At nearly 80 students, North Bellmore’s fifth grade orchestra rivals the size of a philharmonic orchestra. Playing at that level may be years away for the young musicians, but their dedication to their craft is comparable. 

Once per six-day cycle, the fifth grade orchestra gets together at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School for morning rehearsals. It consists of students from the district’s five elementary schools and features violin, viola, cello and bass players. Conducting the group is first-year orchestra teacher Patrice Ryan. 

Currently, the ensemble is working on three pieces for the spring concert, “Arco-ology,” “Entry of the Tumblers” and “Spy Rock.” They will showcase their talents at the district orchestra concert on May 12. 

Lisa Uckardes conducts the district’s sixth grade orchestra, which meets at Martin Avenue Elementary School on the same mornings as the fifth grade ensemble. In addition to their full-group rehearsals, students from both groups take part in small-group lessons with Ms. Ryan and Ms. Uckardes at their schools. 

Click here to view the Orchestra Students are Becoming String Savvy slideshow.

Date Added: 3/26/2025

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

The 100th day of the school was a big deal for kindergartners at Park Avenue Elementary School on Feb. 14, and they were joined by peers who have well cleared the 1,000-day mark.

Many of the kindergartners dressed up as if they were 100 years old, while others donned crowns declaring themselves 100 days smarter. The young learners also got together with their sixth grade buddies for activities centered around the triple-digit milestone.

Sarah Mazeika’s kindergartners were joined by their older friends from Amanda DiMonda’s class in the cafeteria for a 100-day workout. Each pair did 10 repetitions of 10 different exercises, such as jumping jacks, push-ups and stretches. The sixth graders helped them keep track.

In Anne Griffin’s kindergarten classroom, youngsters welcomed their sixth grade buddies from Nicole Giusto’s class. Together, the buddies did a roll and color math game. With a number chart in front of them, each group rolled a die and kept going until they reached 100. The sixth graders helped their kindergarten friends with adding.

Click here to view the Jumping and Rolling to 100 at Park Avenue slideshow.

Date Added: 2/24/2025

It’s award season for school librarians, who every January look forward to the announcement of the Randolph Caldecott Medal winner for the best illustrated children’s book. North Bellmore librarian Yvonne Francolini turned it into a learning experience for her students at Martin Avenue, Newbridge Road and Park Avenue elementary schools. 

Leading up to the Jan. 27 announcement, her students reviewed 12 books that had “buzz” around them as possible Caldecott Medal recipients. They were asked to make predictions on if they felt each book could be a winner. The medal is part of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards.  

This year’s gold medal winner was, “Chooch Helped” authored by Andrea L. Rogers and illustrated by Rebecca Lee Kunz. Although it did not make the list of the 12 books that students reviewed, a pair of Caldecott Honor Books were there – “Noodles on a Bicycle” and “Home in a Lunchbox.”   

Some of the books that the students reviewed were strictly picture books, while others included both words and illustrations. Before making their judgments, students reviewed the Caldecott Medal criteria and also looked at past winners.  

“I love seeing the students get so excited about books,” Ms. Francolini said. “This lesson exposes them to some of the best picture books. There’s a real-world connection when they get to see the actual Caldecott Medal winners and compare it to their picks.” 

Click here to view the Readers Explore Best Children’s Books slideshow.

Date Added: 2/6/2025