a blog for Ms. Rogers' classes at LISA Academy

Why LISA works for me? I really can’t describe my answer. It’s almost like that saying “You don’t know what you have until it’s gone,” because that’s exactly how it is. But if I try to think about it, I could just say: If I left, some of the many things that I would lose would be the great environment, brilliant teachers, and outstanding morals. The environment is indescribable and wondrous. Compared to schools around the globe, I can’t think of another school where I could feel anymore safe. Including safe parking for my car, & so I never have to think about anything happening to it. This school keeps their students protected, and makes sure that it stays that way. It is rare to find a school with such little student issues; such as fights, drugs, weapons, etc. You can’t find a school better than this. Along with the great environment, are the brilliant teachers. You know you will get a great education. The teachers here care about their students, and they care if they succeed. All my teachers would do anything they could to help us reach our full potential. The teachers really help the school feel like a big family. Along with the teachers, this school has high morals. They know you need to succeed, buy at the same time I have noticed and learned the morals in how they expect people to dress, how they should address their teachers with respect, etc. They know how to get you academically thriving, but the school also helps teach you the ways you should act as adults, and it refines you to being the best you can be. The rules keep things in order, but what they’re based on is where the lessons are learned. Overall, the great environment, brilliant teachers, and outstanding morals are what make the school so great. It uses these elements to create a big family that wants to help you grow up and be successful. These elements are what make LISA work for me.

~Nathan Smith

I first came to LISA Academy because it was convenient. My mom could drop my best friend and me off at school on her way to work, and one of the teachers, a woman I have known my whole life, would bring us home when school let out. That was in sixth grade. Now however, the reason it works for me is different. LISA gives me things that other schools cannot. It gives me many close friends, the chance to experience many different cultures through the array of students that attend it, as well as travel abroad, and it gives me many educational opportunities through the determination of the teachers and the classes it offers. LISA works for me because I am given the chance to be myself while also being a part of something bigger.

~Anna Harton

LISA Academy is, admittedly, not your typical high school. However, LISA offers a very different kind of high school experience compared to regular, large, impersonal public schools. This is why LISA Academy works for me. When I first came to LISA, I was a little sixth grader in a new school with new people, new classes, new teachers; everything was just overwhelming. I soon made friends and got used to my surroundings and everything was better, except for the homework. Throughout my 6 years spent there, I have made many friends that I hope to keep throughout college. The best part of this experience for me is the fact that I have made so many good, close friends and have been able to have several teachers for more than one year. Because of the relative smallness LISA, I have been able to become friends with my teachers and they have learned our individual learning styles; they know what works best and what to do when we stumble. The relationships between the teachers and students make working through all these years exponentially easier. Some teachers can even recognize us by our handwriting or the way we write. These are the things that have kept me in this school and have made it a wonderful, unforgettable experience. I hope that my final year, next year, will be the most significant and memorable; I also hope that I will never forget what LISA has given me and to never let go of the precious friends I have made. This is why LISA works for me.

~Katy Dupree

LISA Academy works for me because it is a school that provides a safe and enjoyable learning experience. Because it’s a smaller school, students are able to feel more connected to their peers and teachers. LISA is a school where students can stay informed about what’s going on around them rather than lost in the crowd. While I have previously contemplated transferring to another school, what always drew me back to staying at LISA was its sense of comfort. No other school is able to provide the bond that students share with their peers and teachers. Not only do I feel socially connected at LISA, but academically as well. The teachers are always very helpful, encouraging and willing to go out of their way to make sure that every student succeeds. LISA’s teachers are committed to equipping students with the knowledge needed for college and beyond.  LISA Academy is preparing me for great success and for that, I am forever thankful.

~Andrew Brown

Nearing the end of my junior year, this will mark my 6^th year at LISA academy.  When I first came to LISA I wasn’t sure how much I would like it, but I soon found out.  As I started I soon found myself in a more competitive environment that seemed to suit me perfectly.  LISA’s focus in math and science has allowed me to test myself and give me the form of education I wouldn’t find anywhere else.  LISA’s small school environment allowed me to make a lot of friends very easily and gave us a tight bond.  LISA’s various mix of cultures has created a melting pot more diverse than you’d find anywhere else in the state.  LISA Academy has opened me up to other cultures, ideas, and overall expanded my mindset.

~Jack Williamson

Why does LISA Academy work for you?” When I was first presented with this question, I had no idea what I was going to say. I wasn’t really sure why LISA works for me; all I knew was that, at LISA, I didn’t hate going to school anymore. I first came to LISA in the sixth grade. After 7 years of private school, it wasn’t much different from what I was used to. As the year progressed, I began to see that this was the school for me. Unfortunately, at the end of 6^th grade, my family moved and I was forced to go to Fuller Middle School for 7^th and 8^th grade. Finally, my parents realized that LISA brought out the best of me and decided to let me go back for high school. It didn’t take me long to realize why I had missed it so much. The close-knit, family-like environment, the challenging academic programs, and the dedication of my fellow students all showed me that I am able to succeed, no matter what anyone tells me. So why does LISA work for me? The answer is simple: LISA works for me because it is like no other school I have ever been to; it is unique, just like me.

~Matt Goeke

I am now finishing up my sixth year at LISA Academy. At first, I wasn’t too excited, but on my first day, after seeing how nice the teachers were and how many friends I made, I became excited to go to school every day; and I don’t know how many people can say that about school. LISA works for me, because I am used to the smaller environment. It’s real, it’s personal, and you don’t ever feel like just another face in the crowd. I love coming to school with the guarantee that I will learn something new each and every day. I’m thankful that I didn’t go anywhere else!

~Haley Nesbitt

LISA Academy works for me because we are really like a big family. This is my first year here, and I have watched my classroom grow as a family and become closer and closer. We are all able to laugh at ourselves and laugh at each other. I have been to other schools and never have I myself witnessed a class this close. We as a school are like a tiny community or a huge family. Sometimes we disagree and have our problems but with a group of people like LISA Academy we are able to pull through. So all in all, LISA Academy works for me because of the family bond. J

~DeAndra Brynteson

~Freshman class 9Duke

LISA Academy works for me for a few reasons. There are currently four siblings including me that go here, and it makes it easy for all of us to go to one school. It is also a short drive from my house. LISA also works for me because it is a very safe school. I can always come to school and know I am protected from harm. The teachers here are nice and understanding of every student’s problems. The students here are also a reason why I love to come here. No matter how mad or upset I am, I always end up in a good mood soon after entering the school. I have been enrolled in LISA since the sixth grade and have loved it every year. LISA is the school for me because of its environment.

~Greg Burton

LISA Academy works for me because it is small. I went to a larger school all through elementary school and I had lots of issues at the school. I have great relationships with my teachers as many students here do. To them I am not just another random child, they know my name; they know where I struggle and when I need help. I am comfortable in my classes and the curriculum suits me and the pace at which I learn. I am pushed to do my best where at other places the teachers just don’t care if I succeed or not. I know many people who go here resent the uniforms and the rules that we are to adhere to. All those rules and the stuff that they dislike is what makes us safe, I have never felt threatened or in danger here; where as at places like Central for instance lock downs, threats, and fights are common. LISA has given me so many opportunities to learn new things and to better myself. This school is like a family, we can tease and play with each other but when it comes down to it you know you have everyones support even if you are competing against each other. It might be small and the people who go here might not always like it, but this school provides its students with the best opportunities it can. It isn’t always the best school for every one but if you’re like me and you want to learn, to push yourself, and love math and science then LISA is a great school to go to.

~Maggie Fitzpatrick