Happy December! With the holidays upon us, there are many reasons to be joyful. It's a time for sharing, laughter, giving back, and creating memories with family and friends. The holidays, however, can also be stressful. We may be making plans to visit loved ones, managing our budget for gifts, or coordinating events with our community. With an already-packed schedule, these additional tasks can add stress to our lives.
Celebrating and connecting with family is important during the holiday season, but it's also essential to care for your mental health. National Stress-Free Family Holidays Month brings awareness to the harmful effects of stress and reminds everyone to take care of themselves as they approach the holidays. Here are some helpful tips for a more stress-free holiday season:
Make modifications to holiday traditions. Consider ways to modify traditions that may negatively impact your mental health. It can be nice to stick with holiday traditions, but your mental health should take priority.
Don't forget the power of "no." It's okay to say no to plans if you are feeling overwhelmed.
Plan ahead. Keeping a calendar of events can help you stay on track and prepare for events. It can be stressful to shop on the same day as an event, so keep a list of tasks to prevent the rush.
Talk about your feelings. You might be overwhelmed or missing a loved one. Talking about your feelings with a trusted friend or family member is okay. You are not in this alone.
Take time for self-care. It's important to take care of ourselves before caring for others. This holiday season, make time for yourself.
Find a therapist. Acknowledge your feelings and talk to a professional when needed. If you would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by La Grande School District:
Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
Visit www.caresolace.com/lagrande and either search on your own or click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
We wish you a joyous and stress-free holiday season!
PUBLIC NOTICE – SCHOOL THREAT
Date: December 1, 2023
Today, December 1, 2023, at 9:00am La Grande High School administration was made aware of a social media post regarding a bomb threat from an LHS student. That post was made at roughly 8:00 AM on December 1, 2023, but was not reported to administration until 9:00 AM the same day. Administration took immediate action to secure suspected student, evacuate the impacted area of campus, and notify law enforcement of the threat. Law enforcement conducted an additional search of the impacted area, the student, and their residence. School safety and bomb threat policies were followed. At 9:30am, LHS administration and law enforcement indicated that the impacted area was safe for students and staff to return and that there was no remaining threat to student and staff safety. At the completion of the investigation, the student was disciplined, cited for disorderly conduct, and referred to the Union County Juvenile Department.
We appreciate the support of our students, staff, and community in notifying us of the potential threat and the effective response of school administration and law enforcement to resolve this situation quickly. Student and staff safety remain our top priority.
In conclusion, all students are safe to be on campus for the remainder of the day. We wanted you to have the facts so that you can discuss them with your child and emphasize the seriousness of this issue. Please feel free to call our school district at 541-663-3200 or send me a message at george.mendoza@lagrandesd.org.
Near 8:30 today La Grande High School staff received a message that a student posted on social media that they had brought a bomb to school today and they planned to use it during their second period class.
Necessary evacuation of the class, student removals, backpacks and locker searches took place with the outcome of no credible bomb threat; All students are safe to be on campus for the remainder of the day.
All threats to our schools and students are taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. Students involved in the social media post are in the process of questioning and our investigation is ongoing. School safety and bomb threat policies will be followed as appropriate.
LHS and District administrators have worked hand in hand with the Union County Sheriff Department related to evacuation, searches, fact finding and investigation. The investigation into purpose and rationale for the social media post/bomb threat is ongoing at this time.
In conclusion, all students are safe to be on campus for the remainder of the day. We wanted you to have the facts so that you can discuss them with your child and emphasize the seriousness of this issue.
Please feel free to call our school district at 541-663-3200 or send me a message at george.mendoza@lagrandesd.org.
Picture retakes are in! We are working on getting them distributed to classes tomorrow afternoon. Please feel free to send your student to the front office if they would like to pick them up.
Winter Sports Schedules:
Winter Sports Schedules are released!
For the most up to date schedules, please see our OSAA page:
https://www.osaa.org/schools/248
Bid to purchase a reserved parking space in the southeast parking lot at the LHS Gymnasium! We have two reserved spaces available for the Winter Sports Season. Bidding is open from November 29th at noon to December 4th at noon. https://tigerboosters.schoolauction.net/parking/
Elkhorn Media Group Toy Drive is now in progress! Please drop off new unwrapped toys at the District Office, 1305 N. Willow Street. Gifts needed for kids of all ages, but especially 13 to 18. Suggestions include - water bottles, blankets, hoodies, gift cards to Wal-Mart, Maurices, Coffee Shops, D&B, etc. Thank you for your support! Happy Holidays!
Happy Thanksgiving from the La Grande School District! We will be closed for Thanksgiving Break from Monday, November 20th through Friday, November 24th. See you all on Monday, November 27, 2023!
A huge congratulation to the La Grande FFA!
La Grande FFA had a total of 18 FFA members participate in the District Agriculture Sales and Job Interview Leadership Development Events in Baker. Everyone did an amazing job and we are very proud of everyone that participated in the event!!
Job Interview:
KaraAnn Akers will be moving onto the next district level competition.
Advanced Agriculture Sales:
Team: 4th place
Sales Presentation:
KaraAnn Akers: 1st Place
Natasha Lane: 2nd Place
Advertising:
Sophie Miller: 1st Place
Greenhand Agriculture Sales:
Team: 4th Place
Sales Presentation:
Kirsten Akers: 1st Place
Customer Relations:
Evie Kellog: 1st Place
Prospecting:
Evie Kellog: 2nd Place
Anthony Lakes Ski Patrol's Annual Ski Swap is November 18, 2023 at Riveria Activity Center.
Central PTO is hosting Bingo Night on Thursday, November 16th from 6 PM to 9 PM. Enjoy the event at Central Elementary. This is a cash only event. For more information, please contact: ptocentralcougars@gmail.com
Seniors and Parents! We hope to see you tonight at 5:30 in the commons to talk about how to apply for financial aid, and answer questions about the FAFSA application. This is a great opportunity for Seniors and parents to ask questions and navigate the Financial Aid process.
Parents,
LHS has updated the Athletic and Activities Handbook. There has been a link added to the LHS Athletics page for the full Handbook (https://lhs.lagrandesd.org/o/lghs/athletics). Please see below for a few of the changes.
---- Attendance the day before (for Saturday events) and the day of an event is MANDATORY. There are few exceptions.
---- Students with unserved lunch detentions or In-School Suspensions may not participate in practice or contests until they have been served.
---- Students who have served an Out-Of-School Suspension are not eligible for practice or contests while they are suspended.
Grade Changes:
---- La Grande High School will run weekly grade reports for all extra curricular activities.
---- LHS requires a student to currently pass all 7 classes with a grade of D or higher.
---- Should a student have a failing grade, they will be placed on probation for 1 week.
---- If the grade has not been brought up to a D or higher by the next grade check the athlete will be ineligible to compete until the grade is a D or higher.
---- Grade checks will be completed every Monday, no later than 3 p.m., for that week.
If you have any questions, please contact the high school front office at (541)663-3301.
Attendance matters!!
Celebrate public education and honor those in our schools working to ensure that every student receives a quality education. Learn more at: https://www.nea.org/resource-library/american-education-week-november-13-17-2023
World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day on November 13 is a day to recognize the importance of being kind to each other, ourselves, and the world. On this day, participants celebrate and promote good deeds and pledge to acts of kindness.
Generosity is contagious and increases our happiness. In fact, in 2010, the Harvard Business School surveyed 136 countries and found people who gave to others were the happiest. Even just one act of kindness can turn someone’s day around and build a stronger community of healing and positivity. Here are ways you can join us for World Kindness Day:
Share your pledge to acts of kindness on social media and use the hashtags #worldkindnessday and #makekindnessthenorm.
Check out the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation for ideas on how to incorporate kindness into your everyday life.
Some of us are already taking steps to find professional help with our well-being, and perhaps you or a loved one should too. If you or a family member would like help finding a mental health care provider, use Care Solace, a complimentary and confidential coordination service provided by La Grande School District:
Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
Visit caresolace.com/lagrande and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
Let’s text a friend we haven’t spoken to in a while, treat someone (or ourselves) to a cup of coffee, and be an empathetic and encouraging ear to others as we close out 2023.
Veterans Day celebrated on November 11, is a time for us to pay our respects to those who have served and the families who support them. The brave United States military members have defended our nation for generations and upheld our values to serve a cause greater than ourselves. They have helped shape our history, and we honor their sacrifices as we reflect and celebrate our veterans today.
There are many unique challenges veterans and their families face while in active service. Families may need to separate for long periods of time, move frequently, or experience anxiety as their loved ones put themselves in danger. After active duty, many veterans have a hard time adjusting to civilian life. Those who have experienced trauma may need professional help to heal. This is why it is so important as a school community to support our veterans and their families.
Here are three ways we can offer support:
Become a listening ear to veterans and their families. Let them know you are here for them and allow them space to discuss their feelings.
If needed, provide them with the Veterans Crisis Line, available 24/7, by dialing 988 and pressing 1
Connect them to Care Solace, a mental health care coordination service provided by La Grande School District, for ongoing support. If you or a family member would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health or substance use treatment provider:
Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
Visit www.caresolace.com/lagrande and either search on your own OR click "Book Appointment" for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
To all our veterans, we thank you for your service.
Winter Sports Practices begin on Monday, November 13th. Please see below for time and place!
Girls Basketball: Monday - Wednesday 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm. Thursday and Friday TBD.
Boys Basketball: Monday - Friday, 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm, LHS Main Gym.
Girls Wrestling: Monday, 3:45 pm - 5:30 pm in the upper deck. Please contact coach for the rest of the weeks schedule.
Boys Wrestling: Monday - Thursday 3:30 pm Wrestling Deck. Friday TBD.
Cheer: Monday - Friday 3:30 pm -5 pm in the Commons.
Seniors, get your orders in for cap and gown!
La Grande High School proudly presents: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. November 16th, 17th and 18th at 7 PM in the La Grande High School Auditorium.
