LMA May Newsletter
Supervisor's Message
May is Mental Health Awareness month, but we should take care of our Mental Health every month.
Greetings,
I hope this Newsletter finds you well! As the LMA Supervisor of Instruction, I am truly proud of all the activities, events, lessons and counselling session that have Mental Health Awareness month infused into them! I would like to thank all the staff members at LMA who have made this possible. While you read this newsletter you will see all the wonderful activities that have taken place at LMA, along with all the awards LMA students have received!
Personally, I have a very soft spot for Mental Health as I've dedicated my entire professional career working in the Mental Health field. Prior to entering the world of education, I am humbled to have the opportunity to work as a Mental Health Counselor on an adult inpatient unit, and a Residence Counselor in an Adolescent Residence for 4 years after completing my college degree. Working in these settings gave me learning opportunities that resonate with me far deeper than any course I've taken. Receiving this opportunity gave me first hand experience on how to really actively listen to individuals, have meaningful conversations, and establish firm limit setting. All of these experiences helped shape me to be a highly effective, special education mathematics teacher for the past 13 years, and now the opportunity to help assist Mr. Leibfried and Mrs. Ruchaevsky to successfully run Lamberts Mill Academy.
Unfortunately, nobody is immune to the daily stressors we all encounter in life. You will see the theme of stress presented throughout this newsletter, and I ask all readers to really think about your own stressors, and what you do to 'destress' yourself. For me; when I'm not running an IEP meeting, responding to a safety call, conducting an HIB investigation or monitoring state testing; I enjoy being outside working on my lawn and house with my kids during the weekends. Being able to carve out some time for yourself on a daily, weekly and even monthly basis is so important to managing stress, and keeping internal and external stressors at bay.
I hope you all enjoy our monthly newsletter!
Monthly Data
Acceptances - 2
New Students - 1
Student Intakes - 5
Referrals - 7
Disenrollment - 0
Emergency Management Drill: (Evacuation (non-fire) On-site (5/11/2023)
Fire Drill - (5/17/2023)
LMA Student of the Month - May 2023
Farad W.
LMA staff have all voted for the month of May's Student of the Month. The student that received the most number of votes for his dedication, persistence and growth for the month of May is Farad. He has started with the LMA community mid school year. Even though he transitioned during the school year, he has been incredibly focused on completing his academic high school career at LMA. Appropriately advocating for himself, he intends to complete his high school career next January in order to pursue his post-graduate goals. Farad has shown the LMA community how hard work, dedication and high levels of respect can help you succeed with your future plans. We are all proud of Farad's progress at LMA, his academic dedication and his growth in the school community!
Staff Spotlight - Mrs. Danielle Ruchaevsky
Mrs. Danielle Ruchaevsky - Clinicial Director
LMA's very own, Mrs. Ruchaevsky, is our staff spotlight for the month of May. Prior to joining us at LMA, Mrs. Ruchaevsky gained valuable experience working in both hospital crisis units, and partial hospitalization programs. No stranger to working with individuals with clinical needs, she started working at LMA in 2005 joining the clinical team as a school based clinician. After working as a clinician for LMA, and providing valuable therapeutic feedback for the LMA school program to evolve for 9 successful years, she was promoted to Clinical Director in 2014, leading the therapeutic team with her wealth of knowledge and expertise. She is a central part of the LMA team providing knowledge regarding our student's diagnoses, serving on the school safety team, leading and instructing her therapist to tend to all LMA student needs and helping the program progress are just some of the things Mrs. Ruchaevsky does on a daily basis. LMA is truly fortunate to have such a talented, and knowledgeable Clinical Director working with us day in and day out.
When Mrs. Ruchaevsky is not at LMA, she enjoys the following activities to help her destress; long walks with her dog, riding bikes with her kids, watching her kids participate in various sports and endless days at the Jersey Shore!
Classroom Spotlights
Mrs. Finver brings back the Java Joint
Mrs. Van Clief's Classes Presents about Different Cultures.
Students in all History classes learned about countries and cultures from all over the world. They researched various topics for their display boards and learned about various topics which include culture, currency , tourism, government, places to visit, facts and history. Students learned and researched the architecture, murals and art exhibits that would be in these countries. Some of the art was recreated for their display. Many of the Art History students made Art for a French cafe and it was incorporated in our coffee house, Java Joint. The Spanish classes also researched Spanish countries to be incorporated in our multicultural month as well.
Ms. Cosio's Science Class Learns about Renewable Energy
Month at School
LMA Honors Scholastic Achievement for Jahzara D. & Steven A.
LMA is proud to recognize and honor students Jahzara D. and Steven A. as the LMA Outstanding Scholastic Achievement award recipients. Both students attended a breakfast award ceremony with students from Union County.
Post Graduates Wrap up with the Westfield Food Pantry
LMA Post Graduates, and Senior Michael R. conclude the year with a final visit to the Westfield Food Pantry. Through this experience they we're able to help, and see the operations of the Westfield Food Pantry with the guidance of former LMA teacher, Mr. Convery. We are thankful for their help, and hope they've learned a lot with this work based experience.
The Mind's Eye
Mental Health Awareness (Self-Reflection)
LMA Stress Survey
While discussing mental health awareness through various Group Therapy sessions, it became evident that stress was a common theme. While students learned about and discussed different internal and external stressors they may experience on a daily basis; it was important for groups to recognize ways they can alleviate and manage stress. Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Charletta's groups though it would be interesting to create a school wide stress survey to see how LMA students and staff appropriately 'destress'. The results are posted below with a majority of the LMA community relying on communicating with friends and family as an effective way to manage their stress.
Managing Mental Health with Life Skills Group Therapy
New Point Presents Mental Health Issues and continues with Yoga
Students at New Point learned that the month of May is a time to raise awareness and reduce the stigma surrounding behavioral health issues. Each student had a topic of their choice to elaborate about the many different mental health issues and how they affect all of us. They were presented on Google Slides and students really did a wonderful job. Yoga has also been incorporated into our program and students participate once a week to help New Point students to promote stress reduction.
Erzuli shares their Poetry with LMA and judges.
Erzuli is able to present her original poem about her life experiences, and receive meaningful critique from the Teen Arts Festival judge.
LMA students get hands on with a sculpting class.
LMA students participated in many different stations set up throughout the festival. The most popular station was the sculpting table in which students received instructional steps on how to properly knead clay to make a human sculpture.
Jahzara D. performs in the Musical Theater and Pop
Jahzara had the wonderful opportunity to perform amongst other fine Union county students. Singing in the, "Musical Theater and Pop" category, Jahzara's performance of Fools Rush In, with the assistance of Mr. Cerra left the judge in tears! LMA students and staff we're proud to support Jahzara in the performance.
School in the Community
Mr. Bell and our Post Graduate students continue to assist with the Westfield Food Bank
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 attend the Union County Teen Arts Festival and receive professional critique for their performances and work.
LMA Students Outside of the Classroom
Michael Richards - UCHRC Student Unity Achievement Award Recipient
Unfortunately, Michael was unable to attend the UCHRC award event, but the UCHRC was incredibly generous to dedicate time from their busy schedule to personally address Michael during school hours. Michael was personally delivered his award from UCESC Board President, Mrs. Lorraine Aklonis & UCHRC secretary, Mrs. Karen Positan while Michael's mother, sister and LMA staff and students we're proud to watch Michael's special moment.
LMA is incredibly thankful to the UCHRC for awarding Michael this prestigious award, and we will always be proud of the progress and growth Michael has made with LMA while attending our school!
For more information on the Union County Human Relations Commission please see below:
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.