Principal's Corner - September 15, 2023

Homecoming Week - that rite of passage for all high school students - is upon us next week. There will be more information about ticket sales, guest forms, and the dance in this Principal’s Update. It is an exciting time for our school community, and we want it to be a week that is filled with school spirit AND safe choices, and we will be reminding students all week about the need to put themselves in positions that make this time one of great memories, not one that results in negative consequences that can last a lifetime. 

 

Parent Teacher Conferences September 21

We will be hosting conferences at both campuses this coming Thursday. If you need to schedule a conference, please use the following link: Lakota East Parent Teacher Conference Scheduler

Conferences are in person, but because we value the partnership we have with parents for their students’ education, we will do our best to accommodate families who may be unable to attend in person. Here is how: please go ahead and schedule your preferred time slot with the teacher, and please reach out to the teacher with whom you are requesting a virtual conference. Our teachers will create a Zoom link for this time slot and share the link with you.

 

Congratulations to our National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalists

One of the most prestigious recognitions that a high school student can attain is to be recognized as a National Merit Scholar Semi-Finalist. Students who attain a high enough score on the PSAT are recognized by the College Board and become eligible to be recognized as National Merit Scholars. This year, we have four seniors who are being recognized.  Congratulations to these Amazing Thunderhawks! Pictured in order below are Kyle Smith, Shasha Shankaramani, Reece Whitaker, and Niraj Dahal

Homecoming Week and Dance Information

Now that Homecoming Week has arrived, here are some more details:

TICKET SALES CLOSE AT 3 PM NEXT FRIDAY!!! Our staff is not available to troubleshoot issues after the close of the school day, and our team needs to focus on the events of Friday and Saturday nights at that point. We will continue to make this announcement throughout the week. Attendance at a semi-formal event like a Homecoming Dance should involve some planning and certainly should not be a last-minute decision; therefore, this is also a valuable opportunity for students to plan accordingly. No tickets will be sold after this time, meaning that no tickets will be sold at the door.

For students bringing guests, they will need to turn in a guest form in order to get a code to purchase a guest ticket. All guest forms must be turned in by 2 PM Friday to allow our team to verify information with guests from other schools and for LEHS students to get their guest code and make their purchase before ticket sales close at 3. 

Wednesday, Sept 13 and Wednesday, Sept 20 – At Large Court Voting – All students received an email with a link to grade level voting this past Wednesday, and they will receive another email next Wednesday with a link to vote on senior court members who are running for election to our Thunderhawk Royalty Court. These senior court members have created election profiles highlighted by their response to the question “What Do I Love the Most About Lakota East?”

Friday, Sept 22 – Homecoming Pep Assembly – Please see the schedule that is linked. In the event of inclement weather, we will have a scaled down version of the pep assembly in each building’s gym that will involve introducing the court and will take place at the same time. The court will be introduced at the game as well. On Friday night, we will host our Homecoming football game vs. Mason at 7 PM. This will be an exciting evening during which we will recognize all members of the Thunderhawk Homecoming Court during our pregame procession.

Saturday, Sept 23 – Homecoming Dance – in the Hawks’ Nest from 8-11 PM. Please review the following important information about the dance!

We will host the 2023 Homecoming Dance from 8 PM to 11 PM in our stadium. Even though this is typically an event in which semi-formal attire is expected, there may be a shift in attire since this is an outside event. The forecast for next Saturday currently is for a high near 80 degrees with a 24% chance of rain, meaning that temperatures will be in the upper 70’s  when the dance starts but will likely drop into the lower 60’s by the time the dance ends. There is a possibility of the field being slightly damp and slick. Because of these two factors, we strongly encourage students to both wear attire that will keep them warm, and we also encourage them to wear tennis shoes or shoes that will not be slippery. We cannot permit shoes with spiked heels to be worn on the turf due to safety concerns. Often, students will wear these types of shoes to the dance but remove them to dance barefooted. Considering the temperature and possibility of a wet surface, we discourage doing this. While we understand that the weather will also likely force some changes to what students wear to the dance, there are still some expectations. Students should not wear shorts, and any jeans or pants that are worn should not be tattered or full of holes. We also cannot permit gum to be on the field as the only way to remove it is to cut it from the turf, thus permanently damaging the surface. Water will be provided, but no food or drink will be permitted to be taken onto the field. Finally, due to the fact that this event will be held outside, students will be permitted to leave prior to the end of the dance. We typically do not permit dismissal until around 10:30 PM, but we understand that if students are cold, they may choose to leave and should communicate with their parents/guardians.

Lastly, in the event that the weather forecast changes, we will continue to evaluate conditions throughout the day. If we need to move the dance inside, we intend to make the decision by 4 PM and will communicate via Twitter and email. For several reasons, after 4 PM we will likely need to proceed with the outdoor event regardless of the weather. In either instance, refunds will not be issued if students choose not to attend.

HB 123 Letter and Information

In a separate email, families will be receiving a letter regarding Ohio House Bill 123. This bill, also known as the SAVE Students Act, mandates that all Ohio 6-12 schools provide suicide prevention and other safety training and information to all students. The letter will provide more details on this bill, how it will be implemented in Lakota, and information on a parent opt-out form that the district has made available. Here is the link to the Opt-Out Form and the letter.

 

Have a great weekend,

Rob Burnside
Lakota East High School Principal