Lewton School's Lobo Lines
September, 2023
A Note From Steve Chartier, Principal
It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to each of you as we begin the 2023-2024 school year!
The beginning of school is the time of year to reconnect with, and welcome, new and old friends alike. To those students, caregivers and families who are new to the Lewton family, we extend our best wishes for an exciting and productive year. For those returning, we thank you for choosing Lewton School as well as Lansing Public Schools as your child's educational hub.
As summer slips by and we enter into fall, it is time to continue with the excellent traditions of Lansing Public Schools, all the while establishing new ones for Lewton. There is an overwhelming sense of pride associated with our educational programs, and it is our goal to continue creating an educational learning environment that encourages every student to achieve their fullest potential. As the school year progresses, we hope to see more and more of you.
Warmly-
Important Dates to Note
- Tuesday, September 5th:
- School Resumes
- Monday, September 11th:
- NWEA Testing Begins
- Wednesday, September 13th:
- GSRP Begins
- Monday, September 25th:
- NWEA Testing Ends
- Friday, September 30th:
- No School for Students
- Staff Professional Development Day
- Wednesday, October 4th:
- Fall Count Day
- Thursday, October 19th:
- No School for Students
- Staff Professional Development Day
- Friday, October 27th:
- First Marking Period Ends
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
School Supplies/List
A supply list for the 2023-24 SY was mailed to families this past August just prior to our Open House. For convenience, a supply list was also included within your child’s Opening Packet (either distributed at Open House or sent home the first week of school). One is traditional in nature listing requested work supplies, those needed to cover personal needs, as well as “wish list” items; another may have been sent directly from your child’s teacher in order to provide deeper explanations of requested items. If you are not able to send in everything, do not worry. Do what you can. However, all students are required to bring a backpack (non-wheeled) daily.
Student Water Bottles
We understand the need for our students to have access to fresh water throughout the day particularly when working in areas of the building that are not air conditioned, or when returning from times of physical exertion such as PE, recess, etc. As such, we ask that your child bring to school a reusable water bottle (no glass, please) that has a tight seal. Bottles should be clearly labeled with your child's first and last names. For those unaware, Lewton School has a filtered water station located just outside of the Main Office that students and/or caregivers can visit for filling/refilling water bottles. Water bottles will be sent home frequently so that they can be properly washed/sanitized.
NWEA Testing to Begin
Beginning the week of September 11th, students in grades K-8 will take a MAP® Growth™ test from NWEA® on an iPad, Chromebook or PC. MAP Growth scores help teachers check student performance by measuring achievement and growth. Teachers use results to tailor classroom lessons and set goals for students.
MAP Growth tests are unique as they adapt to your child’s responses to measure your child’s skill level. If your child answers a question correctly, the next question is more challenging. If they answer incorrectly, the next one is easier. These results will provide a more complete picture of what your child knows and is ready to learn—whether it is on, above, or below their grade level.
Since MAP Growth tests provide immediate and accurate information about your child’s learning, it’s easy for teachers to identify students with similar scores that are generally ready for instruction in similar skills and topics, and then plan instruction accordingly.
MAP Growth reports also provide typical growth data for students who are in the same grade, subject and have the same starting performance level. Each school year, Lewton students in grades K-8 take NWEA assessments in the fall, winter and spring. Following each testing period, you will receive a Family Report showing a summary of how your child is performing academically.
We are truly excited to focus on your child’s individual growth and achievement. For more information about MAP Growth, visit the following link:
Emergency Drill Information
The safety and welfare of our students and staff are our highest priority at Lewton School. In order to maintain a safe environment for our students to succeed, it is necessary that we regularly review our emergency procedures and plans. This includes practicing fire, tornado and lockdown drills periodically throughout the school year. Below is a brief description of the drills we will be practicing:
· Fire: How to evacuate students to a safe place outside the school, out of harms way. Students will move quickly and orderly to a designated place outside of the school, yet on school grounds.
· Tornado: How to move students to a safe place in our school and how to utilize the “duck and cover” position. Students will move to designated safe areas within the school. Entry to the school during a tornado warning is not permitted.
· Lockdown: How students are kept safe when there is a potential threat within the school or in the immediate perimeter of the neighborhood. Students practice staying quiet and unseen within their classrooms. No one may leave their classroom during a lockdown and entry into the school is not permitted.
· Secure with Restricted Access: How to proceed when there is a neighborhood issue. We do not practice this procedure, but it is used to secure the school due to a nearby external threat that requires police action near the school (bank robberies, police chases, other serious crimes not on school property). All interior and exterior doors will be locked. Normal school operations will continue, but school might enter into a lockdown. Students transitions and hall passes are restricted during this time and all outside activities are suspended.
In order to be in compliance with Michigan’s new safety drill requirements that went into effect on July 1, 2014, we are required to conduct five (5) fire drills, two (2) tornado drills and three (3) lockdown drills. Upon completion of each drill, the completed drill documentation will be posted on the district website within 30 days for public review. The dates and times of drills will not be announced. Please note that you would only be notified if there were a real emergency.
We want each student to be aware of the importance of each drill and not to be afraid when alarms are sounded. By practicing these drills, they will know what to do and how to do it. This will improve our ability to protect students, save lives and reduce injuries. In addition to practicing the drills, discussions and lessons will take place to ensure that students are expected to demonstrate their respect, responsibility and safety. Please remember that these safety drills are practiced to help maintain Lewton School as a safe place to learn and work.
Contacting Teachers
We believe in and value a strong home/school connection. As such, parents/caregivers play an essential role in a student’s education. Feel free to communicate with your child’s teacher via email, telephone or in person should you have questions, concerns, or simply wish to make suggestions. Please do so, however, during non-instructional times (your child’s teacher will inform you of his/her designated prep period, lunch period, etc.). Also, in order to maintain a cohesive program, phone calls will be directly transferred to teachers’ voice mail during the instructional day. Please allow 24 hours for a return call.
Should you wish to discuss your child’s progress, we ask that you contact the teacher in order to determine a mutually agreed upon time. It is our policy not to allow teachers to be interrupted during instructional time in order for parents/caregivers to speak, meet or conference with them.
Student Medication(s)
In the event that your child requires medication during the school day, please follow the guidelines below, as well as within the Student Handbook. Approved staff members will dispense all medications.
· A Medication Request and Authorization form must be signed by the student’s doctor and filed with the Main Office before the student will be allowed to begin taking the medication.
· A parent/adult must deliver the medication directly to the school office. Students are not allowed to transport medications themselves.
· Prescription medications must be in the original container and with a pharmacy label that states the student’s name, name of medication, dosage and frequency. Please ask your pharmacist to dispense the medication in two containers, one for the school and one for home. Students will not be allowed to transport medication for evening or weekend dosages.
· The Main Office must have written instructions from the parent for over-the-counter medications. All non-prescription medications must also be in their original package/container.
A Word About Clothing and Dress
The appearance of any student is primarily the responsibility of that individual and his/her parents. The District and/or Lewton School has a responsibility to establish dress standards that promote a positive and proper learning environment. As such, please note the following:
- Proper footwear must be worn at all times. Tennis shoes/sneakers are required for PE classes. Flip-flops and open-toe sandals are not to be worn at any time as they promote footinjury, especially while on the playground.
- Students are not permitted to wear clothes or shoes that are distracting or cause classroom disruptions, contain questionable slogans, display profanity, are sexually suggestive, promote the use of controlled substances (such as alcohol and tobacco) or promote gang activity.
- Chains, other than necklaces, are not to be worn.
- Hats or hoods are not to be worn inside the school building, unless approved by the principal.
- Students are allowed to wear shorts, but they must be of appropriate length. A guideline is that the bottom of the shorts should be of middle finger length with arms extended downward at the side.
- Shirts or blouses must cover the stomach area and provide coverage with an appropriate neckline.
- Shirts and pants/skirts must meet or overlap at all times; Belts should be worn to ensure this practice.
- Spaghetti straps and tank shirts are not permissible
- Excessively baggy or intentionally torn shirts or pants are not considered appropriate dress for school; Excessively tight or suggestive articles should not be worn.
- Undergarments must be completely covered by outer clothing.
Calling All Community Members
Have you ever wondered how you can become more involved in a child’s life? Do you happen to have some free time during the course of the school day? If so, we need you!
Lewton is a vibrant school bubbling with numerous activities, and your support is needed in order to ensure our success. Lunch/playground assistance, groundskeepers, and general classroom volunteers are always appreciated.
Security clearance is required for all volunteers, and must be completed prior to volunteering within the building. Contact the Main Office and/or your child's teacher for more information.
Contact Us
Lewton Spanish Immersion/Global Studies Elementary School
2000 Lewton Place, Lansing MI 48911
517-755-1460 (Main Office)
517-755-1469 (Fax)
Steve Chartier, Principal
Amy Baker, Administrative Assistant