Not every school has two libraries, but thanks to a local Boy Scout, Martin Avenue Elementary School in the North Bellmore School District has this rare distinction.

Chris Dubon, a 2016 graduate of Martin Avenue, created a little lending library and reading patio in front of the school as his Eagle Scout community service project. The new space was formally dedicated on May 12. He cut the ribbon along with Superintendent Marie Testa and Principal James O’Brien during an afternoon ceremony, with kindergartners, first graders and several teachers in attendance.

“I wanted to give back to the community that created such a great home and family for me for so many years,” Chris said.

His journey began more than two years ago, working with then-Principal Leyna Malone on the concept, and then getting approval from the North Bellmore Board of Education. After delays due to the pandemic, he worked throughout the school year to create the reading area, which includes a walkway, patio, benches and little library.

Students, parents and community members can take a book home to read, or put in a book they are done with for someone else. Teachers can even bring their classes outside and grab a book for a read aloud.

“A love of reading is something we all share here at Martin Avenue,” Mr. O’Brien said, adding that the school’s youngest readers were invited the ceremony to see a reading role model from their community.

Chris raised money for supplies through fundraisers and built the little library and reading area with help from volunteers, including fellow scouts, friends and families. Even some Martin Avenue scouts contributed to the effort, with girls from the local Daisy troop planting flowers along the walkway.

Superintendent Marie Testa, former principal of Martin Avenue when Chris was a student, thanked him for this gift, as North Bellmore is a community of passionate readers.

Several books were added to the library. Ms. Testa placed a copy of “All Are Welcome,” the first grade classes added “The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and The Big Hungry Bear” and “Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Monkey House,” and Chris contributed a copy of “If Your Give a Mouse a Cookie,” which he read to youngsters before placing it inside of the little library.

Date Added: 5/19/2022

Paleontology may seem like an advanced concept for third graders, but students at Martin Avenue Elementary School were up to the task as part of their fossil exploration.

Working in small groups, students received four blocks of clay and four objects – a penny, paper clip, paper fastener and googly eyes. Students flattened out each block of clay and pushed in one of the objects. They then stacked the layers and passed it along to another group to "unearth” the fossils with a plastic knife and toothpick.

Teachers Danielle Kalinowski and Judy Wakie said that the hands-on activity was part of the life sciences unit. Students have been learning how fossils provide evidence about organisms that lived long ago and the nature of their environments. Each block of clay was a different color to represent a unique climate.

Date Added: 5/10/2022

The primary mission of the North Bellmore School District is to educate children and prepare them for a prosperous future. To mark national Teacher Appreciation Week from May 2-6, we celebrate the 212 teachers who help our students grow, find their passions and achieve success.

North Bellmore’s teaching staff includes professionals with a wide range of specialties. Instruction begins with our 97 classroom teachers, from kindergarten through sixth grade, across five elementary schools. The district also has two dozen special education teachers and 21 special-area teachers, which includes art, computer science, health and wellness, library, music and physical education teachers.

The faculty also includes an ALPHA gifted and talented teacher, assistive technology specialist, band and orchestra directors, ENL teachers, occupational therapist, psychologists, reading specialists, school counselors, speech pathologists and social workers.

Assistant Superintendent Janet Pollitt said that while the teachers work across multiple schools, grade levels and departments, they share a special bond as one professional learning community, with a shared dedication to the students.

“What’s special about the North Bellmore teachers is the collegiality that our faculty share not just within the separate buildings but across the district,” Ms. Pollitt said.

Ms. Pollitt said that teachers are particularly committed to their craft, as evidenced by their participation in professional development opportunities. She noted their active participation in afterschool and summer training sessions, offered both within the district and at educational institutions across Long Island. It’s all in the service of providing the best education to students, she explained.

North Bellmore’s family of educators is comprised of veteran teachers, many of whom have been in the district for more than 20 and 30 years, as well as newcomers who have joined the faculty within the last few years.

Teachers are always willing to step up and help out the community, as their influence extends beyond the classroom walls. They organize collections for the Community Cupboard, support local families who have experienced a tragedy and raise money for various charitable organizations.

“Our teachers create a nurturing and supportive classroom environment, and are always willing to go the extra mile for their students,” Superintendent Marie Testa said. “We couldn’t be more appreciative of our dedicated and passionate teachers, who bring joy to their classrooms and joy to their students every day.”

Date Added: 5/5/2022

April 3-9 marks National Library Week and we celebrate North Bellmore’s school librarians, Laura Stasi and Yvonne Francolini, for their valuable role in educating children, fostering a love of reading and teaching digital citizenship.

All students in grades K-3 have library has part of their rotation of special-area classes, and children in grades 4-6 visit to check out and return books. Please watch this video, in which North Bellmore students share why they are grateful for our librarians:

Date Added: 4/6/2022