And that’s a wrap. The 2021–2022 school year has come to a close!

With all of the events of this year, it was a repetitive task to reframe events to figure out how to advance and continue our work to collaboratively support our students. We made a LOT of progress this year on many fronts. I am thankful that we were able to pull together to provide in person instruction all year while working through the peaks and valleys of our staffing challenges caused directly and indirectly by the pandemic. Our students have shown great growth this year academically and emotionally and we will continue to support them in the years to come.

The work completed on the bond in the past year continues to strengthen our physical safety for staff and students. The training and refreshers that have been implemented support the vast need for threat assessments and appropriate procedures when students are in need. The excitement surrounding the groundbreaking of the new Blanche Sims Elementary School was amazing and I look forward to another ribbon cutting to match the newly opened and amazing Early Childhood Center.

It is time, we are all ready to decompress and get a much-needed change of pace. Summer means vacations, staycations, summer school, or a combination thereof. I am thankful to be part of the Dragon Family and look forward to seeing the joy that summer brings to students, staff, and families.

Hug your kids, love your family and make summer memories for a lifetime.

Go Dragons!

Ben Kirby

Superintendent

Lake Orion Community Schools

The 2022 Lake Orion Community Schools graduation season will last a lifetime as 534 Lake Orion High School students, 36 Learning Options students and 9 PHASES students were recognized for their LOCS careers with ceremonies at Pine Knob Music Theatre, in the LOHS Auditorium and at Pine Tree Center.

Check out photos, video and speech quotes on our 2022 Graduation page.

Summer Device Collection/Repair Reminders

• All DK – 2nd grade students at this time will be keeping their iPads to complete the summer reading program.
• Dragon Virtual families will return their devices on June 14 from 8-3 p.m. at Carpenter Elementary. Door 3, which is located at the gymnasium, will be the designated location to return the device and charger.

Collection procedures for remaining outstanding devices:

• Charging brick/cord – If this item is lost, there will be a $30 replacement fee. Please remit payment or if the item has been located, please contact the LOCS Technology Department. Once returned, the assessed fee will be cancelled.
• School issued device - If this item is lost, there will be a $600 replacement fee. Please remit payment or if the item has been located, please contact the LOCS Technology Department. Once returned the assessed fee will be cancelled.
• Damaged devices – When the devices are being turned in, they will be checked for any physical damage by the Technology department. If there is any physical damage, an automated email will be sent. These devices will be sent out for repair and the next communication will be an invoice for the cost of the repair. Families who have device protection, the repair cost will be followed according to the agreement.

If you have any questions, please contact the Technology department at 248-814-1798.

The LOHS Bands would like to invite you to a fun night of music under the stars at their 7th Annual Starry Night Concert, which will be held at Wildwood Amphitheater (2700 Joslyn Ct. in Lake Orion) on Tuesday, June 21 at 7 p.m. The concert is free of charge and will feature familiar tunes from some movie favorites, popular tunes, music from popular musicals, and some well-known classical favorites.

The Orion Township Public Library (OTPL) is offering a summer reading program that utilizes incentives and creative activities to promote reading and advance literacy gains over the summer.

All readers can learn more at orionlibrary.org/summer-reading. The Summer Reading program runs from June 11 through August 13.

Youth Summer Reading Program

Stop by the library any time to pick up your 2022 “Oceans of Possibilities” Boarding Pass. Earn stamps for completing library-related activities and enter to win fun prizes. Children and students from birth through 5th grade are invited to log activities through Saturday, August 13.

Teen Summer Reading Program

By signing up for our Teen Summer Reading, your relaxation reading can turn into fun prizes, such as gifts cards, a free book, and a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card! Students in grades 6-12 can pick up an old-fashioned bingo card – back by popular demand from last year’s Teen Summer Reading at any time.

P-EBT provides supplemental food assistance benefits to students who have temporarily lost access to free or reduced-price school meals due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The goal of the program is to make sure no child goes hungry by missing out on school meals.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) and Michigan Department of Education (MDE) partnered during the 2020-2021 school year to provide these critical benefits to over 900,000 students. We are excited to be partnering again for the 2022-2023 school year to provide these benefits to students to help reduce food insecurity.

If you feel that you qualify for P-EBT, please go to the Food and Nutrition Department page on LakeOrionSchools.org and click on the Pandemic EBT Forms section. Then click on your school to obtain more information regarding P-EBT.

The retirees were recognized at a June 2 ceremony at the Orion Center, with family members by their side as LOCS administrators shared stories and memories about each of the impactful departing staff members.

Check out the photos and watch the retiree memories, and Thursday's ceremony.

If students are currently enrolled in a day care or home day care, at the end of the current school year, students will be placed back to their home stops. If they require day care for the 2022-23 school year, parents will be required to submit a new form.

The Transportation Department will in the office all summer during business hours, so submitting the new form sooner would be helpful.

Bus schedules for the 2022-23 school year will not be shared with families until the week before school starts.

Solve puzzles on the road to find the mystery destinations all around Orion Township! Family car groups will earn points competing to solve the most clues, find all the destinations, and complete side missions along the way. Prizes will be given out the team with the most points.

Questions? Call the Orion Township Public Library at 248-693-3000.

Earlier this spring, the Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education approved the strategic plan to guide the district from 2022-2027. The plan includes a mission statement, a vision statement, belief statements and focus areas to guide the district administration.

Belief statements

We believe…

• Preparing Dragons is a collaboration of students, staff, families and community.
• We have a responsibility to provide a safe, welcoming, equitable learning environment where all individuals are respected and valued.
• In fostering an environment that cultivates each individual’s maximum potential.
• Character development is an integral part of education.
• In a dynamic innovative approach to educating Dragons.

Mission

Empowering the Dragon community to achieve excellence

Vision

Empowered Dragons experience joy and success

A link to the Oakland County Health Division's COVID-19 page is also posted on this page.