Lakeville Elementary School

Lakeville Elementary School (commonly Lakeville School) is an American elementary school that was named a 2009 Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, the US Department of Education's highest award.^[5] It is located in The Village of Lake Success (within the Town of Great Neck),^[6] serving students in grades 1 through 5 as well as kindergarten.^[7] Kindergarten classes are held at the Parkville School, which is located in the nearby town of New Hyde Park.^[8]

Lakeville School is one of four elementary schools in the Great Neck School District, which includes Saddle Rock Elementary School, John F. Kennedy Elementary School and E.M. Baker Elementary School.^[9] Lakeville School offers its 856 students English Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Special Area Programs, Intervention Programs, Enrichment Courses, Homework Center, Tutoring, and Paraprofessionals.

Academics

English Language Arts

Language arts—reading, writing, listening, and speaking for information, understanding, literary response, critical analysis, and social interaction---are central to the total elementary curriculum.^[10]

In the primary grades (first through second), the focus is on developing literacy skills integrated with the study of social studies, science, mathematics, and technology.^[10]

Language arts are also stressed in the intermediate grades (third through fifth).^[10] Reading becomes more refined and writing is integrated into all curriculum areas through the use of expository essays, research reports, literature responses, journals, and logs.^[10]

Mathematics

Interdisciplinary applications in mathematics include the use of children's literature, written communication to express mathematical thinking and problem solving, and appropriate computer software.^[10] Children learn how to interpret graphs and charts, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions.^[10]

Social Studies

The social studies curriculum includes geography, history, map studies, economics, civics, citizenship, and government.^[10] It begins in the primary grades with themes that concentrate on the family, school, and community, and expands in the intermediate grades to include Long Island, New York State, the United States, and selected world communities, all of which are explored culturally, politically, geographically, and historically.^[10]

Special Area Programs

Specialists work with children and classroom teachers to enhance and enrich the elementary program in science, reading, gifted, computer, art, music, physical education, technology, and library/media.^[10]

Science Consultants work directly with students in a laboratory setting to provide scheduled "hands-on" science experiences, focusing on the development of inquiry and problem-solving skills.^[10] The classroom teachers reinforce and expand knowledge of this content area in their ongoing programs.^[10]

Reading Resource Teachers work with students, classroom teachers, and administrators to help ensure each child's progress in reading.^[10]

Teachers of the Gifted work with third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade children whose needs cannot be entirely met in the regular classroom.^[10] Special projects and advanced studies, as well as independent research, are developed to meet these children's needs and interests.^[10] In addition, teachers of the gifted serve as consultants and provide additional resources to the classroom teachers in grades K-5.^[10]

Computer Teachers implement a sequential curriculum in computer skills and technology applications for students in grades K-5.^[10] Staff developers provide classroom teachers with training to support the integration of technology with classroom instruction.^[10] Lakeville School is equipped with a Computer Instructional Center and either an additional lab or a wireless laptop cart for whole-class computer activities.^[10] In addition, to enhance and support instruction in all subject areas, grades 1-5 classrooms are equipped with four computers and laptop; kindergarten classrooms have three computers.^[10]

Art, Music, Physical Education, and Technology Specialists support the elementary program and expand the children's horizons for lifelong learning.^[10] They work with all classes, beginning in kindergarten.^[10] A spiraling curriculum in each of these areas addresses skills, creative expression, and aesthetic appreciation.^[10]

Library/Media Specialists teach elementary children to become effective users of information.^[10] They encourage the cultivation of literature apprection, and support and enrich the educational program.^[10] Children are taught research skills and learn to access information from a variety of print and technology sources, such as reference CDs and multimedia encyclopedias.^[10] The library/media specialists meet with classroom teachers to plan mutually supportive activities and projects.^[10]

Intervention Programs

A team of teachers provides intervention services for children with special needs, working with them individually and in small groups.^[10] There is close articulation between the teachers who provide academic intervention and the classroom teachers.^[10]

Speech Teachers work with small groups of identified children to develop their oral communication skills.^[10]

Math Lab Teachers provide additional support for children having difficulty with computation or problem-solving, to help ensure their success in the classroom.^[10]

Reading Teachers meet with small groups of children in grades 1-5, to reinforce the development of their reading and writing skills.^[10] This supplements the reading program provided in the classroom.^[10]

Reading Recovery Teachers meet with individual, at-risk first-graders, five times a week, for approximately 20 weeks, to provide intensive early intervention.^[10] Children are taught strategies for decoding and comprehension, as well as techniques for becoming independent readers.^[10]

ESL (English as a Second Language) Teachers work with children of limited English proficiency to develop their language skills.^[10] These teachers also serve as consultants to the classroom teachers.^[10]

Enrichment Courses

Classroom and special-area teachers offer enrichment courses before and after school for children who elect additional studies and challenges.^[10] Areas covered include advanced computer programming, drama, foreign language, language development, literature, and math and science investigation.^[10]

Homework Center

Homework Center provide an after-school program for children in the intermediate grades.^[10] Certified teachers, teacher assistants, and volunteers assist students with homework or special projects assigned by their classroom teachers.^[10]

Tutoring

Small-group tutoring is also provided before and after school for students in the intermediate grades who are at risk with regard to the New York State Assessments in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.^[10]

Paraprofessionals

Teaching Assistants (instructional paraprofessionals) help in the library, computer, and instructional programs.^[10]

Non-instructional Paraprofessionals provide supervision and ensure the welfare and safety of children before school and during their lunch and recess periods.^[10]

Special education

Lakeville School is a comprehensive elementary school. Therefore, it is required to meet the needs of students who are at-risk of failing academically. These programs listed below are designed for them. Some students who are at-risk may be asked to leave Lakeville School to attend a special education school, special class operated by another school district or other in-district special education program.^[11] Parents are urged to look at these programs to determine if these are in the best interest of their child. If Lakeville School fails in providing the best interest for the child, parents are urged to use their "due process procedures" to challenge the school for not providing a "Free Appropriate Public Education" that is guaranteed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).^[12]

• Resource Room^[11]
• Special class^[11]
• Aide
• BRIDGE class --- Building Relationships in Daily General Education. Some of these students are "on the spectrum," the autism spectrum.^[13] For these students there is a special education teacher a part of the day and then these students are integrated into the general classes for half a day.^[13] This program is served at E.M. Baker Elementary School.^[13]
• ACE class, Academic Career Education, where students are taught academics through functional skills.^[13] This program is served at John F. Kennedy Elementary School.^[13]
• Intensive needs class, with children on the autism spectrum, currently for first grade through third grade.^[13] This class includes one-on-one teaching assistants and there is a heavy emphasis on speech.^[13] This program is served at Saddle Rock Elementary School.^[13]

The Lakeville Elementary School has 103 classified students, with consultant teacher, collaborative support, resource room and special classes.^[13] The Parkville Kindergarten Program (actually Lakeville's kindergarten population) has 18 classified children, and offers collaborative support and special classes.^[13]

Demographics

The student body in the 2007-2008 school year consisted of:^[14]

• 19 Black or African American students or 2% of the student body
• 51 Hispanic or Latino students or 6% of the student body
• 296 Asian or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander students or 35% of the student body
• 490 White students or 57% of the student body

Tributes

• In 2006, Lakeville alumnus, Seth Swirsky (1966–72) made a short film entitled, "Elementary School Revisited," about Lakeville.^[15]

Yearly Activities

• Lakeville holds a 'Cultural Heritage Celebration', also referred to as Cultural Heritage Day, where students from different backgrounds bring in cultural food and dress to help expose students to different cultures.^[16]

References

Coordinates: 40°46′23″N 73°43′34″W / 40.773099°N 73.726097°W / 40.773099; -73.726097