The First Weeks of School in Lakeside

It has been such a wonderful start to the 2016-2017 school year here in Lakeside! Students were excited to meet their new teachers and see old friends (and make new ones too!) Principals welcomed parents and students. The district welcomed many new teachers and staff members to our Lakeside family, and the feel around the district has been excitement and anticipation for the best year yet!


As an Instructional Coach, I was lucky to have the chance to visit many different classrooms on the first day of school to pop in and say hi! And I must say, our Lakeside students are so lucky to have such incredible teachers who care so deeply about their students; This was evident even on the first day of school.  It was clear teachers had been working incredibly hard to make sure everything was perfect for their students on the first day of school- from their classroom decor to the engaging lessons they had planned for their new students.
Check out some of the fun activities students participated in throughout the district in their classrooms to make new friends and build community within their new classroom homes:
Students in Miss Bender and Miss Schniepp's classes did many fun literacy activities throughout the week based on the book "You're Finally Here." Miss Bender and Miss Schniepp let their students know how happy they are that they're finally here! 

Students in Miss Nava's class did a "Stick it Together" activity. They each had to write on a sticky what qualities make a good friend and student. Then together they came up with a best answer in the middle where they included everyone's ideas. At the end, they presented their ideas to the rest of the class. 

Students in Mrs. Sandford's class had a blast doing a STEM (Science Technology Engineering & Math) challenge each day of the week. They worked together in groups to make pom pom blasters that would launch a pom pom at least two feet. Teams built a spaghetti cup tower and bridges with marshmallows & toothpicks. Groups participated in a cup challenge to stack cups using only string and a rubber band. And they "saved Fred"- the gummy worm who was "stuck" on his boat. 

In Mrs. Smith's class they jumped right into some of the fun math transformations activities teachers have been learning about all summer, and played the fraction game "Cover Up." The students have begged to play it everyday since! 

Mrs. Cherniss' students conducted an interview with a new friend whom they'd never been in the same class as. Each student was able to successfully partner with somebody they weren't in Kindergarten or 1st grade with and everyone made a new friend!

It is clear it's going to be a great year for all of the students, teachers, and staff members of Lakeside! We are so lucky to learn, work, and be in such an amazing district! 

Sandy Patterson

Educational Technology