The following message from Superintendent Dr. Joshua Liddell appears in the Summer 2021 Navigator Newsletter.

As the 2020-21 school year comes to a close, we have a moment to reflect and appreciate what we have been fortunate to accomplish. It has been an extraordinary year filled with significant obstacles that required us all to work together like never before. We were tested on a host of different fronts, but we have consistently been creative, resilient and made decisions with a student-first mindset.

It took all of us – teachers, nurses, administrators, staff, secretaries, parents, cafeteria workers, maintenance and bus drivers – working as one to make sure our students were provided the best instructional environment possible given the unique circumstances. It was not a perfect year, but the culture was positive and the education we provided our students was unmatched in the region. We persevered together and came out stronger than we started!
The Class of 2021 has been flexible, patient, strong and adaptable, and our seniors can take those positive and constructive traits with them as they transition to college and or their careers.

Our seniors have aspirations to be engineers, nurses, welders, contractors, physical therapists, veterinarians and teachers. We have graduates headed all across the country to colleges and universities such as Cornell, Cedarville, the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Penn State, Houghton, Westminster, Illinois Tech, Bluffton, Alfred and Missouri University. We are also proud to have seniors headed directly into the Armed Forces to serve our country.  

On a picture-perfect evening, our seniors paraded down Main Street in front of friends, teachers and community members on their way to Chautauqua Lake’s 25th Annual Commencement Ceremony. As they entered school grounds, 83 graduates walked proudly underneath the American flag to the outdoor stage area. Long-standing traditions, such as our peonies flower chain, individual senior commencement statements and our valedictorian and salutatorian speeches, all took place as our seniors, their families and friends had a chance to celebrate this wonderful milestone. 

When it comes to this past school year, we can look back with gratefulness and a sense of pride at what was accomplished. What we achieved together was truly remarkable, and our students were the beneficiaries of our hard work.

The future of Chautauqua Lake is bright, and we will continue to work together to make improvements. Thank you again to everyone who has supported the Class of 2021 and our school district this past school year.