Shorian Nation eNews
October 5th, 2020
Introduction
Dear Lake Shore Public Schools Community:
If you have any questions regarding COVID-19 as it pertains to school, please email backtoschool@lsps.org.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Building Schedules
Beginning on October 5th and beyond, we will continue to increase our in-person and virtual time with students each day. To access building-specific schedules, including start and end times, reference this link and follow the Week 5 school schedules linked below:
Lake Shore High School
Hybrid Students
Virtual Students
North Lake High School
Semester Overview
Hybrid Students
Virtual Students
Kennedy Middle School
Hybrid Students
Virtual Students
Masonic Heights, Rodgers, Violet Elementaries
Hybrid Students
Virtual Students
2020-21 District Calendar
The 2020-21 District School Year Calendar has been revised, released, and can be downloaded at http://lakeshoreschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=514935.
Please refer to the District Events Calendar at http://lakeshoreschools.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=513388 for confirmation of all events and dates. On Early Release Days, which have shifted to Mondays, students will be released 45 or 90 minutes earlier than their regularly scheduled dismissal time.
Did you know that you can subscribe to email alerts on our Events Calendar? Click the envelope to stay updated!
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 from 11:15am-1pm and 4pm-6pm to collect 7 breakfasts and 7 lunches to take home until December 31st.
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.
In addition, please review the Lake Shore Church Food Pantry Schedule for an additional resource.
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: See all with Overview mode.
- Look up at the top center of your Chromebook keyboard.
- Click a key that looks like a rectangle with lines coming out to the right.
- This key lets you easily switch between open applications.
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.
We are Hiring
Raise your hand if you’d like to join our Lake Shore Family?
We are now hiring skilled, passionate, culturally and academically diverse individuals of the highest caliber to join our team. Apply for the following positions at https://hr.applicantcentral.com/LSPS/Login.aspx:
- Social Worker/Behavior Specialist
- Lunch/recess aides
- Infant, toddler and preschool child caregivers
- Before and after school School Age Child Care (SACC) caregivers
- Special Education teaching assistants (elementary, middle and high school)
- Long term substitute teachers
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 CURIOSITY and TEAMWORK.
People with the character strength of curiosity likes exploration and discovery. They ask lots of questions because they want to learn more about anything and everything.
In Ms. Barr's Greek Mythology class at Lake Shore High School, an initial discussion goal setting prompted 12th graders to reflect on what it takes to earn good grades. Later, students asked themselves questions about professional goals and the necessary steps to accomplish these aspirations. One way Meghan Hermes' can accomplish her dream of becoming an elementary teacher is by being comfortable with the unknown.
People with the character strength of teamwork work well as a member of a group or team. They are loyal and sacrifice their individual desires for the greater good.
Our Specials teachers at Masonic Heights Elementary, Rodgers Elementary, and Violet Elementary have united to form one ultimate team. Through collaboration within their STEAM, Music, Art, and Gym subjects, they have been able to create and share lessons, troubleshoot technology issues together, and ultimately learn new skills from each other.
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 strengths are OPEN-MINDEDNESS (10/4-10/10) and BEING PRESENT (10/11-10/17).
Athletics
Get unlimited access to watch all your Shorian events this year on the NFHS Network. We've invested in new technology that will bring you every game from the gym and stadium LIVE online so that fans of Lake Shore High School will never miss a home game!
Subscribe for unlimited access by visiting the NFHS Network. Subscriptions start at just $9.95 a month.
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.
If you have any questions about schedules or policies, please contact our John Hartley, Athletic Director, at (586) 285-8903 or jhartley@lsps.org.
Inspiration
Meet the Javenkoski Family
Ray and Stacy Javenkoski are residents of Eastpointe. They made the decision to place their sons, Caleb and Preston, as Schools of Choice students at Lake Shore Public Schools for several reasons, but the one we will focus on today is family-orientated. Before we share how Violet Elementary has exceeded their expectations, we need to look a little deeper into the history of the Javenkoski’s.
December 14, 2015 was the day Preston, their youngest son, had open heart surgery at only 4 months old. Preston was diagnosed with an alpaca heart, a rare congenital heart defect in which the left coronary artery arises abnormally from the pulmonary artery. He spent 3 months in recovery at Children’s Hospital and forever put family values and a positive outlook on life first for the Javenkoski’s.
It is coming up on the 5 year anniversary of Preston’s surgery and this lively, talkative Kindergartner looks forward to school. This is his first year, as a hybrid learner, and his smile while listening to a book on Epic truly says it all.
Will there be some technology glitches? Work-life balance challenges? Health concerns? Of course. But Stacy’s perspective is simple: Celebrate the small wins. It is a win when her husband Ray troubleshoots and fixes Chromebook issues. It is a win when their employers, Clairpointe Family Dental and Midwest Tool and Gear, granted some flexibility in their work schedules and that Gaga Sue can also assist. It is a win that Mrs. Frank and Mrs. Bens were selected as their Kindergarten and 2nd grade teachers. It is a win Maranello, the family Jack Russell dog, is by their side on virtual learning days as a source of support. It is a win that they have established a routine that mimics the traditional school schedule. It is a win that Lake Shore Public Schools continues to review current public health data and is committed to providing our families with a peace of mind.
The Javenkoski’s life at Violet Elementary before COVID-19 allowed them to attend the fall trunk or treats, carnivals, and volunteer inside the classroom. Their oldest son, Caleb, even raised over $2,000 through his participation in the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser. Clearly, he loves his community and supporting heart research on behalf of Preston. Fast forward to life as we know it and the Javenkoski’s believe that Violet Elementary, and the rest of the district, will do their part to continue traditions, even if they look different. Stacy commented, “We adjust to the bumps and try to do what we can as a family to help. Lake Shore has proven it is leaps and bounds above the rest.”
Thank you, Javenkoski’s, for sharing your emotional story during this #VirtualVisit and we appreciate your positivity as we continue to move forward.
Innovation
Shores Child Care Center Renovations
Built in 1950, our Lake Shore Early Childhood Center, formally known as Shores Child Care Center, will receive an expansive facelift, scheduled to be completed by November 1st. Under the leadership of Interim Early Childhood Coordinator Kelly Biondo and Interim Childcare Programming and Safety Supervisor Ann Skelly-Miller, we are positive that these changes will boost our return on investment.
These renovations include new carpet, tile, LED lighting, paint, sinks, doors, and flooring. Exterior building facade changes include a new awning and new vinyl graphics to invite our littlest learners inside the entrance and into classrooms that will be equipped with all new furnishings, toys, learning centers, and bluetooth enabled music stations.
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 Creative 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.
While we wait for this project to finish, our School Age Child Care (SACC) has new schedules and offerings beginning Monday, October 5th.
Wellness Weekend
Our entire Shorian Nation, all 520 employees and 3,217 students, participated in Shorian Wellness Weekend on October 2nd-4th.
Beginning this past Friday at noon, Lake Shore Public Schools gave its staff and students a dedicated homework-free, Chromebook-free weekend to unwind from the stress of school. Did you give yourself permission to press the pause button and give yourself a mental health break. What kinds of relaxation and distress activities did you participate in?
Squirrel enthusiasts love squirrels. And the Shorian Nation welcomes a good distraction from their busiest of days.
We invite you to take a look at our virtual bulletin board where students are sharing how they participated in Wellness Weekend. Feel free to add to it!
At-Home Learning Kits
Celebration
100 Shorian alumni pulled off surprise
Decades of former Lake Shore Band members dusted off their instruments, flags and batons to perform a surprise tribute concert on the lawn of their beloved, retired Band Director John Boren. Mr. Boren, his family, and their neighbors were treated to a full marching band performance, which included the Lake Shore Fight Song! As shown, the smiles and tears made all of their practice worth the precious moments spent together. Thank you for the music, John Boren, and this Alumni Band tribute. Once a Shorian, always a Shorian!
Danielle Smith Earns Make a Difference Award
Danielle Smith, MOCI teacher for hybrid learners, has been selected to receive a Make a Difference award by the parent advisory committee (PAC) at the Macomb Intermediate School District. She was nominated by Courtney Stewart, mother of Ru'Nyah Stewart.
Due to COVID-19, the PAC was unable to honor Danielle in-person, but announced the news via Zoom! Her passion for this position began as a student mentor and leader under the direction of Lori Farr, current Special Education Director.
Danielle, along with so many others, is a shining star of excellence at Rodgers Elementary! Kelly Gattuso and Jennifer Landa also earned this same award roughly two and five years ago. To earn all-county recognition is an achievement that we are excited to celebrate.
Graduation and Senior Video DVDs Available
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