Shorian Nation eNews
August 31st, 2025
The Transformation of Rodgers Elementary
Big news from Lake Shore! We proudly celebrated the rededication of Rodgers Elementary School — a truly special moment in our district’s history!
On Monday, Sept. 1 at 6:30 PM, Superintendent Dr. DiPonio and Principal Mrs. Winiarski welcomed guests for a heartfelt ribbon-cutting ceremony at the school’s front entrance. We were especially honored to have James Rodgers, son of the school’s namesake, join us for the celebration.
Video clip: https://x.com/myLSPS/status/1962687820767666191
After 18 months of hard work, imagination, and transformation, Rodgers Elementary has officially reopened its doors — beautifully reimagined to inspire, empower, and support every student who steps inside.
From the first swing of the demolition hammer to the final touches on bright, modern classrooms, this building was designed with our students’ futures in mind — a place for creativity to bloom, ideas to spark, and dreams to take flight.
Welcome to the new Rodgers — where every child is encouraged to grow, thrive, and dream BIG! Rodgers became more than just a school — it stood as a symbol of progress and a reflection of our community’s values.
Thanks to the support of our community and the responsible stewardship of bond funding, we delivered a facility that matches the excellence of our students and staff. From flexible learning spaces to technology-rich classrooms, the new Rodgers became a hub of opportunity and exploration — one that will serve Shorians for generations to come.
We were proud to welcome the entire Shorian Nation — families, alumni, neighbors, and friends — to be a part of this celebration. Attendees took a first look at the new space, met the people who made it all possible, and helped us honor the journey that brought us to this incredible moment.
#myLSPSFirstDay
💫 There are no limits—only the ones we place on our minds.
On September 2nd, we kicked off the 2025–26 school year with a warm Shorian welcome! Our schools came alive with enthusiastic greetings, thoughtfully prepared classrooms, and plenty of chances for students to connect with their learning communities.
The first day was full of energy and excitement—perfect for capturing unforgettable memories! Help us celebrate by sharing your child’s first-day photos and tagging #myLSPSFirstDay.
Shorian Back-to-School Checklist:
✅ A strong start to #myLSPSFirstDay
✅ Connected with fellow Shorians
🔲 Ready to make 2025/26 an amazing year
Whether it was your very first day or your final first day, we wish you a fantastic year ahead, Shorians!
🎉 Bonus Shoutout: A big thank you for the joyful Chalk Cheer messages! Your colorful words of encouragement made our welcome extra special.
Food Service
𝓛𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓢𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓮 𝓟𝓾𝓫𝓵𝓲𝓬 𝓢𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓵𝓼 𝓲𝓼 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓵 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓼 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱 𝓮𝓪𝓻𝓵𝔂 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓯 2025 𝔀𝓱𝓲𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓜𝓲𝓬𝓱𝓲𝓰𝓪𝓷 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓴𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓪𝓭𝓸𝓹𝓽 𝓪 𝓫𝓾𝓭𝓰𝓮𝓽 𝓫𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓢𝓮𝓹𝓽𝓮𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓻 30𝓽𝓱 𝓭𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓮.
LSPS, in partnership with Chartwells Food Services, provides healthy meals to all children. Families can use our Nutrislice app for access to menus: https://lakeshoreschools.nutrislice.com/menus-eula.
You asked, we listened! Introducing Family Portal by Meal Magic for all things Food Service such as making deposits, transferring between students, viewing account history, setting daily spending limits or other restrictions!
𝓛𝓢𝓟𝓢 𝓲𝓼 𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓵𝓵 𝓼𝓮𝓮𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓸 𝓸𝓫𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓬𝓸𝓶𝓹𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓔𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓲𝓫𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓽𝓼 𝓕𝓸𝓻𝓶𝓼 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼; 𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼𝓮 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓸𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓸 𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓪𝔁𝓲𝓶𝓾𝓶 𝓪𝓶𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓯𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵 𝓪𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓷𝓬𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓼 (𝓸𝓾𝓽𝓼𝓲𝓭𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓶𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓼) 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓰𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓫𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓯𝓲𝓽 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓼𝓽𝓾𝓭𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓪𝓶𝓲𝓵𝓲𝓮𝓼 𝓼𝓾𝓬𝓱 𝓪𝓼 𝓼𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓸𝓵 𝓯𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓽𝓮𝓬𝓱𝓷𝓸𝓵𝓸𝓰𝔂 𝓯𝓾𝓷𝓭𝓲𝓷𝓰, 𝓢𝓐𝓣, 𝓐𝓒𝓣, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓐𝓟 𝓽𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓼, 𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓰𝓮 𝓪𝓹𝓹𝓵𝓲𝓬𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷 𝓭𝓲𝓼𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓽𝓼, 𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓵𝓮𝓽𝓲𝓬𝓼, 𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓼, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽𝓻𝓾𝓬𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓵 𝓼𝓾𝓹𝓹𝓸𝓻𝓽 𝓹𝓻𝓸𝓰𝓻𝓪𝓶𝓼.
The easiest way to apply is by visiting https://lakeshore.familyportal.cloud/.
Completed forms should be returned to your child's school.
Please have your child bring their Student ID as this identification will be utilized by our Food Service Department for all meals. It should be ready to be scanned when making food selections.
Contact Rosa Burg at (586) 285-8926 or rburg@lsps.org for questions or assistance completing the Eligibility Benefits Form. Chartwells Dining Service's goal is to serve up happy and healthy meals while making the cafeteria the happiest place in school.
Chromebook Insurance
🎓 Lake Shore is Powered by Technology! 💻
For the past 8 years, all Lake Shore students have had access to district-issued Chromebooks, helping them learn anytime, anywhere. These devices connect to Schoology, our learning management system since 2017 — chosen for its student-friendly design and flexibility for all teaching styles.
🛡️ Device Insurance Now Available!
We're partnering with Smart Tech to offer optional Chromebook insurance for the 2025-26 school year: 💲 $29 per device
✅ Covers:
• Accidental damage
• Liquid damage
• Battery failure
• Manufacturer defects
• Loss & theft
🚫 Does not cover: chargers, cases, or intentional damage
💡 No deductibles. No claim limits. One-time annual fee.
👨👩👧👦 Max family cost: $87 (must call Smart Tech to purchase multiple)
📅 Purchase Window:
Sept 1 – Dec 20, 2025
📆 Coverage lasts until Aug 30, 2026
⚠️ Without coverage, families are responsible for full repair/replacement costs:
• Chromebook: $300
• Screen: $75
• Battery: $40
• Hinges: $25
• Keyboard: $20
• Camera: $10
Costs without insurance will vary, as parts prices are subject to change.
Care Solace
Youth mental health is a topic of utmost importance, and we believe that by working together, we can create a supportive environment where our children can thrive.
As we start the new school year, we want to remind you of the invaluable resources available to our community.
In addition, Care Solace offers mental health care coordination services and can help connect you and your child with appropriate community-based providers. Whether it's counseling, therapy, or other mental health services, Care Solace can assist you in finding the support your family may need.
To access Care Solace's coordination services, simply reach out using the following options:
Call 888-515-0595: Their multilingual helpline is staffed 24/7/365.
Visit www.caresolace.com/lsps: On their website, you can explore mental health providers independently or click "Book Appointment" for personalized assistance through video chat, email, or phone.
By joining hands and working together as a community, we can provide a nurturing and inclusive environment that supports the mental health and well-being of our youth. Let's continue to prioritize their emotional growth, and together, we can create a brighter future for our children.
Thank you for being caring and involved parents and guardians in the Lake Shore Public Schools. Your dedication to supporting our youth is truly commendable.
Lake Shore Adult and Community Education
Ready to take the next step in your education journey?
Lake Shore Adult & Community Education is here to support YOU with:
- GED Prep & Testing
- High School Completion
- ESL (English as a Second Language)
And we’re proud to share that we’ve been recognized with a Macomb Daily Readers’ Choice Best of the Best Award—a testament to our commitment to students and the community!
Registration is now OPEN: https://lsace.lakeshoreschools.org/
Join the award-winning LSACE program and invest in your future today!
Save the Date: Fall Fest
Join Lake Shore Public Schools on Saturday, October 11th from 12:30–4:00 PM at John U’Ren Stadium (Lake Shore High School athletic field at 22980 Thirteen Mile Road, St. Clair Shores, MI 48082) for an afternoon packed with music, food & fun!
FREE admission (donations welcome!)
Live performances from LSPS Bands & Choirs (1–4 PM), featuring:
- Elementary: Spooky Scary Skeletons, Ghost of John, Ghostbusters
- KMS Jazz Band: Jazz Hero and Quarterback Sneak
- KMS Choirs: Dark and Stormy Night
- LSHS Choirs: Danger Zone, Phantom of The Opera
- LSHS Marching Band: Highlights from their 2025 Show: "Let's Take a Road Trip!" - Life is a Highway, California Girls, Take me Home Country Roads, Georgia on My Mind, Detroit Rock City, Thanks For The Memories
Food Truck Rally – Delicious eats from local vendors
Petting zoo, pony rides, inflatables, and a DJ between sets!
Craft vendors and community partners
This is your chance to support our talented students, enjoy great food & entertainment, and connect with the Lake Shore community. We can’t wait to see you there!
Lions Spirit Days
Lions pride runs deep at Lake Shore Public Schools!
We're showing off our Detroit Lions spirit by rocking Honolulu Blue, silver, black, and white all season long!
Mark your calendars for these Lions Spirit Days for several home games: 9/26, 10/20, 11/21, 12/4
Rep your favorite players—Jared Goff, Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Isaac TeSlaa, Terrion Arnold, Aidan Hutchinson, and more—and send your best Lions looks to social@lsps.org!
Ace of Trades Justin Winters
The men and women who work in trades are part of the backbone of Metro Detroit and the entire state of Michigan.
Local 4 and Carhartt have teamed up for Trade Up. It’s an initiative to shine a light on opportunities in trade work and helping bridge the disparity between open jobs in trade fields and those considering a career in trade work. It also is about recognizing those who succeed in their respective trade, succeed in working with others, and are an example of what can be accomplished through this work.
As part of Trade Up, Local 4 and Carhartt will recognize one person a month with the Ace Of Trades award which highlights people who are nominated by others in the community for being a true example of what Trade Up is all about.
Congratulations to Building Renovations teacher Mr. Winters at Lake Shore High School, honored as a recent recipient of the "Ace of Trades" award!
Kindness on Camera: Kara Wolfbauer Coaches Future Media Pros, No Hate Tour
Lake Shore grad Kara Wolfbauer (Class of 2019) returned to Mrs. Blaskowski’s Media 2 class as a guest speaker!
During her time at LSHS, Kara thrived in the media productions program. Since then, she has gone on to become Valedictorian at the University of Detroit Mercy, a standout collegiate softball player, and now serves as the official Game Host for both the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings.
She shared her journey and offered advice on the art of broadcasting—everything from eye contact and authentic connection with your audience, to storytelling, interviewing, and staying human on camera. She even brought along her detailed broadcast notebooks filled with player notes and prep work!
Students will soon take on a Challenge Prompt, write their own announcements, and later receive personalized feedback from Kara when she revisits the class.
What an inspiring experience for our future media pros!
Lake Shore High School hosted The No Hate Tour (BMX anti-bullying assembly). The No Hate High School Tour, now in its 25th year, is an incredibly impactful educational program that uses the energy and excitement of action sports to deliver critical bullying prevention tools, techniques, and information to students in a relatable, peer-to-peer manner.
The program features top BMX pros that teens admire performing high-energy action sports shows on campus while speaking to the students about their own experiences with bullying (both online and offline), overcoming obstacles, being an ally, inclusion, kindness, surrounding yourself with positive influences, problem solving, mental health awareness, and other important subjects that really resonate with teens.
https://x.com/myLSPS/status/1966233125044035637
Talk about fearless! LSHS Principal Dr. Bross held her ground at the top of the ramp as a skilled BMX rider soared over her head with an epic trick! It was a perfect conclusion to a powerful assembly & earned two thumbs up from the crowd!
Kindness is Kara and Dr. Bross’s trademark, and it’s the quality we all hope to carry forward.
LSHS Seniors & Their Favorite Companions
From furry friends to family, these seniors brought what (or who) means the most to them for their ID pics — and we’re loving every second of it!
- Charley McIntyre & Molly — "I’ve had her since I was 5. She’s my whole heart."
- Blake Schrade & Bently — "He’s my sweet little baby, and I love him so much."
- Connor Haggart & Xena — "It’s my senior year — I wanted her by my side to make it extra special."
- Mariana Jackson & Bella — "She’s as pretty as me!"
- Christopher Nereim-Smith & Gambino — "He’s just my guy."
- Alabama McWherter & Harley — "My best friend, always."
- Emma McWherter & Diesel — "He’s just so cute!"
- Ethan Garcia & Diezel — "Best dog ever, hands down."
- Addison Penner with Dale the Cat & Wilma the Chicken — "My favorite two."
- Jetaria Taylor & Baby Jai — "My 3-month-old sister is simply the best."
- Jesse Horne & Cookie the Snake — "The nicest of the 14–20 snakes I have!"
- Abigale Smith, Lacey Sokol, Ashley Geib, Paloma Aguirre, Ellie Michener Rubin — "We were all minions for our photo!"
- Mady Pleva & Zac (her 9-year-old brother) — "We both play hockey. He’s my mini-me!"
Special shoutout from Kaiser employee and LSHS Class of 2021 grad Madison Walker:
"My first time doing fun senior ID photos — I might be having more fun than the students! It's bringing such great energy to the school year!"
Elementary Deans of Students
LEADERSHIP AT MASONIC HEIGHTS ELEMENTARY
Angela Whateley is honored to join the Lake Shore community as the new Dean of Students at Masonic Elementary. She brings 13 years of experience in education, having served in various roles including classroom teacher, Title I student support specialist, instructional coach, behavior interventionist, and assistant principal. Throughout her career, she has been deeply passionate about equity in education and is committed to creating an inclusive, supportive environment for all students. Angela places great value on building strong, meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families, recognizing that these connections form the foundation of a thriving school community.
LEADERSHIP AT RODGERS ELEMENTARY
Becky Gaedcke is entering her ninth year in education. She spent eight years in the classroom teaching 1st, 3rd, and 5th grades, and most recently served as a Student Success Coach in her former district. Becky is a proud two-time graduate of the University of Michigan—Go Blue!—earning a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and Policy. She is deeply passionate about supporting teachers with classroom management, building strong relationships with students and families, and cultivating a positive, welcoming school culture and climate.
LEADERSHIP AT VIOLET ELEMENTARY
We are excited to announce the arrival of our new Dean of Students, Rene Foster! Rene brings in 7 total years of experience as both a teacher and MTSS Coordinator. She has a passion for cultivating equitable learning opportunities, empowering every student to reach their full potential, and building collaborative systems that support academic growth. We look forward to Rene's leadership in strengthening the Multi-Tiered System of Supports both academically and behaviorally
Let’s give a warm Shorian welcome to Ms. Whateley, Ms. Gaedcke, and Ms. Foster! They are beyond excited to serve and support our amazing Shorian Family this year!
Flags, Fans, and Gratitude: A Night to Honor Our Heroes at Lake Shore
The Shorian Nation donned their camo and Carhartt gear to join us in honoring our service members at Lake Shore High School’s first home football game! Jimmy DeLong, LSHS graduate from the Class of 2012, was named Honorary Captain and recognized with a special on-field appearance with his two beautiful daughters, as proud fans waved their flags in support from the stands.
Following graduation, Jimmy attended Central Michigan University on a full scholarship through the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). He graduated in 2016 with a B.S in International Relations and commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer in the Army.
Jimmy served in numerous roles throughout his seven years of service including a deployment to Al Taqaddum, Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve from 2017-2018. His notable achievements are:
- Bronze Star Medal
- Meritorious Service Medal
- Army Commendation Medal (x2)
Jimmy credits many at Lake Shore for his success. Most notably, he credits Erika Welsh. Jimmy stated, “I didn’t always have the right attitude growing up, Mrs. Welsh actively challenged me to see past my current ways of thinking. I may not have realized it then, but the realization that maybe I wasn’t always right put me on the path to thoughtfulness which has been the main driver of my success."
Thank you PNC Financial Services Group for sponsoring the USA flags; Our partnership through PNC Bank Home for Heroes Giveaway and The Bashi Family in 2023 is still so fondly remembered.
Congratulations to our Varsity Football team on an exciting overtime first home game win with a final score of 26-20! Stay tuned as we celebrate the football and cheer teams, the band, the color guard, and all the unforgettable moments that make Friday Night Lights so special in our upcoming posts!
Athletics Website
We have built an online home for our athletic department. Our goal is to bring our athletic programs to life by sharing schedules, scores, and social media while ensuring our athletes get the promotion they deserve. Visit the Shorian Sports website for 24/7/365 access to the information you have always wanted and follow along with our sports action.
We have partnered with Kroger to help fund our athletics. Please read this letter from our Athletic Coordinator Rich Bowers.
We have finished uploading Fall 2025 schedules and rosters for Cross County, Football, Sideline Cheer, Soccer, Swim, and Volleyball! Team photos, video feed, and featured stories are on deck to be added. Stay tuned!
Volleyball Feature: Volleyball Vibes & Victory Drives
We believe a balance of academics and athletics creates a well-rounded student. Students who participate in sports not only gain the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle, they also learn lessons about sportsmanship, leadership, teamwork, cooperation, respect, and knowing how to win and lose.
September 26 – Elementary Appreciation Neon Night
A special night to celebrate our future Shorians! Elementary students, wear your school shirts, accessorize with neon, and come show your spirit!
Honorary Captains: 2025 Elementary Teachers of the Year Jennifer Manor, Megan Buckman, and Nicole Salem
Before 4th Quarter (“Light the Stands” Moment)
“Glow-Up Wave”
PA Announcer: “Everyone hold up your glow sticks and light the stadium for our team!”
Everyone waves glow sticks/phone lights → creates a stadium-wide neon effect.
Connect With Shorian Nation
Email: social@lsps.org
Website: http://lakeshoreschools.org
Location: 28850 Harper Avenue, St. Clair Shores, MI 48081
Phone: (586) 285-8481
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myLSPS/
X: https://x.com/myLSPS
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mylsps/