Walt Whitman made his mark on the literacy world right here on Long Island and perhaps the next renowned poet will come from Saw Mill Road Elementary School. Throughout April, which is National Poetry Month, students have certainly been honing their craft.

Fifth graders in Melissa Mignoli’s class captured their personalities in delightful “I am” poems. The three-verse pieces featured statements based on the prompts “I wonder,” “I hear,” “I want,” “I touch,” “I understand,” “I dream” and more. It allowed students to take a deep dive into their feelings while expressing themselves creatively.

In Brandon Rosenblatt’s class, fifth graders wrote acrostic poems out of the school name. Students wrote one line based on each letter in “Saw Mill” to express their feelings about the school.

Third graders from Catherine McDonald’s class wrote Diamonte or diamond poems. The pieces were seven lines long, follow a specific pattern and do not rhyme. Their antonym poems were about one topic for three-and-a-half lines, then changed to the opposite. The project also helped students practice their cursive writing.

Click here to view the Saw Mill Writers Shine During Poetry Month slideshow.

Date Added: 4/30/2025

The North Bellmore School District welcomes Rose Scammell as the new director of special education and student support services. It’s a full-circle moment for the highly experienced educator who returns to the very school system where she was educated.  

Ms. Scammel brings a passion for supporting students with disabilities and a strong commitment to early childhood education. She comes to North Bellmore from the Harborfields Central School District where she was an administrator for seven years, most recently serving as the director of pupil personnel services. During her time there, she focused on student-centered programming, inclusive practices and collaboration between staff and families. She began her career as a speech-language pathologist in a special education preschool. 

A North Bellmore native, Ms. Scammel is a proud graduate of Saw Mill Road Elementary School. She then moved on to the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District where she attended Jerusalem Avenue Middle School and Mepham High School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in speech pathology and audiology from SUNY Cortland, a master’s degree in communication disorders from Adelphi University and a school district leadership certificate from the College of St. Rose. 

In her new position in North Bellmore, Ms. Scammell will oversee all special education services and will also supervise the district’s nurses, social workers and guidance counselors. Her goal is to ensure a comprehensive support system for all students. 

“North Bellmore is where my educational journey began and where I first discovered my passion for education and supporting students with disabilities,” Ms. Scammell said. “Joining the administrative team feels like coming home, and I am honored to give back to the community that helped shape who I am.” 

Date Added: 4/28/2025

A sport with origins dating back more than 900 years is generating excitement in the gymnasium at Newbridge Road Elementary School. Students in grades 3-6 have been learning the intricacies of lacrosse.

Guided by physical education teachers James Breslin, the young athletes have been practicing catching, throwing and stick-handling. The first few classes focused on skills, which students then put into action through partner practice and game play.

Mr. Breslin said that lacrosse has been an annual spring unit in physical education for more than 20 years. The goal is to introduce students to a sport that they can play when they get to middle school. By equipping them with the fundamentals of lacrosse and some basic skills, the goal is to give them confidence to try out if it’s a sport they enjoy.

Click here to view the Max Effort for Lax Unit at Newbridge Road slideshow.

Date Added: 4/15/2025

“The best is yet to come,” North Bellmore School District Superintendent Marie Testa said of the eight educators who officially received tenure at the April 10 board of education meeting.

During a standing room-only celebration at Martin Avenue Elementary School, the newly tenured administrators and teachers were lauded for their hard work and dedication to students during their probationary periods. They reflect the strength, breadth and excellence of the district, Ms. Testa noted.

Receiving tenure were:

Amanda Licci, principal, Newbridge Road Elementary School

Daniel Madden, assistant principal, Saw Mill Road Elementary School

Danielle Calapai, instructional coach

Alexa Cappuzzo, second grade teacher, John G. Dinkelmeyer Elementary School

Yvonne Francolini, librarian

Kerri Maxwell, first grade teacher, Newbridge Road Elementary School

Alyssa Parker, physical education teacher

Catherine Schlaich, computer science teacher

The night was filled with speeches celebrating each tenure recipient from proud colleagues. They also had the honor of achieving this career milestone with their families in attendance.

“We know the amount of time and effort and care and love that goes into being a teacher or an administrator,” Ms. Testa said. “Tenure reflects our confidence in their ongoing impact and their role in helping all learners succeed.”

Date Added: 4/22/2025