Lakeway Traditions
Track and Field Day
Every year in the fall, the Physical Education department hosts Track and Field Day. This is a huge celebration that allows the students to demonstrate some of the skills they develop in Physical Education. It is a great time for team building among the students and the teachers. Parents are able to come and enjoy time with their child while watching them participate in a variety of events.
Running Club
The Lakeway Elementary Physical Education department hosts a morning running club each year. Club members run before school on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with the goal of running 26.2 miles (a marathon) before the end of the year. For each mile run along the way, the kids earn a toe tag.
Artsonia Art Show
Each winter, the art department hosts an art show. Parents can purchase framed artwork made by their students!
Music Concerts
Throughout the school year, grades 2-5 put on grade-level musical programs with a theatrical flair.
Fifth Grade
Lakeway Science Fair
Budding 5th grade scientists participate in a friendly competition which allows them to present their projects to the school and Lake Travis communities. Top performers move on to compete in the Austin Regional Science Fair and have placed among the best in Central Texas year after year.
Fifth Grade Sock Hop
Lakeway Elementary School 5th graders celebrate Valentine’s Day each year by rockin’ around the clock…o.k., the cafeteria! Dressed in poodle skirts and leather jackets, the students enjoy limbo, root beer floats, and hula-hooping, all to hit music from this fun era.
The Fifth Grade Walk
During the last 15 minutes of fifth grade, we celebrate our graduating Mustangs in a very special way. With their backpacks packed with all their belongings, the fifth graders parade through the hallways one final time as Lakeway students. Parents, teachers, and younger students line the hallways to cheer for the students who are finishing their elementary school journey.
Fourth Grade
Readers' Theater
Fourth grade students study and perform a fairy tale for the parents' enjoyment.
Third Grade
Poetry Picnic
After studying and writing poetry during April, National Poetry Month, parents are invited to a publishing party at the Poetry Cafe.
Cave Rotations
Before going to Inner Space Caverns in May, 3rd grade students rotate to all of the 3rd grade teachers to learn a little bit about caves, spelunking, safety, wildlife, and vegetation in the caves.
Second Grade
Pioneer Days
Pioneer day is held in the spring. It involves going back in time and really learning what it was like to travel across the country in a covered wagon and what pioneer families did to establish a new life in an unknown territory. Students are grouped into pioneer families for the two weeks. This memorable unit culminates with students wearing traditional pioneer clothing and a traveling Pioneer Museum coming to our school where the students get to participate in hands on activities.
Pajama Day Read-A-Thon
Every December the students are treated to a Pajama day and read-a-thon where they get to wear their pajamas to school and bring a favorite book and buddy to school. We share books and have hot chocolate to make this an extra special day.
Field Trip to Exotic Resort Zoo
This field trip to the Johnson City Zoo in the spring is a highlight of the year. The students go on a safari in wagons and get to watch as the animals come up to the wagons. At this time, they get to feed the animals as well. This is a wrap-up to our animal unit in Science.
First Grade
101st Day of School
At the end of January First Grade observes the 101st day of school (like Dalmatians) dressed in black in white.
First Grade Market
Students buy goods they have created in class at the First Grade Market to apply their knowledge of goods, services and money.
Texas Chili Tasting Day: Students and teachers wear western clothing at the end of our study of Texas and sample Texas chili.
Little Pollinators
The Little Pollinators Play is performed by first graders in each class at the end of our unit about plants.
Kindergarten
Teddy Bear Picnic
Kindergarten starts off the year with a teddy bear picnic the first week of school. We have teddy grahams for a snack while our librarian reads us a fun teddy bear story.
Gingerbread Hunt
The second event is Gingerbread Hunt. We make gingerbread people cookies, but they escape from the oven and run amuck all of our school! The children go on a hunt and get to know the counselor, nurse, receptionist, and all our “Specials” teachers, only to find their cookies in the principal’s office!
Feely Fair
Feely Fair allows the children to experience all five senses as they walk through many textures in their bare feet!
Monarch Migration
The monarchs migrate once a year as over 100 Kindergarteners in butterfly wings fly down the field from Austin to Mexico.
100th Day
In the spring, Kindergarten celebrates the 100thDay of School as we dress like 100-year-old people and participate in many activities counting to 100.
Kindergarten Mall
Students learn about coins and about goods and services. They each set up a business for the day to sell their wares!
Kindergarten Circus
Perhaps our oldest and most loved tradition of all is our Kindergarten Circus. The children amaze us with their many acts and tricks. Many LT graduates still remember their part in the LWE Kindergarten Circus!!!
LibraryTraditions
Pumpkin Patch
Each year in October, the library is filled with beautifully decorated pumpkins! The students choose their favorite book character and with the help of their family, transform ordinary pumpkins into literary works of art. The entire school enjoys touring the annual Pumpkin Patch.
Hot Chocolate Stories
This tradition began the very first year that Lakeway Elementary opened, and it continues to be one of our favorites! Before the winter break we read a holiday story with a cup of hot chocolate. Last year we served over 40 gallons…and surprisingly had very few spills!
Snow Celebrations
In January we cut out snowflakes and learn about the science of snow. Then we have a big snowball fight (with socks!) in the library!
Reading Programs
The library sponsors a school-wide reading incentive program each fall semester. Helping to develop lifelong readers is our goal! Other reading programs in the spring include the Schlitterbahn Waves of Pages Program and One School One Book.
Book Fairs
The library holds two book fairs each year -- fall and spring. These fun events serve as a fundraiser for literacy and library programming at our school.