based on pre-requisites listed in the course description. It is the policy of Liberty Hill ISD not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex or handicap in its vocational programs, services or activities as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. Liberty Hill ISD will take steps to assure that lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in all educational and vocational programs. For information about your rights or grievance procedures, contact the Title IX / Section 504 Coordinator, Dr. Rob Hart, at 14001 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill, TX 78642; 512-260-5580. Notificación pública de no discriminación en programas de educación técnica y carréra vocacionales El distrito escolar independiente de Liberty Hill ofrece programas en Agriculture (agricultura), Food & Natural Resources (alimentos y recursos natural), Arts (artes), A/V Tech & Communications (comunicaciones de tecnología), Business (empresas), Management & Administration (administración de empresas), Health Science (ciencias de la salud), Hospitality and Tourism (hospitalidad y turismo), Information Technology (informática), and Manufacturing (fabricación). La admisión a estos programas se basa en pre-requisitos que se encuentran en la lista escrita ajunto cada descripción del curso. El distrito escolar independiente de Liberty Hill no discriminar por motivos de raza, color, origen nacional, sexo o impedimento, en sus programas, servicios o actividades vocacionales, tal como lo requieren el Título VI de la Ley de Derechos Civiles de 1964; enmendada: el Título IX de las Enmiendas de Educación, de 1972, y la Sección 504 de la Ley de Rehabilitación de 1973, enmendada. El distrito escolar independiente de Liberty Hill tomará las medidas necesarias para asegurar que la falta de habilidad en el uso del inglés no sea un obstáculo para la admisión y participación en todos los programas educativos y vocacionales. Para información sobre sus derechos o procedimientos para quejas, comuníquese con el Coordinador del Título IX / el Coordinador de la Sección 504, Dr. Rob Hart, at 14001 W. Hwy. 29, Liberty Hill, TX 78642; 512-260-5580.
Continued from Page 1B
effect, the plan keeps the grade levels apart for much of the school day. During those formative years, the separation can make a positive difference, she said. “For some, that (intermediate level) is confusing because they don’t know if we’re a middle school or an elementary school,” Mrs. Major said. “But our mission is to be an elementary school and a transition to junior high.” She said younger students especially feel more comfortable with their grade-level peers, while sixth grade students are learning routines and habits to prepare them for junior high. The new campus is a stark difference from the former school. Mrs. Major and Assistant Principal Scott Copeland had much to say about the many improvements during a tour with The Independent. In addition to an expanded library, band hall, combined cafeteria and auditorium, art room, additional classrooms and administrative offices, the building is equipped with security features that make the building a safe place for students and employees. From the start of the school day until the final bell rings, public access to the building will be available only at the front entrance. Visitors must pass through the reception area as other doors will remain locked. Such is the case at the Junior High and new high school campuses as well. Video cameras will be func-
tional at all buildings so that hallways and major areas can be monitored. “The fact that we’re all in one building now is so much safer,” Mrs. Major said. “Security is so much better and I feel like we are as secure here as we can be.” During a tour of the new high school August 8, Principal Bobby Mabry was quick to note the added security features on that campus. He said the main entrance to the building is secured on a timer so that once the final bell rings, a second set of doors inside the main entrance is locked. Students and visitors must stop at a secured reception area to gain access. Other doors remain locked from the outside. Mabry said security cameras are positioned throughout the campus at 90 different locations. The new high school is designed so that classrooms for each grade level are grouped together. Mabry said the plan creates a better learning community for students. And in a space as large as the new academic building, grouping core subjects together by grade level reduces travel time between classes, he said. Each wing has its own computer lab and restroom facilities, as well as a teacher workroom. Science classrooms are equipped with labs eliminating the need to change rooms for lab work. There are multiple art rooms, a state-of-the art welding and vocational area, com-
puter classrooms, a dance room for the Liberty Belles, and a culinary arts area equipped with a commercial kitchen that would be the envy of restaurant or culinary teaching facility. A second-floor library will no doubt become a popular study area furnished with comfortable seating areas and meeting rooms. Also in the main building are the main gym, which has above-ground seating for 1,200 people. Two subvarsity gyms can be separated with a curtain allowing for tournaments and multiple practices. The cafeteria in the new high school is large enough to reduce the number of lunch periods from three to two. With four serving lines, plenty of seating indoors and outdoors, lunch should be a more enjoyable time for students. The cafeteria also has its own open stage area. While there are many other features of the new high school that will be discovered in the coming weeks by students, faculty and the community, it may be the auditorium that has the biggest impact on visitors in the coming days. Able to seat 900 people, the auditorium will have its debut on August 21 as all of the school district’s employees gather together for the opening convocation of the school year. “We are overwhelmed at how nice this is,” Mabry said. “It’s a great time to be a Panther!”
Page 8C
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Schools prepare to welcome back Liberty Hill students
(ABOVE) Liberty Hill Intermediate School Principal Kathy Major and Asst. Principal Scott Copeland stand in front of the library at the new campus. (ABOVE RIGHT) Construction workers put the finishing touches on the front entrance of the new Liberty Hill High school. (RIGHT) High School Principal Bobby Mabry displays the 2014 purple graduation gown that will be worn by seniors. The new style features the LH logo on the left side. (BELOW RIGHT) The main gym at LHHS will seat 1,200 Panther fans. The seating area on both sides of the gym are above floor level.
LHISD School Supply Lists
PPCD and Friends Class 4 - 120 count Kleenex Tissue 4 - Large Glue Sticks 1 - 9x12 50ct Asst. Construction Paper 2 - 20 quart size recloseable bags 1 - 15 gallon recloseable bags 1 - sandwich size recloseable bags 1 - 7 5/8 oz Elmer’s Glue All 3 - 8 Color Crayola washable watercolors 2 - 4 pack Play Dough 2 - 80 count Baby Wipes 5 - 100 count box .5 oz Dixie Cups 1 - 24 count Crayola Crayons 1 - 12 pack paper towels
Kindergarten 4 - 9x12 50ct assorted construction paper (loose leaf) 1 - 9x12 50ct manila construction paper (loose leaf) 1 - 70 count wide rule spiral notebook 1 - 5” blunt scissors 3 - purple plastic pocket & brad folders 5 - 8ct Crayola Crayons (small) 5 - 24 ct Crayola Crayons 4 - 4 oz Elmer’s school glue 10 - Jumbo (.77 oz) Elmer’s glue stick 1 - 8 color Crayola washable watercolors 2 - 120 count Kleenex tissue 1 - box of recloseable Ziploc quart freezer bags (non-slider) 1 - box of recloseable Ziploc gallon bags (non-slider) 48 - No. 2 wood pencils Ticonderoga brand 1 - pink beveled eraaser 1 - paper plates (1 pkg - small/no decorations) 1 - paper plates (1 pkg - large/no decorations) 1 - Expo markers (4 count chisel point) 2 - Washable Crayola thick classic markers - 8 ct
1 - Bottle of hand sanitizer 1 - container of Clorox wipes 1 - head phones (with volume control) Towel for rest time Art Room Supply -- Washable Crayola thick classic markers - 8 ct. First Grade 1 - Red pocket & brad folder 1 - Blue pocket & brad folder 1 - Yellow pocket & brad folder 1 - Green pocket & brad folder 1 - Orange plastic pocket & brad folder 2 - Purple plastic pocket & brad folders 2 - 70 count spiral comp book wide rule 1 - 100 count composition books 1 - 9x12 manila paper - 50 count 1 - 12x18 manila paper - 50 count 1 - 9x12 assorted construction paper - 50 count 1 - 12x18 assorted construction paper - 50 count 24 - No. 2 wood pencil - Dixon/Ticonderoga or USA Gold brand 1 - pink bevel eraser 1 - headphones (please no ear buds) 1 - 5” sharp scissors 1 - 8 ct washable markers broad 5 - 24ct Crayola crayons 1 - plastic school box 2 - 4oz Elmer’s Glue 12 - 6 gram Elmer’s Glue sticks-12 1 - 2 count pkg. Expo Low Odor Chisel Tip Dry Erase Markers 12 - pencil cap erasers 2 - Black Sharpies (fine point) (Art Room) 1 - Baby wipes 1 - GermX (12 oz) 1 - 20ct box of recloseable quart freezer bags 1 - 20 ct box of recloseable gallon freezer bags 3 - 120 ct Kleenex tissue Second Grade
3 - 70ct spiral comp book wide rule 1 - Green plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - Yellow plastic pocket & brad folder 2 - Blue plastic pocket & brad folder 48 - No. 2 wood Ticonderoga pencil (latex free) 2 - Box 24 count Crayola crayons 1 - box washable markers 1 - 2 to 4 low odor dry erase markers 2 - pink bevel eraser (latex free) 1 - 5” scissors 4 - large Elmer’s glue stick .77 oz 1 - 50 ct 12x18 assorted color construction papaer 1 - 50 ct 12x18 bright white or manila construction paper 1-Boys box of Ziplock brand quart bags 1-Girls box of Ziplock brand gallon bags 1 - 35 count Clorox wipes 1 - 8 oz waterless hand sanitizer with pump 1 - supply box or zipper bag 3 - boxes 110 ct Kleenex 1 - computer headphones THIRD GRADE 2 - 100 ct composition books 1 - Red plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - Green plastic pocket & brad folders 1 - Yellow plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - Blue plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - Orange plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - Package pencil cap erasers 36 - No.2 Dixon Ticonderoga pencils (sharpened) 2 - Box 24 count Crayola crayons 2 - boxes 120 ct Kleenex 2 - pink bevel eraser 1 - 5” scissors 6 - .77 oz Elmer’s glue stick 1 - 50 ct 12x18 assorted construc-
tion paper 1 - 150 ct wide rule riller paper 1 - 10 ct washable Crayola Markers 1 - plastic pencil box 2 - Expo highlighters (any color) 2 - BIC red med ink pens 2 - Black Expo Low odor chsl dry erase 2 - 50 ct 12x18 manila paper 1 - computer headphones 1 - 1” three-ring binder with pocket 1 - 5ct tab dividers 1-girls box of Ziplock brand quart bags 1-boys box of Ziplock brand gallon bags 1-girls 8oz hand sanitizer with pump 1-boys 35 count Clorox wipes 1-girls 4 oz bottle of Elmer’s school glue 1-boys 100 plain white paper plates 1 - pkg Dice FOURTH GRADE 2- 70 ct spiral comp book wide rule 2 - composition notebooks 1 - red plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - green plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - purple plastic pocket & brad folder 1 - blue plastic pocket & brad folder 48 - No. 2 wood pencils (latex free) 2 - box 24 count Crayola Crayons 2 - boxes 120 ct Kleenex 1 - pink bevel eraser (latex free) 1 - 5” scissor 6 - small (6 gram) Elmer’s glue stick 1-girls 50 ct 9x12 assorted construction paper 1 - boys 50 ct 12x18 assorted construction paper 1 - 200 ct wide rule filler paper 1 - 7” 12 count presharpened colored pencils 1 - 5”x8” plastic school box 8 - BIC red med ink pens (stick type, not retractable)
2 - 8 ct washable markers broad tip 1 - 12x18 manila paper 50 ct 1 - 4 oz Elmer’s Glue All 1 - Black Expo2 Low Odor chisel dry erase 1 - Blue Expo2 Low odor chisel dry erase 24 - pencil cap erasers (latex free) 1 - 35 ct Clorox wipes 1 - 12” ruler with customary and metric markings 1-girls 25ct box of Ziplock brand gallon bags 1-boys 25 ct box of Ziplock brand quart bags 1 computer headphones FIFTH GRADE 1 - 24 ct Crayola Crayons 1 - 7” 12ct presharpened colored pencils 1 - 200 ct wide rule filler paper 1 - sharp 5” scissor 1 - Flexiruler by ITS academic (standard & metric) 48 - No 2 pencils 3 - 110ct Kleenex tissue 1 - fluor yellow highlighter pen style 12 - BIC red med stick pen 1 - .77 oz Elmer’s glue stick 8 - pocket & brad folders or 1 - 3 ring binders with at least 5 separate spaces for papers and 3 pocket and brad folders 5 - 70 ct spiral comp book wide rule 1 - Reg. pencil sharpener with receptacle 1 - nylon pencil bag clear with gromet 7.25x10.25 1 - pink bevel eraser 1 - Disinfecting wipes 35 ct (not for skin) 1 - 8oz Germ-X waterless hand sanitizer with pump 6- pencil cap erasers 1 - 4-pack Expo markers 1 - set of earbuds
1 - 50ct quart-size zipper storage 1 - pack 9x12 construction paper SIXTH GRADE 1 - nylon 3-hole pencil bag with zipper 1 - accordion folder 1 - plastic blue folder with pockets & brads 1 - plastic red folder with pockets & brads 1 - plastic purple folder with pockets & brads NO BINDERS 1 - pkg highlighters 2 pack 1 - pkg (10 count) BIC (variety pack - green, red, pink, purple, etc) 24 - Ticonderoga pencils 2 - pkgs wide ruled 150-count notebook paper 3 - Elmer’s glue sticks (7 gram size) 2 - boxes 250-count tissue 1 - pkg 12-count Crayola map pencils 1 - pencil sharpener with receptacle 1 - pkg (35 count) Clorox or Lysol wipes 1 - pink bevel eraser 1 - pkg index cards with lines (100 count) 2 - marbled composition book (100 sheets) 1 - plastic protractor 1 - pair Fiskar Scissors with pointed tip 1 - Fiskar compass with plastic tip 1 paid ear buds 1 - box sized Ziplock bags - boys gallon size; girls- quart size 1 - pkg 12x18 manila paper 1 - flexible ruler with inches and centimeters 1 - 2 pk Black Expo markers Supply lists for Liberty Hill Junior High and Liberty Hill High School may be found on the school district website, www. libertyhill.txed.net.
Food & Living Food Wise
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT Thursday, August 15, 2013 Section B Page 9
Contact Chef Renee
ChefRenee@LHIndependent.com www.ChefaliciousHospitality.com
with Chef Reneé Morgan
Hectic school days call for crock pot quickies I know it’s, like, surface-of-the-sun hot outside and it feels like summer can’t possibly almost be at an end, but believe it or not, it’s almost time for school to start and, hopefully cooler fall weather won’t be too far behind. Who am I kidding? This is Texas! It’ll be hotter than you-know-where until around Halloween. On a positive note...yea!...school is starting back! Oh, I know I’ll have to start getting up practically in the middle of the night again to get the kids on the bus. (Who decided morning should start while it’s still dark outside?) And then there’s the mandatory school shopping. I’m only done with school supplies for one kid and I’ve already laid down a Benjamin. Dang! Oh well. Whatever the price, at least I’ll have some peace and quiet for a few hours a day. I don’t know about your kids, but I can always tell when it’s time for summer vacation to end as the level of arguing over the Xbox rises. With a return to school also comes the fevered race to all the activities, which moms all over balance gracefully with their full-time jobs and their second full-time job running the household. Seems like, with all this running around until you meet yourself going and coming, getting a hot and healthy meal on the table is ever a challenge. It becomes soooo tempting to just run through the drive thru. Don’t do it! You know you’ll regret it! Plus, there have been all kinds of studies about how kids who belong to families who gather around the dinner table at home do better in school, are better adjusted, happier and more successful in life. Don’t you feel better about serving the family a good home cooked meal anyway? I thought so. Now that we have that settled, how
do we pull it off? If your house is anything like mine, I’m the chief cook and bottle washer, along with everything else. No maids, butlers, nannies or cooks here except for yours truly. I recently saw an ad for a family looking for a household manager. They wanted someone to cook the meals, run errands, pick up the kids from school, blah, blah, blah. Well, isn’t that nice? For the rest of us, we’ll just need to do some good planning, along with running ourselves silly. What we need to do is arm ourselves with a few tried and true, no brainer, easy breezy weeknight quickies. Oh, come on now! Get your mind out of the gutter. We’re way too tired from running all these kids around. Let’s just get dinner on the table, shall we? Besides your arsenal of weeknight quickies, let me tell you about a kitchen tool that is a busy mom’s best friend. Two words for you. Crock pot. I know it’s a little old fashioned but the crock pot is really enjoying resurgence in popularity recently. With 10 minutes worth of effort before you take off in the morning, you and your family will come home to an incredible smelling house and a healthy, flavorful meal on the table, just like grandma used to make. No muss, no fuss. Additionally, there is almost nothing that can’t be cooked in a crock pot. Dips, soups, stews, pot roast, chili, barbecue pork, casserole type dishes, chicken and dumplings, goulash and stroganoff dishes, and even lasagna can be cooked in this hard-working champion of the kitchen. The other thing that is great about cooking with a crock pot is that slow cooking develops the flavor of food better and deeper, and tenderizes food better, which allows you to make less expensive cuts of
meat falling-apart yummy. Crock pots are also easy to operate. Nothing complicated here. Turn it on, and low and slow is the way to go. It’s a no brainer! I’ve included one of my favorite weeknight quickies, as well as a couple of good crock pot recipes for you below. I hope these help you to begin to build your back to school arsenal. Ready, set, go!
Bratwurst Hoagies
Serves 6
1 pound of Bratwurst or Sausage of choice 1 onion, peeled and sliced 1 green bell pepper, deseeded, cut into strips 6 hoagie buns, split almost in 2 but with top and bottom still connected Softened butter to spread on buns 6 slices of Provolone Cheese Mustard of choice (I like Dijon) Salt and pepper to taste Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spread butter on the cut side of the buns and toast in a dry skillet. Set aside. Sauté brats in the same skillet with a tablespoon of oil if necessary. Set aside. Sauté onions and bell pepper in the same skillet with a sprinkle of salt and pepper to taste until tender and translucent. Set aside. To assemble, spread each bun with mustard, top with brat, onions and peppers, and slice of provolone. Put all the assembled hoagies on a pan and heat in the oven until cheese is melted.
Crock Pot Roast
2 large carrots, coarsely chopped 2 ribs celery, coarsely chopped 1 medium onion, thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 4 pounds meaty pork spareribs or baby back ribs, cut into pieces of 3 to 4 ribs each
Pa r k e r ’ s
Corner Market Liberty Hill’s Full-service Grocery Store
2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce 1/2 cup beef broth 1-1/2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 tablespoons flour ¼ cup water Cooked egg noodles or pasta of your choice 1. In a large slow cooker, combine the carrots, celery, onion, and garlic. Place the meat over the vegetables, overlapping as necessary, 2. In a medium bowl, stir together the tomato sauce, broth, vinegar, oregano, thyme, and salt. Pour the mixture over the ribs, then cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and begins to separate from the bone, 6 to 8 hours. 3. Using a slotted spoon, remove the ribs from the sauce and let them cool slightly. Remove the meat from the bones and shred it. 4. In a small cup, whisk together the flour and water until smooth. If needed, skim the fat from the pot, then stir the mixture into the sauce. Increase the heat to high and cook uncovered, until thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the meat, and heat 5 minutes more. Serve the ragu over egg noodles or pasta.
Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
1 1/2 - 2 pounds beef chuck roast
(TOP) Pot roast and vegetables prepared in a crock pot. (ABOVE) A bratwurst hoagie is a quick and easy meal for school day suppers. (Courtesy Photos) 2 cups cremini mushrooms, sliced agonally across the grain in thin 1/4 1 onion, chopped inch to 1/2 inch slices. Place beef, mushrooms, onions, garlic, salt, and 3 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon salt pepper in the slow cooker. 2. In a bowl, whisk to combine 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 1/2 cups beef broth beef broth, flour, and mustard. Pour 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard over beef and mushrooms and stir to combine. Cover with the lid and 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 8 ounces sour cream cook on low for 8 hours or on high 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or dill, for 4 hours. chopped 3. Once cooked and the meat is tenCooked egg noodles or rice, 1 cup der, add sour cream and parsley or per serving dill. Stir to combine. Taste and add (1 1/2 pounds Round Steak Stew additional salt and pepper if needed. Meat can be substituted for a beef To serve, place noodles or rice on a chuck roast.) plate and spoon beef stroganoff over the noodles. 1. With a sharp knife, cut beef di-
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Page 10B
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Back to School is time for renewal
Know what’s in your granola bar By CHEF RENEE MORGAN The Independent Food & Living The start of the school year means my grandboys are gonna be pestering the heck out of me for snacks. Your kiddos are probably the same way. The second they come in the door, they’re “starving to death!” Our boys’ snack of choice is usually the ever-popular granola bar, unless of course; I happen to have made my famous double chocolate chunk cookies. Granola bars have become such a go-to snack or mini-meal when you’re on the go that they have almost become their own food group. We think we’re eating healthy or giving our kids something healthy, but many are little more than candy with a fancy name that gives you a false feeling of having made a good food choice. Of course, technically granola bars aren’t candy bars, but they can contain lots of sugar, so it’s a good idea to pay attention to you and your kids’ nibbles. More added sugar than you intend may be sneaking into your family’s diets every day. That unintentional sweet stuff not only contributes unwanted calories, but may also up the risk of heart disease, diabetes and other ills. Another caution: many of these bars contain organic brown rice syrup, a sweetener that research has shown often contains arsenic, which, in higher doses can cause heart and kidney problems and has been linked to certain kinds of cancers. To reduce your exposure, choose a variety of bars that use different kinds of sweeteners. My grandkids like to eat granola bars because they taste good. I like for them to eat granola bars because, when chosen well, they contain a lot of dietary fiber. That being said, when a label boasts high fiber content, it may mean the bar is filled with a supplemental variety. These so-called designer fibers, such as inulin, corn fiber, and polydextrose aren’t necessarily bad for you, but they don’t have all the proven health
benefits of the fiber found naturally in foods. Be sure to check labels for real-deal whole grains like oats or brown rice for the best options. Another good reason to feeds the kiddos granola bars is that they are typically high in protein. The combination of protein and fiber is what makes them filling. Bars usually get a protein boost from either nuts or soy in the form of soy protein isolates. Unlike the soy in foods such as tofu, soy nuts and edamame, this processed form has been shown in lab studies to increase breast cancer cell growth, though it’s still unknown what the effect on humans is. If your favorite granola bar has soy protein isolates listed on the label, look for another one that doesn’t. If you are looking for a good granola bar for the after-school snack, you’ve come to the right place. My grandboys and I have personally tested dozens of bars, looking for the best in snack bars, breakfast bars and power bars. Here’s what we found. For a power bar to tide over a busy mom through errands, workouts and football practice, I like the South Beach Diet Dark Chocolate Fiber Bar. I don’t really like chocolate very much, but this bar was so good, I couldn’t believer it was supposed to be healthy and at only 120 calories, it won’t completely destroy your diet. For regular ol’ snackin’, the boys like the chocolatey Quaker Oats variety, but I prefer them to have the Kind Mini Fruit and nut delight. It’s a good balance of just the right amount of sweetness, crunchy and whole nuts. This is another option that is only 120 calories. For a top notch breakfast option, try the Clif Bar White Chocolate Macadamia Nut bar. Oh sure, it’s 250 calories but it’s a good option for breakfast. Some of my girlfriends thought it was too “big and heavy.” I liked it being more substantial since it was a breakfast type bar. We need some brain power first thing in the morning.
If you really want to be sure of what’s in your granola bar, you might think about making your own. We don’t always have time to spend a Saturday making a stock of granola bars at my house, but when we do the boys love it. The bars are yummy, my guys have tons of fun making the bars and they are guaranteed to eat it since they made it. Here’s my favorite fruity granola bar recipe, as well as the boys’ favorite peanut butter pretzel bars. The peanut butter pretzel bars are super easy for little hands to help with since they are no-bake.
“Health and well-being is the number one thought that we humans have across the globe.” -- Depak Chopra
My Favorite Fruity Granola Bars
2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal 1 cup sliced almonds 1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2/3 cup honey 1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 cup chopped pitted dates 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 1/2 cup dried cranberries Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 12-inch baking dish and line it with parchment paper. Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ. Reduce the oven temperature to 300 degrees F. Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots, and cranberries and stir well. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the
Homemade fruity granola bars are a healthy alternative to some pre-packaged bars. (Courtesy Photo) pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool for at least 2 to 3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.
using regular oats, pulse them a few times in a food processor/blender to chop them up a bit. Add oats, your choice of cereal and chopped pretzels to a large bowl. In a saucepan over medium-low heat, melt butter, along with brown sugar, honey and creamy peanut butter. Once the mixture begins to bubble, heat for 2 more minutes, stirring often. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour this mixture over the dry oat mixture, mix well. Add in the chocolate chips right before transferring the mixture to the pan, don’t mix too much. Press everything into the pan, using your hands or the back of a spatula. Chill in fridge for 30 minutes before cutting. Store in the fridge after cutting.
Peanut Butter Pretzel Granola Bars
4 cups oatmeal (regular or quick cooking) 1 cup cereal, rice krispie or chex 1 1/2 cups pretzels, chopped 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup honey 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 - 3/4 cup chocolate chips, mini or chopped Line a 9x13 pan with foil/parchment paper/wax paper and lightly spray with cooking spray. If you are
By ANNA CUMMINS The Independent Food & Living The quote by Depak Chopra struck a cord with me. I know first hand how difficult it can be. We decide to turn to health on Monday, and by Friday we realize that it may take too much work and time and we throw in the towel. Been there, done that! We have been conditioned to believe that we can get it done virtually overnight when it actually took us decades to arrive to the place we are today. Marriage, kids, busy schedules and stress have gobbled up any time left, any desire left in us to focus on what really should be tops on on our list and that is ourselves. As many of our routines find normalcy again with the start of a new school year, I see it as a time of renewal. Symbolic of Monday and the start of a new month, it’s a very common marker for a new beginning for many looking to begin their journey to health and well-being. It was at this time last year that I planted a stake in the ground. I was not at all a picture of good health. In fact, I was at the age of 40 dealing with anxiety, depression and a few other ailments that a woman my age
See RENEWAL, Page 11B
Jerky made the old fashioned way!
CLUTCH ACROSS TEXAS Welcome Back, Panthers!
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Thursday, August 15, 2013
Renewal
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Continued from Page 10B
should have never had to deal with. My work load was over the top. 80+ hours per week at my home office left me with zero time to spend with my husband, zero time to be present with my boys and zero time to focus on me. I was miserable and asking myself, “How could I allow this to happen?” Well, it was a reality, my reality. One that I was not willing to nurture any longer. And just like that, the decision was made. Only this time, I made the serious commitment to myself and to my family that I would stay the course no matter how long it took. This time, I was in it for the long haul. This time, I was not searching for a quick fix...a bandaid. Instead, I would pursue a lifestyle change. With the full knowledge that perhaps it would take me a year or maybe two to reach my goal. That single decision has changed the course of my life. Today, I am much happier, ailments have vanished and I am halfway to my goal. As a result, my family is much hap-
pier. By definition health is “the state of being free from illness or injury”, and by definition well-being is “a contented state of being happy and healthy and prosperous.” (-MirriamWebster) This is not just about a number on a scale or how you look in those jeans. True health and well-being, in my opinion, is about being in tune with your body. Knowing what makes it thrive and what makes you joyful. Feeling great about yourself when you walk out your door. Being present with your family and loved ones. Doing those little things that bring a smile to your face. Slowing down. I hear the words, “I don’t have time” almost daily. I know now in my own experience that time is created. Make time for the most important human in your life -- You! Where will you be a year from now? Here are a few tips to get started: * Set attainable goals. Try posting your goals to your FACEBOOK
page. This will hold you accountable and your fiends will cheer you on. * Start moving (walking, cardio, a fun activity, etc.) * Eat whole foods (cook more and eat out less) * Find an accountability partner. It’s fun and you are less likely to quit. * Stay positive. No negative self talk. * Keep it simple. Be persistent. Without it, we give in to our excuses. Without it, we fall short of succeeding. Without it, we will never live the life we were meant to. Here’s to your health and wellbeing! Anna is the mother of three, wife and entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry. She has a passion for helping people who have a desire to transform their lives.
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Page 11B
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Homecoming is Sept. 20
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Riding Lessons Horsemanship Horse Boarding Birthday Parties Day Camps
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Grace Alive
Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
II Cor. 3:17
Pastor Dawn Slack Caleb Slack, Associate Pastor & Youth Pastor Sunday Worship & Children Service 10 a.m. Wednesday Dinner Served 6 p.m. Bible Study 7 p.m. Adults - Sanctuary, Teens - Youth Room Mpact Girls & Royal Rangers - Fellowship Hall Thursday Identity 20+ meets 2nd & 4th Thursday
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Nursery Provided for Ages 0-2
16030 W. Hwy 29, Liberty Hill (512) 778-6000 gracealive71@aol.com
www.gracealivelibertyhill.org
Page 12B
THE LIBERTY HILL INDEPENDENT -- BACK TO SCHOOL 2013
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Gifts and Apparel Liberty Hill’s Headquarters For Panther Gear T-shirts, Jewelry, Totes & Much More!
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Bill’s Tractor is a Proud Supporter of Liberty Hill Panthers! Mon-Fri 9-5 Sat 9-12 (512)515-6635 2000 Loop 332, Liberty Hill
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