Building Lansing's Future! 

Dear Lansing School District Community,

I am so thrilled to write to you today because tomorrow is the first day of school! I can't believe it. We are all so excited to see you and welcome you back. This year is going to be great. We have so many exciting programs and projects planned. Our teachers have been preparing their rooms and their lesson plans. Our principals have been checking student rosters and communicating with parents. Our secretaries and education assistants have been supporting our district. Our central office staff have been visiting schools and checking buildings. Everyone is doing their best to make tomorrow and this entire year the best year ever in the Lansing School District.

I personally want to thank all of our educators for their tireless work. I know how hard it is to be an educator and I know I speak for the entire community when I say thank you. Last week, I visited many schools, checking that everything was in place. And in every school I went to, I saw educators in their classrooms preparing for the year. None of them had to be there, but they were, on their own time, because they want school to be great this year. It is that extra effort that translates into an amazing school year.

I also want to thank all of the families that send your children to our schools. We do not take that privilege lightly. We are honored that you enroll with us. We are humbled that you decide to entrust us with this awesome responsibility. Thank you.

And lastly, I want to thank the entire community of Lansing. Without you, none of this happens. From your tax dollars to your volunteer hours. Districts can only work at a high-level if everyone is supporting and taking pride in our children, educators, and schools. We look forward to welcoming you back into the classroom to volunteer and mentor. If anyone is interested in helping our district, please use the Let's Talk system and someone will reach out to you.

After we sent out the first newsletter I received a lot of positive emails. Thank you. Please continue to contact us with your thoughts. We are still working on style, format, and focus, and we would love to hear your feedback. 

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

Learning More than Loss

Throughout the course of the pandemic, the conversation around learning loss dominated the airwaves. Pundits and politicians alike all suggested that the years of virtual learning took a toll on the academic performance of students. While this was true for many, it wasn't for all! Graciana Lipsey is a precautious student who will begin her first year at Sheridan Road this fall. Like many students throughout our district, Graciana came into the 2021-2022 school year at Gier Park excited about the possibility of returning to face-to-face school. When asked what she was most excited about she stated that she was most excited about "learning new stuff and being back with friends." At the conclusion of the school year Graciana's excitement for learning showed and seemingly was able to outpace whatever challenges the school year offered, she still managed to achieve advanced marks on her state reading assessment. 

Graciana's teacher, Jody Vicary was not surprised by Graciana's achievement. Mrs. Vicary taught Graciana during virtual school and in face-to-face classrooms, highlighting that Graciana's commitment to learning was present in both contexts. Mrs. Vicary stated that Graciana " always gave a hundred and ten percent" to her studies and that her resilience provided her with the substance to achieve despite a mountain of obstacles.

To be clear the past two years have been difficult, yet the challenges have created a resilience for students like Graciana and provided a foundation for future success. 

At Reo, we strive to demonstrate the impact that Respect, Enthusiasm, and an Open Mind can have on the educational experience. Mr. McGill has been stellar at modeling these learning attributes in his tenure at Reo. He recently retired from his second full-time position of over 25 years with Meijer as Supervising Manager of the warehouse crew. During his time at Meijer, he offered tutoring for families new to America and learning English! 

His expectations for respect are clear as he exhibits respect for every one of our learning community members. His enthusiasm in the classroom keeps our learners and their families engaged and excited about their learning journey. Mr. McGill's intentionality to support our students and families in believing in the power of yet is nothing short of inspirational!