Leigh Community Schools thrive not only on academics, but in providing programs that encourage student involvement. Students are able to experience learning activities in and outside of their classrooms. This page provides a summary of those programs available for all students grades PK-12.

• Courses Offered
• 2018-2019 Jr/Sr High Curriculum
• Junior High Language Arts
  • We perceived a need for more language arts instruction in the junior high; therefore, we split the junior high into a separate reading and writing program. The junior high reading classes are also split according to ability.
• Distance Learning
  • Leigh High School offers a variety of courses to the Nebraska Virtual Instruction Source. Courses shared with other school districts include: Parenting, Child Development, Relationships, and Accounting 1.
• College Credit Classes
  • We offer College credit/dual credit courses of English 1010 Composition and Literature 2100 through Central Community College Platte Campus.
  • College Algebra and College Statistics are offered as dual credit courses via Distance Learning through Central Community College
  • Students may choose from a variety of dual credit and college credit instructor paced courses through Central Community College. Commonly taken courses include Sociology, Psychology, Public Speaking and American History.
  • College classes are also available through Northeast Community College
  • 20 - 30 percent of seniors graduate with 12 or more college credits
• Reading Challenge
  • Students receive prizes after every 1,000 pages read. Students are posted in the hall for their accomplishments.
  • Each student per grade reads 3,388 pages (based on 15 pages per day formula)

3,388 X Number of Students in Grade = Total Class Pages Goal.

• If they beat their class goal, students get a party at the end of the year. They are only allowed to participate in the party if they read at least 1,000 pages.
• Top Ten readers are acknowledged at the end of the year and are inducted into the Reading Hall of Fame.
• AR (Accelerated Reader)
• The junior high and high school students participate in Accelerated Reader as a portion of their grade for English class as well as for the Reading Challenge.
• Patriot Cup
  • The Junior Senior High School students have been separated into nine teams. Each team consists of students from every grade level. The goal of creating the teams is to promote collaboration, friendly competition, and recognizing students for their efforts and achievement. Aside from fun competitions, students can earn points for their teams by being involved in school programs.

• Teachers serve Title 1 students in grades K-6 in areas of need in Reading and Math. Leigh's Title 1 program is a Targeted Assisted program. Title 1 is a federally funded program offered to students who have average intelligence, but below average classroom performance. A Data Matrix is done three times a year on every child in K-6 detailing DIBELS reading and math test scores, nationally normed test scores such as MAP, STAR testing, and teacher input. Students in K-3 are served in Early Intervention Reading groups school-wide. In Math, there are small pullout groups. Students are instructed using a variety of teaching methods, interventions, and materials to help the child improve their skills and attain grade level performance in their classroom. All parents of qualifying students are notified through personal contact and via mail of their child's placement along with the Leigh School Board approved parent involvement policy. A Personal Education Plan (PEP) is written for each child by the Title 1 teacher and discussed and signed by both the classroom teacher and parent at the beginning of the school year. Parent Compacts have been designed by the parent group and are signed by the Title 1 teacher, student, and parent and kept on file.

• We have a K-12 full time special educator in our district to serve students birth -21 who have a verified disability according to Nebraska Rule 51 Guidelines. The service unit provides a speech language pathologist and a school psychologist. The school contracts an occupational therapist and physical therapist. Optional services provided through the service unit that are used by our district are a resource coach and a behavior specialist. Our district provides the use of technology such as iPads, and Mimio board in the special education classroom to enhance student learning. Our district has an ILCD (Improving Learning for Children with Disabilities) team who works on our targeted improvement plan.

Nebraska State Department of Special Education

https://www.education.ne.gov/sped/regulationspolicies/

• Leigh Community Schools provides a Pull Out/Push In EL Program. We have a small EL population K-12th grades. Our goals as a district are to provide ongoing professional development, develop curriculum towards Nebraska ELP standards, implement processes of Rule 15, integrate students and families into our school district, and to achieve language development for all English learners.

EL Supplemental Materials Available at Leigh Community Schools

Interventions and Accommodations for all Students

Leigh Community Schools Written Report

Leigh Community Schools are compliant to Rule 15.

• FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America)
• The FFA Organization (National FFA Organization)
  • FFA is a student led organization that enhances students leadership skills and prepares students for future careers in all areas of agriculture.
  • We currently have 45 members between the Leigh and Clarkson communities.
  • 30 Students attended the 2018 State Convention with over 6,000 other FFA members around the state.
  • In November 10 members of our chapter will be participating in the Connecting Chapters program where they will learn about advocating agriculture, and communicating with the youth in our communities.
• FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America)
  • Started our Clarkson-Leigh chapter in the fall of 2017.
  • The Future Business Leaders of America is a career and technical student organization that prepares students for future careers in business.
  • Students attended the 2017 Fall Leadership Conference (FLC) and will be attending the 2018 Nebraska State Leadership Conference (SLC) in the Spring. Students compete in various team and individual events related to a wide variety of business concepts in hopes of qualifying for Nationals.
  • In 2017 the Clarkson-Leigh chapter raised over $1,000 as a service project (coin drive) which was donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
  • In 2018 the Clarkson-Leigh chapter completed a "Go Green" ribbon project promoting ways clean up our environment, preserve energy, and recycle in our schools and the communities.
  • Fall of 2018 we raised over $800 during our coin drive to donate to March of Dimes. We also hosted our first ever March of Dimes walk broadcast on local radio stations, newspapers, and flyers to promote the event throughout the community.

• Vocal Music
  • 7th and 8th students are required to participate in the Vocal music program. This is also a combined program between Leigh and Clarkson. Students meet at their own school two-three times a week and perform together for various concerts and programs throughout the year.
  • The Patriot Choir combined the choirs between Leigh and Clarkson Senior High schools in 2015. Each individual choir meets at their own school twice a week with a joint practice once or twice a month. Any student in grades 9 - 12 are allowed to to be choir. The East Husker Honor Choir is held once a year in rotating East Husker schools. This Honor Choir is by audition. Students audition for the East Husker Elite group and from there Honor Choir students are also selected. In the school year 2017/2018 eight students qualified for the Honor Choir with one student making the Elite choir. This year (2018/2019) thirty-one students auditioned (the most we have had in many years) for Honor Choir with sixteen students being selected. Three students also qualified for the Elite Honor Choir. Various other Honor Choirs are also offered throughout the school-year. These are done on a one-to-one student basis depending on the interest of the individual student.
• Instrumental
  • 7th & 8th grade students have the opportunity to participate in the band program. This is also a combined program between Leigh and Clarkson. Students meet at their own school two-three times a week and perform together for various concerts and programs.
  • The Patriot Band joined members between Leigh and Clarkson Senior High Schools in 2015. Each band meets at their own school twice a week with a joint practice once or twice a month. Any student in grades 9-12 are allowed to be in band. The Patriot Band plays at numerous home football, volleyball, and basketball games as well as at Memorial Day and Veteran's Day programs. The East Husker Honor Band is held once a year and students may audition to be selected to this group. There have been several students each year that have qualified for Honor Band.
• District Music Contest
  • District Music Contest is held yearly. The large ensembles of the Choir and Band typically compete as well as smaller ensembles and individual soloist.
• Art
  • 7th & 8th grade students have the opportunity to participate in one quarter of Art each year.
  • High school students have the opportunity to take an ART I and/or ART II course.
• Speech
  • The LHS Speech Team has been a successful program for our students. Although our numbers have dropped over the years (in the past thirteen years, 20 has been the highest number we have had out for speech and 7 has been our lowest in recent years), Leigh has had state qualifiers each year for the past 13 years. In each of those years, at least one student medaled at the state meet. In 2012, Leigh was the class D2 State Champion. Also over the past thirteen years, Leigh has always finished in the top ten schools in the state in D2 at the state speech contest (with the exception of one year where they finished 12th in the state).
• One Act
  • After not having a One-Act play production team for two years, the One-Act program was revived in 2014. Since that time, on average, 95% of the high school student body has participated in the play each year as a member of the cast or crew. The team has qualified for the State Play Production Competition every year for the past four years, earning 3rd place in 2014, State Runner-Up in 2016, and State Champions in 2015 and 2017. In 2018 One-Act was runner up in the East Husker Conference in Leigh. This team also qualified for state at the Johnny Carson Theater earning a 3rd place finish in D2.

• Student Council
  • The High School Student Council (STUCO) is comprised of nine members; two representatives from grades 9-11 and three representatives from the senior class. STUCO members work collaboratively with their peers at Clarkson High School in planning the Homecoming Dance and Dress-Up Days.
• Travel Club
  • The Leigh Travel Club is open to students in grades 7th-12th and offers the unique opportunity for students to travel domestically and abroad. The group began traveling in 2009 and has had 29 students travel over the years. It travels every 3 years and has visited a variety of places including Puerto Rico, Italy, France, England and a return trip to Italy is planned in 2021.
• Quiz Bowl
  • High Schools students request to be part of the Quiz Bowl team. They participate in three events per year. A team of 3 to 5 students answer general knowledge to earn points in a timed event against another team. The events in which the students participate include: KTIC radio, East Husker Conference and District competitions. The team usually consists of 6 to 10 students and are taken to the competitions based on availability and ability.
• Journalism
  • High school students write detailed articles about school happenings for our school website and local newspaper. Staff writers who contribute 10 articles a year earn a letter for journalism.
  • Leigh participates in the "20 Below/New Voices" program for the Norfolk Daily News. The journalism students write a Leigh High School spotlight article each spring that is featured in the Daily News. Through this program, we have also had at least one student columnist write columns featured in the Daily News for the past five years.
• National Honor Society
  • National Honor Society is an organization that recognizes students who have shown scholarship, leadership service and character. Students in grades 10, 11, and 12 may apply for membership as a response to invitation. Students who have a cumulative average of 94% will automatically receive application materials after three semesters of high school. Members maintain membership by maintaining a 94% average.
• Northeast Scholastic Day
  • Northeast Scholastic Day is a competition sponsored by Northeast Community College and has two events. The first event is a Quiz Bowl against all the schools involved in the Scholastic Day. The other event is a written and/or lab exam on 25-30 different categories. Students are chosen by their teachers in each individual category to participate in that exam. Generally, 20-30 students participate in each Scholastic Day. Seniors finishing first in their exam are awarded a $1000 scholarship. We have had 3 students earn the scholarship in the past two years.

• After School Study Hall
  • After-school study hall is offered Tuesday-Thursday for grades 7-12 from 3:40 to 4:15 pm. Teachers volunteer to supervise a specific day of the week on a quarterly basis. Any student can attend study hall for a quiet place to work on homework or receive help on assignments. Any student who is ineligible (failing one or more classes for two weeks) is required to attend study hall until they are no longer ineligible.
  • Junior High Students are also offered extra assistance during study hall periods, and provided one on one monitoring/check in if needed to help them stay current on assignments.

Clarkson-Leigh Patriots

The majority of Extra-Curricular programs are co-oped with Clarkson Public Schools

• Volleyball
  • The Patriot volleyball program has continued to build each year since its inception in 2011. The team was comprised of 35 girls for the 2018 year. They qualified for the State Tournament in 2017.
• Softball
  • The Highway 91 Cyclones Softball team is a co-op with Leigh, Clarkson, and Howells-Dodge school districts. Our team consists of 15 girls.
• Football
  • The Patriot Football program has built a tradition of success on the field and the development of strong Student Athletes pushing to be their best on and off the field. The Patriot football team has qualified for the State Playoffs every year since 2012.
• Basketball
  • The Patriot Boys and Girls Basketball have a combined 45 student athletes competing in the 2018-19 season. Success and positive culture has continued to be built since the beginning of the cooperative.
• Track & Field
  • The Patriot Track & Field Team is a co-op with Clarkson High School and has been very successful. Our program consists of Jr. High Track and High School Track. Our High School Team in the 2017/2018 season had 31 girls and 10 boys participating. In past seasons we have had several state qualifiers representing our track & field program.
• Golf
  • The golf team is a co-op with Clarkson High School. The number of participants varies from 8 to 14 each year. The past year, the team has included both boys and girls as the girls program has not had any participants for the last two years in the fall. The team competes in the spring at Club 91 golf course. The team has qualified for state golf three of the last four years. Individuals have qualified for the state golf meet as well in the last few years. We host a very successful invitational with nine other teams participating.
• Wrestling
  • The Patriot wrestling program was started in the 2016-2017 school year. There are currently six members on the wrestling team.
• Dance
  • The Patriot Dance team consists of two dance squads. The regular dance team is open to anyone in Grades 9 - 12. They currently perform at about one quarter of the games and practices. There are ten girls on this squad for the 2018-2019 school year. The Elite dance team is a select team that try-out in the spring. They participate at all of the games, practices, and activities. There are six girls on this squad for the 2018-2019 school year.