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When you walk past the wellness area at Lake Forest High School these days, you might hear something unexpected: the rhythmic pock-pock-pock of ping-pong balls and the enthusiastic calls of students cheering each other on. It's the sound of community being built, one rally at a time.
A few years ago, the LFHS Foundation fulfilled Wellness teacher Ray Werner’s request for table tennis. What started as an experiment has become one of the most beloved parts of our physical education program, proving that sometimes the best investments are the ones that bring people together.
"These tables have been incredible," says Werner. "We've watched students who might never have considered themselves athletic discover they can compete, have fun, and connect with their classmates. But we were at capacity, with students sitting on the sidelines, waiting their turn when they should be playing."
That's where the next chapter of this story begins, and thanks to the LFHS Foundation, it's already being written.
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When Students Lead the Way
The turning point came in Fall 2024, when James (JR) Engelland, a student in Mr. Werner's class, approached his teacher with an idea. JR was passionate about ping pong and wanted to start a club at LFHS where students could play together after school. He asked Mr. Werner to be the advisor.
"I was happy to help him find a way to play ping pong with friends after school," Werner recalls. What started as one student's vision quickly grew into something much bigger.
The group evolved into a Winter Intramural sport offering, meeting on Mondays after school for about an hour. Week after week, 20-30 students showed up, rallying for bragging rights and attempting to establish themselves as the top ping pong players in the school. The energy was electric, and the message was clear. Students were hungry for this kind of activity.
"Seeing this level of interest in ping pong after school, along with the high interest from students in our Wellness classes, made it easy to ask The Foundation for assistance," Werner explains. "We needed more tables and equipment to help promote this activity and include more students."
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Recognizing the tremendous impact these activities were having on student wellness, Health and Dance Teacher Erin O'Donnell sponsored a grant proposal to expand the program. With support from Wellness Teacher Tom Soprych and Werner, the proposal made a compelling case that more students needed access to these transformative activities.
The Foundation agreed to award a $6,500 grant to purchase additional table tennis tables and to introduce pickleball equipment to the school. The new equipment means that every student in a Wellness class can now actively participate rather than sit and watch. A simple change that makes all the difference.
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What makes these sports special isn't just that they're fun, though they definitely are. It's that they level the playing field in ways that few activities can.
“Pickleball and table tennis don't require years of training or natural athleticism to enjoy. A student can pick up a paddle for the first time and, within minutes, be having genuine fun and experiencing success, says O’Donnell. “This accessibility creates something rare in high school, an activity students and staff, experienced athletes and complete beginners can all play together on equal footing.”
"There's something powerful about watching a student who struggles in traditional sports find their confidence at the ping-pong table," said Tom Soprych. "Suddenly, they're the one teaching others, strategizing, and competing. It changes how they see themselves."
| | Building Wellness Beyond the Body | | |
In an era when student stress and mental health concerns are at all-time highs, the value of activities like these extends far beyond physical fitness. When students are engaged in a fast-paced rally, they're not thinking about their chemistry test or their college applications. They're present, focused, and perhaps most importantly, having fun with their peers.
The physical benefits are real, improved hand-eye coordination, cardiovascular health, and reflexes. But the mental health benefits may be even more significant. The endorphin boost that comes from physical activity, combined with the social connection and sense of accomplishment, creates a powerful antidote to the pressures of academic life.
Faculty and staff benefit too. Imagine teachers and administrators joining students for a lunchtime game, relationships forming across the usual boundaries of the school day. These informal moments of connection strengthen the entire school community.
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From Vision to Reality
The new equipment ensures that every student in a Wellness class can actively participate. No more waiting. No more sitting on the sidelines. With additional table tennis tables and the introduction of pickleball, students now have even more ways to engage, stay active, and build connections.
The LFHS Foundation's continued investment in table tennis and pickleball has planted seeds that continue to grow into something special. Students who might never have joined a sports team have found their athletic home. And countless students have discovered that physical activity doesn't have to feel like work; it can be joyful.
Thanks to the vision of educators like Erin O'Donnell, Tom Soprych, and Ray Werner and the Foundation's $6,500 commitment to student wellness, more students are playing, connecting, and thriving.
Sometimes the most profound educational experiences don't happen in classrooms at all. Sometimes they happen across a net, with a paddle in hand and a smile on your face, learning that wellness is about so much more than just staying fit, it's about building a community where everyone belongs.
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GRATITUDE FOR OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY
None of this is possible without your support!
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On Grant Day 2025, we awarded $118,000 in grants across the curriculum. That is your donations at work!
COMING SOON . . .
Grant Day 2026 March 13th
Our current donor list is as of February 2026. We will update it again at the end of the year. Click on it to access the list.
| | | ANNOUNCING NEW LFHS ALUMNI SCHOLARSHIP | | Join Us for our Annual Spring Luncheon | | We hope you'll join us at Knollwood Club on Friday, May 1st for this year's Annual Spring Luncheon. Funds raised will go toward future grants at LFHS. | | |
Become a SPONSOR!
We hope you will join us for this annual celebration of educational excellence at LFHS. The support of our generous community makes the positive and lasting impact of our grants possible. We are currently seeking sponsors for this year's event.
https://lfhslunch26.givesmart.com
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