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.

Click here to view the District Boasts 28 All-County Musicians slideshow.

Date Added: 1/8/2025

Fifth graders at Newbridge Road Elementary School are living the North Bellmore School District’s mission statement by “contributing to the global community with creativity and compassion.” They are penning letters to servicemen and women overseas for the holidays.  

The school is joining the Trees for Troops effort, spearheaded by Dee’s Nursery in Oceanside and DHL, to provide heartfelt holiday messages along with the donated trees. On Dec. 5 and 6, students from the three fifth grade classes worked on writing their letters and drawing holiday and winter pictures.  

Fifth grade teacher Karen Barrins, whose brother-in-law is a co-owner of Dee’s Nursery, said this was a way to bring even more joy to troops who are away from their families during the holidays. The nursery has been sending trees, menorahs and other decorations overseas to men and women serving in the United States military for 21 years. 

 “The students are excited about being a part of this,” Ms. Barrins said. “You can tell just by reading their letters.” 

 Ms. Barrins said that before students began writing their messages, the class discussed ways they could make a difference both in their community and throughout the world. She also asked them to think how they would feel if they were away from their families for the holidays, and put that emotion into their letters.  

 Fifth grader Constantine Messina said this was important to him “so that people who are missing their loved ones know that we are thinking about them and grateful for their service.” 

 "They don’t get to spend the holidays with their family,” added Sylvie Tarr, “and we’re writing to them to make them feel better about that.” 

Jack Toledo explained that it makes him feel good “because I know that I’m brightening up a soldier’s holiday.” 

Click here to view the Newbridge Fifth Graders Spread Cheer For Troops slideshow.

Date Added: 12/12/2024

 

Second graders often arrive at their desks and find positive messages in Christine Shahin’s classroom at Newbridge Road Elementary School. Her goal is to make sure every child feels valued.

At least once a week, Ms. Shahin leaves personalized sticky notes on every student’s desk. The handwritten messages compliment students for many reasons from their unique character traits to their skills and talents, and also provide encouragement.

“They feel valued, appreciated and seen,” Ms. Shahin said, adding that the hope is students pay it forward with compliments and kind words to their classmates.

Social and emotional learning is an important part of daily life in Ms. Shahin’s classroom. Students talk about their feelings each day during morning meeting. Calm down corner provides a place to refocus, while the self-validation mirror gives students a spot to encourage themselves.

“Children have feelings and we are very expressive in here about our feelings,” she said.

Students look forward to the notes on their desks, and said it gives them an emotional lift.

“They're just so heartwarming,” Storm Lambre said. “They make me feel good.”

“It makes me feel that all of us are special,” added James Novoni.


Click here to view the Personalized Notes Spread Joy at Newbridge slideshow.

Date Added: 12/2/2024