The High School Challenge is based on the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate, and Advanced International Certificate of Education Tests given at a school each year and divided by the number of seniors graduating.  The Challenge Index is designed to identify those schools that have done the best job of encouraging students to take college-level courses and tests.

The ranking represents the former Newsweek Ranking which has now migrated to the Washington Post.

Last week, U.S. News & World Report ranked East in Michigan’s top 50.

Roper credited his staff for tirelessly encouraging students to consider the benefits of participating in college-level courses and examinations. He also had a special message for students and East’s AP Coordinator Dr. Hobolth:

Congratulations to all of our AP Students who have taken the challenge and made the commitment to include increased rigor in their high school schedule.  Special thanks to Dr. Mike Hobolth who does a tremendous job coordinating our Advanced Placement program.  In addition, Dr. Hobolth is also responsible for facilitating and hosting a top notch AP Summer Institute for teachers across Michigan here at Lapeer East. 

Kudos to students, staff and everyone else involved in making East a great school!

Click here to download the application.

Are you going to college?  Do you need to supplement your financial aid package with loans?  What are the rates of the loans?  The rate may be higher than you realize.  When does the interest accrue?  When do the payments start?

Graduates of Lapeer Community Schools are eligible to apply for student loans to assist with college expenses.  The funds are available because our community has donated to The Lapeer Community Scholarship and Student Loan Fund (LCSSLF) over several decades.

Loans up to $2,000 annually are available to Lapeer grads and alumni, with a maximum of $8,000.  The loan rate is 5% and payments do not begin until six months after graduation or separation from college.

The LCSSLF also awards scholarships each year to graduates of Lapeer East, Lapeer West and Lapeer Community High Schools at the Honors Assemblies.

The Lapeer Community Scholarship and Student Loan Fund is a non-profit 501(c) (3) organization, supervised by a nine-member board representing of our school district and community.

For more information, visit our website at lapeerloanfund.org and email us at lapeerloanfund@gmail.com.  Send us your questions and we will respond promptly.

Brad Walker, longtime head varsity softball coach at Lapeer West, coached in his final home game on Thursday versus Midland Dow. Walker, a science teacher at West for many years, retired officially from teaching in 2011.

This softball, signed by his current players, was given to Coach Walker on Thursday.

On Thursday afternoon, Brad Walker made preparations for his team’s game versus Midland Dow just like he has for the past 26 years; this one was different, though. For Walker, a former high school science teacher who officially retired from the District in 2011, Thursday’s game at West was his final home game as the Panthers’ coach.

Walker is stepping down to free up some time to spend with his grandchildren. Let’s hope Walker and the girls finish on a high note, with a run far into the state playoffs.

Kudos to Coach Walker for all his years of service of Lapeer Community Schools.

Fourth graders at Schickler Elementary took turns this afternoon presenting the poems they had written under the direction of Mrs. Richardson and Mr. Sporman.

This afternoon, fourth grade students at Schickler Elementary packed into the school’s library for the final installment of the popular Poetry Cafe. Students from the classes of Mrs. Richardson and Mr. Sporman took to the stage to share their recently-penned poems with their peers along with a large group of parents and staff members. The students presented all types of poems — Limericks, Acrostics and even Biographical.

Twice during the program, parents, staff members and students were asked to take part in an “open mic” session to share poems they had authored or others that were meaningful to them.

And after the adults had shared, there was no shortage of students eager to present another poem. Everyone in the room seemed to be excited about the opportunity.

Click here to check out photos from today’s event.

Click here to watch a short video of several students reading their poems.

The trip to The Big Apple was May 17-21.

Click here to see the blog.

Angie Ciaravino – high jump and 300 meter hurdles

Amy Gaylor – 800 meter run

Zack Whatcott – high jump and 110 meter hurdles

They will compete at the state track meet on June 2 in Grand Rapids. Zack and Angie are regional champs in the high jump as well.

Great job! Represent your school with pride at the state meet!

Over the weekend, the Lapeer Westside Soccer Team finished its season undefeated with a 4-0 win over Swartz Creek at St. Paul in Lapeer. The players attend Zemmer and Rolland Warner Middle Schools. Congrats!

The following are members of the team:

Kayla Birker
Mariah Brown
Kellee Byard
Audrey Carmack
Kara Daniels
Mackenzie Hirth
Shelby Metzger
Hope O’Neill
Gabby Patykowski
Sydney Reinhardt
Leah Ridenour
Sarah Ridenour
Tori Tripp
Kelsey Welch
Nicole Wilcox
Marissa Woods

East head coach Chad Kenny was extremely proud of his team’s dedication on and off the field.

“I’m proud to be a part of the soccer programs here at Lapeer East,” Kenny said. “The players are always competitive on the field. More importantly, they are respected in the classroom. Athletics is an extension of the classroom and this award reflects the hard work and dedication our girls put forth at Lapeer East.”

Way to go Eagles!

Eighth graders Olivia Pettit and Rachel Madar are pictured with a portion of the non-perishable food items and essential goods collected for LACADA.

Students in Mr. Sweeney’s Leave Your Mark class are teaming up to help the less fortunate. There was a non-perishable/canned food drive May 7^th through 18^th. All non-perishable foods and essential goods will be donated to “Lapeer Area Citizens Against Domestic Abuse” (L.A.C.A.D.A.) and all the canned goods will go to St. Paul Lutheran Church’s soup kitchen.

The drive was a huge success with over 1,000 items brought in by our 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th graders. At the end of our drive, Mrs. Wolfer’s 8^th grade class won with almost 700 items! Mrs. Castillo’s 6^th grade class came in second with over 150 items. Mrs. Wolfer’s class will be receiving root beer floats and donuts for their hard-work and Mrs. Castillo’s class will also be receiving a special treat.

Great job everyone!

Moving forward toward our goal of becoming the “District of Choices,” LCS is proud to offer families a new opportunity that lies at the heart of our mission.

Lapeer Virtual Learning Center, new for 2012-13, will offer non-traditional students in grades 6-12 the opportunity to receive all or a portion of their education online and at no-cost.

On Tuesday, May 22, anyone interested in learning more about the Lapeer Virtual Learning Center can come to a demo night at Maple Grove Elementary School, 2020 Imlay City Rd., Lapeer. There will be two sessions (5:30 and 7:30 p.m.) for students to test drive the technology and get information on online curriculum offerings.

LVLC will be one of the only brick-and-mortar facilities in Michigan to offer virtual learning to non-traditional students, including homeschool families.

The facility that is currently home to Maple Grove Elementary School will become the home of LVLC for the 2012-13 school year, in preparation for a move to its permanent home at the Cramton Campus in 2013-14 (I-69 at Lake Nepessing Road).

For enrollment information, call 810-538-1644.