LP Link
August 21, 2015 
In This Issue
Superintendent's Column
Fall Athletic Info Night
Absence Notification System
Meet the SROs
Curriculum Night & Book Fair
Vaccination Requirement
Guidance Announcements
Lancer Nation Yard Signs
Pesticide Notification
Important Dates
 
Superintendent's 
Column 
 
Dr. Lynne Panega
 
The opening of school is one of my favorite times, and I am so very proud of the numerous ways that our Lake Park school community united to kick off the 2015-2016 school year! From our upperclassmen who volunteered during book distribution and orientation to a stage full of students representing LP clubs, the music program and athletic teams to welcome back faculty and staff, our Lancers have generously demonstrated what it means to be involved and give back.

Prior to the first day of classes this week, the summer months at Lake Park were an exceptionally busy time with summer school, summer academic boot camps, athletic camps and our faculty presenting at national conferences. Additionally, the district transitioned to a registration process that was entirely online for our students and families. The implementation in Year 1 proved to be highly successful with a 91 percent completion rate prior to the deadline. Feedback from our users - including parents and staff members - will most certainly contribute to future enhancements, but we are extremely pleased with the user-friendly format and convenience that our families experienced.

Looking ahead to other technology initiatives to engage our parents this year, Lake Park has made the decision to communicate all grade updates via the Home Access Center. This means that parents will no longer receive printed report cards mailed home at the mid-term and semester, but rather they will have real-time access to their student's academic progress. Each quarter and semester will have designated dates when grades are required to be posted to HAC.

Lake Park has also launched a technology pilot to learn more about whether a 1:1 technology deployment is feasible. As part of this trial, a number of classroom sets of Google Chromebooks will be used across six departments including English, math and world languages. Freshman students in selected sections of World History and Honors Biology have been issued a district-owned Chromebook for instructional purposes at school and home. We are excited about the possibilities of this pilot, and look forward to making it a successful learning experience for all.

The 2015-2016 school year is off to a tremendous start. We have so many exciting opportunities that we will share throughout the year for you to get involved and support Lancer Nation. 

See you on campus soon!
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The Lake Park High School Community Relations Office publishes the LP Link bi-weekly during the school year to highlight the latest news at Lake Park.  If you have any questions or comments, please contact Sherri Anderson, director of communications, at sanderson@lphs.org.
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2015-2016 School Year Opens with Lancer Pride and Spirit:
We Are One!

Snapshots from the opening of the 2015-2016 school year capture welcome activities hosted for the incoming Class of 2019 and their parents as well as faculty and staff members.  


From the freshman cookout and spirt rally to Institute Days, the resounding theme of "We Are Lake Park. We Are One." dominated the sights and sounds.  

 

Lancer spirit is everywhere! 
East Campus Principal James Roberts delivered remarks and introductions of the Board of Education members and administrators during the spirit assembly following the freshman cookout.  Student performances by the Lake Park marching band, color guard and cheer team generated much enthusiasm among new students in the Class of 2019 and their families.
Students involved in athletics, activities and the Lake Park marching band, helped to kicked off Institute Day on August 17.  They energetically led faculty and staff in singing the school fight song!
Superintendent Dr. Lynne Panega welcomed faculty and staff to the 2015-2016 school year. 
She conveyed a message of "We Are One" --
one school, one team with one vision for the Lake Park school community.
Student Athletes in Fall Sports Required to Attend Info Night
Lake Park's Fall Athletic Information Night will be held on Wednesday, August 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium. The meeting will last approximately 90 minutes and will include important information about the athletic code of conduct, useful information for first-time athletes and their parents, as well a presentation by our athletic training staff on the topics of performance enhancing substances and concussion awareness. A required IHSA concussion video will also be presented at the meeting.

Any freshman competing in football, boys or girls cross country, boys soccer, girls volleyball, girls swimming, girls tennis, boys and girls golf, cheerleading, and Lancettes should attend this meeting. Attendance is also required for any sophomore, junior, or senior out for a fall sport who is a first-time athlete at Lake Park. Attendance will be taken at the end of the meeting. Parent attendance is strongly encouraged.  Contact Athletic Director Pete Schauer at (630) 295-5325 or pschauer@lphs.org with any questions.
Student Absence Notification System Ensures Accuracy
Beginning on Monday, August 31, Lake Park will once again implement a notification system that auto-generates messages to parents for unaccounted student absences during the school day. This communication initiative is designed to improve efficiency as well as ensure accuracy of student records. If a student is marked absent in periods 1 or 2, a voicemail and email message will be sent alerting parents by 10:00 a.m. The same communication will be sent at the end of day for students who are absent during any periods 3-8. 

Parents who receive the notification messages are asked to contact the attendance office to verify if the absence should be recorded as excused or unexcused.  If parents have already made a call to the school, they can disregard this attendance notification.  Please note the attendance numbers for each building -- East Campus: (630) 295-5232; West Campus: (630) 295-5332.
Meet Lake Park's School Resource Officers
Lake Park High School partners with the Roselle Police Department to employ school resource officers (SROs) who are assigned to working with the staff and student body.  In addition to providing safety and security, the role of an SRO has many facets and includes responsibilities to:
  • Create a positive role model for students, creating a link between students and law enforcement.
  • Be a resource for parents, staff, administration, and students in regards to law enforcement and community issues.
  • Investigate incidents that occur within the school, on school property, or involve Lake Park students.
  • Bridge the gap between Lake Park and the various local law enforcement agencies of Bloomingdale, Itasca, Hanover Park, Wood Dale, and the DuPage County Sheriff's Office, who have students in their respective communities that attend Lake Park High School.
Throughout this school year, Officers Sarra and Schwytzer will regularly provide informative columns in the LP Link. These columns will provide safety tips, friendly reminders pertaining to law enforcement matters, and officer viewpoints on current events that may affect the student body. Students and families are encouraged to contact the SROs with any questions or stop by to meet them. 
  
Officer Rob Sarra (left) is a seven-year veteran of the Roselle Police Department, and completed the Cook County Sheriff's Police Basic Academy in 2005. Formally working in the patrol division, Officer Sarra now serves as the School Resource Officer for Lake Park East Campus.
Room# 131
(630) 295-5250
rsarra@lphs.org

Officer Chris Schwytzer (right) is a seven-year veteran of the Roselle Police Department, and completed the Suburban Law Enforcement Academy in 2008. Formally working in the patrol division, Officer Schwytzer began his second year as the School Resource Officer for Lake Park West Campus. 
Room#101H 
(630) 295-5376
cschwytzer@lphs.org
Mark Your Calendars: Curriculum Night
Lake Park parents are invited to attend Curriculum Night on Wednesday, September 2 for East Campus and Wednesday, September 9 for West Campus. During the evening parents will have the opportunity to follow their student's schedule, attend teacher presentations about learning objectives and course expectations, and visit with members of our Pupil Personnel Services department.  In addition, informational sessions that highlight technology initiatives will be offered.  This year, students will have access to Google Apps for Education, which helps students take full advantage of the Internet and mobile technology for learning.  

Anderson's Book Fair
In addition to the use of classroom textbooks, which is included in student registration fees, novels for English classes must be acquired by students at an additional cost. For your convenience in purchasing the required titles for fall semester, Anderson's Book Fair will be held on-campus from Monday, August 24 through Friday, September 11. The book fair will also be available in the library during curriculum night. During those times, books can be purchased at the school library using cash, credit card, or with a check written to Lake Park High School (with student ID in the memo line.) To determine which titles to purchase and the prices of the books at the book fair, refer to the English class listed on your student's schedule. 

To avoid these costs, students may check the books out from a local public library or the school library, though limited quantities are available. If students wish to purchase their own copies, they may do so from the store of their choosing (Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, Half-Price Books, etc.), paying attention to the ISBN number, which is located on the back of the book, near the bar code.
MCV Vaccination Paperwork Due for Senior Students
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, all students entering the twelfth grade this school year are required to show proof of recent meningococcal conjugate vaccination (MCV).  All twelfth graders need to show proof of receiving two doses unless the first dose was administered after 16 years of age. In this case, only one dose after 16 years of age is required. This vaccination will prevent a student from a severe form of bacterial meningitis as well as other illnesses caused by this bacterium. 

Parents must provide the school verification of receiving MCV. Documentation of the vaccination can be scanned and emailed to the West Campus Health Office or faxed to (630) 295-0710.  Proof can be in the form of the completed form letter with a stamp from the doctor's office, the certificate of child health examination form, an electronic medical record from the doctor's office, on the doctor's office letter head or prescription pad.  Read more about the vaccine and documentation needed to comply with this new requirement for students in the twelfth grade.  Contact West Campus School Nurse Renee Riggio 
at (630) 295-5335 if you have any questions.
Guidance Dept. Announces Dates & Resources for Families
The PSAT (Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test) will be administered on Wednesday, October 14 at 7:15 a.m. at West campus. The test is optional and open to juniors. Sophomores may take the PSAT, but it will not count towards National Merit Scholarship opportunities or recognition. The cost is $20.00 and payment is due by Monday, September 21 to Mrs. Fields in the West Campus Counseling Office. For questions, please call your student's counselor at (630) 295-5341.

Invitation for DuPage County Students to Attend a College Readiness and Scholarship Fair
DuPage County NAACP, in sponsorship with Indian Prairie District 204, invites students and parents to attend the upcoming fifth annual College Readiness and Scholarship Fair: Excellence without Excuses.  The purpose is to increase the number of youth attending post-secondary institutions, provide encouragement to young people, awaken dreams in students who may not otherwise believe college is attainable, and assist in building communities that produce purpose-driven leaders and innovators.

Students in all grade levels and their parents are welcome to attend the fair to meet and consult with institutions regarding college and university enrollment; educational, community, and social services; mentorship; and scholarship opportunities.  The event will be held on Saturday, August 29 from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Waubonsie Valley High School.  Spanish speaking translators will be onsite to assist.  View the event flyer for additional details and registration information.
Order a Lancer Nation Yard Sign to Show Your LP Spirit
Lake Park is once again selling custom school spirit yard signs handmade by students who are members of the J. Kyle Braid Leadership Organization. The money that is raised will help fund the Lancer Nation student section and other school spirit initiatives.

Lancer Nation Yard Signs are made with one post for a cost of $25 (multiple signs can be purchased at a discount for households with more than one Lancer). Signs are 4.5 feet tall and 1.5 feet wide. Each sign reads "HOME OF A LANCER" and each post is used to express the activities in which a Lancer student is involved. For Lancers who are involved in more than one activity or sport, additional posts can be purchased for $10 each.

View more information about custom ordering and help us cover the LP community with Lancer pride! Questions can be directed to Kara Roll or Lauren Gorey.
Pesticide Notification
Lake Park High School has adopted an Integrated Pest Management program that minimizes the use of pesticides in school buildings and on school grounds. The policy, in accordance with state laws, also includes a registry whereby residents can be notified in writing two days before any pesticides are used in the school buildings or on school grounds. If you would like to receive written notification prior to the application of any pest control materials, download and complete a form with your contact information. The form must be returned to the main office at either campus or district office by September 23, 2015 to receive written notification.
Important Dates
Aug 24          Board of Education Meeting
Aug 26          Fall Athletic Information Night
Sept 2           Curriculum Night & Book Fair (East Campus)
Sept 7           Labor Day Holiday (Offices Closed)
Sept 9           Curriculum Night & Book Fair (West Campus)

View the 2015-2016 academic calendar.