 Letter from the Principal: I pray this letter finds you well and in good spirits. I wanted to take a minute to tell you what a great opening we have had this year at LHS. From the first day of the school to the day we all love, Friday, we had a smooth opening. We had over 776 students (100 more than last year) in classes the first day, the first period, learning and focused on school. We closed out the week hovering around 800! We started the week with 100% attendance and maintained just below 99% for the entire week! I feel a head shaving coming. This summer our teachers gave up an entire week of their vacation, Saturdays and several trips to here and there for training. Their dedication and "no quit" attitude will be evident this year as you track your child's progress. Also, the addition of our new teachers, all 8 of them...funny how rumors grow...have already strengthened our team, as they started on day one having a positive presence. Last year we "beat the bushes" and "built bridges" for students . We, if you haven't heard, improved our Graduation Rate (70+ students) for students who finished in 4 years, improved our Completion Rate (80+ students) for students who got their diploma despite their circumstances, and decreased our Drop-out Rate (80+ students) for students who had watched hope all but fade away. Since I taught Spanish, not math, I will just say that equals a LOT of students who got a diploma who a year ago were not going to make it. In the end, it hurt our test scores and cost us numbers on a page, but I believe that people "count" much more than numbers on the page. Every one of those students who created a number in one category or another have a name, a face, and a story. Yes, our scores dropped, but in the end our community is and will be stronger with them being productive citizens. With all that said, be assured that this year we will soar like the phoenix rising. This time next year you can expect a set of numbers that even those who "hate on" Laurel will have to say, "WOW!" Our students WILL perform by proving to everyone that circumstances don't determine success, positive attitudes and hard work do. Wait for it, bank on it! Stay tuned for Tuesday-take-home Folders that will be coming your way every week full of notes, progress reports, and graded work from your child's teachers. I want to end by saying that I have watched almost every child at LHS grow and become the young adults they are over the past 5 years. They may be fledging adults, but they are still my babies. When asked the other day how many children I have, I replied two that my Wife gave me that sleep in their beds across the hallway, and 800 that God gave me that sit in classrooms down the hallway. I am blessed. You have my word that while they are with me during the day I am watching and working with them to make you proud. I remain your servant, Carl Michael Day |
Laurel High School would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to the following Association for Excellence in Education Student Ambassadors: Sanderson Farms, Masonite, Central Sunbelt Federal Credit Union, Western Sizzlin, Regions Bank and Oil Field Service & Supply. |
 Laurel High is a proud participant of the Whole Schools Initiative ! Our focus is on the whole child, and as a result, our classrooms employ ARTS Integration as a "way of learning." We want our children's learning experiences to be enriched beyond the average content and skills development. Over the course of the year we will be working hard to obtain Model School for the ARTS just like our feeder schools of Nora Davis and Laurel Middle. Soon, we will have Open House and we invite everyone to come by to see how learning at Laurel High is changing for the better. |
 Laurel High is under construction: We are on our way to be becoming a Community of Caring! This means that we are working to establish a culture that promotes RESPECT, RESPONSIBILITY and CARING in all apects of our school. Our children will learn positive habits that lead to a successful school community. At Laurel High we want all our students to be recognized and rewarded for being model citizens both in school and the larger community that we serve. Stay tuned for updates and notes on our progress... |
Below you will find our No Child Left Behind Letter to parents that details our current data from 2008-2009. | ||
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Principal Carl Michael Day Laurel High School 1100 W 12th Street Laurel, MS 39440 PHONE: (601)649-4145 |
