Lancer Ledger

As Lakeland Regional High School begins its 2024-2025 school year, new systems, rules, and policies are underway. Here is everything you need to know about this years changes:

Goodbye Midterms – You Will Not Be Missed
A major change this year is that there will no longer be midterms, which were brought back last year as 5% of a student’s overall grade. This year, students will only have to prepare for a final exam, which will once again be worth 10% of their overall grade. This change was made due to student and staff input that the midterms added too much stress on those testing and administering the test, and that as they were only 5% of one’s overall final grade, students didn’t put forth much effort into their final exams, according to Ms. Jamie Cawley, supervisor and testing coordinator.

Introducing the Lancer Student Hub

Have you noticed signs around the school for the Lancer Student Hub? The new Lancer Student Hub is one of the most helpful additions made this year. Introduced by Keith Kelley, Senior Options Coordinators and Dean of Students, the Lancer Student Hub is exactly what it sounds like, a center for everything a LRHS student may need to access from calendars for all important upcoming events and sports; various schedules, including those for Extra Help; a whole column for the LRHS Counseling Department; and news about what is happening in the school from testing to a link to the Lancer Ledger. It also contains resources like the LRHS Student Handbook, attendance policy, and emergency and mental health resources such as the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Chromebook’s New Policy
Students may have noticed that they did not have to buy insurance for their chromebooks this year. This is because LRHS adopted a new policy based on student, teacher, and IT feedback which allows students to turn in their broken chromebook for a working one. If the student’s original chromebook is repairable, they will receive an email from the IT department to pick it up and return the loaner. If the chromebook is beyond repair, the student will be able to keep the temporary one signed out to them. Of course, there are exceptions to this new policy, which states that students who lose their chromebook can not check out a temporary replacement. However, every classroom is equipped with a chromebook to loan out to students in those situations, and teachers have set up their own classroom policy for the loaners use.

Points System Updated
This year also saw an update to the points system. The new system is as follows:

0 points: Must have ZERO balance to attend school activities such as: Junior Formal/Senior Prom, Homecoming, Parking Permits, Field Trips & Graduation Ceremony

10 points: Cannot go to the Media Center during Study Hall or use the Fitness Center

15 points: Cannot attend school assemblies

20 points: Meeting will be scheduled with Dean of Students and a phone call to parent

25 points: Meeting with Athletic Director, coach/advisor and parent

30 points: Suspended from team & all activities indefinitely until Points are reduced to below 20

30+ points: Parent/guardian conference to discuss school service and/or detention options available for point reduction

New Schedule, Who Dis?

LRHS rolled out a new bell schedule for the school year, which has put into motion to better support out student and staff.

Bringing Down Chronic Absenteeism
LRHS is proud that the school community takes education seriously. Students and their families have been working with the administration and staff to bring our chronic absentee number well below the projected goal for 2023-2024 school year to 12.9%. This number means LRHS students are in class, present, and succeeding. The goal for the 2024-2025 school year is to bring the percentage under 10%, and the administration has some incentives and thank yous for students’ great work.

Thank you: All sporting events will be free for all LRHS students.

Incentive: Senior parking lot lottery for students with perfect attendance. The winning student gets to park in a Board of Education spot.

No More Bathroom Scans
As of this year, students no longer have to be scanned in and out of the bathroom. There will still be teachers stationed on hall duty, and all other rules still apply: students must have their hoods down, be wearing their lanyard, and can not bring bags into the restroom. If a student is found without an ID, they will be sent to the office for a temporary one.