students

W.T. White student JamarKus Smith signed a letter of intent to play football for New Mexico Military as a part of Dallas Independent School District’s National Signing Day. At the event, 112 DISD student athletes signed scholarships for the upcoming 2013-2014 school year.

Three Hillcrest students signed scholarships for National Signing Day Eddie Day Jr. signed a letter of intent to play football for Tarleton State University, Tim Singleton signed to play basketball for the University of Richmond and Megan Tomlin signed to play soccer for St. Mary’s University.

Hillcrest senior Sydney Pedigo recently was named a National Merit Scholar finalist. Pedigo is awaiting acceptance to the University of Southern California.

Hillcrest senior Elizabeth Crowling came out on top against four other finalists for a $30,000 Davey O’Brien High School Scholarship. The $30,000 scholarship is given to “an exceptional senior student-athlete” in the North Texas area.

Fourth-grade DeGolyer student Haneen Amarneh recently won the Division Spelling Bee by out-spelling an eighth-grader.

Ori Raphael, vice president of business development for FreshLoc, a wireless temperature monitoring company, is running for Councilwoman Linda Koop’s District 11 seat when her term expires in May. Raphael formerly worked as an aide to U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions where he learned how state and federal issues intertwine. With experience in the business/ technology realm, Raphael says his knowledge of the two make him a perfect candidate. Lee Kleinman, former District 11 Dallas park board member, is also running for the seat. Kleinman made his announcement early January.

The Arts Community Alliance (TACA) awardered Preston Hollow’s Shakespeare Dallas a $35,000 grant. John Hall, president of the board of directors for Shakespeare Dallas, says they will use the money to “continue educating the North Texas community through the works of Shakespeare, whether it’s through our in-school program, our five-year collaboration with the ATT Performing Arts Center, or our 42nd season of Shakespeare in the Park.”

Please submit news items and/or photos concerning neighborhood residents, activities, honors and volunteer opportunities to editor@advocatemag.com. Our deadline is the first of the month prior to the month of publication.

to advertise call 214.560.4203

DALLAS LUTHERAN SCHOOL

8494 Stults Rd Dallas / 214.349.8912 /dallaslutheranschool.com

SCHOOL OF CONTEMPORARY BALLET DALLAS

5400 E. Mockingbird Ln. Dallas / 214.821.2066 / schoolofcbd.com

WHITE ROCK NORTH SCHOOL

9727 White Rock Trail Dallas / 214.348.7410 / WhiteRockNorthSchool. com

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY

1606 Patterson St. Dallas / 214.969.7861 / fbacademy.com

SPANISH HOUSE

5740 Prospect Ave. Dallas / 214.826.4410 / DallasSpanishHouse.com

ZION LUTHERAN SCHOOL

6121 E. Lovers Ln. Dallas / 214.363.1630/ ziondallas. org

THE HIGHLANDER SCHOOL

9120 Plano Rd. Dallas / 214.348.3220 / www.highlanderschool.com

ST. CHRISTOPHER’S MONTESSORI SCHOOL

7900 Lovers Ln. / 214.363.9391 stchristophersmontessori.com

LAKEHILL PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Leading to Success. 2720 Hillside Dr., Dallas 75214 / 214.826.2931 / lakehillprep. org

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL

848 Harter Rd., Dallas 75218 / 214.328.9131 / stjohnsschool.org

69% of our readers say they want to know more about private schools. to advertise call 214.560.4203

PARK CITIES BAPTIST CHURCH / 3933 Northwest Pky / pcbc.org

All services & Bible Study 9:15 & 10:45. Trad. & Blended (Sanctuary),

Contemporary (Great Hall), Amigos de Dios (Gym) / 214.860.1500

WIlSHIRE BAPTIST / 4316 Abrams / 214.452.3100

Pastor George A. Mason Ph.D. / Worship 8:30 & 11:00 am

Bible Study 9:40 am / www.wilshirebc.org

GRACE BIBlE CHURCH / www. gracebiblechurch.org

Sunday Worship: Traditional 9:00 am; Contemporary 10:30 am

Adult Bible Classes both hours /11306 Inwood Rd./214.368.0779

NORTH HIGHlANDS BIBlE CHURCH / www.nhbc.net

Sunday: Lifequest (all ages) 9:00 am / Worship 10:30 am

Wed: Student Ministry 7:00 pm / 9626 Church Road / 214.348.9697

CENTRAl CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 4711 Westside Drive / 214.526.7291

Sunday Worship 11:00 am ./ Sunday School 9:45am Wed. Bible Study 5:00 pm./ www.cccdt.org / ALL are welcome

E AST DAllAS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 629 N. Peak Street / 214.824.8185

Sunday School 9:30 am / THE TABLE Worship Gathering 9:30 am

Worship 8:30 & 10:50 am / Rev. Deborah Morgan / www.edcc.org

MIDWAy HIllS CHRISTIAN CHURCH / 11001 Midway Road

Sundays: School for all ages 9:30 am / Worship service 10:50 am 214.352.4841 / www.midwayhills.org

lAKE HIGHlANDS UMC/ 9015 Plano Rd. / 214.348.6600 / lhumc.com

Sunday Morning: 9:30 am Sunday School / 10:30 am Coffee

Worship: 8:30 am & 10:50 am Traditional / 10:50 am Contemporary

KING’S PARISH ASSOCIATE REfORMED PRESBy TERIAN CHURCH kingsparish.com / Rev. David Winburne / Worship at 10:00 am

Meets at Ridgewood Park Rec Center / 469.600.3303

NORTHPARK PRESBy TERIAN CHURCH / 214.363.5457 9555 N. Central Expwy. / www.northparkpres.org

Pastor: Rev. Brent Barry / 8:30 & 11:00 am Sunday Services

UNIT y Of DAllAS / A Positive Path For Spiritual Living

6525 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX 75230 / 972-233-7106 / UnityDallas.org

Sunday services: 9:00 am & 11:00 am

This month’s column arrives just as Christians are in the midst of the season called Lent. The word “Lent” comes from the Germanic root lenz, which means “spring,” the season of the lengthening of daylight hours. The season runs 40 days plus Sundays, from Ash Wednesday until Easter.

Lent is traditionally a time for self-reflection, spiritual discipline and self-denial, a preparation for Holy Week and the celebration of the resurrection. The culmination of the season is both Holy Week and Passover thus it is a good time to stress all that Christians and Jews have in common.

A common question I hear during this season is, “What are you giving up for Lent?” The answers vary from chocolate to alcohol, which I suppose aren’t bad ideas. I would do well to make Lent a season to lose some weight (the ultimate in self-negation), but that would be a good idea in other seasons, too.

I’ve been thinking: What, exactly, should I give up for Lent? Since this is a season for looking deeply within ourselves and making changes in the interior “floor plan” of our lives, what changes would really be helpful?

So here goes — my list of Lenten suggestions. It is not complete, by any means. I would suggest that you pick up on this list and write your own.

I will consider giving up the following:

• Using the word “I.” It would certainly force me to think about things differently, and focus on other people.

• Offering “constructive criticism” — in fact, not offering criticism at all, only compliments.

• Blame. During Lent, I would not blame anything on anyone — congress, the president, the economy or even fate. Take re- sponsibility for what’s mine, and let the rest go.

• Hurrying. Slow down and realize that getting there five minutes later would not be the end of the world.

• Dumb TV. Not TV altogether, because I enjoy reruns of “Downton Abbey.” But no “bubblegum for the mind” — TV just for the sake of TV.

• Name calling. Stop being judgmental by labeling people with words like “conservative” or “liberal,” “lazy” or “weird.” Everybody is unique.

Lent, I will consider giving up blame — on congress, the president, the economy or even fate. Take responsibility for what’s mine, and let the rest go.

• Worrying. I would take more time to consider the lilies.

• Plastic bags. Paper is so much better for the environment.

• Internet. OK, now I’m meddling. But I spend way too much time at the computer and staring at my iPhone.

• Talking about myself. As it turns out, I’m a lot less interesting than I think.

So there we are. I promise you, I will not give up everything on this list. After all, I’m no saint. But one or two, here and there, would do me good.

Now it’s your turn, dear reader. What are you giving up for Lent?

Thomas Jefferson High School’s super quiz team tied for second in the “medium school” category during the Region 10 Academic Decathlon.

Lamplighter teachers to advertise call 214.560.4203

Becky Logsdon , left, and Ana Casanova pose with Bill Nye, who spoke at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science recently. Nye spoke to a crowd of more than 300 as a part of the school’s Dolores Evans Speakers series.

Bottom: Lamplighter student Jodie Thompson meets Bill Nye.

Not your typical women’s bible study Times Ten Cellars

March 25 - May 6 6:45-8:15pm Register Online: www.TheMarcellaProject.com

ART: Draw or Paint. All Levels. Lake Highlands N. Rec. Ctr. Jane Cross, 214-534-6829. Linda, 214-808-4919.

ARTISTIC GATHERINGS

Art Classes For All Ages. Casa Linda Plaza. 214-821-8383. www.artisticgatherings.com

DRUM & PIANO LESSONS Your location. UNT Grads, Betty & Bill. View BucherMusicSchool.com or call 469-831-7012

GUITAR OR PIANO Fun/Easy. Your Home. 9 to Adult. Prof Musician. UNT Grad. Larry 469-358-8784

JEWELRY Making Parties at Art Gallery. BYOB & creativity. All else included! jewelrymakingparty.com or 1-855-254-6625

LOCAL TEACHER WHO TUTORS Algebra 2, Pre Cal, Calculus. Your Home/Mine. Melissa-MS. 817-988-0202

MATH TUTORING Elementary through High School Sari Bahl, MS Ed 25+ years exp. 214-357-8680

VOICE TEACHER with 38 years experience. MM, NATS www.PatriciaIvey.com 214-769-8560