Principal's Message

Greetings Lake Scholars and Families,

Lake Intermediate is very excited to welcome each of you to the 2024-2025 school year. Lake staff is eager to reconnect with our 8th grade scholars and get to know each of our new incoming Dragons.

My name is Denise Kirkman and I am Lake Intermediate’s principal. This is my 27th year working in Garden Grove Unified School District in which I have served as an Assistant Principal at both the Intermediate and High school level, Teacher on Special Assignment, as well as an Intermediate and elementary school teacher.

Lake is proud in supporting Garden Grove School District Goals as we work to prepare students for life in high school and beyond. Intermediate school is a very important time as our scholars transition from children into teenagers. There are many challenges that go with this time but also many exciting experiences awaiting them at Lake. Lake is focused on achieving GGUSD District goal #2, which is to help students feel connected to school to foster motivation. Students will experience how to develop scholarly habits that will support GGUSD District Goal # 1 to ensure they are ready for high school. Lake community’s mission is to cultivate a welcoming and positive culture where students and staff are motivated to learn and excel, and that is accomplished by teaching our students to breathe F.I.R.E! Our scholars will learn skills to help them Focus, demonstrate Integrity, be Respectful, and achieve Excellence. Our ultimate goal is for all Lake students to feel safe and supported at school so they can build up their confidence to take academic risks that lead them to reaching their full potential.

Lake has been recognized as a California Honor Roll and a No Place for Hate School. The California Honor Roll program recognizes school districts and schools that have outperformed their peers in closing the achievement gaps particularly among higher-poverty student populations. The recognition shines a light on districts that are driving a culture where students learn fundamental skills that employers are looking for. This honor is an acknowledgment of all the hard work our staff is doing to help Lake scholars reach GGUSD Goal 3 and be future business leaders in the world.