Shorian Nation eNews
December 24th, 2023
Featured Story
Happy Holidays, Shorian Nation
At this time of year, it feels most appropriate to share feelings of gratitude and admiration for the daily miracles and acts of kindness that take place in our community. This year, like so many others, we have witnessed these things day in and day out. We are blessed to be a part of something bigger than all of us, that collectively, we should all take pride in.
Watching our students, parents, and staff support one another when times are tough and taking great pride in celebrating our accomplishments when things are at their best is the Lake Shore way. You don’t have to look hard to find great examples of what it means to be a part of Lake Shore.
Giving back to the community is important to the Shorian Nation. These are several examples of ways our students and staff displayed generosity during this holiday season:
DISTRICT
- Gratitude Letters for Lake Shore Public Schools staff and students
- 2,299 heartfelt letters received
- Toy Drive/Cops for Kids
- Collected new, unwrapped toys
- Macomb Charitable Foundation Candy Donations
- 200 pounds of candy for kids
- Nonperishable Food Drive and Monetary Paper Sale Donations for Goodfellows
- 2.5 tons or over 5,500 pounds collected
- LSHS Band/Cheer and Rodgers Students Welcome Private Bashi
- Video clip of event by Abby Smith
- Holiday Community Performances
- 12 different groups sharing their musical talents including visits to American House and ShorePointe Health and Rehabilitation Center
- Seasonal Cleanup
- 50+ lawns were raked with several "gifted," not signed up
- Free Thanksgiving Meals Delivered by Community Effort
- 55 meals, 230 total people fed
- Holiday Help Child/Family Sponsorships
- The entire Lake Shore community rallied to make the holidays brighter for our Shorian families! 200 children in 75 families will find packages under their tree and a holiday meal on their table. Business members, alumni, civic groups, staff, and anonymous donors purchased gifts, gift cards, winter gear and grocery items for students and families that may have gone without this holiday season.
LAKE SHORE HIGH SCHOOL
- Lake Shore Community Closet
- 400 various toiletry items and 100 articles of clothing collected
- Holiday Readings
- LSHS read 150 holiday books to over 300 PK and 1st grade students
NORTH LAKE HIGH SCHOOL
- Paper Drive
- 50lbs of paper collected and recycled
KENNEDY MIDDLE SCHOOL
- Lighthouse Outreach and Adopt-a-Family
- $6,970.76 in cash donations to support these community initiatives
Special Shoutouts
Generosity is ongoing with our community partners.
The Shorewood Kiwanis Club has generously donated a book for every student K-5 at Violet Elementary! There were tables inside the media center filled with picture books, nonfiction books, and chapter books for our All-Stars to choose from! This act of kindness was featured in the Macomb Daily.
Dr. Carl Papa, President of the St. Clair Shores Kiwanis, loves kids and books and has made it a personal goal to gift free books to every school within the Shores in 2-3 years!
Lori Doughty, Director of External Affairs at AT&T partnered with Kelley Lovati, President of the Macomb County Chamber Foundation, and through the support of Senator Kevin Hertel and Human I-T, donated 100 laptops to North Lake High School with a goal of addressing the digital divide.
Human-I-T refurbishes donated technology to provide low-income individuals and nonprofits with devices, internet, and digital training and the Macomb Foundation accomplishes its mission by working closely with local businesses, civic and non-profit groups to effectively explore, plan, and implement programs designed to broaden the role Macomb County plays in Michigan’s economy.
Stay Updated
Bond Update
Lake Shore has a strong legacy of being excellent stewards of the community’s resources. We are committed to provide you with bond updates as we continue to prioritize our students' future.
- KMS Bond Tour Video (11/2023)
- Masonic Heights Bond Tour Video (10/2023)
- Violet Bond Tour Video (10/2023)
- LSHS Bond Tour Video (10/2023)
- 60 Second Video Update (10/2023)
- Bond Updates - Fall 2023 Mailer (last updated 9/29/2023)
- Bond Updates - Construction Presentation (8/9/2023)
- Bond Building-Specific Boards
- Bond Overview and Schedule
- Project List
To learn more about the bond, please visit the Lake Shore Public Schools' website.
Ad Center Relocation
Several district departments have relocated to North Shore in preparation for the renovation and construction projects beginning in 2024 on the campus of Rodgers Elementary and the new Early Childhood Center. Those are:
Department of Business Services
- Accounts Payable
- Payroll
- CFO
Department of Employee Services
- Employee Benefits
- Background Checks
- Notary
- Deputy Superintendent
Department of Student and Academic Services
- Pupil Accounting
- Curriculum and Instruction
- District Continuous Improvement
- Registrar
- Assistant Superintendent of Student and Academic Services
Superintendent’s Office
Effective Monday, December 11th, their new location is 23055 Masonic Blvd. For those familiar with buildings throughout the District, North Shore is the building adjacent to Kennedy Middle School. All phone extensions and email will remain the same. Monthly Board meetings will remain at their current location until further notice.
Stay Informed
LSPS Non-Homestead Millage Proposal
The Lake Shore Public Schools Board of Education has placed a non-homestead operating millage proposal on the February 27th presidential primary ballot.
For more information, visit the following links:
District Calendar Date Change
Due to several of our schools being polling locations and in the effort to minimize interaction between our students and the general public associated with the February 27th Presidential Primary, the District Professional Development Day scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2024 has been moved to Tuesday, February 27, 2024.
Students will now attend school on February 20th (the day after mid-winter break) and be off on February 27th.
Upcoming Events
Shorian Testimonials
Care Solace
Happy holidays! With winter break upon us, we encourage you to relax, unwind, and settle into a safe and restful break.
The holiday season is a time for togetherness and joy, but it can sometimes bring unwelcome guests, like stress and grief. Some of us may be experiencing the holidays without a loved one. Some of us may be balancing endless to-do lists from shopping to entertaining. While we each celebrate this season’s joys, it’s important to stay mindful, acknowledge our feelings, and reach out for help if needed.
To help keep your holidays bright, below are helpful resources. We encourage you to save these resources so you can easily reference them should you or a family member need help: https://www.lakeshoreschools.org/safety_and_security
Lake Shore Public Schools partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of our community. If you or a family member are looking for help with mental health or substance use, Care Solace can help you quickly find treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of the circumstance. This is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service provided by Lake Shore Public Schools. If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a mental health care provider:
- Call 888-515-0595. Multilingual support is available 24/7/365.
- Visit www.caresolace.com/lsps and either search on your own or click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.
May you enjoy your break and return rested and reinvigorated for a fantastic new year!
Winter Break Letter
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Positivity Project
P2 Calendar
Under the guiding principles of our districtwide initiative, the Positivity Project, the #PositivityInAction mindset is our top priority. Because of our goal to inspire students to build positive relationships and become their best selves, we invite you to follow this Positivity Project Calendar. Note: We have made a few changes to this calendar; All adjustments are located on our District Events Calendar.
SUPPORTING OTHERS WHEN THEY STRUGGLE
People with the character strength of supporting others when they struggle means that when they see other people struggle, they help them if they can.
Title I Specialists assist our teachers with decode preprimer-3rd grade sight words. Sight words promote confidence, reading comprehension, and aid in decoding skills. We are so fortunate to have staff who help our students master these words using a variety of strategies and appreciate more than ever the patience and encouragement that goes into it.
Bonus: Dictionaries, a gift to all 3rd graders in the district, have been sponsored by retired dentist at Whole Dental Wellness and longtime Kiwanis member Carl Papa for the past 9 years. Because of Dr. Papa's generosity, these Masonic Heights Elementary students can define and spell any word correctly on-the-go! Spelling can be a struggle, but not with a dictionary as a resource! Thank you Laura Grimsley and Sue Crowe for your presentation; They have a combined 9 years of service with Kiwanis!
Double Bonus: Masonic Heights was awarded a grant from local Pizza Chef and celebrity, Fredi the PizzaMan. This grant has allowed us to purchase sensory items that all of our students will have access to use.
Triple Bonus: Thank you for choosing to support Goodfellows at their annual Paper Sale at the corner of 13 Mile Road and Harper. Their mission is simple: No Kiddie Without a Christmas.
SELF-CONTROL
People with the character strength of self control have the ability to control their emotions and behaviors. They think before they act.
Our elementary students participate in Santa's Shop, a place where students shop without their parents, for their family and friends. There's a lot to choose from and it can be dangerous to resist temptation to buy everything. That's where self control comes in.
Fourth grader Harper Miller from Violet Elementary enjoyed Santa Shop last week. She admitted, "Giving gifts makes everyone happy." When she first walked into the "shop" she was surprised by the amount of present offerings. "It was tough not to buy everything." Mom and Santa Shop Volunteer Katie Miller chimed, "She had to use self-control not to buy herself anything." Mom cannot wait to see what Harper selected for under their tree.
Thank you to the parent volunteers who keep our tables fully stocked with presents, price each item, wrap them with care, and ensure a smooth check out process.
OPTIMISM
People with the character strength of optimism expect the best from the future and work to achieve it.
Our Lake Shore Night at Blossom Heath's Tunnel of Lights was a success thanks to the attendance of our students, families, and community. We enjoyed listening to our students from Masonic Heights Elementary, Violet Elementary, and Rodgers Elementary perform, visiting with our mascots, and sharing wishes for the new year!
Veteran Music Teacher of 29 years, 21 at Lake Shore, Mrs. Rueger-West invited her 3rd grade students from Violet Elementary to sing at this event for the past few years. She shared, "I am so proud and grateful to be the music teacher at Violet Elementary. This school is full of amazing students and teachers. I am so lucky to get to work in such a special place and I'm thankful to the city for letting us return yearly to Tunnel of Lights. My students really look forward to performing there!"
Looking forward, we are excited to celebrate Prudence (1/8-12) and Perseverance (1/15-19).
Inspiration
Choir Tour
We are featuring the magic of the holiday season that can be seen by the twinkle in our Shorian Nation choirs. Watch a video clip of their performances here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ho0cyqbYc83bqZ6-ZlfjwgdPBrM6tDM/view?usp=sharing
Recruiting elementary and middle school students for Lake Shore High School choir with a Choir Tour Day was our mission. Every child who wants to learn music should get the experience and Lake Shore offers robust programs.
Students need to be shown choir, told about its activities and benefits, and convinced that music is an option for them by giving the kids a chance to see it in action while witnessing performances. By listening to musicians sing popular songs in front of a live audience, everyone was able to learn more about these exciting exploratory classes.
Junior Lauren Maciejewski loved being a part of today. She commented, "Doing the choir tour means so much to me because this is something that I have been wanting to do since I was in kindergarten. The reason why I joined choir was to do what I am doing right now, touring the different elementary schools and hopefully encouraging more students to join choir. Singing and performing during this time feels like Christmas to me."
Fusion student Haleigh Fountain's cousin Julian Johnson, a Kindergartener at Rodgers Elementary, was in attendance. She said, "It was very nice to see him and for him to watch me perform because he loves it!" Julian's eyes watched Haleigh's every move and ears listened to every song.
We enjoyed a few holiday songs from the assemblies such as This Christmas, A Very Merry Christmas, Run Rudolph Run, Last Christmas, In Winter, and Carol of the Bells.
In addition, these Choir students made a special stop at American House to share their voices with residents.
Our encore choir performance at American House was a huge hit.
Life Enrichment Coordinator, Rae Smith, reflected on what these performances have meant to her residents. "It is just so special! The residents really look forward to seeing the kids and being able to singalong to the Christmas classics! It is both exciting and nostalgic," she said.
Lake Shore Public Schools finds creative ways to connect with American House every year. From trick-or-treating on Halloween and participating in Bingo on 100s Day to caroling around the holidays and asking for life advice from Seniors, our students continue to build relationships with our elderly friends.
Bonus: The LSHS Jazz Ensemble (and one Jazz Combo) had a blast playing for ShorePointe Health and Rehabilitation Center at their annual holiday dinner!
Holiday Readings
It's not about having time. It's about making time. Sometimes giving isn't about the gift of things, but simply the gift of your presence.
Strong reading skills are a critical component of future success. The foundation we build in our elementary core reading instruction prepares students for success in college and career. Our district strives to assist all students with their development of essential reading skills through a process that builds independent readers and effective communicators.
Ms. Lebiecki, Ms. May, Ms. Chauvin, Ms. Kominairek, Ms. Honold, Mr. Winters, and Mrs. Stuckey's students from Lake Shore High School sleighed their way over to the Lake Shore Early Childhood Center, Masonic Heights Elementary, Rodgers Elementary, and Violet Elementary. Why? To read their favorite holiday stories and spread the season's cheer!
Our high school students enjoyed the chance to reminisce on their time in elementary. Thank you to Preschool 4 and GSRP, Ms. Maher, Mrs. Kiefer, Ms. Domagalski, Ms. Habrowski, Mrs. Manor, Mrs. Wiseman, Ms. Lynch, and Mrs. Salem’s classes across the district for being such good boys and girls!
The 1st grade students were able to enjoy some of their favorite books! One student, Freshman Michael Nguyen, enjoyed reading to his brother Dominic at our LSECC. "It was such a cool experience to be able to see my little brother's classroom and friends." The high school and elementary students were all able to enjoy wonderful holiday stories together.
Lead GSRP Teacher Debra Morgan enjoyed this visit. She said, "It can be nerve-raking coming into a classroom for the first time. These high school students entered and were so kind and easy-going. I could see the joy in their faces!" Morgan had her LSECC students write thank you cards to their LSHS readers.
A special moment was when LSHS Teacher Mr. Winters read to his own daughter Violet and a group of her friends! This was an unforgettable experience for this Rodgers family!
Once finished, students wrote the book titles on a chain to track all of the reading they were able to collectively accomplish! This impressive chain will remain as a permanent decorative fixture inside our LSECC!
A special thank you to District Elementary Librarian Mrs. Kraus for assisting with the organization of this annual event. We also appreciate Superintendent Dr. DiPonio, Deputy Superintendent Dr. Lewis, and Assistant Superintendent Ms. Wynkoop for serving as guest holiday readers for our buildings!
The Mask
In Aristotle's Poetics, he defines the tragic hero using several of the following characteristics: Noble birth or disposition, reversal of fortune, recognition of consequences, tragic flaw.
Mrs. Tharme's AP Literature and Composition class at Lake Shore High School brainstormed several positive and noble qualities that they considered to be heroic, discussed disappointments that may have changed their view of the world, explained punishments or consequences that have impacted future decisions, and wrote about potential personality weaknesses that guard them against facing harm.
They used the answers to these topics to create a visually-appealing mask that included strengths, weaknesses, and a mixture of pictures, symbols, and words.
Students Briana Koontz and Dante Messina shared the inspiration behind their masks with us. Briana wrote, "I used fire to represent my stubbornness and the fact that I don't back down easily." Danta said, "I love the rivalry between Michigan and Ohio State; This year JJ McCarty and Blake Corum showed out in the victory so I put their names on the mask." We enjoyed seeing their personalities shine as they displayed these masks.
In addition to AP Lit, we are running a total of 7 Advanced Placement courses this year. Students receive 1 honor point for the whole year (.5 per semester). This is added to their GPA. The list of classes is as follows:
- AP Art Studio Portfolio
- AP Economics (every other year)
- AP English Language and Composition
- AP English Literature and Composition
- AP Government (every other year)
- AP Psychology
- AP United States History
- AP Computer Science
Fact Fluency and Frankenstein
Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today!
In Mrs. LaRocca's 2nd grade class at Rodgers Elementary, students are working in stations using whole group, small group, and independent learning time.
Mrs. LaRocca has worked for 6 weeks to complete a coaching cycle with math coach, Mrs. Spriet. Together, the two have met to co-plan lessons, review data and plan small group instruction to help build math fact fluency.
At the teacher's desk, a few students used drawings to compare numbers. They drew quick hundreds, quick tens, and circles to see the value of numbers.
Many students used their Chromebooks to access an app called Prodigy. This helps them master math standards that Mrs. LaRocca assigns to them.
Teacher Mrs. LaRocca is impressed with her elementary kids. She complimented, "The students do a nice job transitioning independently from one task to the next and taking ownership of their own learning. Repetition has helped create this student-led environment."
Another place where a lesson was student-led is located inside Kennedy Middle School.
To begin their new Frankenstein unit, Ms. Fox's 8th grade English classes pieced together their version of the monster. Small groups were assigned a part of the body and by the end of the hour they pieced it all together using teamwork and adhering to creative and aligned design.
Lily Salk enjoyed creating the torso in her group of three as a body-building monster. She explained, "It was really fun to brainstorm ideas and make decisions together. I believe Frankenstein isn't bad, just misunderstood." Lily also enjoyed seeing all of the other monsters displayed on the wall outside of the classroom. The entire school voted for their favorite monster and her class won!
Innovation
Building Renovations and Barton Malow Collaborate
In Mr. Winters' Building Renovation classes, students continue to learn construction trades through authentic work.
Throughout the last decade, these students have had hands-on experience at the local 21213 House supporting projects from electrical, heating & cooling and appliances.
Last week, Mr. Winters’ students were able to gain some first-hand knowledge from the Barton Malow project team. The students were able to observe the concrete pouring and curing process just steps away from their classroom right at Lake Shore High School. With direction from Barton Malow Project Manager, Don Male, the students learned about the importance of personal protective equipment, as well as the process and planning that goes into a construction project.
Senior Carter Koebke and an Advanced Building Trades student enjoyed this concrete and cement experience. He observed the preparation of clearing objects and material, preparing the subbase and form, adding support, mixing concrete, and pouring into the mold. He said, "I liked seeing the large-scale process and the big machinery." Carter holds two part-time jobs, one with Vulcan Construction and the other serving local apartment complexes with renovations. Over the Summer, he built a shed from start to finish and general renovations to apartments including taking plastering walls, floor finishes, and cabinet installations. His plan is to become an electrician after high school.
From eco-friendly and trendy to labor-intensive and dirty, students are learning home improvement trades in class that will save them both time and money in the future. We are so grateful for our Building Renovations classes and opportunities with Barton Malow to help students like Carter discover their passions.
Bonus: In Mrs. Pearl's Biology class at North Lake High School, students built a Gingerbread Ecosystem which followed the order of organization such as biosphere, biome, ecosystem, community, population, and individual. We loved watching these floor plans evolve into the creative designs you see today!
Rollerskating Unit
We watched Mrs. Pecoraro lead these 1st graders by example and a few 5th graders assisted with putting on skates, knee pads, and helmets at Violet Elementary.
It was controlled chaos as every 7-year-old needed help at the same time. We also observed our Protection Specialist Jason Nagy race over to one friend to help buckle a helmet while Parent Volunteer and LSHS Class of 2015 graduate Jacee Shelton encouraged another who seemed a bit timid.
Jacee, Mom of Adelynn Shelton, loves helping. She said, "When I was a 1st grader at Violet in 2004, I learned how-to skate with the same teacher. Mrs. P is such an encourager. Kids aren't embarrassed when they fall because of her positive environment. They just get back up again."
Once equipped, helpers weren't finished. They were busy teaching their friends how-to skate, building confidence, and ensuring safety measures were followed.
Thank you, Shorians, for demonstrating your care for others and we also appreciate The Lake Shore Foundation for awarding a grant for all 3 elementary schools to purchase new roller skates in June 2023. New helmets were gifted from PTOs, too!
Elementary students also enjoy skating nights at Great Skate where they roll to the Hokey Pokey under disco lights. According to Health Fitness Revolution, skating for an hour can burn 300 to 600 calories. Along with the health benefits, students forge friendships as they speed, fall, and complete fancy tricks on the floor. Adelynn developed her passion for skating at these parties and was really excited to begin the skating unit this week.
We look forward to our next Great Skate Party scheduled for January 24th from 6:00 to 8:00pm.
A Better World
We are inspired by this next generation's efforts to build a future where people and nature thrive. How does Lake Shore put in the work to create a better world?
Mrs. Boren, Ms. D'Ambrosio, and Ms. Russo's Kindergarten classes at Masonic Heights Elementary raised money to help protect the future of nature. Their symbolic Platypus named Charlie and two Snowy Owls named Snowy and Snowy Cutie are "class pets," secured by donations to the World Wildlife Fund to protect these animals and their habitats. Students enjoyed keeping track of their monetary donations through a graph, meeting their goal, and hugging their stuffed, mail-ordered friend.
These animals will spend their weekends with a student. Upon their return to school on Monday, presentations will be shared about those Saturday and Sunday adventures which may include new people he meets, places he travels, and things he does.
What a great way to meet comprehension, collaboration, and presentation of knowledge and ideas benchmarks!
Bonus: Mrs. Fain's MiCI students help make the world a better place by running a weekly recycling of aluminum, plastic, and fiber at Lake Shore High School; We are currently ranked #5 in Michigan for our Recycling Rally program through Pepsi Co.
Animals, nature, and the environment are all important in our district. Check out the many Lake Shore schools that made Macomb County's Green School list: https://www.facebook.com/myLSPS/posts/687164636753194
Double Bonus: North Lake High School collected 50lbs of paper to be recycled through their Eco Club. This project was created to bring awareness to our community on how much paper we dispose of in a single week.
Safety and Wellness Expo
Thank you to everyone who visited our Safety and Wellness Expo!
We have enjoyed listening to our featured keynote presenters, Special Agent Dave Alley and CARE of SE Michigan, talk about protecting kids from trafficking and Internet crime to current drug trends and what parents need to know.
We also appreciated Families Against Narcotics, CARE, Lisa Fischer, and Mistie Ryan's breakout sessions about vaping prevention and information, why won't they listen: getting kids to cooperate, sound healing, and yoga for the family.
Car seat safety checks, mental health providers, suicide prevention, vision screenings, nutritional experts, a Fortis School Security Officers meet-and-greet, and therapy dogs were several important parts of this incredibly informative evening. There were so many amazing representatives who joined us in the exhibition area, sharing information about how they can help support our families!
Lake Shore High School Class of 2013 graduate Carlie White (Craven) shared her own business called Kin and Bloom Wellness with us! White, the founder of Kin & Bloom Wellness, described https://www.kinandbloom.com/ as a fitness oriented wellness center located in the metro-Detroit area.
White said, "I started Kin & Bloom for two reasons; to address the one dimensional culture surrounding weight lifting and to help others build on the foundation of fitness to embody their favorite version of themselves. Mind, body, and spirit come together with science to build a wellness program founded on a celebration of YOU!" She also loves supporting the Shorian Nation!
Main organizer of the event was Lake Shore High School Principal Dr. Bross. We have a commitment to engage with our families in positive ways to help support students who attend Lake Shore Public Schools.
She shared, "Our hope for the Safety and Wellness Expo is to connect our families to community organizations and businesses that can help provide their family with support and resources."
Bross continued, "This event was dreamed up after the district leadership team met with Special Agent David Alley regarding internet safety for kids and we thought “Our families need to know this!”. After that, we discussed other information and supports we know our families need and we created this event to help meet those needs. It’s important to have a strong partnership between home and school and we want to do our part to help students and families be safe and be well in all aspects of their lives."
Bonus: The Dec/Jan issue of The Shores Magazine was themed around wellness/mental health and featured an article titled Meet Maisie, Lake Shore High School's therapy dog, on pages 8 and 9.
Wax Museum
We wanted to highlight our Wax Museum at Masonic Heights Elementary, an exhibition of wax dummies, typically representing famous people and fictional characters, to the community. We are forever fans of these current and historical people and these incredible 4th graders.
Requirements were similar for the research and speech portions which included the name of person, date of birth, place of birth, and date of death if passed on, a famous quote, family and childhood information, major accomplishments, and interesting information.
Students presented their biographical speeches to a live audience, sharing their research and wardrobe in-person.
There was a beautiful variety of people including Simone Biles and Evel Knievel. The stories behind the selections were interesting, too. Ellie Kozicki loves gymnastics which prompted her American artistic gymnast choice. She is the most decorated gymnast in history, and she is widely considered the greatest of all time. Her seven Olympic gymnastics medals are impressive. Ellie puts in work at Extreme Gymnastics where she is preparing for a competition at the Novi Expo this Sunday.
Her mom, Karen Kozicki, was in attendance. She shared, "It had to have taken her atleast 3 weeks to create the speech and board, and practicing. She really worked hard and learned how-to research. To see her sharing her speech with everyone was amazing." Ellie has been a gymnast since age 3, taking after her mom who was a former gymnast. Ellie added, "I love the bars event and my teammates!"
Maverick Kuhle selected Robert Craig Knievel, known professionally as Evel Knievel, because he also has similar interests. Evel was an American stunt performer and entertainer. Throughout his career, he attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps. Maverick enjoys motocross, mountain biking, BMX, and scootering. In fact, he began riding a push bike at 18 months, a real bike, described by Maverick as the kind without training wheels, at 2 years old, and moved on from there.
We adore how Ellie and Maverick's passions influenced their Wax Museum projects!
Celebration
NJHS Secures $6,970.76 Cash Donations for Others
The entire Lake Shore community rallied to make the holidays brighter for our Shorian families! 200 children in 75 families will find packages under their tree and a holiday meal on their table. Business members, alumni, civic groups, staff, and anonymous donors purchased gifts, gift cards, winter gear and grocery items for students and families that may have gone without this holiday season.
Our own National Junior Honor Society students from Kennedy Middle School steps up every year to bring cheer to others. Led by Advisors Bob Plotkowski and Abbey Gough, this team of middle school students secured $6,970.76 cash donations and decided every penny of it would serve Lighthouse Outreach in Roseville and the Shorian Nation's Adopt-a-Family list. With assistance from Clippers staff, KMS was able to help 40 families!
Clippers battled it out for two weeks. They brought in can money, birthday money, loose change, family donations, money they raised going door to door in their neighborhoods, and more. Here are the Top Three classes:
Ms. Gough: $2,157.48
Ms. Bailey: $2,125.21
Ms. Fox: $1,817.64
Ms. Gough's selfless spirit has landed her in a first place finish for cash donations year after year. She is always looking to give her time, money, and things to others without expecting anything in return. When asked how she makes this magic happen, she wrote, "Every year we are so proud of the generosity of our students. We talked with them about the importance of giving back when you can, and how many families would benefit from the money we were raising. Middle schoolers live in their own little bubble and life is all about them. It's amazing to see the selflessness, generosity, and kindness this brings out in them. The kids came in every day excited to see the new totals, ready to count their change and talk a little smack to each other and the teachers about who was going to win! They love a good competition."
This is just one shared story, but our hearts are filled with so many more. As we looked through the signup list, we couldn't help but smile as we saw our own Lake Shore Bus Drivers, classroom teachers, PTCs, Austin Lipscomb Memorial Scholarship, Shorian families -- so many more generous heroes willing to help.
THANK YOU!
LSECC Anniversary
Thursday, December 14th was a celebration of our Lake Shore Early Childhood Center's 3 year anniversary! Congratulations Kelly Biondo, Early Childhood Coordinator, and her team of dedicated staff. It takes a big heart to help shape little minds and we are so impressed by the growth in all aspects.
Our Lake Shore Early Childhood Center, formally known as Shores Child Care, is the place to enroll your littlest learners.
Let Your Child's Career with Lake Shore Begin with Us is the slogan we like to use as we welcome families to our childcare facility.
Upon entry, visitors feel connected to Lake Shore Public Schools and Saint Clair Shores because of the nautical themes in both the soft shades of blue color scheme, artifacts such as a piece of drift wood found in Whitefish Pointe, and thematic room names. This reflects the local city lifestyle and honors the schools inside Shorian Nation.
For example, the room names are as follows:
Infant room: Mini Clippers
Transition/Young Toddler room: Shorianettes
Toddler room: Maritime Mates
3-year-old Preschool room: Saint Clair Skippers
4-year-old Preschool room: Junior Mariners
In addition, we have partnered with BrightWheel, a software company that makes daily recording keeping for childcare centers quick and easy, to bring our record keeping up into the 21st century. Most importantly, we are implementing High Scope curriculum, which includes developmentally appropriate goals and objectives for children within four main categories of interest: social/emotional, physical, cognitive and language, to improve the quality of instruction.
Our Lake Shore Early Childhood Center consistently receive a quality rating from Great Start to Quality, Michigan's quality rating and improvement system for child care and preschool, preparing children to succeed in school and in life.
Great Start to Quality rates the level of quality of all licensed and registered child care and preschool programs in Michigan.
"Making sure we provide children in our care with the best experience possible, is not only our job, it's our privilege," said Kelly Biondo, Early Childhood Coordinator. "By participating in Great Start to Quality we earn recognition for our hard work. We also get ongoing support and training so we can keep improving the quality of care we provide."
Contact our Early Childcare Coordinator Kelly Biondo at kbiondo@lsps.org or (586) 285-8570 to share some positive feedback about your experience!
Macomb Intermediate School District Grows Their Own Future Teachers
Macomb Intermediate School District Grows Their Own Future Teachers Featuring LSHS Alumni Morgan Clausen and Chandler Fox
Super Santa Superintendent
A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way. Lake Shore has many administrators as well as student ambassadors who lead by action and example, but Superintendent Dr. DiPonio puts the word Super in Superintendent. In fact, he may remind us all of Santa himself.
SANTA CREATES LISTS
The superintendent implements the school board's vision by making day-to-day decisions about educational programs, spending, staff, and facilities. Beyond our plan, he demonstrates his passion for students by classroom read alouds and classroom visits. He is highly invested in the success of the district and, much like Santa, checks his lists regularly to ensure the work is carried out.
SANTA IS JOLLY
Dr. DiPonio's personality traits have kept him successful as the captain of the Shorian Nation. He is friendly, open-minded, and has an energetic spirit that helps to create a positive and productive work environment.
SANTA LOVES RED
Lake Shore Public Schools is branded with red to create a sense of unity and community. It's our culture and personality that distinguishes our district. It isn't a coincidence that the color red is associated with love and joy. Dr. DiPonio often wears red shirts accessorized with black and white, giving that holiday feeling year-round.
SANTA HAS ELVES
Dr. DiPonio may not fly in the air in his sleigh pulled by eight reindeer, but he employs 633 people to help him enable young people to become active and compassionate citizens as well as prepare them for college and the workforce. Together, they foster positive, trusting relationships with students and improve school climate by encouraging parent and family involvement in their students' education.
In similar ways, we appreciate Santa and our Superintendent because they are the spirit of good cheer.
Midyear Retirements
Retirement is a time to look back with admiration and a time to look forward with anticipation. Lake Shore Public Schools recognizes the following midyear retirees:
Carol Ponder, Effective January 8, 2024
October of 1990 – December 2023, 33 years of service
Carol was a graduate of Lake Shore High School and raised her family in Lake Shore. She has 4 beautiful grandchildren, and a family that is anxiously wanting her time to be theirs.
Principal Mrs. Grassi wrote, "She is the memory keeper of our building. She knows families from generations and always makes connections and makes returning families feel welcome. She has a lifetime of relationships and community contacts throughout Lake Shore and St. Margaret's. Her personal, warm touch will be so missed."
Joan Thomas, Effective January 1, 2024
February 1999 – December 2023, 24 years of service
Joan is an extraordinary person and her dedication to her job and her passengers is nothing short of admirable.
Transportation Coordinator Val Harvey wrote, "Joan possesses a unique blend of professionalism and warmth, creating a welcoming and positive atmosphere not only on her bus, but in the workplace as well. Her emphasis on safety ensures a safe and comfortable ride for everyone on board and for those putting their young ones in the care of another. What sets Joan apart is not just her exceptional job performance, but also her genuine kindness and willingness to go above and beyond to help others."
Thank you for your many years of collective service to this district. As this chapter of your life ends, may a new and exceptional one begin.
Holiday Breakfasts
It is the most wonderful time of the year! See video clip.
Our Santa Breakfast, held at Violet Elementary, gave our families the opportunity to spend quality time with their Kindergarten sons and daughters. There was singing, visits from Santa, and a meal prepared by our own Food Service Department. This was a reminder that the memories we make with our family throughout the year is everything.
In addition, Violet decorated with 7 trees, 1 3-dimensional and 6 flat ones inside their gym, cafeteria, and the LSHS auditorium. Principal Grassi explained, "Families posted pictures to social media of sitting down together creating hands. We had hands from grandmas, grandpas, babies, and dogs, too. Family names were on the back, so it was like hanging heirlooms from each family onto our trees." They raffled the trees off at their Kindergarten Santa Breakfast!
Rodgers Elementary held a preschool celebration, too!
Happy holidays! With winter break upon us, we encourage you to relax, unwind, and settle into a safe and restful break.
The holiday season is a time for togetherness and joy, but it can sometimes bring unwelcome guests, like stress and grief. Some of us may be experiencing the holidays without a loved one. Some of us may be balancing endless to-do lists from shopping to entertaining. While we each celebrate this season’s joys, it’s important to stay mindful, acknowledge our feelings, and reach out for help if needed.
December Slurpee/Smoothie Surprise Honorees
Congratulations to our December Slurpee/Smoothie Surprise Positivity Project Honorees:
Lake Shore Early Childhood Center
Aubrey Battaglia - Creativity
Masonic Heights Elementary
Scarlett Caprale - Optimism
Kandi Johnson - Leadership
Hayden Tolbert - Gratitude
Rodgers Elementary
Colin DeWaele - Responsibility
Tyler Dunaway - Kindness
Erin O’Shee - Flexibility
Violet Elementary
Addisun Zarebski - Kindness
Ellianna Hacker - Integrity
Karielle Rucker - Bravery
Kennedy Middle School
Lucas Becker - Kindness
Alexis Finazzo - Effort
Anthony Gallo - Kindness
Cali Wentworth - Effort
Lake Shore High School
Alaina Handy - Honesty
Ellie Mitchener-Rubino - Humor
Paloma Aguirre - Humor
Ashley Geib - Kindness
Shannon Palmer - Kindness
Aidan Magnotte - Kindness
North Lake High School
Noah Suppanz - Teamwork
Thank you 7-Eleven Store Owner Virgil Johnson and EOS Cafe and Coffee House Store Owner Tony Zarife's for your generosity and sponsorships!
Athletics
Athletics Website
We have built an online home for our athletic department. Our goal is to bring our athletic programs to life by sharing schedules, scores, and social media while ensuring our athletes get the promotion they deserve. Visit the Shorian Sports website for 24/7/365 access to the information you have always wanted and follow along with our sports action.
Read the SCS Unified Boys Hockey team's story feature titled Goaltenders and Brothers Senior Dan and Sophomore Will Young Dominate Ice Rink.
Read the Boys and Girls Bowling team's story feature titled Ready to Roll with Bowling Buddies.
Read the Varsity Baseball team's story feature titled Teaching the Fundamentals of Baseball at Winter Camp.
We have partnered with Kroger to help fund our athletics. Please read this letter from our Athletic Coordinator Rich Bowers.
In addition, follow @ShorianSports on X for access to live sports updates from your favorite coaches and teams!
We believe a balance of academics and athletics creates a well-rounded student. Students who participate in sports not only gain the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, they also learn lessons about sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, cooperation, respect, and knowing how to win and lose.
Meet our Athletic Trainer
Meet our Athletic Trainer Rachael Smith.
The role of an athletic trainer is vital in maintaining the health, safety, and performance of athletes and physically active individuals. They contribute significantly to the success of athletes and the overall well-being of those who engage in sports and fitness activities. In short, Athletic Trainers are capable of more than taping ankles and handing out ice bags.
Ms. Smith is a graduate from Grand Valley State University and grew up in the Utica area most of her life. She applied for the open position with Synergy and started at Lake Shore in early August.
Athletic Training has 5 domains that they follow:
-Prevention of injury
-Clinical evaluation and diagnosis
-Immediate and emergency care
-Treatment and rehabilitation
-Organization and professional health and well-being
Lake Shore is fortunate to have an Athletic Trainer as a certified healthcare provider, licensed to provide medical services to benefit our Shorian Nation.
Class of 2019 Caitlyn Harwood Honored on CSC All-District Team
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Athletes of the Week
Brooke Lowry
Congratulations to AOTW Brooke Lowry, member of Varsity Girls Swim team at Lake Shore High School. Coach Greg Wolff shared her contributions with us:
"Division Champion in 200 Freestyle and 100 Backstroke earning life time best times in both events. Led off both relay teams."
Daniel Young
Congratulations to AOTW Daniel Young, member of SCS Unified Hockey team at Lake Shore High School. Coach Nick Radjewski shared his contributions with us:
"Daniel is a goalie who shut GPN out for the 1st win of the season. Daniel stopped all 9 shots he faced in a shutout win."
Josephine Belnome
Congratulations to AOTW Josephine Belnome, member of Junior Varsity Girls Bowling team at Lake Shore High School. Coach Greg Villasurda shared her contributions with us:
"Josephine Belnome qualified 10th at the LCN Singles Tournament and made it to match play for JV. Shot 417 series."
LeAsia Johnson
Congratulations to AOTW LeAsia Johnson, member of Varsity Competitive Cheer team at Lake Shore High School. Coach Sherri Taormina shared her contributions with us:
"LeAsia is a three round athlete who brings light and leadership to our team. She is a strong base and tumbler, and has equally strong skills in the classroom where it matters most. She is an ECM student and balances all that she does with the best smile! We are so lucky to have her as a leader by example on our team."
Freeze Frame
eNews
Lake Shore Public Schools will provide an exceptional education for all 3,339 students in a safe and nurturing environment.
Our guiding principles, Inspiration, Innovation, Celebration, are woven into the fabric of everything we do and will be the focus of every update. Expect an eNews email biweekly update as a reliable way to communicate with our stakeholders.
Connect With 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