Spotlight on the September 2026 Presidents Cup

Each month, the LP Link will spotlight an area of District priority with the goal of sharing valuable information and resources with our school community. This month’s topic is unique–highlighting one of golf’s premier international events and what it means as Lake Park High School partners with the PGA Tour and Medinah Country Club for the 2026 Presidents Cup that will be hosted September 22-27, 2026. 

Impact to 2026-2027 School Calendar

While Lake Park’s 2026-2027 school year will be significantly impacted by the magnitude of this event, the Board of Education and leadership team have made intentional decisions that align as close to a “traditional” start/end schedule as possible. To accommodate the tournament, next school year will begin two days earlier on Monday, August 10, and school will be closed from Monday, September 21 through Friday, September 25. This unique adjustment also shortens winter break by three days, helping to maintain the existing balance of school days between semesters and the required number of student attendance days. The last day of the 2026-2027 school year will occur on Thursday, May 27. 

Clarifying “Closed”

While both campuses will be closed to all students for academics during the Presidents Cup, all fall co-curricular activities will still have full access to the West Campus for practices and hosting contests throughout the tournament week. The Athletic Department has made every effort for most teams to have away competitions; however, the Lancers will host a home football game in the West Campus stadium on Friday, September 25. Once the fall season begins next school year, families can contact coaches and sponsors for questions or further clarifications.  

Did You Know?

Upon completion of the event, Medinah Country Club will officially become the only golf course in the world to have hosted the "Big Four" of professional golf milestones:

1. The U.S. Open
2. The Ryder Cup
3. The BMW Championship
4. The Presidents Cup

With only 6 months to go, excitement is building as the sporting world turns its attention to world-class golf. The Presidents Cup is celebrating over 30 years of competition since its inception in 1994, with the 2026 event featuring the largest physical footprint in the tournament's history to accommodate the Chicago market. And as neighbors to Medinah Country Club, our school community will experience an up-close and personal view of the venue's transformation, especially as the build-out for the grandstands and hospitality compounds begins on Monday, April 6.

Thank you to Lancer students, families, and staff members for their flexibility and patience during the tournament operations that will draw significant global visibility. If you have any questions or comments, please direct them to PresidentsCup2026@lphs.org.

Students Earn 4.0 Academic Distinction

Lancers honored for achieving academic excellence during high school career.

Congratulations to 156 graduating Lancers who have achieved a cumulative 4.0 grade point average or higher through seven semesters at Lake Park High School. They were honored with a special breakfast celebration this week and had the opportunity to vote for class speakers at Scholarship & Awards on Tuesday, May 19 as well as graduation on Wednesday, May 27. The recipients will also be honored during the Scholarship & Awards ceremony, wear a sash and a medallion during commencement, and receive recognition in the graduation program. View a complete list of students who earned this impressive academic achievement!

Postsecondary Planning Events at West Campus

Career & College Center invites Lancers to explore future opportunities.

Medical Careers Spotlight: March 26

Lake Park’s Career & College Center encourages junior and senior Lancers interested in medical careers to attend the Medical Careers Spotlight on Thursday, March 26, hosted in the West Campus auditorium during 2nd and 3rd period. This event will showcase medical careers that do not require a 4-year degree. There will be a panel discussion with both pre-planned questions as well as questions from students. Following the panel, students will have a chance to visit informational tables and connect with companies in which they are interested.

The following organizations will be in attendance:

• Itasca Fire Dept.
• Alden Village (hire CNAs)
• Blue Rock Healthcare Training 
• College of DuPage Health Sciences Dept.
• Elite PCI (massage therapy)
• Lifeline Ambulance

Students must register in SchooLinks on the "Events" tab on the homepage. Attendance will be taken upon arrival.

College 101: March 26

The Counseling Department will host its "College 101" Planning Night for all Lake Park families on Thursday, March 26 at 6:15 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium.

The program will begin with an overview of the evening and will focus on Lake Parks College Application and Scholarship Process followed by breakout sessions: Finding Your Fit, Prospective Student-Athletes, Highly Selective Universities, College Admissions Testing, Community College, Paying for College, Admissions & the Arts and College Planning for Students with Disabilities. Families will be able to choose three of these breakout sessions to attend. View the agenda for the evening, which includes a list of presenters and descriptions of the sessions.

Families and students are encouraged to attend this important event on March 26. For questions, contact College & Career Counselor Katie Van at kvan@lphs.org or (630) 529-2288.

Parent Advisory Committee

Lancer families invited to learn about facilities master planning on April 9.

East Campus Principal Dr. Sean Potts and West Campus Principal Dr. Alexia Ellett invite parents/guardians to participate in the final meeting of the Parent Advisory Committee for 2025-2026. The meeting will be hosted from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the East Campus cafeteria on Thursday, April 9.

Superintendent Dr. Michael Wojtowicz will present details about the District's facilities master planning and visioning processes as well as recent Citizens Task Force meeting outcomes. The program will also include time for questions and an optional tour.

Upcoming Standardized Testing

ACT and PreACT testing to impact the regular schedule on April 15.

Last fall, Lake Park administered a practice assessment--the PreACT--to freshmen, sophomores and juniors in preparation for spring testing. Following the practice exams, families were encouraged to login to the Horizons Education portal to review the practice scores together. These practice assessments are invaluable for not only gauging content knowledge but also honing essential ACT strategies as students at both campuses prepare for exams on Wednesday, April 15.

• The school-day ACT with writing is scheduled for the entire junior Class of 2027. This early release day is a non-attendance day for seniors.

• The PreACT 9 will be administered to freshmen and the PreACT 10 to sophomores at East Campus. This exam, required by ISBE, provides an important assessment of student learning and paves the way for student success on the ACT taken during junior year.

Following the completion of testing, the school day will conclude and the District will run bus routes at that time. Please refer to the communication linked below for additional information about transportation, testing requirements, Wake the Brain activities, and more.

.....Grades 9 and 10

.....Grades 11 and 12

#LancerStories

Lancer staff member receives recognition.

Congratulations to Brittany Simpson who was named one of DuPage County’s “CTE Instructors of the Year” during a ceremony on Thursday, February 26 at the Technology Center of DuPage. She will also be recognized by the Lake Park Board of Education during the regular meeting on Monday, March 23.

With over a decade of teaching at Lake Park, Brittany also brings vital, real-world relevance to the Business Department with industry experience. Having taught a wide range of subjects including Web Design and Consumer Education, she now leads the Business Foundations and Marketing programs, where enrollment has expanded significantly under her guidance. Brittany pioneered Team-Based Challenges long before they became a standard, partnering her students with local businesses each semester to develop marketing plans that are frequently adopted and put into practice by the companies themselves.

Beyond the classroom, Brittany’s leadership has transformed Lake Park’s DECA chapter. Under her mentorship as an Advisor, the chapter has grown from 40 members to over 100, while the number of students qualifying for the International Career Development Conference has nearly quadrupled. A respected leader among her peers and a favorite among her students, Brittany’s dedication to innovation and professional advocacy continues to shape the next generation of business leaders at Lake Park.

2026 Spirit of Excellence Recipients

Lake Park Educational Foundation recognizes students and staff excellence.

The Lake Park Educational Foundation established the Spirit of Excellence awards to support and recognize the accomplishments of Lake Park students, staff, and alumni.

Distinguished alumni, students and staff will be honored at the 17th annual Lake Park Spirit of Excellence Celebration Dinner on Thursday, April 16 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Medinah Shriners Banquet center.

Thirty seniors will be recognized for their service, extraordinary effort, achievement and leadership throughout their high school years. These students were selected because they possess qualities for other students to emulate and have achieved special accomplishments in addition to their academic success while at Lake Park.

The four staff members receiving the Spirit of Excellence Awards include:

Legacy Award: Terri Svendsen

Connection Award: Brittany Knight, Melissa Cicora

Humanitarian Award: Tracy Fink

Lake Park's 69th Commencement

Class of 2026 end-of-year celebrations and information.

Decision Day

On Friday, May 1, students are encouraged to wear their college, trade, military or work gear to show their plans for next year. During lunch periods, Lancers can decorate the cafeteria windows with their post-secondary plans, take photos, and enjoy a tasty treat!

Cap and Gown Distribution

Graduation caps, gowns, and 4.0 medallions will be distributed during lunch periods on Monday, May 11 and Tuesday, May 12 in the student cafeteria. or starting Wednesday, May 13 between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. in the Main Office at West Campus. As a reminder, families already paid for and ordered caps and gowns during online registration for the 2025-2026 school year.

Scholarship Recognition

Lake Park will host the 46th Annual Scholarship and Awards Ceremony on Tuesday, May 19 at 7:00 p.m. in the West Campus auditorium to honor graduating students for national, state, school, and community-level scholarships. Watch for more information in the coming weeks about students who will be recognized.

Graduation Rehearsal

Once again this year, students will be required to attend graduation rehearsal at Willow Creek in South Barrington on Tuesday, May 26 (time 1:15-3:00 p.m.). Graduates will learn their seating arrangements, practice the processional/recessional, and receive final instructions to make everything run smoothly during the graduation ceremony.

Graduation 

Lake Park's 69th Commencement will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Willow Creek. Tickets are not required and doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for open seating. Following spring break, the Class of 2026 Graduation website page will go-live, and Lancer families with graduating students can expect to receive a mailing with additional resources and information.

Employment Opportunities

Join the Lancer staff for the 2026-2027 school year.

Lake Park High School is seeking talented, dedicated individuals to join our Lancer staff for the 2026-2027 school year. If you are passionate about making a difference in students' lives and want to be part of a collaborative, dynamic school community, we encourage you to explore our current openings.

Current opportunities include:

• Administration: Activities Director
• Leadership: School Counselor Coordinator
• Licensed Staff: Computer Science, English, Polish Bilingual, Technology Education
• Maintenance/Custodial: Part-Time Evening Custodian/Summer Helper, Seasonal Helper

In addition, we welcome interest in coaching roles, long-term substitutes, and volunteer opportunities. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply promptly, as many positions have a closing date of Monday, April 6. Furthermore, the following positions are anticipated in the near future:

• Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning
• World Language Department Leader

If you or someone you know may be a strong fit for one of these roles, please feel free to share this information. Join us in supporting and inspiring the students of Lake Park High School!