LAKEWOOD CONNECTION

May 2016, Volume1- Issue 2

Principal’s Report

Dear Lakewood Families, It has been a wonderful and exciting school year! The students have amazed and impressed me in so many ways! They have done a fabulous job academically and have demonstrated excellent character throughout the year. I trust that they will continue to demonstrate excellent character throughout the summer. I wanted to take this time to make you aware of opportunities that are available to all students over the summer break.

There are different reading programs being offered over the summer. We are working on getting a partnership with a local business to help encourage our Congratulations to Lakewood 2016 students to read that will include an August assembly to applaud all of our students’ reading efforts, so stay tuned for more information on this! In addition to this, the 6th Grade Graduating Class! Stanislaus County Library is also offering a summer reading program that comes with incentives. Please contact the County library for more information on the Stanislaus County Library reading program.

We have implemented a new link for parents on our Lakewood Website. You can get to our website by going to www.mcs4kids.com/district/schools and click on Lakewood. You can also get to our website by going to https://lakewood.mcs4kids.com/. Once you are on the webpage, go to our “Parent” tab and then to “Parent Resources.” Awards Lakewood has provided practice materials for students to use to “stay fresh” with District Spelling Bee: Nithya Medam and grade level skills or “challenge” themselves with new skills coming up in the next Logan Redfern (top 10 in District) and grade level. The materials focus on basic and necessary skills to help students be moved on to County Spelling Bee. successful at each grade level. Parents can go to each link and choose materials Math Blast: 1st State Individual Test: Nolan to print off at home. If parents would prefer to have them printed at school, please Jackson (8th place); Logan Redfern (4th contact the office at 576-4841. We will be able to print these off for parents to be place); Nithya Medam (3rd place) picked up the week after school is out. Binary Star Partner Test: Isabella I hope everyone has a wonderful and relaxing summer! - Mrs. Sharp, Principal, Edward/Stephen Romano; Nolan Lakewood Elementary. Jackson/Easton Allen; and Darian Lopez/Sethen Perez (honorable mention). PTA President’s Report Logan Redfern/Nithya Medam (3rd place)

Hello Lakewood Families, As the school year comes to an end, I want to thank all of 29th Annual Peace Essay Contest: Third you for helping to make Lakewood such an amazing school. The Jog-a-thon was a Place: McKenna Taylor. huge success, thanks to parent volunteers for organizing, helping out, and PTA Annual Budget: fundraising. While we didn’t quite meet our goal financially, we exceeded our goal Total expenses: $48,000 on fun for the kids. There were plenty of smiles and high-fives. We plan on making the jog-a-thon an annual event.

Speaking of fun events, next year is a Blue and White year! Blue and White is our bi- annual Dinner and Auction held in the Spring. It’s always a fun night for parents to socialize and bid on some great items.

I have really enjoyed being your PTA President over the past two years. I’ve met and worked with a lot of wonderful Lakewood parents. Taking over as President next year will be Melissa Monday. She has been actively involved in our PTA and will continue the important Lakewood traditions and activities. Upcoming Events Have a great Summer and whether you are returning to Lakewood or moving on to May 13th: Pioneer Day- 3rd grade junior high - make sure to sign up for PTA next year! Every school needs involved May 16th: Music Awards th parents like you! - Elizabeth Jesberg, Lakewood PTA President. May 17 : Career Day May 19th: End of year Awards Ceremony May 20th: Science Shows May 25th: Last day of school Mrs. Schneider Safety Patrol 2016. Thank you for keeping us safe.

Mrs. Schneider our amazing second grade teacher will be retiring at the end of the school year. We took some time to look into Mrs. Schneider's career and retirement plan. Please enjoy the following interview.

1. How many years have you taught? I have taught for 26 years in all. 2. Why did you want to be a teacher? The reason I wanted to become a teacher was because I enjoyed children. Jump Rope club 2016 –“Jazzy Jumpers” 3. What was your favorite grade to teach? My favorite grades to teach were kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, and sixth grade. 4. What is your favorite subject to teach and why? My favorite subject to teach is science because it is so interesting. 5. What is your favorite project you ever assigned? My favorite project that I ever assigned was, well, all of them. 6. What is one of the funniest things to happen in your classroom? The funniest thing that ever happened was when I had to pop a balloon by sitting on it - I was not able to do it. 7. What is your favorite thing to do when you are not at school? My favorite things to do is travel, read, and work on my piano skills. Also, my favorite place to eat is Spinnakers in Sausalito overlooking San Francisco bay. Jog-A-Thon - Thank you to all students for making 8. What do you plan to do after you retire? My plans for after retiring are: traveling, reading, the 2016 Jog-A-Thon a huge success! Many thanks spending time with friends, and hopefully being a grandmother. to all who supported our students and our school by collecting pledges, cheering on our 9. What is the best thing about being a Lakewood Lion? The best thing I think about being a runners/joggers/walkers, assisted the teachers and Lakewood Lion is feeling like we are all a family, staff and students. helped the Jog-A-Thon team put it all together. 10. What will you miss most about teaching? The thing that I will miss most about teaching is You all raised over $13,000 and ran over 5,000 laps! all the wonderful students I’ve had in the past.

Mrs. Schneider, you are the best second grade teacher and we will miss you a lot, Happy Retirement- Interview and Article by Hudson and Taylor Monday.

Karlee Bispo

My sister, started when she was 9 years old. Her favorite stroke was butterfly. She started swimming because she didn't like sports that made her too sweaty! She got to travel to when she was 16 years old to swim on the USA National Team. When she swam for the Downey Knights in high school, she never lost a race in the four years she was Spring picnic - Thank you for supporting the next year 6th graders and thank you for leading it Carol there! That was over 100 races! She set the record for the fastest female high school swimmer DeMeyer, Chris Haubrich (Head Chef) and Rose in the 100 freestyle in the nation. Karlee went to her first Olympic Swim Trials when she was a Montoya, Cari Facha, Scott Gould, Alyssa Rudel, senior in high school in 2008. I was almost two. She got a swim scholarship to attend the University Brandy Lambright, Savitri Naidu. of Texas but also turned down scholarships to Cal Berkeley, UCLA and USC. Special Thanks to Graduating 6th Gr Parents:  Eric & Andrea Johnson Karlee set many swim records as a Longhorn. Her photo is even on a mural inside the University  Fabian Edwards & Rena Bains of Texas' Aquatic Center. She also won 2 gold medals at the World University Games in .  Karin Hoselton She graduated in 2012 and attended her second Olympic Trials that summer. I was turning 6. Special thanks to the above parents for their kind help and support for many years in organising She missed making the USA Olympic team by 1/100th of a second. She was very disappointed multiple events at Lakewood. but continued to work hard to achieve her Olympic dream. Karlee was chosen to attend the World Swim Championships in in 2013. In Spain, she swam with , Kudos Shannon Vreeland, and on the 4x200 swim relay. They won the gold medal! I was so proud of her as I watched her on the award podium as they played the National Anthem of the .

This summer my sister will swim at the Olympic swim trials once again in Omaha Nebraska for her 3rd and final attempt to make the USA team (she wants to be a doctor so she has to go to medical and give up swimming). I am 9 years old and this will be the 3rd time I've been able to attend the trials with her. I have been able to travel all over the United States and watch her compete and accomplish great things. The Olympics are being held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Even if she does not make the team, I will be happy for those who do. Her favorite swim event is now the 200 IM. That means she swims one lap (50 meters) of each stroke; butterfly, back, breast and then free. She is also a good at the 200 freestyle. I am so proud of her and can't wait to watch her swim in Omaha. I hope to be a great swimmer like her someday. She is my Diego Johnson won the National Award of hero. Go Karlee! Go USA! - Kaydence Bispo, 4th grade, Ms. Bosch. Excellence after he won district 8 and state award in the category of film production. His film will be displayed at the National PTA convention in Florida and in Washington, DC.