Lampeter-Strasburg townlively.com
JUNE 11, 2025
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL LXII • NO 6
Kim Smith Named L-S Teacher of the Year BY GEORGE DEIBEL
K
im Smith’s story is one of resolve and resilience. It’s a story of sorrow and surprise, music, and moments. It’s a testament to what a person can accomplish after seeing empathy in the eyes of second-graders and forging forward in the face of tragedy while being backed by the compassion of a community. It’s a success story. Being named Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S) School District 2024-25 Teacher of the Year isn’t the end of Kim’s story, but it is an opportunity to pause for reflection and appreciation. Kim, a second-grade teacher at Lampeter Elementary School, said she is often asked what makes her different than other teachers. Her son, Ryan, who was a basketball star at L-S, died of leukemia four and a half years ago. That experience caused Kim to see things in a new light. “I
have a lot of resilience to be able to come back into a (teaching) position after such a big loss,” she said. Ryan was a beloved member of the L-S community, and Kim cherishes his memory daily. “All the kids in my classroom know who Ryan was and that his basketball number was 5,” she said. “All the parents know who Ryan was. It’s pretty amazing how empathetic kids can be at such a young age. I’m glad to be able to share that with them and allow them to see my resilience. If something happens in their life, hopefully I’ve modeled for them that they can find a pathway to move forward. Even though you’re not going to be the same person, it’s really important that you find a path to move forward.” Kim said she now has a better understanding of what students may be going through. “I realize that everybody has hard days,” she said. “You never know what kids are bringing to school. It has See Kim Smith pg 5 Kim Smith and her students stand on the basketball court dedicated to Kim’s late son, Ryan.
BY JEFF FALK
Leo - Leadership, Experience, Opportunity - stands for service. Leo means doing the right thing all the time. Leo is a lion. “It’s important to be a part of your community and give back to create change in your community,” said Jarrett Falduts, who’s a Bareville, Leola, Leacock Lion and the adviser for the recently formed Conestoga Valley Leo Club. “Just being a person who gives. It’s really just God’s work.
You have to reach down and help people out. The impact it creates for yourself and others is unlike anything else.” It’s been a few months since Falduts; his son, Geno, a sophomore at Conestoga Valley (CV) High School; and his daughter, Sydney, a seventh-grader at CV’s Gerald G. Huesken Middle School, pooled their talents to form the Conestoga Valley Leo Club. The club is sponsored and supported by the Bareville, Leola, Leacock Lions Club, but it is not officially affiliated See Leo Club pg 6
Local Students Hope Their Boats Come In BY GEORGE DEIBEL
Keira Smecker (front) and Callie Reynolds row their boat.
Whatever floats your boat. That was the challenge facing LampeterStrasburg (L-S) High School science students during the annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, which was held May 27 at the LampeterStrasburg YMCA’s outdoor pool. AP biology teacher Erica White said the event is an example of L-S science teachers encouraging their students to take academic risks. “Don’t be afraid to fail,” she said. “Take the risk. The payoff can be really fun.” The regatta is the culmination of a twoweek project. “We offer several AP science
Photo by George Deibel
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