Each month, the LP Link will spotlight an area of District focus with the goal of sharing valuable information and resources with our school community. This month’s focus on safety and security aligns with the upcoming Safety Week (August 22-26) and safety drills scheduled for the week of August 29.

The safety and security of students, staff, and community members who use and visit Lake Park High School facilities is always of utmost importance to the Board of Education and the Administration as demonstrated by the commitment to hardening the facilities and staffing safety and security personnel. This year, as a more traditional school year begins, the safety and security team will resume standard operations.

Lake Park’s initial safety monitor team was approved, hired, trained, and assigned in the 2018-19 school year. Their credentials, training, and experience are relevant and extensive. Today, the safety team collectively brings 227 years of professional police service experience and 26 years of firefighting experience. Under the leadership of Joe Waitzman, Director of Safety and Security, the safety team operates with a philosophy of prevention, presence, and preparedness.

During the Wednesday, August 17 SMART day, all Lake Park employees participated in an annual safety in-service presented jointly by the Roselle Police Department and the College of DuPage Homeland Security Training Institute. This comprehensive training included protocols to help prepare staff for decisions they may face in an emergency situation. Furthermore, the messages stressed the importance of recognizing and reporting observations of threatening behavior that may be indicators of people who are potentially harmful to themselves or others.

Beginning Monday, August 22, teachers will spend time during Safety Week reviewing the safety practices and protocols for evacuation, severe weather, and active threat procedures in each new classroom. During the week of Monday, August 29, Lancers will have the opportunity to apply what they have learned by participating in emergency drills. Parents/Guardians will receive more information next week.

All of these important safety components contribute to Lake Park’s “See Something, Say Something” campaign, which encourages reporting information regarding student concerns, bullying behavior or information regarding anyone who appears to be a threat to themselves or others by calling or texting the District's Tip Line at (630) 250-6039. In addition to banners hung throughout the campuses with this information, the back of student ID cards contains contact information as well as a QR code to submit tips electronically.

Thank you for your partnership and understanding that safety and communication are shared responsibilities.

Lake Park faculty and staff invite parents/guardians to attend the annual Curriculum Night at East Campus on Wednesday, August 24, and at West Campus on Wednesday, August 31.

During the evening, attendees will have the opportunity to follow their student's schedules and learn more about each teacher's learning objectives and expectations. Your student’s counselor, the school nurse, and additional student support staff will be available to meet with you to answer any questions during your student's study hall or lunch period.

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 the 2022-23 school year, Anderson's Book Fair will be held on-campus from Monday, August 22 through Friday, September 2. The book fair will also be available during Curriculum Night. During those times, books can be purchased using cash, credit card, or with a check payable to Lake Park High School (with student ID# in the memo line.) During the book fair, books can also be ordered with a credit card through the online bookshop and picked up at school or shipped to your home. To determine which titles to purchase and the prices of the books, refer to the English class listed on your student's schedule, available in the Home Access Center (HAC). For questions, contact East Campus Librarian Jennifer Sutton or West Campus Librarian Aimee Allison.

The Lancer community is cordially invited to an informal "Meet and Greet" with the Superintendent prior to the first home football game on Friday, September 2 from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. at West Campus.

As a veteran educator and school leader at Lake Park for over 20 years, Dr. Michael Wojtowicz took the helm as the District's eighth Superintendent on July 1, 2022. Whether you're already familiar with Mike or this will be your first time meeting him, please make plans to visit the Lake Park tent just past the stadium ticket booth and across from the Athletics Boosters spirit wear tables. All are welcome to attend!

Stop by to welcome the Superintendent to his new role, enjoy some light refreshments and get ready to cheer on the varsity football team as they play Lincoln-Way Central High School.

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 testing is scheduled to begin next week on Tuesday, August 23 (East Campus) and Thursday, August 25 (West Campus). Testing will occur on-campus during the students’ regular school day. Parents/Guardians wishing to opt their child(ren) into this voluntary COVID screening must complete the Student Consent Form for COVID Testing and Release of Records prior to testing.

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.