NorthLake Park Community School and the Lake Nona YMCA recently celebrated 20 years of partnership. The school and YMCA opened in 1999. Mr. Lee Parker, principal of NorthLake Park, along with Ms. Nancy Bryant, the executive director of the Lake Nona YMCA, welcomed everyone and recognized staff members that helped to open the building back in 1999. Mr. John Rudzik and Ms. Wendy Wagner, both former principals of NorthLake Park, were in attendance.

Cub Scout Pack 15 opened the program with a Presentation of Colors and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance, which was followed by the National Anthem, sung by Alyssa Raghu, who was a top-eight finalist on American Idol and also an NLP alumni. Our school chorus then sang our school song, which was led by music teacher Ms. Rutan and our chorus.  The chorus also shared the stage with Alyssa Raghu to perform “A Million Dreams” from the movie The Greatest Showman.

Some history about our iconic white column, in the front of the school, was shared along with the words that are inscribed on it by some special guests. This is called “The Column of Partnership,” and the words inscribed on it are: vision, knowledge, faith, wellness, and community. The assembly concluded with a video montage highlighting NorthLake Park and the YMCA’s 20-year history, set to the song “If These Walls Could Speak” by Amy Grant.

Noelle P. from Mrs. Oliphant’s second grade class won first place in the Orange County Library System’s youth art contest. Her painting was done in Mrs. Feinauer’s art class at NorthLake Park Community School.