New school year brings excitement to Lakeside, Somers

“Education is the movement from darkness to light.”

Allan Bloom

Another school year has begun and with it brings excitement, anxiety, change, and many new opportunities for learning. A big change this year at Somers and Lakeside Schools is the school calendar. No longer will there be early dismissals for students. Instead, the school day has been lengthened allowing teaching staff to have full days with no students to work on curriculum, collaboration with colleagues, and plan both short and long term. This is a pilot program that teachers, the school board and administration have worked on together. The impetus behind it is research strongly showing that teachers rarely have the opportunity to collaborate with their colleagues because they’re so busy in their classrooms throughout the entire day. This information and much more are noted in a book Building a Better Teacher by Elizabeth Greene. The inspiring part of all this is that the teachers and the school board are continually working together to improve education so they are best meeting the needs of all students.

Another change is that the monthly school board meetings will alternate between Lakeside and Somers. The plan this year is to meet on the third Monday monthly. In September, the board will meet in the music room at Lakeside School. This change allows the communities to more easily observe and be a part of meetings when a topic of interest to them is on the agenda. Meeting time is scheduled for 6 p.m. Please check the time each month in case a change has occurred. Call the school or keep an eye in the newspaper for more details. Another change will be that of the district website. Unfortunately, and for a number of reasons, the website needs work and we will begin the upgrades immediately. I’m confident that things will be rectified very soon, and we will use all forms of communication to let you know when it’s more functional. Once updated, and when you’re using it again, don’t hesitate to let us know how it’s working for you.

As we know, it’s the little things that can make a huge difference. One of the many little things that the staff of Lakeside and Somers does is spend many hours of their own time readying their classrooms in preparation for the school year. This time is above and beyond their contracted days, and it is a true indicator of their professionalism and desire to begin the school year on a smooth note. 

To the communities of Lakeside and Somers, know that your children are in excellent hands and that we are passionate in our quest in meeting their needs every day. Thank you for entrusting us to educate your children.

Paul Jenkins, superintendent, Lakeside/Somers schools