Shorian Nation eNews
November 16th, 2020
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Newsletter Overview
Within this Shorian Nation eNews, you will read an update from Superintendent Dr. DiPonio, Shine on the Shores, positivity project, current building schedules, technology assistance, CDC reminders, publication in SCS Sentinel, and stories highlighting inspiration, innovation, and celebration.
We are committed to keeping you informed as we confront COVID-19 together. If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to school and your needs, please email covid19help@lsps.org.
Update from Superintendent Dr. DiPonio
I know you are tired, weary, and ready for a return to normal. I am too. There are no easy answers, no simple solutions. As a community, we must continue to make every effort to both mitigate the spread of this virus and equally, make every effort to give our children an opportunity to live an extraordinary life. Together we can make a difference in both.
Shine on the Shores
Lake Shore Public Schools invites all students, families, and community members to our 1st annual Shine on the Shores event, less than one month away!
After two years of showing up to support Beaumont Children's Pediatric Advisory Council's Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, we have decided to serve in our backyard this year.
For 1-night only at 7pm on December 10th, our Shorian Nation will stand outside Lakeshore Senior Living (28801 Jefferson Ave, St Clair Shores) and shine a light into the hearts of the residents while sharing this unified, simple message: We are thinking of you.
If you plan on meeting us at Lakeshore Senior Living, please arrive by 6:45pm. The event begins at 7pm and lasts roughly 15 minutes. Dress warm and in Lake Shore gear and bring a flashlight. Thanks to Sgt David Lawson with the United States Air Force, we have flashlight donations available, if needed.
In order to meet proper social distancing guidelines, we are asking that our Shorian Nation stay with their families and spread out across the parking lot. We suggest to park onto St. Gertrude Street and walk to the front of the building. Please line up along either of the circled red areas in the pictures or the main sidewalks.
Joining us will be the Saint Clair Shores Fire Department represented by Matt Chambers and Saint Clair Shores Police Department represented by Jessica Drulia. We are fortunate to also have holiday performances by our own students from our Music Department.
Please use #myLSPSShines when sharing photos from the event. Feel free to make a poster to bring to this event, too!
Enjoy last year's Moonbeams video, created by Class of 2019 graduate Adele Puckett: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKgW5UdAkyo&feature=youtu.be.
Positivity Project
Under the guiding principles of our districtwide initiative, the Positivity Project, the #PositivityinAction mindset is our top priority. These past two weeks we focused on the character strengths of PERSPECTIVE and BRAVERY.
People with the character strength of perspective appreciate that people see things in different ways. They have the ability to understand view.
Mrs. Hoehing has been teaching at Violet Elementary for 31 years. With age comes wisdom and Mrs. Hoehing's outlook on life is refreshing. She has stayed a Shorian for so many years because of the people. In particular, past Principal Mr. Kennedy made her feel right at home from day 1. The smells inside of school, paper and ink inside her classroom or wax on the floor, warms her heart. Lake Shore is truly her home away from home.
Her current students, Brynn Backus, Kaitlyn Shalawylo, and Evan Todd, are like her grandchildren. Not only does she treat them with love, there's nothing she wouldn't do to see them happily learning. In fact, she would do the same for their parents as they were her former students! Her perspective on teaching and learning hasn't changed; She appreciates her students and is grateful for the memories they create and share together.
People with the character strength of bravery act with mental, moral, or physical strength even when they know things are difficult or scary.
Initially, Kindergartener Vincenzo Pliva at Violet Elementary was apprehensive about school. Guided by his mother, Katherine, Vinny would show this fear by gripping her hand and walking very slowly to his classroom. However, this brave student has walked into school, on his own, since mid-October. This small win deserves celebration!
2020 is throwing a lot of challenges our way. Tapping into our positive relationships and our character strengths, by demonstrating #PositivityInAction, will be critical in helping us be resilient and successful in the face of these tough times.
Looking forward, our upcoming character strength is GRATITUDE (11/15-28).
Building Schedules
Please note the following schedule changes for the week of Thanksgiving:
Monday, November 23rd: Full Day for B Group
Tuesday, November 24th: Full Day for A Group
Wednesday, November 25th: Virtual Half Day for All Students
To access building-specific schedules, including start and end times, reference this link and follow the current schedules linked below:
Lake Shore High School
Virtual Schedule (11/17-12/8)
North Lake High School
Virtual Schedule (11/17-12/8)
Kennedy Middle School
Hybrid Students
Virtual Students
Masonic Heights, Rodgers, Violet Elementaries
Hybrid Students
Virtual Students
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.
Technology Tip: You can change your profile picture in Schoology and add information about yourself.
- Hover over the profile picture and click Edit Picture.
- If you already have a photo in place, click Remove Picture to remove your current picture from view.
- Click Attach File.
- Choose a JPEG, PNG, or GIF file from your device. There is a 5 MB limit per photo file.
- If you'd like to use an avatar instead, choose an avatar below.
- Click Edit in the upper-right corner of your profile to edit or add information.
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.
Published in Saint Clair Shores Sentinel
Inspiration
Make a Wish Believe Fundraiser
Every year Make a Wish Michigan partners with Macy’s on the Believe Campaign. The Believe Campaign is a letter writing campaign where each letter brings in $1 to Make a Wish Michigan: https://youtu.be/VLCQ_VomKLM.
In effort to fundraise for Make a Wish Michigan while supporting our Positivity Project efforts, letters will focus on the character strength of gratitude. Gratitude is the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness. Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.
We invite all stakeholders in our community to write a brief letter to one person who has made a difference in your life at Lake Shore Public Schools.
Please visit your main office and/or write or drop off a letter using this template.
At the end of November, we will gather all of these letters, count them, and meet with Alison Horracks, representative for Make a Wish, to make the announcement together on December 1st. How much money will we raise for Make a Wish Michigan?
Last year, Lake Shore Public Schools wrote 1,861 letters and raised $1,861. Let's raise the bar in 2020!
Meet the Geib Family
Jim and Kristin Geib and their two daughters Madison and Ashley have adapted to unforeseen changes caused by COVID-19 by opting for both hybrid and virtual learning at Kennedy Middle School. Their flexibility and eagerness to help others has made school enjoyable for both themselves and those who are lucky enough to be a part of their social circle.
Eighth grader Madison chose a hybrid schedule because she loves seeing people, developing relationships, and having that sense of normalcy at Kennedy. In comparison, seventh grader Ashley had enough self-awareness to know that social distancing would be a struggle for her friends. This prompted her to choose virtual learning.
The sisters found, that while both learning in their home, the self-paced, asynchronous lessons and live, synchronous meetings require discipline. They must be able to manage their time, keep a working schedule, and ask questions, when needed. Because of their close-knit sibling relationship, Madison and Ashley, only two years apart, often lean on each other for assistance. Younger sister Ashley often takes advantage of Madison’s experience at Kennedy, particularly in math. Ashley, who loves social studies, pays it forward by offering Madison help in this subject. Both find themselves guiding their friends to the correct answers, too. But if they need a brain break, Madison is shooting hoops in the backyard and Ashley is listening to Broadway favorites like Hamilton.
Both parents, students, and educators are valued when they are true partners in learning. The girls’ mom, Kristin, is appreciative of Kennedy teachers like Mrs. Gough and Mrs. Barnett who take a special interest in all of their students and demonstrate this through live teaching, personal calls, and comments on Schoology submissions. In fact, Ashley mentioned a Memoir assignment, completed in Mrs. Gough’s virtual classroom, where she described herself in six words, illustrated a Slide using several photographs, and captured her voice and explanations to peers using Screencastify.
Kristin has been working remote for two years, giving her daughters a taste of their current reality. Even though she trusts them, she knows the importance of being hands-on. This is why she occasionally checks in with her daughters and uses resources like PowerSchool and Schoology to ensure success. In addition, she often drives neighbors home from school. It is her way of helping her community thrive.
Thank you, Geib Family, for your own flexibility and willingness to help others as we continue to create calculated changes together.
SCS Fire Department Visits
The St. Clair Shores Fire Department share safety tips with our elementary students at regular intervals. Although calling 911 is a natural first instinct when you hear the fire alarm or see a fire, our students learned that getting out of the house is most important. Firefighters are trained to help you in emergency, making sure you are safe, and providing care.
Thank you for the education on both safety and the career itself while giving brave Kindergarten students from Masonic Heights Elementary the ability to see a close-up of a fire truck!
Innovation
Free Wrapping and Tutoring by NHS
With the support of the LSFEE, the Lake Shore High School Honor Society students have turned into elves this holiday season, providing free gift-wrapping for LSPS staff members and parents. On December 3rd, 10th, and 17th, parents and staff members will be given the gift of time by the NHS students wrapping up to ten (10) gifts free of charge with gift wrapping and name tags included.
Sign up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4AAFAB2CA2F49-lshs
The Lake Shore High School National Honor Society is also offering free tutoring sessions for all LSPS students!
Sign up using this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/9040F4AAFAB2CA2F49-lshs2
Virtual or safe, in-person appointments are available at each building. Once your appointment has been selected, you will be contacted for more details and confirmation.
NHS membership is the true mark of academic achievement; however, it goes far beyond a report card. All student members must also reflect the program’s respective pillars to be inducted—ideals such as scholarship, service, leadership, and character—and they continue to demonstrate these pillars within their community through projects such as this.
Please use the quick list of additional resources for academic assistance:
Blessing Bags and Goodfellows
Our National Junior Honors Society students at Kennedy Middle School are collecting items to create Blessing Bags which will be donated to a homeless shelter for distribution.
These bags consist of toiletries, non-perishable food items, and a type of warm clothing. Once all of the items are collected, NJHS members will assemble the Blessing Bags and include a note of encouragement.
Collection will take place from November 9th-20th. The grade level that collects the most items will receive a treat at the end of November.
The entire Shorian Nation is collecting canned goods to donate to St. Clair Shores Goodfellows. Goodfellows is a longstanding Civic Organization with a mission to provide to St. Clair Shores residents who may find themselves in need.
You have until our pickup day, scheduled for November 24th, to drop your Goodfellows donations off at your child's building.
CELEBRATION
Veterans Day
Lake Shore Public Schools is honoring and remembering our veterans, reservists and the family members of active duty military members by celebrating with William Davenport, George Griggs, and Johann Krenzer from the VFW Bruce Post and assisted by 8th grader Connor Albert as they performed a flag ceremony and flag folding demonstration at Kennedy Middle School!
Toy soldiers were passed out for students to take home and place somewhere that will remind them to send positive thoughts to those who serve our country: https://padlet.com/tcandela/1alos2zue72rf77l.
In addition, we also read and recorded pages from Devin Scillian's book, "H is for Honor". Thank you, Devin and Sleeping Bear Press, for your permission to play the recording.
Last year, Veterans joined our students at lunch on Veterans Day. We continue to appreciate Mr. Anderson, Mr. Huyghe, Mr. Smith, Ms. Cook, Ms. McPeak, and Mr. Trail for making that day extra special for our students.
Thank you to the following Lake Shore Veterans for your service and your sacrifice. We are grateful for you today and everyday:
Lake Shore High School
Kevin Francis
Chris Hubbard
Sharon McPeak
Jeff Valken
Kennedy Middle School
Kevin Bays
Shayne Trail
Masonic Heights Elementary
Leanne Pritchard-Hryshko
Virtual
Amanda McCarthy
Melissa Todd
These districtwide activities supports the social and emotional wellbeing of all stakeholders while honoring Veterans Day.
World Kindness Day
World Kindness Day took place this past Friday and in the continuation of a Veterans Day theme, we announced that our dozens of pounds of candy were donated to Vietnam Veterans on behalf of Office Manager Kim Cotts at P. Steven Wainess D.D.S. located at 30140 Harper.
Lake Shore Public Schools partnered with Operation Gratitude from November 1st-11th to donate leftover Halloween candy to Deployed Troops, Veterans, and First Responders with the goal of forging strong bonds between the civilian and service communities and schools nationwide.
Shorey Wins and Traditions Continue
Congratulations to our Shorian, winner of the Mascot Election and a perfect representative for all Lake Shore Public Schools. With 1,021 responses comprised of 64% student voters, 20% community voters, and 16% staff voters, Shorey excitedly takes that W.
Lake Shore Public Schools started a new tradition that would teach our students about thankfulness.
Everyday for the month of October, we asked students to add a few words to our Gratitude Pumpkin! Now they serve as a beautiful Thanksgiving decoration inside every office in our district. We encourage you to start your own Gratitude Pumpkin today.
Miscellaneous
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