School improvement process stalls under district procedures

Alison Pinchney | Raider Staff

The courtyard remains empty in the wintertime at LCHS. Teachers and students have helped to update the courtyard whenever possible, mostly through volunteer projects done by Latin and Senior Outreach. Raider Staff Photographer: Alison Pinchney

For years, students have felt embarrassed about our school. From the point of view of students, the bathrooms are neglected, the courtyard is barren, and the school looks old. But if we find out what really goes into changing the school, maybe we wouldn’t be so critical and perhaps would come to love our school and have pride about it.

Principal Michelle Luttrell has been trying for years to improve the environment of the school, but getting things approved is another story. “I have current work orders out requesting improvements to the student and staff bathrooms, to close the alley in order to create more classrooms, and to improve some of our fine and performing arts instructional spaces,” Luttrell said.
“All of these things can happen,” Luttrell said. “It is just a matter of whether or not the division will approve and make it happen.”

The Loudoun County Public Schools division is in charge of what is amended or made new in all school or administrative buildings in Loudoun County. They have their own priorities, and not even a principal can force them to act.

The process of making changes is a complicated one, which is why it may feel that the administrators are neglecting the school, for it takes large amounts of time to make change.

According to Luttrell, the first step is examination. “We work very closely with our Building Engineer to examine and inspect our building and campus on a daily basis to ensure equipment, facilities, and supports are safe and operable to support our learning environment,” Luttrell said.

If something is wrong, Luttrell takes that information, with feedback provided by staff, and submits work orders when needed to repair or replace items on an ongoing basis.

Most of these get carried out quickly, but situations like broken doors and locks in the bathroom, school graffiti, or the barren courtyard take more time to change.

Luttrell also submits requests in anticipation of long-term projects needed to support her efforts to create a safe working and learning environment.

“The division has a team called Property Improvement Review Team (PIRT) that receives, reviews, and prioritizes work orders from over 90 buildings in LCPS,” Luttrell said. “To put the volume of requests they receive in perspective, you should know we have submitted over 3,000 work orders in the past five years. I am not sure how many work orders other buildings send, but keep in mind there are 90 campuses in the division submitting similar requests.”

This explains why not everything can be fixed immediately. LCHS has an automated system called SchoolDude that captures all of the facility requests that eventually land in the PIRT review folder if the work is beyond the scope of the Building Engineer.

“There are only a handful of individuals on campus that can submit a work order so we can control what is being processed to the division,” Luttrell said. “We can submit work orders involving a range of resources to include, but not limited to construction, carpentry, furniture repairs, HVAC, clocks/bells, and plumbing.”

As for why the teacher work room and the school windows were renovated before the school bathroom, Luttrell explained that the funding for the furniture in the teacher workroom came from the school and did not require a work order since there was no “construction or work done.”

The division provides new furniture, carpet, and new paint on a cycle. Some of the cycles are ten to 20 years in rotation. The windows were paid for by the division.

In the past five years, Luttrell has been supported by the division for several major improvements to the school, including handicap access to the front of the school, receiving new windows to the original part of the school, a new roof, new NJROTC building, and transforming computer labs into classrooms.

Luttrell knows that the school is over 60 years old and that some things simply can’t be fixed due to the infrastructure of the building, but many things have been improved, and many more things in the future will be changed to benefit our environment.

“I am very proud to be a Raider,” Luttrell said. “We have a beautiful school, rich with history and tradition. I am honored to be a member of our school community. Our school was built in 1954 and is in great condition because so many people take pride in our community and do their part to maintain the facility and keep it and the campus clean.”

Luttrell continually looks for ways to improve our building for safety and instruction. With this in mind, it seems that the school is in no way neglected, but rather cared for deeply.

Students experience a taste of college in NOVA classes

Marshall Scott | Raider Staff

Many courses at County offer higher level information and knowledge. Advanced Placement and honors classes give students the opportunity to challenge themselves with a more rigorous course and a GPA boost as well. LCHS also offers classes partnered with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) that are college-level courses and award college credits for taking the course. These classes benefit the student by preparing them for college with the ability to take them in high school rather than in college.

Dual-enrollment classes are the most commonly-taken classes offered by NOVA. They cover a variety of courses and have higher expectations for the students.

Junior Bella Sauer takes dual-enrollment US History. “There is more note taking, along with tests and quizzes, without projects and group work,” Sauer said. “The expectations are much higher, and a more active role in class and at home is required. While the workload is bigger, it pays off because you get college credits while still in high school. It prepares you more for school after high school than any other course can, and that’s why I love the opportunity.”

Some students take classes at the NOVA campus after school. Senior Tomasz Anders is enrolled in a math class and goes after school from Monday through Thursday.
“It’s quite a commitment, but it’s a great environment and I’ve met some new friends,” Anders said. “As long as you can keep up with the workload, you can get a lot out of it and it’s a huge benefit for me.”

NOVA classes offer a variety of benefits, filled with opportunity for all students prepared to take a step towards continuing their education after high school.

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Wellness Wednesday wins over students

Sally Stimpson | Editor

Students play Wii to help destress as part of Wellness Wednesday. PEER staff created Wellness Wednesday as a quarterly event during which students choose an hour-long activity to lower their stress levels. Photo courtesy of Valerie Egger.

LCHS’ Positive Experiences in Educational Relationships (PEER) aims to decrease student’s stress levels by creating a welcoming school environment and organizing a variety of activities. One of their newest activities this year is Wellness Wednesday. This program is intended to help the school community manage its stress by providing students with an hour to participate in lighthearted activities with their classmates.

PEER sponsor Dorene Kuebler explained that PEER got the inspiration to implement Wellness Wednesday from surrounding schools. “We borrowed the idea from Loudoun Valley High School, who have been doing this weekly since the beginning of last school year,” said Kuebler.

By starting Wellness Wednesday, PEER hopes to help students manage their stress.

“We want Wellness Wednesday to be a relaxing and fun way to destress and hang out with your friends in the middle of a busy week. Whether it’s yoga or coloring, we want our peers to discover new ways to cope that they can bring with them all throughout life,” said Grace Zeiter-Gherst, a member of PEER.

Wellness Wednesday includes a variety of activities that appeal to students. From decorating cookies to playing frisbee, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Sophomore Kate Burke explained that she loves Wellness Wednesday as it provides her with a break from school and an opportunity to enjoy herself with her friends.

Each Wellness Wednesday requires PEER to plan and prepare in order to create a positive experience for the school. One of the most important concepts in the success of each Wellness Wednesday is the use of a sign-up database to limit and keep track of the number of students in each activity.

However, this sign-up has become a complication for the operation of Wellness Wednesday as some students fail to sign up accordingly. “This creates overcrowding in some areas or a lack of necessary supplies. We hope that in the future students will understand the importance of this aspect,” said Kuebler.

Along with creating this sign-up, PEER does a variety of things to outline each Wellness Wednesday. Zeiter noted that the group also ensures that teachers are prepared to lead their activities and help promote the signup.

Overall, Kuebler says that the program has been a huge success. “We have received a lot of positive feedback from students and staff,” Kuebler said. “PEER loves sponsoring this activity and hopes that students are benefiting from this opportunity.”

Students can look forward to Wellness Wednesday being held once per quarter with the next activities being scheduled for February 13 and the final session scheduled for April 24.

Cadets enjoy Military Ball

Jake Joseph | Raider Staff

This year’s annual NJROTC Military Ball was held at Lansdowne Resort on December 14. At the ball, NJROTC cadets and their guests were invited to trade in their baggy sweatpants and sneakers for a suit and tie for the evening.

The ball consisted of a reception, a dinner, and a dance. It was an opportunity for students to experience a formal dinner, which relies heavily on manners and etiquette.

English teacher Katherine Ives believes the Military Ball is a great way for students to practice and learn interpersonal skills. “They go through a receiving line as they enter and must respectfully interact with officers and guests of honor,” said Ives, who has attended the ball for multiple years.

Ives believes the ball is a perfect opportunity for young adults to learn how to converse and handle themselves in a formal setting. “Because it is formal with a sit down dinner, it has an element of conversation and conviviality that is more refined than Prom or Homecoming,” Ives said. “Much of life is about adapting to new situations and shifting behavior to match the situation. The Military Ball provides attendees with this opportunity.”

The dinner portion of the ball came after the reception. The senior officers and their respective guests sat at a head table, while all those attending sat at their designated spots.

“My favorite part of the ball has to be the fact that they leave one table empty in respect of the fallen soldiers,” said junior Harrison Bradford, who has been an ROTC cadet all three years at Loudoun County High School.

The meal consisted of a salad, steak or chicken, and cake. After the dessert was served, all guests stood up to toast the branches of the US military. After the toasts, the guest speaker addressed the guests.

This year’s guest speaker was Colonel Robert Fagan from the Army. Fagan spoke of his time in the Army, with stories from his service.

After Colonel Fagan finished speaking, the dance portion began. “The dance was my favorite part,” said junior Ella Adam, “I like how they played both fast, upbeat songs and slow songs.”

The military ball concluded at 11:30, though guests were welcome to leave as soon as the dance began.

“I loved the ball,” said junior Clay Curtis. “I’m definitely going again next year.”

Latin is brought back to life in Richmond, VA

Alison Pichney | Raider Staff

Lynn Krepich, Andrew Abbott, Christine Mayo, Claire McGuinness, Kylie Bowers, and Cameron Suttie attend the
Latin convention in Richmond on November 18. Photo courtsey of Mike Krepich.

Despite being dubbed a “dead language” by historians around the world, Latin is in no way dead and Loudoun County High School is part of the reason why. The Junior Classical League of Virginia holds an annual Latin convention in Richmond, VA, which thousands of students, teachers, and colleagues attend. Knowledge is shared, and Latin students from all over Virginia get to show off their skills.

This year, five Latin students attended the convention in Richmond. Lynn Krepich, the Latin teacher at LCHS, was their chaperone. “This was my fifteenth year attending the convention,” Krepich said. “I first heard about the convention from colleagues and the Junior Classical League since I am apart of the American Classical League. I knew it would be a great opportunity for students from the start.”

Other students feel the same. Kylie Bowers, a senior at LCHS, said, “I’ve attended the convention two years, my senior and sophomore year. The Latin Convention is really cool because when you show up, thousands of other Latin students are present amongst you.”

This can be somewhat of a nerve-wracking situation, but Bowers said that having people around you who share a passion for Latin makes the situation all the more heartwarming. Having this platform to distribute ideas with other students from around the state isn’t the only way that students benefit from this event.

“Students that attend can be given certificates and awards of merits that can be put toward college applications and governor school applications,” Krepich said. “The entire place is just infused with the Latin spirit, and knowing that the parents of these students are just as enthusiastic to drive their kids to Richmond as I would just warms my heart.”

The convention lasts for two days, but is packed with plentiful activities and competitions to encourage the spread and awakening of the Latin language.

Once at the convention, Latin students have the opportunity to compete in tests that range from grammar to mythology which they can place in, and events such as storytelling, dramatic interpretation, oratory, arts and crafts, and costume contests.

Thousands of students from other schools participated in the tests, but LCHS students placed exceptionally well. Bowers placed fourth in storytelling, Cameron Suttie, a sophomore, placed first for his level in academic pentathlon, and Christine Mayo, another sophomore, placed first for her level in life and culture.

“Placing in storytelling is fun because it feels good that you studied a story and shared it with teachers who know what you’re talking about,” Bowers said.

Bowers also participated in the Roman history, life and culture, derivative, vocabulary, mythology, and mottos tests. “The tests are meant to be challenging, but if you know the subject it comes pretty easily,” she said.

“I am so proud of our Latin students whose spirit and enthusiasm are remarkable for learning Latin and the fields related to the classics,” Krepich said. “They have great passion for learning all aspects of this language. Their efforts put LCHS on the map for classical endeavors.”

“When you go in to take your test and compete in other contests, you have to give it your all to place,” Bowers said. “Everything is super competitive. But there is also a feeling of a bond because everyone loves Latin as much as you.”

Krepich looks forward to next year’s competition. “I judged oratory this year and learned some techniques useful to coach students for next year’s competition. It is helpful to witness other students’ performances to gauge the level and quality of the competition.”

The Latin Convention is a place for Latin to come alive once again and for students, teachers, and colleagues to distribute ideas amongst each other, bettering everyone’s skills and thoughts about the language.