Dear Parents, Students and Community Members:

Welcome back for the start of the 2026-2027 school year!  I am thrilled to welcome back our students and their parents, and want to extend a special welcome to our incoming 6^th graders and our new students and their families.  

As you may notice from the pictures above, there has been a change in administration.  While Mr. Exford is enjoying his retirement, I have stepped into the Middle School Principal Role.  After teaching High School Math at Lowville for four years, and serving as the Secondary Assistant Principal last year, I am excited to bring my 20 years of education experience to bear working more closely with the Middle School.  We have a strong foundation to build on, and I am excited to see how we will grow over the coming year!

Of course, with my move to Principal, we worked diligently to find a new Secondary Assistant Principal.  We are pleased to welcome Mr. Brett Lupi to the role!  A United States Army Veteran, Mr. Lupi earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Crane School of Music and a Master’s Degree in Music from New York University.  With teaching experience at every level, we are excited to have him on board with us at Lowville Academy.

As we close out the summer, I encourage all of you to take some time to talk with your child about the upcoming school year.  Each summer I spend time reflecting on the past school year and set goals for the following year.  Going through this process enables me to celebrate some of the successes, as well as focus on some of the areas that I need to improve, so that I can build on the positive and make progress in areas that still need development.  

By asking questions and helping your child reflect on their experiences from this past school year, you can help them develop a plan to better prepare for this fall and find success this school year.  A few questions that might help you get this conversation started are:

• How did you think this past school year went?
• What was your biggest accomplishment last school year? 
• What areas could you improve on?  
• Were you respectful to your teachers and your classmates?  
• What else could you have done to make your experience better?  
• Are there clubs, sports, or other activities that you want to try this year?

Have a discussion with your child regarding his or her involvement at Lowville Middle School outside of the classroom.  Developing well-rounded students is a priority at LACS.  While we focus on the academic achievement and growth of our students, we also emphasize the importance of their social and emotional development as well.  We understand the need to balance students’ academic development by providing opportunities for enriching extracurricular activities outside of the classroom.  Research shows that when students are involved in their school’s extracurricular activities, they perform better academically.  Please encourage your child to participate in our extracurricular sports, clubs, and activities throughout the school year.  

Lastly, please support your child at home and school by reinforcing our academic, behavioral, and attendance expectations.  Provide a structured environment for your child to complete their homework, hold them accountable for respectful and responsible behavior at school, and ensure that your child is at school every day unless there are legitimate illnesses or extenuating circumstances.

Thank you for your partnership and support.  I look forward to working with you this fall to support your child’s academic and personal growth.  Please do not hesitate to call my office if you have any questions or concerns.  Best wishes for a successful 2026-2027 school year!

Sincerely,

Abel J. Larkin

Middle School Principal