A warm and sunny fall morning provided the perfect opportunity for students to walk or bike to school on Oct. 3. Newbridge Road Elementary School participated in National Walk to School Day, a nearly three-decade old initiative that encourages safe and active travel for children.

Newbridge Road partnered with the PTA for 29th annual Walk to School Day. The PTA provided all students with a scavenger hunt of items to look for with their families on the walk to school that morning, such as the American flag, bird, fire hydrants, squirrels and stop signs.

Parents and children arrived in droves, taking advantage of gorgeous weather for some quality family time on the walk to school. Many older students cruised in on their favorite form of transportation as the bicycle racks were filled up by the start of school.

As they arrived, the walkers and bikers were greeted by Newbridge Road’s mascot, Thunder the Tiger. Students were then given sidewalk chalk and encouraged to write their name, scroll a positive message or draw a happy picture.

Click here to view the Newbridge Families Stride Together on Walk to School day slideshow.

Young scientists explored the principles of flight while also getting a taste of the scientific method in Kim Rackley’s class at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School. During the STEM activity, fourth graders created and tested paper helicopters known as whirly birds.  

The goal was to get their propellers to spin more and come down as slowly as possible. Students changed the size, shape and material, but only altered one variable at a time so they could see the effect of each change. After testing each whirly bird, students would then drop two different ones side by side to see the differences in how they descended.  

Ms. Rackley explained that students are learning about the scientific method, so they have been conducting different experiments to better understand the process used by real scientists. The whirly birds project was a fun way to follow the steps of the scientific method while also learning about concepts such as air resistance, gravity and lift.

 

Click here to view the A Spinning Science Lesson at JGD slideshow.

Date Added: 10/8/2025

North Bellmore School District Superintendent Marie Testa and Board of Education Trustee Nina Lanci were recently honored at the Women of Distinction ceremony hosted by New York State Sen. Steve Rhoads. 

They were among 17 women recognized at the third annual ceremony, which took place at the Plainview-Old Bethpage Library. The event celebrated women whose leadership, dedication and service have profoundly shaped the communities across Sen. Rhoads’ district.

Mrs. Testa is in her 13th year as superintendent and was previously principal of Martin Avenue and Jacob Gunther elementary schools. She began her career in the district in 1994 as a physical education teacher. This year, Mrs. Testa is serving as the president of the Nassau County Council of School Superintendents, a professional organization representing 56 school districts and Nassau BOCES. 

“I am truly humbled to be named a Woman of Distinction by Sen. Rhoads,” Mrs. Testa said. “As superintendent of North Bellmore, I am fortunate to work alongside a dedicated school community in supporting our students’ growth – not only as learners, but as kind and compassionate people. Standing among such extraordinary women, whose stories were deeply inspiring, was both grounding and uplifting. Their quiet strength and meaningful contributions are a powerful reminder of what’s possible when women lead with vision and determination. I remain committed to serving with integrity, to uplifting all students, and to championing not only women, but the young women who will grow to become the next generation of leaders.”

Ms. Lanci has been a Board of Education trustee for more than two decades and has served as president several times, most recently in the 2024-25 school year. She is also one of North Bellmore’s two representatives on the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District Board of Education and is vice president this year. 

A past president of the Martin Avenue Elementary School PTA, Ms. Lanci is a longtime community leader. She is a past president of the Bellmore Lions Club and is currently serving as treasurer. 

“To be recognized alongside so many other remarkable women for doing the work I love most to do, helping my community in whatever way I can, is a tremendous honor,” Ms. Lanci said. 

 

 

Date Added: 10/6/2025

A cup-stacking challenge in Alexis DiCapua’s class at Park Avenue Elementary School helped fourth graders start the year off with a teamwork mentality. Students have been learning about being active members of the classroom community, and how they can work together to solve problems through collaboration. 

The class read “Someone Builds Dreams” by Lisa Wheeler, a book that emphasizes the importance of teamwork and how every individual contribute to the process. Students learned that it takes more than once person to create a vision and bring it to life, and have been applying this principle in the classroom. 

Fourth graders participated in a STEM activity in which each group received an assortment of plastic cups, a rubber band and a piece of string. The goal was to stack the cups but students couldn’t use their hands. They had to strategize, communicate and problem-solve to build their towers. They wouldn’t be successful without each team member playing an important role in the activity.  

“The lesson was all about building trust and communication skills,” Ms. DiCapua said, “proving that with a little creativity and a lot of collaboration, anything is possible.” 

Click here to view the Fourth Graders Build Relationships and Towers slideshow.

 

Date Added: 10/2/2025

To support kids both locally and globally who have battled cancer, students and staff in the North Bellmore School District participated in Go Gold Day for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month on Sept. 26. It has been an annual tradition on the last Friday of September for more than a decade.  

At Newbridge Road Elementary School, the participation was very high, with students donning yellow and gold T-shirts, shorts, pants, shoelaces and hair accessories. Principal Amanda Licci said that although it is only one day a year, they intentionally wear gold, the mission is to spread awareness all the time in support of youngsters battling a terrible illness.  

The PTA Coordinating Council provide keychains for students and staff with messages like “Believe” and “No one fights alone,” along with symbols such as gold ribbons, hearts and wings. 

“For some of us, it hits close to home,” she said, as several children in the district have battled cancer in recent years. “Wearing gold is just a symbol that we’re all thinking of one another and all in this fight against childhood cancer together.”

 

Click here to view the Students Have Golden Hearts for Childhood Cancer Awareness 25-26 slideshow.

Date Added: 9/29/2025