LMA April Newsletter
April 2023
""One touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
William Shakespeare
Principal's Message
As the Principal of Lamberts Mill Academy, I would like to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate our LMA students for leading for Professional Learning Community LMA school video! Students Jahzara Dillard and Shai Allen are taking the lead interviewing students and staff, and most importantly showcasing individual student Superpowers! A special thank you to LMA/RWJ Clinician Ms. Jasmine Thomas and LMA classroom teacher, Ms. Chana Finver for meeting with Mr. Leibfried and the LMA students creating this video! I look forward to the overall UCESC PLC video presentation at the next Board of Education meeting.
LMA students were provided with a training from the DVR organization. The presenter Ms Samia Haridi, informed the students and staff of the incredible benefits that can be obtained by simply applying for the program. Students and families are entitled to college tuition assistance, transportation discounts and the ability to obtain real life work experience guidance and expertise through the DVR. The presenter was outstanding and our students were completely engaged and interested in learning more about the variety of programs offered.
Upcoming Events
May is dedicated as Mental Health Awareness month; events and activities at LMA all month.
May 1-5 - LMA NJSLA Testing (Grades 7, 8, 9 & 11)
May 12 - LMA Open House Tour 12-2
May 29 - Memorial Day Observed - No School
LMA Student of the Month - April 2023
Steven Abreu
Lamberts Mill Academy is proud to announce our April student of the month, Steven Abreu. He started with LMA this past September starting off at our New Point campus learning with both Ms. Fort-Hollstein and Mrs. Fay on a daily basis. Steven made significant progress and growth at New Point, and quickly transitioned to LMA Main campus this past January. Ever since starting with us at the LMA Main campus Steven has been incredibly focused on improving himself to be successful for after he graduated in June. Steven has been an active participant in all his academic classes; and often goes above and beyond for his artistic abilities in his therapeutic group projects. We at LMA are proud of his progress and growth since September, and are proud to name him our Student of the Month for April!
Staff Spotlight - Mr. Jimmy Bromell
Mr. Jimmy Bromell - LMA School Safety & Security Monitor
1. Has served as School Safety & Security Monitor at LMA for the past 20 years.
2. Is an avid fisherman, with a wealth of experience in both fresh and salt water.
3. Works security at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ in the evening and weekends.
4. Harley Davidson motorcycle enthusiast
5. Has multiple reputations at LMA of being the Gentle Giant and The Wise Man in the Hall, as Mr. Bromell not only cares about the safety of the school, but of the well being of all the students at LMA often times providing calm, therapeutic advice to our students.
Classroom Spotlights
Mrs. Van Clief's class podcast
Select students in Mrs. Van Clief's History classes have been learning about, and creating their own podcasts. These students have plans to submit their final podcasts to the NPR Student Podcast Challenge. Students have been creating podcasts with interviews from one another on different current events occurring at the state, national and global level. Students are talking about the events in depth, and how it makes them feel with their own thoughts on these topics.
Ms. Bartone's Speech Therapy classroom
Ms. Bartone has been a welcome addition to LMA starting this past September. LMA has been fortunate to have Ms. Bartone to work with both LMA Main campus and New Point Campus for two full days per week. Students receive speech in individual or small group settings, and in few cases both. This setting allows students to grow toward achieving their individualized goals. During speech sessions at the high school level, students work on skills that will help them be more successful in their futures including expressive, receptive, and pragmatic language. Some specific goals that are commonly worked on include social language skills with different audiences including peers, teachers, and future employers, how to navigate figurative language and sarcasm, executive functioning skills including planning and organizing information, and more! Some students also practice using their most clear and presentable verbal speech for their day to day life, but we also stress this importance as they grow into adults. We are fortunate to have Ms. Bartone on our staff as such a talented, and experienced speech language pathologist at LMA.
Month at School
Arbor Day at LMA
On Wednesday, April 19th, three students went to Oak Ridge Park and learned how to properly plant a tree in preparation for Arbor Day. This trip also fell on the same week as Earth Day, so the timing was ideal for the students since trees provide many benefits to our environment. A representative of the park, Mr. Jim, provided the students with the proper tools, and instructed them with how to use each one to plant a Redbud tree. Each student participated in the process and felt accomplished to leave behind something they worked on so hard together. Thank you to Oak Ridge Park for your tree contribution to Lamberts Mill Academy, it was an educational experience for each student to take with them and perhaps become better guardians of our planet.
Blake's Monthly Experience working at Maschio's.
Recently, I started working in the school kitchen on every Tuesday of the week as part of my Work Based Education program. It has been a very inspiring and wonderful experience. Ms. Swisher, my WBE supervisor and Ms. Lauren, the cafeteria manager/cook, are extremely helpful and kind. They have been very good at answering any questions I might have. I also get to practice the food rules that I have learned as I study Servesafe for my Food Handler’s certificate.
Some of the jobs that I do are pouring sauces into small containers/small cups. The last time I worked in the kitchen I helped the lunch ladies fill up small cups of salsa.
In total I think I cupped at least 60 cups, because there were a lot of students in school that day, and because a lot of the students love salsa with the meal that we were having.
I also volunteered for some extra work on Monday to provide the kitchen additional help. I volunteered because it seemed like Monday is one of the busiest days of the week. I enjoy helping and of course learning new cooking and work skills. They include safety, speed, quality, patience, and flexibility.
Doing all this work is hard at times but I know it’s all worth it in the end or long run.
Sincerely Blake Debenham
Life Skills group celebrate Autism Awarness
Mrs. Thomas and her Life Skills group decided to not only discuss Autism Awareness, but to create a school wide bulletin board in the hallway. The group decided to highlight interesting facts about Autism Awareness for all students and staff to see throughout the day.
Responsibility / Self-Care (Autism Awareness)
DVR Educational School Assembly
Student and staff at LMA main campus had guest speaker, Ms Samia Haridi, a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in Elizabeth visit LMA for the morning. Ms Haridi was kind enough to dedicate time in her schedule to education students and staff on the benefits of DVR for students transitioning out of high school, and how younger students can benefit from Pre-ETS services. Students and staff responded well with great questions and discussions. Ms Haridi did inform LMA that she will be assigned to LMA, so will continue to service LMA in any capacity that she can. We look forward to have Ms Haridi back at LMA in the future; and for students to begin the formal referral and intake process.
New Point Campus visits NYCSG for Yoga
Autism Awareness
At the start of the month while reviewing Autism Awareness month in Life Skills groups, select students decided to participate in their own activity. These students decided to give up their lunch period with the school population, and appropriately asked staff to watch the television show, The Good Doctor, in a classroom during their lunch period. Not only did students watch surgeon Doctor Murphy, but had meaningful discussions and conversations about individuals who are Autistic appropriately functioning in society, along with their everyday challenges. This was a great opportunity for students to participate appropriately, and talk amongst each other about the content they we're watching and observing.
School in the Community
Mr. Bell and our Post Graduate students continue to work with Mashcio's food service on a consistent basis.
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
LMA Alumni - Hailey Perez (Class of 2020)
Hailey began her educational career at LMA in February 2018, halfway through her Sophomore year. While it took Hailey time to get to know the LMA staff, students and expectations; she quickly became hard to forget! Hailey always expressed herself best through her art and photography; and often times looked to incorporate it into her academics. By her Senior year she became a natural LMA leader, and one that many students looked up to.
Although she had an unconventional graduation, virtual like all other Seniors around the world, she quickly joined the work force after graduation. Working various different retail stores, she was able to apply the skills learned at LMA into the real world. After working multiple stores, Hailey decided to commit to the next step of her life, and enrolled in Cosmetology school. She has recently graduated from Cosmetology school, and is looking forward to the next chapter of her life. While in Cosmetology school she is still currently employed at the British Swim School where she can still help younger individuals, and continue to be a community role model.
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.