
Youth basketball sign ups are here! Sign up by November 15!
This month, we are excited to spotlight Kurtis J. Howell! Kurt serves as a Van Driver and Custodian/Maintenance staff member and has been working in education for 15 years. His favorite part about being at Lowell School District is simply the great people he gets to work with every day.
Off the clock, family plays a huge role in Kurt's life. He has been happily married for 37 years and is a proud father of four and grandfather of six. His household also includes Lulu, a very elderly Schnauzer whose name fits her personality perfectly!
When he is not at work, Kurt stays busy with a wide variety of interests, including inventing, creative writing, snowmobiling, camping, traveling, and learning about Trust Law and Equity. A fun fact about Kurtis is that he is an accomplished writer who has penned one book and three screenplays. Given the opportunity to have lunch with anyone, living or not, he would choose Yeshua. He is also quick to mention that he is expecting the rapture at any moment.
When it comes to good food, Kurtis enjoys fried chicken, steak, smoked salmon, chocolate cake, pumpkin pie, and much more.
Please join us in celebrating Kurtis and thanking him for his dedication to education and our school community!
Lundy Student of the Month is the one and only Katie VanOrman! The Lowell Middle School Student of the month is the amazing Callie Neet, and our Lowell High School Student of the Month is the amazing Eli Pickett! Each are representing our schools in the best ways. We are so proud of our amazing students and especially proud of our students going above and beyond and recognized as Student of the Month for their respective schools!
Students walked through the Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Townshend Acts, and the Tea Act. At each stage, students would find out what their occupation would be charged in taxes, and they then could make arguments to the committee and ask for petitions to parliament to raise/lower their payments.
Shout out to Mrs. Grant for bringing learning to life! Super fun lesson!
This week, three more seniors handed over a "Difference Maker" T-shirt and a heartfelt thank-you to the educators who made an indelible mark on their lives.
Here are this week’s Difference Maker honorees:
Henry Coiner & Mr. Cardwell
Henry chose Mr. Cardwell for being far more than just a classroom teacher. Over the years, Mr. Cardwell has served as a steady mentor, instilling in Henry a strong work ethic and demonstrating the true value of hard work—lessons that serve him both on and off the football field.
Wyatt Pelroy & Mrs. Edgerton
Wyatt’s connection with Mrs. Edgerton goes way back to when she was his 2nd-grade teacher, long before she became the school principal! Wyatt credits her firm support, constant encouragement, and ability to hold him accountable as key reasons he stayed on the right track throughout his school years.
Gage Greco & Mr. Ricci
Gage recognized Mr. Ricci for his effortless ability to make learning fun. Mr. Ricci’s laid-back nature and knack for keeping lessons interesting made a huge impression on Gage, creating an engaging environment where students truly thrive.
A big thank-you to Scott Cardwell, Jessica Edgerton, and Justin Ricci for everything you pour into the students of Lowell!
This season, the seniors on the Lowell High School football team are making sure those moments don’t slip by.
As they reflect on their journey through the Lowell School District, these student-athletes are looking back at the teachers, staff, and mentors who made a real impact along the way. To show their appreciation, the players are handing out special "Difference Maker" T-shirts—and a whole lot of heartfelt gratitude—to the local heroes who helped guide their paths.
Here are the first three senior matchups:
Colton Crutcher & Mrs. Beckett
Colton chose Mrs. Beckett as his Difference Maker for always having his back. Whether navigating classroom challenges or life outside of school, her steady encouragement kept him on the right track and left a lasting mark on his life.
Jax Norcutt & Mrs. Maloy (Lundy Elementary)
Jax went back to his roots, honoring Mrs. Maloy from Lundy Elementary. Her patient kindness and dedication during his early school years set a strong foundation—one that Jax credits with helping him grow into the top student he is today.
Carson Ewan & Mrs. Karli Efseaff
Carson’s connection with Mrs. Efseaff spans two schools—first at Mountain View Charter School, and later at Lowell Jr/Sr High School. Carson shared that her endless patience, perseverance, and warmth taught him life lessons he’ll carry with him long after graduation.
A huge thank you to Mrs. Beckett, Mrs. Maloy, and Mrs. Efseaff for pouring so much heart into our students!
Stay tuned—we’ll feature three more player-teacher pairs next week!
Staff Spotlight: Justin Ricci
Kicking off our very first Staff Spotlight of the 2026-2027 school year is the one and only Justin Ricci! Since joining the Lowell School District family in 2024, Mr. Ricci has been making a major splash as a high school social studies teacher. Outgoing seniors routinely sing his praises, giving him huge credit not just for helping them navigate history, but for his signature calm style that instantly makes every single student feel right at home in his classroom. For Mr. Ricci, the feeling is mutual. His absolute favorite part of working in the Lowell community is getting to build connections with students, making their daily school journey memorable, and sparking that light that inspires them to pursue higher education after graduation.
When he is off the clock, Mr. Ricci stays busy with a fantastic mix of hobbies and good company. He loves working alongside his fellow Lowell colleagues and can often be found testing his knowledge during trivia nights with friends, family, and coworkers. A proud Illinois native, he also enjoys unwinding in nature through hiking and camping, getting lost in a good book, whipping up something delicious in the kitchen, or playing music. If he could sit down for a dream lunch date with anyone in history, he would share a table with Abraham Lincoln himself. Keep him fueled up with a steady stream of sparkling water or coffee, and he will be good to go. Most importantly, he wants everyone to know that his door is always open, so do not be shy—come on by and say hello to him and Ms. Karli in their building!
Dear Lowell Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,
It is time to get ready for the winter sports season! Registration is officially open for all Lowell Middle School and High School student-athletes.
With Middle School Girls Basketball kicking off practice next week and all other winter sports beginning in mid-November, we strongly encourage families to complete the registration process as soon as possible so your athlete is cleared and ready for day one.
How to Register
We are using FinalForms for all athletic registrations and physical clearances.
👉 Register your student-athlete here: https://lowell-or.finalforms.com/
What You Need to Complete Registration:
Account Setup/Update: Log in or create an account to select your student’s winter sport.
Form Signatures: Both parent/guardian and student must sign the required online participation forms.
Sports Physical: Ensure your athlete has a current Oregon OSAA Sports Physical on file with the athletic department before the first day of practice.
Thank you for supporting Lowell Athletics. We look forward to a great winter season—Go Red Devils!
Check out the link to see Ben Thurman, Associated Heating and Air’s player of the week!
Notice Regarding Instructional Time
Free event for everyone!