7668 North State Street
Lowville, NY 13367
(315) 376-9015

Dear Lowville High School Families and Community,

We have had an outstanding start to the 2026–27 school year! From the excitement of welcoming students back on the first day to our 9th Grade Orientation and successful Open House, there is already so much to celebrate. As we begin another year together, our work continues to be guided by our mission to empower all students with future-ready skills, preparing them for personal success and meaningful impact in their communities, and our vision of building on our tradition of excellence to create a world-class learning community for all. Our R.A.I.D.E.R.S. Core Beliefs remain at the heart of our daily work. This includes: Respect, Academic Excellence, Integrity and Compassion, Diversity and Inclusion, Environment of Safety, Responsibility, and Support and Success!

* Supporting Every Student *

One of our major priorities continues to be providing students with the right support at the right time. We are now in Year 2 of our MTSSi Math initiative, with our targeted support now called Math Lab. Students receive instruction based on their individual needs, with progress monitored throughout the year so we can adjust support as students grow. This year, we are excited to expand our MTSSi work into ELA. Several 9th-grade students are continuing with Tier 3 Science of Reading support, while our new Tier 2 Reading Lab focuses on reading comprehension and fluency. A major improvement this year is that students began receiving these supports on the very first day of school.

Supporting students also means looking beyond academics. This September, 95% of our students completed the DESSA Student Self-Report in just over two days, our highest initial completion rate since implementation. This tremendous response reflects the relationships our staff have built with students and the collaboration throughout our building. Our High School Building Level Team will now explore the most recent DESSA data to identify trends and consider ways we can continue supporting students both emotionally and academically.

* Connection and Belonging *

Our clubs are off and running, and we are excited to see increasing student participation. Getting involved in school is about much more than participating in an activity. Clubs, athletics, music, FFA, and other extracurricular opportunities give students a chance to develop friendships, connect with trusted adults, discover interests, practice leadership, and strengthen their sense of belonging. We encourage every student to find something at Lowville that helps make school their place.

That same focus on connection and belonging is at the heart of our upcoming Raider Day on Friday, October 16. Raider Day is an important Lowville tradition that gives students an opportunity to step away from the normal academic schedule, spend time with classmates, try something different, and celebrate everything it means to be a Lowville Raider. At its core, Raider Day is about connection, teamwork, belonging, school pride, and strengthening our school community.

* Distraction-Free School Day *

Our Distraction-Free Policy remains fully in effect this school year, and we greatly appreciate the continued support of our families. Last year, we saw students spending more time engaged academically and connecting face-to-face with their peers as we reduced technology distractions throughout the school day. Please continue partnering with us by reinforcing that all internet-enabled personal devices should be stored in students' lockers throughout the entire school day, including lunch periods. Our goal is to create healthy boundaries with technology so students can be present, focus on learning, communicate face-to-face, and build meaningful relationships with their peers and teachers.

* Looking Ahead *

There is a great deal happening at Lowville High School, and we are excited about where the year is headed. Students have settled into their classes, clubs and activities are growing, targeted academic support is underway, and our students are already demonstrating excellence in many areas. What excites us most, is seeing our students connecting with teachers, classmates, activities, and their school.

As we continue through the fall, we remain committed to Portrait of a Raider to ensure our students are Academically Prepared, Creative Innovators, Critical Thinkers, Effective Communicators, Global Citizens, and Reflective & Future-Focused.

Thank you to our families and community for your continued partnership and support. The work we do is strongest when our school, families, and community work together on behalf of our students. We are looking forward to an exciting fall and an outstanding Homecoming Raider Day on October 16.

Proud to be a Raider!