A New Chapter Begins with Veteran Educators
Lake Park welcomes familiar faces to new leadership roles for 2022-23 year.
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Lake Park High School District 108 began a new chapter on July 1, 2022, when veteran educator and school leader Dr. Michael Wojtowicz took the helm as Superintendent.
With the Board of Education's unanimous appointment, Dr. Wojtowicz became the eighth District 108 superintendent. He brings extensive experience in teaching and learning, implementing curriculum initiatives, overseeing instructional technology, and ensuring compliance with State and federal mandates.
He has over 20 years of experience at Lake Park where he began his career as a science teacher at East Campus in 2000 and later served in administrative roles including, Director of Curriculum (2005), Assistant Principal for Instructional Services at West Campus (2009), and most recently as Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services in the District Office (2012).
In this new role, Dr. Wojtowicz will ensure the District provides post-secondary learning opportunities for students, maintains a high-caliber staff, advances the District’s equity journey, and focuses on a future that celebrates Lake Park’s tradition of excellence.
“This opportunity to lead Lake Park is built on a foundation of my collaborative and open approach to foster a positive school culture of continuous improvement. I am excited to serve Lancer students, families, staff, alumni and communities. By engaging our stakeholders, we can navigate this important transition and move forward together.”
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On July 1, 2022 Lake Park also welcomed Dr. Jessica Foster to the role of Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services. Dr. Foster oversees human resources, instructional technology, and data/information systems management.
She began her career at Lake Park as a math teacher in August 2005 and later led the Math Department as Curriculum Leader from January 2010 to June 2016. Jessica was promoted to Associate Principal during the 2016-2017 school year when Lake Park implemented the one Principal model. She held this position at both campuses during her tenure and had responsibilities including serving as the Title IX Complaint Manager, coordinating the EL program and resources, and increasing the District’s equity outreach for enrollment in AP courses.
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Planning Ahead: Changes to School Calendar
Review the current school calendar for SMART days and standardized testing.
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Due to SMART days and standardized testing, some recent modifications have been made to both semesters on the 2022-2023 School Year Calendar. Families are encouraged to replace any existing versions that were previously printed. This calendar was posted on Wednesday, July 13 and reflects the most current version for the upcoming school year.
Periodically, the District must make modifications to the calendar. The electronic version, available on the district website, always reflects the most up-to-date and should be used in lieu of any printed versions. To be certain, always check the upper right hand corner of the document for the most recent "Posted" date.
SMART days for first semester include: August 17, August 31, September 21, October 12 (testing), October 26, November 16 and December 7.
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Online Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 27
Extended registration hours offered at East Campus today from 4-7 p.m.
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Parents/Guardians of students who have not yet registered for the 2022-23 school year must complete registration by tonight in order for students to begin classes on the first day of school, Wednesday, August 10. Furthermore, online registration must be completed before your student can pick up their textbooks and class schedule during textbook distribution on Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5.
As a convenience, extended walk-in registration hours are scheduled today, Wednesday, July 27 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at East Campus. Families with students at either campus are welcome to attend.
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Freshman Orientation and Textbook Distribution
Lancers return to campuses August 4-5 in preparation for the first day of class.
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Lancer families are reminded about textbook distribution next week. Only registered students will be able to pick up their schedules and materials.
Details regarding your student’s bus route will be mailed in hard copy form and arrive in homes early next week. Students are strongly encouraged to ride the bus to become familiar with the transportation routes.
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Freshmen Orientation
8 to 11 a.m.
Thursday, August 4 (A-L)
Friday, August 5 (M-Z)
Sophomores
1 to 2:30 p.m.
Thursday, August 4 (A-L)
Friday, August 5 (M-Z)
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Juniors and Seniors
7 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 2 p.m.
The building will be closed between
11 a.m. and 12 p.m.
Thursday, August 4 - busing
Friday, August 5
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Counseling Caseload Updates for 2022-23
Lancers benefit from more individual planning time with two new counselors.
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The Lake Park Student Services Department was pleased to announce the recent hiring of two additional counseling positions. Bringing a total of five general counselors to each campus, these added positions will help reduce caseloads, which allows for increased individual planning time for all students. They also allow for a stationary counselor, the Counselor Coordinator, in each building to provide continuity of service for students as the grade level teams transition between the campuses from year to year.
Despite one counselor remaining stationary at each building, every Lancer will continue to benefit from the grade level team structure established in Fall 2018 that includes counselors, a dean, nurse, psychologist, and social worker. The team concept helps with building meaningful relationships and provides a level of specialty to better serve the various needs of our students and families.
Please help welcome Ms. Lather and Ms. Nix who are new to the student services department. Both are experienced counselors who will bring fresh ideas to the team. Please review the revised caseloads to determine the assigned counselor(s) for your family.
Veteran counselors Mr. Fruehling and Ms. Severino will transition to the newly established role of Counselor Coordinator at each campus. This new position will provide leadership through analysis, organization, and implementation of all counseling program services. Mr. Fruehling and Ms. Severino will both carry a smaller caseload to help facilitate their new responsibilities, and because they will remain stationary at their respective campus, they will work closely together to ensure a smooth transition for their students as they matriculate from East to West Campus.
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Welcoming the Lancer Class of 2026: August 4
Freshman families are invited to BBQ, spirit assembly, and co-curricular fair.
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Lake Park High School looks forward to welcoming the Lancer Class of 2026 on Thursday, August 4 during the annual Freshman Family BBQ. The cookout begins at 6:00 p.m. and will be hosted in the East Campus parking lot. Parking is available in the bus lot and driver education range located south of the building.
Following the cookout, families will transition into the gymnasium where a spirit assembly will begin at 7:00 p.m. and include performances by the Lake Park drumline, cheerleaders, and Lancettes; introductions of staff, Booster organizations; and more.
The spirit assembly will be followed by an Athletic and Activity fair from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. where families can meet our coaches and sponsors and learn how to get involved in extracurricular programs.
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Voluntary COVID-19 Testing Returns
Weekly on-site saliva testing designed to keep students and staff in school.
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Lake Park High School is once again working with the University of Illinois to offer free COVID-19 testing to all students and staff on a weekly basis through the SHIELD Illinois program. Participation in this program is completely voluntary.
SHIELD Illinois is a saliva-based RT-PCR COVID-19 screening and testing program developed by the University of Illinois that can detect the virus in pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers in only 6-12 hours versus the two to three day turn around for other, more invasive, RT-PCR tests. The purpose behind making this testing available to all students and staff members is to help us maximize a safe learning environment and keep students and staff in school. Given the fast turnaround of the results from this test, parents/guardians, the District, and the Illinois Department of Public Health will receive results within 24-hours of testing.
The District plans to begin offering SHIELD testing shortly after the school year begins. This testing will occur on-campus during the students’ regular school day. Additional information will be forthcoming.
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#LancerStories
Read about the impressive athletic achievements of our Lancers for Life.
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Congratulations to Lancers for Life and former standout athletes Zach Ziemek (2013) and Lindsay Flanagan (2009), both of whom have achieved big successes this summer highlighted with personal bests and international recognition.
This past weekend Zach, a two-time Olympian competitor, earned a bronze medal in the decathlon at the World Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, OR. Competing in 10 grueling events over two days, Zach also earned the distinction as the #10 highest scoring decathlete in USA history. As a Lancer, Zach was a 4-time IHSA State 3A Champion winning Pole Vault in 2010 and Vault, Long Jump, and Triple Jump in 2011 leading the Lancers to two of their 4-straight team titles 2010-2013.
In early July, Lindsay became the first American woman to ever win the Gold Coast Marathon in Queensland, Australia. She completed the 26.2 miles in a blazing fast time of two hours, twenty-four minutes, forty-three seconds–a personal best by two minutes as well as a course record. While competing at Lake Park, Lindsay won the 2008 3A state cross country title and later earned All-American status in the Footlocker and Nike Team Cross Country Championships. Since her professional career began in 2014, she has established herself as one of the top American marathoners to watch.
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Important Dates:
Aug 10....................First Day of Class
Aug 22 ...................Board of Education Meeting
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Follow Lake Park High School on Twitter @LPLancers |
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