Superintendent Newsletter

One of the things I love most about Lansing is seeing what happens when our schools, families and community come together for our children. This week was a wonderful reminder of just how powerful that can be.

I had the opportunity to attend an At Large Constituent Contact Meeting focused on youth, hosted by members of the Lansing City Council. What made the morning especially meaningful was having three of our seniors, Lola, Xavier and Nautikah, there to share their perspectives.

I cannot tell you how proud I was to see our students in that space, asking questions, sharing their experiences and being part of conversations about the future of our community. Their voices matter, and it was wonderful to see community members listening and engaging with them.

Thank you to Council Members Clara Martinez, Trini Lopez Pehlivanoglu, Jeremy Garza and Tamera Carter for helping create this opportunity. I also appreciated the perspectives shared by CATA CEO Brad Funkhouser and City Clerk Chris Swope, Mayor Andy Schor and many community members' participation. Thank you to UA Local 333 for hosting us and to everyone who came out to be part of the conversation.

When we invite young people into important conversations and genuinely listen to what they have to say, we send a powerful message: You matter. Your ideas matter. And you have a role in shaping the future of Lansing.

That same commitment to our students is also why I want to take a moment to talk about our district's professional development days.

I know that having your children out of school on a Friday can create real challenges for families. It may mean finding child care, adjusting work schedules or even taking time off. I want you to know that we recognize that sacrifice, and we appreciate your understanding.

These days are incredibly important to our educators and staff. A regular school day is busy, and while learning and collaboration happen every day, there is rarely enough uninterrupted time to reflect, plan and work together as deeply as we would like.

Professional development gives our staff dedicated time to strengthen their skills, learn from one another and plan intentionally for student success. It is time spent getting better at our craft so we can be even better for our students.

When our educators grow, our students benefit. The learning and collaboration that happen on these days show up in classrooms, in the support we provide and in the opportunities we create for children.

And speaking of showing up for one another, our 517K Kindness Challenge continues!

I have heard so many wonderful stories since we launched this challenge. Stories about kind words, encouragement and simple acts that have made someone's day a little brighter. It is amazing what happens when people make a conscious effort to be kind.

Now imagine what we could do if that spirit spread throughout the entire 517!

Our school district is at the heart of this city, and we are leading with heart. We have set a goal of 517,000 acts of kindness by World Kindness Day on November 13, and we need everyone to help us get there.

Remember, kindness doesn't have to be complicated. Hold a door open. Help someone carry their things. Offer an encouraging word. Make a phone call or send a text to let someone know how much they mean to you.

These small moments add up, and they matter.

Whether we are listening to our students, investing in our educators or finding ways to brighten someone's day, it all comes back to the same thing: a community working together to lift one another up.

Together, we can lift our students and our city!

Have you logged your acts of kindness today?

Proud to be Kind! Proud to be LSD!

With gratitude,

Jessica Benavides

Construction continues at the new Sheridan Road School! This week saw district leaders and project partners come together to break ground on the new learning space.

Supported by the community’s approval of the 2022 bond, the approximately $35 million project will create a modern, energy efficient learning environment for students in grades five through eight. Plans include 22 classrooms, dedicated art and music rooms, a library, gymnasium, and a cafeteria that converts into a performance space.

Thank you to our community for making new opportunities possible and helping build an exciting future for Lansing students.

https://www.parentsquare.com/signin

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commission of Mid-Michigan is pleased to announce the 2027 James W. Butler III & Mark S. McDaniel Legacy Scholarship Contest and the 2027 Essay Contest.

Lansing School District students that meet contest criteria are encouraged to apply.

CLICK HERE for more information or download the applications below.

The 517K Kindness Challenge continues in the Lansing School District, and we are working hard to fill our schools and community with kindness! Our goal is big, and it is as bold as we are: perform 517,000 acts of kindness by World Kindness Day on November 13th.

In addition to the challenge, the 517K initiative provides schools access to lessons, activities, communication tools, and implementation support to help make kindness a part of everyday life.

To date, the campaign has recorded over 20-thousand acts of kindness from our district and the Lansing community.

If you catch someone being kind, share the story (and any pictures you might get) with us. We will be sharing your stories of kindness on district outlets throughout the month to celebrate the kindness happening across our community!

Our fall season is quickly coming to a close but we have teams gearing up for MHSAA playoffs. Click the graphic below for dates, times, and locations.

Did you know that chronic absence means missing 10 percent or more of the school year for any reason, including excused absences? In the Lansing School District, our students have 172 days of school, so missing about 17 days means a student has missed approximately 10 percent of their school year.

And those days can add up quickly.

That is why Lansing School District is launching:

Pledge to be Great, Stay Less Than 8

Each Friday, families will receive a text message with an attendance check for their child. The message will let you know how many days your child has been absent and where they stand in relation to our district goal of staying below eight absences for the school year.

This message is not meant to be punitive. It is simply an attendance check so you can stay informed and so we can work together before absences begin to add up.

Check out our attendance page for

more information about why attendance matters.

A school PTO or PTA is a great place to start and we want to help you join. Click the graphic below to get started.

Stay in the Know

Visit www.lansingschools.net/district/calendars, select the school(s) whose calendar you would like to subscribe to.

School and district calendars are updated daily with events important to our school community.