Lions: Release Your Roar
Welcome Back to School
| | School Starts Monday, August 10 | | |
We welcome your family to our 2026-2027 school year as we celebrate over five decades of God’s faithfulness through Lakeside Christian School.
This newsletter brings together the key information your family needs to prepare for the 2026–27 school year, including important dates, arrival and dismissal schedules, uniform and school supply information, before- and after-care details, and fall athletics opportunities.
We are grateful to partner with you as we begin another year of helping students grow in faith, character, purpose, and academic excellence. We look forward to seeing new and returning students back on campus soon!
| | Back to School Info for Fall 2026 | |
🔗 Looking for school supply lists, dress code info, handbooks, forms, and other important Lion parent resources?
Click the blue button below to visit our Lakeside Parent Portal on our website
| | Calendars: Stay Up To Date | | Keep important school dates, events, games, and activities at your fingertips throughout the year. | |
School Calendar
View holidays, schoolwide events, early dismissals, and other important dates for Lakeside families.
| | | | |
Athletics Calendar
Find upcoming games and tournaments for our 6-12 grade teams.
| | NEW Start and Dismissal Times | |
Office Hours and Administration Contacts
OFFICE HOURS: Monday - Friday | 8am-4pm
CONTACTS
-
Front Office: 727-461-3311 | office@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Enrollment Director Connie Helms chelms@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
K-12 Principal Jeremy Crane 727-461-3311 ext 312 jcrane@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Head Administrator Jim Jensen jjensen@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Athletic Director/Vice Principal James Coffman 727-461-3311 ext 307 | jcoffman@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Assistant Administrator Joanne Barlow jbarlow@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Education, IT & Facilities Administrator Mike Arbia marbia@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Director of Marketing & Communications Andrea Coffman acoffman@lakesidechristianschool.org | 727-644-1605
SCHOOL OFFICE 727-461-3311
- Customer Service: Clara Perez ext. 300 | Front Office, ext. 301
-
Billing/Finances - Melanie Wright mwright@lakesidechristianschool.org | ext 304
-
Admissions/Records - office@lakesidechristianschool.org
-
Attendance/Front Office - office@lakesidechristianschool.org
| |
Back to School Open Houses | | |
Get back-to-school ready: our grade-level specific open houses will give students and families an opportunity to meet teachers, visit classrooms, learn what to expect, and begin the 2026–27 school year feeling informed and ready to roar.
Please review the times and format for your student’s grade level carefully, as some open houses are come-and-go events while others follow a structured schedule.
| |
Grades 1-12 Open House
Thursday, August 6th
| |
Grades 1–4 Open House
Thursday, August 6 | 2:30–4:30 PM
Students and parents may come and go at any time during this traditional open house. Stop by the classroom, meet your student’s teacher, and get ready for a great year at Lakeside!
Grades 5–8 Open House
Thursday, August 6 | 5:00–6:15 PM
This is a structured open house for parents and students.
Please arrive by 5:00 PM and plan to remain for the entire event. Families will move together through their student’s schedule, visit classrooms, and meet each teacher.
Grades 9–12 Open House
Thursday, August 6 | 6:30–7:45 PM
This is a structured open house for parents and students.
Please arrive by 6:30 PM and plan to remain through 7:45 PM. Families will follow their student’s schedule and have the opportunity to meet each teacher and prepare for the year ahead.
| |
Kindergarten Open House
Friday, August 7th | 8am-12pm
| | |
This special morning is designed to help our newest Lions become comfortable with their teachers, classroom, and daily routines before the first day of school.
Kindergarten students should remain for the full event. Parents are welcome to meet the teachers at drop-off and return at noon, or stay for the morning if they prefer.
NOTE: Please bring your student dressed in their LCS uniform if you have already picked up your uniform polo shirts.
| |
Be a Part of our Online Lion Pack:
Don't miss out on any LCS Lion action
follow us on Facebook and Instagram
| | Student and Parent Handbook | Review important school policies, expectations, attendance guidelines, dress code, and other resources to help your family start the school year with confidence. | | Lakeside Athletics Handbook | Student-athletes and their families can find team expectations, eligibility requirements, game-day policies, and other information for the upcoming sports season. | | |
Each Lakeside parent is responsible to send their student(s) with a lunch.
If students bring lunches that need refrigeration, there are refrigerators available in the lunchroom. Microwaves are also available.
Note:
- Students are not to go to their cars during lunch without permission from the office.
- Students are not to leave campus during lunch.
- Students are not to order food and have it delivered to the front office.
- Parents and Grandparents may join their students for lunch provided they have scheduled the visit with the school office in advance.
- Friends of students who are not enrolled at LCS are not permitted in the building.
| |
Lions' Den Cafe
Snacks for student hunger attacks
Available everyday for purchase in the lunchroom.
| |
DashPass: Your Family’s Carline, Pickup & Attendance Hub
One app. A smoother school day.
| | |
Download & Set Up
Download the free DashPass app to your mobile device, then complete your family set up.
Returning families:
Make sure the app is still on your phone and up to date. Update the app as necessary. Double-check that all approved pickup contacts are current before the first day of school.
New families:
Download DashPass onto your cell phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play
Need Assistance?
Questions about DashPass? Incorrect information on your account?
Our Front Office is happy to help!
office@lakesidechristianschool.org
| |
What is DashPass?
Lakeside uses DashPass to help keep student dismissal safe, efficient, and secure. Every family should download the free DashPass app and complete the setup before the first day of school.
Once you’re connected, you’ll be ready to breeze through afternoon pickup, and you’ll have several helpful tools right at your fingertips.
Two Features Every Parent Should Know
Need someone else to pick up your student?
DashPass lets you securely authorize grandparents, relatives, friends, or other trusted adults to pick up your child. Your authorized driver creates a free DashPass account, downloads the app to their phone, and you approve them through the app before they are able to pick up your student. This provides an added layer of security for every Lakeside family.
📱 Reporting an absence or requesting an early pickup?
Please use the DashPass app whenever possible to notify the school of:
- Student absences
- Early pickup requests
- Pickup changes
Submitting these requests through DashPass helps our office and teachers prepare in advance and keeps communication organized. Early pickup requests can be submitted directly in the app for school approval.
| |
Lion Athletic Programs
Roar as One. Compete with Courage.
Sports programs for K-12 grade students
| | |
Whether your child is new to sports or a returning athlete, we’re excited to welcome all our students to another great year of Lions athletics!
At Lakeside, our athletic program helps students grow in character, teamwork, and faith as they develop skills and pursue excellence on and off the field.
Athletics Contacts
| |
Sign up for co-ed soccer by August 31. | |
Elementary Sports (K-5th grade)
Our elementary athletics program is designed to introduce students to a variety of sports, teach fundamental skills, encourage teamwork and sportsmanship, and most importantly, have fun!
First up: Co-Ed Soccer
🗓 September 12–October 17
Practices during PE, no after-school practices required.
3 teams: Kindergarten, 1st–2nd, 3rd–5th
📍 Saturday morning games at Northside Christian School
7777 62nd Ave N
St. Petersburg, FL 33709
| | | |
Upper School Sports
(6th - 12th grade)
This season, we’re offering:
- Volleyball
- Football
- Cross Country
- Cheer
- Marksmanship
Athletic Forms Required
To participate, all athletes must submit the following forms (use the following form links):
| | |
Please turn in completed forms to the athletic office as soon as possible so your student is ready to hit the field or court!
| | | |
NEW This Fall: Marksmanship
for 9-12 grade students
Coach: Mr. Dan Accola
daccola@lakesidechristianschool.org
| |
Lion Sports Physical and EKG Day
Friday, August 24
6-12 grade Lion student athletes only
10am to 4pm in the Lakeside gym
| | | |
Sports Physicals $20, just show up on July 24th
EKG screening $20, register using the link below
| |
🏆 Local Businesses:
Become a Lakeside Athletics Sponsor
| | |
Support student-athletes and promote your business all year long!
Banner Sponsorship = Local Impact + Big Visibility
Your 3' x 5' custom banner will be displayed on our Clearwater campus for the entire school year, seen by hundreds of students, families, and community members at school and church events.
Why Sponsor?
- Promote your business to an engaged local audience
- Support Lion athletic programs and 10+ sports for students in grades K–12
Questions? Reach out to James Coffman, Athletic Director: jcoffman@lakesidechristianschool.org
Ready to support Lakeside Athletics?
| | Lakeside Lion Online Store | | Back to School Flash Sale | | 20% Off | July 21-23 | Use Code HURRY20 | |
We Can’t Wait to Welcome You Back!
Thank you for taking the time to prepare for the upcoming school year with us. We know there’s a lot to check off your back-to-school list, and we’re grateful for your partnership as we get ready to welcome our Lions back to campus.
At Lakeside Christian School, we’re excited to begin another year of growing together in faith, character, and purpose while equipping students to impact the world for Christ.
If you have any questions before school begins, please don’t hesitate to reach out, we’re here to help.
Have a wonderful rest of your summer, and we’ll see you soon. Go Lions!
| |
HOME OF THE LIONS
Faith. Character. Purpose.
Equipping students to impact the world for Christ since 1975.
1897 Sunset Point Road, Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 461-3311 | lakesidechristianschool.org
| | | Know someone else who could use this info? Share it! |
🗳️ Just for Fun!
Take our quick poll before you go:
| | How ready are you for back-to-school season? | | |
| | | |
