The district honored its retiring teachers and support staff members at the June 12 Board of Education meeting. Superintendent Marie Testa thanked for their dedication to the district and their commitment to the children of North Bellmore.

Collectively, they totaled 121 years of service to the district. Principals, teachers and PTA leaders gave personal recounts of each retiree and highlighted the contributions they made to their respective school.

This year’s retirees were:

Rick Cramner, driver and cleaner at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, 6 years
Geri Downey, reading teacher, Martin Avenue Elementary School, 20 years
Michelle Hooker, teacher, Newbridge Road Elementary School, 37 years
Lori Levonius, teacher at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, 33 years
Maddi Orenstein, paraprofessional at John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School, 25 years

Date Added: 7/1/2025

It was a moment of pride for the 287 sixth graders who graduated from the North Bellmore School District in late June, as they reflected on their accomplishments and further defined their futures.

Saw Mill Road Elementary School’s ceremony took place on June 24, followed by John G. Dinkelmeyer, Martin Avenue, Newbridge Road and Park Avenue schools on June 25. Programs were held at the Grand Avenue and Merrick Avenue middle schools of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District, the place where they will continue their educational journey.

Daniel Madden, assistant principal of Saw Mill Road, said graduation was not only the celebration of a milestone, but of a journey filled with laughter, discovery, friendship and growth. His speech directly quoted the sixth graders after posing questions to them on their most prideful elementary school moments and the lessons they will take with them to middle school.

Newbridge Road’s ceremony was largely organized by the sixth graders themselves. It featured nearly 20 student speakers who reflected on memories from each year, kindergarten through sixth grade. They also planned special handshakes, high-fives and dance moves as they left the stage following the tassel-moving ritual.

“I see so much more than students who are graduating and are ready for middle school,” Principal Amanda Licci said. “I see individuals who have grown in courage, confidence and character. I see leaders who have learned to use their voices, to think critically and to care deeply.”

Park Avenue Elementary School Dr. Lynn Coyle expressed how lucky she was to spend her first year there with a wonderful sixth grade class.

“From the very beginning, you welcomed me with your energy, your ideas, your kindness and your unique personalities,” she told the graduates. “You helped set the tone for what it means to be part of this wonderful school community.”

Sixth grader Micah Millington noted that the core values of the Park Pledge and the lessons instilled by their teachers will help them adapt to the big change that’s coming for him and his fellow graduates.

“We will walk into Grand Avenue in the fall with a self-assured aura, ready to shine,” he said.

In addition to student speakers, each ceremony featured remarks from a board of education trustee as well as musical presentations.

Danica Brugge, who became principal of Dinkelmeyer mid-way through her graduates’ kindergarten year, vividly remembered their sweet, bright and eager faces, boundless energy and love for learning. Watching them flourish into remarkable young adults has been a great joy, she added.

“I am filled with immense pride and hope for each of you,” Ms. Brugge said. “Your journey has been marked by resilience, curiosity, kindness and courage – all traits that will continue to serve you well in the years ahead.”

Martin Avenue Elementary School Principal Dr. Michael Yannucci centered his address to the graduates on one of the district’s core values, “There is no limit to human potential.”

“Each of you has unique talents, dreams and abilities waiting to be discovered and nurtured,” Dr. Yannucci said. “Believe in yourself and your capacity to achieve incredible things is endless. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow, learn from setbacks and keep striving towards your goals with determination and resilience.”

Click here to view the Resilient Graduates Ready for Limitless Futures slideshow.

Date Added: 6/26/2025

Fourth graders are coast-to-coast experts now that they have completed their state research projects at Martin Avenue Elementary School. They got to showcase their splendid work during a presentation for family members on June 18.

As part of the social studies curriculum, fourth graders in Lauren Fasano and Tiffany Joosten’s classes studied the 13 colonies and American expansion. Each student was assigned a state and used books and online resources to find important facts such as its capital, major cities, founding date, landmarks, population size, famous people and historical events.

Students wrote written reports and created colorful posterboard presentations. The tri-fold boards included a regional map of the state and its neighbors, images associated with it like the state bird and professional sports teams, and its flag. Fourth graders set up their boards in the cafeteria and welcomed their special guests to learn more about United States geography.

Click here to view the Martin Avenue Fourth Graders are State Experts slideshow.

Date Added: 6/25/2025

They graduated from elementary school on June 24, 2019 and came back as high school graduates on June 18, 2025. North Bellmore alumni returned to their roots for the inaugural clap-out, which were held throughout the district on June 18 and 20, and were celebrated by students, teachers, staff and retirees.

In the intervening six years, graduates continued their educations Grand Avenue Middle School and Mepham High School. For the clap-out, many showcased their future plans by wearing shirts representing the colleges they will attend.

The goal is for the clap-out to become an annual tradition to celebrate the successful culmination of 13 years of education. At each school, students lined the hallways holding handmade signs that welcomed back the now two-time graduates congratulated them on their most recent accomplishment. Sixth grade ambassadors led the seniors on through the hallways.

“It was an incredible success that left a lasting impact on everyone involved,” said North Bellmore Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Janet Pollitt. “Watching the high school Class of 2025 return to their elementary schools, welcomed with signs, cheers, music and heartfelt applause, was a powerful, full-circle moment. It not only celebrated their accomplishments but also inspired the younger students lining the halls. The energy and emotion of the day made it clear that this will become a cherished annual tradition in our district, one that highlights the strength of our community and the pride we share in our students’ journeys.”

The graduates hugged former teachers, took pictures with younger siblings and neighbors, and reminisced about their elementary school days. John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School Principal Danica Brugge, who came to school in January 2019, remembered her former students fondly even though they only spent six months together. She said her first graduating class as principal, and learning of their future plans, validates the work that is done in the elementary schools to build their foundation of knowledge.

“They spend so much time with us – seven years – and we really watch them grow,” she said. “To have this opportunity to be able to see them as young adults brings so much pride and so much excitement for their futures. We love the kids from the moment they enter these doors to the moment they leave, so to have the ability to see them again is a blessing. I think they enjoyed it just as much as we did.”

Click here to view the Class of 2019 Returns for Inaugural Clap-Out slideshow.

Date Added: 6/20/2025

Sixth graders gathered on the blacktop, looked up a second floor window and counted down… “3… 2… 1…” Moments later, a handmade contraption was on the ground and possibly a cracked egg. June 4 featured the annual egg-drop event at Park Avenue Elementary School, an end-of-year staple for the soon-to-be graduates.  

It was the culminating activity in a physic unit, in which students studied concepts such as acceleration, force and gravity. They worked in small groups to build contraptions to hold an egg as it fell from a second-floor window to the ground. Using materials from school and from home, the young engineers had two days to plan and build, and were encouraged to find methods to slow down its speed, like adding a parachute.  

The excitement was high when egg-drop day arrived. With most of the grade outside watching, a few students at a time were in the upstairs classroom. The egg was added just ahead of the drop, and most survived. After returning to their classrooms, students analyzed the results and reflected on their designs.    

Click here to view the Scientific Egg-Citement for Park Avenue Sixth Graders slideshow.

Date Added: 6/20/2025