Eleven Butler County school districts, including Lakota Local Schools, participated in a full-scale safety exercise on June 18 at the Ross Local High School and Middle School campus. This is the first time in Butler County history that a safety exercise of this scope has been planned.

Several times a year, Lakota produces a community newsletter to help parents and residents stay informed about important district-wide news and updates. The summer 2019 edition, titled "WE are Graduates", was mailed to all residents this week.

In this final edition of "A Look Around Lakota" for the 2018-19 school year, Superintendent Matthew Miller shares just some of the highlights and happenings that marked the end of a great year.

Art may be considered one of Lakota’s six daily specials, but it’s finding its way into early learners’ routine far more frequently than every sixth day of the school week. Take, for example, Julie Meno’s kindergarteners at Heritage Early Childhood School.

Whoever thought food trucks had nothing to do with math hasn’t met Hopewell Junior teachersMatthew Dollard and Kyle Schlensker. Earlier this year, the duo invited a local food truck, East Coast Eatz, to visit their seventh-graders and serve them lunch. But their visit provided far more value than lunch. The owner shared his success story, giving students a lot of food for thought as they began formulating their own mobile restaurants.

The end of the school year has many students celebrating the start of summer vacation, but for seniors, they’re also looking ahead to what comes next after graduation...and some are even looking back. Adena Elementary School welcomed back 143 seniors from the class of 2019 to take a walk down memory lane. Six years ago, these seniors filled time capsules while in their final year at Adena and, on May 15, had the opportunity to open them for the first time.

The energy in Lakota West Freshman’s Innovation Hub after school last week spilled into the hallway as students showcased their last quarter’s work. Their projects may have stemmed from three different classrooms and two different subject areas, but they all had one thing in common: a move toward more personalized and project-based learning.

Seventy-four students were recognized for their hard work and dedication to their jobs through Lakota’s Work Study program on May 16 at Wetherington Country Club. The students were celebrated by their families, job coaches, instructional aides and district staff. The program, which has been in place for over 30 years, continues to grow each year.

From daily specials and all-day kindergarten to a surge in digital learning and student voice - and everything in between - WE made a lot of progress and memories this past school year. We invite you to take a trip down memory lane and relive just some of the highlights that made the 2018-19 school year one to remember.