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The Lakota Board of Education’s Community Conversation on gifted education has been rescheduled for Oct. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Plains Junior School Innovation Hub.
Dates for the previously announced Community Conversations will be announced in the near future.
Lakota is proud to share our 2022-2023 Quality Profile. This annual publication is designed to provide highlights from the previous school year in light of major priorities and areas of focus driving our daily work. A companion piece to the Ohio Department of Education’s annual report card, it highlights metrics and educational programming not always assessed by the State.
The electronic version is now available. The printed edition will be mailed to every household and business in both West Chester and Liberty townships by mid-October.
The Lakota Board of Education’s 16th annual district-wide food drive for Reach Out Lakota will run Oct. 9 through Oct. 20. In true “WE are Lakota” fashion, the district is challenging families, staff and community members to “stuff the bus” with canned goods and other non-perishable items most needed by the primary relief organization for families in West Chester and Liberty townships.
Last year, Lakota filled nearly three school buses. But the need in 2023 is even greater. On average, Reach Out Lakota’s pantry visits are 33% higher than last year!
The Lakota Board of Education approved the district’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) permanent appropriations at its Sept. 18, 2023 meeting. But what exactly are permanent appropriations? Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Adam Zink created a brief presentation to answer that question.
Far more than a hundred pounds of cucumbers and a couple pounds of carrots sprouted from the new gardens at Lakota’s four junior schools. In fact, according to 7-12 gifted advisor Ron Henrich, at the root of the philanthropy project led by a subgroup of gifted students for a local food pantry was leadership training.
“For a lot of the students I work with, all their lives they’re told they’re smart and truly exceptional, but are we training them to lead,” challenged Henrich, who leans into an annual project with his seventh-graders across all four junior schools to do just that. “Leadership skills need to be intentionally taught and experienced and once that happens, it’s ingrained."
Teamwork makes the dream work. Following a fire over Labor Day weekend that temporarily displaced the 500-plus students and staff who call Hopewell Junior School home, this adage rang more true than ever.
In just one week - all while administrators and teachers rallied to continue providing remote instruction to Hopewell students - building and district leaders managed to move an entire school to their generous neighbors at West Chester Nazarene Church. It was a community-wide labor of love that quickly took on the name “Operation HOPEwell.”
In the real world, on any day, you might walk into work and be given a project that needs to be turned around as soon as possible.
That’s why Lakota West students in Erik Nett’s digital media class were greeted with a “flash project” last week: design a logo for Jerry’s Jigsaw Puzzles, keeping in mind that Jerry likes blue and green -- and maybe wants a puzzle piece to be part of the logo. Designs needed to be completed by the end of the class period. And then the creativity began.
In fact, that is why many students signed up for a course in the new Digital Media Pathway, a collaboration between Butler Tech and Lakota.
Lakota’s parent mentor, Terri Doerr, provides free peer-to-peer support for parents, guardians and caregivers of children with disabilities enrolled in the district. Since 1999, Doerr has been helping Lakota families navigate the special education process.
Lakota’s Community Curriculum Advisory Team (CCAT) met for its first meeting of the new school year in September. As with every meeting, the agenda was divided into two components: proactive and reactive.
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has released the results of the 2022-2023 school year state report card. Lakota Local Schools remained consistent with the previous year, earning 17 out of 25 possible stars. The district also earned an overall rating of 3.5 out of five stars, a new rating system replacing the letter grade used in previous years.
In preparation for our community’s 25th annual celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, all Lakota students in grades K-12 are invited to participate in a contest that challenges students to interview an individual who lived through some part of the Civil Rights Movement.
Entries are due Nov. 21. Winners will share their entries with the public as part of the Jan. 15 community celebration.
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The Lakota School Board has announced that the Community Conversations that have been scheduled for this year must be temporarily postponed.
- Community Conversations
The Community Conversation about Gifted Education on 8/13 has been postponed.
- Community Conversations
- gifted
The Lakota Science & Engineering Fair is an opportunity for our students in grades 5-12 to showcase an individual or group project based in science or engineering
- competition
- gifted
Interim Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli notified Lakota families that the contract between Petermann and the bus drivers' union was approved Sept. 7, which means bus service will resume again for all students on Friday, Sept. 8.
- Transportation
A tentative agreement has been reached between Petermann and its union. The union will vote Thursday, Sept. 7.
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LEADS (Lakota Enrichment and Academic Development of Students) is a parent booster group for parents of children who have been identified as gifted.
- Parent Council
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In an email to parents on Sept. 2, 2023, Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli shared that limited transportation will be available to students with disabilities in kindergarten through high school.
- Transportation
Our transportation provider, Petermann, has asked us to share the message below with our families. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more information about the bus driver strike.
- Transportation
A message was shared the evening of Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 to notify Lakota parents and guardians that Petermann Transportation bus drivers did not accept the proposed contract and have voted to strike, effective Friday, Sept. 1.
At all grade levels while the strike is in force, students will not be marked tardy or absent because of parent work conflicts, traffic, responsibilities for dropping off younger siblings, etc.
- Transportation
Read the message shared to help Lakota parents and guardians prepare for the possibility of a bus strike as a result of this Thursday's vote to approve the contract between the bus drivers' union and Lakota's contracted transportation provider, Petermann.
- Transportation
Over two days on Aug. 16 and 17, Lakota welcomed 17,664 students back into our schools for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. The traditional staggered start gave staff and students the opportunity to spend extra time building relationships with one another and adjusting to their new routines in a smaller group setting.
- Personalized Learning
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WE are in this together to keep our schools safe and our students and staff healthy. Deciding when to keep a student home can be difficult. Guidance for some of the more common childhood illnesses can be found on lakotaonline.com, including COVID-19.
“Timing is going to drive a lot of our discussion (and planning),” Chief Operations Officer Chris Passarge told the facilities committee. It will also impact pending projects for the district’s current learning spaces.
DI Program Information and Q&A Meetings:
Tuesday, Sept 5th at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria at Union Elementary
Monday, Sept 11th at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria at Independence Elementary
- Enrichment Opportuunity
- gifted
- Community Conversations
The Lakota Board of Education is revamping its Community Conversation program for the start of the new school year. The conversations, which began during the 2012-13 school year, are an opportunity for school board members and district leaders to gather input and feedback from the Lakota community about specific topics.
- Community Conversations
WE are excited to welcome all of our new families to the “WE are Lakota” family at a special district-wide ice cream social on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon at Union Elementary.
Eligible students can now register for Lakota's Special Olympics fall sports, including bocce and golf. To participate, athletes must be at least eight years old. They must also be identified by an agency or professional as having an intellectual disability, a cognitive delay as measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require or have required specially designed instruction.
- Special Education
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- 7-12
Over 40 Lakota junior and high school students from Liberty Junior, Ridge Junior, Lakota East & Lakota West earned spots to compete at the national Technology Student Association (TSA) conference this summer in Louisville, Ky.
The Lakota and Butler Tech teams, joined by 7,000 students hailing from 48 states and three other countries, placed in seven different national events. First place finishers included: Jack Guth, Jayden Scicluna & Max Sunkel (Ridge Junior); Jake Briede, Lucas Moody & Mason Ruggerio (Lakota West); Elijah Grissom & Aiden McCall (Lakota East).
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Lakota’s newly formed Community Diversity Council, which includes parents, community members and staff, met for the first time, bringing members of the community together to collaborate and share ideas with district leaders on ways to support all students.
- School Board
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Help celebrate the new school year with Lakota’s First Day Photo Contest!
Get ready to capture those special first day moments at the front stoop, at your bus stop, with your carpool group, or in your classroom
On Aug. 13, 2023, Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli addressed recent rumors regarding the Lakota Outreach Diversity and Inclusion (LODI) department with the community in the following message.
Lakota Local Schools welcomes Stacy Maney as its new assistant superintendent. The Board of Education approved the new position at its Aug. 7 meeting. Maney will join Robb Vogelmann as the district leadership team expands to two assistant superintendents.
Lakota’s Community Curriculum Advisory Team (CCAT) is looking for feedback from parents, students, staff and community members via a ThoughtExchange that closes Aug. 31.
- ccat
New administrators are being welcomed to Lakota Local Schools throughout the district for the start of the 2023-2024 school year.
- Events
Lakota's staff, families and community members are invited to meet the district’s new interim superintendent, Dr. Elizabeth Lolli.
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As we prepare for a new school year, please review these important reminders from Lakota's Child Nutrition Department about eating breakfast and lunch at school. Learn more about menus, meal prices, EZPay, food allergies and more.
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Members of Lakota's Community Curriculum Advisory Team learned the ins and outs of the state report card at its June meeting.
- ccat
Lakota Local Schools has begun utilizing the Ohio Checkbook as yet another example of its pledge towards fiscal transparency. Fiscal Year 2023 data is now available with quarterly updates to follow.
- Finance
At the July 5 evening special meeting, the Lakota Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Elizabeth Lolli as the interim superintendent to lead Lakota Local Schools for the next year. Dr. Lolli, who has spent 45 years in K-12 public education, will join the Lakota team effective July 19, pending the completion of negotiations and background checks.
- School Board
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School Board President Lynda O'Connor announced, on behalf of the Board of Education, that a search for an interim superintendent would begin this week.
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On June 27, Lakota Local Schools hosted a “Meet the Candidates” night as an opportunity for community members to hear from the three superintendent finalists.
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Lakota’s new Community Curriculum Advisory Team (CCAT) is off and running. Here is a recap of the team's first meeting.
- ccat
- Available Positions
Lakota Local Schools is now hiring for several positions, both for summer work and for the 2023-2024 school year.
- Hiring
WE are excited to welcome our students back for the start of the 2023-2024 school year! As the new year approaches, we know your questions are piling up, which is why we want to help you find answers and stay on top of your back-to-school to do list.
Whether you are brand new to the Lakota family or returning for another year, take a moment to visit Lakota's 2023-2024 Back-to-School Hub for all the information you need for a successful start to the new school year.
- back to school
The district will provide each student in grades K-8 with a supply kit at the start of the school year that includes most of the school supplies needed. Find your school and view additional supplies that students need to provide.
- back to school
Following the announcement of the finalists in the ongoing search for Lakota's next superintendent, the Board of Education is inviting staff, parents, students and community members to a series of question and answer (Q&A) sessions with each of the top candidates on Tuesday, June 27.
- School Board
- community engagement
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The Lakota Local Schools Board of Education took another important step in its search for a new superintendent, announcing four finalists to continue on in the interview process. The vote to approve the motion took place at the conclusion of the Board’s June 14 special meeting, which also marked the end of the first round of interviews.
Plans are being finalized for the Board’s second round of interviews the week of June 26, which will also include an opportunity for a community meet-and-greet.
- School Board
- superintendent
At its regular June 5 meeting, the Lakota Board of Education approved the creation of a Community Diversity Council to help support the district’s nearly 17,500 students in their educational experience.
- School Board
Lakota's annual Financial Prospectus is coming to mailboxes soon. Learn how Lakota is being good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars and prioritizing fiscal responsibility.
- Finance
As the school year came to a close, Lakota’s Class of 2023 enjoyed cherished traditions that have become a hallmark of the Lakota experience. From the Military Commitment Ceremony and the Parade of Graduates to academic award nights and senior picnics -- to the grand finale of commencement exercises, Lakota's graduates bid farewell to their high school years.
A passion project led by first-year teacher Molly Zaenkert gave her kindergartners at Heritage ECS more than just a crash course in over 20 different occupations. Their special weekly classroom visitors also accelerated their reading, writing and social studies skills in ways she never fully anticipated.
- Real World Learning
The “Innovation Museum” at Wyandot ECS earlier this month put on full display the power of personalized learning. Melissa Riehle’s second-graders were handed the question,”How can we innovate to improve the world around us?” and they answered it with calm down bracelets, hover phones and flying cars, just to name a few.
- Personalized Learning
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Wednesday, May 24 is the last day of school for all Lakota students. Here are the summer and back-to-school updates you need to know now, including start dates, transportation requests, the summer lunch program, summer hours and more. Look for more information on Lakota's Back-to-School Hub webpage by mid-July.
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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 Aug. 3 to receive transportation on the first day of the 2023-24 school. Note that all transportations forms are now a part of FinalForms.
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Union Elementary School’s third-grade team and three individual students are celebrating big results in the recent WordMasters Challenge™ meet - a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students annually.
The Lakota Local School District, in partnership with the Faith Alliance, is participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program this year. Meals will be provided daily to all children (ages 18 and younger and individuals with disabilities through age 21) - free of charge and regardless of income - beginning May 31 through Aug. 1 (except for July 3&4). The summer program is funded through the USDA and implemented at no cost to the district.
- back to school
Another adjustment to the 2023-2024 academic calendar - updated again on May 15, 2023 - moves the official first day of school for students in grades K-12 back to the original date of Wednesday, Aug. 16, including a staggered start. The last day for students, now May 23, falls one day later than originally communicated and the beginning of the year staff professional development days return to Aug. 11, 14 and 15.
- back to school
For the past five years, Lakota Innovation Specialist Kim Carlson has been working with Woodland Elementary students on the NPR Student Podcast Challenge. This year, almost 100 students participated, and Carlson submitted podcasts from 23 groups.
With the new grade bands approved by the Lakota Board of Education, the Master Facilities Committee met on May 5, 2023 to continue its discussion on how best to make the plan become a reality and meet the future educational needs of Lakota students in a fiscally responsible way.
- Facilities
On behalf of the Lakota Board of Education, Board President Lynda O'Connor shares details regarding upcoming opportunities to participate in community focus groups to help inform the search for a new superintendent. Meetings are organized by relationship to the district and occur at various times on May 17 and May 31.
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