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 focuses on the unique learning opportunity for students to enroll in dual credit courses and earn both college and high school credit. This topic is timely for Lancer families to consider, particularly as course registration for the 2024-2025 school year begins next week. 

What is Dual Credit?

Dual Credit courses provide eligible high school students in grades 9-12 with the opportunity to enroll in selected courses for which, upon successful completion, they will receive both college and high school credit. To enroll in dual credit courses, students must also enroll in the college or university offering the opportunity for course credit at Lake Park. To earn the credit, students must complete prerequisites for dual credit, which may include qualifying test scores, GPA requirements, coursework, or certification programs.

Classes are taught at the high school during regular school hours by high school teachers who are also approved as adjunct faculty at the College of DuPage or Indiana University. Families are responsible for payment of tuition, fees, online textbooks, and/or other course materials directly to the college or university. Lake Park teachers will assist students with the college enrollment and course registration process. 

Important Considerations

• Students may enroll in dual credit courses, but elect not to earn dual credit. The course requirements remain the same for students enrolled in a dual credit course, regardless if students elect to take the dual credit or non-dual credit option.
• Students pursuing dual credit should be aware that these courses become part of their permanent collegiate-level academic record. The grade earned in a dual credit class will appear on the student's official college transcript.
• To be assured that a college course will transfer to a particular college or university, visit the website of the specific college or university, contact them directly, or go to www.itransfer.org or www.transferology.com.

Course Selection Begins This Month

One of the most significant events in a high school student’s academic career, course selection provides students with the opportunity to consider their interests while preparing for the future. In advance of 2024-2025 course selection beginning next week, families are encouraged to explore Lake Park’s dual credit course options available in the following curricular areas. For more information or to answer any questions, please contact the Curriculum Leader listed below or your child's counselor. 

Next week from Tuesday, January 16 to Friday, January 19, Lake Park students and staff will engage in important safety discussions to continue educating Lancers on proper procedures for how to handle emergency situations.

Teachers will begin the second semester Safety Week by reviewing with their classes the three areas of focus: evacuation, severe weather sheltering-in-place, and active threat response. The start of second semester is an important time for students to hear safety reminders due to new schedules, classrooms, and teachers.

Another important element of Safety Week will be to reiterate the “See Something, Say Something” campaign and the importance of sharing information on matters that could be dangerous or harmful to anyone. The District's Tip Hotline is available by calling or texting (630) 250-6039 or submitting a form on the District website.

Safety and communication are shared responsibilities. Please contact Ed Borgstrom, Director of Safety and Security, with any questions or feedback.

Lancer Period Bell Schedule

Preview the upcoming topics for January and February.

While maintaining the same start and end times for each campus, Lake Park designed a Lancer Period Bell Schedule to allocate 38 minutes for whole-school programming that falls outside the traditional curriculum. The Lancer Period is scheduled approximately once per month on Thursdays. All students and staff are assigned to a designated classroom for the Lancer Period to ensure whole-school participation in each activity. 

Lancer Skills - Thoughtful Communication | January

During this month’s Lancer Period on Thursday, January 18, teachers will deliver a lesson that focuses on the characteristics of a thoughtful communicator. This topic represents one of the core competencies of Lake Park's Portrait of a Graduate that was introduced to students during the November 2023 Lancer Period. Students will spend time reviewing the four types of communication, the relationships of communication as well as self-identify their communication type.

College Exploration - PaCE Framework | February

The Lancer Period next month, on Thursday, February 15, will continue to educate students about the Illinois PaCE Framework. PaCE aims to help students explore and develop career interests. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the connection between high school coursework, attendance, and grades in relation to future career and educational plans. Students will complete exploration activities in SchooLinks based on their post-secondary plan.

Class of 2024 Announcement

Review your graduating student's full legal name appearing on the LP diploma.

Lake Park High School commencement will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 29 and preparations for diplomas are being finalized to ensure that student names are spelled correctly according to legal birth certificates. Please take an opportunity to review the Home Access Center (HAC) to verify the spelling of your student's name by Friday, January 26:  

• Login to HAC.
• Switch from the "home" screen to the registration screen by clicking on the "registration" icon.
• Review your student's full legal name as it appears under the "Demographic" tab. Note: the printed name will appear on the diploma as “First name (Middle name - optional) Last name” unless requested otherwise. 
• Notify Jennifer Burzawa, West Campus registrar, if any changes are required or an account needs to be established.
• Additionally, please notify the registrar no later than Friday, May 3 if your student does not wish to participate in the commencement ceremony.