Lovell schools prep for ’25-26 school year

New staff members have been hired, summer capital projects are wrapping up and Lovell school officials are looking forward to the 2025-26 school year.

Online registration for all three schools opened Tuesday and runs through the first day of school. Parents without computer access or who need assistance may call each school to arrange a time to come in for help by the office staff: 548-2247 at Lovell Elementary School, 548-6553 at Lovell Middle School and 548-2256 at Lovell High School.

Lovell Elementary School

Students new to Lovell Elementary must register at the school office, and parents are asked to bring a certified copy of their student’s birth certificate and a certified Wyoming immunization record, as well as any legal documents regarding custody of a child, school secretary Jodi Baxendale said. K-5 online registration must be completed by midnight on August 15.

An elementary school Meet the Teacher and Back to School Night will be held Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Students and parents are invited to come and meet their teachers, but school supplies can be brought the first day of school. Principal Chris Jensen will speak first at 5 p.m. in the cafeteria, after which students and parents can visit classrooms.

A similar Back to School Night for the preschool program is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. for the morning session and 6:30 for the afternoon session. Baxendale said the school is still accepting applications for the preschool program, with the first day of preschool scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 2.

For information regarding parent access, student drop-off and pickup, bus rules and bicycles, refer to the Parent/Student Handbook on the district website, www.bgh2.org. Also available on the website are the school calendar and registration information.

Regarding access, parents can enter the building through the front doors on Shoshone Avenue and must check in at the office to receive a visitor’s badge. Students may be dropped off on Kansas Avenue between Carmon and Washakie or at the curb on Shoshone Avenue – avoiding the crosswalk – but not using the bus loop, Baxendale said. Bus students will be dropped off and picked up in the bus loop at the front of the school.

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 20. Classes run from 8:20 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. on Friday.

Kindergarten students will have only a half day of school through August 29, with classes dismissed at 12:50 p.m. following lunch. The full schedule kicks in on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Summertime projects include new carpeting in the first-grade hallway.

Baxendale said Lovell Elementary has a new STEAM program led by Allison Kitchen, and other new staff members are fifth-grade teacher Addison Howard, replacing Nicole Hendershot, who has become the new Seminary teacher, and Shayla Welling, hired last spring in the lunchroom. Taylor Webster has moved as a paraprofessional from the preschool to special education.

Lovell Middle School

At the middle school, Principal Lydia McCracken said an orientation night is scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 14, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

The orientation features a schedule walk-through, locker combination practice and locker personalization. McCracken will talk to parents about expectations, activities, eligibility and more.

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 20, and school hours are 8 a.m. to 3:21 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. Friday.

Summertime capital construction projects include asphalt maintenance on the parking lot including crack sealing, an oil coat finish and new striping. The gymnasium floor has also been stripped and rewaxed.

The only new staff member besides first-year principal McCracken is teen living teacher Paige Culwell, who has replaced the retiring Alana Thackeray.

One new coaching assignment is Chris Edwards replacing Lance Anderson as the eighth-grade girls basketball coach.

Practices start the first day of school at 3:30 p.m.

Lovell High School

LHS will hold a Back to School Night and freshman and new student orientation on Monday, Aug. 18, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the multipurpose room.

Principal Craig Lundberg will review policies and procedures, and students can review their schedule, meet their teachers, check out their lockers and put supplies in their locker.

Students may schedule an appointment with the guidance counselor for August 19 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., with students signing up for a schedule change appointment during the Back to School Night on August 18.

Registration is being done online, but students may call 548-2256 to make an appointment to register at the school.

Students may pick up their iPad during flex class on the first day, Lundberg said.

The first day of school is Wednesday, Aug. 20, and the bell schedule is 8 a.m. to 3:24 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. Friday.

The primary construction project this summer is parking lot maintenance with patching, resurfacing and striping, Lundberg said, and the floor at Winterholler Gymnasium has been stripped and rewaxed, “the first time we’ve had a company come in and do it in a while,” he added.

New staff members are school secretary Kristin Lloyd, district secretary Tess Peterson, family and consumer science teacher Paige Culwell, replacing the retiring Thackeray, and math teacher Adam Craw. Christa Tippetts has been promoted as the head of the lunchroom staff, replacing the retiring Peggy Schurman.

The coaching staff remains the same, except that the school will be hiring a dedicated coach for the girls wrestling program, Lundberg said.

Golf practice starts Monday, Aug. 11, ahead of the first tournament in Powell August 14-15. Other teams begin practice Monday, Aug. 18, with the cross country team opening the season at the Billings Invitational Friday, Aug. 29, the volleyball team competing in the Lander Invitational August 29-30 and the football team playing a week zero game Saturday, Aug. 30, at home against Buffalo with kickoff set for noon.