Dear Lansing School District Community,

I hope this newsletter finds you well. As always, it is a pleasure to be writing to you all. This week we hired a Director of Health. For years, this district has had wonderful nurses, and since COVID, we have also had a whole team of terrific medical assistants, but we didn't have an overall health professional in charge of the wellbeing of the district.

The pandemic has taught us many things about health, cleanliness, and general well-being. We are lucky that the Lansing School District has such a robust ecosystem of health and wellness employees. These trained health professionals, along with our strong mitigation strategies, helped to keep our rates of COVID and COVID hospitalizations low. In fact, based on our demographics, we as a district have outperformed expectations around our COVID rates. We don't want to lose that momentum around positive health outcomes. Thus, now that we are in the endemic phase of COVID, we, as a community, should think of ways to better support our overall physical fitness.

By having a health director, we will be able to create a district health and wellness plan that goes beyond preparing for the worst. It is our hope that over the next few months, we will be unveiling a series of health initiatives and programs to better get everyone (staff, students, and families) in better shape. In order for our community to be strong in mind and body, we have to galvanize around healthy practices, such as eating well, exercising often, and other proven activities that will promote wellness. Let us work together to reduce our asthma rates, our obesity rates, and our diabetes rates. Let us support each other as we get off the couch, put away our cell phones, and engage in social and physical activity. Let us eat healthy together, making communal meals, sharing nutritious recipes, and possibly even growing food alongside each other. Together with accountability partners, supporters, and friends, I know that the entire school district can work to increase our health. I look forward to working on this project with all of you.

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

RaSyi is always kind to her peers and respectful of everyone's differences. She is focused on learning each and every day she attends school. Her attendance is amazing. It is such a pleasure to have RaSyi in our school.

Mrs. Grace has been at Lyons for 38 years - during which time her children also attended the school! Mrs. Grace currently works with 2nd and 3rd graders as an instructional assistant but she also volunteers her time as the school's after school choir director and drama club director.

If that wasn't enough, Mrs. Grace has also painted many areas of Lyons, including murals in the hallways and library. She is always willing to lend a hand in any way that she can. We treasure her and are thankful that she is at Lyons, because she is amazing!

Officials from the Lansing City Clerk's Office visited Everett High School on Tuesday to hold a mock Halloween election. The fun outreach activity not only helps students understand their voting rights, but encourages an increase in voter participation.

Reaching out to the next generation of voters is of great importance to Lansing City Clerk Chris Swope. His goal is to introduce them to the electoral process and put them at ease. Swope said "We hope that they will understand the process in a less intimidating format and be more comfortable to vote when they turn 18."

A fringe benefit of educating and empowering students to vote? Students who live in a household that doesn't vote may go home and talk about voting with their parents or grandparents which makes them more likely to vote as well.

For this election, students were able to cast their vote for their favorite Halloween character from a list of the greats: Jack Skellington, Freddy Fazbear, The Great Pumpkin, and Casper the Friendly Ghost. They were also asked to vote for their favorite candy from a list of seven, and on a simple proposal. The proposal at hand asked if Ingham County shall limit any person to no more than 100 pieces of candy on Oct. 31.

Special thanks to Chris Swope and the staff at the Lansing City Clerk's Office as well as the Lansing Area League of Women Voters for planning and staffing such a fun learning experience for our students.

If you need more information about voting or what is on your ballot click here.

You have a voice - make sure to use it on November 8th.

Hispanic Heritage month spans from September 15th through October 15th. and is intended to honor the contributions of the Hispanic American and Latinx-identifying communities in the United States. The Lansing School District created a video to express our appreciation for this important culture we celebrate.

If you are currently learning the ropes of the English language, or simply looking for a school community that shares similar life experiences, the bilingual program at the Lansing School District has what you need!

Whether you come from Rio de Janerio, Moscow, or anywhere in between, our bilingual language lines, bilingual assistants, cultural brokers, and translation/interpretation services can help you get where you want to go!

Follow their Facebook page to stay in-the-know about special bilingual events and opportunities.