Upon first entering our school your eyes light on a dawning sun, spreading its rays across the lobby. The walls are painted with "Lakeview Lions" peeking out behind towering trees. Green letters proclaim, "We love learning!" and we most certainly do. The mural was completed by one of Lakeview's former students with help from parents and community members. This current college student wanted to give something back to a school that made such a positive difference in her life. Lakeview School is a place where people want to make a difference in the lives of children.
The Lakeview mission is to guide, support, and challenge our over 700 students enrolled in the Pre-school Handicapped Class and Kindergarten through Grade 5. Our staff works together, instilling in our students a solid foundation of skills and concepts, a sense of self-esteem, and a true love of learning.
The curriculum of Lakeview School is revised according to a five year timetable. It is an interactive process that includes community participation and is overseen by a district level Director of Curriculum. Subject area curricula reflect educational research, state mandates, and local standards.
The teaching staff at Lakeview is highly qualified and continues to demonstrate lifelong learning and enthusiasm. Advanced degrees are held by many of our staff. The faculty is supported by Nurses, two School Counselors, and subject specialists in Music, Art, Science, Physical Education, Library/Media, Reading Specialists and Technology. Our staff models life-long learning.
The Denville Police Department has worked with us as a team to build awareness and safety in our building and with our community. They support our DARE programs, monitor our lock downs and join us on Denville Police Day. Our students are learning win-win strategies and finding more peaceful solutions to problems. Lakeview is a community school that utilizes our resources and believes in the power of teamwork.
Our parents play an integral role in all our school activities. The A. Richard Spinola PTA acknowledges strong teacher and family membership. It is instrumental in organizing and supporting an ambitious array of educational and family functions throughout the year. These events include a wide range of curriculum related field trips and assembly programs, as well as Olympic Day, Author's Day, family fun nights and a family picnic. The PTA has provided the school with several thousand dollars worth of keyboards, walkie-talkies, a new stage curtain, and playground equipment along with a mini grant for each teacher in our building.
Lakeview School is not just a school building; it is a community of learners. Our teachers have even formed working grade level teams to develop stronger curriculum and collegiality. We have a spring Festival of the Arts where our students display their science inventions, their digital movies, their artwork and chamber music groups perform for families and the community. It is just this demonstration of passion, talent and caring, backed by active and involved parents that make Lakeview School a place where students and staff learn, lead, and share smiles.