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Kindergarten through fifth grade students showcased their best artwork during the annual art show, held at F.E. Bellows Elementary School from May 7-9. Under the direction of art teachers Trisha Appel and Dara Goodman, this year’s art show focused on the idea of spreading kindness through the creation of artwork.

“Through the use of color, shape, line and words, the students created a wide variety of artworks, while immersing themselves in the creative process and studying different artists and art movements,” Goodman said.

Fifth graders, who were inspired by Albrecht Durer, wrote words or phrases of kindness with quills. Fourth graders created colorful, collaged hearts inspired by Peter Max, and third graders created drawings inspired by Robert Indiana and Keith Haring. Second grade students created three-dimensional hearts popping off the page, which were inspired by Peter Max. Meanwhile, first graders created hearts inspired by Jim Dine and Zentangle patterns to share kindness with everyone. Kindergartners also learned about Jim Dine and created hearts of kindness. 

The art exhibit also featured artworks that were created as part of an interdisciplinary project that connects art to the learning that goes on in the academic classroom. Third graders, who learned about Japanese art and culture, created drawings of pagodas and bamboo branches using gold and silver ink. Fourth graders, who learned about Native American art and culture, created stylized fish focusing on symbols, line work and a sense of movement. Fifth graders, who learned about Mexican art and culture, created sugar skulls inspired by Dia de los Muertos.

In addition to the art exhibit, Appel and Goodman brought together students and adults to create an interactive, colorful, Keith Haring-inspired mural. 

“As art educators we always try to incorporate current art happenings, gallery exhibits and museum shows into our projects, giving the opportunity to our students to see professional artwork firsthand, outside of our classroom as well as inside,” Goodman said. “To feed off of the most recent Warhol retrospective at the Whitney Museum, we created multiple projects inspired by New York’s own Andy Warhol. We had a ‘Warhol Corner’ designated for artwork inspired by the artist that visitors used as a backdrop for photo ops, just as in the Whitney exhibit.”

Rye Neck Union Free School District students – who have been diligently working on their science research projects – earned awards when they showcased their exhibits at the Tri-County Science & Technology Fair, held on April 27 at White Plains Senior High School. 

Congratulations to the following F.E. Bellows students who earned awards in their respective categories:

• Dylan Arouh – first place in the Middle School Biology category. 
• Spencer Elliot and Henry Holtman – second place in the Middle School Chemistry category. 
• Lily Fauci – second place in the Middle School Earth/Space Science category. 
• Max Cea and Osborne Ringstad – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Chemistry category.
• Sydney Healy – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Earth/Space Science category.
• Dalia Mansell and Sela Rozov – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Engineering and Technology category.
• Annie Kasanin and Virgina Latorre – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Engineering and Technology category.
• Melanie Kramer and Sheena Haviland – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Health and Medicine category.
• Sage Abbey and Bianca Canonico – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Health and Medicine category.
• Owen Wagner – “Outstanding” award in the Elementary Physics category. 
• Tammy Zhang – "Excellent" award in the Elementary Physics category.

Congratulations to the following high school seniors who earned medals in their respective categories:

• Nicole Pereira – second place in the Physiological/Experimental Psychology category. 
• Elizabeth Mioli – second place in the Health and Nutrition category. 

Congratulations to the following middle school students who placed in the top three spots in their respective categories:

• Matthew Steeves and Jaime Latorre – first place in the Engineering and Technology category. 
• Isabel Palacios-Ferrer – second place in the Psychology category.
• Derek Ryan – third place in the Biology category.
• Ethan Felenstein – third place in the Biology category.
• Kyle Ryan – third place in the Earth Science category.
• Jeremie Thinat – third place in the Engineering and Technology category. 
• Ella Grann – third place in the Environmental category. 

As a result of their outstanding performance, Steeves and Latorre have advanced to the Broadcom MASTERS competition, a national science fair that is sponsored by the Broadcom Foundation, while Palacios-Ferrer and Thinat were selected as alternates. The top 10% of science fair applicants from across the country are nominated to compete. In addition, Rye Neck Middle School, which had the highest overall average among all other middle schools, won the Susan Schaell Handelman Award for Scholastic Excellence in Science & Technology for the second year in a row.

The Tri-County Science & Technology Fair brings together student-scientists from Putnam, Rockland and Westchester counties who showcase their exhibits before a team of judges in their respective categories. 

Fourth grade students at F.E. Bellows Elementary School welcomed 13-year-old Ava, who suffers from Usher syndrome, and her mother Carly Fredericks as special guests to their school on April 26. During the assembly, Ava, who was born deaf and is slowly losing her vision due to the disease, talked about Usher syndrome and her experiences.

“We are learning about how everyone is unique and embracing who we are and what makes us special,” said teacher Ellie Speros, who organized the assembly. 

During the assembly, the students talked about the five senses, learned how to sign each letter of the alphabet and spelled words using the Braille alphabet. In addition, one student walked with Ava’s cane and others completed a mystery box challenge, in which they were asked to guess what was in the box without looking at the items. The activities were designed to raise awareness and help students experience what it is like to walk in someone else’s shoes.

Speros said her students have been learning sign language, how to read lips and read Braille, notice Braille in the real world and more, as part of the Seekers and Solvers’ “A Mile in Your Shoes” unit. 

“They’ve been participating in various real-world applications and hands-on class experiences to learn strategies that differently abled people use to navigate life,” Speros said. “At the end of our unit, students will create an interactive, station-based experience for other fourth grade students.”  

For more information on Usher syndrome, visit www.avasvoice.org.