From their first day of kindergarten, students in the North Bellmore School District are nurtured to become joyful lifelong learners. Please view the district’s spring newsletter and Kindergarten Experience video to learn more about all facets of the program:

Spring 2025 Newsletter:
https://northbellmoreschools.org/Assets/Newsletters/051425_NBell_spring_NB_Colors.pdf?t=638828186625370000

Kindergarten Experience Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPjapWFkDpY

Date Added: 5/14/2025

The North Bellmore School District celebrates its fabulous educators for Teacher Appreciation Week. Students from our five elementary schools share the qualities that make their teachers special in this video:

Date Added: 5/6/2025

A sport with origins dating back more than 900 years is generating excitement in the gymnasium at Newbridge Road Elementary School. Students in grades 3-6 have been learning the intricacies of lacrosse.

Guided by physical education teachers James Breslin, the young athletes have been practicing catching, throwing and stick-handling. The first few classes focused on skills, which students then put into action through partner practice and game play.

Mr. Breslin said that lacrosse has been an annual spring unit in physical education for more than 20 years. The goal is to introduce students to a sport that they can play when they get to middle school. By equipping them with the fundamentals of lacrosse and some basic skills, the goal is to give them confidence to try out if it’s a sport they enjoy.

Click here to view the Max Effort for Lax Unit at Newbridge Road slideshow.

Date Added: 4/15/2025

“The best is yet to come,” North Bellmore School District Superintendent Marie Testa said of the eight educators who officially received tenure at the April 10 board of education meeting.

During a standing room-only celebration at Martin Avenue Elementary School, the newly tenured administrators and teachers were lauded for their hard work and dedication to students during their probationary periods. They reflect the strength, breadth and excellence of the district, Ms. Testa noted.

Receiving tenure were:

Amanda Licci, principal, Newbridge Road Elementary School

Daniel Madden, assistant principal, Saw Mill Road Elementary School

Danielle Calapai, instructional coach

Alexa Cappuzzo, second grade teacher, John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School

Yvonne Francolini, librarian

Kerri Maxwell, first grade teacher, Newbridge Road Elementary School

Alyssa Parker, physical education teacher

Catherine Schlaich, computer science teacher

The night was filled with speeches celebrating each tenure recipient from proud colleagues. They also had the honor of achieving this career milestone with their families in attendance.

“We know the amount of time and effort and care and love that goes into being a teacher or an administrator,” Ms. Testa said. “Tenure reflects our confidence in their ongoing impact and their role in helping all learners succeed.”

Date Added: 4/22/2025

Students are “Wild About Reading” year-round at Newbridge Road Elementary School, which made it the perfect theme for this year’s Pick a Reading Partner week from March 17-21.

The annual literacy program is designed to engage children and their families in shared reading experiences. PARP emphasizes the importance of reading as a tool for success and strives to fortify each child’s reading habits. The school partners with the PTA to provide meaningful and authentic opportunities for students to read with their families.

Principal Amanda Licci said that this year’s theme corresponds with the transformation of her office into Mrs. Licci’s Lair, where she hold read-alouds. While PARP is about encouraging children to read at home, there are many activities in school designed to get them excited about reading.

The Scholastic Book Fair featured opportunities for students to purchase new books, and the PTA provided each child with a $5 credit. On the evening of March 17, Ms. Licci hosted a virtual read aloud of “Edward the Emu” that all families could join. Over the next several days, masked readers read pages of the sequel, “Edwina the Emu,” during live Zoom sessions for the school.

March 18 featured an in-person PARP night. In addition to a night book fair, librarian Yvonne Francolini and students from the Junior Library Club set up books around the cafeteria for families to come in and read together.

Spirit Club and the junior librarians led safari tours around the school to find all of the words in the hallways, from signs to student work. The second annual “new to you” book swap on March 20 featured hundreds of books donated by students. Ms. Francolini and PTA volunteers sorted books by age group and category. Each class visited the auditorium and there were enough donations for each child to go home with three books.

“The most important piece of PARP is getting books in the hands of children,” Ms. Licci said.

At home, students were encouraged to do reading activities from a choice board. They could visit the North Bellmore Public Library, read to a pet or stuffed animal, read with a sibling or friend, or create their own reading lair, among other choices. The public library even planned a series of animal-themed experiences for Newbridge Road students. Ms. Licci said that if 150 students completed five or more activities, she would complete a principal’s challenge.

Date Added: 3/31/2025