In Laconia Schools / Feb 24, 2023

“In Laconia Schools...” February 24, 2023 Good Day, Laconia School District Staff and Families.   As promised, here is the second of two installments of newsletters at the midpoint of the year.     I hope you had a wonderful snow day yesterday.  Winter Vacation is next week, and I hope that you all take some time to reconnect with loved ones, rest, and rejuvenate.  We are off and running for Semester 2, and there is much to be excited about in the Laconia School District.  Here are a few more highlights: Staff Lisa Hinds , who is currently our LMS/LHS Academic Coordinator for Teaching and Learning (ACTL), was selected by a Search Committee to become the next Principal at Laconia High School .   Her nomination was confirmed by the School Board on February 7th.  She is scheduled to start in her new position on  July 1st. The City of Laconia is honored to have presented the 2022 Debra Bieniarz Memorial Award to Rodney Roy , a Laconia resident, coach, and volunteer who has made countless contributions to the youth in our City.  Mr. Roy was presented with the award at a recent City Council meeting. Rod is shown (left) with his dad, Robert Roy, who received the very first Bieniarz Award back in 1988.   Here is some more information about the award and about Rod Roy’s service .  Coach Roy and his dad are in the picture on the left. Teaching and Learning All our music students  at LHS, LMS, and from our elementary schools have performed at the Colonial Theatre this year .  Our Elementary Band, which includes 40 percent of our 4th and 5th graders, was the last group of students who played at the Colonial on January 24th.     Our district Literacy Task Force  is looking into our instruction and assessment of reading to find ways to improve.  This task force is exploring best instructional practices and resources as well as assessment tools.  The goal of this task force is to provide feedback and recommendations to improve reading instruction and assessment in the district.   In all three (3) elementary schools , the teachers have been learning effective math instructional practices from Karolyn Wurster.  Ms. Wurster is an outstanding Math consultant who has been working with our teachers for the past few years.  One practice that the teachers recently learned is using a daily Math Talk with students to discuss the lesson's math objective.  This practice engages the students in thinking, communicating math ideas, and learning from other students.   Law Enforcement students in the Huot Center  are receiv ing  training on Axon Virtual Software.  This software is used in the law enforcement field to help train  police to respond  to various emergency situations.  We believe the Huot Center is the first secondary school in the country to implement this technology, and  our students are some of the first in the nation to use this software in class. Several local police departments are also implementing this technology.   Here is a link to an article in  The Laconia Daily Sun  about  p olice training  with  this software.   Captain Bill Clary and two of his students, Kayla Woglom and Tauheeda Abd a llah , demonstrated the software for our School Board earlier this week.  Students The LHS Math Team , which is advised by Math teachers Mr. Shepard and Ms. Finch ,  has finished in first place in five (5) Math meets  this year.   Wednesday, February 15 was the 100th day of school .  Our elementary students enjoyed seeing their teachers dress up as centenarians and engaged students in Math activities that focused on 100. Sophomore tours for the Huot sending schools  are being given this month.  Career Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator Paul Robdau and CTE Director Dave Warrender lead the tours for the entire sophomore class of each school to learn about program opportunities  available to them  next year.   Sending high schools to the Huot include Belmont, Gilford, Franklin, Inter-Lakes, Laconia, Newfound, and Winnisquam .   Wes Bates  and  Jessica Rominger , two Science teachers at LMS, participated in the “ Arctic Wednesdays : Professional Development for Teachers in Extreme Weather” on top of Mount Washington last Wednesday. They were able to video-conference into classrooms from the Mount Washington Observatory and talked to students about weather and other related topics.  Keep in mind that earlier this month, a new record for the coldest wind chill ever recorded, minus 108 degrees Fahrenheit, was set at the summit of Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the region’s highest peak. The LHS Boys and Girls Basketball teams  are having fantastic seasons.  The Girls are 14-3 and finish their season tomorrow on their Senior Night at home against Kennett.  The Boys are 17-1 and are the #1 seed going into the tournament.  Congratulations to Kayden Roberts , a Senior guard for the LHS Boys who scored his 1000th point this season .  Both teams will begin their tournament runs during  the Winter Break.   Community As a result of the work of Alan Wool , a member of the LHS Class of 1968 and Hall of Fame Class of 2014, there is a board in the LHS Gymnasium with all of the record holders in our high school’s rich history of track and field.   Please see more information on Mr. Wool’s incredible gift to our school community in a story published in  The Laconia Daily Sun .     The picture from The Sun on the left is of Mr.  Wool and some important people who made this record Board a reality.   In November, t here were four (4) LHS student-athletes who were inducted into  the LHS Athletic Hall of Fame  on Friday, November 26th: De an Leighton  (Class of 1956), Chris Normandin (Class of 1991), Kate McLaughlin and her twin sister Emily McLaughlin (both from the Class of 1997) .   Please see the press release that appeared in  The Laconia Daily Sun .   An earlier press release provided more information about the athletes . There are currently 52 inductees in the Hall of Fame.  The master of ceremonies was David Rea , a teacher at LHS for 34 years who was also the “Voice of the Sachems” at LHS football games for 31 of those years. LHS Athletic Director Craig Kozens has done an outstanding job of organizing another wonderful evening to celebrate the contributions of some amazing individuals who attended our schools.    Leadership and Vision The Future Learning Pathways Advisory Board  is made up of educators, students, and community members to provide information and feedback on how to support our students' future learning pathways .   At our recent meetings ,  we examined future learning pathways experiences, listened to a presentation on our New Hampshire Learning Initiative (NHLI) grant and our expanding out-of-school time learning opportunities, and began to review job projections in the Lakes Region from 2020-2030. In Closing One of the many reasons I love Laconia and our school community is that we are big enough to provide opportunities for our students, staff, and school community, and small enough to have a small-town feel.  In the first segment of this newsletter, I mentioned the feedback that we received to inform our next Strategic Plan at our November 16th community forum.   One overwhelming strength that people cited was the strong sense of community and pride that we have in Laconia and in our schools.  I am proud of how we continue to come together to provide a quality education and learning opportunities for our kids.    Have a wonderful Winter Break. Sincerely,  Steve Tucker Superintendent Laconia School District " The mission of the Laconia School District is to ensure success with every student, every day, in every way " Laconia School District Vision Statement:  Learning transfers to life beyond the Laconia School District experience so students have the confidence to lead, to follow, and to grow to be responsible citizens who own their future.  

Friday, Feb 24 2023

No School for Students on Thursday, February 23, 2023

LACONIA SCHOOL DISTRICT School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator February 22, 2023 Good Evening, Laconia School District Staff and Families. Due to the impending storm that is forecasted to bring snow and sleet to Laconia tonight and tomorrow, there will be no school in the Laconia public schools tomorrow, which is Thursday, February 23rd. Steve Tucker Superintendent of Schools

Wednesday, Feb 22 2023

Opportunities for Kids

In Laconia Schools: Opportunities for kids at city elementary schools / Article by Julie Hirshan, Laconia Daily Sun https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news/local/in-laconia-schools-opportunities-for-kids-at-city-elementary-schools/article_9b336d24-ae39-11ed-ae50-47f1920ad940.html

Tuesday, Feb 21 2023

In Laconia Schools / Feb 3, 2023

“In Laconia Schools...” February 2, 2023 Good day, Laconia School District Staff and Families. On behalf of the Laconia School District, I hope you have had a great start to the new calendar year as we start a new semester this week.  Some of us may remember years that began with a “19.”  It seems unbelievable that we have started the year 2023 and have been in the 21st century for over two (2) decades.  At the mid-point of this school year, we have some exciting information about the past, present, and future of the 2022-23 school year that we would like to share in the first of two (2) installments. Staff We have continued to use Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds to hire additional staff in all our schools. This year, these  Covid-19 funds are being used to partially or fully fund 16 additional positions  to support teaching, learning and interventions for our students. In the last two (2) years, we have  added programming  for elementary, middle, and high to expand opportunities and to support future learning pathways for our students, including: One (1) music teacher and one (1) art teacher  this year means that we have a full-time art and a full-time music teacher in each of our elementary schools. A teacher for our College and Career Exploratory program  that was added last year at LMS. An LHS teacher  who is instructing students in four (4) sections of Wood Shop and two (2) sections of classes for students to explore multiple Huot programs. 21 st  Century Learning After School Programs Our out-of-school programs are expanding  with 520 students participating in afterschool programs  (200 at elementary, 120 at LMS, and 200 at LHS). In our  elementary schools , we have Lego and Minecraft clubs, project-based learning activities and a variety of programs that integrate future career paths, such as cooking, music, and science. At  LMS , clubs that we are offering include, Jazz Band, Dungeons and Dragons, Chess, Environmental Club, STEM, Legos, Cooking, Dance, Student Leadership, Art/Photography, to name a few. We also offer math tutoring and homework help daily. The  LHS  after school interest clubs have significantly increased this year growing from two (2) clubs with 30 participants to 25 clubs with 200 participants. Our clubs include math tutoring, homework help, e-sports, SAT Math Prep, Dungeons and Dragons, Chess, and Coding, to name a few.  Many of the clubs are geared towards helping students find their passions and possible future careers. Grants and Donations The Huot Technical Center received a $59,000 grant  from the New Hampshire Department of Education for our Digital Media Arts program that was approved by our School Board last week.  This grant will allow us to upgrade the computers for this program. An anonymous donor gave $13,000  in gift cards from Laconia eating establishments to give to families for the holidays in December.  By doing so, some of our families were able to enjoy a holiday meal and the donor was able to support local restaurants. This is another example of our community being one that cares. Community Involvement There were about 100 people who attended  Lynn Lyons’” Practical Skills and Solutions for Managing Anxiety”  presentation at the LHS Auditorium on January 19.  Lyons spoke about anxiety and its causes, why it has increased, and approaches and strategies to address anxiety.  We received incredibly positive feedback from those who attended the event.  Lynn is pictured presenting at LHS on the left. All our music students at LHS, LMS, and from our elementary schools have performed at the Colonial Theatre this year.   Our Elementary Band, which includes 40 percent of our 4th and 5th graders , was the last group of students who played at the Colonial on January 24th.   School Safety  The Laconia School District, Police Department, and Fire Department will be working with local emergency officials and New Hampshire Homeland Security to hold an  active shooter training exercise at Pleasant Street School on Saturday, April 15 .  This drill is a part of our continued emergency planning and preparation effort. The Governor & Executive Council and the Joint Legislative Fiscal Committee have approved projects in our schools for the second round of Security Action for Education (SAFE) Grant funding.  Four (4) schools were awarded a total of $146,000 .  This money will be used to purchase and install Columbine locks, which allow for interior locks to be secured.  This safety measure is another layer of protection in our emergency planning.  We are looking to use other funds so that these locks are installed in all five (5) schools. Leadership and Vision We have received valuable input from our community to inform our Strategic Plan .  Strategic planning is a process in which an organization's leaders define their vision for the future and identify their organization's goals and objectives.  Our strategic plan will support our vision and mission .  The 1114 data points collected from 106 people at our school community forum on November 16th is valuable information to inform our next strategic plan .  After we finalize our goal areas, we will engage the school community again to develop the plan. In Closing We are working to prepare students for the future.   Our six (6) Portrait of a Graduate skills  (collaboration, communication, creativity, perseverance, problem-solving, and self-direction) are the core skills of teaching and learning in the Laconia School District.  These overarching skills, along with personalized learning that provides students with voice and choice and based on real-works experiences, are important in engaging students.  Education is a core component in preparing students for citizenship and being a part of a community.  Our goal is to create future learning pathways for our students to prepare them for success in school and for college, career, community, and life after graduation. Stay tuned for Part 2 of this newsletter later this month. Sincerely,  Steve Tucker Superintendent Laconia School District " The mission of the Laconia School District is to ensure success with every student, every day, in every way " Laconia School District Vision Statement:  Learning transfers to life beyond the Laconia School District experience so students have the confidence to lead, to follow, and to grow to be responsible citizens who own their future.  

Thursday, Feb 02 2023

2 Hour Delay on Thursday, January 26th

LACONIA SCHOOL DISTRICT School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator January 26, 2023 Good morning, Laconia School District Staff and Families.   There will be a 2-hour delay in our schools today to give the crews time to clear and treat the roads.  Have a great day.   Steve Tucker Superintendent of Schools

Thursday, Jan 26 2023

After School Activities Cancelled (Wednesday, Januar...

LACONIA SCHOOL DISTRICT School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator January 25, 2023 Good Day Laconia School District Staff and Families. All after school activities are cancelled today (Wednesday, January 25) due to the forecast of heavy snow. Have a great day! Steve Tucker Superintendent of Schools

Wednesday, Jan 25 2023

Updated Inclement Weather Plan for the Laconia Schoo...

LACONIA SCHOOL DISTRICT School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator January 23, 2023 Hello Laconia School District Staff and Families. Here is the Laconia School District’s updated Inclement Weather Plan: First day  (December 16, 2022): No school for staff and students   Second day  (January 20, 2023) The in-person professional development was canceled.  Staff had this time to work on required on-line training modules This was originally a scheduled day of training modules for staff with no school for students   Third day  (January 23, 2023) No school for students Team time for Laconia School District staff (with a remote option)   If we have a Fourth Day : No school for students Team time for Laconia School District staff (with a remote option) If we have a Fifth Day and any thereafter : District pivots to remote learning with students and staff The Plan was updated because we had a cancellation on an in-service day with staff where students were not scheduled to come to school last Friday. I appreciate the collaborative effort of the leadership of the Laconia Education Association (LEA) and Educational Assistants of Laconia (EAL), our Administrators, and our School Board for their efforts to support students, staff and families on this matter. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me by email at stucker@laconiaschools.org or your building principal. Have a great day. Sincerely, Steve Tucker Superintendent of Schools

Monday, Jan 23 2023

Lynn Lyons “Practical Skills and Solutions for Manag...

Laconia School District School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator January 19, 2023 Hello Laconia School District Staff and Families, Lynn Lyons “Practical Skills and Solutions for Managing Anxiety” presentation will take place this evening from 6-7:30 pm in the Laconia High School Auditorium. This is open to all staff, families, students ages 13 and up (who may attend with their families), and community members. There is no admission or fee required to hear this well-renowned speaker on this important topic. There is also no registration for this event. Complimentary pizza and salad will be served from 5-6:00 pm in the LHS Cafeteria for anyone who wants to grab a bite to eat before the presentation. Free childcare is also being  provided if you should need it. Snow is forecasted for this evening, but at this point, it looks like the brunt of the storm will take place after the presentation. We hope to see you tonight. Steve Tucker Superintendent of Schools 39 Harvard Street, Laconia NH 03246 - Tel. (603) 524-5710 - Fax (603) 528-8442

Thursday, Jan 19 2023

Letter from Superintendent Tucker

Laconia School District School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator January 12, 2023 Good Afternoon Laconia High School Staff, Please see the attached letter from Superintendent Tucker with an update on the LHS Principal search. 39 Harvard Street, Laconia NH 03246 - Tel. (603) 524-5710 - Fax (603) 528-8442

Thursday, Jan 12 2023

Student After School Activities Cancelled

Laconia School District School Administrative Unit 30 "Ensuring success with every student, every day in every way"   Steve Tucker, Superintendent of Schools Amy N. Hinds, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Diane Clary, Business Administrator January 12, 2023 Hello Laconia School District Staff and Families, All student after school activities are cancelled today due to the inclement weather that is forecasted. Have a great evening. Steve Tucker Superintendent of Schools 39 Harvard Street, Laconia NH 03246 - Tel. (603) 524-5710 - Fax (603) 528-8442

Thursday, Jan 12 2023