North Bellmore School District

Third grader Hayley Dunne stood side-by-side with Amanda Licci, principal of Newbridge Road Elementary School, as cars pulled up to drop off students on Jan. 23. Assisting at morning arrival was her first of many duties as principal for a day. 

Hayley won a PTA raffle to spend the day with her school’s leader. She got to Newbridge Road a little earlier than usual so she could join Ms. Licci out front. Once students were settled into their classrooms, Hayley joined third grade student council members to do the morning announcements, concluding it with a message about good character and a reminder to always show their “Newbridge HEART.”  

The principal pair visited sixth grade classrooms for a read aloud of “Why Not,” followed by a walk-and-talk through the hallways. Ms. Licci answered Hayley’s questions about life as principal in between their visits to classrooms.  

At Newbridge Road, classes that earn 20 hearts by showing good behavior during lunch and recess get special prizes. Hayley joined Ms. Licci for Pause and Play in a fourth grade class and Cub Comedy Corner in a third grade class, where they told corny jokes. She also handed out markers to second graders to write their names on the windows across from the cafeteria, a prize known as Tiger Ink.  

Hayley also got to eat lunch with Ms. Licci in her office, and the PTA provided the food. Her meal of choice was macaroni and cheese with a Sprite and strawberry ice cream. In the afternoon, there were more classroom visits, another announcement and assisting at dismissal. Hayley briefly returned to student status in the middle of the day for recess and physical education with her classmates.  

“I never knew what it is like to run a school,” Hayley said. “It is a hard-working day but a lot of fun. It was really fun to spend a day with the principal because you rarely get to do that.” 

Hayley, who bought a special outfit to look professional, said her favorite part was visiting classrooms and getting know more students beyond her grade.  

Ms. Licci noted that this was the first year of the principal for a day raffle and hopes she gave Hayley valuable insight into the innerworkings of a school. The purpose of the initiative was to give a student a taste of what goes on behind the scenes. 

“Being a principal, you’re constantly moving,” Ms. Licci said. “Hayley got to see a lot of different things a principal might do. I hope she has a memory that she’ll think about for a long time.”