Welcome Back!
Parents of Lake Middle High School Students:
I really don't need to listen too carefully to hear the upbeat sounds of our marching band, the shouts of our cheerleaders, the gasps and grunts of our athletes, and the seemingly endless whirling of our copy machines which are all part of being in and around a school during the last week of July!
Now if I listen a little closer, I can also hear the distant cries of anticipation and excitement from some, the not so faint groans from others when realizing that it's almost August (or possibly triggered by an email from "you know who"), and the frequent humming of the Amazon, UPS, and FedEx trucks that are taking turns stopping outside of our building - and your homes.
Welcome to the 2026-27 school year, and a very special welcome to the Class of 2032 and to several other new students who are joining us for the first time!
Included in this email are the dates and times for our laptop and schedule distributions for students in all grade levels, the details about our 7th grade orientation program, and some important reminders about completing your "beginning of school" forms to start the year along with the processes for dropping off medications and emergency action plans. As most of our parents have found in the past, being sure to have all of the forms completed and taking care of any outstanding fees from previous school years prior to arriving to pick up laptops and schedules makes the entire experience significantly quicker and easier.
We have also included information about Senior yearbook photos for the Class of '27, parking for our licensed drivers in grades 10 through 12, our daily bell schedule, and a list of a few important dates to keep in mind as you plan for the weeks and months ahead. Each of the attached documents you are receiving today provides information that we feel you need to know to get you started, fully understanding that the days and weeks leading up to the first day of classes can be a little overwhelming, especially for those who are new to LMHS.
Please be on the lookout for additional information and details about a number of other items through the ParentSquare system in the coming days as we finalize the many processes related to the opening of school. You should be sure to look over any and all correspondence and, as always, feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or concerns.
As we return from a much-deserved summer break, it would be easy to forget a few of the necessary guidelines that will be in place on the first day of school. Students and parents are encouraged to review our attendance policies, dress code, cell phone policy, and school code of conduct, all of which can be found by navigating to the home page of our school website and clicking on "Student Handbook". Our expectations for attendance, dress, and behavior will be covered in much more detail during our class meetings with all grade levels on the first days of school. Some of the information is attached to this email, as well!
As we move toward the beginning of another school year, there will no doubt be additional moments of anticipation, excitement, anxiety, and hesitation from our "veteran" students and parents as well as those of you who are approaching your first days at Lake Middle High School. I am fully anticipating another remarkable year with our students in grades 7 through 12 that will include tremendous accomplishments, opportunities for growth, and a large number of events that will showcase the countless gifts and talents that our students bring through the doors of our school and throughout our community each day.
But I am also aware that there may be moments when mistakes are made or misunderstandings occur or when we are simply not at our best. It is at those times when it is important for all of us to communicate, collaborate, and perhaps demonstrate a bit of patience and a little more grace while placing a priority on making progress rather than making it personal. While we appear to be living in an age where, when things go wrong, some people might lean more toward looking for an audience instead of seeking a solution, I am continually thankful for the staff, families, and students at Lake. We are fortunate to be a part of a district and community that place a high premium on working together to do what is best for our students.
With less than 3 weeks to go before our first days of school, it is absolutely wonderful to hear the music, the cheers, the shouts and the noise, and I am actually even okay with the grunts and the groans! But there is nothing that can compare to the sound of the almost 1600 students - almost 1600 LAKE kids - making their way through the doors and the hallways and the classrooms of Lake Middle High School.
And there's no place I would rather be.
Have a great evening!
Daniel Harold, Principal