Summer Updates and Back-to-School Information

Thursday, May 22 was the last day of school for all Lakota students. We hope that everyone has a safe and fun summer break with family and friends.

Below are some important summer and back to school updates.
 

Lakota Welcome Center Summer Operations

The Lakota Welcome Center is open year-round, and will be available throughout the summer to welcome families new to the district for the 2025-26 school year.

Please access the Welcome Center homepage for instructions on how to register for school, update your address, withdraw and more. We encourage you to direct all questions to enroll@lakotaonline.com. You may also call the Welcome Center at 513-682-4120 and your call will be returned within 24-48 hours. 
 

Summer Hours

Beginning May 26, all K-6 school buildings will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

All 7-12 buildings will be open to the public from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

School offices will be closed from June 19 until July 8.

On August 1, all buildings will return to their regular work hours and hours open to the public.

Central office will remain open to the public from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily for the entire summer.
 

USDA Summer Food Service Program

The Lakota Local School District, in partnership with the Faith Alliance, is participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program this year. Beginning May 27 through July 31 (except for June 19), meals will be provided Tuesday through Thursday to all children (ages 18 and younger and individuals with disabilities through age 21) - free of charge and regardless of income. The summer program is funded through the USDA and implemented at no cost to the district.

Summer meals will be distributed at three different locations; click here for locations and times.  
 

Work Permits

Lakota students in need of signed work permits can continue visiting their respective high schools to complete the paperwork. Permits can be processed this summer at both freshman and main campuses daily from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Schools will be closed from June 19 until July 9 and will not be processing permits during this time. East students wishing to get a work permit during the closure can email susanne.linder@lakotaonline.com to make an appointment. Visit the work permits landing page for more details and to download the application. 

 

Back-to-School Dates & Information

Lakota students will begin the 2025-2026 school year according to the following staggered schedule by grade level:

• Preschool: Preschool phase-in days will occur over two days: 

  • Wednesday, Aug. 20 - Only AM preschool students

  • Thursday, Aug. 21 - Only PM preschool students

  • Monday, Aug. 25 - All preschool students 

• Kindergarten: Kindergarten Phase-in Days will occur over four days, with each kindergartner attending twice during this time period. In addition to relationship building, this approach helps teachers to assess students' current levels and regroup, as necessary:

  • Thursday, Aug. 14 - Only last names M-Z

  • Friday, Aug. 15 - Only last names A-L

  • Monday, Aug. 18 - Half of kindergarten classes (details to be provided by each school)

  • Tuesday, Aug. 19 - Half of kindergarten classes (details to be provided by each school)

  • Wednesday, Aug. 20 - No kindergarten students (data analysis day for staff)

  • Thursday, Aug. 21 - First day that all kindergarten students will attend together.

• Grades 1-12: Students in grades 1-12 will begin the year over a two-day period based on the first letter of their last name.

  • Thursday, Aug. 14 - Only last names M-Z

  • Friday, Aug. 15 - Only last names A-L

  • Monday, Aug. 18 - All students together.

Families with students who have different last names and would like their students to attend school on the same day should inform their child’s homeroom teacher of their preferred day once schedules are released in August.

Similar to recent years, the staggered start model helps put teachers and students in a smaller group setting and accelerate relationship building. For our kindergartners, this staggered start (referred to as "phase-in days" on the academic calendar) includes no school on Aug. 20 for the purposes of data analysis and student regrouping, only as necessary.

Click to view both the printable academic calendar and online academic calendar.

More information, including an FAQ, school supply lists, menus, etc., will be posted on our Back to School Hub in July. Check the district and school websites, along with social media accounts, throughout the summer for additional information and general Lakota news. 
 

Transportation Requests for the 2025-2026 School Year

To ease the transition to a new school year and honor families’ requests for alternative pick-up and drop-off locations for transportation, Lakota is asking that families submit transportation forms by July 31 to receive transportation on the first day of the 2025-26 school. Note that all transportations forms are now a part of FinalForms.

Grades K-2: Early childhood schools ask that all families complete a form (in Final Forms) to have on file, even if transportation is not needed.

Grades 3-9: By default, transportation for all eligible students is based on the home address listed in Home Access Center (HAC). All alternative transportation plans are automatically cleared at the end of each school year, so please complete the form (in Final Forms) before each school year if you’ll require transportation to or from an address different than your home address.

Please honor the deadlines below to receive transportation for the upcoming school year. Note that this is for current families already enrolled at Lakota. New families enrolling will receive transportation information approximately 48 hours after registration is completed.

Bus information will be available to families in HAC in early August.
 

Complete FinalForms via OneLogin

Parents can now log into FinalForms to review and update their student information for the 2025-2026 school year. Back-to-school forms must be reviewed and updated before the start of the new school year. 

FinalForms, accessed via your parent OneLogin account, is an online system that streamlines the process of completing required forms and provides a "one stop shop" for secure, convenient, mobile-accessible parent/guardian form completion. Get more information about how to use FinalForms. 
 

School Supply Lists

Lakota will be partnering with TeacherLists, a free platform to help make the process of back-to-school supply shopping even more convenient and cost-effective for families. Look for your school's 2025-2026 supply list on Lakota's school supply lists webpage in early June and get an early start on your back-to-school shopping!