You won't find a town called Lakeshore on a map, but you'll soon feel the Lakeshore community - and LANCER PRIDE - in your heart. We believe all children deserve an engaging and inspiring education - and the opportunity to discover and pursue their own paths. With Passionate educators, the latest technology and unique opportunities, Lakeshore does more than equip our students to succeed in life - we empower them to lead their lives with character and integrity.
Lakeshore Excellence Foundation
Through the generosity of our donors, the LEF has funded more than 70 academic projects, 40 hardware and software projects, and a wide variety of outreach, cultural and aesthetic programs, many open to the entire community. In 2016, we successfully completed our largest infrastructure project to date by investing $600,000 to transform all of our libraries into 21st Century Learning Centers. We are now poised to again reach higher: we’re reaching out for contributors to help us support the implementation of STEM throughout all grades levels at Lakeshore Public Schools.
Due to covid-19 restrictions set by the Governor for outdoor/indoor gatherings, we will be live streaming audio of many of our athletic events on the Lakeshore Lancers Network. You will also have the ability to watch live many home events for a subscription fee at nfshnetwork.com. Varsity football games will also be available on 97.5 Y-Country.
August 28, 2020 Update
We would like to welcome all of our students and families back for the start of the school year. Whether you are planning to be in school or learn virtually this fall, the first day of school is Monday, August 31. We have designed a schedule for the first two weeks of school that allows us the opportunity to reconnect with students as we learn and practice our new protocols. I am asking that you continue to show patience and grace as we adjust to our new programs and protocols.
The health and safety of our students, families, and staff is and will always be our primary concern. We have been working diligently over the past several months to prepare for the safe return to school for our students and staff. The work continues as we receive new information and guidance from the several sources that we have relied upon during this process. We may further adjust our protocols following the first two weeks of school as we assess the implementation of our Return to School Plans and continue to monitor community health data and guidelines.
For our families that have chosen in-person instruction for the fall, we appreciate your support in helping us to provide a safe environment for both our students and staff. The following protocols have been designed based on guidelines from the State of Michigan, the Berrien County Health Department, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other health and safety organizations.
Daily Wellness Check - Parents should monitor their children for symptoms of COVID-19 before the start of each school day. Students should not go to school or any school activities or sports if symptoms of COVID-19 are present. These include:
If students start having symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, they will need to be sent home. The return to school will be based on their diagnosis and guidance from health officials. If your child has been placed into isolation or quarantine for COVID-19, they may not attend school. It is important that you help us by updating your emergency contacts in PowerSchool.
Masks - The District has relied on guidance from several sources including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the development of our Back to School Plans. These plans, by necessity, have to be fluid as new information and guidance becomes available. The CDC updated its school guidance Friday, August 21, 2020 to emphasize that cloth face coverings and masks are one of the most important mitigation strategies, and encouraged schools to place more emphasis on the wearing of masks by students at all levels. (LINK) The CDC also notes that while children are less likely to have severe symptoms than adults, our teachers, school administrators and other staff continue to be at risk. With that in mind, students in the elementary schools will wear masks throughout the day. Teachers, however, will have discretion to allow students to remove their masks when with their cohort and involved in activities that allow for social distancing (recess, lunch period, some in-class activities).
Middle and high school students will wear masks throughout the day except when eating lunch.
All students must wear masks on district provided transportation.
The District recognizes there are specific instances when wearing a cloth face covering may not be feasible. In these instances, parents, guardians, caregivers, teachers, staff, and school administrators will consider adaptations and alternatives whenever possible. In these instances, the District may require documentation from a health care professional.
Bus Routes - Bus routes can be found on the District’s website. (Click Here for Bus Routes)
PowerSchool Login - Periodically, for security reasons, PowerSchool logins must be updated. Unfortunately, our update occurred after students received their original information by mail earlier this month. In-Person students will receive their updated login information on the first day of school (August 31). Updated login information for Lakeshore Virtual Academy students is being mailed today (August 28).
LVA Elementary Learning Supply Bag - Our Elementary LVA staff have worked hard to put together a “Learning Supply Bag” for each of our students. We anticipate that the final items for the bags will be delivered to the District soon. LVA parents will be notified when the bags are ready for pick up.
Martin’s Supermarket Restrictions - We have had a request from Martin’s Supermarket to support their efforts during the coming months. Much like Lakeshore Public Schools, Martin’s management has had to develop plans to safely support shopping in their store. This includes limiting the number of shoppers. Due to the 25% limit on store capacity per the Governor’s Executive Order, students will not be allowed to gather in the deli cafe before or after school. Your understanding is appreciated.
Doing Our Part - It is vitally important that we all practice safe habits outside of school as well. Keeping our schools open for in-person instruction is contingent in large part on community health data. If we all do our part both inside and outside of school, we will support continued progress toward a full return to school. To help, encourage healthy habits that include:
Kudos to the Lakeshore Staff - The development of our Back to School Plans would not have occurred without the support of an outstanding team of educators that make up Lakeshore Public Schools. I am proud to be a part of an organization that focuses on the overall wellbeing of the children we serve. It is time to honor teachers in our community and in communities across the nation with the reverence they deserve. They have been, and will continue to be, heroes in this saga.
I am also thankful for the patience and grace that families have shown over the past several months. Answers have been slow in coming as we labored to find the best information and guidance available. Our committees learned to quickly collaborate in a virtual environment, showing the same type of versatility our staff, students and families demonstrated fantastically in the spring. The landscape shifted quickly and often, and answers to one day’s challenges often made no sense days later. It has been a trying time for all of us.
But we never lost focus. With resolve, we pressed forward with the same passion that has defined us over the years. We are optimists! We are resilient! And we are up to the challenge! We are Lakeshore, and we are Committed to Excellence in all that we do. We will succeed!
Please choose the closest bus stop from this list.
Please note Transportation has a new phone # 266-3260.
August 13 Update
We are excited to welcome our new and returning students to the 2020-21 school year, which starts on August 31, 2020. The start of this year will be unlike any other, but I assure you that our dedicated and talented teachers and staff are committed to providing the best opportunities for academic and social-emotional growth of our students. The need for partnerships between families and schools has never been more critical. Mutual support and grace will continue to be necessary as we continue to navigate this ever-changing landscape together.
This year, Lakeshore Public Schools is providing families with two pathways to learning:
Below is important information about our efforts to prepare for the new school year.
In-Person Students
For those students who chose in-person instruction, we will be starting the year on August 31 using a phase-in approach following the schedule below. Understanding that there are many new protocols in place to provide the safest environment possible for our staff and students, we have chosen to create a schedule that brings in 50% of our students each day for the first two weeks of the year. This decision supports our teachers and students as they learn, practice, and embrace the new safety protocols and prepare for a possible move to remote learning should that become necessary. Students will return to five-day, full-day instruction beginning September 14.
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Week 1 (Aug. 31 - Sept. 3) |
Week 2 (Sept. 8 - Sept. 11) |
Beginning Week 3 (Sept.14) |
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Focus:
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Focus:
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Focus:
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NOTE: For families with multiple students who may have different last names, you have the option of sending all of your students to school based on the last name of the eldest child in the family. This is being offered to assist in family scheduling.
High School Schedule
Week 1 - Every student will attend two full-day sessions.
Week 2 - Every student will attend two full-day sessions.
NOTE: **Doors will open at 7:15 am this year for the duration of the school year**
Middle School Schedule
Week 1 - Every student will attend two full-day sessions.
Week 2 - Every student will attend two full-day sessions.
NOTE: **Doors will open at 7:15 am this year for the duration of the school year**
Elementary Schools
Note for Young Fives and Kindergarten: Young 5’s and Kindergarten families will receive a personal invitation from their teacher to visit their classroom on August 31 and September 1. Students, along with their parents will attend one 90 minute session on their scheduled day to meet the teacher. (There will be no transportation for Young 5’s and Kindergarten on August 31 and September 1. Full transportation will be provided beginning Wednesday, September 2.)
Week 1 - Every student will attend two full-day sessions.
Week 2 - Every student will attend two full-day sessions.
NOTE: **Doors will open at 8:10 am this year for the duration of the school year** Please note that students should not be dropped off prior to the 8:10am bell at the start of school this year for breakfast. To ensure we are following safety protocols, parents will remain in their vehicles at all times during arrival and dismissal. Please do not park your vehicle to escort your student to the building.
Schedule Exception (Grades K-12): For those students who select in-person learning and are placed in a county special education classroom (Ex. Cognitively Impaired Classroom), they will begin the year attending school full time following a normal school day schedule.
Lakeshore Virtual Academy Students
Enrollment in the Lakeshore Virtual Academy closes on Friday, August 14. Once the final tallies of students in the program have been established, enrollees will receive specific information on schedules/assigned classes. Classes will begin on August 31.
Specific Information on the LVA option including Draft Schedules/time commitments is available on the District website (click here).
Currently, approximately 500 students have enrolled in the LVA, accounting for 18% of our total student population. The enrollment at each grade level ranges from 31 to 39.
Additional Information
Lunch service will be provided on all days of operation for in-person students. Information on food service for LVA students on Free or Reduced Lunch will be mailed to those parents in the coming week.
Decisions to enroll in the Virtual Academy has been extended and must be made by August 14, 2020. To enroll, click here.
On August 10, at a meeting of the Lakeshore Public Schools Board of Education, Superintendent Phil Freeman presented three options for the beginning of the school year. These included:
Option 1 - A full return to school
Description: This model will look much like a traditional model of school: full day, five day a week in-person instruction. Specific safety protocols will be implemented as mandated by the State to mitigate the danger of transmission of COVID-19.
Option 2 - A fully remote start to the school year
Description: Beginning the school year in a fully remote environment for a defined period of time.
Option 3 - Phase-in Model Resulting in Face-to-Face Instruction
Description - A return to face-to-face instruction with a defined period of time (two weeks to three weeks) where protocols can be taught and practiced and remote learning will be introduced. During that time, students will get an opportunity to meet their teachers and receive materials and instruction on how to work remotely should we be closed for a period of time.
Included in each of these plans is the option for parents to select a fully virtual option, the Lakeshore Virtual Academy.
The Board ultimately supported Option 3 by a 6 - 0 vote. Details of the scheduled phase-in will be developed in the coming days.
Thank you to our staff and community members that participated in our Town Hall meetings to share their perspective. Your input was valuable as the Board deliberated before taking action.
In a further effort to promote a positive school community, we have launched an official school district Facebook page. Please search for Lakeshore Public Schools to access and LIKE our new page.
