Bellows Weekly Bulletin
September 6, 2024
Welcome Back to School!
The first week back to school was filled with community & team building exercises, grade level Town Hall meetings, a cold icy/ice cream treat, the learning of new routines and beautiful weather for outdoor recess!
This year started out seamlessly and we appreciate all of our families, students, faculty, custodians and staff who helped make that happen.
There is plenty to share in the coming weeks and I hope that you find these weekly Bellows Bulletins to be uplifting, worthwhile and most importantly, informative!
This week's content is predominantly need to know information as we rev up for an exciting 2024-25 school year.
Marshmallow Challenge Team Building in 3SL
Cooperation, Listening & Teamwork on Display in 3SL
5SC at Library-Team Building with Ms. Trotta
5th Graders Enjoying a Sweet Treat with Mr. Scarantino
First Third Grade Town Hall with Ms. Dioguardi & Ms. Goodman
F.EB. Students "Chalked the Walk" on Monday
4EM's Cup Tower Challenge
Team Building in 4EM
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work!
Weekly Events
Monday, 9/9 - E Day
Tuesday, 9/10 - F Day
Wednesday, 9/11 - A Day
- 3rd Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00
- RNSF Board/Liaison Meeting - 9:15 - MS/HS Community Room
- 3rd Grade Principal's Conversation - 9:30 - FEB Annex
Thursday, 9/12 - B Day
- 4th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00
- RNIC Meeting - 9:15 - FEB Annex *date changed from 9/11*
Friday, 9/13 - B Day
- 5th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00
- Bike Safety Assemblies for Grades 3-5 with the Westchester Department of Public Works Traffic Safety Office
Safe Commuting to Bellows
As Dr. Lutinski mentioned in his Monthly Update, we are a close-knit community. A close-knit community cares about the well-being of each of it's members. One of the actions we are strongly encouraging our community to do is to NOT make a LEFT turn on Boston Post Road entering Carroll Avenue during arrival and dismissal times. We are aware of the inconvenience "going around the block" may cause some drivers, but that few moments of your life is well worth keeping one another safe, most especially our students who might be crossing the street as they travel to and from Daniel Warren and the Middle School/High School.
Below are two images with the suggested safest way onto Carroll Avenue for arrival and dismissal if you are coming from the northeast side of the Post Road.
If you are heading to Bellows from the northeast side of Boston Post Road, we are kindly asking that you turn LEFT on North Barry and come around the other side.
Click the images above to get a closer view
Safety Drills at School
NYS has enacted a new law that requires schools to give communities notification about when SAFETY DRILLS will be happening. This is being done in an effort to mitigate potential anxiety for learners, parents and caregivers. Though schools may not release the exact time and/or nature of the drill, they can give a window of time for the drill. Such announcements will be made here in the FEB Weekly and/or via the Mass Notification System.
As part of our commitment to ensuring the safety and preparedness of our students and staff, we will be conducting a safety drill next week. The purpose of this drill is to ensure that everyone is familiar with our emergency procedures for an evacuation and can respond quickly and effectively in the event of an actual emergency. We ensure all communication to our young learners is developmentally appropriate. Following the drill, we'll let you know that it took place so that you are aware should your child mention anything to you.
The type of drill next week: Fire Drill
Timeframe: Sometime next week
Reminder to Submit First Day Forms
Reminder to please submit forms that were sent on the first day of school (as applicable) and return to the main office. If you would like a printed copy, please email April Laychak with which form(s) you need and they will be sent home with your child.
Photo and Video Release Form (Spanish)
Please ONLY check the box if you DO NOT WISH your child to be photographed/videotaped as specified on the form, and---
ONLY return the form if you have checked the box.
Parent Volunteer Form - A copy was sent home with your child on the first (or second) day of school.
Please do not wait for an event to file the form; it may not be processed in time.
Pesticide Notification Form (if you choose)
2024-2025 Letter and Application for Free and Reduced Price School Meals/Milk (Spanish)
If applicable, please return as quickly as possible. This form needs to be completed each year.
For your information:
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Early Morning Library Begins Wednesday, September 11th
The Early Morning Library Program at Bellows will begin on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Each grade level is scheduled for two (2) days over the six (6) day cycle. This is open to all students and no sign up is required. Just drop your child/children off at the main entrance at 8:00 am and they will be escorted to the Library. Please make sure you are dropping them off on the correct days.
Fall Principal's Conversations
F.E. Bellows Open House- Thursday, 9/19/24- 6pm
The evening will conclude promptly at 7:00 pm
4th & 5th Grade Strings & Band Sign Up for New Families & Last Call for Others
Welcome Back! If you would like to participate in the 4th or 5th grade Strings or Band programs this year, please fill out the sign up form linked below. For those who signed up in June, we already have your information and there is no need to sign up again. Lessons are once a week and will begin the week of the 23rd of September.
When our rosters are complete, an official schedule will be sent out via email.
Before deciding whether or not your child will participate in the instrumental music program, please consider the following:
- Students must attend all lessons.
- When students join the instrumental program, they are making a commitment of at least one year.
- Every instrumental student is required to play in the annual (mid-May) concert.
4th Grade Strings and Band Sign Up
5th Grade Strings and Band Sign UpPersonal Electronic Device Policy This Year
We understand the need to communicate with your children as they travel to and from school with friends or on their own, but the distraction that personal devices create in classrooms during instruction or throughout the day have increased over the years.
We are not banning students from bringing them to school, but we are not permitting them into classrooms. If your child will be wearing a smartwatch of any kind or carrying a cellphone, we will be requiring them to place them in their lockers.
For fifth graders this year we are also requiring that they have a lock on their locker. This is a new addition to their experience but will also be an important "soft skill" they have in their toolbox for Middle School!
Here is a link to the lock I recommend fifth grade families purchase: Master Lock Black Dial Combination Padlock
Please DO NOT purchase a lock with a key as those will be clipped off if the key is lost and you will have to replace it. A combination lock is recommended. Teachers will make a list of all student combinations for the students in their class.
Third and Fourth grade students DO NOT have to purchase a lock, but if it make a family feel more secure to have one, please let the teacher know you are doing so.
Students will NOT be allowed to keep any personal electronic devices on their person during the school day.
Students are always welcome to call their families throughout the school day as needed from the Main Office.
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 914-777-4600 or email the office at febattendance@ryeneck.org. This will ensure that the message is relayed to your child in time for dismissal.
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 at 10:30 AM 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 8:35 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.
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 914-777-4600.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.
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 (3rd Grade -A, D days; 4th Grade - B, E days; 5th Grade - C,F days)
- Band/Strings - Info coming soon
PTSA, Booster Club and RNSF Information & Community Events
First RNIC Meeting - Thursday, 9/12 (Changed from 9/11)
The new school year's first meeting of the Rye Neck International Committee is on Thursday, September 12th (previously scheduled for September 11th). All meetings are at 9:15 at the FEB Annex.
Welcome Back in the Park- PTSA & RNIC Community Event
Get Your Rye Neck Swag
If you are looking for some Rye Neck spiritwear, the Booster Club has got you covered!
There are tons of fun items to show off your Panther Pride!
Click the image below to go to the Rye Neck Spirit Wear Fall Store