John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School 2100 Waltoffer Avenue
North Bellmore, NY 11710

Tel: (516) 992-3114

Fax: (516) 992-3054

Nurse: (516) 992-3055

Principal: Mrs. Danica Brugge
Instagram: @jgdpride

Dear John G. Dinkelmeyer Families,

Welcome to the JGD Family! It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write to you as the proud Principal of John G. Dinkelmeyer School. Leading this wonderful learning community is both an honor and a privilege.

As we embark on a new school year together, I am reminded of the immense potential within each precious child who walks through our doors. With a belief in treating every child with respect and love, we are dedicated to fostering an environment where each student can thrive. Our commitment to "leading with love” ensures that every child receives the support they need for a happy, healthy, and fulfilling elementary school experience.

At JGD, we are fortunate to have a team of teachers, faculty, and staff who inspire me daily with their dedication and passion for education. Together, we strive to create a safe, supportive, and engaging environment where students can grow not only academically but also socially and emotionally. Our goal is to nurture thinkers, problem solvers, joyful readers and writers, lifelong learners, and future leaders of our community.

We deeply value the trust you place in us as partners in your child's education. Your children are treasured here, and we are committed to ensuring they understand their unique potential and feel valued for exactly who they are.

As we look forward to the year ahead, I am excited about the opportunities and experiences that await us. Thank you for being an essential part of our JGD family. Together, we have so much to look forward to!

Warmly,

Danica Brugge
Principal

Current News

Dinkelmeyer Kindergartners Become Community Helpers

As part of a social studies lesson on needs and wants, kindergartners in Stephanie Meehan and David Lopez’s class at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School decided to spearhead a community service project.

Students decided to focus on the “needs” aspect of the lesson and launched a schoolwide drive to collect food and toiletries. They learned how to be problem solvers by creating a plan and putting it into action. Their goal is to collect 100 items before winter recess, as counting to 100 is a kindergarten standard.

To prepare for the drive, students decorated collection boxes and made posters seeking donations from students and teachers. Once the drive wraps up, students will count and sort the items.

Click here to view the Dinkelmeyer Kindergartners Become Community Helpers slideshow.

Date Added: 2/10/2025

Dinkelmeyer Students Join Forces to Explore Energy

The tools were simple but the knowledge gained was vast as young scientists learned about energy and force at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School.

On Jan. 14, fourth graders from Kim Rackley’s class relocated to the hallway, where they rolled plastic balls from one wall to the other at different speeds. Working in groups of three, each student took turns rolling the ball, keeping the time and recording the data. They also aimed the balls at targets on the ball – blue sticky notes – to see how force and speed affected accuracy.

Ms. Rackley explained that the experiment was part of a unit on energy. Specifically, students explored mechanical energy, how force affects speed, and the difference between potential and kinetic energy. Following their endeavor, students returned to the classroom to review the data and discuss their observations.

Click here to view the Dinkelmeyer Students Join Forces to Explore Energy slideshow.

Date Added: 1/27/2025

Math is ‘Snow’ Much Fun at Dinkelmeyer

There hasn’t been enough snow yet to build a snowman, but first graders at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School are relating to the popular winter symbol to improve their math skills.

On paper snowmen and snowflakes, students created fact families. Each youngster wrote the different addition and subtraction equations for a group of three single-digit numbers. The projects were hung in the hallway to showcase the knowledge of Dinkelmeyer’s budding mathematicians!

Date Added: 1/16/2025

District Boasts 28 All-County Musicians

The North Bellmore School District is proud to announce that 28 students have been selected to participate in this month’s All-County Music Festival, hosted by the Nassau Music Educators Association. Fifth and sixth grade musicians from the band, chorus and orchestra were selected based on their NYSSMA solo performance scores and teacher recommendations.

Ensemble rehearsals take place at schools throughout the county during the weeks of Jan. 6 and Jan. 13. Weekend concerts are held at the LIU Post Tilles Center.

Congratulations to the following musicians on their All-County selections:

John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School – Band: Ethan Andreau and Nicholas Truglio; Chorus: Jake Duverneau, Charlotte Giannetta, Brooke Murphy, Elliot Renz and Brooke Sheehan; Orchestra: Arianna Lettieri and Alayna Mangels.

Martin Avenue Elementary School – Orchestra: Isabelle Dang.

Newbridge Road Elementary School – Band: Elianna Lopez; Chorus: Nina Cannistraci, Henry Cohen, Marion Chelsea De Jesus and Kyra Devlin; Orchestra: Lauren Corace.

Park Avenue Elementary School – Band: Andrew Udilovich; Chorus: Marco Artale, Xcenia Benden, Veronica Calise, Elianna Macaluso and Micah Millington; Orchestra: Temitayo Otuyemi.

Saw Mill Road Elementary School – Band: Frank Figueiredo; Chorus: Rebecca David, Isabella Rodriguez and Eliana Weissman; Orchestra: Mariam Subhan.

The students learn under the direction of music teachers Skylar Berkley, Christopher D’Orio, Maritza Lopez, Ed McCullagh, Carol Ng, Alexander Roff, Patrice Ryan and Lisa Uckardes.