Independence Elementary sixth-grader Trevor Earnest drew his inspiration for a recent food drive he organized at his school from his dad, a surgeon in the U.S. Air Force currently deployed in Afghanistan. Called “Operation Overseas: Treats for Troops,” the food drive was designed to not only assist the troops overseas with depleting resources, but also bring awareness to the important work they are doing.

What can in-person and virtual learning students do to experience the same thing? This is the question that Heritage Early Childhood School Assistant Principal Natalie Jimenez asked herself. The answer? StoryWalksⓇ.

With December comes winter weather and potential snow days. Lakota Local Schools will continue its practice of using calamity days for all students, both in person and those enrolled in the Virtual Learning Option, should it be deemed necessary to close or delay school due to inclement weather.

Lakota Local Schools is excited to introduce our community to the members of the Board of Education. Through December, you’ll get to know more about each of the five members. Meet Kelley Casper, a former teacher and proud Lakota parent who has served on numerous committees at the district level since 2005, including District Parent Council, strategic planning, redistricting and levy committees.

End of semester exams for students in grades 9-12 have been cancelled for the first semester this school year. Grades for the first and second quarters will be weighted equally at 50% to determine first semester grades.

Lakota’s annual “State of the Schools” event returns next Tuesday, Dec. 8, giving parents, students, staff and community members a 45-minute overview of the district’s top priorities, as they related to current and future work. Although virtual, the event maintains its purpose to keep the community informed about the current and future outlook of our schools.

A month marked by acts of kindness and anti-bullying messages at Lakota West High School culminated in “Duck Duck Hope Week,” where rubber ducks sprinkled all over campus had but one purpose: to send students and staff off to Thanksgiving break on a positive note.

Hundreds of K-2 virtual learners are having some fall and winter fun, thanks to some Hopewell and Liberty junior high VLO students. Students in Moriah Walker’s Media Design & Communications class recently took on a project to create activity books full of coloring pages, word searches and math puzzles for younger VLO students at Hopewell and Wyandot early childhood schools.

On Nov. 17, Lakota celebrated a very important milestone: three months of in-person learning. A special live video premiere featured students and staff sharing all that they’ve overcome so far this school year.