F.E. Bellows Bi-Weekly Bulletin
September 29, 2022
Bellows News
Back to Basics: Reader's & Writer's Workshop
The first month of school is almost in the books and students and staff have transitioned nicely from summer mode to reading, writing and mathematics mode! Teachers have launched their first units in Reading & Writing in all grades. Fifth grade is currently in an integrated non-fiction unit working with a variety of narrative and non-narrative selections with a keen eye on structure across and within texts they are reading. While reading these texts, they are using research skills about an issue that sparks their interests and opinions.Fourth grade is learning about the value of independent reading and using tools such as jotting and graphic organizers to document and share their thinking. In their writing unit, they are working on perspective short fiction and creating realistic fiction stories focused on characters and the conflicts and relationships that are developed in narrative fiction writing.
Third graders are getting back into joyful and sustained writing as they explore writing about their identities. This is a wonderful narrative writing unit to help them re-establish routines in the Writer's Workshop. In reading, they are also thinking about themselves, but as readers. They are learning different jotting strategies to recall, reflect and grow their ideas.
Town Hall Meetings
On Friday, September 16, students attended their first grade level Town Hall Meetings, all together, in almost three years! We discussed the Mood Meter, the 5 Be's at Bellows, and engaged in some belly breathing as a strategy to regulate anxious or nervous emotions. Next month's meetings will focus on kindness, our Town Hall Charters, and being an upstander to bullying.
Student Work on Display
We Future Cycle is Back!
Writers at Work!
Upcoming Events and Dates to Remember
- Oct. 5 - Yom Kippur - School Closed
- Oct. 10 - Columbus Day - School Closed
- Oct. 11 - FEB/PTSA Class Photos - schedule TBA
- Oct. 11 - Start of PTSA Walk to School/Spirit Week
- Oct. 12, 9:15am - PTSA RNIC Meeting - FEB Annex
- Oct. 13, 5:00pm - FEB Family Fitness Night - FEB Schoolyard
- Oct. 14 - PTSA Ribbons for Rye Neck Distribution
- Oct. 17, 1:15pm - Elementary PAC Meeting - FEB
- Oct. 19, 6:00pm - FEB RULER Family Engagement Meeting - FEB Auditorium
- Oct. 19, 7:00pm - BOE Meeting - MS/HS Community Room
- Oct. 20 - 5th Grade Field Trip- Boundless Adventures
- Oct. 21, 7:00pm - PTSA RNIC Potluck Dinner - MS/HS Dining Hall
- Oct. 31, 10:30am - FEB Halloween Parade/Sing-a-Long
Important Reminders
I’d like to remind us all that we have a responsibility to keep our children safe and to work toward and encourage the protection of the environment for their futures. With that in mind, I’d like to remind you of the negative consequences both to children’s health and the environment when we idle our cars, especially as the fall and winter months approach.
Let me point out the effects on children’s health:
Air toxins in car exhaust are known to cause cancer, respiratory effects, birth defects, or other serious health effects.
Because of their developing lungs and higher breathing rates, children are more susceptible to air pollution.
The chemicals from the exhaust can make asthma worse.
And the effects on the environment:
Idling a vehicle increases emissions by 13 percent.
Idling cars and trucks produce 130,000 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Idling tailpipes spew out the same pollutants as moving cars.
But you’ve probably heard it all before. So I’ll just ask: Won’t you think about it again? It would be ideal to limit your idling to 10 seconds, but even 20 seconds is reasonable, and it will benefit us all--but especially the children.
Early Morning Library Begins Monday
We are pleased to announce the return of our Early Morning Library program for all students at FEB beginning this Monday, October 3 (E Day).
Each grade level is invited on two (2) letter days as follows:
- 3rd Grade- A & D Days
- 4th Grade- B & E Days
- 5th Grade- C & F Days
The program begins promptly at 7:45 am. Mr. McKeon shared information during Open House about the learning opportunities for students during this time. If you missed it, please reach out to him at wmckeon@ryeneck.org
If you are interested in having your child attend, we ask you to complete this quick and easy Google Form. 2022-23 Early Morning Library Sign Up Form
Math Olympiad Qualifying Contest- October 3-7
Tomorrow all 4th & 5th grade students and families will be notified about the qualifying contest being administered to students for consideration for entrance into the Math Olympiad enrichment classes. Students will be given the choice to work on a qualifying exam if they are interested in participating in Math Olympiad. The contest will be given to students one day next week at the classroom teacher's discretion. All contests will have been taken by students by Friday, October 7.
Once the results are tallied by Ms. Speros, we will notify families regarding entry or not. The criteria for entry are as follows:
- Students must have at least two correct answers (with evidence of process on a third) based on the five question contest
Continental Math League, which is the third grade equivalent to Math Olympiad will also have a qualifying contest. More information once we finalize all the details.
PTSA and Booster Club Events and Notes
- Oct. 12, 9:15am - PTSA Rye Neck International (RNIC) Meeting
Ribbons for Rye Neck
The PTSA is holding its annual "Ribbons for Rye Neck" fundraiser. The donation deadline is October 7 and ribbons will be delivered on October 14. This is the PTSA's biggest fundraiser of the year and all donations go toward funding the amazing enrichment programming at Rye Neck. More information can be found in the PTSA link below.
F.E. Bellows
Email: FEBelementary@ryeneck.org
Website: https://www.ryeneck.org/febellows
Location: 200 Carroll Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY, USA
Phone: (914) 777-4600
Facebook: facebook.com/ryeneckufsd
Twitter: @ryeneckschools