Second grade students at Lakeview participated in numerous social studies lessons about their family history, their ancestors, and their ancestral countries over the last several months. Students were able to make deep connections to their family units and find out historical events from their family's past. Recently, students participated in an Ellis Island simulation during two days in school in which they were able to experience what it was like to pass through the gates of America. Students played the parts of immigrants traveling to America (They even pretended to take a ship!) and had to pass through stations in which inspectors (other students dressed up) checked their eyesight, cognitive ability, overall health, math ability, and took their citizenship exam. To culminate the unit of ancestors and immigration, the second grade classes went on an amazing field trip to Ellis Island. It was there that all of their lessons learned, the knowledge they gained, and the simulated experience were able to come to life!

The A. R. Spinola PTA and Lakeview parents kicked off Teacher Appreciation Week with a delicious breakfast on Monday, May 6th. As the teachers arrived to school on Monday morning, a sign "We Love Our Staff" lined the driveway. Special thanks also, to Mr. Forte and Dr. Cullis for the delicious bagels and berries that brightened our Tuesday morning. On Wednesday, an ice cream truck courtesy of our PTA arrived to provide an ice cream treat for all of the staff. We look forward to the special surprises that will be arriving every Wednesday through the month of May courtesy of our PTA. The Lakeview faculty wishes to thank everyone for their generosity, time, and out pouring of such incredible support and recognition. There are no words to thank you for your expression of appreciation.

On Wednesday, May 8th, Dr. Frank Sileo visited with all of Lakeview School's students and staff to share the importance of mindfulness. Dr. Sileo, a psychologist and author from Ridgewood, spent the morning reading his book, A World of Pausabilities, speaking to the students about being more aware of everything around them, and having them practice mindfulness through meditation and yoga. In the afternoon, mindfulness was still the topic of discussion with the staff. He discussed strategies to implement mindfulness in the classrooms (and our lives) that could help create more clarity when our heads might fill with other distracting thoughts. Thank you to the A. R. Spinola PTA for allowing Dr. Sileo to teach us more about being mindful!

If you didn't get a chance to visit the Rockaway Mall to see our Mall Pride display, please take a look at what the Lakeview Lions have been working on. A special thanks to the amazing Lakeview staff who took time to set it up... Mrs. Sommer, Mrs. Tran, Mrs. Cusack (and Jason), Deb Glowacki, Anna Hoferer, and Arianna.

Our Kindergarten class celebrated Mother's Day in style with an invitation to the special women in their lives to visit them at school. The moms were treated to a show starring their children singing and reciting poems to entertain and share their love for them. It was a wonderful celebration!