First published in the Aug. 18 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
By Jarrett Gold
LCHS 7/8 Principal
I am extremely excited to welcome back our new and returning students and families to LCHS 7/8. Throughout the summer, we have been preparing for the start of the school year and are confident that this year will be great. We know that this year will be full of fun, excitement, challenges and successes. As COVID is still present in our world, we have learned how to adapt, adjust and succeed in the face of it.
It is always my goal to ensure that every student succeeds academically, socially and emotionally. This year we will focus on additional support for students and will include a large focus on social-emotional wellness, year two of LCUSD’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Plan, including piloting new social science textbooks in the spring, and an expansion of opportunities on campus which include intramural and competitive sports, Science Olympiad, math competition teams, return to in-person assemblies and much more.
One of the largest events for LCHS 7/8 will be our trip to Washington, D.C., in the spring with our 8th-grade class due to them missing Valley Forge during their 5th-grade year. Over 80% of our students are signed up and ready to go. Lastly, we are excited to expand the 7/8 Wellness Center, which helped many of our students last year with the return to in-person instruction.
I would like to thank our parents, counselors, teachers and staff for all they have done to support our students throughout the last few years in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although we have faced many challenges, I am proud of our perseverance, ability to support students, and making the most out of the tough situations.
We recognize that middle school years can be challenging for students and parents for a variety of reasons. Therefore, we provide a multitude of supports and work as a team when there is a need for intervention. Through programs like WEB, Stand Up 7/8 Week, Challenge Success, and Developmental Assets, we support our students’ social and emotional development and prepare them for success in high school and beyond.
As we start another school year, I would like to recognize the contributions of our generous and hardworking PTA, LCFEF, Boosters, and other organizations in the community. Without them, we cannot do what we do year after year for our students and staff.
I look forward to another great year as we work together to provide a world-class education to our students.
