LMA March Newsletter
March 2023
“Each of us is carving a stone, erecting a column, or cutting a piece of stained glass in the construction of something much bigger than ourselves.” -Adrienne Clarkson
Supervisor's Message
Greetings,
The month of March has been filled with wonderful themes and activities here at Lamberts Mill Academy! The month of March has been dedicated to Women's History and Empowerment, in which students have been actively engaged in assignments and projects in academic classes, and therapeutic groups. In addition to focusing on Women's History and Empowerment; the LMA school community spent time focusing on SEL themed activities and discussions in honor of SEL Day this month. Finally, the month of March included Pi Day 3/14; and the successful completion of the state test, NJGPA, for our 11th grade students. Some of these different activities and events will be showcased below.
As LMA completes the month of March back at our home facility (1571 Lamberts Mill Road), and all staff and students are becoming more settled into the building, I am looking towards warmer Spring weather to begin the 'rebuild' of the LMA garden. The LMA garden was established in 2016 with the collaboration of students and staff to give an outdoor space for students to work 'hands on'. My mission statement as an educator has always been, "How can we use the skills learned in the classroom in the real world?" I've held this mission statement true from my first day of teaching; and it's a valuable essential question I ask my students regularly. Teaching and guiding my students in the past to help apply mathematical skills learned in the classroom to creating, and expanding in the LMA garden is a proud accomplishment I will always have. Tropical storm Ida didn't spare the LMA garden after producing water damage to our building. Even though the LMA garden sustained heavy damage; the skills and lessons learned from my students still remain strong.
As the Supervisor of Instruction it's my priority to lead teaching staff with more hands on activities and lessons to not only rebuild what was lost from the storm, but to expand and improve upon the LMA garden, continuing to provide learning experiences and a tranquil place for students to spend time at the 1571 campus.
John Lopreiato
Supervisor of Instruction
Upcoming Events
April 7 - 14 - Spring Recess
April 19 - DVR Student Assembly @ LMA Main Campus
April 19 - 2023 Arbor Day Tree Planting Program @ Oak Ridge Park, Clark, NJ
April 21 - LMA Earth Day, Garden Clean Up
April 26 - Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation THINKFAST School Assembly @ LMA Main Campus
LMA Student of the Month - March 2023
Shai Allen
Lamberts Mill Academy is proud to announce our March student of the month, Shai Allen. Shai has been attending LMA since November 2021, and is currently on the path to graduating with us in June. She has made tremendous progress and growth both with her academic studies, and therapeutic goals. Every month LMA staff meet to discuss the student that they feel has made the most progress and growth during the month, and Shai received a majority of the votes. LMA is proud of Shai's accomplishments, and how far she has come since starting with us!
Staff Spotlight - Ms Barbara Fort-Hollstein
2022-2023 UCESC Teacher of the Year (Lamberts Mill Academy/New Point) recipient
I've had an amazing opportunity to start up with New Point Residential over 17 years ago.
I have enjoyed meeting wonderful and talented people with UCESC.
Traveling the world is and has been my passion.
For the first time in 12 years I have my daughter Chelsea state side, which is such an extreme pleasure.
Without laughter I never would have made it this long on the NP unit 🙂
Classroom Spotlights
Students Learn about Pi day on 3/14 in Math Class
All students at LMA learned about Pi day on March 14, 2023. Students we're exposed to the history behind Pi day, the significance of the number, and how it relates to real world mathematics. In recognition of Pi, students created creative posters to display throughout the hallways of LMA. Gaining exposure on the ratio of a circle's circumference to it's diameter; along with it's Greek origins are just some of the many things discussed about in math class; while enjoying a piece of a pie!
SEL Day is celebrated with the Zones of Regulation
March 10, 2023 marked the 4th annual SEL day celebrated around the globe. LMA being a therapeutic high school with the UCESC educated students on the importance of SEL for the entire week leading up to March 10. Social Emotional Learning is an essential skill all LMA students are taught through their daily group sessions, and countless individual sessions. For SEL day, students were taught the Zones of Regulation, and discussed how they act and feel in the different zones. Students demonstrated their knowledge of the Zones of Regulation by viewing popular film clips, describing the different zones they watched it, and justifying it in an appropriate discussion. To top of SEL day, students read motivational quotes throughout the day on the school's overhead speaker.
Mr. Bell's Postgraduate students begin working with Maschio's
Month at School
OT Therapist Ms Trellis provides LMA student Emili with unique 1:1 sessions.
PG student Blake joins Maschio's preparing meals for the day.
Students who received High Honors on their Report Card receive a special breakfast coordinated by Mrs. McMahon
Women's History Month & Empowerment
Mr. Peter's Classes Integrate Women's History into Sports
Mr. Peter's spent time learning about the History of sports, and how the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League was created through discussions, and the video, "A League of Their Own". Students participated in meaningful discussions about how far women have come from the past in the world of professional, organized sports. Students also had important lessons on how there are still differences in professional sports among male and female athletes regarding pay differences presently, and what they hope for the future.
Life Skills Embrace Women's History Month
For the month of March each Life Skills group decided to learn about, and honor Women's History Month differently. Ms Ruchaevsky's group decided to acknowledge all the female staff members working at LMA with positive trait acknowledgements displayed throughout the building. Mr. Leal's group took a page out of Mr. Peter's book and focus on women in sports. This group will learn about, create posters and present about influential women in professional sports. Students working Mrs. Thomas's group will re-create a decorative door, this time using influential women as their inspiration. Finally, Ms. Charlette's group decided to pick and research their own influential women and create informative PowerPoint presentations to share with each other.
Boxing Great Gerry Cooney Empowers LMA
Ms Finver, LMA's ELA teacher, has spent weeks coordinating with Boxing Legend Gerry Cooney to visit the students of LMA, and on March 8 that became a realty. Students and staff had the pleasure to listen to Gerry Cooney's 'real advice' on his accomplishments and failures in his personal life. Gerry Cooney made it his priority to empower all the students of LMA by sharing his personal, and relatable stories to students. Mr. Cooney finished with a 1-2 combo; empowering all students to utilize resources available to them, answering questions from students about his personal life and providing meaningful feedback and guidance. Mr. Cooney reassured the LMA student population that all the staff working here are 'in their corner' and to utilize the staff to help them set and achieve their goals in life.
School in the Community
Mr. Bell and our Post Graduate students have started to work with Mashcio's food service.
LMA students who earned High Honors for 2nd marking period grades received an exclusive breakfast banquet.
Assemblies - Community Meetings spotlighting student of the month (LMA overall) as well as student of the month in each classroom, and the growth they have made academically.
LMA Students Outside of the Classroom
Gabe helps out in his local Church community
Gabe is a student who has been attending LMA for years, and is presently enrolled in the Post Graduate program at LMA. In addition to attending classes at LMA, Gabe is an integrated member of his local Church community in Roselle. As a member of his Church community he helps assist with the local Pastor, and Church staff members with community events throughout the year. Some responsibilities Gabe help out his Church community include creating and running different social peer groups and team building groups.
UCESC Feedback Survey Reminder
Thank you in advance!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScdBdrvjEV5Dmat0XfEV_BYM3FPWmGSoftE9BL3cDNklhRoQQ/viewform
About Us
Contact Information:
Phone: (908)-233-7581
Address: 1571 Lamberts Mill Road, Westfield, NJ, 07090
Website: https://ucesc.org/schools/lamberts_mill_academy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucesc_lma/?hl=en
Lamberts Mill Academy is a school within the Union County Educational Services Commission. We are an out of district public school for students with psychiatric disabilities. We continue to partner with RWJ Trinitas Regional Medical Center to provide clinical services for our students. Our school community prides itself on our relationships with all stakeholders: students, staff, parents, families and community partnerships. Being a public school, we adhere to all NJDOE assessment and curriculum mandates. Our professional learning community strives to increase student achievement and improve classroom instruction to provide students with the most effective educational, social and emotional learning environment possible.