Lewton School's Lobo Lines
October, 2023
A Note From Steve Chartier, Principal
Dear Lewton Caregivers and Community Members:
Wednesday, October 4, 2023, is Count Day!
At LPS, it is important to us that each of our students attend school daily. School attendance is extremely important for learning outcomes to be met and counts every day, but on Wednesday, October 4, 2023, attendance counts for something more– it counts for 90% of our school funding!
Wednesday, October 4, 2023, is the first (of two) count day of the academic year as required by the State School Aid Act to determine state funding for Michigan’s public school districts. Funding is based on the total student participation and attendance on these two days (fall and spring).
It is important that all students attend school on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 for their attendance to be recorded. If a child is sick or unable to attend, families are reminded to call our attendance line (517-755-1461) and report an excused absence. A student can still be counted if the student has an excused absence and attends within 30 calendar days (following count day) or if the student has an unexcused absence and attends within ten school days (following count day).
I am personally asking parents, students, and our community supporters to spread the word about the importance of Wednesday, October 4, 2023 count day via email, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and word of mouth.
Can we count on your student to be present on Count Day?
Best regards-
Steve
Important Dates to Note
OCTOBER
- Tuesday, October 3rd:
- Grade 7 & 8 Field Trip: Lansing Construction Expo
- Wednesday, October 4th:
- Fall Count Day
- Tuesday, October 10th:
- Grade 7 & 8 Junior Board Meeting (Select Students)
- Friday, October 13th:
- Popcorn Sales Begin Today
- Wednesday, October 18th:
- Lewton's Hispanic Heritage Celebration: 5:30 - 7:30 P
- Friday, October 20th:
- NO SCHOOL for students
- Staff Professional Development Day
- Friday, October 27th:
- Fall Picture Day
- Popcorn Sales
- First Marking Period Ends
- Tuesday, October 31st:
- Half Day of School
- School Dismisses at 11:45 A; NO LUNCH SERVED
- Halloween Celebrations (More Info to Follow)
NOVEMBER
- Friday, November 3rd:
- Popcorn Sales
- Tuesday, November 7th:
- NO SCHOOL for Students
- Election Day
- Friday, November 10th:
- Popcorn Sales
- Monday, November 13th:
- Report Cards Released via ParentVUE
- Tuesday, November 14th:
- Grade 7 & 8 Junior Board Meeting
- Parent/Teacher Conferences: 4:30 - 7:30 P
- Report Cards Distributed
- Thursday, November 16th:
- Parent/Teacher Conferences: 4:30 - 7:30 P
- Report Cards Distributed
- Friday, November 17th:
- Popcorn Sales
- Remaining Report Cards Sent Home Today
- Monday, November 20th:
- NO SCHOOL for Students
- Staff Professional Development Day
- Tuesday, November 21st - Friday, November 24th:
- NO SCHOOL for Students
- Thanksgiving Break
- Monday, November 27th:
- School Resumes
Welcome Daniel Gowell, Assistant Principal
Daniel Gowell, the newly appointed Lewton Assistant Principal, brings a wealth of experience to his new position with a career spanning two decades in education. Daniel has held various roles in education including teacher, department chair, building curriculum director, district curriculum director, and associate executive director. His dedication to improving educational outcomes is evident in his work, which has primarily focused on developing literacy and technology programs within the districts he has served. Additionally, he has conducted research and invested in ESL and ELL strategies to support diverse student populations.
Daniel is deeply passionate about education and technology, consistently striving to provide innovative solutions that empower students and educators for the digital future. He recognizes the ever-changing landscape of education and the importance of preparing for the challenges and opportunities it presents.
When visiting Lewton, please drop by and welcome him personally. Meanwhile, if you care to reach out to him, do so via email at: daniel.gowell@lansingschools.net or via phone at: 517-755-1460, Ext. 5600.
Attendance Phone Line
Did you know that Lewton has a dedicated attendance phone line? We do!
When phoning to share that your student(s) will be absent, please do not call the Main Office. Instead, please call the Attendance Phone Line by dialing: 517-755-1461 and leave a detailed message with your student's name, reason for his/her absence, etc.
Messages are checked periodically throughout the day by school staff with attendance updated regularly.
Hispanic Heritage Celebration
October 18th from 5:30 - 7:30 P
Lewton School cordially invites students, caregivers, and community members to our annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration, which will be held on Wednesday, October 18th, from 5:30 - 7:30 P. Join us for festive dancing, fun-filled games and activities as well as a taste fest. We look forward to seeing you there!
Additional Staff Training Related to School Safety
Lansing Public Schools and Lewton Elementary are committed to providing the safest possible environment for its students. Over the years, we have taken great additional steps in securing our schools including the following: locking exterior doors, monitoring entry stations, installing security cameras, hiring campus security officers, and partnering with the Lansing Police Department.
Even with additional resources, we must be as prepared as possible in the event that an armed intruder enters our campus. For most schools across the country this preparation has included a full "lockdown" of school facilities. This has included an alert given to students and staff directing them to lock their classroom doors, turn out lights, hide in a far corner of the classroom, and remain calm and quiet. This is the procedure that we have followed for years, but we now know that we must provide students and staff with additional options in case they are confronted with an armed intruder. Therefore, our district has enhanced the lockdown procedures that we, as well as experts across the country, believe will support our students in safely evading an active shooter. The enhancements we are teaching our staff (and students) are known by the acronym as "ALICE."
What does ALICE mean?
- Alert: We will alert students and staff via intercom and describe the location of the event.
- Lockdown: Depending on the location, some classrooms would lock down. The lockdown will include locking the door, and also barricading so as to deny entry.
- Inform: Continued communication will be made to keep staff and students informed and allow for good decision making. This also includes calling 911.
- Counter: Apply skills of movement, noise, distance, distractions and using our overwhelming numbers to gain control of the situation, as is age and ability appropriate. This is only as a last resort, if evacuation and lockdown are not possible.
- Evacuate: Students and staff would evacuate to a secondary location as soon as it is safe to do so. Research shows that evacuation reduces risk of injury by the active shooter.
Please know that in NO WAY are we asking or teaching our staff and students to make any attempt to subdue an armed gunman outside of their secure area. However, we will provide them with options that, if faced with a life or death situation, can be applied to greatly enhance their chance of survival. These options include escaping, barricading the door and protecting oneself by any means necessary should they encounter an armed intruder.
This past August, Lansing Public Schools began training staff in ALICE techniques via e-learning modules that provided an overview of ALICE and what to do in cases of an emergency. Mr. Chartier will continue to share our acquired knowledge and expertise as such trainings continue in the future. Until then, do not hesitate to reach out to him (email: stephen.chartier@lansingschools.net; 517-755-1460, Ext. 1461) should you have any questions about the ALICE program and/or techniques.
A Word Abour Student ID Cards/Badges
As another safety mechanism, all Lansing Public Schools' students are issued an Identification Card/Badge that is utilized to "scan into" their school. Worn on a lanyard, students are required to scan their badges at PC stations located inside main entries of their buildings. It is each student's responsibility to have their ID badge with them daily and to have it ready when entering their school. Badges are created free of charge for each student new to their school as well as a lanyard provided. Badges that need to be replaced, however, for any reason (i.e. lost) cost $1.00.
NOTE: Lewton is currently in the process of establishing badges for students new to the building or those that have been lost. It is our hope to have all students outfitted with their badge by the end of the first week of October. We thank you for your continued patience.
Student Cell Phone Use/Policies
During the course of the past few weeks, we have had to address cell phone use particularly with our 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. The Board of Education and District have established policy surrounding such use and has published guidelines for our students and families via the Student Handbook (available for review at the LPS homepage; see link below). So that we can be anchored at Lewton, please refer to the below listed screen-shots:
Building administrators are able to further refine the above-listed policies including consequences for misuse. As such, Mr. Chartier has communicated with principal colleagues supervising Pre-K - 8 buildings and agree that students in the middle years should experience a bit more latitude when it comes to use of their smart phones. In keeping with trends in other buildings, Mr. Chartier is allowing Grade 6-8 students to utilize their phones during recess (not during lunch service) in order to listen to appropriate music and/or play video games ONLY. At no time should students utilize their phones to make calls out of the building or to engage in social media platforms (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat). Students who violate this privilege will have their phones confiscated and their parents/caregivers may be notified. Should phone use pose a larger concern, Mr. Chartier reserves the right to institute a policy where students may be required to surrender their phones to the Main Office upon their arrival to school with their return upon the conclusion of the day (as is done in some of our buildings).
Note: Students in Grades K-5 are required to keep their phones silenced and stowed in their backpacks while in attendance at school.
For more information on the use of Electronic Communication Devices (an all other things student related), visit the link below.
Popcorn Sales Begin in October
Lewton popcorn sales are back! Ms. Rosie will begin selling bags of her amazing popcorn on designated Fridays, with the first being Friday, October 13th. Cost is $1.00 per bag. Please ensure that your student brings exact change should s/he wish to purchase a bag... or two.
Keep watch of other sale dates via monthly Lobo Lines Newsletters.
Fall Picture Day
Lifetouch photographers will visit Lewton on Friday, October 27th to photograph students whose caregivers wish to purchase photo packages. Informational flyers will be sent home in the next few weeks detailing this year's offerings, etc. Please be on the lookout for yours!
Bell Times & Office Hours
- 8:50 A: Lineup Bell Rings
- 8:55 A: Classes Commence
- 3:50 P: Dismissal Bell Rings
Half Day (Grades PreK-8):
- 8:50 A: Lineup Bell Rings
- 8:55 A: Classes Commence
- 11:45 A: Classes Dismiss
Main Office Hours:
- 7:30 A - 4:30 P, M-F
Contact Us
Lewton Spanish Immersion/Global Studies Elementary School
2000 Lewton Place, Lansing MI 48911
517-755-1460 (Main Office)
517-755-1461 (Attendance Line)
517-755-1469 (Fax)
Steve Chartier, Principal
Daniel Gowell, Assistant Principal
Amy Baker, Administrative Assistant