Superintendent Newsletter

Dear Lansing School District Community,

As always, it is a pleasure to write to you all. I can't believe that this is the last week before Winter Break and, thus, the last time I will be writing to you before the new year. I hope each and every one of you has a wonderful holiday. I hope you are able to rest, relax, and spend time with family and friends. You have all worked incredibly hard to move our district forward. Everyone, in their own way, has supported a rise in student achievement.

I hope that this Winter Break will give everyone a chance to take stock in where we have been and where we are going. I urge you all to think of the start of a new year as a great time to set education goals. We usually spend this time thinking about losing weight or going back to the gym. We think about trying to eat healthier, or at least not as bad. But it would be amazing if all of us who read this newsletter picked some "District Goals."

What are yours going to be? Could you set a goal around attendance? Or getting higher grades? Could you set a goal around teaching the curriculum with fidelity and getting more of your students to proficiency? Could it be that you read more to your child or play more education games? Could it be setting up a homework chart or grade chart to help mark your scholar's progress? Could it be to talk to a teacher or a parent to say hi and check in rather than only reaching out for a negative or punitive reason? Could it be to visit your child's school once a month just to say hi and thank the educators working with your child? There are a million ways that all of us can set individual goals that will, in turn, move the entire district. We are all in this together, and we should all do our part.

So . . . what will your "District Goals" be? As a student, educator, parent, family member, or community member, what goals will you set for yourself that will help the Lansing School District? Please feel free to email them to me. I am happy to be your accountability buddy. I look forward to hearing from you all.

Have a wonderful Winter Break, and I look forward to communicating with you in the new year.

Thank you so much for all of your incredible support of our district. Together, we will do great things for the children of Lansing.

Benjamin Shuldiner, Superintendent

Lansing School District

Congratulations to Everett wrestler Antonio Williams for finishing off his 5-0 week with a pin to become champion of the 150-pound weight class at the 68th annual Don Johnson Invitational! Antonio has been a star wrestling team member for a couple of years, adding this victory to being all-conference last year. A tri-sport athlete, Antonio plays football and baseball in addition to being on the wrestling team. Antonio shines on the mat and field and displays excellent leadership qualities, serving as the wrestling team captain (for a second year) and maintaining a strong grade point average. We're so proud of you, Antonio. Your future is bright!

Dwight Rich School of the Arts (DRSOTA) principal Susan Basso nominated her school's social studies team, Samson McNerney and Robin Morales, to be featured this week for helping DRSOTA run smoothly. Samson has been with the school for two years and has taken over a co-chair position on the Culturally Responsive Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (CRPBIS) team and even delivers the school's morning announcements when needed. He has led the way in the building by updating important forms and documents. Samson has worked closely with Robin Morales, a first-year teacher, on the curriculum in the school's Michigan State University (MSU) / Lansing School District program and has given him guidance on DRSOTA students and classroom discipline.

In his first year, Robin has also volunteered to be part of the school's CRPBIS team and the school's morning and afternoon student supervision position. Robin has worked extremely hard this year to develop his classroom management plan, learn the curriculum, meet students, and have an engaging classroom — seeing a first-year teacher doing so well is a real treat!

Both Samson and Robin stand out as leaders on the middle school team and are very appreciated by the Dwight Rich family!

Ms. Nakiesha Hill is one of the amazing parent volunteers at Gardner International Magnet School. Ms. Hill is one of the school's lunch assistants but volunteers time outside of her scheduled hours to support students in navigating to their classes and also to support their academics. We are beyond grateful to have someone like Ms. Hill on our Gardner Team!

December 21 - Board Meeting | 519 W. Kalamazoo St. | 6-8:00 p.m.

December 23 - January 7 - Winter Break | No School