Principal's Page

 

Welcome to Norman J. Levy Lakeside Elementary School! We are so pleased to welcome you and your family to our school community. At Lakeside, we believe that every child deserves to feel known, valued, supported, and inspired. We are honored to partner with our families in creating meaningful experiences that help every child learn, grow, and discover their unique strengths and potential.

 

Our goal is to cultivate motivated, confident, compassionate learners who develop a lifelong love of learning and are prepared to meet the opportunities and challenges of an ever-changing world. We encourage our students to be curious, ask questions, take thoughtful risks, learn from mistakes, and persevere when faced with challenges. We believe that growth happens when students feel safe to try, supported when they struggle, and celebrated when they succeed.

 

At the heart of our school community is “Lakeside ROARS,” our character education theme representing Respectful, Open-Minded, Accepting, Responsible Students. These values are woven into the fabric of our school and guide the way we learn, communicate, and care for one another. Through Lakeside ROARS, we encourage our students to recognize the strengths within themselves and others and to understand that with hard work, determination, kindness, and a positive mindset, they can accomplish extraordinary things.

 

We are deeply committed to educating the whole child. Our dedicated faculty and staff work collaboratively to provide an educational experience that nurtures academic achievement while also supporting our students’ social, emotional, and personal development. Creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving are intentionally integrated throughout our curriculum, giving students opportunities to think deeply, explore new ideas, and apply their learning in meaningful ways.

 

Our commitment to social-emotional learning is an important part of this work. Through our Second Step Program, in collaboration with our guidance counselor, Karen Alaimo, we explicitly teach and reinforce skills that help students develop self-awareness, build positive relationships, communicate effectively, and solve problems. By providing our students with these essential skills, we help them develop the confidence, resilience, empathy, and self-awareness needed to succeed both in school and beyond.

 

We are equally proud of the many academic opportunities available to our students. Our intervention and support programs are designed to meet individual needs and ensure that every student is appropriately supported and challenged. At the same time, our enrichment opportunities encourage students to explore their interests, develop new talents, and extend their learning. Programs such as Music and Arts Education, Foreign Language for Elementary Schools (FLES), APEX, Math Olympiads, and STEAM Enrichment provide our students with opportunities to discover new passions and broaden their understanding of the world around them.

 

Beyond the classroom, our students have opportunities to connect with one another and pursue their interests through a variety of clubs and activities, including Art Club, Digital Tools, Scrabble Club, Spanish Club, Math Club, Writing Club, and TED-Ed. These experiences help our students develop confidence, leadership skills, creativity, collaboration, and a deeper sense of belonging within our school community.

 

We know that a child’s success is strengthened when schools and families work together. Our families are an essential part of the Lakeside community, and we warmly invite you to be active partners in your child’s education. Whether you volunteer, participate in our PTA and SEPTA, attend school events, or simply stay

 

connected with your child’s learning, your involvement makes a meaningful difference. Together, we can create

a strong foundation that supports our students academically, socially, and emotionally.

 

To keep our families connected and informed, the Merrick School District uses ParentSquare as our primary school-to-home communication platform. Through email, text messages, and mobile app notifications, ParentSquare provides families with convenient access to important information and opportunities to engage with our school community. Families can use ParentSquare to:

 

• Receive and share school and class information
• View and share pictures and files
• Access important calendar information
• Sign up to volunteer
• Schedule parent-teacher conferences

 

We encourage you to visit our school website regularly throughout the year. Our website is a valuable resource for staying informed about upcoming events, important announcements, school news, and the many accomplishments and experiences that make Lakeside such a special place to learn and grow.

 

Most importantly, we want every child who walks through our doors to know that they belong here. We want our students to feel excited to come to school, confident in their ability to learn, comfortable taking risks, and proud of who they are and what they can accomplish. Our dedicated staff, supportive families, and wonderful students work together to create a school community grounded in kindness, respect, curiosity, perseverance, and a commitment to excellence.

 

Thank you for being a valued part of our Lakeside family. We look forward to building a strong and lasting partnership with you and to making each year a meaningful and successful one for our students. Together, we will continue to inspire our children to ROAR with confidence, learn with purpose, and grow with heart.

 

With Lakeside pride,

Libby Trencheny and Chris Colarossi

Principal                    Assistant Principal