It will be remembered as the year of firsts for LMPS: First year to open, first year for a play, concerts, sports, International Night, Battle of the Books, Veterans Day Program, state award for excellence in design; first year for eighth grade Graduation and Formal.
The school serving grades 5-8 opened to students Aug 7, 2017 and ended the year with honors programs and a graduation Monday (5.21.18) for 140 eighth grade students leaving the middle school and heading to high school. The ceremony was at Bellevue Baptist Church.
Announced at the May 21 graduation were the two top eighth grade students:
Valedictorian – Mia Patrikios
Salutatorian – Jessica Richardson
“We are so proud of this first class of graduates and so grateful that they and their parents decided to come back and spend their last year of middle school with us,” said Dr. Ted Horrell, Lakeland School System superintendent. “It was a wonderful year of firsts and new traditions, and this special group of students set the tone for our new school.”
LMPS principal Matt Adler said, “We are extremely proud of the success that our students have experienced with the opportunities that they were offered. We wish them well as they continue their education into high school and beyond.”
There were individual awards ceremonies at LMPS for fifth, sixth and seventh graders.
At the elementary campus, Lakeland Elementary School, programs were scheduled over multiple days to recognize students in preschool though fourth grade.
Joretha Lockhart said the LES programs started May 16 and ran through May 23. “Preschool and Kindergarten programs are performances. The first grade program included performances and a class certificate for each student.
“Second, third and fourth grade programs included principal honor roll, teachers honor roll and citizenship certificates as well as our Lion’s pride award to our 1st -4th grade students.”
Teresa Henry, Lakeland School Board Member, provided the list of students recognized with Lion’s Pride Awards.
Photos courtesy of LES and LMPS.
