Skip to main content

The Leelanau Kitchen: Where Family Nourishes Family

The Leelanau Kitchen: Where Family Nourishes Family ABOUT A 3 MINUTE READ –  Each and every morning, when I walk into the dining hall to grab my fork and spoon, I see the smiling faces of Melissa, Katlyn, Alex, Zoe, Kate, or Jen. You can see it in those kind eyes of theirs, they truly love feeding us. Likely because they know they’re not just nourishing our bodies. You see, it’s much more than that. They’re showing us their love by creating beautiful meals which fuel our minds, bodies, and spirits. Whether it’s the predictability of “Half a Waffle Wednesday” or the fun curveballs they throw at us at lunch like chicken tikka masala and chickpea curry, we always leave the dining hall feeling full in more ways than one. A recent hit which served up a homerun was brinner, or breakfast for dinner. Students came in by the droves to scarf down extra helpings of biscuits and gravy, hash browns, and of course, waffles with whipped cream.  The detail the kitchen staff puts into each meal does not go unnoticed. During snack time we get a variety of...

Continue reading

The Leelanau Way: The Unbelievable Winter Term Ted Lasso Class

The Leelanau Way: The Unbelievable Winter Term Ted Lasso Class ABOUT A 5 MINUTE READ –  When it comes to television, I’m a dinosaur. Sure, I’ll cuddle up on the couch and watch a Star Trek or Muppets DVD with my husband and break out the old VHS musicals when visiting the cabin, but when lunch table conversation turns to the latest show and the streaming service it’s on, I’m completely lost. So, when one of our Winter Term classes this year was based on the Apple TV phenomenon, Ted Lasso, I truly had no idea what our students were in for… I was first drawn in by the course description’s subtitle: A Study of the Effects of a Positive Attitude on Community Add to this that the course was designed and taught by Elizabeth Blondia, one of Leelanau’s beloved dynamic educators who radiates positivity, and I knew I needed to stop by and check out whatever magic she was cooking up. What I didn’t know was that I would find myself with an Apple TV subscription just a week into Winter Term so that I didn’t fall behind when I had afternoon meetings or off-campus...

Continue reading

Alive and Electric: Students Return from Málaga, Spain

Alive and Electric: Students Return from Málaga, Spain ABOUT A 4 MINUTE READ –  “You really have to step out of your comfort zone if you want to enjoy another culture. If you don’t open up, you’ll close your opportunity to learn. When we fear things that are different, people may try to distance themselves. But in Málaga, Spain, you couldn’t do that because you were surrounded by a new experience everywhere you looked. There are things in certain countries you will not enjoy, but if you push through, you’ll find so many that you do,” said Senior David Best.  Ten Leelanau students recently returned from Spain – a trip of a lifetime. While the trip was planned meticulously for them, it’s pretty vital to point out that our students experienced everything so fully because they were open to it. Our hope is that learning and living The Leelanau Way helped prepare our students to do exactly what David said – to get out of their comfort zone to get the most out of life. And it’s the students’ brave leaders, Señora Melissa Ellsworth and Mr. Cris Piña who...

Continue reading

Once Upon a Time: The Leelanau Story

Once Upon a Time: The Leelanau Story ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  Long, long ago, a small but mighty school was created along the sandy shores and great blue waters of Lake Michigan. Nestled among tall pines and sturdy oaks and hugging the banks of a Crystal-clear river, students traveled from near and far to this magical spot in search of new and creative ways of learning from teachers of great cheer and understanding… Opening up a young learner is much like turning to the first page of a new novel. You know there will be adventure. You expect there will be drama. Twists and turns will thicken the plot, and missteps complicate the situation. You begin to connect with the characters and grow with them throughout the chapters. You hope for an inspiring journey and applaud a satisfying ending. With a really good book, you can’t wait for the sequel.  The Leelanau School has been turning these pages for more than nine decades. Our main characters – faculty and students alike – are rich with intrigue, humor, complexity, and resilience....

Continue reading

Sensory Memories: Pancakes, Syrup, Cedar, and Love

Sensory Memories: Pancakes, Syrup, Cedar, and Love ABOUT A 2 MINUTE READ –  I stepped into Leelanau’s Student Center for the first time in 1988. I was a counselor at a neighboring school, and I had been invited to visit Leelanau by the admission director, my new friend, and a fellow member of our Midwest Boarding School organization. It was a toasted cheese Tuesday, and to this day, I can still remember the smell of warm, gooey sandwiches and the sound of laughter in the dining hall. I was struck by the comfortable, casual atmosphere and the mix of students and faculty at tables. The room felt like home and gave me an immediate feeling of community. What an honor to dine in this space today as a member of the Leelanau family. This sensory memory of mine popped up last month when Gretchen Knoblock ‘82 shared a reflection with Leelanau’s Board of Trustees and our Facebook followers. “I believe in the Leelanau School, what it stands for, and how it forever changes the lives of the students that pass through its portals. I want that to continue… the...

Continue reading