Bellows Weekly Bulletin

November 15, 2024

Monday, 11/18 - B Day

4th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00

Tuesday, 11/19 - C Day

5th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00
PTSA Photo Retake Day

Wednesday, 11/20 - D Day

3rd Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00
Parent-Teacher Conferences - 4:30-6:30 PM

Thursday, 11/21 - E Day

4th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00

Friday, 11/22 - F Day - 11:30 AM Early Dismissal

5th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00
Parent-Teacher Conferences - 12:30-3:15

Follow Up to Chromebook Access

This morning you should have received an email informing you of F.E. Bellows' new chromebook restricted hours times. First, this does not mean your child cannot access their Google Classroom or complete homework assigned online. They can still access these accounts via an internet browser on an at-home device, just not on their Rye Neck chromebook. Students will just not be able to use their Rye Neck chromebook before 7:30 am and after 7:30 pm and then on weekends. We do not assign homework on Fridays at Bellows.

As mentioned in the message, the chromebook is not for personal use. It is for school business only.

These new guidelines were instituted to help those families at home who need assistance managing chromebook use at home. If you feel like you have a management plan in place at home in which your child does not ask to use the chromebook for personal use, great! We appreciate you having a plan for media balance in your home. If you do not, this should be helpful to you in combating those requests to "get on the chromebook".

We are also mindful and aware that students have extracurricular activities that may require them accessing Google Classroom, i-Ready or CommonLit for homework assignments. If you'd like to "opt out" of the restrictions, we ask you to complete the form below. If you also have a complex home dynamic that requires you to request removing the restriction, this form is also for you. Lastly, if you have a strong management plan at home and don't need it, submit a response.

If you have any questions or concerns about the restrictions, DO NOT email your child's/children's teacher(s). You can email Ms. Lanza or Mr. Scarantino.

F.E. Bellows Elementary School Restricted Hours Opt Out Form 2024-25

Cell Phone Help for Parents

Please see the Rye Youth Council Events page for upcoming events that provide parents with help as they manage cell phone use for their families. These events include:

Behind the Screens: Smartphones and Social Media - November 20th
Alternative Device Fair - November 23rd
So Now You Have a Cell Phone... - January 13th

Town Hall Meetings Focused on Empathy, Digital Citizenship & Perspective Taking

All grades attended Town Hall Meetings on Friday to continue and expand on the Social Emotional Learning that takes place at Bellows. Ms. Dioguardi and Ms. Fuentes facilitated lessons from Unit 2 of Second Step while Ms. Lanza, Our Director of Communication & Technology, discussed what good digital citizens do and ways to protect your privacy online. Mr. Scarantino shared scenarios involving empathy, respecting the similarities and differences of others and why it is important to learn how to take someone else's perspective when solving a conflict.

#PantherVoices

Here are some great resources if you'd like to extend these conversations at home!

- 5 Tips for Cultivating Empathy at Home

- Help Boost Kids' Safety, Privacy & Security at Home

- Privacy & Security Family Activity

- Help Kids Make Friends & Interact Safely Online

- Taking Others' Perspectives- Grade 5- Home Link

- Respecting Similarities & Differences- Grade 4- Home Link

- Identifying Others' Feelings- Grade 3- Home Link

Honoring Our Veterans

On Wednesday, November 13, fourth graders gathered together to hear from local veteran Nick Piperis, one of our proud dads from Ms. Tosi's class. He shared his service and answered questions from the group. Thank you, Nick!

Path to Rhythms: Third Grade Cultural Arts Experience

Third grade Social Studies is all about communities around the world. As a part of their learning, the PTSA invited in Adam Issadore, the founder of Path to Rhythm, to Bellows on Thursday for a morning of drum circles. He led each class in an interactive, 30 minute drum session. This is an amazing community building opportunity for third graders and their teachers. Students not only got to follow along with Adam on the drums, but they also learned about the drums they played, called Djembes.

As long as I have been principal at Bellows, we have been delighted to host Adam and continue to appreciate the generosity of the PTSA in supporting this enrichment opportunity for our students each fall.

Mohegan Tribe Virtual Visit- 4th Grade

Fourth graders had a virtual visit from a member of the Mohegan Tribe associated with the Tantaquidgeon Museum in Connecticut to see and learn more about Native American artifacts in connection with their Social Studies and Enrichment units.

Excelsior Symphony Orchestra

Rye Neck 9th grader Immanuel Tan will be performing next Saturday with the Excelsior Symphony Orchestra at their Fall Concert! Rye Neck has a long history of both student and parent performers participating in the Excelsior Symphony Orchestra, formerly the St. Thomas Orchestra. You can find more information about their Fall Concert through ArtsWestchester.

Student Council Annual Food Drive

You can click the image above to see it larger

Native American Artifact Museum

Fourth graders have been learning about how the geography in New York State provided Native Americans, Europeans and Africans an ideal place to develop their unique cultures and to shape their diverse social, political and economic interactions and environments. In collaboration with Ms. Trotta, our Library Media teacher, the fourth grade team and students created a culminating project to celebrate the end of this first unit of study in Social Studies. Please see the invitation below for details about this special event for students and families.

Our Strategic Plan Hashtags!

As we continue our work with the district's Strategic Plan, we want you to be on the lookout for these special hashtags when you are following us on the social media platforms. Each goal as well as the plan as a whole, have their own unique hashtag that students in grades 5-12 and Rye Neck staff voted on.

Goal 1 - #RNlearns

Goal 2 - #PantherVoices

Goal 3 - #LeadersLeaRN

Entire Strategic Plan - #PanthersImpact

Important: Visitors and Dropoffs

Please note that there is a sign on the visitor sign-in kiosk ➡️

All visitors entering the building 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. No need to sign in.
If you are only dropping off lunch, homework, etc, just ring the doorbell and we meet you at the door. No need to sign in.

Early Dismissal Dates for Professional Learning

The next early dismissal date for Professional Learning is Wednesday, December 18th. Third graders will be dismissed at 1:30, and fourth and fifth graders will be dismissed at 1:35. All grades will have their regular lunch period.

Please be sure to add these dates to your calendar:

Wednesday, December 18th
Wednesday, February 26th
Wednesday, March 26th

Safe Routes to Schools

The Rye Neck Safe Routes to School is a community group comprised of parents in the Rye Neck school district, who coordinate with school administrators, PTA representatives, elected officials, municipal employees, police officers, Mamaroneck SRTS, and other community members to improve pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic safety. Initiatives can include coordinating Education programs, advocating for Engineering initiatives by the municipalities, and/or requesting the assistance of local law Enforcement. Please see their new website for more information.

https://www.ryeneck.org/community-partners/safe-routes-to-school

Change in Pickup Plans?

If you have a change in your child's pickup after 12:00 pm, please call the main office at 914-777-4600 or email the office at febattendance@ryeneck.org. This will ensure that the message is relayed to your child in time for dismissal.