“Thanksgiving reminds us to pause, reflect, and celebrate the small acts of kindness that make our school a family.”
Greetings Lavallette School Community,
As we approach this special time of year, I am reminded of the many ways our school community comes together to support, inspire, and care for one another. The holiday season is not only a time for celebration, but also a time for reflection - reflecting on the kindness we share, the friendships we nurture, and the growth we celebrate in our students every day.
I am grateful for our dedicated staff, enthusiastic students, and supportive families who make our school such a vibrant, welcoming place. May this holiday season bring warmth, joy, and meaningful moments with those you hold dear. Together, let’s carry the spirit of generosity and community into the new year ahead.
Wishing everyone a happy, safe, and grateful holiday season!
“Many Cultures, One Community” - A Big Success!
This month, Lavallette Elementary School hosted a very successful Family Education Night: “Many Cultures, One Community,” where we celebrated the diverse backgrounds, traditions, and experiences that make our school community so unique.
We had 14 tables with our families sharing their culture through food, customs, crafts, music, dance, or other meaningful traditions that reflect who they are and where they come from, including Bulgaria, Ireland, Scotland, China, Ukraine, Italy, Greece, and I was lucky enough to have a table representing the Philippines, my father’s home country. Students had passports stamped at each of the tables and learned something about their fellow classmates and their cultural backgrounds. We look forward to hosting this event annually and are deeply grateful to the families who participated!
Join Us for Our New Community Book Club at Lavallette Elementary School - “The Anxious Generation” - Get Your FREE Book!
Don’t miss out! Space is filling up! Lavallette Elementary School is excited to host a 10-week community book club beginning on December 2nd from 6:30-7:30 PM. The book club will be a hybrid of in-person and virtual sessions and all participants will receive a free copy of the book, The Anxious Generation. Guest speakers will lead several sessions, including Jonathan Barresi, a former Parent University speaker and school administrator who works with parents in using the framework in the book, as well as Dr. Susan Polkowski, licensed psychologist and Director of Counseling Services at Georgian Court University. Bring a friend or another interested family member!
Montessori Preschool Openings for 2026-27 School Year
Our Montessori Preschool continues to be at maximum enrollment this year, with a waiting list of students prepared to enroll for the 2026-27 school year. If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling for the 2026-27 school year, now is the time to contact the main office and be placed on the pending registration list.
A new study, recently released by the University of Virginia, found that students graduating from a Montessori preschool program found stronger outcomes by the end of kindergarten in reading ability, executive functioning, short term memory, and social understanding. Please contact the main office if you would like more information about our preschool program.
Lend Your Voice - Join the “Portrait of A Graduate” Committee!
We need you! Your creativity, imagination, and investment in our students is needed as we embark upon the process of Portrait of a Graduate. This process engages all stakeholders in the school community in developing a comprehensive picture of the 21st century skills that our district believes students should embody and exemplify by 8th grade graduation. Committee sign-ups begin December 1st!
Strengthen Your Child’s Math Skills With Simple Daily Tasks
Most adults read and do math every day - although their children may not realize it. Demonstrate how math is an essential part of life by involving your child when you:
● Follow recipes - when preparing meals, let your child help with weighing and measuring. Discuss sizes, shapes and fractions. Ask questions such as, “How could we double this recipe?” and “When we add ¼ cup to ¼ cup, what do we get?”
● Go shopping - help your child use a calculator to keep a running tally of purchases. Use coupons to inspire math problems. “If we use this coupon, will the item cost less than other brands?” “Which of these items is really the best deal per pound?”
● Save money - ask your child to choose a goal, such as saving for a toy. How much does your child need to save each week? How long will it take to reach the total? Track progress on a chart. Then, have fun shopping together!
● Take a trip - before leaving, measure the air pressure in your car or bike tires. Calculate how many miles you’ll go. If you are driving, how much gas will you use? As you travel, say a number between 1 and 10. Who can find a license plate with numbers that add up to the number you called out?
● Start a family project - planning to paint a bedroom? Involve your child in figuring out how much paint you will need to do the job.
● Play games - There are lots of fun math games you can play together. Try dominoes, Uno and Connect 4.
Remind Your Child That There Is No Such Thing As Online Privacy
Social media platforms are increasingly popular among middle school students, who use them to share their thoughts, photos and videos. While these platforms offer ways for children to connect and express themselves, experts caution families about potential downsides. Adolescents are prone to risk taking and often have low impulse control. This makes it crucial for parents to be aware of what their child is seeing and posting online. To help your child make smart choices on social media:
● Discuss how nothing posted online can ever be completely removed. Once your child posts something, readers or viewers can easily take a screenshot or download the content - that content can then be re-shared countless times.
● Find out who can view your child’s social media. Make sure accounts are private and only visible to people your child actually knows and trusts.
● Apply values to online behavior. If your child wouldn’t do or say something in real life, it’s not OK to do or say it online.
● Stress safety above all. Students should never post information that would allow someone to locate them in real life, or arrange to meet anyone they met online without you present.
Source: V.L. Dunckley, M.D., “Why Social Media is Not Smart for Middle School Kids,” Psychology Today
Lavallette School’s Social Media and Communication Platforms
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 download the Lavallette School mobile app, visit our website at www.lavallettek12.org, and follow Lavallette School on our social media platforms.
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
Leadership Achievement Values Aspirations
#LAVAproud