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Dear Lakeland families,

It’s hard to believe we’re just two weeks away from the last day of school. As you know, all of our schools are a flurry with end-of-year events and celebrations. I’d like to begin this newsletter with an update on the Capital Project.

Last night the District’s architecture firm, Tetra Tech, presented at the Board of Education Meeting. The Capital Project is a very exciting prospect for the district and one that has the potential to make a very positive impact on the educational environments our students use every day. 

We are currently collecting feedback from the community and students through a Google Form. If you are interested in providing feedback, we ask that you complete the form by Sunday, June 12. An Educational Enhancements Committee comprised of teachers and administrators representing all schools has already met twice, and brainstormed educational enhancements that would benefit our students. We’ll be asking the entire Lakeland staff for their feedback in the near future.

We are committed to providing the community with timely and accessible updates. We have created a dedicated page on the district website that houses all the information and set up a dedicated email address, CapitalProject@LakelandSchools.org to field any questions. 

I’d also ask that you save the date for the upcoming Public Forums on July 12 and September 8, where the community will have the opportunity to ask questions and receive information. Both events are currently scheduled to be held at LCBMS. 

To close, I wanted to share a photo with you all from Senior Walk day on June 3. I was able to join the festivities at Thomas Jefferson, and reconnect with many students from my days there as a principal. It's one of my favorite Lakeland traditions and a wonderful way to kick off a month of celebrations!

I hope everyone enjoys the final weeks of school, and I look forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming moving-up ceremonies and high school graduations. I am humbled and honored to be there alongside our graduates and so many parents and loved ones during this important milestone.

Sincerely,
Dr. Karen Gagliardi
Superintendent of Schools

Eight LCSD performance groups took home medals at the NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) Majors Festival hosted at WPHS (May 24-26, 2022) 

At the end of May, performing groups from schools around the county came to perform and be formally judged according to the high standards set by NYSSMA. To participate in the NYSSMA Majors Festival, each ensemble must choose music based on the NYSSMA difficulty level: level 1 is the least challenging music to perform, whereas level 6 is the most challenging music to perform. An ensemble can be awarded ​Participation, Bronze, Silver, or Gold rating by the judges for their performance. Groups from Lakeland High School, Walter Panas High School, and Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School participated, with many taking home Gold and Silver awards:

• Walter Panas High School Chamber Choir (Level 6 Gold) - Directed by Mr. Jamie Stroffolino
• Walter Panas High School Bella Voce (Level 5 Gold) - Directed by Mr. Jamie Stroffolino
• Walter Panas High School Orchestra (Level 3 Silver) - Directed by Mr. Patrick Murphy
• Walter Panas High School Concert Band (Level 3 Gold) - Directed by Mr. Patrick Murphy
• Walter Panas High School Wind Ensemble (Level 5 Silver) - Directed by Mr. Patrick Murphy
• Lakeland High School Wind Ensemble (Level 5 Gold) - Directed by Mr. Matthew Kowalski
• Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School Honors Chorus (Level 2 Gold) - Directed by Ms. Antonella Delli-Carpini
• Lakeland Copper Beech Middle School Honors Band (Level 2 Gold) - Directed by Mrs. Karen Jacques

Congratulations to all of our music students for their outstanding performances! Your dedication, practice, and high level of musicianship at the NYSSMA festival make us all very proud! And thank you to our music teachers: Jamie Stroffolino, Patrick Murphy, Antonella DelliCarpini, Matthew Kowalski, and Karen Jacques, for the support and encouragement they provide their students. Please click here for a full list of all participants.