Our Focus: Your Student's Success



Free State Novice Debate Takes State
Free State High debaters Bradley Harris and Alan Shi won the Sunflower Novice State Debate Tournament with a 9-0 record.

Kansas Honors Lawrence High Teacher
Lawrence High physics teacher Andy Bricker earned the Kansas State Department of Education's Horizon Award as an exemplary novice educator in his second year of teaching.

Woodlawn Nominated for National Honors
Kansas Interim Commissioner of Education Diane DeBacker nominated Woodlawn Elementary to compete for honors as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2010. The nomination honors Woodlawn for student achievement at high levels, while serving a student population that includes a large percentage of children considered academically at-risk.

District Recognizes Master Teacher
Superintendent Rick Doll honored Sunflower Elementary first-grade teacher Kassie Shook as the 2009-10 Lawrence Master Teacher and the district's nominee to the Kansas Master Teacher program.

High Schools Earn State Championships
Congratulations to the Lawrence High boy's cross country team and the Free State High girls' gymnastics team for winning KSHSAA Class 6A State Championships.

All Lawrence Schools Achieve Kansas Standard of Excellence Honors
Broken Arrow, Cordley, Deerfield, Hillcrest, Kennedy, Langston Hughes, New York, Pinckney, Prairie Park, Quail Run, Schwegler, Sunflower, Sunset Hill, Wakarusa Valley and Woodlawn Elementary Schools; Central, South, Southwest and West Junior High Schools; Free State and Lawrence High Schools; and Lawrence Virtual School achieved Kansas Standard of Excellence honors (2009). This state recognition honors schools for exemplary student performance on state assessments in reading, math, science and/or writing.

Broken Arrow Earns National Blue Ribbon School Award
The United States Department of Education has named Broken Arrow Elementary a National Blue Ribbon School for achieving high levels of student performance. "These schools are proving that when we raise the bar our children will rise to the challenge," said Kansas Commissioner of Education Alexa Posny. "It takes a lot of hard work by teachers and students to become a National Blue Ribbon School, and it's a privilege to celebrate their great efforts."

National Merit Semifinalists Named
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation recognized Matthew Drahozal, Addison Frei, Alan Magnuson and Roy Wedge of Lawrence High; and Anton Bovin, Peter Bray, Spencer Chestnut, Lea Greenberg, Dravid Joseph, Lauren Potts, Benjamin Rosenbloom and Samuel Walter of Free State High, as National Merit Semifinalists.

Lawrence Students Shine on ACT Exam
Lawrence students' ACT scores continue to exceed both state and national averages, indicating that local high school students receive a rigorous core curriculum and are well prepared for college-level coursework. In 2008-09, 530 Lawrence students completed ACT testing, scoring an average 23.5, as compared to the Kansas average of 21.9 and the national average of 21.1.

LPS Enrollment Increases
Fueled by increases at the elementary school level and at the Lawrence Virtual School, the district's enrollment is up by about 115 students this school year to 10,817.

 What's New?

School Board Approves Budget Reduction Plan
Due to losses in state aid, the Lawrence Board of Education has approved a plan to reduce the 2010–11 budget by $5 million. Read more.

Board Considers Reconfiguration
The Lawrence Board of Education is investigating reconfiguration of schools to maximize learning and efficient use of facilities. The study includes a review of academic, social, facility, personnel and extra-curricular issues related to moving sixth-graders to middle-level schools and ninth-graders to the high schools.

Schools Host Kindergarten Roundups
Lawrence elementary schools will welcome new kindergartners and their families to school during Kindergarten Roundup in April. Contact your school for details.

Legislative Session Under Way
The state budget, including funding for public education, will be a major area of focus during this year's legislative session. Here's how to contact your legislators to share your opinions.

Schools in Session on Make-Up Days
Due to the use of snow days on January 7 and 8, Lawrence schools will be in session on the district's two designated inclement weather make-up days, April 16 and 30.

School Board Outlines District Goals
The Lawrence Board of Education has adopted six goals relating to the areas of teaching and learning, school configuration, community and parent relations, personnel and professional development, financial management and technology. In the coming months, the school board will be engaging the community in discussions about reconfiguration of schools/schedules to maximize student learning and efficient use of facilities.

Prevent the Spread of Germs
Wash hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home when you are ill. It's simple steps like these that will help prevent the spread of germs, including H1N1 influenza. Read More.

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