Celebrate May 7-11, 2012

School Nutrition Employee Week (SNEW) is held every May, and provides a great opportunity to celebrate the individuals that make your program a success!

For the School Nutrition Association, every week is School Nutrition Employee Week, but it doesn't hurt to set aside some time to celebrate just how special school nutrition employees are.

That's why SNA has designated one week a year to remind everyone-directors, managers, parents, teachers and school administrators-that school nutrition employees work hard year round. And, of course, to let these professionals know you're thinking of them.

Caring. Trained. Thoughtful. Professional. Dedicated. These are just a few words that describe today's child nutrition professional. School nutrition employees are the heart of every district's program.  Whether it is the district director overseeing the entire programs operations or the employee working the serving line, these people ensure that over 30 million children receive a healthy and nutritious school lunch.

http://www.schoolnutrition.org/default.aspx

History of National Teacher Day

 The origins of National Teacher Day are murky. Around 1944 Arkansas teacher Mattye Whyte Woodridge began corresponding with political and education leaders about the need for a national day to honor teachers. Woodridge wrote to Eleanor Roosevelt, who in 1953 persuaded the 81st Congress to proclaim a National Teacher Day.

NEA, along with its Kansas and Indiana state affiliates and the Dodge City (Kan.) Local, lobbied Congress to create a national day to celebrate teachers. Congress declared March 7, 1980 as National Teacher Day for that year only.

NEA and its affiliates continued to observe National Teacher Day in March until 1985, when the NEA Representative Assembly voted to change the event to Tuesday of the first full week of May.

Happy Teacher Day!

NEW STUDENTS OF ALL GRADE LEVELS SHOULD ENROLL NOW

 All students who will be attending school at Lexington Public Schools for the first time, such as in the case of a preschooler, kindergartener or a student who has transferred to Lexington should enroll as soon as possible at the Lexington Public Schools Administration Building located at 300 S. Washington Street in Lexington, NE. 

Early student registration is requested to ensure that students are added to a class list and that a place is reserved for them in their neighborhood school. Early registrations also allow us to receive records, familiarize ourselves with the student, identify any needs, visit with teachers from previous schools, and have materials ready for the first day of school on August 16, 2012.   

Parents enrolling their children at Lexington Public Schools for the first time must present a copy of the student's certified birth certificate, immunization records and the address of the last school attended, if applicable.  Transfer certificates and/or school records from a previous school help with placement of the student at the appropriate grade level. 

All students entering school, at any level, are also required to meet the state's immunization requirements.  The requirements vary with age group and transfer origin, but generally include:  3-4 doses of DtaP, DTP or DT, 3 doses of Polio, 1-2 doses of MMR, 3 doses of Hepatitis B, 2 doses of Varicella (if student has not had chickenpox), and for preschoolers 1-3 doses of Hib and 1-4 doses of pneumococcal.  Please review your child's record and make sure they have the current immunizations needed for enrollment.

Prospective preschoolers entering Lexington Public Schools for the 2012-2013 school year must be 4 years old on or before July 31, 2012.

Prospective Kindergarteners entering Lexington Public Schools for the 2012-2013 school year must be 5 years old on or before July 31, 2012.

For further information please contact Hardy Moreno or Barre Hassan at the Lexington Public Schools Administration Building or call 324-1211 or 1217.   You may also visit our Website: www.lexschools.org, Keyword:  Registration

LPS Board of Education selects Hakonson as next leader

The Lexington Public Schools Board of Education has selected Dr. John Hakonson as the next Superintendent of schools.  The board made their selection after a weeklong interview process of candidates by stakeholder groups.
 
“We are very excited to begin this new chapter with Lexington Public Schools and Dr. Hakonson.  We were extremely pleased with the high level of quality that the candidates provided in their interviews.  We are also very happy with the organization throughout the process that was provided to the district by the Nebraska Association of School Boards search firm,” stated Cindy Benjamin, LPS School Board President.
 
Dr. Hakonson is currently the Superintendent of Sidney public schools in Sidney, Nebraska.  He has held that position for ten years.  Hakonson brings a total of sixteen years of Superintendent experience as he enters the Lexington school system.
 
A graduate of Wisner-Pilger High School, Hakonson received his Bachelors degree in biology and a Masters in secondary education from Trinity University in Texas. He has his educational specialist degree and Doctorate in education administration from the University of South Dakota.
 
Hakonson and his wife Tricia have three sons, age 8, 6 and 4.
 
As superintendent at Sidney, Hakonson has been involved in all aspects of school administration, from overseeing the construction of a new high school to doing the district budget.
 
Hakonson will assume the duties of LPS Superintendent beginning on July 1, 2012.

Parent Surveys

The purpose of this survey is to provide you with the opportunity to give your opinions about our school.  While your participation is voluntary, the information you provide is of great importance in assessing the effectiveness of our schools. Thank you for your input to help us work to provide your child with the very best possible education.

Friday Late Starts

Lexington Public Schools will be starting at 9:00am every Friday during the 2011-2012 school year.  This late start will be used for teachers across the district to come together and look at student data to make informed decisions on how to best serve the students of Lexington Public Schools as well as participating in professional development meetings.

Each building will be open on Fridays to receive students beginning at 7:30am.  The elementary schools will have Lexington Academy activities from 7:30 - 8:45am each Friday as well as their normal hours of Monday - Friday 3:25 - 5:45pm.

Lexington Middle School and Lexington High School will also be open for students to arrive at 7:30am each Friday morning.  The students will be provided the opportunity to participate in Study Halls, Credit Recovery, and/or enrichment courses during this time period.

Breakfast will be served at LHS, LMS, and all elementary schools beginning at 8:00am. 

Bussing transportation, "pick-up times" for elementary school students will remain the same on Friday mornings.  Students will be brought to their respective schools for activities and breakfast.

You also have the option to keep your student at home until 8:45am and then bring them to school to attend classes.

This schedule does not apply to preschool students attending the Lexington Early Learning Academy.  They will not have classes on Fridays.

If you have any further questions please contact your student's building administrator.