Shorian Nation eNews
September 3rd, 2020
Introduction
Welcome Back, Shorians
The first day of school is Tuesday, September 8th. To access building-specific schedules, including start and end times, reference this link. Please refer to our District Events Calendar and event flyers for confirmation of all event details. Our website and social media channels gives us the biggest megaphone to share our hard work. Please help us flood the community with powerful messages that inform and praise our schools, staff, and students by emailing us feel good photos and stories to social@lsps.org.
Once again, thank you to our 176 members of the Lake Shore Family who have actively collaborated and continue to work through the development our return to learning plan which includes 69 parents, 66 teachers, 4 custodians and bus drivers, 13 support staff, 10 secretaries, and 14 administrators and board members. We are also appreciative of all 520 employees who have dedicated their Summer in the preparation for your child's return to school.
If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to school, please email backtoschool@lsps.org.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Building Schedules
By referencing these building schedules, Shorian Nation can create a routine for kids. To access building-specific schedules, including start and end times, reference this link and follow the first day of school schedules linked below:
Lake Shore High School
In-Person Students
100% Virtual Students
North Lake High School
Hybrid/Virtual Return to Learning
Kennedy Middle School
Remote/Virtual Return to Learning
Masonic Heights, Rodgers, Violet Elementaries
Hybrid Students Learning from Home
Hybrid Students In-Person
100% Virtual Students
Refer to our building start times for guidance when setting your alarm clock. According to the National Sleep Foundation, children of all ages should fall asleep independently, go to bed before 9:00pm, have an established bedtime routine, include reading as part of their bedtime routine, refrain from caffeine, and sleep in bedrooms without electronics. Sufficient sleep is essential for maximum brain function, so you really don't want to ignore this aspect of your scholastic habits.
Food Service Distribution
In an effort to support our families and greater community during this unprecedented time, Lake Shore Public Schools, in partnership with Chartwells Food Services, will continue to provide free, healthy meals to all children under 18 years old and special needs children up to age 26 regardless of where they go to school or whether they qualify for free and reduced meals. Families do not need to pay for meals or order online at this time, but can use our Nutrislice app for access to menus.
To help minimize the amount of social exposure, families and children can either drive or walk up to the following outdoor distribution location on Mondays and Thursdays from 11:15am-1pm and 4pm-6pm to collect breakfasts and lunches to take home until December 31st. Due to the Labor Day holiday, our food service distribution will begin, for this week only, on Tuesday, September 8th.
Lake Shore High School
22980 E. Thirteen Mile Road, Saint Clair Shores
We want to make sure you know that Free or Reduced Applications are available for students and that the registration process is easy, confidential and can help your children stay well nourished. You are still encouraged to check out this website for more information and to apply. Applications may take 10 business days to process.
Technology Assistance
Our districtwide 1:1 Chromebook initiative is designed to cultivate learning. Currently, Lake Shore Public Schools has 3,400 Chromebooks distributed to both students and staff.
Chromebooks run the Google Chrome operating system, a lightweight OS that is designed to run apps over the web. The devices are protected from viruses and managed by the district through a central web console. These computers allow access to anytime, anywhere, anyway learning, and allow students to build technology skills and responsibility in a safe and caring environment.
Chromebook insurance is now available and may be purchased at through this link. The deadline to purchase insurance is Thursday, October 1st; Lake Shore parents will no longer be charged transaction fees when processing eFunds payments. The district will be accountable for all fees until further notice including Chromebook insurance!
Have you turned on your Chromebook lately or tried logging into PowerSchool or Schoology? If you need technology support, send an email to helpdesk@lsps.org. Parents, please include your child’s first and last name and building.
CDC Reminders
Take steps to care for yourself and help protect others at Lake Shore Public Schools and our community by practicing healthy habits to help slow the spread of COVID-19:
- Wear a mask
- Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds
- Clean and then disinfect frequently used surfaces
- Stay home if you’re sick
- Avoid touching your face
- Put space between yourself and others
Learn more about staying safe and healthy by visiting the CDC website.
Social-Emotional Wellbeing Form
This Wellness Form, created by Mr. Popp, will help us to have a better understanding of the wellness of our students and guide us to design best practices. Parents of students in grades K-5 are asked to fill out the form with their child. Students in grades 6-12 are asked to complete the form with a parent or on their own. The information provided is confidential and will only be used by the district to better assist you and your child.
Inspiration
A Pay It Forward Community
You cannot do a kindness too soon because you never know how soon it will be too late.
Last spring Lake Shore Public Schools emptied their cupboards of PPE supplies to help health care and first responders in their hour of need. For example, our staff collected all the remaining sanitizer wipes, snacks, and candy and made donations to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office, City of St. Clair Shores, Michigan-City Government, St. Clair Shores Police Department, and St. Clair Shores Fire Department.
General Motors donated 1,500 face shields for our staff as they prepare to return to the classroom. Thank you so much, GM, for caring for our people!
Teachers Provide High-Quality Instruction
During the Summers of 2017 and 2018, 220 teachers participated in 11 training sessions, through a strong partnership with CBD Consulting, to transform how we educate our students and change what our classrooms look like so that our students are operating at the optimal level of engagement and achievement.
Our teachers continue to facilitate transformational learning experiences for Lake Shore students through modeling workshops in 2019. The workshops provide learning experiences that connect priority standards and curriculum work to transformation goals, show what transformation looks like in our classrooms, provide a format for how to plan and execute transformative learning experiences, and reflect on both the process and outcome.
Lake Shore also knows the importance of technology in the education system today. Using 3,400 district-issued Chromebooks, deployed for the past 3 years, students of all ages can engage with learning using a variety of resources accessible on Schoology, our learning management system (LMS). Since 2017, Lake Shore Public Schools has fully adopted Schoology as its districtwide LMS because of its intuitive learner-centric design, its ability to support different teaching methods, and its strong integration capabilities.
COVID-19 or not, this community can expect 180 days of high-quality instruction in a safe environment and supported by Lake Shore teachers in which high, clear expectations and positive relationships are fostered and active learning is promoted.
Innovation
Texting Messaging Service
Lake Shore Public Schools offers a texting service for parents and staff. The service allows our entire community to receive important information such as school reminders, safety alerts, school closings and more, directly from their school(s) on a mobile device.
Even if you have not received a LSPS message to join, parents and staff may opt in by texting “Y” or “Yes” to the short code 67587. You may opt out at any time by replying “Stop” to one of the messages.
Health and Safety is a Top Priority
Working with our Maintenance and Operations staff and reviewing the most current public health data released by the State of Michigan, our commitment to your health and safety is stronger than ever.
We continue to evaluate our procedures for daily cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting vehicles, equipment, and buildings which includes frequently touched surfaces. All buildings are equipped with cordless electrostatic sprayers which will sanitize an entire classroom in minutes. We have installed protective barriers in high traffic areas to help maintain social distance and physical separation. We will provide adequate supplies to support healthy hygiene behaviors including soap and hand sanitizer.
Thank you, 25 Lake Shore custodians and Maintenance and Operations staff, for working tirelessly to provide you with a peace of mind as we prepare for the start of the 2020-21 school year. We are ready for anything.
Celebration
Welcome to Kindergarten Celebrations
This week we met Rodgers, Masonic Heights, and Violet Elementary’s Class of 2033 at our Welcome to Kindergarten Celebrations and invited them to our district with informational packets, future Shorian shirts and masks, bubble wands and streamers, devices, and ice cream.
Keep dreaming about becoming a real life superhero or princess and conquering this world with your mighty lego creations. No matter the age, everyone is asked, on a regular basis, about their aspirations. It seems, as we get older, we choose occupations that connect with our aptitudes and interests. But if you ask a Kindergarten student, career dreams can be anything. Incoming Class of 2033 student Cameron Kemner, when asked for his goals, said, “to be a person who makes lights, phones, keys, and has a puppy." Regardless of their individual choices, we are excited that they have made the decision to become a Shorian.
Don’t blink. These imaginative, carefree souls will soon walk across the stage to receive their high school diploma.
Shorians Rock
Hidden high or low, Senior Shorians carefully placed painted rocks at each building as a welcome back greeting. Scan the playground, track, or landscape perimeters and you may be lucky enough to find a rock smiling at you. If so, pick it up and read its inscription. Fueled by Lake Shore's commitment to the Positivity Project, rocks were labeled with 1 of the 24 character strengths that empower us all to build positive relationships.
Which rock will you locate? How will this word resonate with you? Snap a selfie with your stone, post to social media, and use the #myLSPS hashtag. Gift your colorful rock to a person in your life who exhibits this trait.
School is going to look different this year. Building a positive culture will be more difficult and more important than ever. We know we can do this together because Shorians rock!
Contact the Shorian Nation
Email: social@lsps.org
Website: http://lakeshoreschools.org
Location: 28850 Harper Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
Phone: (586) 285-8481
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myLSPS/
Twitter: @myLSPS