At Lowville High School, we are guided by our Mission: to empower all students with future-ready skills, preparing them for personal success and meaningful impact in their communities. Our Vision is clear: building on our tradition of excellence to create a world-class learning community for all. This month, we are proud to share highlights from three key areas: Culture & Climate, Academic Achievement, and Student Safety.

From the Principal

As we move through December and January, I want to take a moment to share the many great things happening at Lowville High School. Everything we do connects back to our mission: to empower all students with future-ready skills, preparing them for personal success and meaningful impact in their communities. We remain focused on our vision of building on our tradition of excellence to create a world-class learning community for all. At the heart of this work is what it means to be RAIDERS: Respect, Academic Excellence, Integrity & Compassion, Diversity & Inclusion, an Environment of Safety, Responsibility, and Support & Success.

Our school continues to be filled with strong traditions and Raider pride. The High School Select Chorus helped lead the way by hosting a Spirit Week in December and organized Hot Chocolate outside the cafeteria for our students, creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere. Another cherished tradition is Hallway Caroling, where small groups of band and chorus students perform throughout the Elementary, Middle School, and High School buildings. These moments build school spirit, strengthen connections across grade levels, and positively impact our school culture and climate. A sincere thank you to our music department and student musicians for continuing these traditions.

Our students continue to benefit from experiences that build confidence, leadership, and responsibility. We are proud to recognize students who represented Lowville in Bi-County, Area All-State, and Conference All-State NYSSMA ensembles. These opportunities require significant dedication and talent. Special congratulations go to Josh Weiler, who was selected to perform on piano with the NYSSMA All-State Symphony Orchestra, and to Mya Lehman, who was chosen for the Inaugural NYS Modern Band Showcase. These students exemplify excellence in their respective field.

Winter athletics are underway, and we are excited to support our student-athletes throughout the season. This year also marks an important milestone with the launch of our first-ever Women’s Wrestling Team, expanding opportunities and reinforcing our commitment to inclusion. 

Service and giving continue to be an important part of our school culture. Our High School Support Team helped more than 30 students obtain warm winter clothing. We are also grateful for our partnership with Sergeant Lyndaker and Toys for Tots, which allowed us to help distribute 200 toys to local families in need during the holiday season. In addition, our High School Student Council purchased $700 worth of toys for children in the community.  A heartfelt thank you also goes to everyone who supports the Backpack Club, which currently serves 55 families and 141 students. These efforts demonstrate how our students and staff are making meaningful impacts in our community.

Student safety remains a top priority. Our district is implementing the Sandy Hook Promise “Say Something” Anonymous Reporting System, which allows students, staff, and community members to report concerns through an app, website, or 24/7 phone line. All tips are reviewed by trained professionals and shared with our school team or law enforcement when appropriate. We thank Mr. Tuttle for leading this important work. We are also enhancing building security through the implementation of the Genetec system, upgraded cameras, improved door locks, and new ID badges with built-in access chips. These measures help us better monitor entrances and keep doors secure.

Academically, we continue to strengthen instruction and student support through our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS), with a particular focus on math. Using tools such as Math IXL, students receive targeted support based on their individual needs, with some receiving up to 60 minutes of intervention per week and others receiving 20 minutes. This approach allows us to provide the appropriate level of support for all students. 

We are proud to recognize our SHINE Award winners, Amarillo Fleming, Mollie Panarese, and Vaughn Bandych, who exemplify Service, Helpfulness, Inspiration, Nurturing, and Ethics. We also celebrate our Raiders on the Radar, students who consistently live out our RAIDERS Core Beliefs, including Maria Christiansen, Vaughn Bandych, Olivia Schwendy, and Duncan Andrews. In addition, congratulations to our Lions Club Students of the Month, Laura Snyder and Anthony LaPuma, for their academic drive, leadership, and strong character. We are also excited to share that Natalie Stockman was featured on Channel 7 as our Academic All Star. Finally, we recognize our BOCES Students of the Quarter, Emma Halladay, Lillian Diddle, Grace Fouse, Tristan Kibbler, Christopher Kelly, Makayla Delles, Hollie Ritz, and Xavier Roggie, for their outstanding achievements.

Attendance remains a focus for our High School Building Level Team. Daily attendance plays a powerful role in a student’s growth. Each day in school builds skills, confidence, and connections. We appreciate the commitment our families make every day to support student success. Together, we are preparing our Raiders not just for exams and diplomas, but for the expectations of college, careers, trades, and life beyond high school.

Thank you to our staff, students, families, and community for your continued support. When we work together, we create the kind of school we all want and are proud of.

Sincerely,

Brian P. Hanselman
High School Principal