News and Features
New school year underway
Lancaster Mennonite School began classes at its four campuses Tuesday, August 24. Lancaster Campus students gathered in an all-school chapel that included Superintendent Richard Thomas reading The Little Engine That Could, a favorite tradition for that campus.
Administrative changes
Elvin Kennel, Parkesburg, is the new principal at the Lancaster Campus which serves grades 6-12. Ruth Leaman, New Holland, joins the school’s advancement team as an executive advancement associate. Steve Geyer, who served as interim principal last year, is back as assistant principal for the Lancaster Campus and will also serve as international student coordinator.
Enrollment
Lancaster Mennonite exceeded its overall system-wide enrollment goal of 1,500 for the first day of school. The student body includes more than 30 students from China this year.
New construction
At the Kraybill Campus, funding for the Gateway to Kraybill capital renovations is nearly halfway complete. The project will provide a new entrance, handicap access, an additional early education classroom, and increased security. Groundbreaking will occur after 80 percent of the funding is received.
Summer garden
Over the summer, New Danville Campus students and families were busy watering and weeding a garden that Eloy Rodriguez’s 4th and 5th grade science students had planted this past spring. Produce was shared with those in need through the Lancaster Council of Churches food bank.
Curriculum changes
Numerous curriculum changes have grown out of the school’s Graduate Profile whose goal is to help students understand better how to be followers of Christ in our global society. For example, numerous social studies courses have been reshaped to place greater emphasis on understanding the total world. “Advanced Placement Comparative Government and Economics” has been added as a new course.
In an effort to continue building a strong math program at the middle and high school levels, the school is beginning a new middle school math curriculum that will focus on teaching students how to think mathematically and become stronger problem solvers. This builds on the Everyday Math curriculum used at the elementary level. In addition, high school students may now choose to take an SAT prep class during their weekly club period.