LP Link: December 5, 2025

The LP Link is published bi-weekly during the school year to highlight the latest districtwide news and events at Lake Park High School. Contact Sherri Anderson, Director of Communications and Community Engagement, if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for content.

Know Before You Go

Understand the District's response plan for inclement weather.

As students and staff prepare to leave for winter break, please familiarize yourself with Lake Park's process for making weather-related decisions and the option to shift to an Electronic-Learning (e-Learning) day. Winter months in Chicagoland can prove to be very challenging from snowy conditions to dangerous temperatures and windchills. Arriving at a decision to keep school open, close it, or dismiss early due to inclement weather remains a difficult determination for any school district.

Because weather forecasts can often be inaccurate - and conditions can quickly change - Lake Park relies on the most up-to-date information, which may mean waiting until the early morning on any given school day. Lake Park does not make decisions in isolation, but rather consults with sender school districts, the bus transportation company, and neighboring school districts throughout DuPage County.

During the 2024-2025 school year, the Board of Education approved a resolution to utilize e-Learning days in lieu of emergency days. The Lake Park High School e-Learning Plan was submitted to and approved by the Regional Office of Education. This 3-year plan allows for student instruction to be delivered electronically on days where students are not physically present at school.

The purpose of e-Learning days is to allow Lake Park to continue the curriculum forward. Visit the District’s e-Learning page or read the Frequently Asked Questions document that provides more specific information about e-Learning days.

Occasions like weather-related closings are an important reminder for Lancer families to keep contact information as current as possible. Please be sure to review the Home Access Center (HAC) and provide any updates to the Registrars, so that you may continue to receive timely communication via the District’s automated notification system.

Final Exam Schedule

Preparing for the three-day schedule to end first semester.

Lake Park's first-semester final exam schedule will take place over three days on Wednesday, December 17, Thursday, December 18, and Friday, December 19. View the final exam daily schedule.

During these exam days, Lake Park students will have access to tutoring and bus transportation (pick-up/drop-off) that is provided on a typical school day. Students who require transportation between campuses during the day will have a bus provided for them.

Buses will depart approximately 10 minutes after the end of the day and late buses will still run as usual departing at 4:00 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. from East Campus and 3:45 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. from West Campus. Lancers remaining for the make-up period must provide their own transportation.

Lancer Legacy Breakfast

Students recognized for demonstrating characteristics of The Lancer Way.

On Thursday, October 30, West Campus celebrated the Fall Lancer Legacy Breakfast by honoring 18 students who have demonstrated growth in academics, behavior, and/or attendance, shown significant resilience, and/or exhibited outstanding character. This marks the second year and third ceremony of the program.

On Thursday, December 3, East Campus celebrated the Fall Lancer Legacy Breakfast by honoring 17 students for similar criteria as West Campus. They may have done an act of kindness for friends or the community, who have been of service to others, and/or who may often "fly under the radar" but is otherwise a great role model for others.

Celebrating Athletic Excellence

Football student-athlete and three head coaches earn prestigious honors.

Congratulations to Lancer student-athlete Niko Menos who participated in a National Letter of Intent signing ceremony on Wednesday, December 3. Earning a Division 1 football scholarship to Eastern Illinois University, Niko was surrounded by his family and teammates during a special recognition event that included head coach Chris Kirkpatrick sharing highlights of his accomplishments before the official commitment signing to compete in collegiate athletics. Niko leaves a legacy of several records, including single game receptions (14), single game receiving touchdowns (3), #2 on the single season receiving yards (721), and more. Following an outstanding senior year, highlighted by his selection for the 2025 Illinois Football Coaches Association 8A All-State Honorable Mention, Lake Park wishes Niko the very best for his collegiate success.

Congratulations to three head coaches for their exceptional team success and recognition for the athletic programs during the fall season. These accolades reflect the strong leadership and positive impact our coaches are having on their student-athletes, both in competition and character development.

Head Boys Volleyball Coach Brian Fischer was named the 2024-2025 IHSA Coach of the Year. This top state honor follows the team's return to the IHSA State Finals for the 8th time. Coach Fischer is now eligible for the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Coach of the Year.

Head Girls Swimming & Diving Coach Bennet Witteveen was named a 2025 Sectional Coach of the Year by the Illinois Swimming & Diving Association (ISDA). Coach Witteveen led the team to its 14th IHSA Sectional Team Championship and advanced multiple athletes in six events to the IHSA State Meet.

Head Boys Soccer Coach AJ Gouriotis was named a 2025 Sectional Coach of the Year by the Illinois High School Soccer Coaches Association (IHSSCA) in his rookie season, after leading the Lancers to an undefeated DuKane Conference Championship.

National Technical Honor Society Induction

Recognizing the achievements of top Career & Technical Education students.

The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) exists to honor, recognize, and empower students and teachers in Career & Technical Education - Business, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Technology & Engineering. Now in its third year, 44 students were inducted during a ceremony hosted on Thursday, December 4. NTHS students are part of an organization that serves over 100,000 active members in chapters across the country - both secondary and postsecondary.

Since its inception in 1984, nearly 1.2 million students have become NTHS alumni. NTHS honors the achievements of top CTE students, providing $300,000 in scholarships annually, and strives to connect education and industry to build a highly skilled workforce.

The parameters for admission into the Lake Park National Technical Honor Society include:

3.0 GPA (CTE Non-Weighted) on a 4.0 scale
Four semesters in one of the following areas: Business / Family & Consumer Sciences / Technology & Engineering
Involvement in extracurriculars once a year
Excellent attendance and character

Catch the Holiday Spirit

Enjoy the play and craft fair this weekend and music concerts next week!

Following a successful Opening Night, the Lake Park Theatre will continue performances of the Charles Dickens' holiday classic, A Christmas Carol, at the East Campus Dice Auditorium. The 90-minute production with one intermission is a timeless tale that features a dedicated cast of 38 students and a crew of 10 students. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Friday, December 5 due to the coinciding “A Taste of the Arts” event sponsored by the Lake Park Educational Foundation. The showtime is 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 6. General admission is $5 at the door for ages 13+ and free for senior citizens and Lake Park students with an ID.

The Lancer holiday season continues with a number of festive events open to the community. Don't miss an opportunity to shop at the 43rd Annual Holiday Craft Fair hosted at West Campus on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. More than 100 vendors will offer handcrafted gift items for sale. Admission to the fair is $2.00 for adults and free for senior citizens and children.

On Tuesday, December 9, the Lake Park Choral Program presents a Holiday Festival of Choirs. Lake Park Choir Alumni are encouraged to attend and join on stage for the traditional singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. The holiday spirit continues on Thursday, December 11 for the Winter Band Concert featuring the "Sounds of The Season" from the LPHS Freshman Concert Band, Symphonic Band, and Wind Symphony. Both performances take place in the West Campus auditorium at 7:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public with treats provided following the performances!

Lancer Period Bell Schedule

The final Lancer Period lessons of the semester offer campus-specific content.

While maintaining the same start and end times for each campus, Lake Park designed a Lancer Period Bell Schedule to allocate 38 minutes for whole-school programming that falls outside the traditional curriculum. The Lancer Period is scheduled approximately once per month on Thursdays. All students and staff are assigned to a designated classroom for the Lancer Period to ensure whole-school participation in each activity. On Thursday, December 11, the final Lancer Period of the semester will cover the following campus-specific topics:

East Campus | Signs of Suicide (SOS)

In partnership with Elyssa’s Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention, this lesson will deliver the Signs of Suicide (SOS) program. SOS is an evidence-based program that incorporates two key suicide prevention strategies: a curriculum that raises awareness of suicide and mental health issues and a brief screening for depression and other risk factors associated with suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The program will be facilitated by classroom teachers who will engage students by showing the SOS video and leading students in a discussion about how to implement the key message of Acknowledge, Care, and Tell (ACT). * West Campus students will participate in the SOS program during the Lancer Period in February 2026.

West Campus | Student Habits, Adult Outcomes

This lesson will focus on students' habits as they transition to postsecondary life. “Student Habits, Adult Outcomes” will emphasize how everyday statements (e.g. I could do better, but I’m just lazy; This is pointless, I’ll never use it; School isn’t real life.) can produce unproductive responses and beliefs to situations that can follow people into adulthood. In small group discussion, Lancers will examine both the short- and long-term consequences of these habits and discuss alternative mindsets that better align with their personal goals.

FAFSA Completion Workshop

Class of 2026 Lancers are invited to a free, virtual workshop for assistance.

On Monday, December 8 beginning at 6:30 p.m., the Lake Park Counseling Department and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) will host the second virtual workshop via Google Meets to assist Class of 2026 Lancer students and families with completing either the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid (Alternative Application). These forms are used to apply for financial aid, such as the Federal Pell Grant and/or the Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP). Many colleges also use these forms to consider students for institutional money. View the flyer for more information and details to prepare for the virtual workshop.