Dear Litchfield Purple Panther Community,

Winter invites reflection. It slows us down just enough to notice the steady work happening all around us — the kind of work that shapes confidence, builds character, and quietly prepares students for what comes next.

That work is on full display in this inaugural issue of The Purple Panther.

Within these pages, you’ll step into classrooms where curiosity is encouraged and expectations are clear; into science labs where students are challenged to think deeply, take risks, and discover what they are capable of; into art rooms where creativity becomes a source of confidence rather than comparison; and into band and choir rooms where students learn what it means to belong to something larger than themselves.

You’ll also meet educators whose influence extends well beyond content — teachers, coaches, and mentors who understand that growth happens when students feel both supported and pushed. Whether through music, science, athletics, leadership opportunities, or simply showing up day after day for kids who need a steady presence, these stories reflect a district committed to developing the whole child.

What connects all of them is intention. Students are not just participating; they are finding their footing. They are learning how to persist, how to collaborate, how to recover from mistakes, and how to take pride in their progress. In our schools, confidence is not reserved for a select few — it is cultivated across grade levels, disciplines, and experiences.

The Purple Panther exists because our schools have remarkable stories unfolding every day. This magazine is not about spotlighting a single achievement or moment, but about offering a fuller picture of the learning, care, and commitment that define our district every day. I hope you’ll agree we have a story here at Litchfield that is so very worthy of sharing.

As superintendent, I am extraordinarily proud of the people and programs that make Litchfield schools what they are. This first issue is an invitation to our community — to see the work, to recognize its impact, and to take pride in the story we are telling together.

Thank you for being part of it.

Warm regards,

Dr. Kelly McClain
Superintendent
Litchfield Community Unit School District 12