Sixth graders are immersed in literary discussions every day in Danielle Calapai’s class at Newbridge Road Elementary School. Recently, they added a technology component by making digital book reviews with Google Slides.

With the book club model, each group selects a common book to read and analyze. Reading takes place at home, and students meet the next day to discuss the plot, characters and other literary elements. Each member of a reading group has an assigned task, such as summarizing the previous night’s reading, making predictions or creating discussion questions. During the discussions, Ms. Calapai meets with the groups to assess their understanding of the book and reinforce literacy skills.

Recent books included “The Boy Who Saved Baseball,” “Resistance,” See You on a Starry Night” and “The Tiger Rising.” After finishing the book, each group collectively wrote a book review. Then, students individually made Google Slide presentations about the book and stating whether or not they would recommend it.

Students linked their presentations to QR codes, which were printed out and hung in the hallway for anyone looking for a book recommendation.

Date Added: 1/20/2023

The North Bellmore School District congratulates 43 students who were selected to the All-County music festival, hosted by the Nassau Music Educators Association. 

Fifth and sixth grade musicians were selected to countywide ensembles in band, chorus and orchestra. Rehearsals and performances are held in January at the Tilles Center at LIU Post.  
 
The All-County musicians are: 

John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School: Alina Chan and Carlyn Masiulis (band), London Abbott, Adriana Aglio, Lennyuyshka Cadet, Giuliana Gibaldi, Cole Marullo, Vianna Olson, Charli Polihronopoylos, Ava Rothschild, Meghan Saint Joy, Emma Schowerer and Christian Truglio (chorus) and Kailin Connizzo (orchestra).  

Martin Avenue Elementary School: Catherine Arnoff and Lui Dorsainvil (band), Nora Daly, Chloe DeTurris, Ellie Jakubowski and Asher Katz (chorus) and Caylee Aiello and Rochelle Mangles (orchestra). 

Newbridge Road Elementary School: Brian Barrera and Matthew Dworkin (band) and Charlotte Belliveau, Hadley Gross, Quinn Gross and Kingston Lambre (chorus).  

Park Avenue Elementary School: Arya Chandhok and Colin Crichton (band), Giavanna Artale, Macey Cataldo, Carlos Flores, Gianna Hayes, Amber Kaur, Julianna Nardo, Camilla Roman and Reagan Tyskowski (chorus) and Michael Liguori (orchestra). 

Saw Mill Road Elementary School: Caitlin Anderson (band), Shira Rosen (chorus) and Charlotte O’Hea and Katherine Rios (orchestra). 

North Bellmore music teachers include Desiree Behr, Christopher D’Orio, Dana Hirsch, Maritza Lopez, Ed McCullagh, Carol Ng, Alexander Roff and Lisa Uckardes.  

Date Added: 1/13/2023

Students throughout the North Bellmore School District have been involved in charitable initiatives for the past several weeks. They have embraced the giving spirit to help others near and far. 

Saw Mill Road Elementary School continued its long-standing partnership with the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation. Leading the effort was North Bellmore resident and retired FDNY firefighter Tom O’Connor, whose grandchildren attend Saw Mill Road. The annual toy drive, organized by the Students Against Destructive Decisions club, will benefit children in Florida impacted by Hurricane Ian.  

The partnership began in 2005, when toys were collected in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Since then, Saw Mill students and staff have donated toys to help children impacted by disasters across the country, including Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Hurricane Sandy in New York, among others.  

On Dec. 6, Mr. O’Connor and his fellow volunteers came to Saw Mill to pick up the toys, filling 10 large bags, which were then loaded into the back of a pickup truck for a long journey down south. Social worker Jo Ann Signorelli, co-adviser of SADD with school counselor Keara McNamara, said that this effort helps fulfill the district’s mission in contributing to the global community with creativity and compassion. 

Ms. Signorelli also noted that by having the children meet with the volunteers who bring the toys to impacted children, it helps them better understand the value of their charitable acts. 

“After everything that’s happened in Florida,” sixth grader Sophia Hoffman said, “this is going to help a lot of kids and bring a little more joy into their lives.” 

Students at John G. Dinkelmeyer, Martin Avenue and Newbridge Road elementary schools donated toys for the John Theissen Children’s Foundation, based in neighboring Wantagh. Toys will be distributed to sick and underprivileged children across Long Island, from infants to 17 years old. 

Date Added: 12/23/2022

Ancient Greek folklore and theater came together in a pair of harmonious productions by for fourth graders in the North Bellmore School District’s ALPHA program.

Teacher Gayle Angert said students have been learning about Greek mythology for several weeks, and the culminating activity was a play about Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, and her daughter Persephone. The story explained how the four seasons came to be. Ms. Angert provided the script but students in each of the two fourth grade ALPHA groups were in charge of assigning roles, making sets, building props and selecting backdrop photos for the SmartBoard.

“They got to see what goes into putting on a play,” Ms. Angert said, noting that a show cannot go on without the contributions of each person.

Some students took on speaking roles for the plays, which were performed on Dec. 12 and 13 in the ALPHA classroom at Newbridge Road Elementary School, with others focused on behind-the-scenes work. Fourth graders had clay, cardboard, construction paper and other materials to build props such as a chariot, a house, trees, a throne and even Zeus’ lightning bolt.

The activity fostered teamwork as students in each group had to listen to each other and incorporate different ideas into their shows. ALPHA is the North Bellmore School District’s gifted and talented program featuring themed activities throughout the year.

Date Added: 12/16/2022

Music is an important part of the curriculum in North Bellmore. Students take general music classes from kindergarten through sixth grade, learning concepts such as melody, pitch and rhythm. They learn how to keep the beat an play basic harmonies on instruments such as ukuleles and xylophones, and then begin playing the recorder in third grade.

Students in grades 4-6 can join the chorus, band or orchestra. In addition to large ensemble rehearsals, instrumental musicians have small-group lessons with their music teachers. Concerts are held in the winter and spring.

Here’s a snapshot of general music classes and instrumental music lessons over the first few months of the school year.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 12/5/2022