Lockport City School District
November 2021 Points of Pride and Superintendent's Message
Lockport High School Academic "L" Recipients
The Academic "L" ceremony was held at the Lockport High School Visual and Performing Arts Center on November 4, 2021. Two hundred fifty seven Lockport High School students received the Academic “L”. The Academic “L” is awarded when a student earns a 90 percent average or higher for four consecutive quarters in one school year. This requires consistent effort, time management skills, and responsibility.
First year students are presented with the "L", second year honorees receive an honor scroll patch, and third year recipients receive a lamp of learning patch and plaque.
Congratulations to all Academic “L” recipients for achieving this honor.
National Technical Honor Society Inductees
Three Lockport High School students were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society through the Orleans Niagara BOCES Career Technical Education Program. The attributes of membership include skill, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship, and leadership. The official slogan of National Technical Honor Society is "Excellence in America's Workforce Begins with Excellence in Workforce Education". Congratulations to the following students: Karen Krull, Graphic Communications; Lilian Streich, Security and Law Enforcement; and Alyssa Tomaino, Cosmetology.
Veterans Day in Our Schools
- Russell Buckley, U.S. Army Reserve
- Michael Lilley, National Guard, Chief Warrant Officer, 11 years of service
- Lisa Madden, United States Army, 8 years of service
- Jessica Martin, United States Air Force, Senior Airman, 5 years of service
- Barbara Miles, United States Air Force, Airman First Class (AIC), 2 years of service
- Shawn Murray, United States Air Force, 10 years of service
- Nicole Taurgrasso, United States Coast Guard, 9 years of service
Lockport High School band members Logan Livergood, Zachary Sanders and Andrew O'Dell played Taps at the Veterans Day Ceremony at Outwater Memorial Park.
The ceremony was sponsored by B. Leo Dolan American Legion Post 410, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1433, and the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 268.
We salute our Veterans! Mrs. Miles' students at Charles Upson Elementary School learned how to properly salute. A salute is a gesture of respect and a sign of comradeship.
Lockport Lions Club Vision Screening, Lions SEE (Screening Eyes Early)
Lockport Lions is a community services organization that is part of a global service movement to help local communities and the people in need. Vision screening at Lockport City School District is a key project of the Lockport Lions Club, providing a free screening, referrals, and financial assistance when needed. With the cooperation of the LCSD nurses, screenings are facilitated to students. A trained Lion uses an automated vision screener to detect risk factors that can potentially lead to amblyopia or "lazy eye". We greatly appreciate the Lockport Lions Club for providing this service to LCSD students.
Operation Warm
City of Lockport Firefighters donated winter coats to the Lockport City School District for distribution from the school health offices when a need arises. Operation Warm provides brand-new winter coats to children in need giving them warmth, confidence and hope. This year, through fundraising and grant money provided by the Grigg Lewis Foundation, the firefighters also donated sneakers for district students in need. Thank you to the Lockport Fire Department and the Grigg Lewis Foundation for their support. A special thank you to LCSD nurses for their assistance in coordinating the delivery of coats and sneakers to students.
2021 United Way of Greater Niagara Campaign
Members of the Lockport City School District learning community donated over $19,600 during this year's United Way of Greater Niagara campaign. Special thanks to Cheryl Larkin, LCSD speech language pathologist, for coordinating this year's campaign. Thank you to everyone for their generosity and commitment to our community.
Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged
Lockport High School Fall Play "Radium Girls"
We are very proud of the accomplishments of our student-performers and student-technicians who participated in the Lockport High School Fall Play: "Radium Girls". This play is based on actual events and has inspired students and audiences to consider how our history with science, medicine, economics, and women's and workers' rights have evolved since the early 1920s. Lockport High School student-performers were mature and empathic while handling meaningful and relevant content as they prepared for the performance.
LHS Drama Department is pleased to announce this year's Lockport High School musical "Into the Woods" by Stephen Sondheim with performances Friday, April 1 and Saturday April 2 at 7PM and Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 2PM.
Learning in Our Schools
Aaron Mossell Junior High School
During English classes at Aaron Mossell Junior High School, students worked with counselors from the AMJHS Counseling Center to focus on gratitude and the power of a thank you. They each then wrote a thank you note to someone in their life who made a difference.
Emmet Belknap Intermediate School
During American Education Week, November 15-19, we honor the individuals working to ensure that every student receives a quality public education. Teachers deliver classroom instruction to students by preparing effective lessons, grading student work, managing classroom materials, and navigating the curriculum. EBIS teachers are providing instruction on preparing a drone for flight during STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) class.
George Southard Elementary School
Kindergarten students learn positional words as they glue shapes around the duck. Positional words are prepositions that describe a noun's position relative to another noun. Above, below, and under are all examples of positional words.
Roy B. Kelley Elementary School
Anna Merritt Elementary School
Charles Upson Elementary School
First grade students worked to publish their "Small Moment" stories on an app called Book Creator. Book Creator is a simple tool for creating digital books. Students were able to share their published stories with their families at home.
Joshua Vacanti Performs "You Will Be Found" from Dear Evan Hansen | NBC's The Voice Top 13 2021
In the dedication portion of NBC's The Voice, Joshua Vacanti, Lockport High School Class of 2012, recognized and dedicated his performance to LHS teachers Peter D'Angelo, English teacher, Drama Club Advisor, and Fall Play and Musical Co-Producer / Stage Director, and Robert Pacillo, Choral Director and Musical Vocal Director, and the students of LHS. Joshua spoke compassionately and from experience to students everywhere with hope and inspiration. Best wishes to Joshua for continued success. We are Lion Proud of Josh!
Dear Colleagues and Families,
We have now completed ten weeks of the 2021-2022 school year, and though the daily school experience is very different as we continue to practice COVID mitigation strategies to help keep each other healthy and safe, we seem to have settled into daily routines of being back to school in-person.
As you probably know, pediatric COVID-19 vaccines are now available for 5-11 year olds. Vaccine appointments for children are available throughout the community through pediatricians, pharmacies and other locations. We continue to work collaboratively with the Niagara County Department of Health (NCDOH) on contract tracing efforts along with testing and vaccination clinics with upcoming dates being regularly issued. More detailed information can be found on the NCDOH website. These latest developments will contribute to sustaining our schools as healthy places for all people. Unfortunately, Western New York continues to be a high COVID-19 transmission area. It remains important for students and staff to remain home when experiencing COVID-19 like symptoms and to contact a medical provider.
Out of an abundance of caution and based upon the recommendations from the New York State Education Department, the New York State Department of Health, our insurance provider, and other knowledgeable agencies, we continue to follow safety protocols. In making decisions, we are monitoring local data supplied to us by the county health department as well as statements issued by:
- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC): “Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant...CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status;” and
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): “All students older than two years and all school staff should wear face masks at school (unless medical or developmental conditions prohibit use).”
Currently, our plan requires the following protocols:
- Masks will be worn by vaccinated and unvaccinated staff, students and visitors at all times while indoors.
- Masks are not required to be worn outside while on school property by either vaccinated or unvaccinated students and staff.
- Masks will be worn on buses by both vaccinated and unvaccinated students and staff.
- The social distancing guidance (minimum of three feet between students in classrooms, minimum of six feet between persons in all other circumstances) will be followed whenever practicable.
- All other safety protocols (frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high touch surfaces, etc.) will continue as currently in place.
The Lockport City School District continues work towards maximizing in-person instructional time. Students and staff remain focused on closing the achievement gap and addressing the social-emotional needs caused by the pandemic. Thank you to everyone for your diligent efforts, remarkable endurance, and continued patience managing the pandemic. Hopefully the Thanksgiving recess will provide time to rest and be rejuvenated. Best wishes for a happy holiday season. Stay safe, be well, and remain Lion Strong.
Michelle T. Bradley, Superintendent
"Pride in Our Past; Faith in Our Future"
Website: https://www.lockportschools.org/superintendent
Location: 130 Beattie Avenue, Lockport, NY, USA
Phone: (716) 478-4800
Facebook: facebook.com/LockportCitySchoolDistrict
Twitter: @LockportSupt