Lavallette School Home

February 2023

 

Greetings Lavallette School Community!

 

Recently, we’ve seen the devastating effects of bullying and social media misuse in a neighboring Ocean County district. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) can take place in many different ways, such as in-person, through social media, text messages, and email. Victims of bullying are more likely to have anxiety and depression, and their academic, social, and emotional lives can be significantly impacted. Our staff is trained annually on prevention and response to acts of HIB.  Our daily Move This World classroom activities are focused on building community and teaching empathy, tolerance, and kindness.  Our school counselor provides bi-weekly classroom lessons focused on social emotional wellness, and our new 5th and 6th grade curricular resource, Converlation, focuses on digital responsibility and accountability. Parents of 5th and 6th grade students will receive a copy of the monthly lesson their child participated in and an optional family activity that can be used at home. If you believe your child is the target of bullying, please contact your child’s teacher or our Anti-Bullying Specialist, Mrs. Susan Misdom. Her contact info is [email protected]

 

Thank you to everyone who attended this month’s Parent University on digital safety and social media responsibility, presented by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.  Student assemblies were also held the same day. The film Screenagers, which was shown during the family event, will also be shown to 4th-8th grade students during their guidance lessons this month.

 

At the February Board of Education meeting, our new 5-year strategic plan was approved. The four goal areas of the plan include Student Excellence, Communications, Finance and Facilities, and Community Engagement.  This is an exciting time for growth and change in our school community with a student-centered focus on developing an outstanding learning environment that meets the unique needs of all students, while leveraging the support, talent, and resources of our parents, families, and extended school community members! There are numerous committees that will be developed as a result of the strategic plan, so if you are interested in getting involved, please contact the main office.

International Day of Kindness - Video Highlight
During this year’s International Day of Kindness in November, Lavallette Elementary School participated in a dance flash mob.  We received the final video back from the organizers and it is attached HERE for you. I think you’ll enjoy it!

 

Spring is just around the corner which means baseball and softball season will be starting soon.  Due to low participation in boys baseball, we will open the team up to interested 5th grade students to ensure we have a sufficient number of student athletes for the season. Let’s Go, Pirates!

 

Lavallette School is planning to once again offer a FREE five-week summer program this year beginning July 5th. Last year’s program was a big success and students reported they had great fun in this project-based 
learning environment. The program is tentatively scheduled to run Mondays through Thursdays from 8:30 AM-12:30 PM, and will have an engaging STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) focus with a balanced social-emotional learning component.  Parents may send their child(ren) for all weeks, or select only certain weeks. The program is being funded through federal ARP ESSER dollars.

 

Congratulations to all of our students who participated in the school spelling bee this week, and a big round of applause to 8th grade student Landon Hoberman on his winning round. He will advance to the regional Scripps spelling bee in March. Good luck, Landon!

 

Our talented student actors/performers and stage crew are very excited to present this year’s spring musical, Annie Jr., on March 8th and 9th. Performances begin at 6:00 P.M. I hope to see you there!

 

At the January meeting, the Lavallette Board of Education modified the entrance age for preschool enrollment to include students who attain the age of 3 years old by December 1st, rather than October 1st.   Registration opens for current students and children of staff members on February 24th. Open enrollment for new students begins March 3rd.  If you or someone you know is interested in our preschool program, please have them contact the main office at their earliest convenience as there is limited availability.

More information will be coming soon regarding a week-long summer preschool camp this July.

 

(adapted from Parent Institute, April 2023)

 

When students miss just one day a week of school, they’ll have missed more than two and a half years of class time before graduation! Even missing one day a month quickly adds up. Frequent absences result in lost learning time, as well as class discussions and demonstrations in critical subjects like math and reading. Here are three things you can do to help your child get to school on time: 

· Prep the night before. Teach your child to pack a lunch, lay out clothing and leave items needed for school by the door in the evenings. Being prepared will help your child be ready to leave on time. 

· Enforce a sensible bedtime. Children who get good, consistent sleep are frequently healthier and show up ready to learn. Occasionally staying up late to finish an assignment isn’t a crisis, but it shouldn’t become a habit. 

· Stick to a morning routine. Have your child wake up at the same time each day, so there is enough time to get ready without rushing.

· Plan family vacations around school breaks.

A Parent University on the impact of attendance on students’ academic success will be coming this spring - Attendance Works!  More information will be forthcoming.

 

We have so many wonderful things happening here at Lavallette Elementary School and our staff is committed to highlighting all of these exciting learning activities and school community events. We invite you to follow Lavallette school on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.        

 

Thank you to each and every one of our parents for your ongoing support and partnership in your child’s education at Lavallette Elementary School!

 

Sincerely,

 

Dr. Lisa J. Gleason

Superintendent/Principal

#lavapride