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Kindergarten through fifth-grade teachers from Daniel Warren Elementary School and F.E. Bellows Elementary School collaborated with the district’s literacy consultant on June 22 to roll out new writing units of study for the upcoming 2018-2019 school year.

Under the leadership of Daniel Warren Principal Tara Goldberg and F.E. Bellows Principal Michael Scarantino, the teachers spent the day unpacking the components of writing workshop before planning the first unit of study their students will engage in this fall. 

“The writing units of study balance providing students opportunities to immerse themselves in narrative, information and opinion writing,” Goldberg said. “The work K-5 will provide a consistent approach across the grades where writers write for real purposes and audiences.” 

The units of study that will be launched in the fall include We Are Writers (kindergarten), Building Your Writing Toolbox (first grade), One Scene Stories (second grade), Reviving Our Writing Lives (third grade), Perspective Short Fiction (fourth grade) and Fifth-Graders Take Action on Issues (fifth grade). 

“It was wonderful to see teachers engaged in the work as they prepared to roll out the writing units in the fall,” Scarantino said. “It was a great day of learning for our teachers.”

During this past school year, both schools implemented a successful reading curriculum, which will be further complemented by the new writing curriculum. 

“We look forward to participating in continued curriculum development, as we will continue to work with our literacy consultant throughout the upcoming school year, so that reading and writing workshop are successful and engaging for all students,” Goldberg added. 

Families will be invited to publishing parties throughout the school year to celebrate their writing work. 

F.E. Bellows Elementary School fifth-graders celebrated one of many milestones in their academic careers and said farewell to their elementary school days during a moving up ceremony on June 15. The students will embark on the next phase of their educational journey as sixth-graders at Rye Neck Middle School in the fall.

The program began with the processional to “Pomp and Circumstance” and a flag salute before Principal Michael Scarantino welcomed the guests and honorees. He shared a few words of wisdom with the students and encouraged them to continue to show kindness toward others. 

“I am so proud. Without question, you clearly have the capacity to be kind,” Scarantino told the students. “But most impressively, you make the choice to be kinder than necessary. So, when I really think about it, you have essentially left me with something extraordinary. You have left a positive and uplifting memory of the fifth-grade class who took care of one another, no matter what. We at Bellows will always remember you for your courage, kindness, character and positive mental attitude. I am confident you will accomplish greatness.” 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Barbara Ferraro acknowledged that the students are ready for the challenges and new opportunities that await them at middle school. 

“You are special students who enjoy learning, exploring and having fun,” Dr. Ferraro said. “You approach each day with a curiosity that leads you to new and exciting opportunities. When I visit your classrooms, I observe you writing stories, reading books and solving problems. And whenever I stop by at lunchtime, I hear happy voices ready to enjoy some special time with friends.” 

Before the students were called one by one to receive their certificates, they performed “Let There Be Peace,” a song that was written by the students themselves as third-graders and music teacher Tom Galgano. They shared that they feel empowered with the ability to bring peace to the world one person at a time by showing respect, joy, friendship, kindness, empathy, cooperation and forgiveness. 

The ceremony, which was a celebration of the students’ achievements and successes throughout their time in the elementary school, concluded with a performance of “The Moving Up Song 2018,” which was another song that the students and Galgano wrote themselves.