STAYING STEADFAST

As our LaBrae families have found their groove and adjusted to the challenges of the pandemic to establish your new normal, I think the same can be said for our students and staff.

The current school year has brought on an additional set of challenges as we prepared to resume school this fall with all students in attendance, and to do so in a manner that was safe, while also attempting to restore normal school operations and provide the educational services to which everyone is accustomed.

One significant challenge was the issue of managing student attendance under a mask optional policy. This challenge has been reduced significantly with the changing of the quarantine guidance in late October. As a result, LaBrae is no longer quarantining healthy students who have been exposed at school. This change in the Ohio Department of Health's guidelines has reduced student absenteeism and provided for continuity in the delivery of their education.

WHAT IS A DRAKKAR?

This newsletter is an effort to enhance our school communication with our families and our community at large. The moniker for the newsletter was selected in keeping with our mascot's Nordic heritage and the historical longships associated with the Vikings.

The Drakkar, the best known of the spectacular longships, were symbolic of the legendary Vikings. These ships were used primarily as vicious and brutal warships. Developed by majestic kings such as Olaf Tryggvasson, they were a symbol of the incredible Scandinavian power and were to these proud owners a highly valued material possession. The Drakkar embodies the spirit of being a Viking!

The Drakkar is LaBrae's vehicle to communicate with our constituents. It is our opportunity to celebrate students and staff, as well as another medium for informing the LaBrae educational community about all things LaBrae.

We have resolved this year to provide a learning environment that is as normal as possible in an effort to provide our students all of the curricular and extra-curricular opportunities they need and they deserve. I thank our community and our families for your support and patience. Together we have faced our challenges, adapted as necessary, and handled it all gracefully. I am confident we will continue to work effectively together in the best interests of all students, providing them the opportunities to reach their full potential in the face of everchanging circumstances confronting us.

LaBrae trusts that you'll find the content herein informative. Thank you for your continued support of LaBrae Local Schools!