Bellows Weekly Bulletin
May 3, 2024
Monday, 5/6 - C Day
- 3rd Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00 AM
- RNSF Kickoff Event - 6:30 PM - 25 North Restaurant
- Booster Club Meeting - 7:30 PM - MS/HS Library
Tuesday, 5/7 - D Day
- NYS Math Exam - Grades 3-5
Wednesday, 5/8 - E Day
- NYS Math Exam - Grades 3-5
- 4th & 5th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00 AM
- PTSA Family Kickball Night - 5:00 PM - FEB Field
- PTSA General Meeting - 7:00 PM - MS/HS Community Room
Friday, 5/10 - A Day
- 4th Grade Puberty Workshops
NYS Mathematics Exam: Tuesday & Wednesday, May 7 & 8
This coming week we will be administering the NYS Mathematics exam to all third, fourth and fifth graders with makeup exams available Thursday, May 9 & Friday, May 10. There are additional days available for makeups the week after as well.
The NYS exams will be given on Tuesday & Wednesday, May 7 & 8, 2024
Important information to know for next week's exams:
* Students should be well-rested and get an adequate amount of sleep the night before each testing session.
* The test is broken up into two sessions. Below you can click the images to see how the test is designed for each grade level.
*A healthy brain is fueled by a nutritious and healthy breakfast each morning.
* The school needs a participation rate of 95% or better to not receive a negative rating on the New York State accountability reports. Additionally, non-tested students also negatively impact our proficiency category rating, too.
* These assessments are an important part of how we look at how well students are meeting the NYS Next Generation Standards in Math.
* The exams are untimed and students have as much time as they need to be "productively working", but generally take no more than an hour and a half to complete each day. Students who need additional time are provided it. Only the morning portion of our school day is interrupted and we resume normal school activities by 11:30 am.
* EARLY MORNING LIBRARY IS CANCELED; BUT BANDS AND STRINGS REHEARSAL WILL STILL TAKE PLACE ON THESE DAYS
*** 5TH Grade Families: PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL CHROMEBOOKS ARE CHARGED as 5th graders are participating in CBT (computer-based testing) this year.
If you have any questions regarding this important reading and writing exam, please feel free to reach out to me directly. For more information, you can visit the NYSED website for Assessments.
Chromebook Charging Tips & Practice
With another round of computer-based testing for grades 5-8 next week, AP exams throughout the month of May, and final exams coming up in June, we just want to remind you of some best practices for charging Chromebooks and laptops that contain lithium-ion batteries.
Only use the charger that came with your device or was given to you by the school.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use, storage and charging.
Do not charge devices overnight. In most instances, they only need a few hours to charge.
Do not block the vents on the device.
Do not charge devices on a fabric surface (i.e, a chair, couch, blanket, pillow, bed, or clothing).
If the device starts to get hot, unplug it and let it cool down.
REMINDER - Permission Needed for 4th Grade Puberty Workshop on 5/10
As a part of health education for fourth graders, students are given the opportunity to participate in workshops with their peers regarding the early stages of puberty, which some students may be experiencing.
The “Always Changing” Program helps both boys and girls:
Understand the physical and emotional changes they experience during puberty, and acknowledge these changes as a normal part of growth and development
Learn the physiology of their bodies and correct terminology for parts of the reproductive system
Understand that personal hygiene is each individual’s responsibility.
In addition, the program helps girls:
Understand the menstrual cycle
Understand what to expect during a period
Learn how to manage periods while continuing with normal activities
The “Always Changing” Program is based on national research and consultation with school nurses, health educators, parents and medical professionals. It has been a resource for over 25 years and has been presented to millions of students throughout the country.
Here is the link to the two videos:
Always Changing Puberty Education Program-Biological Males
Always Changing Puberty Education Program-Biological Females
Please watch the video that pertains to your child—without your child in the room—and then complete the permission form below indicating whether or not you want your child to participate in this program. A child will not be allowed to participate in the program unless we have received your response. The puberty workshop session will take place on Friday, May 10.
Here is a breakdown of the workshop:
-Male students will view the Biological Male video, while female students will view the Biological Female video. Biological males will watch together/Biological females will watch together.
-After they watch the videos, a brief Q&A session will follow. Students will be given the opportunity to write down on an index card any anonymous questions they want answered during the Q&A . The facilitators will select 5-10 appropriate questions to discuss with the students as a group.
The male students will be in the cafeteria to watch the video. The facilitators will lead the discussion following the viewing.
The female students will be in the Auditorium and watch the video on the projection screen. The facilitators will lead the discussion following the viewing.
Coach Iacovelli and Mr. Karaban will host the biological male students and Ms. Spedafino, Coach Desio, Ms. Speros, Ms. Paquette and Ms. Marks will be with the biological females.
Ms. Tosi will remain with students who do not have permission to participate.
Parent Volunteers for 5th Grade Field Day: Information & Sign Up Form
Coaches Desio & Iacovelli have planned another amazing series of Field Day events and activities for our students. Fifth grade Field Day is up first on Monday, May 20.
They are looking for parent volunteers to help run some of the stations. Please use the Google Form to sign up if you are interested: 2024 5th Grade Parent Volunteer Sign Up Form
For more information about how Field Day is organized and facilitated, feel free to review the Field Day Information Google Document: 2024 5th Grade Field Day Information Sheet
All parents who are chosen to work stations will be informed by Tuesday, May 14 of their assigned game/activity.
The 3rd and 4th Grade Sign Up Form and Informational Sheets will be shared in the next two Bellows Weekly Bulletins, so stay tuned for those announcements!
The Winners of this Year's Tri-County Science Fair & Technology Expo are...
Coming Soon! K-5 Art Show at FEB
Family Movie Night: May 17, 2024
The Summer Reading Lists Are Here
Important: Visitors and Dropoffs
Please note that there is a sign on the front door and on the sign-in kiosk ➡️
- All visitors must sign in with ID at the Raptor kiosk at the front entrance. If you have forgotten your ID, you can type your information in. Once you are signed in, please ring the doorbell to gain entry. Your visitor sticker will print inside the building.
- If you are dropping off a student, just ring the doorbell and we will let the student in.
- If you are only dropping off lunch, homework, etc, just ring the doorbell and we meet you at the door.
Change in Pickup Plans?
If you have a change in your child's pickup after 12:00 pm, please call the main office at 914-777-4602 or email the office at febattendance@ryeneck.org. This will ensure that the message is relayed to your child in time for dismissal.
Upcoming Events to Get Excited About at FEB
- 5/14- 5/16 - The K-5 Art Show
-5/20 - 5th Grade Field Day
-5/21 - Band/Strings Concert
-5/21-5/23 - FEB PTSA Book Fair
-5/30 - 3rd Grade Field Day
Illness Guidelines
With the rise in illnesses during this time of the school year, I felt it important to remind you of the illness guidelines at Bellows.
According to the New York Statewide School Health Services website, parents should follow these guidelines when determining when their children should not be in school:
Persistent fever greater than 100° degrees orally, including a fever that requires administration of medication such as Tylenol or Motrin
Vomiting or diarrhea
Significant cough that makes a child feel uncomfortable or disrupts class
Sore throat that is severe, accompanied by fever or feeling ill
Red, teary, itchy eyes that distract child from learning
Discolored nasal discharge, accompanied by facial pain or headache
Ear pain or drainage from the ear
Headache, especially with fever
Any condition you think may be serious or contagious to others
Children should be fever-free (without the use of fever reducing medicine), symptom-free and feeling well for at least 24 hours before returning to school after illness.
To report an absence related to illness, please email febattendance@ryeneck.org or call the main office at 914-777-4602.The nurse will be briefed on all illness-related absences and parents will be contacted regarding current health guidelines. A doctor’s note will be requested for any student who has been absent for 5 consecutive days, upon return to school.
Reminder About Absence Procedures
If your child is going to be absent or late for any reason, please email the main office at FEBattendance@ryeneck.org or call 914-777-4600. All absences need to be reported by 9:00 AM.
Please remember to report upcoming absences for holiday travel.
If your child is reported absent by his/her classroom teacher, and you have not called the office, you will be notified via the automated system to verify the absence.
In case of severe, contagious disease, pediculosis (head lice), or prolonged illnesses, please notify the school nurse, Samantha Krench, MSN RN. It is our procedure that the nurse notifies parents of children in the class regarding exposure to a contagious disease.
If your child becomes ill in school and needs to be sent home, the nurse will notify you at the emergency phone number provided. For this reason, it is important for the school to have parents’ work numbers/cell numbers, as well as an additional one or two emergency numbers of neighbors or close relatives.
It is important that children arrive at school in time for the opening bell at 8:40 a.m. Arriving late (8:45 a.m.) after morning routines and instruction have started is disconcerting to a child and disruptive to the class. Plan to give your child a smooth beginning to his/her day by scheduling ample time for early morning procedures.
If you need to remove your child from school for any reason during the school day, please email or call the main office first.
Early Morning Program Reminders
All students should ring the bell at the front entrance for morning programs; students should be dropped off no earlier than 5 minutes before the program begins to ensure there is supervision.
- Early Morning Library starts at 8:00 (see new schedule below):
3rd Grade - Monday, Wednesday 4th & 5th Grade - Tuesday, Thursday
- Band for Beginners starts at 7:45; Intermediate Band starts at 8:15.
- Strings starts at 8:10. Students should arrive at the front entrance.
- Math Olympiad and Continental Math programs start at 7:45.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- May 14-16 - Grades K-5 Art Show - FEB Auditorium
- May 16 - RNIC Meeting - 9:15 AM - FEB Annex
- May 18 - RNIC Family Picnic
- May 21 - Budget Vote - MS/HS Library
- May 21 - Elementary Band/Strings Concert - 5:45 PM - MS/HS PAC
- May 22 - Board of Ed Meeting - 9:00 AM - MS/HS Library
- May 22- 5th Grade Advanced Math Placement Exam
- May 22-23 - PTSA FEB Book Fair
- May 24 - Memorial Day Weekend - School Closed
- May 27 - Memorial Day - School Closed
- June 4 - RNIC Meeting - 9:30 AM - FEB Annex
- June 5 - 3rd Gr Concert - 6:00 PM - FEB Auditorium
- June 19 - Juneteenth - School Closed
- June 20 - 5th Grade Moving Up Ceremony - 9:30 AM - FEB Field (rain date June 21)
- June 20 - Board of Ed Meeting - 7:00 PM - MS/HS Community Room
- June 25 - FEB Last Day of School - 11:30 AM Dismissal