Dear Lansing School District Community,

I hope that this newsletter finds you well. As always, it is a pleasure to be writing to you all.

Today, I am very happy to write about a brand-new program in the Lansing School District. We will officially unveil our Newcomer Center tomorrow morning at 9 am. Though this initiative has been up and running since the first day of school, we are ready to show the world this incredible and supportive project. As many of you know, Lansing has welcomed thousands of refugees and immigrants from across the world over the years. Our warm and inviting city has opened its doors to families from Syria and Sudan, from Burma, and Bhutan. And, of course, our Lansing School District has done everything it can to create a great learning space for our new children. For years, the school district, under the leadership of Deputy Superintendent of Special Populations Sergio Keck and his team, has created programs and projects and hired educators and community members to form a safety net and special welcoming measures to make these students' arrival better. However, when the district enrolled these young scholars, we sent them directly to our schools. Imagine if you arrived in a new country where you didn't speak the language, didn't know the city, and certainly didn't know its ID system, bus system, or educational software system. You would feel pretty lost and out of sorts.

So, for the first time, we have created a place, a Newcomer Center, specifically built to help these children become comfortable in the Lansing School District. At this building, these wonderful new denizens of Lansing, will improve their English, be introduced to our school systems, and be given exceptional supports from our highly trained educators. The building has new classrooms, new equipment, and special curriculum and programming. Kids get a head start using Google Classrooms and our educational curriculum. They practice opening their lockers or swiping their IDs. The hope is that these new Lansing School District students will quickly feel comfortable enough to sit in the classrooms and walk the halls of our schools. I am very proud of all the incredible hard work the district and our community partners have put into making the Newcomer Center a reality. It is yet another way our school district is putting kids first and setting them up for success. I hope that in the coming weeks, our Communications Department will share some pictures and stories about the work we are doing in the Newcomer Center. This is something special that all of Lansing should take pride in.

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

Everett High School Viking PeerForward College Ambassadors were invited to the official ribbon cutting ceremony of Amazon's Lansing Fulfillment Center. Not only did our students join community VIPs, they toured the one million square foot building. PeerForward was also surprised to receive a $10,000 donation. What an excellent opportunity for our Everett students!

Two of our students and our Sheridan Rd. STEM art teacher had their work selected for the 2024 Adrian College Exhibition, “Mentors & Makers: A Celebration of Artistry and Influence.” This prestigious exhibition, which runs from September 27th to December 3rd, highlights the creative talents of Adrian College alumni who are currently art educators and the exceptional works of their students. We’re so proud!

The Pathfinder toolkit can also be viewed online by clicking here.

The inaugural Mayor’s Lansing SAVE Fall Golf Classic brought together golfers, sponsors, and community members to support Lansing SAVE on September 13, 2024, at Groesbeck Golf Course. The event raised over $20,000. All proceeds from the event will directly support the Lansing SAVE initiative, a program that empowers local students to achieve their post-secondary education goals and contribute to the economic vitality of the community. Event sponsors included MSU Federal Credit Union, Lansing Board of Water and Light, Lansing Entertainment & Public Facilities Authority(LEPFA), Art Craft Display, Tropical Smoothie, Rock-n-Roll Sushi, Thrivent, Great Lakes Christian College, Capitol National Bank, and Lansing Promise.

Lansing SAVE is a partnership between the City of Lansing, MSU Federal Credit Union, Lansing Promise, and the Lansing School District. Lansing SAVE has provided over 6,900 K-10 Lansing students with Children’s Savings Accounts (CSAs) since its beginning. The initiative empowers students with financial literacy and savings tools to support their post-secondary education goals, fostering economic mobility and community growth. Research shows that students with dedicated college savings accounts are significantly more likely to enroll in and complete college or vocational programs.

What is PCAC?

The Lansing School District Parent/Community Advisory Council is a district wide council consisting of parents, teachers, principals, and community members who come together on a monthly basis to discuss parents’ interests, concerns, and to share important district information.

Who Can Attend PCAC Meetings?

Any parent/guardian of a Lansing School District student as well as community leaders and citizens of the Greater Lansing Area that recognize the need for parental and community involvement in our children’s education.

Why Attend PCAC?

You will have the opportunity to provide important input to leaders in the Lansing School District.

When & Where Does PCAC Meet?

The 2024-25 PCAC meetings will be held every fourth Wednesday of the month from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Dr. Halik Center, 4200 Wainwright Ave. Lansing, MI 48911.

Our next PCAC meeting will be October 23rd where will will discuss Special Populations.

Take advantage of Talkspace online therapy FREE. Click here to get started.

Is your family in a temporary or inadequate living situation due to a loss of housing? If so, the F.O.R.T. Program may be able to assist. The Families Overcoming Rough Times (F.O.R.T.) Program assists Lansing School District students who are living in temporary or inadequate living situations.

If you have been displaced from your home due to:

• A house fire, mold, or red tag
  
• Safety concerns
  
• Loss of utilities (heat or electric)
  
• Foreclosure
  
• Eviction
  
• Being asked to leave

F.O.R.T. can help with:

• Connections to housing programs
  
• School enrollment within 24 hours
  
• Transportation to and from school
  
• Personal hygiene & school supplies
  
• Clothing, shoes, coats, etc.
  
• Fees for school-sponsored field trips
  
• Cap and gown for graduation
  
• Financial aid application assistance, and MORE!

Please make sure to log in to your ParentVue account and update information if necessary.

• You can access your ParentVue account by clicking here and logging in.
• If you need assistance creating a ParentVue account, reach out to your child's school.
  
• If you are having issues accessing your ParentVue account, please email technology@lansingschools.net.

We are now using ParentSquare for stakeholder communication. ParentSquare automatically generates an account for each family, using the preferred email address and phone number listed in the family's ParentVue account.

If your family is not able to utilize ParentSquare, please email info@lansingschools.net.

October 2 — Fall Count Day

October 3 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | 3900 Stabler Street

October 10 — Information Study Session. | TBD

October 18 — PD Day - No School

October 23 — (PCAC) Parent Community Advisory Council | 6:00 p.m. | 4200 Wainwright Ave.

October 24 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

October 31 — Half Day - A.M. Elementary Only - Planning and Records

November 5 — Election Day - No School

November 7 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

November 14 — Information Study Session | TBD

November 20 — (PCAC) Parent Community Advisory Council | 6:00 p.m. | 4200 Wainwright Ave.

November 21 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

November 25-29 — Thanksgiving Break - No School

December 5 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

December 12 — Information Study Session. | TBD

December 19 — Regular Board Meeting | 6:00 p.m. | TBD

December 23-27 & December 30 - January 3 — Winter Break - No School

January 9, 2025 – Annual Organizational Meeting | 519 W. Kalamazoo St.

Did you know that you can subscribe to our calendars?

Visit www.lansingschools.net/district/calendars, select the school(s) whose calendar you would like to subscribe to, and tap the tiny calendar at the top right. For more detailed instructions, click here.