Soon-to-be graduates from the North Bellmore School District enjoyed sunshine, fresh air and camaraderie while getting some great exercise at the annual sixth grade track meet on May 23 at Mepham High School.

More than 300 sixth graders from the John G. Dinkelmeyer, Martin Avenue, Newbridge Road, Park Avenue and Saw Mill Road elementary schools took part in the event. It is an annual tradition for students as they near the end of their elementary years, and a chance to meet some of their future middle school classmates.

The morning began with track events including the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash, 200-, 400- and 800-meter races, the 4 x 100 relay race and the 4 x 100 mixed relay race. After lunch, students took part in field events including discus, javelin, running long jump and shot put.

Families were invited to watch from the stands. The event was coordinated by Park Avenue Principal Michael DeBlasio and physical education teachers James Breslin, Tim Byrne, Bill Green, Jim Mulvey, Alyssa Parker and Michael Weiner.

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Date Added: 6/5/2023

The North Bellmore School District held its annual art show on May 16 at Newbridge Road Elementary School. The cafeteria featured display boards with hundreds of student drawings and painting, along with tables filled with sculptures and other 3D artwork. Students and their families were invited in to tour the exhibit, and children proudly showed off their featured pieces.

All five elementary schools – John G. Dinkelmeyer, Martin Avenue, Newbridge Road, Park Avenue and Saw Mill Road – were represented as well as all grade levels from kindergarten through sixth grade. Students completed their work under the direction of art teachers Jill Emmer, Amy Lopez and Jill Skelly.

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Date Added: 5/25/2023

Instead of food and drinks, strategies for social and emotional well-being were on the menu at Newbridge Road Elementary School on May 1. At the Coping Skills Café, fifth and sixth graders visited six different stations to learn how to take care of their mental health.

School counselors Keara McNamara and Holly Sugarman spearheaded the hands-on program, which they plan to bring to other elementary schools in the district later this year. Students learned productive and healthy ways to cope with stress, frustration or other negative feelings.

At the first station, students learned breathing techniques to help them relax. Next, they made coping skills tool boxes, filled with suggestions of activities they can do that promote positive feelings. Some popular choices included cuddling with a pet, eating healthy food, drinking a glass of water or playing a game.

Students explored art, journaling and humor as coping strategies. At the last station, they learned yoga poses, as Ms. McNamara led them through a series of stretching exercises.

Fifth grader Emma Traynhan said she likes having these new ideas to help her be calm, and she found the yoga and stretching poses to be particularly beneficial.

“These skills are not just for the classroom,” Ms. Sugarman said. “It’s for any time they’re having big emotions. We want students to remember that it’s OK to feel stressed or anxious, and now they have the tools they need to re-center themselves.”

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Date Added: 5/18/2023

Newbridge Road Elementary School held “Light it Up Blue” day on April 28 for Autism Awareness Month. Students and staff donned blue attire in recognition of World Autism Month and to promote acceptance.

Date Added: 4/28/2023

The student council at Newbridge Road Elementary School set a modest goal of raising $550 for Share the Voice, an organization that provides adaptive tricycles and other mobility equipment to physically disabled children. When the grand total was announced, they had nearly tripled that amount.

Throughout March, students and staff were encouraged to donate loose change, with collection bins in every classroom. The month closed out with a schoolwide assembly, in which the total donation was announced – $1,575.12.

Lynda Graham, president of Long Island-based Share the Voice, visited the school to accept the donation. She was joined by her son, John, who is the inspiration for the organization. Ms. Graham said Share the Voice has gifted 286 adaptive tricycles to children and even a few adults over the last decade, and Newbridge Road’s donation will benefit a person on their wait list.

“We wanted the children to see where their money is going to go,” Principal Amanda Licci said, of why they invited the organization’s founder and her son to the school.

The idea originated with first grade teacher Kerri Maxwell, who was familiar with the organization and thought it would be a great charitable endeavor for Newbridge Road students. She partnered with Joann Belferder and Cristina Guadagnino, the student council advisers, to make the project a reality.

“We liked the fact that it was kids helping other kids,” Ms. Maxwell said. “Our Newbridge Road School students really embraced the mission and wanted to do their part to help other children.”

Ms. Guadagnino added that student council members set the goal and also came up with the idea for incentives. The class that raised the most money would get an extra period of recess. That honor went to Lynda Brust’s third graders, who alone collected $220.

There was also a schoolwide incentive that if they reached the goal, there would be a fun activity at an assembly. After the total was announced, students took part in an over-under relay. Students were split into the blue and yellow teams and the goal was to be the first team to move a ball from end to end, alternating between passing it over and under.

Date Added: 4/11/2023