What's New

Lakota Announces 2021 Summer Fun Fair

01/12/2021

Lakota is teaming up with the West Chester Liberty Chamber Alliance to hold our annual Summer Fun Fair using a unique online event solution called Remo, where exhibitors can come ‘face-to-face’ with Lakota families to share information about summer programming activities.

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Board of Education Holds Annual Organizational Meeting

01/12/2021

The Lakota Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on Jan. 11. All school boards in Ohio are required to hold this meeting within the first 15 days of the month. The board members voted to unanimously approve Kelley Casper and Michael Pearl as president and vice president, respectively.

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Changes to Quarantine Protocols, COVID-19 Dashboard

01/12/2021

As Lakota students return to the classroom for in-person learning following winter break, changes to school-related quarantines will be implemented as a result of a State evaluation of virus spread in Ohio’s schools.

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Lakota Releases 2019-2020 Quality Profile

01/11/2021

Lakota Local Schools is proud to share with the community its 2019-2020 Quality Profile. This annual publication, mailed to every household and business in both West Chester and Liberty townships, is designed to provide highlights from the previous school year in light of major priorities and areas of focus driving our daily work.

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Feb. 3: Next Virtual Coffee Chat with the Superintendent

01/09/2021

Join Superintendent Miller on Facebook Live (@LakotaSuper) for his monthly coffee chat on Feb. 3 at 1 p.m. for an update on the school year and to share your questions and concerns.

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Jan. 18: Community Celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Student Winners

01/06/2021

The entire West Chester Liberty community is invited to attend a virtual edition of the 22nd annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, Jan. 18 at 10 a.m. This year’s student contest, themed “Reinventing Reforms,” challenged students to reflect on what they can do personally, using the resources of this era, to carry on the work started by MLK.

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New Quarantine Guidelines for Second Semester

01/06/2021

On Jan. 6, 2021 Superintendent Matthew Miller updated families on new quarantine protocols. Read his email to families in its entirely here.

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Social Media Challenge: What are You Looking Forward to in 2021?

01/01/2021

With 2020 in the rear view mirror, it’s time to celebrate 2021 with a new social media challenge! Lakota, we want to hear what YOU are looking forward to in 2021.

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USDA Free Meals Program Extended through End of School Year

12/17/2020

In response to the financial hardship felt nationwide as a result of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an extension to its free meals program for all students announced this fall. Originally ending Dec. 31, 2020, all students learning both in-person and virtually are now eligible through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The program is being offered at no cost to the district.

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COVID-19: Reporting Cases, Dashboard Update

12/15/2020

The latest COVID-19 communication update covers how to report cases over the winter break, as well as upcoming changes to Lakota's COVID dashboard.

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Board Approves Changes to In-Person Academic Calendar

12/15/2020

At the Dec. 14, 2020 Lakota Board of Education meeting, the members of the Board voted unanimously 4-0, with Michael Pearl absent, to make changes to the in-person learning academic calendar in January.

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Board Approves Contract Extension for Superintendent Miller

12/15/2020

Members of the Lakota Board of Education voted unanimously to extend Superintendent Matthew Miller’s contract for an additional five years, beginning Jan. 2021. The 4-0 vote, with member Michael Pearl absent, took place at the Dec. 14, 2020 meeting.

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Jan. 6 Coffee Chat: Treasurer Takeover

12/15/2020

Join Lakota’s Treasurer/CFO Jenni Logan when she takes over January’s virtual Coffee Chat. Tune into Superintendent Miller’s Facebook Live (@LakotaSuper) on Wednesday, Jan. 6 at 1 p.m.

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Debt Refinancing Saves Lakota Taxpayers

12/15/2020

Jenni Logan, treasurer/CFO for Lakota Local Schools, announced that the district will save more than $6 million in interest expense due to recent refinancing of debt. “Just like our community members, we look to take advantage of a low-interest rate market in order to refinance our debt and save our taxpayers money,” said Logan.

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2020 State of the Schools Marked by Real Reflections from Students, Staff

12/15/2020

This year's unique "State of the Schools" format featured both in-person and virtual learning students and staff sharing a lens into the current school year. The Jan. 8 event, which can now be viewed on demand, drew approximately 200 people for the hour-long presentation.

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Notice of Logistics for Dec. 14 Lakota Board of Education Meeting

12/14/2020

Due to the current rise in COVID-19, the Lakota Local School District is pausing its in-person public participation during its Board of Education meetings. Notice is hereby given that the Lakota Board of Education, Butler County, will meet in person at its normal meeting location, Plains Jr. School, 5500 Princeton Rd, Liberty Township, Ohio on December 14, 2020, with the public participating virtually.

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Bringing 100-Year-Old History to Life

12/14/2020

Lakota East teacher Hannah Martin learned the causes of World War I in high school by memorizing a bulleted list. But she wanted something different for her students.

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New Video Celebrates Diversity & LODI Efforts

12/14/2020

A new video presented by Lakota’s Outreach Diversity & Inclusion (LODI) department features the rich diversity that our students bring to Lakota’s classrooms every single day.

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Board Member Video Series: Meet Brad Lovell

12/14/2020

Lakota Local Schools is excited to introduce our community to the members of the Board of Education. Through December, you’ll get to know more about each of the five members. Meet Brad Lovell, a lifelong community member and former school administrator in Lakota, who is serving his first term on the Lakota Board of Education.

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West Senior Dedicates Eagle Scout Project to Former Elementary School

12/14/2020

“I just wanted to give back to the school that gave me so much,” said Lakota West senior Josh Strong, when asked about why he chose Heritage Early Childhood School as the beneficiary of his recent Eagle Scout project. The project gave a major facelift to one of the school’s outdoor learning spaces where students are able to grow their own plants.

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Lunch and Learn Series Connects ECS Parents, Offers Support

12/13/2020

How can parents stay connected and receive support in these difficult times? “It is definitely difficult not having adults in the school building this year to help build community and connectedness,” said Jen Gillum, counselor at Wyandot Early Childhood School. “The Lunch and Learn Series is helping to bridge that gap.”

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All Students Eligible for Meal Pick-Up During Altered Second Semester Start

12/11/2020

With the altered schedule for the return to second semester Jan. 5-15, all in-person learners will be eligible to pre-order breakfast and lunch meals to cover the remote learning days. While the schedule change does not impact VLO families, students are still invited to register for meal pick-ups following the normal VLO meal program schedule.

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Second Semester Update

12/09/2020

On Dec. 9, Superintendent Matthew Miller shared this update with parents and staff regarding the district's altered plans for returning to school for second semester. The slight change in the academic calendar is in response to a recent survey that returned mixed results regarding a return to in-person learning versus remote learning. The change will allow for a more gradual return from break, giving the district time to review the COVID-19 trends and takes us further from the holidays when increased social gatherings may result in a spike of positive cases.

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Updated COVID-19 Quarantine Guidelines

12/07/2020

On Friday, the Ohio Department of Health adopted the recent changes to quarantine guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We have been notified that our local health commissioner has also approved these guidelines for Butler County.

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Board Member O'Connor Honored for Service to OSBA

12/04/2020

Lynda O’Connor, member of the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education, was recognized at the Nov. 16 school board meeting for her service to the Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA).

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Independence Student Leads ‘Operation Overseas: Treats for Troops’

12/01/2020

Independence Elementary sixth-grader Trevor Earnest drew his inspiration for a recent food drive he organized at his school from his dad, a surgeon in the U.S. Air Force currently deployed in Afghanistan. Called “Operation Overseas: Treats for Troops,” the food drive was designed to not only assist the troops overseas with depleting resources, but also bring awareness to the important work they are doing.

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Heritage Debuts StoryWalksⓇ for In-Person and VLO Families

12/01/2020

What can in-person and virtual learning students do to experience the same thing? This is the question that Heritage Early Childhood School Assistant Principal Natalie Jimenez asked herself. The answer? StoryWalksⓇ.

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COVID-19 Updates: Snow Days, Mask-Wearing

12/01/2020

With December comes winter weather and potential snow days. Lakota Local Schools will continue its practice of using calamity days for all students, both in person and those enrolled in the Virtual Learning Option, should it be deemed necessary to close or delay school due to inclement weather.

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Meet Our Board Members: Kelley Casper

12/01/2020

Lakota Local Schools is excited to introduce our community to the members of the Board of Education. Through December, you’ll get to know more about each of the five members. Meet Kelley Casper, a former teacher and proud Lakota parent who has served on numerous committees at the district level since 2005, including District Parent Council, strategic planning, redistricting and levy committees.

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First Semester Exams Canceled for High School Students

12/01/2020

End of semester exams for students in grades 9-12 have been cancelled for the first semester this school year. Grades for the first and second quarters will be weighted equally at 50% to determine first semester grades.

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Lakota Gears Up for Virtual State of the Schools Dec. 8

11/30/2020

Lakota’s annual “State of the Schools” event returns next Tuesday, Dec. 8, giving parents, students, staff and community members a 45-minute overview of the district’s top priorities, as they related to current and future work. Although virtual, the event maintains its purpose to keep the community informed about the current and future outlook of our schools.

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West Hope Squad Ends Anti-Bullying Month with Duckloads of Positivity

11/30/2020

A month marked by acts of kindness and anti-bullying messages at Lakota West High School culminated in “Duck Duck Hope Week,” where rubber ducks sprinkled all over campus had but one purpose: to send students and staff off to Thanksgiving break on a positive note.

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Media Design & Communications Project Connects VLO Students

11/27/2020

Hundreds of K-2 virtual learners are having some fall and winter fun, thanks to some Hopewell and Liberty junior high VLO students. Students in Moriah Walker’s Media Design & Communications class recently took on a project to create activity books full of coloring pages, word searches and math puzzles for younger VLO students at Hopewell and Wyandot early childhood schools.

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WE Can: Persevering through a Pandemic

11/19/2020

On Nov. 17, Lakota celebrated a very important milestone: three months of in-person learning. A special live video premiere featured students and staff sharing all that they’ve overcome so far this school year.

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VanGorden’s ‘Team Togetherness’ Helps Celebrate Diversity

11/17/2020

The transformation of the VanGorden Elementary lobby is now underway. The school’s new Team Togetherness Committee is overseeing the project that highlights the diversity of its students and staff.

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Engineering Students Help Others Through Real World Learning

11/17/2020

Real World Learning has even more meaning when the project helps a teacher. See how Taylor Blackburn, Jonah Dangel and Amane Ohhashi designed a shoe for English teacher Kendra Herber’s prosthetic leg in their Introduction to Engineering Design class at West Freshman. The class is led by teacher Scott Fetzer and is through Butler Tech’s Project Lead the Way program.

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Lakota Marching Bands Triumph Over Tenacity, Not Trophies

11/17/2020

While their performance schedules were nowhere near their normal load, both Lakota East and Lakota West’s marching bands have something big to celebrate: they finished their seasons. “Several times, we thought that the season would be shut down by the current events of the pandemic,” remembered Lakota West Band Director Andrew Carr. But against all odds, regulations were loosened just enough to give them some semblance of a season. And with it came a new realization.

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Dec. 3 Virtual Community Conversation: Diversity & Inclusion

11/17/2020

Lakota’s Outreach Diversity and Inclusion (LODI) department will host a Dec. 3 Community Conversation that challenges students, staff, parents and community members to discuss the current opportunities and challenges.

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Meet Our School Board Video Series: Lynda O'Connor

11/17/2020

Lakota Local Schools is excited to introduce our community to the members of the Board of Education. Through December, you’ll get to know more about each of the five members. Meet Lynda O’Connor, a member of the Board of Education since 2008.

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Plains Pilots Peer-Run ‘Sources of Strength’ Program

11/16/2020

A pilot program at Plains Junior is just the start of a three-year health and wellness plan for all Lakota seventh and eighth grade students.

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MLK Day Celebration, Student Contest the Focus of November 'Listen Up Lakota'

11/16/2020

This month’s edition of “Listen Up Lakota,” a monthly radio program powered by 89.3FM WMKV, will focus on West Chester Liberty’s “Live the Dream” MLK Day celebration and student contest.

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Lakota One of Nine Districts to Participate in State COVID Study about Quarantines

11/16/2020

Lakota Local Schools is one of nine districts statewide to participate in a public health evaluation about classroom spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Ohio COVID-19 School Evaluation (OCSE) testing program will give school districts, public health experts and elected officials more scientific data regarding quarantines related to positive novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in school.

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COVID-19 Communication Update: Thanksgiving, Bus Transportation

11/16/2020

The latest COVID-19 communication update covers the Thanksgiving Holiday as well as bus transportation information.

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‘Dude, Be Kind’ Week a Year-Round Philosophy at Hopewell ECS

11/16/2020

At Hopewell Early Childhood School, kindness isn’t just something staff teach; it’s something they model. And although it was even more top of mind during the district’s celebration of “Dude, Be Kind” week all last week, Hopewell’s interim counselor and reading intervention specialist Kathy Gall says it’s really a year-round focus in their building.

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Nov. 3-4 Remote Learning Survey Results

11/16/2020

“While we certainly do not want to have to shift to remote learning, we want our staff and our families to be prepared,” said Superintendent Matthew Miller. This belief led to the district’s first remote learning practice days of the 2020-2021 school year on Nov. 3-4.

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Super in 60: November 2020 Edition

11/14/2020

In each month's edition of "Super in 60", Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller provides the latest district highlights in just 60 seconds. Get the latest on Lakota's criteria for any possible shift to remote learning and the district's participation in a COVID-19 study evaluating in-school spread, plus an opportunity to help shape the focus of this year's "State of the Schools."

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Fall VLO Celebrations Build Community

11/13/2020

“It was an optional Zoom session, but 90% of my children came to the party dressed in their costumes. What I thought might be a half hour turned into 50 minutes of fun and laughter – talking – sharing – just enjoying being together,” said Wyandot ECS first grade teacher Abigail Detcher.

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Dec. 2: Coffee Chat with the Superintendent

11/13/2020

Join Superintendent Miller on Facebook Live (@LakotaSuper) for his monthly coffee chat on Dec. 2 at 3 p.m. for an update on the school year and to share your questions and concerns.

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Lakota Earns International Technology Award

11/12/2020

Lakota Local Schools is one of just three school districts worldwide to earn the “2020 Distinguished District Award” from the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), which supports more than 200,000 educators worldwide in using technology to overcome challenges in education.

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Superintendent Video Update: COVID-19

11/11/2020

In this quick video update, Superintendent Miller shares information related to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) and our schools.

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‘WE Can: Persevering through a Pandemic’ Video Debuts Nov. 17

11/10/2020

Thinking back to Aug. 17, did you ever think in-person learning would still be an option three months later? Join us in celebrating this awesome milestone and all that we’ve overcome so far this school year with a special live video premiere on Nov. 17 featuring “WE are Lakota” students and staff.

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A Peek Behind the Curtain: Mask Breaks

11/04/2020

Take a closer look inside Lakota Local Schools with a new video series called “A Peek Behind the Curtain.” This time, you’ll get an inside look at this year’s mask breaks - what they are, how they work and what students are saying about them. Throughout the year, continue to follow this series to get a peek inside different parts of the school day.

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Save the Date: Lakota State of the Schools Dec. 8

11/03/2020

Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller will deliver the district’s “State of the Schools” address virtually this year on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m. The 45-minute event is open to the entire community and serves as the district-wide update for both last school year and the current one.

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Meet the Board Video Series: Julie Shaffer

11/02/2020

Lakota Local Schools is excited to introduce our community to the members of the Board of Education. Through December, you’ll get to know more about each of the five members. Meet Julie Shaffer, a member of the Board since 2012.

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Raise Craze Fundraiser Focuses on Acts of Kindness

11/02/2020

“We have to focus on the positive, on things that we can do, on giving lots of grace and having lots of patience this year.” What could be considered words to live by in the middle of a pandemic is actually how Emily Miller, co-president of the Adena Elementary School PTO, recalled a conversation among the executive board when discussing fundraising activities for the year.

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Safety Protocols Help Stop In-School Spread of COVID-19, Keep Students In School

11/02/2020

Did you know that even though the number of positive cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to rise across Butler County and the state of Ohio, we are not seeing classroom spread of the virus? Let us repeat that. We are not seeing COVID-19 spread in Lakota’s classrooms.

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Improving COVID-19 Communication: Survey Results

11/02/2020

In the last district e-newsletter, a ThoughtExchange was launched to find out how we can best communicate COVID-19 related information to our parents, staff and community. Click to see a full report as well as the top five thoughts and the district's response.

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New Contest: Oh! The Places You'll VLO!

11/01/2020

There’s no doubt about it – with Lakota’s VLO you can learn from just about anywhere. We’re celebrating that flexibility with a contest we’re calling Oh! The Places You’ll VLO!

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‘Stuff the Bus’ Food Drive Shatters 2019 Total

11/01/2020

In a year when our local food pantry provided 645 emergency food boxes in a little over a month, the Lakota Board of Education’s annual “Stuff the Bus” food drive tradition was more critical than ever. Students, staff and families topped last year’s grand total of 12,000 pounds, donating nearly 15,500 pounds of food and other essentials.

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Why Are You Thankful?

11/01/2020

As we begin to count down the days to Thanksgiving break, Lakota is asking staff, students, parents and residents to look back over the last year and let us know who or what makes you thankful for your Lakota experience.

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Lakota East, West Theater: The Show Must Go On

10/30/2020

Last spring, just two weeks before Lakota West was set to perform Fiddler on the Roof, COVID-19 happened and the show was cancelled. “It was all so very disappointing, but looking back, it was actually partially a gift,” said Ethan Kuchta, who was to play Tevye. “A lot of us were taking being in the show for granted, getting the opportunity to perform for granted. Now we are very invested and realize the huge loss.”

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Creekside Students Get Tips from Best-Selling Author/Illustrator

10/28/2020

Creekside VLO and in-person students recently learned the secret to being good at anything. Award-winning author and illustrator Derek Anderson held a special Zoom session for each grade at Creekside, where he shared this secret along with many other tips about writing and drawing.

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WE are Prepared: Fall 2020 Community Newsletter

10/26/2020

Several times a year, Lakota produces a community newsletter to help parents and residents stay informed about important district-wide news and updates. The fall 2020 edition, titled "WE are Prepared", shares an inside look at one of the most unusual starts to a school year yet and all the ways we are preparing for what could come next.

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Super in 60: October 2020 Edition

10/21/2020

In each month's edition of "Super in 60", Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller provides the latest district highlights in just 60 seconds. Get the latest on Lakota's Educators of Excellence, the district-wide food drive and recent changes to the academic calendar.

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Nov. 4: Next Coffee Chat with the Superintendent

10/21/2020

We hope you will join Superintendent Miller on Facebook Live (@LakotaSuper) for an update on the school year and to share your questions and concerns. These virtual coffee chats have been very well attended, and to help efficiently prioritize questions and concerns, consider sending in your thoughts via Thought Exchange.

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Honoring Lakota's 2020 Educators of Excellence

10/20/2020

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty, in partnership with Lakota Local Schools, are proud to announce the three recipients of the 2020 Lakota Educator of Excellence Awards.

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Lakota COVID-19 Update

10/20/2020

This week marks the start of the second quarter. Lakota’s staff, students and families have proven that they are following the guidelines, wearing face coverings, washing their hands and staying home when they are sick.

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East LEAF Club Reforestation Project Takes Root

10/20/2020

A once wide-open plot of land between Lakota East High School’s baseball fields and Interstate-75 now dawns about 60 trees - all thanks to the advocacy of the school’s LEAF Club and two critical community partners, Cincinnati’s Taking Root and Delhi Nursery.

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Liberty ECS First Grade Detectives Look for Clues

10/20/2020

What do police detectives have in common with first graders? They look for clues. This is what Janet Alsip’s class at Liberty Early Childhood School learned during a recent lesson in reading.

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WOW Gives ‘Women of West’ Social Emotional Boost

10/20/2020

“I was in one of the most accelerated career paths for P&G, yet I couldn’t look myself in the mirror,” shared Helena Alsbury, a chemical engineer and senior director of product supply at P&G. “What I had two years ago was a self-esteem issue.”

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Ridge Jr. Storage Area Transformed into Fitness Center

10/19/2020

An old storage area at Ridge Junior School is a now a place where students and staff can go to improve their physical, social and emotional health. It all started last year when Scott Laman (who was the school’s Athletic Director) proposed turning the area into a fitness center.

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Lakota Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month

10/19/2020

National Hispanic Heritage Month took place from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15, and schools around the district held their own unique programs to honor the histories, cultures and contributions of those from Latin American countries. Lakota students represent 14 of those Hispanic countries and they make up 9.6% of the student population.

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In-Person Learning Survey: The Results are In

10/19/2020

Lakota Local Schools could not have completed its first quarter, offering both in-person and virtual learning options, without valuable feedback from parents, staff and students. There were 4,180 responses to Lakota’s in-person learning survey that closed on Oct. 12.

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Meet Our School Board Video Series: Michael Pearl

10/19/2020

Lakota Local Schools is excited to introduce our community to the members of the Board of Education. Through December, you’ll get to know more about each of the five members. First up, meet Michael Pearl, the newest member of the Board.

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Words of Wisdom: What Do You Like About Fall?

10/19/2020

What do you love about fall? That’s what we asked students around Lakota for this month’s Words of Wisdom.

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Lakota Board of Education Recognizes OSBA Business Honor Roll

10/19/2020

The Lakota Local Schools Board of Education announced four outstanding business partners as recipients of the Ohio School Boards Association’s (OSBA) Business Honor Roll at last night’s school board meeting.

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October's 'Super in 60' Video Update

10/19/2020

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LODI Introduces Kinship Connections to Link Lakota Caregivers

10/12/2020

Lakota’s Outreach Diversity & Inclusion (LODI) Department is introducing a monthly program called “Kinship Connections.” Designed for our grandparents and other kinship caregivers of Lakota students, the program is being introduced in response to the feedback district leaders received at a Community Conversation with some members of this group earlier this year.

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Lots of Color in Hopewell’s Creative Alternative to Color Run

10/06/2020

Despite having to completely reimagine this year’s format, at least one thing about a popular after-school event at Hopewell Junior School remained intact: lots of color. But this time, rather than having staff and parent volunteers throw color at them, students spread out on the school’s athletic field and were throwing paint on a blank ceiling tile. All together, the individual tiles will soon form a large display of student expression in the school’s cafeteria.

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Focus on Meeting the Social & Emotional Needs of Virtual Learning Students

10/06/2020

Addressing the social/emotional needs of students is always important, but especially so for virtual learners during the COVID pandemic. Students in virtual learning environments such as Lakota’s VLO might feel particularly isolated or lonely by missing out on valuable social interaction and relationship building in the school setting.

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Lakota Cyber Academy Partnerships: A new Wave of Cyber Talent

10/06/2020

The Lakota Cyber Academy is a first of its kind program for high school students. It has been designed alongside industry partners to develop a local pool of talent in one of the fastest growing professions in the world: cyber security.

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WE are Prepared: COVID-19 Update

10/06/2020

Now in its eighth week of in-person learning, Lakota Local Schools continues to follow the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Butler County Health Department (BCHD). Safety protocols continue to be adjusted as needed in order to help stop the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

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New Video Series Debut: A Peek Behind the Curtain

10/06/2020

Take a closer look inside Lakota Local Schools with a new video series called “A Peek Behind the Curtain.” Throughout the year, you’ll get an inside look at different parts of the school day. In this first video, you’ll meet the #DogsOfLakota, the district’s four therapy dogs who are helping students and staff in innovative ways.

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Freedom Elementary Hallway Becomes Stone Age Cave

10/05/2020

How do you get sixth-graders excited about studying the Stone Age? Transform the hallway by your classroom into a cave. Freedom Elementary social studies teacher Regan Hagemeier explained to her students that they would spend the school year travelling all over the Eastern Hemisphere studying world civilizations.

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Lakota School Board's ‘WE CAN’ Food Drive Serves Reach Out Lakota

10/05/2020

The Lakota Board of Education’s annual district-wide food drive for Reach Out Lakota will run Oct. 12 through Oct. 23, leading right up to National Make a Difference Day on Oct. 24. 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-perishables needed by our community’s local relief organization.

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New Literacy Lab is on a Roll at Shawnee ECS

10/02/2020

Many Shawnee ECS kindergarteners are saying it is the favorite part of their day. It’s not recess. It’s not lunch. It’s when the Literacy Lab rolls into their classroom.

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October Social Media Contest: Fall Favorites

10/02/2020

Is it jumping into a big pile of leaves? Warm apple cider? Trick or treat fun? Family and friends sitting around a fire pit? We want to know your favorite thing about fall. Lakota’s October social media contest is all about fall fun. Share a photo showing what you like most about fall, and you just might win a prize basket full of Lakota spirit items.

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Academic Calendar Change: Nov. 2-4

09/28/2020

Lakota has made an adjustment to our academic calendar for Nov. 2-4. Traditionally, Lakota’s teachers and staff participate in professional development on Election Day. This decision is part of our safety and security guidelines because 18 of our schools are used as polling locations in our community.

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Technology Zoom Sessions Help Parents Support Student Learning

09/22/2020

How can I help my child who uses Seesaw? How do I navigate Canvas? What are some tips and tricks to make all of this technology easier to use? Whether students are learning virtually or in-person, parents across the district are asking these questions.

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Mask Breaks Reinvent Outdoor Learning

09/22/2020

If it weren’t for “mask breaks,” Wyandot ECS teacher Alison Brunk may have never discovered just what a “treasure trove” of learning opportunities her school’s outdoor classroom has to offer her first-graders.

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INCubatoredu@Lakota Cultivates 100 Future Entrepreneurs

09/22/2020

Kevin Keen can recall several good answers he received after asking his 100 students what they hoped to get out of Lakota’s newest course for budding entrepreneurs. But his favorite was the student who said that she wanted to use the class to “make as many mistakes as possible while there are no real stakes involved.”

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Lakota Receives Prestigious Auditor of State Award for Sixth Consecutive Year

09/22/2020

Fewer than 5 percent of all entities that are audited annually earn the Auditor of State Award with Distinction – and Lakota has received the honor six years in a row. Treasurer Jenni Logan was virtually presented with the award for the district’s clean audit and excellent record keeping at the Sept. 14 Board of Education meeting. The award recognizes the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and transparency.

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Lakota Updates, Expands COVID-19 Dashboard

09/21/2020

Beginning Monday, Sept. 21, Lakota Local Schools will expand the information displayed on its novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) dashboard. The dashboard, which launched on Sept. 8, initially presented the number of staff and students who have tested positive for COVID-19, or are presumed positive by the Butler County Health Department (BCHD) or their doctors. The number of quarantined individuals related to in-school cases is also displayed.

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Whole-Student Activities Prepare Students for the Future

09/18/2020

Each day, Plains Junior students spend ninety minutes in ‘advisory period.’ But what actually is advisory period? Sixty minutes is set aside for typical academic assistance from teachers and continued academic practice, while thirty minutes is devoted to whole-student skill development.

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2021 MLK Day Contest Challenges Students to ‘Reinvent Reforms’

09/17/2020

In preparation for our community’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, all Lakota students are invited to participate in a contest that promotes self-reflection about diversity and inclusion in our community and nationwide. This year’s "Reinventing Reforms" theme challenges students to reflect on what they can do personally, using the resources of this era, to carry on the work started by Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Super in 60: September 2020 Edition

09/15/2020

Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller’s newest video series, “Super in 60”, gives parents, staff and community members a 60-second overview of what’s happening around Lakota. View the inaugural edition of “Super in 60.”

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Michael Pearl Appointed to Lakota Board of Education

09/14/2020

The Lakota Board of Education unanimously appointed Michael Pearl to the school board at its Sept. 14 meeting.

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All Lakota Students Eligible for Free Meal Program

09/12/2020

In response to the financial hardship felt nationwide as a result of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced an opportunity to provide free meals to all students through an anticipated date of Dec. 31, 2020. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 16, student accounts will not be charged for any breakfast or lunch meals that meet the regular meal criteria set forth by the USDA.

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Lakota Board of Education Update: Mr. Parnell's Resignation

09/11/2020

On Sept. 11, the Lakota Board of Education made a statement regarding the reason for former board member Todd Parnell's resignation. Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller shared this statement via a letter to the Lakota community.

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West’s Student Athlete Advisory Board: More than Meets the Eye

09/09/2020

What does a practice look like when it combines student-athletes from 27 different sports? It looks like Lakota West High School’s Student Athlete Advisory Board, better known as SAAB. Every other Sunday, August through May, nearly 60 of Lakota West’s finest student-athletes gather for two to three hours to practice a skill shared across all their sports: leadership.

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VIDEO: Student Words of Wisdom for a Great School Year

09/08/2020

In spite of this year’s unique challenges, our students have some pretty good ideas for how to make it a great school year. Our monthly video series featuring student voice, “Words of Wisdom,” continues this year. Click to hear what Lakota students had to say this month.

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Lakota Gets Feedback from Parents, Students and Staff

09/08/2020

Lakota Local School continues to gather feedback from its parents, staff and students regarding the 2020-2021 school year. “This is new to all of us,” said Superintendent Matthew Miller about the reopening of the district amid the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Since the mandatory closing in March, the district has invited feedback as it navigated through uncharted territory.

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Lakota's COVID-19 Communication Procedures, New Data Dashboard

09/08/2020

With the return to in-person learning, Lakota is committed to responsibly tracking positive cases of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) among our students and staff, as well as current quarantine counts in response to such cases.

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West's Volley for the Cure Goes Virtual Sept. 8-25

09/08/2020

Lakota West’s 14th annual Volley for the Cure event may look different this year, but still supports a great cause. The volleyball team is asking fans to put on an old “Volley for the Cure” T-shirt and tune into its full line-up of official “Volley for the Cure” games virtually on Tuesday, Sept. 8, beginning with the freshman game at 4:30 p.m.

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Back-to-School and COVID-19 Updates

09/08/2020

Have you visited Lakota’s Back-to-School webpage recently? The list of frequently asked questions is updated regularly, as information regarding the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) remains fluid.

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Wearing Masks Doesn’t Stop Students & Staff from Making Connections

09/08/2020

We may be starting the school year wearing masks, but that hasn’t stopped Lakota students and staff from making important connections with each other. Challenges associated with wearing masks have brought about creative solutions across the district.

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C3 and Lakota Focus on Impact of Social Media on Youth

09/08/2020

The area’s largest school district and a local non-profit organization are teaming up to host a conference exploring the impact of social media and technology on youth.

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Liberty Junior Student Engineers Tackle Football Team’s COVID-19 Challenge

09/07/2020

The Liberty Junior School football team had a problem - one that Doug Noxsel’s Design & Modeling students weren’t afraid to tackle, even if it was just their first full week in the new class. Despite his best efforts to make the team water cooler completely touchless in light of current COVID-19 precautions, Coach Hamilton still had no way for his student-athletes to refill their bottles during practice. The alternate valve that he purchased may have kept students from touching the same release button, but still required each water bottle to repeatedly touch the same surface.

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VLO Students Staying Connected to Home Schools

09/07/2020

While about a quarter of Lakota students might be learning virtually from their own homes, the goal is to keep them as connected to their home school as possible. A partnership between the Virtual Learning Option (VLO) and school principals is focused on ways to maintain this connection. Students receive communications from their home school, can participate in extracurriculars, and can even get their school pictures taken and be part of the yearbook. Whenever possible, students have a VLO teacher from their home school.

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Meal Program for Virtual Learners

09/03/2020

Beginning Thursday, Sept. 10, Lakota's virtual learners will be able to pick up breakfast and lunch via our new drive-through bagged meal service. Meals will be available for pick-up at four locations on Mondays and Thursdays.

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Applications Now Being Accepted for Board Vacancy

09/01/2020

The Lakota Local Schools Board of Education seeks applicants to fill the unexpired term of board member Todd Parnell, who resigned on Aug. 27, 2020. The board will interview candidates on Sept. 12 and 13. A replacement must be appointed within 30 days of the resignation. The newly appointed member will serve until Dec. 31, 2021. If the appointed member desires to continue serving, he or she must run in the Nov. 2021 general election.

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Lakota Limits Spectators at All Athletic Events

09/01/2020

Per Gov. DeWine’s most recent sports health order, as well as guidance from the Ohio High School Athletic Association, Lakota is significantly limiting attendance at all athletic events until further notice. As we prioritize the families of our student-athletes, we will not be accepting staff badges, Golden Lakota passes or Corporate Sponsor Passes at any sporting events for the 2020 season.

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Lakota Board of Education Accepts Member’s Resignation

08/27/2020

The Lakota Board of Education accepted the resignation of school board member Todd Parnell at an emergency meeting this afternoon.

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Lakota Welcomes Back Students in a Whole New Way

08/25/2020

Lakota welcomed back its 16,800 students last week in a whole new way. While relationship building was still in the forefront, students and staff also spent the first days of school becoming accustomed to new safety procedures.

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What Does a 'Mask Break' Look Like?

08/25/2020

From dancing on the playground to relocating class outside, teachers throughout Lakota are finding creative ways to give their students, and themselves, “mask breaks.”

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Survey Results: How Was the First Week?

08/25/2020

Lakota Local Schools values feedback from its families, students, staff and community. Beginning on March 13 when Lakota closed its doors to in-person learning due to the state-mandated shutdown of schools because of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), the district began gathering feedback about everything from the remote learning process to looking ahead to the 2020-2021 school year to feedback on the first days of school. District leaders use the feedback to help guide their decisions on how to best meet the needs of its students.

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Introducing Back-to-School Photo Contest Winners

08/25/2020

While Back to School 2020 may have looked a little different in some ways, Lakota’s annual back-to-school photo contest returned in full force. We are excited to announce this year’s contest winners, based on the posts coming out on top with the most votes (or “likes”).

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Lakota’s Back-to-School Karaoke 2.0 Celebrates Safe Return

08/24/2020

Lakota's Back-to-School Karaoke 2.0, which follows last year's hit school bus karaoke debut, features Lakota students and staff celebrating a safe return to school. The new hit, titled “At Lakota,” is sung to the tune of “Copacabana”.

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Lakota Celebrates Top Volunteers in Unique Way

08/24/2020

Lakota spent the last weeks of summer break honoring the district’s most beloved volunteers. A social media campaign, each day featuring a different 2020 Barb Bossu Volunteer Spirit Award winner, replaced the District Parent Council’s traditional recognition event that takes place in person every spring.

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Lakota Launches Unique Virtual Learning Option

08/24/2020

One in four Lakota students are starting their school year as part of the Virtual Learning Option (VLO), setting up their classrooms in home offices, kitchens and even in an RV during travels out West.

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First Day Photo Contest: Celebrate New School Year

08/14/2020

For some of our students, the new school year begins Monday, Aug. 17 and for others, Tuesday, Aug. 18. So get ready to capture those special first day moments at the front stoop, at your bus stop, in your classroom or at home in your new VLO workspace.

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Lakota Welcomes New Administrators for 20-21 School Year

08/14/2020

As the district prepares to welcome back students for the 2020-2021 school year, Lakota welcomes new administrative leaders at several schools, as well as in two key district positions.

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Lakota Releases COVID-19 Safety Protocols & Guidelines Resource Manual

08/13/2020

In accordance with guidance from the Butler County Health Department, Lakota Local Schools has compiled a comprehensive resource manual outlining the district’s safety protocols and guidelines for its responsible reopening this school year.

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Lakota’s Child Nutrition Department Prepares for New School Year

08/07/2020

Lakota’s Child Nutrition Department is working closely with the Butler County Health Department, building principals and custodial staff as it gears up for the 2020-2021 school year.

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HAC: Bus Routes, Teachers, Schedules and More

08/07/2020

Home Access Center (HAC) is a communications tool to help keep students and parents up-to-date and in contact with their teachers throughout the year. Use HAC to find daily assignments and scores, report cards, schedules, bus assignments, attendance, and more.

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Video: Face Coverings Safety Tips and Tricks

08/05/2020

For everyone's safety this school year, Lakota staff and students will be required to wear a face covering at most times throughout the school day. During planned mask breaks or at other times when students and staff can be at least six feet apart, face coverings will not be required. Lauren Brown, Lakota's Manager of Health Services, shares with the Lakota community some tips and tricks for effectively wearing and caring for your face coverings.

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Daily Health Assessment Important Part of Lakota’s Reopening Plans

08/04/2020

When Lakota opens its doors on August 17, students and staff will notice many changes to help protect the safety and health of our Lakota community. In order to keep our schools open, it will be up to everyone to closely follow new procedures and protocols, including a daily COVID-19 health check.

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Special Mask Promotion in Lakota Spiritwear Shop

08/03/2020

As our families mark off items on this year's non-traditional school supply list, Lakota is offering a special face mask promotion via its online spirit wear shop. The promotion includes a two-pack of "WE are Lakota" 3-ply face masks, including both youth and adult sizes in three different colors: black, grey and red.

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Board Approves Plan A: New School Year Begins Aug. 17

07/31/2020

This afternoon, the Lakota Board of Education met to review the most recent data and recommendations from the Butler County Department of Health surrounding the reopening plans for the 2020-2021 school year. The Board called today’s special meeting in order to vote on whether or not to move forward with the district’s Plan A, which welcomes back all students for in-person learning with additional safety precautions.

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Notice of Special Board of Education Meeting: Lakota School District

07/29/2020

Notice is hereby given that the Lakota Board of Education, Butler County, will hold a special meeting on Friday, July 31, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. for the purpose of reviewing and approving the re-opening plans for the 2020-21 school year.

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Star In Lakota's Back-to-School Karaoke

07/28/2020

Lakota Local Schools is ramping up for a school year like like no other - and WE need students, staff, parents and community partners to help us get it started on the right foot! Lakota Karaoke 2.0, which follows last year's hit school bus karaoke debut, will feature the Lakota community celebrating a safe and energetic return to school - through song! Submit your homemade music videos until Aug. 5!

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Check Your Lakota Communication Preferences

07/23/2020

Lakota is proud to offer a powerful mass notification system for delivering important school and district news and announcements via email, phone and text message. We encourage parents, employees and community members to take full advantage of the customization options within School Messenger platform. Before the school year gets underway, log into your account to check your preferences.

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Miller Participates in WCPO Virtual Town Hall

07/21/2020

On July 13, Superintendent Matthew Miller participated in a virtual town hall meeting hosted by WCPO, the ABC affiliate in Cincinnati. The television special featured educational leaders from the tri-state area speaking about plans to return to in-person learning amid the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

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Lakota Names New High School Principals

07/13/2020

Lakota Local Schools announced today that it has hired two new principals to lead Lakota’s two high schools this fall - Ben Brown at Lakota West and Yejide Mack at Lakota East.

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Work Permit Update

07/07/2020

Effective July 7, 2020, Lakota students in need of signed work permits are asked to visit their respective high schools to complete the paperwork. Previously, the COVID-19 shutdown shifted this process to Lakota's Central Office.

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2020-2021 School Year Plans Announced

06/30/2020

At the June 29 Lakota Board of Education work session, Superintendent Matthew Miller presented four different plans for the 2020-2021 school year, including a virtual option that will be available to families who do not wish for their children to attend school in person. “We want our students back in school,” said Miller.

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Lakota Virtual Learning Information Sessions Announced

06/26/2020

After surveying Lakota families at the end of the school year, as well as through a community-wide ThoughtExchange, it is evident that some families may be uneasy about sending their children to school in the fall due to concerns about the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). To help meet the needs of families, the district will offer a 100-percent online K-12 education through the Lakota Virtual Learning Option this fall.

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WE are Prepared: Fall 2020 Update

06/23/2020

As Lakota prepares for a potentially different start to the 2020-2021 school year, Superintendent Matthew Miller shared an update with parents and staff on June 23. While we await guidance from Governor DeWine, the Ohio Department of Education, the Ohio Department of Health and the Butler County Health Department, we want to share the principles guiding our plans and other resources to stay informed as the summer continues.

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ThoughtExchange: Community Shares Input on Responsible Reopening

06/16/2020

“As we continue to build out options and plans for what school can look like in the fall of 2020, what considerations should we keep in mind?” Lakota Local Schools recently posed this open-ended question to its parents, students, staff and community members to gather input on reopening the district’s 23 buildings for the 2020-21 school year.

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Guiding Principles for Reopening Lakota School Buildings for 2020-2021 School Year

06/11/2020

Even before the past school year ended, Lakota began planning for what the 2020-2021 school year might look like based on COVID-19 considerations. How schools reopen in the fall will depend largely on requirements and guidance from Gov. DeWine, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Education and the Butler County Health Department. Lakota is also using feedback gathered from parents, staff and students, to build out plans for the upcoming school year.

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District Seeking Input on 2021-2022 Calendar

06/09/2020

The Lakota District is soliciting community input on the 2021-2022 district calendar. Lakota staff, students, parents and community members are invited to review the current draft before any final recommendation is presented to the school board.

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NOTICE OF LOGISTICS FOR REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 8, 2020

06/05/2020

As we begin our transition to in-person Board of Education meetings again, notice is hereby given that the Lakota Board of Education, Butler County, will meet in person at its normal meeting location, Plains Jr. School, 5500 Princeton Rd, Liberty Township, Ohio on June 8, 2020, with the public continuing to participate virtually. To continue to preserve social-distancing standards to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we will continue the public the ability to view and participate in the meeting via the live video conferencing.

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A Message to the Lakota Community

06/04/2020

To Our WE are Lakota Community: Our students, staff, families and community, as a whole, are rightfully and justly upset by the horrific death of Mr. George Floyd - and the national outcry that’s ensued since his murder. To take a united stand against future injustices, that same reaction and level of emotion needs to be felt and experienced by each and every one of us.

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Drive-In Style Graduation Ceremonies Celebrate Class of 2020

06/03/2020

Lakota’s graduation weekend was marked by seven non-traditional, yet memorable celebrations of both East’s and West’s Class of 2020. Over the course of two days and seven separate ceremonies, nearly 1,100 graduates celebrated the important milestone among their family and friends from the comfort of their vehicles (or parking spaces).

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Final Remote Learning Survey Results Guide Preparation for 2020-2021 School Year

06/02/2020

Ongoing feedback from Lakota parents and secondary students has played an important role in shaping Lakota’s fourth quarter remote learning experience. Surveys went out to parents at the start, middle and end of remote learning. The final survey recently closed, and results will help Lakota prepare for the 2020-21 school year.

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Fall Thought Exchange Closes June 3

06/02/2020

How school looks in the fall will depend largely on requirements and guidance from Gov. DeWine, the Ohio Department of Health, the Ohio Department of Education and the Butler County Health Department. While we understand that guidance may be released early, we also anticipate that it will most likely change between now and August. Keeping this in mind, district leaders are building out possible scenarios for our students’ safe return to school this fall.

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Mental Health Supports Remain In Place Over Summer

06/02/2020

We all know that mental health needs don’t take a summer break and that our students continue to need support even when they are not at school. That is why our MindPeace partners and therapists are still available to support Lakota students via telehealth (either through a virtual or phone appointment).

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East Holds Reimagined ‘Relay for Life’

05/19/2020

This is the tenth year that Lakota East has held its Relay for Life event to benefit the American Cancer Society. This year, though, it looked a little different than in the past. When in-person Relay for Life events were cancelled through the end of June, East decided to pivot to a virtual event to ensure that those affected by cancer could still receive the things they need, especially during these difficult times.

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Lakota Celebrates 2020 Retirees

05/19/2020

Lakota Local Schools is celebrating its 21 employees who will be retiring in 2020. The district has been recognizing each of the individuals on social media throughout the month of May.

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Lakota's Military Commitment Ceremony Honors Seniors

05/19/2020

On May 7, Lakota Local Schools celebrated its 22 seniors who have committed to attending a military academy or enlisting in a branch of the armed services after graduation. While this was the third annual Military Commitment Ceremony for the district, it was the first held virtually. “Regardless of the setting, it was important that we recognize our seniors who have chosen to put service before self after graduation,” said Superintendent Matthew Miller.

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Honoring the Class of 2020

05/19/2020

A senior year like no other of course means honoring the Class of 2020 in unique ways as well. A community celebration on what should have been graduation night for both Lakota East and West high schools, May 20 and 22 respectively, will light the path for our graduates.

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PTO/PTA Activities Bring School Communities Together

05/19/2020

Lakota schools are still relying on the support of their parent-teacher organizations during remote learning to help bring their school communities together.

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Woodland Team, Blue Jacket Captain Create Memorable Moment for Student

05/19/2020

onsidering it came from his all-time favorite sports figure, Woodland Elementary Thomas Kiefer received the compliment of a lifetime last week. “You’d be a big leader in our locker room,” said Columbus Blue Jackets Captain Nick Foligno. “I love your enthusiasm. You’re awesome,” he added, to which Thomas responded, “I think you are, too!”

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Community Foundation Accepting Nominations for 2020 Lakota Educator of Excellence Awards

05/19/2020

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty, in partnership with Lakota Local Schools, is currently accepting nominations for the 2020 Lakota Educator of Excellence Awards. The nomination deadline, traditionally in the spring, has been delayed until September 4th due to the current health crisis.

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Plains Junior Virtual Awards Include Surprise Presentations

05/18/2020

During normal times, Plains Junior eighth graders would have had several events to mark the end of their junior high years. “Because of the pandemic we couldn’t physically have these celebrations, but we wanted to make sure students knew that their hard work did not go unnoticed,” said Plains Principal Kim Wade.

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Reflections on Remote Learning: Pulse Journal (May 17, 2020)

05/18/2020

Superintendent Matthew Miller shares thoughts on the end of the 2019-2020 school year while looking ahead to the fall in this article as published in the May 17, 2020 Pulse Journal.

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Class of 2020 Graduation Update: May 12

05/12/2020

On May 1, we shared Lakota’s unexpected change of plans for celebrating the Class of 2020. This was a direct response to the governor’s strong recommendations against large, in-person commencement gatherings, now or later this summer, as well as guidelines set forth by the Ohio Department of Education. This latest update reflects enhancements to the original plan in response to student and parent feedback, as well as changing expectations from our local health department.

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Virtual Parades of Graduates Celebrate Class of 2020

05/11/2020

Lakota's "Parade of Graduates" tradition has become an important rite of passage for Lakota East and Lakota West seniors. To carry on this tradition in a virtual format, every weekday from May 11 through May 22 (the last of Lakota's original graduation dates), Lakota is releasing a new video dedicated to each of the elementary schools our graduates may have attended.

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Mental Health Video: Talking About COVID-19

05/06/2020

In the latest installment of this video series, Lakota’s Student Wellness Coordinator Megan Cameron shares some tips for talking about COVID-19 with your children. In this minute-long watch, she provides a list of questions to help guide the discussion.

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The Show Must Go On (even with remote learning)

05/05/2020

Remote learning hasn’t stopped Lakota West’s Acting 2/3 class from finishing a project they started back in January. They just completed “Keeping Up with the King,” a video performance for the annual Project 38 festival hosted by the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company.

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Hope Squad Video Shares Tips for Spreading Positivity

05/05/2020

The Lakota East and West Hope Squads play an important role in creating a school culture of positivity and hope – whether students are learning at school or learning at home.

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Year End Remote Learning Update

05/05/2020

As we enter the last few weeks of school, below are updates regarding assignments, the pick up of personal belongings, Chromebook drop off, refunds and celebrating our graduates.

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Senator Coley Brings Fourth Grade State Government Unit to Life

05/05/2020

“Teachers know a lot, but the senator has actually experienced it,” said Endeavor Elementary fourth-grader Patrick Bramlage, reflecting on his recent lesson about how a bill becomes a law. He and his classmates went straight to the source: Senator Bill Coley. “No offense, Mrs. Veneman,” he added with a laugh.

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Remote Learning Survey Results

05/05/2020

Three weeks into remote learning, Lakota Local Schools asked its parents and secondary students to complete a short survey about the experience. The survey was similar to one sent after the remote learning practice day on March 13.

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Meal Distribution Updates

05/05/2020

While meal distribution for our families will continue through May 20, there are two location changes that go into effect next week.

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Military Commitment Ceremony Premiere May 7

05/05/2020

Join us as WE celebrate our seniors who have made a commitment to enter either a military academy or branch of service after graduation. Lakota Local Schools will host a Facebook video premiere on Thursday, May 7 at 7 p.m. to recognize this group of 22 seniors.

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April Words of Wisdom: Remote Learning

05/05/2020

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COVID-19 Health Tips from Your School Nurse

05/05/2020

Adena Elementary school nurse Karen Fogel recently produced this simple and kid-friendly video (in English and Spanish) as a way of sharing tips for staying healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak.

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Remote Learning Update: Pulse Journal (May 3, 2020)

05/04/2020

Here is the latest remote learning updated from Superintendent Matthew Miller as published in the May 3, 2020 Pulse Journal.

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Recognizing Special Lakota Volunteers

05/01/2020

End-of-the-year recognitions are looking a little different this year, including the annual Barb Bossu Volunteer Spirit Awards sponsored by Lakota’s District Parent Council (DPC). The annual ceremony honors a special volunteer from each school, as well as a volunteer that has made a big impact across the district.

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Class of 2020 Graduation Update

05/01/2020

Following the updates and in guidance of Gov. Mike DeWine, the Ohio Department of Education and the Ohio and Butler County departments of health, Lakota is facing the difficult reality that a traditional commencement ceremony is not going to be feasible for the Class of 2020. The latest parent communication shares the details around Lakota's plan to honor the Class of 2020, which involves a combination of both formats being permitted by the state and local health officials.

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Students Read to Nursing Home Residents, Firefighters

04/30/2020

Staying at home hasn’t stopped the students in Amy Weisbrot’s class from forging new friendships with members of the community. Once or twice a week, her students hop on Zoom to read aloud to nursing home residents and firefighters.

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Lakota LEADS Announces 2020 Write Challenge Winners

04/23/2020

Lakota LEADS announced the winners of its annual Write Challenge, a district-wide writing contest open to students in grades K-12. Participants submitted a poem, narrative or essay responding to this year’s theme of “progress.”

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Specials Find Special Place in Remote Learning

04/22/2020

At a time when art, music, technology, exercise and creativity are a daily outlet to help offset the emotional toll of quarantine, Lakota’s “specials” teams are rallying to fuel their families’ idea banks. Called choice boards, flexible playlists or menu boards, their guiding purpose is all the same.

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Mental Health Video Series: Modeling Behaviors

04/22/2020

Lakota’s emphasis on social, emotional and mental health has become even more pronounced as students, staff and our families start to feel the toll of our recent break in routine. Throughout this pandemic, Lakota is sharing brief video messages from our mental health experts on what small actions can help support our children and teenagers and keep their minds healthy and happy during these uncertain times.

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Real World Engineering Via Remote Learning

04/21/2020

How do you make the jump from teaching about 130 students in a class that heavily relies on hands-on learning to remote learning? Joe Schorr, a Butler Tech teacher at the Lakota East Freshman building, has figured it out.

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Virtual Coffee Cart Keeps Learning Going

04/21/2020

Before remote learning Brianna, a freshman at Lakota East, would work on vocational skills by taking a coffee cart around to staff throughout the school building. Creative new ways to deliver instruction are emerging and now, just like so much other learning, the coffee cart that Brianna and her regular customers looked forward to each morning has gone virtual.

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Mask-Making: Lakota Gives Back

04/21/2020

“Don your mask, don your cape." It’s a phrase we hear often from Dr. Amy Acton, Director of the Ohio Department of Health, about the heroic behavior of physical distancing. Masks can be hard to come by, but the Lakota community is stepping up in a big way to get face masks to those who need them.

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Virtual Author Visit Adds Real World Learning to Novel Study

04/21/2020

When Independence Elementary fourth grade teacher Jenny Garwood realized she and her students would miss out on completing their latest class novel together, she resorted to the next best thing: Zoom. But the virtual class meeting doubled as real world learning when it included one more visitor than can be found on most online book discussions happening these days - the book’s author herself.

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Hopewell Junior NHS Challenged to Continue Spirit of Service

04/21/2020

Hopewell Junior Honor Society members are coming up with creative ways to continue their spirit of service – despite restrictions imposed by the pandemic. Their advisor, science teacher Mark Bauer, challenged them to share their good deeds with each other in a Google Drive folder.

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Remote Learning Continues through Academic Year

04/20/2020

On Monday, April 20, Gov. DeWine announced that remote learning will continue for all Ohio schools through the end of the 2019-20 academic year. Below is the email from Superintendent Matthew Miller to all parents.

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Remote Learning Update: Pulse Journal (April 19, 2020)

04/20/2020

Here is the latest remote learning updated from Superintendent Matthew Miller as published in the April 19, 2020 Pulse Journal.

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Public Notice to Participate in the April 20 Board of Education Meeting

04/16/2020

On April 20, 2020 at 6:30 p.m., the Lakota Local School District Board of Education will hold its regular meeting virtually. The live stream will be available by clicking the video link included for this meeting located on our Boarddocs page.

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Parade of Graduates - Call for Photo Submissions

04/15/2020

Besides graduation, another important right of passage for Lakota's seniors is the “Parade of Graduates,” which has traditionally brought many of our graduates back to the elementary school where their schooling started. While we are making plans to reschedule some of the other traditional senior milestones closer to the new graduation dates, this is one event that we have decided to reimagine in a virtual format.

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Lakota Reschedules, Relocates Graduation Ceremonies

04/10/2020

After learning that Xavier University has cancelled all events until August, we have identified an alternative location to recognize our graduates. We are pleased to announce that the graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020 will be held at Lakota East and West high schools.

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Lakota Staff 'Zoom' into Remote Learning

04/08/2020

During a time when the preferred classroom setting is not an option, Zoom has quickly become Lakota’s go-to tool for keeping staff and students connected. In the district’s first seven days of remote learning, teachers and staff used the video conferencing tool to collectively host more than 1,600 meetings that were attended by more than 10,000 individuals.

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VIDEO: Lakota Experts Share Mental Health Tips

04/07/2020

Lakota’s emphasis on social, emotional and mental health has become even more pronounced as students and staff start to feel the toll of our recent break in routine. In addition to the resources, tips and guidance Lakota experts are sharing with their families to help guide them through this pandemic, Lakota is sharing brief video messages from our full range of mental health experts.

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Morning Announcements Go Virtual Too, Add Routine and Normalcy

04/07/2020

All across Lakota, students are starting their school days at home no different than they would if they were at school. While morning announcements are taking on a slightly different format than normal, they are still being used to take care of business and most importantly, set the tone for the day ahead.

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Plains Junior Students Meet ‘Face-to-Face’ with a NASA Scientist

04/07/2020

Lakota teachers are bringing unique learning opportunities to students, all possible due to our new remote learning environment. Case in point: last week Plains Junior eighth graders got to speak ‘face-to-face’ with a NASA scientist.

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Submit Alternative Transportation Requests for Next School Year by July 20

04/07/2020

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 20.

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Lakota March Madness Basketball Tournament Update

04/07/2020

The Lakota March Madness Basketball Tournament has been cancelled due to the recommendations and guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Ohio Department of Health and the Butler County Health Department.

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Master Facilities Update

04/07/2020

Due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, Lakota Local Schools has pressed pause on the process to create a new Master Facilities Plan (MFP). District leaders will continue working on the plan in the coming months. As a result, the scheduled meetings, including the community open houses, have been postponed.

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Fanfares Go Virtual

04/07/2020

Starting your day with cheers and words of encouragement might seem a bit odd in the workplace, but to Lakota students, it’s a beloved tradition called fanfares.

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OHSAA Letter Regarding Spring Sports

04/07/2020

Due to the COVID-19 issue, the Ohio High School Athletic Association had to cancel the remaining winter sport tournaments. This affected many student-athletes throughout the state, including many Lakota students.

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Lakota Remote Learning Update: Pulse Journal (April 5, 2020)

04/06/2020

Here is the latest remote learning update from Superintendent Miller as published in the Pulse Journal on April 5, 2020.

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Altered Meal Schedule for Long Weekend

04/06/2020

When it comes to remote learning, the district will honor its originally scheduled long weekend coming up April 10-13. But a slightly altered schedule will still make emergency food relief available to students who need it.

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'A Look Around Lakota' Video Update: March 2020

04/02/2020

In this first remote edition of A Look Around Lakota, Superintendent Matthew Miller shares just a few of the happenings that have occurred during an unforgettable March.

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Remote Learning Extended through May 1

03/31/2020

On March 30, 2020, Governor Mike DeWine made an announcement ordering all of Ohio’s public, community, and private K-12 school buildings to extend their closure to students through May 1 due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) health crisis. We understand that the Governor’s order to extend the school closure through May 1 presents a challenge to our families. Our district is working diligently to partner with you in furthering your child’s education and well-being in spite of these challenges.

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Remote Learning Begins March 25 for Students

03/20/2020

We know that you have questions about what remote learning will look like during this state-mandated shutdown. Using the feedback we received from you, our teachers, and our secondary students, we have used this week to work out details for remote learning moving forward. Working remotely, teachers will use Monday and Tuesday of next week to continue building out lesson plans for their students. Remote learning for students will begin on Wednesday, March 25.

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Lakota's Preparations for Remote Learning

03/17/2020

Article written by Lakota Superintendent Matthew for the Sunday, March 22 issue of the Pulse Journal: We are in the midst of uncharted territory as a nation, as a state and as a community. As we come to the end of our scheduled spring break, we will not see our students in our classrooms and hallways tomorrow. Instead, we are preparing to launch remote learning throughout Lakota Local Schools.

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Mobile Lunch Program Announced

03/17/2020

With the state-mandated shutdown for our students, we wanted to provide you with some community resources, including the schedule for our Child Nutrition lunch program, and how you can help.

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Coronavirus Update & FAQs: March 13

03/13/2020

Governor DeWine announced on Thursday that all schools in the state of Ohio would be closed beginning at the end of day on Monday, March 16 for a period of at least three weeks. Lakota schools will be closed through April 3 with students returning on April 6, unless otherwise directed by expert authorities. All district activities, including preschool, athletics and extracurriculars are canceled during this time. View a list of frequently asked questions regarding Lakota's response.

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Coronavirus Update from Lakota Schools: March 11

03/12/2020

At Lakota Local Schools, the health, safety and well-being of our students, staff and community are our top priorities. With the recently elevated discussion regarding the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the news, we want to take a moment to reinforce preventive safety measures and reference our process and communications.

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March 13: Important School Safety Exercise

03/09/2020

With the increasing number of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases being reported, we as a district must be prepared for the possibility of an extended closure initiated by either Lakota Local Schools or the Butler County Health Department. Having plans in place to continue educating our students during an extended closure is of critical importance and part of our evolving district safety plans. Just as we practice drills in the event of a fire, tornado or lockdown, Lakota will conduct a remote education exercise. On Friday, March 13, students at Lakota Local Schools will not report to class, but instead will continue their learning remotely from home.

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Submit Alternative Transportation Requests for Next School Year by July 20

03/05/2020

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Hopewell Junior Students Return to Recess in Different Roles

02/28/2020

The playground is as much a learning space as any classroom - and Hopewell Junior School students are now the ones behind some of those lessons. With the start of a new partnership with their neighbors at Hopewell Early Childhood School, the seventh- and eighth-graders are experiencing recess from a whole different perspective.

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Feb. 26 Meeting Recaps Visioning for Lakota's Future

02/28/2020

On Feb. 26 members of the community gathered at Lakota West Freshman to hear the district’s most recent update on the Master Facilities planning (MFP) process. Attendees heard from Superintendent Matthew Miller, Chief Operations Officer Chris Passarge and Educational Visioning Planner Tracy Richter. “We’ve spent the past month meeting with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to update our building conditions and holding focus groups to hear from our community about what they think education should look like in Lakota,” said Passarge.

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February 2020 Video Update: A Look Around Lakota

02/28/2020

In this latest video edition of A Look Around Lakota, Superintendent Matthew Miller and Lakota East Junior Kara Abney share just a few of the happenings throughout the district during the month of February.

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Heritage First Graders Finding New Ways to Love Their Earth

02/28/2020

It all started with some classroom bean bag chairs that had gone flat. Most people would refill them with styrofoam beans, but not in Stephanie Allan and Rhiannon Wilson’s first grade class. Allan and Wilson team teach at Heritage ECS. They share a passion for lowering waste in their lives outside of school and decided to collect plastic bags over the summer to refill the ‘poof’ chairs. When students saw the teachers stuffing the chairs, they wanted to help.

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Introducing Wonderbus: Lakota's First Mobile Learning Space

02/27/2020

With the rollout of its first mobile learning space, Lakota Local Schools will be giving parents and community members a dose of the Lakota learning experience. The Wonderbus - a former school bus transformed into a “Wonder Lab” or “STEAM Lab” on wheels - will officially roll out at Lakota’s Pi Day celebration on March 6.

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May 9: Lakota Spirit Night at FC Cincinnati Game

02/26/2020

Lakota is excited to announce this year’s Lakota Spirit Night with FC Cincinnati! Lakota families and staff are invited to take advantage of special ticket pricing for the May 9 game. FC Cincinnati will take on New England Revolution at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Cincinnati’s Nippert Stadium. Special activities are being planned to celebrate Lakota’s presence at the game, including a special recognition of Lakota West Girl Soccer State Champions, so come and show your Lakota spirit and support.

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Amazing Race Celebrates International Mother Language Day

02/26/2020

Last week, Lakota high school students took their passports and went on a journey around the world – all in just about an hour. To celebrate International Mother Language Day (February 21), over 2500 students took part in an Amazing Race-style competition to learn more about the languages offered at Lakota.

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Lakota Superintendent Testifies About EdChoice Program

02/26/2020

On Feb. 18, Superintendent Matthew Miller testified before the conference committee about the state’s EdChoice voucher program. The committee is hearing testimony with regards to House Bill (HB) 9 which includes the Senate’s plans addressing the voucher program. Here is Miller’s testimony in its entirety.

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Notes from the Nursing Staff about COVID-19

02/26/2020

We understand that there is concern about illness in our schools especially with influenza, strep throat and COVID-19 (formerly known as Coronavirus). Please be assured that we work closely with the Butler County Health Department to stay up to date with concerns and illness trends in our area.

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Woodland's Business Day Takes on a New Twist

02/25/2020

What does it take to get a business off the ground? It starts with an idea. Fifth graders at Woodland Elementary School have been lea

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