Greetings Lavallette School Community,
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity” —Unknown
As we welcomed the month of March, a time often associated with luck and new beginnings, I am reminded that success in school and in life is not just about luck—it’s about effort, perseverance, and a supportive community. While a little bit of luck never hurts, it is the dedication of our students, the hard work of our teachers, and the encouragement from families like yours that truly make a difference.
This month, let’s celebrate the growth we’ve seen in our students, the opportunities ahead, and the strong connections that make our school such a special place. Whether it’s preparing for spring activities, setting new goals, or simply enjoying the longer days, I encourage everyone to embrace this season with optimism and determination.
I hope you all had a wonderful March filled with learning, joy, and maybe even a little bit of luck!
Read Across America
We kicked off the month of March with our annual Read Across America event! What a wonderful opportunity to highlight the important practice of reading and help students explore the different genres of books so they can discover the topics they are most passionate about. Discovering the joy of reading is important for students because it fosters a lifelong love of learning, improves literacy skills, and enhances cognitive development. When students find pleasure in reading, they are more likely to engage with books independently, leading to increased vocabulary, better comprehension, and stronger critical thinking skills.
Additionally, reading for enjoyment helps students develop empathy by exposing them to diverse perspectives and experiences. It also reduces stress, improves focus, and boosts creativity. By making reading an enjoyable habit, students are more likely to become self-motivated learners who continue exploring new ideas beyond the classroom.
A big THANK YOU to all of our volunteer readers for sharing your time and love of reading with our students, and special note of gratitude for Mrs. McCutcheon from our GOALS readers who spearheaded the ReadAThon where our students logged 37,405 reading minutes, and which raised $1,927.50 for our classroom libraries.
Spring Musical - Frozen, Jr.
If you were lucky enough to be in the audience for this year’s spring musical, Frozen, Jr., I’m sure you were as impressed as I was with the collective talent and creativity of our cast and crew! Our talented performers wowed us with their stellar performances, stunning costumes, and heartfelt musical numbers. The audience was transported to the enchanting world of Arendelle for an evening of magic and joy. Congratulations to our incredible cast and crew, and to our dedicated staff and parent volunteers who made this production an unforgettable success. And a HUGE Thank You to Ms. Lexi Kross, our musical director, for helping our student actors be brave and find their voice!
April Activities To Boost Your Child’s Learning
April may bring showers, but it also brings opportunities to promote responsibility and learning. Here are some great activities to try:
April 2—International Children’s Book Day. This day is designed to inspire a love of reading. Select a book and spend some time reading together.
April 8—National Library Workers Day. Have your child make a card to thank our librarian at Upper Shores Library for all the work they do!
April 15—National Laundry Day. Teach your child how to do a load of laundry.
April 22—Earth Day. As a family, think of things you can do to protect the earth, such as using less water. We will be having an Earth Day assembly at Lavallette School for K-5 students on April 16th, called Planet Earth Challenge. Students in all grades will be participating in Earth Day curricular activities.
April 23—Shakespeare’s birthday. With your child, act out a scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays. Or, challenge your child to write a play.
April 30—National Honesty Day. Talk to your child about why it is important to be honest every day.
REMINDER: Lavallette Elementary School’s spring recess begins on Friday, April 18th, with school reopening on Monday, April 28th.
Lavallette Legacy Wall – Phase 2 Underway!
Phase 2 of the Lavallette Legacy Wall will be underway shortly, expanding the wonderful honor wall in our school’s entranceway that pays tribute to our students, graduates, family members, and other special community members. This wall, which is the first thing parents, students, and visitors see as they enter the school, is growing with legacy tiles and allows students or family members to custom design their own 8x8” tile for $75 each. For more information, please click on this link Order Tile or see the Wednesday Folder.
Research Shows Free Time Builds Children’s Brains
While extracurricular activities can enrich your elementary schooler’s life, it’s important to balance them with unstructured play. Free time allows your child to goof off, explore interests, develop creativity and simply relax. Studies show that even when children’s brains are in a “resting” state—that is, not being fed a formal stream of instruction—they’re still active. They are simply learning in a different way. So, just because your child may not look busy, it doesn’t mean your child’s brain isn’t busy! To provide some brain-boosting during your child’s downtime:
Allow occasional boredom. Don’t race to solve your child’s every “There’s nothing to do!” cries of boredom. Instead, challenge your child to figure out how to fill the time. Who knows? It might be just the spark your child’s brain needs to come up with something innovative!
Turn off digital devices. It’s easy to hand your child a smartphone or tablet to occupy downtime. But consistently doing so robs your child’s brain of the chance to actively acquire information (instead of passively being “fed” information by a screen). Let your child look out the car window instead of at an app during your next drive. Just think what new knowledge might take hold.
(Source: L. Waters, Ph.D., “How Goofing Off Helps Kids Learn,” The Atlantic.)
Self-Discovery Helps Middle Schoolers Plan For The Future
Middle school gives students lots of opportunities to learn more about themselves. To encourage the discovery of strengths and interests, have your child:
Read - Reading a variety of material exposes your child to new ideas and pursuits. Suggest your child read anything and everything.
Talk to people about their jobs - Your child should ask what they like best about them. Do any of the jobs sound interesting? Your child might also ask friends about their hobbies and interests.
Try new things - The easiest way for kids to find out if they’re good at something is simply to try it. Challenge your child to join a new organization or activity. Suggest volunteering or signing up for a class online.
Research - Suggest that your child go online and search for hobbies and careers that seem interesting. By actively exploring different options and reflecting on experiences, your middle schooler can uncover strengths and passions and identify possible career paths.
(Excerpt copyright © 2025, The Parent Institute®)
Lavallette School’s Social Media and Communication Platforms
We have so many wonderful things happening here at Lavallette Elementary School and our staff is committed to highlighting all of these exciting learning activities and school community events. We invite you to download the Lavallette School mobile app, visit our website at www.lavallettek12.org, and follow Lavallette School on the following social media platforms:
Thank you to each and every one of our parents for your ongoing support and partnership in your child’s education at Lavallette Elementary School!
Sincerely,
Dr. Lisa J. Gleason
Superintendent/Principal
Leadership Achievement Values Aspirations
#LAVAproud