Overview
This guide was created by our Shared Decision Making committee to create a comprehensive resource welcoming families and providing a way for them to get to know our warm Lakeville community and all it has to offer.
- General Information
- Home-School Connection
- Special Programs & Activities
- Support Services
- Special Areas
- Parent Teacher Association
- Community
- Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
At Lakeville, our multicultural community thrives in a highly collaborative, supportive, and joyful environment that embodies a commitment to rigorous learning and innovative practice. Inspired by powerful connections among our children, families and staff, Lakeville cultivates intellectual curiosity, develops student voice, and fosters diverse perspectives. We motivate children to take risks, respectfully challenge each other’s thinking, and celebrate their own unique ability to make positive contributions to the world.
The Great Neck Public School District provides an innovative and collaborative educational environment that supports academic excellence and the social and emotional growth of all students so that they may become life-long learners and compassionate, productive members of a diverse, global society.
Directory
Principal - Ms. Emily Zucal
Assistant Principal - Ms. Neepa Redito
Main Office 441-4300
Attendance 441-4315
Nurse 441-4310
Psychologist 441-4335
Food Services 441-4090
Recreation 441-4045
Registration 441-4080
Transportation 441-4060
To email a teacher first initial last name@greatneck.k12.ny.us
Schedule
Students who are non-bussers can be dropped off beginning at 9:00 am.
Students who are non-bussers can be picked up at the following times:
Grades 3-5: 2:45 pm
Grades 1-2: 2:55 pm
Older siblings can follow the schedule of the youngest sibling.
Lunch Policies and Menu
Great Neck Public Schools participates in the National Child Nutrition program providing nutritionally balanced meals to our students. Children need healthy meals to learn, which is why we offer healthy meals to our students every school day.
Home-School Connection
Weekly Parent Square Blast
Each Thursday, you will receive an Parent Square blast from the principal. This notification will list the informational flyers that have been posted for the week. Periodically, you will receive a Photo of the Day along with other announcements to capture some of the daily happenings at Lakeville.
Principal Tea and Talk
Parents from each grade level will be invited to a virtual Tea and Talk with the principal once per year to discuss topics relevant to the grade level.
Parent Portal
Great Neck uses the Infinite Campus student information system and makes the Campus Parent Portal available to authorized parents/guardians so that they can securely access student information about their children online.
Parent Square
Parent Square is a communications tool that enables the Great Neck Public Schools to contact thousands of high school students, staff members, and parents/guardians with important announcements in a variety of ways. Parent Square will also be used to schedule Parent-Teacher conferences.
Special Programs & Activities
Responsive Classroom
In order to be successful in and out of school, students need to learn a set of social and emotional competencies—cooperation, assertiveness, responsibility, empathy, and self control—and a set of academic competencies—academic mindset, perseverance, learning strategies, and academic behaviors. (From the Lakeville Website)Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that focuses on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. (From the RC website)
Responsive Classroom Guiding Principles
Mindfulness
The practice of mindfulness is a powerful tool for cultivating a heightened awareness of what is happening in our minds, and learning how our thought patterns, perspectives, and attitudes shape the quality of our lives. As supported by a growing body of scientific research, the application of mindfulness by students and educators has the potential to improve academic achievement and mental health.
A Parent’s Guide to Mindfulness: Simple Practices for Use in the Home
Pro Pledge
The PRO Pledge is a Promise to Respect Others. All students and staff at Lakeville pledge to:
Be Responsible
Be Empathetic
Be Sensitive
Be Polite
Be Enthusiastic
Be Caring
Be Thoughtful
Morning enrichment and gym programs are available.
Read-a-thon
All Lakeville students take part in our Read-a-thon each spring. Students are asked to read as many minutes as possible during the month-long celebration.
Spirit Day
On the last Friday of each month students and staff are encouraged to wear school colors (blue and white) or Lakeville gear.
Support Services
English as a New Language
The ENL program at Lakeville provides instruction in the 4 language skill areas- listening, speaking, reading and writing- for children acquiring English as their new language. From new arrivals, just beginning to learn, to advanced English language learners expanding their reading, writing, and vocabulary skills, the ENL program celebrates multiculturalism. Our ENL students hail from such countries as Guatemala, Israel, El Salvador, China, Korea, Bulgeria, Iran, Mexico, Japan, Russia and Peru.
Math Lab
Math Lab is a program designed to address students' needs in mathematics by providing additional support through individual and small group instruction. Math Lab students learn strategies to improve their understanding of mathematical concepts and to develop enthusiasm for problem solving.
OT
Occupational Therapy is a discipline which helps individuals achieve the skills needed for everyday living. In a school setting, qualifying students are provided with support most often in motor and perceptual skills, to facilitate academic success. An example may be to improve hand skills for legible handwriting and to manipulate food wrappers at lunch time.
PT
“When the student’s IEP identifies PT as a needed resource, physical therapists will be integrated as members of a multidisciplinary school team. Using their unique expertise in movement and function, PTs ensure a free and appropriate education for students with disabilities to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living. The school-based PT promotes motor development and the student’s participation in everyday routines and activities that are a part of his or her program. The PT designs and performs therapeutic interventions … focusing on functional mobility and safe, efficient access and participation in educational activities and routines in natural learning environments."
Source: PhysicalTherapyintheSchoolSystem.pdf (last updated: 10/14/16) at www.apta.org
Psychology
Children grow and change in many different ways. The school psychologists are available to help parents, teachers, and children better understand and problem solve situations that arise. The psychologists can provide consultation, intervention strategies, and assessments to address social, emotional and educational needs.
- In the Reading Center, we …
- INSTRUCT based upon students’ unique experiences and learning styles.
- INSTILL a love of literature.
- INSPIRE students to become confident, independent readers, writers, and thinkers.
Social Workers
Lakeville School’s social work team works closely with students, families, teachers, and administrators on issues that impact children in order to promote student success.
Speech/Language
Communication is the process of exchanging information and ideas through verbal and nonverbal means and involves both a speaker and a listener. Our role at Lakeville School is to remediate communication problems within the educational environment. This requires the identification, assessment, evaluation and planning of intervention for students with speech, language and related impairments and disabilities.
Special Areas
Art
We provide a safe and inviting environment where children can learn, experiment, create and grow. Art gives children an additional way to express themselves. Lakeville’s art program encourages creative problem solving and imaginative thinking. Teaching students art skills and techniques, in a wide variety of media, allows them to express an enormous range of subject matter and ideas in a relevant, personal way. Art education helps them develop skills to observe, interpret, and respond to the world around them. Our art studio provides a safe and inviting environment where children can learn, experiment, create, and grow.
Music
We have a robust music program that engages students in the various aspects of music, including rhythm and theory.
Library
The Library program at Lakeville is designed to foster a lifelong love of reading as well as providing instruction in Information Literacy. Students receive direct instruction every other week and have the opportunity to select e-books and audiobooks for check out via our online library database, SORA.
Supporting Educational Exploration and Knowledge
Technology
The district-wide mission of the instructional technology program is to enhance and support instruction and learning with information and communications technology. In the elementary classroom, our goals are to create 21st century learners by helping each child communicate, collaborate, create, and demonstrate critical thinking while both consuming and producing digital content. Our hope is for students to be academically empowered, respectful and responsible with technology, and to utilize technology as a tool to be used for authentic learning.
Parent Teacher Association
The Lakeville Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a non-profit organization composed of parents and staff members who together strive to create an optimum learning environment. Our mission is to work with Lakeville's faculty and staff to support educational opportunities, to enhance the lives of our students, and to encourage parental involvement in our child's school life.
PTA meetings keep the Lakeville community informed of current school concerns and developments and offers presentations on timely topics. PTA officers and calendar of events can be found on our website.
Contact PTA
For questions/concerns/suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact the PTA at lakevillepta@gmail.com.
PTA Dues
PTA dues are contributions made by Lakeville families to help the PTA provide many needed items and programs for our students. Over the years, the PTA has purchased Lakeville’s auditorium projector and screen, water filters for our water fountains, cultural art performances, musical instruments, gym equipment, iPad keyboards, STEAM indoor recess kits, computer robots, 3D printers, a rock climbing wall, lobby television and furniture, Mindfulness Loft furniture, books for the library, PPE, and so much more.
PTA dues are collected each year at Open House in September via cash or check (payable to Lakeville PTA). Online payment via Give Butter is accepted any time throughout the school year.
Volunteering with the PTA
PTA Executive Board members attend PTA meetings every 2-3 months and are responsible for organizing fundraisers and recreational activities at Lakeville. Each Spring, nomination forms are sent to parents. If anyone is interested in participating on the Executive Board or would like to nominate someone else, please fill out the nomination form and submit to PTA. The nomination committee will evaluate all candidates and nominate new PTA officers.
In addition, there are many opportunities for parents to get involved. Parents are encouraged to email us at lakevillepta@gmail.com.
Annual Events
Here is a list of major fundraisers and recreational activities organized by the PTA. Every dollar raised goes towards important items and programming for our students.
Fall
- Lakeville Spirit Store: Lakeville spirit items including hoodies, t-shirts, umbrellas, and hats are available for purchase online.
- Book Fair: Thousands of books are set up and organized by genre. There is something for every reader. A teachers’ Wishlist table is set up where parents can purchase books to be donated to teachers' classrooms. Classes visit the Book Fair throughout the day. Parents are invited to join their children during the scheduled class shopping time or during a designated evening shopping time.
- Photo Day: Faculty and students take class pictures and individual portrait photos on Photo Day. The fifth grade class photo and club photos for the yearbook are also part of Photo Day. Photo packages are available for purchase through our photographer.
- Bingo Night: Families and friends are invited to join a fun night of bingo games and have a chance to win great prizes.
Winter
- Holiday Gift Shop: Lakeville students visit HGS to buy gifts for their friends and family. There are over 100 gift items to choose from and students learn to budget and spend wisely while enjoying the “joy of giving”.
- Family Game Night: Families are invited for a fun and interactive night of activities led by various teachers and vendors. Some of these may include art classes, games, circus tricks and performances.
- Cultural Pride Day: Through a school-wide assembly featuring unique cultural performances from our own students as well as clubs from South High, our school community is united. We also take this opportunity to celebrate the Lunar New Year with crafts and a special lion parade.
- Sweetheart Dance: Families are invited to come and dance the night away. This is a wonderful community building event for both children and parents to interact and socialize with one another in an informal setting. It’s an evening event where the large gym is transformed with Valentine’s Day décor and a DJ hosts a fun dance party. Light refreshments are served.
Spring
- Staff Luncheon: To show appreciation of teachers and staff for their hard work, The PTA hosts an annual Staff Luncheon in April. Parents are welcome to contribute and volunteer at this event.
- Parent Teach-In: A week-long event taking place in May every other year, the Parent Teach-In gives parents an opportunity to “teach” a lesson of their choosing in their child’s classroom. Past lessons included ice cream making, toy design, Chinese calligraphy, and Banking 101.
- Plant Sale/Farmers Market: Plants, herbs, vegetables and flowers are available for purchase by Lakeville families to support our school. We also offer honey products at our “farm stand”. Students shop throughout the day. Families are welcome to shop on designated shopping times with their child.
- Spring Bingo Night: Families and friends are invited to join a fun night of bingo games and have a chance to win great prizes.
- School Supplies: To save money and time, the PTA offers an online portal for parents to easily purchase school supplies for the following school year. Supplies are waiting for students on the first day of school.
- Fifth Grade Events & Yearbook: To celebrate and commemorate the achievements of Lakeville graduates, Senior Dues* are collected in March. Dues include a novelty pen for yearbook signing, a Lakeville senior t-shirt, 5th grade picnic snacks, and a DJ party with all the trimmings. Hard cover bound yearbooks are available for purchase at an additional fee.
*Items & events included in senior dues are subject to change.
Community
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child’s regular dismissal plans change?
- If there are changes that need to be made to any day's dismissal plans this year, it will be necessary to e-mail Ms. Lorraine Cataldo in our Main Office @ lcataldo@greatneck.k12.ny.us. Please detail the change that needs to be made from your child's usual "going-home" plan in your email. For example: "John usually takes Bus 24 home, but he should be dismissed as a non-busser this afternoon." Ms. Cataldo will be confirming all requests by contacting the e-mail's sender via the telephone number listed on your child's school records/emergency contact card.
What if my child loses a personal item?
- Please label all belongings. There is a 'Lost and Found' at Lakeville for found/missing items.
Where should I park when I visit Lakeville?
- Spaces in both the upper and lower parking lots are assigned to staff.
- Visitor parking is available between the hours of 10:00 and 2:00.
- Street parking is available in the neighborhood, during dismissal. Please remember to be mindful of the street signs.
What if I’m not fluent in English?
- Translation is provided for PTA and other large group meetings. Translators are also available for parent-teacher conferences.
- Much of the information that is sent home is available in Chinese, Korean and Spanish versions.