From the Principal's Desk....

Tigercat Strong

Lacrosse Schools began the school year with a different twist. We held our Open House & Back to School Night before our first day of school. Several students and parents asked if we could have our Open House before school began so they would be more prepared for the first day. A dinner was served & students and parents then had time to visit with our teachers. It was very informal and we had good attendance and I believe it helped us get off to a positive start.
Our Themes this year are Tigercat Strong and Attitude and Effort Are Everything. Our ASB officers decide on the themes each year and make every effort to apply these themes to all areas of student life: academics, activities, relationships and community. We believe your attitude is your choice and the effort you give is directly dependant on your attitude. We believe that it is through having a positive attitude and a good work ethic that students and staff can reach success. Former UCLA legendary coach had the following definition of success:
Success is the peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.
Our hope for our students and staff is that they give the effort and have the type of attitude to be passionate about their schoolwork, activities, relationships and community service that will enable them to have their best school year and not have any regrets when school is dismissed in the spring of 2010. Oliver Wendall Holmes once said It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes life worth living. With that thought in mind Attitude and Effort do become everything that we will measure our successes by. In May of 2009 we conducted a survey of our high school students concerning their educational experience at LaCrosse.

The results of that survey indicated that we were strong in the following areas:
  1. Adults care about all students
  2. Students feel safe at school
  3. Adults show respect for each other
  4. Staff are clear about what students are to learn
  5. Staff helps all students
  6. Adults respect students
  7. Purpose of school is to help students learn and achieve
The following were areas that students felt the high school could improve on:
  1. Better student/staff relationships
  2. Support Student Voice
  3. Real world connections learning in classrooms
  4. Students understand the purpose of their learning
  5. Student showing respect for those different than themselves
This student's feedback will drive our focus this year as we strive to improve our school. My focus will be directed toward improving in these areas as well as:
  1. Improve our established Character Education Program
  2. Develop an improved system of student feedback at the secondary level
  3. Ensure effective teaching strategies in every class

... Doug Curtis, Principal