EAGLE EXPRESS
The Official Monthly Newsletter of the Lake Shore Central School District
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October 2026 | Homecoming Edition
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| From the Superintendent |
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What a Homecoming. For one week, our students, staff, and neighbors showed what Lake Shore pride looks like. Thank you to everyone who marched in the parade, cheered in the stands, and helped behind the scenes.
Homecoming is only part of the story this month. In this issue, you will read about the new student-run bank opening at the High School and get a first look at two shows coming to our stages: A Midsummer Night's Dream at the High School and Seussical JR., this year's Middle School musical. You will also meet a Lake Shore graduate who was just drafted by the Buffalo Bandits. And you will read about Orange Shirt Day, when our schools came together on September 30 to remember that every child matters.
October brings picture days, fall festivals, and our Board of Education meeting on October 20. Please remember there is no school on Monday, October 12. Thank you for being part of the Lake Shore community. Go Eagles!
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Yours in service,
Phil Johnson
Superintendent, Lake Shore Central School District
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| Key Dates This Month |
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Picture Day
A.J. Schmidt Elementary
Mobile Museum of Tolerance visits U.S. History classes
Lake Shore High School
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No School: American Heritage Day
District closed
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PSAT/NMSQT payment due for Juniors
High School Counseling Center · 3:00 PM
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Radius FCU at Lake Shore High opening day and ribbon cutting
Lake Shore High School · 11:00 AM
Trunk-or-Treat for J.T. Waugh families
J.T. Waugh Elementary · 6:00 to 7:30 PM
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Trunk or Treat and Fall Fest
Highland Elementary · 6:00 to 7:30 PM
A Midsummer Night's Dream
High School Drama Club · 7:00 PM
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A Midsummer Night's Dream
High School Drama Club · 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM
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National School Bus Safety Week
Thank you to our bus drivers and transportation staff
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Board of Education Regular Meeting
High School Media Center · 7:00 PM
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PSAT/NMSQT for Juniors
Lake Shore High School
Picture Day
Highland Elementary
Operation Safe Stop
Statewide bus stop-arm safety day
Red Ribbon Week Superhero Night
J.T. Waugh Elementary · 5:30 to 7:00 PM
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Red Robin Fundraiser Night
For Lake Shore Unified Sports
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Red Ribbon Week begins
October 23 to 31
Halloween Fun Night for W.G. Houston Middle School students
5:00 to 7:00 PM
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Red Ribbon Week "Take A Stand" march
High School and Middle School students march to Route 5 · 2:30 to 3:05 PM
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Halloween Centers and Costume Parade
W.T. Hoag Educational Center · Centers 9:00 to 10:30 AM, parade 12:00 to 12:30 PM
Halloween Parade
Highland Elementary · 1:45 PM
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View Full District Calendar → Athletics Schedules and Scores → |
| Recent Highlights |
Once Upon a Homecoming
This year's Homecoming theme was Once Upon a Homecoming, and Lake Shore pride showed up everywhere. Every school joined in with a spirit theme for each day of the week.
At the High School, students kicked off the week by decorating the hallways and gave back to the community on Lake Shore Cares Day. Game Night, Float Prep Day, Powder Puff, the pep rally, and the High School Carnival and bonfire kept the energy going all week long.
On Friday, October 2, the Community Homecoming Parade stepped off from Village Hall and headed down Main Street to Lake Shore High School. Youth football players, cheerleaders, the marching band, and young riders on bikes filled the route.
That night, the Eagles beat Amherst Central 41-8 in front of packed stands and a student section that went all in. The week wrapped up with the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night.
Thank you to our students, class advisors, chaperones, families, and every community group that joined in. You made it a week to remember. See more photos in the Homecoming gallery below.
Honoring Every Child Matters Day at Lake Shore
On Wednesday, September 30, Lake Shore joined communities across the country for Orange Shirt Day, also called Every Child Matters Day. The day began in 2013 to honor Indigenous families and communities affected by residential schools. It is a chance for all of us to show support and understanding of a history that still affects many families today.
Students and staff wore orange. At all six Lake Shore schools, students took part in remembrance walks. At Highland Elementary, Seneca dancers and singers led the walk. Thank you to everyone who helped plan such a meaningful day.
Once an Eagle, Now a Bandit
Class of 2023 graduate Obrigh Tallchief was drafted by the Buffalo Bandits. He went 41st overall in the National Lacrosse League draft. Congratulations, Obrigh! Your Lake Shore family is proud of you and will be cheering you on. Once an Eagle, always an Eagle.
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Freshmen Start the Year as a Team
The Class of 2030 spent a sunny Friday afternoon on the fields for the 15th annual Freshman Teambuilding Boot Camp. After lunch from Connors Hot Dog Stand, cooked by Iron Mike and Aunt Karen, students rotated through five stations, from a blindfolded mine field to rolling a kayak across pipes. Thank you to Mr. Connors and our upperclass leadership students.
In Our Classrooms
Building the Stone Age in Minecraft
Students in Mr. Matthew Poole's Global History & Geography I classes are using Minecraft Education in the High School eSports Room to compare the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. They build a hunter-gatherer camp and an early farming village, then turn screenshots and notes into a side-by-side presentation. Thank you to Mr. Poole for giving his students such a unique way to learn, and to Technology Coordinator Mr. Drezek for setting it all up.
Students Vote in a New Lunch Item
Lunch at W.G. Houston Middle School turned into a taste test. Students tried an apple pie parfait and voted with a feedback form or a popsicle stick in a smile, neutral, or frown jar. It was part of a study by Hanna Leaskey, a Buffalo State University nutrition graduate student, working with Personal Touch Food Service. The verdict: apple pie parfait is coming to the lunch menu.
Also in the News
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Hands-On at the High School: Mr. Brockman's Home Maintenance and Repair students mixed and poured concrete by hand, some with steel rebar and some without, to see how reinforcement changes the finished piece.
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More District News → |
| Coming Up |
Red Ribbon Week: Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.
Red Ribbon Week runs October 23 to 31 across Lake Shore, with spirit days all week and Red Day at every school on Tuesday, October 27. Families are invited to wear a red ribbon during October. Don't miss these two big moments:
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Wed, Oct 21 · All schools invited
Superhero Night
5:30 to 7:00 PM · J.T. Waugh Elementary
Crafts, games, dinner and a superhero meet and greet. Wear your coolest cape! Share a photo of your hero by October 21 and see them celebrated that night.
Share Your Hero → |
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Tue, Oct 27 · Drive by & cheer
Take A Stand
2:30 to 3:05 PM · Route 5
High School and Middle School students and staff march out to Route 5 together to take a stand against drugs. Drive by, wave and cheer them on.
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Spirit days for every school, the full schedule and more are on the Red Ribbon Week page.
See All Red Ribbon Week Events →
On Stage at Lake Shore
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Oct. 16 at 7:00 PM · Oct. 17 at 2:00 and 7:00 PM
Lake Shore High School Auditorium
$5 at the door, or buy ahead from any cast member.
Show Details →
Seussical JR.
Jan. 21 and 22, 2027 at 7:00 PM · Jan. 23 at 3:00 PM
W.G. Houston Middle School Auditorium
Adults $10, students and seniors $8. Saturday Meet & Greet at 2:00 PM ($20).
Buy Seussical JR. Tickets →
Or call (716) 926-2701.
Also Coming Up
Radius FCU at Lake Shore High Opens October 15: Students in Lake Shore High School's Academy of Business and Finance are opening a school branch with Radius Federal Credit Union. The ribbon cutting is Thursday, October 15 at 11:00 AM, and the branch is open that day from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The school branch is for Lake Shore students and staff only, who can open Radius checking and savings accounts right inside the school. Students under 18 need a parent or guardian's signature.
School Branch Details →
Polar Plunge: Lake Shore Unified Sports is taking the plunge on Friday, December 4 for Special Olympics New York. Support the team at two restaurant nights: Red Robin on October 22 (20% back) and Chipotle on November 7 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM (25% back).
Polar Plunge Details →
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Thank You, Bus Drivers: National School Bus Safety Week is October 19 to 23, and Lake Shore is pairing it with a thank-you to our bus drivers and transportation staff. Wednesday, October 21 is Operation Safe Stop, a statewide day reminding drivers that passing a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing is dangerous and illegal. On a typical school day, about 50,000 vehicles pass stopped school buses in New York, according to the New York Association for Pupil Transportation.
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Juniors, PSAT/NMSQT: The test is October 21. Registration is $18, due in the Counseling Center by Tuesday, October 13 at 3:00 PM.
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Music Calendar: The 2026-27 Music Department calendar is out, starting with the High School Fall Concert on November 2. Download the calendar.
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View Full District Calendar → |
| Careers at Lake Shore |
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Lake Shore is hiring. Current openings include:
- Personal Care Aide, Special Programs Office
- Custodian, Lake Shore High School
- Substitutes, districtwide: Licensed Practical Nurse, School Monitor (Hall/Cafeteria), and Laborer
See All Current Openings and Apply on SchoolSpring →
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🚌 We're Looking for Bus Drivers
Starting at $22.75/hr • Free CDL training ($6K value) • Summers & holidays off
Apply Now → |
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