Fourth graders are passionate writers at Martin Avenue Elementary School, and that love sparked the idea for a book. Students in Lauren Fasano and Lori Lennihan’s class recently published “The ABC’s of Martin Avenue.”

The collaborative project followed personal narrative writing unit, during which each student wrote a story about an important moment. After a lot of hard work on their individual pieces, students turned their attention to the class writing project.

Each student was assigned a letter of the alphabet for the book. Students selected adjectives based on their letters and then wrote a page, using those adjectives to describe life at Martin Avenue. They also created colorful illustrations. Since there were more letters than students, each teacher also contributed a page. For Y, each child wrote a sentence about their principal, Dr. Michael Yannucci.

It was printed by Studentreasures Publishing, with the class receiving its own hard-cover copy of the book. Students could also purchase copies as a keepsake. The book featured a dedication page as well as a signed author’s page with everyone’s name.

Ms. Fasano described the project as a labor of love, noting that her students love to write, with many of them aspiring to become authors. She added that each page reflects that child’s unique personality.

“That they were literally writing a book was so exciting,” Ms. Fasano said of her students. “They had a lot of creative input. It was such a great experience for them.”

Date Added: 3/25/2025

Second graders at John G. Dinkelmeyer explored the different parts of the planet that they call home. For a science unit on landforms, students made 3D models of the different physical components of the Earth. 

They landforms that students studied included beaches, glaciers, islands mountains, plains, plateaus, valleys and several kinds of water bodies. For their models, they used supplies from home as well as paint and modeling clay provided by their teachers. Students made fictitious versions of these landforms, often naming these features after themselves.  

Click here to view the A 3D Landform Lesson at JGD slideshow.

Date Added: 3/21/2025

Before it was time to get down to business, North Bellmore School District Board of Education trustees, administrators and the public were treated to a musical delight. The district’s sixth grade Festival Band opened the March 13 meeting at Martin Avenue Elementary School with a pair of songs.

The performance celebrated Music in Our Schools Month and the district’s commitment to music education. The Festival Band includes sixth graders from all five elementary schools and is directed by Skylar Berkley and Christopher D’Orio.

“This talented group of musicians represents the dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm that make our district so special,” said Saw Mill Road Elementary School Assistant Principal Daniel Madden, administrative liaison to the music program. “Through every note they play, these students showcase not only their musical growth but also their ability to collaborate and rise to new challenges – skills that will serve them far beyond the classroom. Their journey is a testament to the power of the arts in shaping confident, passionate learners who are ready to make their mark on the world.”

Under the direction of Mr. D’Orio, the band played “Royal Crown March.” Ms. Berkley then led the ensemble in “Alpha Squadron.”

Superintendent Marie Testa recognized all of the district’s music teachers and noted that the program supports the mission of developing well-rounded students. She added that the performance reflects the joy and value that music brings to people’s lives.

“North Bellmore has an exemplary music education program,” she said. “We want to celebrate our students and our teachers.”

Click here to view the Festival Band Delights Audience at BOE Meeting slideshow.

Date Added: 3/18/2025

The leprechaun came and went, but it certainly left its mark in Amanda Baxter’s classroom at Park Avenue Elementary School.  

Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, students worked on a STEAM activity to build leprechaun traps. Using cardboard boxes brought in from home along with various classroom supplies, they channeled their creativity and imaginations to design the traps. The young engineers even tried to entice the leprechauns with images of rainbows and pots of gold. 

Before building their traps, students read “How to Catch a Leprechaun,” then brainstormed ideas together. Once construction was complete, the traps were set up around the room. 

On March 17, students returned from the weekend to find the leprechaun had been there. The room was a little messy and there were small green footprints on the floor. But even through the leprechaun escaped, he still left each student a pot full of goodies.  

Click here to view the Park Avenue Students Craft Leprechaun Traps slideshow.

Date Added: 3/17/2025

A Women’s History Month project had some St. Patrick’s Day inspiration at Martin Avenue Elementary School. Sixth graders in Lauren Fleigner’s class completed “Lucky to Learn From Her” research projects.

Each student selected a famous woman to research. They used the online site PebbleGo to gather their information. The notable figures they learned about included Abigail Adams, Maya Angelou, Ruby Bridges and Coretta Scott King. Sixth graders include information about their contributions to society.

Their research projects were printed out, along with pictures, and hung in a bulletin board in the hallway so all students could learn about these pioneering women.

Date Added: 3/14/2025