Greetings.

Last year, in addition to attempting my first year as a teacher (English), I had the wonderful opportunity to sponsor the area’s premier high school step team, Step Chain.  While I spent most of the year observing and being respectful of the great success this wonderful program had already achieved, I also had some ideas about what we could do the following year to expand the brand and move the program forward.  I have been so thoroughly impressed with the character, work ethic, and responsibility shown by these fantastic students that I decided to expand their roles further, thus giving them a tremendous opportunity to not only be great representatives of Lincoln Southeast High School, but also a beacon of light to the Lincoln community and a program that elementary and middle school students can not only be a fan of and see as a role model, but also want to contribute to in the future.

Toward the end of last year, we had nearly 50 underclassmen try out for Step Chain.  During tryouts, I was approached by Principal Toalson, who also noticed the impressive number of young people trying out.  He thought the program the Step Chain members established had reached a critical mass of sorts, and that it was possibly time to expand the program.  He said that he believed it could be a very positive progression to give the 8th graders and current underclassmen in our diverse community a broader opportunity to make an early connection with LSE.  I couldn’t have a agreed more.  So, after some brainstorming, we decided to include a “JV” team of sorts called Jr. Step.  This will be the first year that the younger students have an opportunity to expand the brand of the Step Chain program school-wide (and beyond), and the LSE community couldn’t be more thrilled.  While there will be some feeling out to do, I believe the character of current Step Chain members will come through as wonderful mentors to our younger students.

That said, Step Chain will be stronger than ever this year.  We have most of the members returning from last year’s squad, and I expect them to take the show and program to the next level through their continued hard work and dedication.

Come on out and see us!

YOU KNOW?!

– Kellison