What does it mean to be a visionary? That was the question posed to students by Martin Avenue Elementary School Principal Dr. Michael Yannucci to teach children about renowned Civil Rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

In the week leading up to the three-day weekend, Dr. Yannucci visited each class for a read aloud. He read, “Who Was Martin Luther King Jr.,” written by Beth Kaiser and illustrated by Stanley Chow, then engaged students in conversations about Dr. King’s dreams for equality and justice. Children learned how they could live that dream by showing kindness and love to others. 

Students from Antonietta Fischetti’s second grade class were helped by their buddies from Rachel Graber’s sixth grader class for an “I Have a Dream” writing project. The older students helped their younger friends think of a dream they have for the world, write it in on a paper cloud, and then cut it out and glue to a piece of construction paper. 

Date Added: 1/20/2026

For their most recent hands-on project, sixth graders in North Bellmore’s ALPHA program created indoor recess games.  

Led by teacher Laura Conway, students worked individually or in small groups to create stationary games to be played by third, fourth and fifth grade ALPHA students during indoor recess days. The games were original but could be inspired by existing carnival games, board games or a sport.  

Each group selected a theme and built their games from classroom supplies such as cardboard, paper and masking tape. They also had to come up with rules.  

ALPHA is North Bellmore’s gifted and talented program for grades 3-6. Each group meets once per six-day cycle at Martin Avenue Elementary School. Students are immersed in hands-on learning that fosters collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

Click here to view the Game On: ALPHA Students Support Recess Fun slideshow.

Date Added: 1/15/2026

More than 30 students from the North Bellmore School District were selected for this year’s All-County music festival, hosted by the Nassau Music Educators Association. Rehearsals and concerts are taking place from Jan. 7-18. 

Fifth and sixth grade students from the band, chorus and orchestra were selected based on NYSSMA solo performance scores and teacher recommendations.  

Congratulations to the following students: 

John G. Elementary Dinkelmeyer School: Ethan Andreu, Elliana Fidacaro, Arianna Lettieri,Brooke Murphy, Ella Piazza, Brooke Sheehan and Ella Sjoberg. 

Martin Avenue Elementary School: Alex Caba, Isabelle Dang and Lylah Jakubowski. 

Newbridge Elementary Road: Cecelia Barone, Andrew Boylan, Nina Cannistraci, Marion Chelsea DeJesus, Hunter Outsen, Arielle Zhang and Maya Zucker. 

Park Avenue Elementary School: Marco Artale, Veronica Calise, Anaya Chandhok, Caleb Cheung, Hadley Hollander, Elora Rosello and Destiny Zosike.  

Saw Mill Road Elementary School: Sienna Burmann, Ryan Diaz, Judith Guzman, Kerha lorvena, Vincent Merle, Gianna Toledo and Eliana Weissman. 

Five orchestra students will also participate in the Long Island String Festival Association’s Nassau Intermediate festival from Feb. 27-March 1. Those students are Arianna Lettieri (Dinkelmeyer), Marion Chelsea DeJesus (Newbridge Road), Lucia Rodriguez and DestinyZosike (Park Avenue) and Vincent Merle (Saw Mill Road).

Click here to view the North Bellmore Musicians Bound for Regional Restivals slideshow.

Date Added: 1/12/2026

 

Two new leadership opportunities are launching for students in 2026 at Newbridge Road Elementary School. Tiger Birthday Boosters started on Jan. 5, followed by Thunder’s Greeting Squad a week later. 

Every day after the morning announcements, Birthday Boosters travels the school with a calendar and deliver birthday greetings. They can sing “Happy Birthday,” give high-fives or fist bumps and deliver handmade cards or posters. The Boosters are tasked with making the moment festive and special for Newbridge Road students celebrating their milestone day.  

“The whole point is to make it really fun and exciting,” Principal Amanda Licci told the first group of Birthday Boosters at an introductory meeting on Dec. 22. 

Students take on the role twice per six-day cycle throughout January and February. There will then be two more groups of Birthday Boosters before the end of the school year.  

Starting Jan. 12, student greeters will be stationed inside the school near the arrival entrances and throughout the hallways. They must get to school by 8:15 a.m. and go to their assigned posts so they can welcome students and staff with a friendly and positive attitude. One of their responsibilities will be offering smiles and kind words to help everyone start the day on a warm note.  

Student greeters will rotate each day of the week. They will support faculty and staff who already greet students outside of the building. One of the benefits of adding student greeters, Ms. Licci said, is increasing child-to-child interactions and ultimately building a stronger school community. 

Thunder’s Greeting Squad and Tiger Birthday Boosters are both named for the school mascot. The leadership groups are open to grades 3-6, and interested students had to complete an application and be recommended by either Ms. Licci or a teacher. To feel like the adult leaders in the building, students in both get ID badges. 

“Reading the applications, you could see how serious they took this process, so it’s very meaningful and impactful for them,” she said. “This is just another step toward growing student leadership.” 

The two new groups are in addition to several existing leadership roles through student council, Beautification Club, Café Club, Junior Librarians, Smile Club, Spirit Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions.

Date Added: 1/7/2026