Upbeat music was pumping from Dale the D.J. Dude’s sound system as new Lucerne Valley Middle High School principal Nate Lambdin shook hands and gave high fives to students on the first day of school, August 9.
The school’s new assistant principal, Kelly Boeing, also greeted students during the early morning first-day festivities. Boeing formerly was a middle school teacher in Hesperia. As students found their classrooms, the D.J. was playing songs such as Cyndy Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and Earthwind & Fire’s “September.”
Meanwhile, Burt Umstead, the second-year principal at nearby Lucerne Valley Elementary School, welcomed his students. Umstead also serves as the school district’s assistant superintendent. Superintendent Peter Livingston was hired in 2016. At the elementary school, the classified staff helped families and students find their classes. Teachers were waiting in their classrooms to greet the students. This year, the elementary school students will get to use the new Bud Biggs STEM Lab, which is up and ready.