Dear Leonia High School Community,

What a great start to the 2026-2027 school year! It was wonderful to welcome our students and staff back to LHS for our first two days. There is always something special about seeing the hallways and classrooms come back to life, and the energy throughout the building was a great reminder of what makes our school community so special.

We kicked off the year with our Welcome Back Pep Rally, and our students brought tremendous energy and school spirit. It was a fun way to bring everyone together, welcome the Class of 2030, and start the year with plenty of Lion Pride!

I also want to recognize our students for doing a great job adjusting to our new Bell-to-Bell Internet-Enabled Device Guidelines during the first two days. We know this is a significant change, and we appreciate the cooperation we have seen so far. As we move into our first full week, staff will begin consistently enforcing the policy throughout the school day. Our goal is to create a school environment with fewer distractions, greater academic engagement, and more meaningful face-to-face interaction among our students.

As a reminder, the Leonia School District will be closed on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. We hope everyone enjoys the long weekend before we return on Tuesday for our first full day of school.

We have a busy and exciting week ahead at LHS! On Tuesday, September 8, we will meet with each grade level during our class meetings. These meetings give us an opportunity to talk directly with students about the year ahead, expectations, upcoming events, and how they can make the most of their experience at LHS.

Tuesday is also Leonia Day! Please see the attached flier for all of the details. We hope to see a great turnout from our students, families, and community members. Come out, support our students and school community, and show your Lion Pride!

Finally, we look forward to welcoming our parents and guardians to Back to School Night on Thursday, September 10, beginning at 6:30 p.m. This is an important opportunity to meet your child's teachers, learn more about their classes, and hear about the expectations and opportunities for the year ahead.

Thank you to our students, staff, and families for helping us get the year off to such a positive start. We have a lot to look forward to, and I am excited about what lies ahead for LHS this year.

GO LIONS!

Chuck Kalender, Principal

Consistent attendance and punctuality are two of the most important factors in a student’s success at LHS. At Leonia High School, absences and tardies are tracked closely, and students risk losing credit for courses if they exceed the allowed number of absences. Being on time to school and to every class is just as important, as it minimizes disruptions and helps students stay fully engaged in their learning. Regular attendance builds strong academic habits, keeps students connected to their teachers and peers, and ensures they don’t fall behind. We encourage families to schedule all appointments after school hours whenever possible to limit time away from class. Please take a few minutes to review the full attendance policy and guidelines in the Student Handbook so that expectations are clear for both students and parents.