The Student Spotlight segment of each Board meeting celebrates a student or a group of students who are living out the Portrait of an LPS Graduate, which highlights the life skills each LPS graduate should have. Tomorrow’s workers will succeed by constantly adapting to the changing world around them, and today’s students must begin by learning and developing life skills - where every student should be well-adjusted, thriving, and balanced.

Additionally, students will develop skills in:

• Communication
• Global/Cultural Awareness
• Character
• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Adaptability
• Creativity
• Risk-Taking
• Resiliency
• Collaboration
• Self Advocacy
• All surrounding Rigorous and Relevant Academic Skills

LPS strives to implement opportunities to grow these skills at every level of education and recognize students of all ages. At their regularly scheduled meeting on October 12, 2023, the Board of Education recognized 3 students from the Nova Center, which provides a non-traditional instructional setting for LPS students from Grades K–12. The motto at Nova is the acronym SELF: recognizing Safety, Engagement, Learning, and Friendship.

Zayne Edwards is the epitome of the Portrait of an LPS graduate and “being his best SELF.” Zayne is a natural leader in his classroom by demonstrating Portrait of a Graduate traits of Self-Advocacy and Adaptability throughout his day. He works extremely hard to stay focused on his schoolwork and is an excellent reader! If you were to sit in class with Zayne, you would see that he is a determined young man who leads by example. If you ask him, I’m sure he will tell you all about the latest book he is reading.

Elijah Paulsen is one of the coolest young men you will ever meet. He is motivated, kind, and friendly. As a senior at Nova, Elijah has shown that he is “his best SELF” by mentoring and connecting with younger students. He has given advice and been a listening ear when other students need it, demonstrating the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Character. This year, Elijah has shown a great interest in attending EPIC as a way to grow his post-secondary knowledge and opportunities, which speaks to the Portrait of a Graduate trait of Risk-Taking. Elijah will be studying through the Natural Resources pathway at EPIC, taking swimming at Littleton High School, and finishing up the remainder of his credits at Nova to be able to graduate in the spring. 

Ryan Roberts. If you know Ryan, you know that he has a wonderful smile! Every morning when he gets off the bus, he is ready to welcome his peers and teachers with a “good morning,” a smile, and a high-five. Ryan has been an incredibly hard worker at the Nova Center. He continues to be an example to his classmates of how to “be his best SELF”. Ryan has demonstrated The Portrait of a Graduate trait of Resiliency, and his team at Nova is very proud that he is able to start transitioning to Newton Middle School with his peers.