Joomla Login LightBox powered by WowJoomla.com

Follow Us

More News Headlines

Current Poll

Do you plan to fill out your census form?

	Yes
	No

Featured Jobs

Getting ready for the season

News

Written by Aaron Cedeño

Wednesday, 02 September 2009 07:00

Brian Boeve knows a thing or two about how small towns can rally behind their school districts.

After stops in Phillipsburg, Kan., population 2,668, and Smith Center, Kan., population 1,931, the new Louisburg High School vice principal landed in town for the 2009-2010 academic year, with some high expectations in place.

Of course, Thursday night’s annual fall sports pep rally and tailgate surpassed them all, and then some.

“The community involvement and the student involvement was what was impressive to me,” Boeve said, of his first LHS pep rally experience. “It got me excited, and I think everybody was ready to get the year going.”

As activities director at LHS, Doug Key is perhaps a bit more familiar with both the community’s level of involvement and the level of student participation in fall sports and activities. For the students, Key said, such participation is an important element of a successful high school career.

It’s something that Key felt the district did a great job promoting, especially first-year principal Dave Tappan. Key noted that Tappan took the time to meet personally with as many incoming freshmen as he could prior to the start of the school year, in an effort to get them started down the right path as quickly as possible.

The high level of interest from the community in events like the pep rally helps illustrate that Louisburg understands the importance of its school district. Thursday night wasn’t just about getting ready for fall sports, but rather a chance to appreciate the talents of organizations and teams like the marching band, dance team and cheerleading squad — all of whom brought home considerable accolades from summer camps and competitions this year.

Hundreds of LHS supporters gathered Thursday night to recognize school activities for their success at camps and performances this summer, as well as build excitement for the coming season. (Photo by Aaron Cedeño)

“I think our student body and our community has embraced what we do with all our activities,” Key said. “All of our activities really get the recognition, especially through the paper. But we promote what we do.”

First National Bank has sponsored the event for 14 years running — a considerable expanse of time. It isn’t just that the community is interested in what goes on in the schools, said Bob Nauman, bank president, it’s that they fully understand the impact they have on the town. The district’s reputation of quality has brought an influx of young families to the city in recent years.

“I think we’ll do it as long as they want us to do it,” Nauman said, of the bank’s future involvement. “It’s great exposure for the bank, and we just look at it really more as a focus on the high school and the kids. “We can be in the background and participate in that.”

Set as favorite

Bookmark

Email This

Trackback(0)

TrackBack URI for this entry