principal's message

Dear Parents and Students of M.E. LaZerte:

As you are about to begin a new school year, it is a good time to set both short-term and long-term goals to guide your journey. As principal of M.E. LaZerte High School this year, along with my dedicated staff, we will be continually working together to nurture and support all students in their academic pursuits and ventures in athletics, fine arts, second languages, and career and technology studies. The Voyageur spirit is about being hardworking, adventurous, and persistent towards a destination. We encourage you to engage in a full and fulfilling student life and have some ideas for you to help you be student-smart, people-smart, and life-smart

First, to reach your academic potential, it is important to understand that the learning process has two parts to it: practice time and game time. To be successful, you need to engage fully during practice time when your teachers provide you with coaching as you learn the critical knowledge and skills. This requires that you take ownership of your learning by participating in lessons, asking questions, seeking feedback, and working at home. When it comes to game time, the in-class tests and assignments, you will be more confident, prepared, and successful. The knowledge and skill outcomes of the high school programs of study are demanding, but are reachable if you work at them everyday. Lastly, of course, punctuality and attendance are crucial.

To be successful in high school, you also need to be people-smart. Be confident and ask your teachers questions. Find other students in your classes with the same goals so you have others to work with. Get help from Student Services in educational, post-secondary, career and personal counseling. You can also talk to one of the administrators in the office who can help you with any of your concerns and questions. Successful students don't know everything and don't do everything by themselves; rather, they know how to advocate for the advice and support they need. If we all work together with mutual respect and honesty, we can create a learning environment where everyone can be successful.

Finally, there are some life-smart choices for you to think about. High school student life can have many distractions, including part-time work, extracurricular activities, relationships, and social activities. It is important to have balance and to mange your time well. Even daily choices about exercise, eating and sleeping can play a significant role in your success. You want to be able to look back on your high school years and say that it was fun, exciting and a time of personal accomplishment. Use your personal agenda planner to help you strategize your days and weeks to best meet all of your timelines and goals.

Your bright futures are being shaped by the work we do together this year at M.E. LaZerte. Always keep and eye on your destination so that each step you take will add up to a successful journey.

Have a great year,
Ms. Muhlethaler