Upper School Principal Letter

a message from the UPPER SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

What an exciting time to be a part of the Upper School at Lee-Scott Academy! I want to say a special thank you to our faculty and parents who partnered together with us last school year as we navigated through the Covid-19 pandemic with middle and high school students. As always, our teachers and students showed resilience throughout the year in handling the challenges that the necessary precautions presented.

Let me share with you some updates and highlights from the 2020-2021 school year: • We welcomed our newest Warriors with our 7th Grade

SuperHero camp. During orientation, students had an opportunity to meet teachers, talk with Ambassadors and explore the Upper School building as they prepare for a new and exciting school year. • We added Anatomy and Physiology and AP Biology classes to our science curriculum this year. With the addition of AP Biology, LSA now offers six AP courses on campus. We offer on campus dual enrollment opportunities for math in PreCalculus and Calculus I, II and experienced our highest enrollment numbers ever in these classes last year. Many of our students are also now taking advantage of many other dual enrollment opportunities provided by other universities. • Elective courses that will be new additions this year include: Film and Fiction, 3DArt and Design,

Leadership, Communication and Media, and Speech and Debate. • We are looking for interested grandparents to join us this year! We have a number of ideas to share but are looking for grandparents to partner with our College and Career Counseling Office to create a Career Panel to help guide our students by answering questions related to their career interests. Our grandparents have a wealth of information that they can offer to help guide our students as they begin the process of selecting a career post high school. How valuable their experiences will be to our students! We are looking forward to involving them in the Upper School this year. • We are looking forward to expanding our club offerings to the students in all grades but with an emphasis in grades 7-8. It’s essential that students have opportunities to feel connected to their school and to each other.

Developing skills that foster the building of appropriate relationships are necessary “soft skills” that equip students for life long success. • We continue to expand our small group weekly devotionals with our Student Ministry Team. This remarkable group of students is growing in the number volunteering to lead a weekly small group. Student

leaders are focused on being a more integral part of the monthly Chapel services bringing both campuses together in worship. • Summer maintenance updates include the replacement of five HVAC units and classrooms got a much needed fresh coat of paint to start the new year. • Speakers have been installed in all Upper School classrooms. There will be a very noticeable difference in sound quality throughout the building. • We have purchased additional modular furniture to add to our existing furniture located in the hallways for student use. • The media center is being renovated to include a study space equipped for our middle and high school students.

This new design will include pull apart collaborative furniture that facilitates small group work and meeting space. We are very excited about the modernization of our media center that will also allow the re-opening of the coffee bar! Students will once again be able to begin their day with a cup of hot or cold coffee. This has become a favorite meeting spot for high school students. • Teachers continue to work and learn together in meaningful professional development opportunities.

Their focus is always to work together for the success of all students. We are committed to doing the right thing for students and to create an environment of collaboration between parents and teachers. • Our faculty received new MacBook Pros to get the school year started off right! A refresh on devices will enable teachers to be efficient in planning and providing instruction. Through the many lessons we learned through COVID-19 last year, we understand how essential effective and meaningful technology can be when integrated effectively in classroom instruction.

Thank you for allowing me to serve your students! I consider it a privilege and honor to guide them through their high school years.

Ms. Donna Lloyd Upper School Principal