Dear LCSD Families, Staff and Partners:

Welcome to April! It’s felt like spring for quite a while, but now we can call it official. I want to start by announcing that our annual Family Survey is now open! This survey is critically important for us to understand what is working well, and what can be improved, in our schools. We will be tracking results of this survey as part of our strategic plan, related to our goal of improving collaboration with families. The survey will be open until May 1 and should take less than 10 minutes. You can take the survey multiple times if you have students at multiple schools. Take it now! 

Panther Spotlight

This month’s Panther Spotlight celebrates hands-on learning at LCHS. The Building Trades program under the guidance of teacher Cody Jump is offering for the first time this year coursework and certification in General Carpentry and Advanced Carpentry in partnership with CMC and the National Center for Construction Education and Research. To gain hands-on experience, 12 students dug into the renovation of the Dutch Henry Clubhouse, which is the headquarters of our Nordic and Alpine skiing programs. As a part of this project, students poured concrete, built stairs, installed new windows, replaced portions of the front deck, installed a new heating system, completely updated the roof framing for the entire building, and installed a new, insulated vaulted ceiling with updated lighting and ventilation. Way to go!

April Headlines (scroll to learn more)

• Improving Student Outcomes – State testing season is here! Please send students to school rested and ready to show what they know. Learn more.
• Strategic Plan – We did it! The Board of Education will approve our 5-year strategic plan on April 13.
• School Merge – Thank you to everyone who attended our Family Tours to preview next year’s school configuration.

April Updates

Improving Student Outcomes: April is state testing month. Students in grades 3-11 will be taking the CMAS and PSAT/SAT assessments. While it is tempting to think of these tests as an unwelcome disruption, they are critically important as a way for our students to demonstrate what they have learned. We use the data to track our progress and identify areas for improvement. Good rest and attendance for students are critical this month. Thank you for your help!

Strategic Plan: On April 13, the Board of Education will approve the district’s strategic plan. After nearly a year of listening and considering the priorities you shared, we have a road map for the next 5 years. Watch our website for the publication of the full plan, as well as a scorecard where we will track our progress on over 25 different data points and metrics. The plan will keep us accountable to the things you have said are most important as we move forward.

School Merge: In the summer of 2026, we will consolidate our school campuses from four to three. Thank you to everyone who attended one of our school consolidation information sessions and tours this week! This presentation provides an overview of what is happening, and why the district is making these changes. You can also read our Q&A about school consolidation and submit any questions in English or Spanish. 

See you soon,

Kate