LW News Details

Super Readers Unite! Lakewood Elementary School kindergarteners have officially reached super-reader status, and, to help kick off National Reading Month, some of our youngest Clarkstown CSD learners proudly paraded through the hallways last Friday to roaring applause and cheers from their school community. After months of building up their reading skills, students marched with cards depicting their newly-acquired “powers.”

Our Lions at Lakewood Elementary School are celebrating the year of the dragon early thanks to a visit from the New York Chinese Cultural Center! Expanding our students' awareness and understanding of different cultures around the world, otherwise known as cultural competence, is a key component of becoming a more Future Ready district here in Clarkstown. This morning, kindergarten through fifth graders learned about important Chinese traditions and observed several dance (lion, fan and ribbon) and martial arts demonstrations. "In Chinese culture, we believe that the lion is a very powerful and spiritual animal," said one performer. "It can scare bad, evil things away and bring us good luck."

The Clarkstown Central School District is proud to announce that Kristin Hanley, Math Specialist at Lakewood Elementary School has been named a New York State Finalist for the 2022 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)!

"As a math specialist for Lakewood and for the district, Kristin is skillful at cultivating learning environments that acknowledge, honor, and affirm every student's mathematical experiences, engagement, and growth," commented Dr. Natasha Murray, Coordinator of Mathematics, Data, and Testing for CCSD. "She is highly committed to working collaboratively with teachers, administrators, parents, and students to support every child. She fully embodies the tenets of what the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching represents."

For this prestigious award, two finalists for mathematics and science are chosen from each state for their leadership and innovation in STEM teaching. In Kristin's case, this has taken many forms, as she is always working up new ways to make math fun and understandable for all students. Example: her group’s work for the Mercy College Center for STEM Education Grant (see video below). Congratulations Kristin! Thank you for being a stellar example of teaching for your colleagues and our learning community. 

Read the full story on the award on the New York State Education Department 's website.

Click here to watch her work in action.