First day of 2017-2018 school year for MLPS students is Tuesday, September 5
The signs are evident – a new school year for Mountain Lake Public School (MLPS) students is drawing near.
The first day of school will be Tuesday, September 5.
Joining MLES Principal Jon Schwaegerl, who came on board in June, are new teachers Brian Cook, in elementary physical education and Randi Doescher, grade four.
Pre-first day enrollment figures have MLPS at 505 students for grades early childhood special education (ECSE) to grade 12; with 266 students registered at MLES and 239 currently on board at MLHS.
This evening (Wednesday, August 30), Mountain Lake Public Elementary School (MLES) hosted an Elementary Open House, giving students and parents the opportunity to visit classrooms and pack school supplies away in desks.
On the Mountain Lake Public High School (MLHS) side of things, a Seventh Grade Orientation was held for students and parents.
The theme for MLHS students and staff this school year is – UP³: Show Up, Perk Up, Step Up.
Following opening moments at seventh grade orientation, the groups split, with the parents heading to Room #1 for presentations from MLHS Principal Michelle Larson and MLHS Secretary LaVonne Jungas. The students, meanwhile, were taken under the protective wings of the junior and seniors participating the Link Crew program. That group provided personalized tours of the high school, along with participation in group activities.
The idea behind Link Crew is to make a difference for incoming seventh-grade students – the “newbie sevvies” – who are taking that first step making their way in the unfamiliar world of maneuvering through high school, and a crush of older students.
Assisting the students in the program are MLHS Ag Educator Lindsey Brockberg to monitor the leaders, MLPS Social Worker Amy Hartzler to harness the seventh-graders and MLHS Principal Michelle Larson to oversee that union.
The purpose of the Link Crew buddy system is to pair up one upperclassman (a junior or senior) with two-to-three seventh-graders, leading to an end goal of helping the younger students make a smooth transition into junior high, hopefully prevent bullying and make available extra support, help and tutoring. Link Crew members stress being inclusive, because everyone needs someone.
Last year, during the first year of Link, leaders and members met twice a month during noon hour, sharing thoughts and advice over lunch, followed by a time of relaxed connection playing games in the auditorium/gymnasium. Leaders additionally provided informal mentoring. Tutoring was also available during noon hour or after school, if students were struggling with grades, making the Link Leaders a valuable resource for MLPS Counselor Jody Lepp.
In an earlier interview, Brockberg explains what the leaders’ mentoring means to underclassmen, “The seventh grade students see the Crew Leaders in the hallway, or at school events or during other opportunities outside the mentoring meeting, and they get a greeting or a high-five; they are noticed. It gives those younger students someone to look up to, someone who will guide them, someone who they can trust, ask questions of and learn from.”
