FamiLEE Focus

The Weekly Newsletter of Lee High School…

Where Great Things Are Happening!

Website: https://www.huntsvillecityschools.org/o/lhs
Phone: 256-428-8150
Facebook: facebook.com/leehighhsv
Twitter: @leehighhsv

Happy Friday, FamiLEE!

Thank you to our parents, guardians, and students for your efforts to improve attendance and punctuality. We are seeing positive improvements in both areas! Please continue helping us ensure students arrive by 8:15 a.m. so they can move through our safety procedures and be in class ready to learn by 8:30 a.m.

Let's cheer on our talented Theater Department as they present their Trumbauer One Act production, Once On This Island! Following this weekend's performance, they will learn whether they have advanced to the state competition. We are proud of their hard work!

We also want to celebrate our Flag Football Team as they advance to the second round of the playoffs! Come support them on Tuesday, November 10, at 6:00 p.m. at Milton Frank Stadium as they take on Austin!

Progress reports will be distributed Monday, November 16. Please review your student's academic progress and reach out to teachers with any questions or concerns.

Thank you for your continued support and for helping us maintain the FamiLEE Standard of Excellence! Have an amazing weekend! Let's continue to SET THE STANDARD!

Sincerely,

Kitrise Torain

LHS Principal

#FamiLEEStandard

#'A'SchoolLoading

We are proud to celebrate our October Teachers and Staff of the Month: Mirji Campolongo, Jason Dunning, Autumn Brown Kisor, Lisa Perez, and Kelly Smith! These outstanding members of our FamiLEE consistently demonstrate dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to the success of our students and school.

Ms. Campolongo is our technical theatre teacher. She was nominated by a parent who wrote this: "Ms. Camp has been such a positive light in my daughter's life. She spends A LOT of time after school helping the theater department, and we lovingly refer to Ms. Camp as “school mom.” She mentors my daughter not just in school and academics but also in LIFE, and we are just so happy that she’s in our lives. She is the embodiment of a great teacher." Another teacher submitted her, too, noting that "Ms. Camp has really brought my son to life. She provided him a connection to Lee High School, and my son is flourishing. I am so happy he is part of her magnet program. She is giving students the opportunity to work together as a team that mimics a real job. Rarely do students have the opportunity in school to do what she allows them to do. I appreciate all that she does and think she is very deserving of recognition."

Dr. Dunning is one of our science teachers and is new to Lee this year. He was nominated by a parent who wrote, " My child absolutely loves Dr. Dunning. He has inspired him, and he now loves science. My son comes home every day talking about the class. I am so thankful he has Dr. Dunning as a teacher."

Ms. Kisor helps to manage our theatre department. She was nominated by her colleagues. She has worked extremely hard to ensure many of our magnet events over the past several weeks have gone off without a hitch. Her colleagues had this to say about her: Autumn goes above and beyond to make sure the department has a clear schedule of events. She is able to manage both adults and students, and I am not sure which is more difficult. My hat goes off to her for all her hard work.

Lisa Perez is our EL interventionist and boys' soccer coach. She was nominated by a fellow teacher who said the following: "She is always willing to help students, parents, and other teachers. She organized so much of the Hispanic Heritage Festival and made sure students were involved in every step of the process. I am amazed at everything she is able to get the students to do. I was looking forward to the event after last year because the students light up with pride and are eager to share their culture with the school."

Kelly Smith is a science teacher and the senior sponsor. She was nominated by a fellow teacher who noted Ms. Smith always has a positive demeanor and helps them reset when they are struggling. She makes it seem like nothing is a big deal. S/he always looks forward to seeing her because she has such a great attitude. Ms. Smith is working with the seniors to ensure they are prepared for graduation and have everything in line for a smooth transition. It is no secret why the students love her.

Please congratulate these teachers and staff members! We are blessed to have them on our team.

FamiLEEs, we'd love to have your nominations for Teacher of the Month as well! Use the link here to nominate an outstanding teacher in our building!

This Week:

November 9, 2026 (Mon)

• Cheer State Competition @ Bill Harris Arena in Birmingham

November 10, 2026 (Tue)

• Assembly Schedule, No FamiLEE Time

• Midway Point of the 2nd Quarter Grading Period

• NCTHS Veterans Day Program in the Theatre: 10:00-11:00 am

• LHS Veterans Day Program in the Theatre: 1:00-2:00 pm

November 11, 2026 (Wed)

• Veterans Day, No School

• Marching Band in the Huntsville Veterans Day Parade: 11:00 am

November 12, 2026 (Thu)

• Importance of Being Earnest Callbacks in Black Box Theatre: 4:00-7:00 pm

• Dance Magnet Ignite the Fire Rehearsal in the Theatre: 4:00-7:00 pm

November 13, 2026 (Fri)

• Freshman Assembly in Theater 10-10:45

• Creative Writing Magnet Poetry Out Loud in the Black Box Theatre: 8:30 am-10:45 am

• Early Warning Attendance Meeting in the Cafeteria: 9:00 am

• Hunchback of Notre Dame Callbacks in the Theatre / Black Box Theatre: 4:00-8:00 pm

November 14, 2026 (Sat)

• Swim Meet @ The HSV Aquatic Center

November 15, 2026 (Sun)

Next Week:

November 16, 2026 (Mon)

• 2nd Quarter Progress Reports Go Home In 3rd Block

• Rehearsals for State Trumbauer in the Black Box Theatre: 4:00-7:00 pm

• Ignite the Fire DME Tech Rehearsal in the Theatre: 4:00-8:30 pm

November 17, 2026 (Tue)

• Rehearsals for State Trumbauer in the Black Box Theatre: 4:00-7:00 pm

• Ignite the Fire DME Tech Rehearsal in the Theatre: 4:00-8:30 pm

• Magnet Tour 5:00

November 18, 2026 (Wed)

• Education Support Professionals Day

• STRIVE Luncheon in the Library: 12:15-1:00 pm

• Rehearsals for State Trumbauer in the Black Box Theatre: 4:00-7:00 pm

• Ignite the Fire DME Tech Rehearsal in the Theatre: 4:00-8:30 pm

November 19, 2026 (Thu)

• Parent Involvement Coordinator Appreciation Day

• Creative Writing Magnet Trip to JEA National Convention in Orlando

• Ignite the Fire DME Tech Rehearsal in the Theatre: 4:00-8:30 pm

November 20, 2026 (Fri)

• Substitute Educators Day

• Creative Writing Magnet Trip to JEA National Convention in Orlando

• Ignite the Fire DME Tech Rehearsal in the Theatre: 4:00-8:30 pm

November 21, 2026 (Sat)

• Creative Writing Magnet Trip to JEA National Convention in Orlando

• Open Studio Night at Lowe Mill

November 22, 2026 (Sun)

• Creative Writing Magnet Trip to JEA National Convention in Orlando

• Senior class of 2027 parents & guardians, please come out to the lecture hall next Tuesday, November 10th, at 6:00pm to learn all about the FAFSA and Financial Aid for college for your child!

• Please come out to Milton Frank Stadium next Tuesday, November 10 at 6:00pm to support out Girls Flag Football Team as they take on Austin in the second round of the playoffs!

• Anyone who is interested in Indoor Track will need to get a letter from Coach Ross in room 125.

• Huntsville Learning Center is requesting volunteers! If you want to contribute your time and talents while also making your resume look great, please see the flyer below.

• BECOME A LEE HIGH PTSA SPONSOR! Invest in our students, staff, and school community! Together, we can make a lasting impact! Message us today to become a sponsor!
• Lee High is once again partnering with NACEE to offer after free school tutoring and ACT prep on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in room 123. Please see the flyer for more info!

• The 2025-2026 Harmoniouslee literary magazines are finally here! Get yours today for only $20 by stopping by room 314 or emailing Michelle.Sisson@hsv-k12.org.
• Also, what better way to remind your community (and yourself) that we are all poetry in motion?!?! Please support the LHS Creative Writing Magnet by purchasing a shirt, hoodie, tote, and/or coffee mug! All proceeds go to help support our nationally award-winning literary magazine, Harmoniouslee! Click the link here to buy!
• Huntsville families interested in learning more about Lee's Creative and Performing Arts Magnet Program, please plan to attend one of our fall 2026 magnet tours! Email megan.carroll@hsv-k12.org for more information or with any questions!

• Shout-out to our Flag Football Team for their win over Gardendale Tuesday night! Come cheer them on at their next playoff game this Tuesday, Nov. 10th, at 6 p.m. at Milton Frank stadium!
• Shout-out to our Lee High Students of the Week: freshmen Donavan Fletcher and Jalyse Battle, sophomore Brandon Rucker, junior Jovann Leslie, and senior Kennedy Freeman. Thank you for demonstrating the FamiLEE values!

Need-to-Know Info

• Seniors, as you receive scholarship offers from colleges and organizations, please submit ALL scholarship offers in the Google form linked here.
• Seniors, please check your school fees! You can register by going to Lee High School web page and clicking School Fees or by clicking here. You will need to have your PowerSchool ID number ready to put in as your Student ID when prompted.

Senior Photographer Information

• KWaldrup Studio & Design
• Studio: 256-517-8776
• Studio Text: 256-384-4416
• Studio Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm (unless we are on location)
• www.waldrupphoto.com
• Facebook: K.Waldrup Studio & Design
• Instagram: @waldrupstudio

Senior Faculty:

• Counselors: Traditional Student Counselor - Chris White (chris.white@hsv-k12.org); Magnet Student Counselor - Denise Lee (denise.lee@hsv-k12.org)
• Senior Sponsors: Nicole Fields (nicole.fields@hsv-k12.org) and Kelly Smith (kelly.smith@hsv-k12.org)
• Graduation Coach: Kristy Thompson (kristy.thompson@hsv-k12.org)
• HCS College Counselor: Lacey Guthrie (lacey.guthrie@hsv-k12.org)
• HCS Career Counselor: Cary Watkins (cary.watkins@hsv-k12.org)
• National Guard Recruiter: Wendell Williams (205-746-4155) – can help with all branches of the military.

• If you plan to join us in the stands to cheer on our band, cheerleaders, and football players at our games each week -- and we hope you do! -- Milton Frank Stadium has some new guidelines shared below.

• Lee High School is now using ParentSquare as our school-to-home communication platform! Download the app today to stay informed and engaged with everything happening at Lee. With ParentSquare, FamiLees can view school and class update, access the school calendar and save events, view and download photos, volunteer and complete forms, and message teachers and staff directly. Download the ParentSquare app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or scan the QR code on the flyer below to get started.

• HCS Wireless Communication Device Policy: We want to inform you about an important update to our school policies in response to a new state law. On May 14, 2025, Governor Kay Ivey signed the FOCUS Act (Freeing Our Classrooms of Unnecessary Screens for Safety) into law. This law, which went into effect July 1, 2025, requires public schools across Alabama to limit student use of wireless communication devices during the instructional day to improve focus, safety, and engagement. In compliance with this law, Huntsville City Schools will implement a district-wide Wireless Communication Device (WCD) Policy beginning Fall 2025. Please click here to review the new HCS Wireless Communication Device policy.

We want your child to be in school with us every day! Attendance is the most important factor in your child's academic success. We can't teach children who aren't at school. We have a goal of 95% this year. Please help us reach this goal by ensuring your child is here every day. If you child has to be out, please send excuses to LHS.attendance@hsv-k12.org.