Did you know that human DNA is 50 percent identical to the DNA of bananas? Third grade students at Independence Elementary School learned interesting facts like this and more while researching their Personal Learning Projects (PLP).

Students at the freshman buildings and high schools returned from winter break only to receive one more present. Nearly 4,000 district-owned Chromebooks were distributed to students in grades nine-through-eleven as part of Lakota’s WE are Empowered initiative.

Lakota is launching into 2019 and has a lot to look forward to in the new year! We'd love to hear from the Lakota community about what you are trying new this year or what you are looking forward to in 2019.

Lakota Local Schools, including five individual schools within the district, has received the Ohio Department of Education’s Momentum Award for 2018. Additionally, two schools received the All A Award.

Since 1993, Lakota West American Sign Language teacher Gwen Trujillo has been challenging her ASL students to learn and sign a holiday song from start to finish for their peers. But a new twist introduced this year by ASL teachers Katie Nicol and Jessica Frye transformed the tradition into a learning experience for ASL students at all levels.

Both Lakota East and Lakota West high schools are partnering with UC Health West Chester Hospital to bring students a 10-week medical speaker series that kicks of Jan. 9.

Please enjoy our next installment of A Look Around Lakota. This month's edition takes you into our schools to highlight some of the many happenings in our district, including the new strategic plan, the Lakota Cyber Academy, and service learning.

Empowering student voice is something in which schools in Lakota excel. Just ask Dr. Blaine Alexander from the Arkansas Leadership Academy. Recently, administrators, teachers and students who are passionate about empowering student voice gathered at the University of Arkansas to participate in the Student Voice Institute.

Liberty ECS second-grader Isaiah Givens greets Assistant Principal Caryn Gross each day with a hug and a countdown that goes something like this: “Seven more days until Big PAWS! I wish we had it every single day!”