Bellows Weekly Bulletin
April 5, 2024
The NYS ELA Exam is This Week: 4/10 & 4/11
If you have been checking our "Upcoming Dates to Remember" in this bulletin as well as the FEB webpage calendar, you will notice that the NYS ELA exam is scheduled for Wednesday & Thursday, April 10 & 11 of this week. For our third grade and new families who have not yet had their children participate in these exams, here is some important information you need to know.
* Students should be well-rested and get an adequate amount of sleep the night before each testing session.
* The test is broken up into two sessions. Below you can click the images to see how the test is designed for each grade level.
*A healthy brain is fueled by a nutritious and healthy breakfast each morning.
* The school needs a participation rate of 95% or better to not receive a negative rating on the New York State accountability reports. Additionally, non-tested students also negatively impact our proficiency category rating, too.
* These assessments are an important part of how we look at how well students are meeting the NYS Next Generation Standards in ELA.
* The exams are untimed and students have as much time as they need to be "productively working", but generally take no more than an hour and a half to complete each day. Students who need additional time are provided it. Only the morning portion of our school day is interrupted and we resume normal school activities by 11:30 am.
* ALL EARLY MORNING PROGRAMS INCLUDING BAND, STRINGS AND EARLY MORNING LIBRARY ARE CANCELED.
*** 5TH Grade Families: PLEASE MAKE SURE ALL CHROMEBOOKS ARE CHARGED as 5th graders are participating in CBT (computer-based testing) this year.
If you have any questions regarding this important reading and writing exam, please feel free to reach out to me directly. For more information, you can visit the NYSED website for Assessments.
Monday, 4/8 - C Day
- 3rd Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00 AM
- Booster Club Meeting - 7:30 PM - MS/HS Dining Hall
Tuesday, 4/9 - D Day
- 4th & 5th Grade Early Morning Library - 8:00 AM
Wednesday, 4/10 - E Day
- NO Early Library, Band or Strings
- NYS ELA Exam
- NO Early Library, Band or Strings
- NYS ELA Exam
- Orientation for Parents of Incoming 6th Graders - 6:00 PM - MS/HS PAC
Friday, 4/12 - A Day
- RNIC Meeting - 9:15 AM - FEB Annex
The 2024 Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8
As mentioned in Dr. Lutinski's Monthly Update, Monday, April 8 is the day of the 2024 solar eclipse. At FEB, we will be engaging in learning activities involving the eclipse during Science classes as well as having an FEB "Watch Party" at 2:45 pm on the Field (3rd grade), on the playground (5th grade) and in the Annex area (4th grade).
During Morning Announcements on Friday, April 5, all students viewed this "Eye Safety During an Eclipse" video.
We will also be doing some safety/precautionary education during Morning Announcements on Monday, too, with another video on safe solar viewing/eye safety and what to expect during this amazing phenomenon.
Students will receive their ISO 12312-2 standard glasses, approved by the American National Standards Institute prior to the Watch Party.
Bellows will also be staggering and revising dismissal on Monday as follows:
* Grade 3 (plus siblings in grades 4 & 5) at 3:00 pm
* Grades 4 & 5 without other FEB siblings at 3:05 pm
We will send a reminder on Monday about this change in dismissal procedures.
Important: STUDENTS SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UNATTENDED/UNSUPERVISED ON THE FEB PLAYGROUND AFTER SCHOOL. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOUR CHILD IS INFORMED TO GO STRAIGHT HOME ON MONDAY IF THEY ARE NOT BEING PICKED UP AS THE FEB GROUNDS WILL BE OFF-LIMITS AFTER SCHOOL ON MONDAY, APRIL 8.
The Rye Neck School Foundation is Here!
Rye Neck has a new kid on the block - the Rye Neck School Foundation (RNSF)! The RNSF will accelerate excellence at our schools by funding state-of-the-art projects and programs that amplify the educational, artistic and athletic experiences of Rye Neck students.
Please join members of the RNSF, Administration, and BOE at 25 North Restaurant on Monday, May 6th from 6:30-8:30pm to learn more about the foundation and enjoy complimentary hors d'oeuvres and drinks. To get involved and to participate in the RNSF's two new fundraising campaigns - the Golden Ticket Raffle and "Panther Paver" brick project - please also visit www.ryeneckschoolfoundation.org.
Parent Orientation for Incoming 6th Graders: Thursday, April 11, 2024
The Class Placement Process for 2024-25 is Underway
Dear Current Third & Fourth Grade Families,
We are beginning the process of determining class placement for the 2024-25 school year. Classroom placement is a process that takes teachers and staff many hours of careful thought and consideration. When constructing a classroom, we look at many different factors including learning abilities, peer relationships, class size, strengths and challenges, diversity, as well as other factors, to create classrooms that foster social and academic development for all children. As in the past, all classes will be heterogeneous, meaning they will reflect various abilities.
When making classroom placements, we always consider the individual child while recognizing that each child is part of a complex picture. We are committed to creating balanced classrooms. Once the classes have been formed, moving one child from the group can alter the stability of that balance and impact the overall makeup of the classroom. For this reason, once class placement is finalized, we do not move students from class to class.
It is always helpful to share this process with parents/guardians who can provide information about their children’s strengths, interests, and needs. This information, combined with input from your child’s current team and our knowledge of the instructional styles of teachers, helps us best place students. We invite you to complete the 2024-25 Class Placement Parent Input Google Form to offer input in this process. As a reminder, this form only needs to be completed if your child will be entering 4th and/or 5th grade at FEB in the fall.
Please do not submit a request for a particular teacher as there are many factors to be considered when constructing a classroom. Typically, there will be more than one teacher or classroom whose style will work well with your child. Our teachers and staff spend many hours considering the best learning environment for each student and we ask that you trust our process.
Placement information is due no later than April 19, 2024. Due to building-level scheduling and placement deadlines, we will not be accepting submissions after April 24th. Class placement information will be released in late August with our opening day/placement letter.
Thank you for your continued support.
F.E. Bellows' Field Day Dates
Rain dates will be determined based on the FEB school calendar
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 914-777-4602 or email the office at febattendance@ryeneck.org. This will ensure that the message is relayed to your child in time for dismissal.
Upcoming Events to Get Excited About at FEB
- 4/12- The NED Mindset Mission Assembly- all grades
- 4/15- 4/19- PTSA Sponsored Walk, Bike, Scoot to School Week
- 4/16- Pedestrian & Bike Safety Assemblies- All Grades- Presented by the Traffic Safety Office of Westchester County
- 4/18- 5th Grade Trip to the Bronx Zoo: Biodiversity- The Living Environment Unit
-4/18- 4th Grade Trip to the NY Hall of Science in Queens
- 4/18- PTSA Sponsored FEB Fitness Night- Kickball- 5:30- 6:30 pm- Bellows Field
- 4/30- Author Visit- Veera Hiranandani
- 5/14- 5/16- The K-5 Art Show
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 914-777-4602.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.
Reminder About 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 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 8:40 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.
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 (see new schedule below):
3rd Grade - Monday, Wednesday 4th & 5th Grade - Tuesday, Thursday
- Band for Beginners starts at 7:45; Intermediate Band starts at 8:15.
- Strings starts at 8:10. Students should arrive at the front entrance.
- Math Olympiad and Continental Math programs start at 7:45.
Upcoming Dates to Remember
- April 12- NED's Mindset Mission Character Education Assembly- 1:45 pm- Auditorium
- April 13 - Panther Palooza Track Invitational - All Schools
- April 15-19 - PTSA Walk to School Week
- April 16 - BOCES Budget Vote - 8:50-10:00 AM - MS/HS Library
- April 17 - Board of Ed Meeting/Budget Adoption - 7:00 PM - MS/HS Community Room
- April 18 - PTSA/FEB Family Kickball Night - 5:30 PM - FEB Grounds
- April 22-23 - Holiday Recess - School Closed
- April 27 - PTSA Fun Run & Panther Party
- May 6 - Booster Club Meeting - 7:30 PM - MS/HS Library
May 6 - RNSF kick-off event @ 25 North Restaurant from 6:30-8:30 pm
- May 7-8 - NYS Math Exam - Grades 3-5
- May 9 - PTSA General Meeting - 7:00 PM - MS/HS Community Room
- May 10 - Booster Club Spring Spirit BBQ
- May 14-16 - Grades K-5 Art Show - FEB Auditorium
- May 16 - RNIC Meeting - 9:15 AM - FEB Annex
- May 18 - RNIC Family Picnic
- May 21 - Budget Vote - MS/HS Library
- May 21 - Elementary Band/Strings Concert - 5:45 PM - MS/HS PAC
- May 22 - Board of Ed Meeting - 9:00 AM - MS/HS Library
- May 22-23 - PTSA FEB Book Fair
- May 24 - Memorial Day Weekend - School Closed
- May 27 - Memorial Day - School Closed