New Year, New Faces, New Opportunities!
By: Paige Kurpgeweit, a freshman at Leigh High School
It’s hard to believe another summer has ended and we have hit the ground running on another year at Leigh Community Schools.
An open house was held on Wednesday, August 11, from 6-8 pm. Students were able to meet their teachers, see their new classrooms, pick up their computers, and enjoy a hamburger meal with their family.
The 2021-2022 school year officially began on Friday, August 13, for K-12 with a 1 pm dismissal on the first day. The Patriot Booster Club held its annual Spirit Night that night in the park in Clarkson.
Pre-K started on Wednesday, August 18.
The start of this year brings about many new changes from last year. The biggest change is that masks are optional this year to all students and staff.
Leigh Community Schools also welcomed many new faces to the building this fall. Two new elementary students and two new high school students joined the ranks, along with a whopping 11 new staff members.
New staff members include Mr. Cole Fischer as superintendent, Mrs. Brianne Bachman as 7-12 science, Mr. Andy Bachman as 6-12 Math, Ms. Vanessa Knutson as Ag/FFA, Ms. Madison Cerv as Guidance, Mrs. Kendra Beller as Kindergarten, Rhonda Bartling as elementary custodian, and Linda Wilke and Linda Bachman as paraprofessionals.
New superintendent Mr. Fischer is excited for the year ahead.
“A theme of the year and a goal I have for this school is BE THE BEST,” Mr. Fischer said. “I see the future of LCS as being recognized as one of the best schools in northeast Nebraska. We have the excellent facility, the staff, the students, and the community in order to make that happen. I want to give our students the experience that makes them have pride in our school and pride in our community and encourages them to move back and raise their own families here someday. WE ARE LEIGH!”
Some other new changes that students can see this new year are a two-track Kindergarten for the first time in many years. This means there are two classes of Kindergarteners because the numbers are so high.
Facility changes include both gym floors being redone over the summer. There is also a new batting cage out by the softball field
Some things to look forward to in the coming school year are the holding of the Conference Wrestling here at Leigh for the first time. Leigh will also be the host site of half the Patriot volleyball games for the first time in many years. Basketball and football games will be split up between Clarkson and Leigh.
Makenna Held, a senior this year, looks forward to the year ahead:
“Even though summer was a refreshing and fun break away from school, I, as well as a lot of others, am ready to get back to the routine of learning,” Held said. “I am excited to start my senior year and be in the new school again with a lot of new faces, from administrators to teachers and even some new students. I can't wait.”