Livingston Lions Roar!

The annual Winter Concert was held on Thursday, December 19th, thanks to the collective efforts of Ms. Strauli and Ms. Cox, Livingston's music teachers, along with supporting staff and parent volunteers. Performances were conducted by strings instrumentalists, the 4th and 5th grade choir, 3rd grade recorders, 2nd grade chorus, 1st grade chorus, and Kindergarten students. Songs to celebrate the holiday season and Christmas traditions were highlighted. There were also carols, lullabies, folk songs and some gospel pieces included in the program. The event was packed with audience members.

Ms. Strauli and primary grade students between performances.

Audience members take in the performances.

Ms. Strauli conducts 3rd grade students playing recorders.

Ms. Cox conducts and accompanies students playing string instruments.

Ms. Strauli arranges second grade students from Ms. Carbajal, Ms. Lockhart's and Ms. Sarnecky's classes.

On Wednesday, December 18th, thanks to the help of sponsors, parents, staff and other volunteers, Livingston had a visit from Santa. Every student received a gift. Students were delighted with their presents. Here, Santa poses with third graders and their teachers, Ms. Cazares and Mrs. Boxell.

Mrs. Bent and her third graders cheer.

(Front left clockwise) Mrs. Zeledon, Mr. Cortez, Mrs. Favours, Ms. Wilkins and Officer Galvan pose beside Livingston's beautifully ornamented Christmas tree among the festivities of the season.

Ms. Monroe's second graders, are all smiles with Santa.

Ms. Lockhart (wearing glitter antlers in the rear), poses with her and Ms. Sarnecky's second graders. In the rear are also (left to right), Mrs. Favours, Ms. Pecorella, and far right, Ms. Kim.

Mrs. Rosario and Ms. Benitez pose with Santa and their third grade class.

Ms. Sundack's first graders pose with Santa. Students in each grade and every class were paid a visit and had a memorable time.

Thank you to our sponsors and volunteers for making this Livingston Lions' event a roaring success!

The first Family Literacy Night of the '24-'25 school year was held on Monday, November 18, 2024. There was an outpouring of attendance and support. The event was from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. There were centers for different grade levels.

Kindergarten-1st grade were in the art room. Turkey Trouble read aloud with Turkey disguised craft (turkey disguised printout, crayons, fall alphabet match, pencils), fall printout.

2nd & 3rd grade were in room 5. Bingo Cards/Bingo Chips/

4th & 5th grade were in the gym. Fall Themed Scattergories.

Ms. Wilkins stands among engaged guests - students and parents - at Livingston's Fall Family Literacy Night.

Families sharing a table in the art room, pause from their activities to take a moment to smile for the camera.

Part of Livingston's cherished maintenance crew, Ms. Rosa, poses in the background center, with a third grader and his Mom (foreground), while another parent stands in the background on the left. Mountains of donations of various items were brought to the event for families to choose. They expressed their gratitude.

📚 Third graders from Mrs. Bent's class examine new books in our school library. 📚

Happy reading!

Books are mirrors, windows and doors. Mirrors that allow our students to see and better understand themselves. Windows that allow them to learn about other people, places and things. Doors that allow them to imagine. (Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, 1990.) When our children read, their lives are opened up to greater, higher heights.

Our Livingston students really enjoy stories, whether they are young and take delight in listening to and/or viewing them; or if they are older, and take pleasure in being independent readers.

We are fortunate and grateful that Livingston School was awarded $5000.00 from the Laura Bush Foundation Grant in Spring 2024 for our students’ to receive new library books in English and Spanish. Livingston Library was one of 200 school libraries chosen from 40 states all over the country to receive this distinguished award. The Foundation awarded one million dollars in total in May.

We received our books in December 2024 and they were made available to students beginning in January 2025. Circulation has picked up and students have been borrowing the new books in droves. Thank you for your commitment to making our students strong and happy readers.

– Sincerely, Joy Dennis, Livingston School Library Media Specialist

Ms. Dennis scans out new books purchased by the grant to first grade students from Ms. Sundack's class.

Ready to read!

Mrs. Rosario's and Ms. Benitez's third grade class hold up their new book choices purchased by the Laura Bush Foundation Grant.

Students read their new borrowed titles.

Wednesday, November 27th was SEL Day. Activities included LV Pride activities, SEL component activities, and Thanksgiving activities focused on showing gratitude. Students in higher grades were also paired with a buddy in the same grade to read to or with primary grades. They visited the primary grade classrooms to do so.

Ms. Salcedo's 5th graders read to Ms. Lockhart's 2nd grade class.

Mrs. Morales' class read to Ms. Sarnecky's 2nd graders.

Ms. Peters' 4th grade students read to Ms. Sundack's 1st grade students.

Ms. Lubcher's 4th graders read to Mrs. Hogan's 1st graders.

Mrs. Webster's 4th graders read to Ms. Monroe's 2nd grade class.

Ms. Cazares & Mrs. Boxell's 3rd graders read to Mrs. Madra and Ms. Martinez's kindergarten classes.

Mrs. Ordonez's 3rd graders read to Mrs. Santisi and Ms. Cafasso's Kindergarten students.

Mrs. Bent's 3rd graders read to Ms. Carbajal's 2nd graders

Mrs. Rosario's 3rd graders read to Ms. Radosti's Kindergarten students.

4th grade bilingual students read to 1st grade bilingual students.

Students also had an SEL activity list complete with choice boards on various themes such as: self-awareness, social-awareness, self-management, relationship skills, positive character traits and responsible decision making.

A Positive Mindset poster contest was also conducted on the theme of "changing mindsets."

The Marking Period 1 awards assembly was held on Friday, December 13th in the multipurpose room. Families were invited to see their students recognized for achievements during the previous marking period.

A school is not just a place,
a building of bricks and mortar.
It’s the heart of the community
providing payments of care that never falter.

A school is not just a place,
a collection of classrooms full of desks and chairs.
It’s a forest of growth,
where children put aside their cares.

A school is not just a place,
children must attend for a long while.
Staff know that even after the most stressful day,
they can always count on (at least one) child to make them smile.

Thank you to everyone who contributed content to this issue of the Livingston Lions Roar Newsletter!

Livingston '24-'25 Public Relations Team

H. Wilkins, C. Favours, J. Monroe, J. Dennis